Chilverton Cottages & Day Spa - Ravenshoe, Queensland

R R.

Perfect off grid detox.
Gwen went out of her way to make our group of 6 and our dogs very welcome.
Was a perfect getaway for all. Comfortable with beautiful bush gardens. The off leash area was great for a dog play. Thoroughly enjoyed our weekend with log fires and pot bellies.

Alicia G.

I have always wanted to go on a holiday escape to an idyllical location with my fury doggy companion Hudson, but never knew where to look! To be honest, there are not a lot of dog friendly accommodations around, but when my colleague showed me pictures of her get away with her doggy companion and suggested I try Chilverton Cottages (which is one she really wants to try) – I looked up the website and couldn’t resist booking in for our first ever doggie friendly holiday!||From the moment my dog and I arrived we felt the peaceful beauty and relaxation of Chilverton Cottages grounds permeate through our bones! I was particularly impressed by the owner – Gwen’s knowledge of dogs, and her ability to make my boy Hudson feel completely comfortable in her presence. Hudson is known to be slow to warm up and a bit anxious around new people, Gwen handled him beautifully to the point that every morning on our walk Hudson pulled me up the hill to see if Gwen was around… Hudson would even look through her front windows just to make sure she wasn’t inside! Such is Gwen’s calming presence for Hudson that upon our departure Hudson gave Gwen a lick on her leg and fell asleep at her feet while we were talking!||On to our stay…. We were lucky enough to have the Platypus Cottage right on the riverfront of the Millstream. Platypus Cottage was beautifully fitted out with a comfy bed that had views to nature out every window, ample kitchen space (Gwen kindly baked us some sourdough bread for our arrival and kitted out the kitchen with jams, yoghurts and chia puddings – yum!), huge spa bath, and (the best bit) a cosy living room with a potbelly fire place! Even better, Hudson was allowed to stay inside too – although Hudson preferred the spacious veranda where he could sniff all manners of wildlife, from the birds in the trees and bandicoots on the ground, to the water birds that would occasionally visit looking for some food in the river. Gwen mentioned there is limited phone reception but there was satellite tv when we arrived, and to be honest this added to the experience! It was so lovely to completely switch off from the 24/7 mode of being available, and watching satellite tv from all parts of the country was actually really refreshing however, we didn’t have the tv on that much as we just couldn’t pull ourselves way from the view of the river from the veranda!||Now, let’s talk about that veranda….my goodness we had to peel ourselves off that veranda just to say we’ve done something! The veranda is the perfect spot to watch turtles (we saw many at all times of the day) and watch the Platypus… yes, we saw many of them too!!! True to Gwen’s word, the Platypus make their way in one direction in the morning, only to travel in the opposite direction in the afternoon… they were just delightful to watch, so much so that I held my breath and didn’t move just to make sure they didn’t dive under the water too soon! Even Hudson would watch with ears up wondering about these curious little creatures! ||The relaxation Hudson and I experienced on the veranda was only interrupted by our need to walk around the grounds – and what beautifully manicured grounds they are… Hudson’s favourite was the puppy park (the only place dogs are allowed off lead on the grounds), which was where he ran and ran, while I chased him…. The cold weather definitely agrees with German Shepherds! Hudson conquered the suspension bridge - he was so proud of himself when he first went across that he needed to cross the bridge daily! The pathways that meandered around the grounds had quaint little spots where we could stop and sit, and just enjoy nature… true relaxation with your fury best friend at its best!||Gwen was a beautiful and gracious host who really keeps all of your questions in mind… when I told Gwen that Hudson does shed a bit of hair and asked if there was a broom in the cottage that I could use to clean his hair up with… Gwen kindly dropped a vacuum cleaner down there for me to use, and I didn’t even ask! It’s Gwen’s attention to detail and real care for the guest that stay and Chilverton Cottages that made our stay extra special… especially as this was our first doggie holiday! The only drawbacks I could possibly say, is that we should have booked for three days instead of two, and booked a massage, which is also conveniently located on the grounds…. Oh well – next time!||Gwen if I could our stay 6 out of 5 I would!!!||Overall, if you’re serious about taking a holiday with your fury doggie best friend in a place that truly has a love and respect for nature with fantastic hosts, then I highly recommend you book into Chilverton Cottages for your next doggie friendly holiday! 😊

Jade F.

What a beautiful place to stay! Dog friendly cottages available on the river, so much wildlife to watch from the balcony.

Gwen is fab! We had her beautiful homemade lasagne our first night and she minded our dog, Mojo on the Saturday for us so we could go explore some waterfalls.

Overall, perfect weekend away

Stephanie H.

Lovely pet friendly tranquil setting but accommodation described as luxury cottage and is a small basic cabin with the hum of the noise from the highway.
Very strict check in at 1500 - 1600 due to a gate? Asked to arrive a little earlier as no back to back bookings and not allowed, shame for a small business. Nice that the fire was laid and ready to light as this was the only source of heating, no electrical heating. Lucky we brought blankets as very cold and our own towels as the supplied ones were damp. The kitchen needs to be upgraded, cupboard door hinge falling off, no hob or dishwasher.

Lyn R.

Wanting two days of rest and relaxation, I booked and paid for accommodation, breakfast and a massage. The property has lovely gardens and is not far from Ravenshoe. |As I approached the cottage, I noticed an odour that smelt like animal (possum?) urine around the front verandah. Inside, the cottage was functional and reasonably equipped, albeit needing some cleaning in the corners. However, the smell I had noticed earlier permeated the property all night.|Breakfast was left in the fridge; fruit, juice, butter, jam, yoghurt, with a hard doughy loaf of bread on the counter. Unfortunately the pillows were a choice of either hard or lumpy.|When I woke early in the morning the unpleasant odour was still very strong and was making me nauseous. I decided that I could not abide it for a second night, so I packed up and went to the office to advise there was an odour problem and I was unable to stay. I offered to pay for the second night, but requested a refund for three breakfasts (they had charged me twice) and the unused massage.|The female owner was very unpleasant. She demanded that I returned to the cottage with her to prove there was no odour. I refused, explaining the smell made me nauseous, and I left.|The subsequent email correspondence between the owner and I has been quite extraordinary. I have received a long rant denying the smell existed, suggesting it was my own clothes that smelt, making unpleasant personal comments about me and advising “if I would like to take further action (she) would put this matter into the hands of our legal team”.|Unsurprisingly, I have also not received the requested refund for services not provided.|My advice to future patrons is not to complain about genuine problems or issues, to avoid being threatened or abused by the owner. You certainly won’t be treated with courtesy.

Wayne P.

We drove from Atherton to Chilverton Cottages for a wonderful dinner experience. The trip is picturesque and well worth the drive. We were warmly welcomed by Gwen, with a glass of champagne as we had a leisurely wander through the beautiful gardens. Then treated to a lovely home cooked meal - 6 courses! Gwen was friendly and hospitable, the dinner very good. The restaurant is quaint, with country style decor, very welcoming. All in all, well worth the drive there and a great experience. And not only is the place dog friendly, but doggie dinners are catered for!

suzie M.

We have just come back from a wonderful stay at Chilverton Cottages over the Christmas period. Three days of total relaxation. Platypus cottage directly overlooks the river & it was hard to do anything other than stare at the river looking at the tortoises & hoping to see a platypus ( which we did!) And all the wonderful bird noise was a delightful backdrop to the river.
Gwen cooked us a wonderful 3 course meal on Christmas Eve for my birthday. How she had the time & energy I do not know as the next day we had a most amazing Christmas lunch . It included every possible item you could want on your Christmas table. And then some!
Gwen is a wonderful host while Bruce is kept very busy attending to the grounds.
The cottage itself was a delight. Very comfortable & clean. We loved it & so did our puppy dog & we hope to have the chance to stay again.

Geoff I.

If you want to take your fur baby with you on a holiday, staying in a nice location then this is the place for you. Pets are well catered for and welcomed. We stayed in the Lumholtz apartment which is quite roomy for us and our large shepherd. The apartment had everything - BBQ, coffee machine, soft towels, comfy bed and lounge and even a day bed. The fenced grassy yard with an outdoor setting also added a nice touch. The property itself is well maintained, with many trails to follow along the river and in the forest. We enjoyed watching the birdlife while sipping a drink on the restaurant veranda before sitting down to a 3 course home-cooked meal. The owners are only too happy to make your stay enjoyable. The location is easy driving to many tourist attractions.