



1880's Church by the Colo River
Church in Lower Portland, Sydney, NSW, AU
96% Recommended•
5 people
Pet-friendly
A charming little Church from the year eighteen eighty nearby the Colo river. The Church is on an acre of land and is surrounded with gardens. There are fruit trees, herbs and veggies in season. If you are lucky you should be able to collect some asparagus in the morning, lime and lemons, guavas... pears and kumquats. It has a beautiful view of an olive grove down to the river and over the mountains.
Features and Amenities
2 bedrooms
3 beds
1 bathroom
Air conditioning
Bath
BBQ
Details
- Check in after 2:00pmCheck out before 10:00am
- Weekday minimum booking: 2 nightsWeekend minimum booking: 2 nights
Cancellation Policy:
Receive a 50% refund of the total booking amount (minus service fee) up until 1 week prior to check-in.
STRA Registration: PID-STRA-10012
Additional Information
CHURCH DETAILS
This charming little converted Church has 2 bedrooms. The main bedroom located upstairs on the mezzanine has a queen bed and a walk-in wardrobe and the second bedroom has a bunk bed: double at the bottom and single at the top of the bunk bed. A cot or toddler bed is also available for babies & toddlers (let me know your preference when booking).
A light filled kitchen and dining room, opened onto the garden on one side and the lounge room and bathroom on the other side. The bathroom has a bath and a large shower. There is an outdoor sitting area and a BBQ and a cubby house for the little ones.
For those who have a boat there is a good public boat ramp 400m away at the Skeleton Rock Reserve. There is no private access to the river from the Church itself but via Skeleton Reserve only.
Please note we strictly do not allow any gatherings, parties at the Church, the space is just not suitable for larger groups. You’re most welcome to stay at the Church around the time of your wedding, please get in touch to discuss if you'd like. Please respect our wishes and our neighbours.
- Please leave the house as you find it and please be mindful of water usage as we are on tank water.
- We would appreciate if you take your shoes off going upstairs.
- The gas stove and oven are brand new, please only wipe with a clean microfibre cloth and keep the oven tray lined with foil.
- Please clean the BBQ and close the BBQ gas bottle after use.
- Be sure to latch the french doors to the deck, so the wind doesn't slam them open or close.
- Dogs are welcome at the Church providing they do not scratch doors are floors, please note the garden is not fully fenced off and wildlife such as wallabies, guinea fowls, chickens, possums, neighbours dogs and cats might also pop by our garden for a visit from time to time, so make sure your puppy is always on sight to respond and would not chase them as much as possible.
GUEST ACCESS
The guest will have use of the whole house, bikes for cruising along the river on Green Road, and use of the gardens as fenced off naturally by the trees and fences around.
PLEASE NOTE
These are the things we love doing:
Walking up the country dirt road or walking to the ferry, crossing the river and getting a cold drink or an icecream from the local pizzeria on the water.
Cycling along the river.
Wine tasting at Tizzana winery
Homemade scones and tea at the oldest church in Nsw, Ebeneezer church.
Picking up freshly caught prawns from the local trawler Gary Howard.
Lunch at the apple bar in Bilpin after fruit picking.
Taking the kids to Wilberforce Pioneers Australiana Park on Sundays.
A country drive and dinner at the Settlers Arms in St Albans
A walk around the Botanical gardens and lunch at The Potager after at Mount Tomah.
.....but our favourite is to bring all the supplies and not go anywhere!
This charming little converted Church has 2 bedrooms. The main bedroom located upstairs on the mezzanine has a queen bed and a walk-in wardrobe and the second bedroom has a bunk bed: double at the bottom and single at the top of the bunk bed. A cot or toddler bed is also available for babies & toddlers (let me know your preference when booking).
A light filled kitchen and dining room, opened onto the garden on one side and the lounge room and bathroom on the other side. The bathroom has a bath and a large shower. There is an outdoor sitting area and a BBQ and a cubby house for the little ones.
For those who have a boat there is a good public boat ramp 400m away at the Skeleton Rock Reserve. There is no private access to the river from the Church itself but via Skeleton Reserve only.
Please note we strictly do not allow any gatherings, parties at the Church, the space is just not suitable for larger groups. You’re most welcome to stay at the Church around the time of your wedding, please get in touch to discuss if you'd like. Please respect our wishes and our neighbours.
- Please leave the house as you find it and please be mindful of water usage as we are on tank water.
- We would appreciate if you take your shoes off going upstairs.
- The gas stove and oven are brand new, please only wipe with a clean microfibre cloth and keep the oven tray lined with foil.
- Please clean the BBQ and close the BBQ gas bottle after use.
- Be sure to latch the french doors to the deck, so the wind doesn't slam them open or close.
- Dogs are welcome at the Church providing they do not scratch doors are floors, please note the garden is not fully fenced off and wildlife such as wallabies, guinea fowls, chickens, possums, neighbours dogs and cats might also pop by our garden for a visit from time to time, so make sure your puppy is always on sight to respond and would not chase them as much as possible.
GUEST ACCESS
The guest will have use of the whole house, bikes for cruising along the river on Green Road, and use of the gardens as fenced off naturally by the trees and fences around.
PLEASE NOTE
These are the things we love doing:
Walking up the country dirt road or walking to the ferry, crossing the river and getting a cold drink or an icecream from the local pizzeria on the water.
Cycling along the river.
Wine tasting at Tizzana winery
Homemade scones and tea at the oldest church in Nsw, Ebeneezer church.
Picking up freshly caught prawns from the local trawler Gary Howard.
Lunch at the apple bar in Bilpin after fruit picking.
Taking the kids to Wilberforce Pioneers Australiana Park on Sundays.
A country drive and dinner at the Settlers Arms in St Albans
A walk around the Botanical gardens and lunch at The Potager after at Mount Tomah.
.....but our favourite is to bring all the supplies and not go anywhere!
Prices
- Base Price $310 / night
- Weekend Price $320 / night
- Cleaning Fee $130
- Extra People $50 (adult) and $30 (child) / night after 3 people
Finding fulfillment
Based on traveller reviews, these are the top fulfilling moments experienced while staying here. Learn more
Slowness
Unplugged
Peacefulness
Reviews (27)
96% Recommended
Łukasz
26 Jul 2026
Favourite church we have ever stayed at! Place is great, even nicer and cozier that photos make it look!
Joy
Groundedness
Slowness
Peacefulness
Human connection
Unplugged
Cheryl
19 Apr 2026
We had never been to this area before and really enjoyed exploring the region - fruit picking followed by a delicious lunch in Bilpin, a drink at the Settlers Arms, a visit to the local wineries, walk...s on the quiet country roads with our dogs around sunset and a ferry ride over to thw Paradise Cafe for dinner. When not out and about we had a really relaxing time here and would recommend to anyone looking for some peace and quiet. Gorgeous view, plenty of birdlife and a great little cottage. Tessa and family were lovely and helpful hosts.
Rejuvenation
Joy
Freedom
Slowness
Peacefulness
Unplugged
Aafia
24 Mar 2025
We had such a peaceful and memorable stay at Tessa’s beautiful church home. It’s a truly special spot, in nature, full of character, and just a short drive from Sydney. The space is cozy, stylish, and... thoughtfully stocked, especially the kitchen which had everything we needed and more.
Tessa was an amazing host, super responsive, kind, and flexible with check-out, which we really appreciated. Highly recommend for a relaxing getaway - can’t wait to come back in the winter so we can light the fire!
Tessa was an amazing host, super responsive, kind, and flexible with check-out, which we really appreciated. Highly recommend for a relaxing getaway - can’t wait to come back in the winter so we can light the fire!
Freedom
Rejuvenation
Unplugged
Groundedness
Slowness
Human connection
+1
Peacefulness
Host
Tessa
Email Verified
Phone Verified
Lower Portland
1Listings
We are a Franco-Australian family living in Sydney, with our 2 gorgeous girl and boy. When we don't have the chance to travel, we enjoy spending our weekends away in the Hawkesbury River, relaxing, cooking and spending time together or visiting and inviting friends over.
Ask a QuestionAdventures on the Property
These are the exclusive natural wonders and outdoor activities within the property boundaries.
Colo River
The neighbourhood is friendly and helpful. A couple of dogs like to pop by, a few wallabies late afternoon might pop around too and you might encounter a couple of guinea fowls. It's a quiet country hamlet at the crossroad of the Hawkesbury and the Colo River.
The Stars Are Yours
With no streets light around and no city light haze. on a clear night the stars will be yours to discover!
Outdoor Equipment Provided
Enjoy the outdoors with the following equipment included in your stay.
Yoga mat (3)
Fishing Rod (2)
Canoe (1)
Bike (2)
One adult bike has a baby seat.
2 adjustable helmets and a kids bike
Various outdoor games, plenty of room to play around and create your own adventure.
1 large best swing for a lazy afternoon snooze and a large classic swing to touch the sky!
Yoga mats for sunrise yoga sessions on the deck!
2 adjustable helmets and a kids bike
Various outdoor games, plenty of room to play around and create your own adventure.
1 large best swing for a lazy afternoon snooze and a large classic swing to touch the sky!
Yoga mats for sunrise yoga sessions on the deck!
Location
The map shows the listing location and awesome adventures nearby.
Listing location
Adventures nearby
Adventures Nearby
Here are some details about the adventures nearby. Refer to the map for their location.
Try Your Luck At Fishing
Try your luck at dishing from Skeleton reserve, 5 min walk from the Church, or from the canoe!
Some also try by the ferry tops
Some also try by the ferry tops
Bike Ride To Skeleton Reserve
We took a quick bike ride to Skeleton reserve to watch the ferryboats come and go. Next time we plan to take the ferry across to Paradise Cafe for lunch.
Bike By The River
Take a ride along the river. On Green’s road towards the Juniors.
An easy 30/40 min return trip. We have 2 bikes on location including one with a baby seat and 2 adults and a kid helmet. A balance bike and a kid bike are also available.
An easy 30/40 min return trip. We have 2 bikes on location including one with a baby seat and 2 adults and a kid helmet. A balance bike and a kid bike are also available.
Country Walk Bushwalking
If you are up for an easy local walk up the hill, follow the road up and come down when you come across the tree in the middle of the road. Explore the river and meander past historic towns and magnificent national parks.
Drive By The River
Hop in the Lower Portland Ferry, take a left and drive by the river towards Wiseman ferry. Stop by for lunch at the old Pub and make your way around and back through Greens road. 1hr round trip.
Lunch At Tractor 828
A quick stop for Lunch at Tractor 828. The kids enjoyed the cubby while we enjoyed a coffee.
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