Schusters Lodge - River Frontage, Howqua Hills

Lodge in Howqua Hills, High Country, VIC, AU

100% Recommended•

10 people

Pet-friendly

Schusters now has Starlink / wifi! You can choose to be connected or have a digital detox!

Explore the magic of the High Country in an exclusive, country retreat set on the majestic Howqua River. Perfect for family holidays or groups wanting to get away, relax and unwind in the serenity of the valley below Mt Buller (50 mins to Mt Buller from the house).

Located in the Mansfield State Forest, means it is off-grid on 12v solar power only for lights and water pump (i.e. no electricity) and gas cooking.

A rustic and traditional High Country mountain lodge with all the home comforts set in a 1970s retro style to match the old gas fridges that have been there for over 50 years. The house is set on the Howqua River with plenty of stunning walks or bike rides right from the front door.

In Winter, rug up by the fire, read a book, toast marshmallows, or a ski trip to Mt. Buller. It's cold in the mountains in winter and you need to be able to keep a good fire going (there is a nectre wood heater and an open fire) and we recommend getting there before dark to get the fires going. Plenty of wood is supplied.

In Summer, guests can enjoy the river, swimming, fishing or simply relaxing in the river which flows past the house. Lots of bird life attracted by the large, leafy trees around the house. Wake up to the sound of the river flowing by and the dawn chorus of the native birds.

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Features and Amenities

3 bedrooms

8 beds

2 bathrooms

Bath

BBQ

Hammock

Details

Check in after 3:00pm
Check out before 11:00am
Weekday minimum booking: 2 nights
Weekend minimum booking: 2 nights

Cancellation Policy:

Receive a full refund (minus service fee) up until 1 week prior to check-in.

Additional Information

Guests will have exclusive use of Schuster’s Lodge and all its amenities, including spacious living areas, a fully equipped kitchen, 2 retro gas fridges, 2 large dining tables to eat and play games, a fire place and a firebox to keep warm, and a large outside deck, BBQ and a garden with a large outdoor table / benches and a fire pit for bonfires and watching ‘fire TV’.

The remote location is what makes this property so wonderful & unique, but cleaning costs and pricing account for the higher costs of servicing and maintaining a property here.

The lodge can sleep up to 10 guests maximum (8 beds). All beds will be set up, however, if there are 6 people booked to stay, no more than 6 beds should be slept in. Additional charges will apply if more beds are slept in.

UPSTAIRS
- 1 large double bedroom sleeps 6 (1 double bed, 1 single bed, 1 bunk bed)
- 1 master bedroom (1 x queen bed)
- 1 shower & toilet

DOWNSTAIRS
- 1 separate double bedroom (1 x double bed)
- 1 set of bunks (2 king singles - extra long) in corner of living area
- 1 downstairs bath/shower, toilet and laundry basin

KITCHEN
- Fully equipped kitchen with gas hob and oven
- Two retro gas fridges (one large, one small)

There is a metal spiral staircase (see photos) so please decide if it's suitable for you, your pets and children.

WHAT'S PROVIDED
- All bed linen (sheets, duvets, pillows and blankets)
- Firewood (for firebox and fireplace but BYO for outside fire)
- Games, magazines, books, puzzles, kitchen basics

WHAT'S BYO
- Bath and river towels.
- Wood for the outside fire

PRICING & DEPOSITS
A security deposit of $500 is required

PETS
Your dog is welcome if well behaved and doesn’t roam, but please take your dogs comfy bed and keep him/her off the furniture, thanks. No cats or other domestic animals.

AMENITIES
As Schuster’s Lodge is an ecolodge based in a remote location and not connected to any mains. It relies on a 12v solar system for lights/water pump, and gas bottles for cooking/hot water/refrigeration/BBQ and a water tank that captures the rain water. Nothing is in endless supply, so please be sensible about use (e.g. turning lights off after use, and not having long showers). The house is also on a septic tank system that only takes the toilet roll provided. Thank you.

POWERED BY THE SUN
- 12v DC lighting from a solar panel system creates a cosy ambience free from everyday electrical gadgets. Mobile phones and PC charging station available.

NOURISHED BY THE RAIN
- Rainwater collected in a tank provides potable water for the Lodge. Please be sensible with water usage.

LIBERATED FROM THE NETWORK
- No mobile reception in the valley (only fixed landline) but this is changing in November 2025!

SERENADED BY NATURE
- Listen to the river flow by as you fall asleep, and wake up with the birds in chorus

Prices

Base Price $490 / night
Weekend Price $500 / night
Cleaning Fee $275
Security Deposit $500
Extra People $35 (adult) and $35 (child) / night after 6 people
Discounts
10% discount for bookings of 5 nights or longer

Finding fulfillment

Based on traveller reviews, these are the top fulfilling moments experienced while staying here. Learn more

Unplugged

Peacefulness

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Reviews (36)

100% Recommended

Host

Simon and Jeannine

Email Verified

Phone Verified

Victoria

1Listings

I grew up spending most of my holidays at my dads hut in the Howqua Valley. My husband Simon grew up in Zimbabwe and spent most of his holidays by the Gairezi River. So for us, Schusters Lodge is the most magical place, a piece of tranquility along the Howqua River buried deep in nature. We love the walks in the valley, hikes up nearby peaks, swimming in the river or simply enjoying the warmth of an open fire under the stars, enjoying time with family and friends. Schusters Lodge is named after a fearless lady called Helen Schuster. She lived on her own in the valley, across the river from the legend Fred Fry who hand-built many of the mountain huts in the area, and indeed helped Helen build her original home, Howqua Hills, further down stream. Helen moved upstream to a sunnier spot in her older age, and built the original Schusters Lodge, a house on stilts with no right angles (apparently, she found the kite-shaped design in an American architectural magazine), and she lived there with her blue healer dogs and two gas fridges, Electrolux, that are still there today. Subsequent owners have built out the structure and it now accommodates up to 10 comfortably in an acre of grounds adjacent to the river.

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