The Rushes Riverside Retreat, situated in the historic town of Goolwa, offers a serene escape with its idyllic riverside setting. Unwind by the alfresco fireplace or take a short path to the wharf and enjoy dining at one of the cafes along this magical spot. This luxury accommodation features elegant decor with custom furnishings, natural stone and wood elements that blend seamlessly with its riverside theme.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 51938 sq ft
Popular amenities
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct
The Rushes – Goolwa Wharf Precinct, Murray River lower lakes, Coorong Cruise and Paddel steamer departure, Restaurant Precinct
Picturesque Local State Heritage Area
Perfect for an indulgent getaway. Located across from the Goolwa Market and Wharfe Precinct and a great place to go for walks along the river. 2 luxury bedrooms both with private ensuites. Plenty of space for a family or to share. The kitchen has an ice-maker, dishwasher and Meile appliances. The deep soaking bath is a favourite with guests to relax and unwind. Our alfresco fireplace provides a good spot to gather and enjoy a drink and our outdoor deck and BBQ area is a lovely spot overlooking the japanese inspired bamboo garden.
Take the path along the river to the historic wharf and wooden boat harbours dotted along the river. Enjoy breakfast or dinner at one of the cafes that share this magical spot.
The perfect place for a relaxing escape or just to spoil yourself.
The Space
The Rushes Riverside Retreat is spacious with an open living plan. Both bedrooms have a queen size bed, bathroom and open to the alfresco old red brick fireplace in the centre courtyard which is a feature with the courtyard light filtering into the interior space. There is one single sofa bed in the second bedroom. The decor is elegant with custom furnishings, natural stone and wood elements that blend with the riverside theme. A gourmet kitchen has a Nespresso coffee pod machine and ice maker as well as everything you need to prepare freshly cooked meals. The bedroom is luxurious and has a beautiful deep soaking bath and a very comfortable adjustable queen bed. Bedroom and living rooms have a separate heating and cooling system to ensure that guests are comfortable in every room. The property has free wifi, a smart tv and netflix.
Creating The Rushes
The Rushes was purpose built in 2015 as Tourist Accommodation in Goolwa’s State Heritage area with the assistance of the states expert Heritage Architect Consultants. The modest design and natural materials incorporated throughout combines the heritage of Goolwa and history of The Mighty Murray river into a warm welcoming contemporary tourist accommodation to share with its guests that come to enjoy the magic of the place and the river. The old red brick chimney stands out beside the twin gables of the roof on each side of it. The chimney smoke winding up in the open sky to the river with its historic wharf, steam train and paddle boat that dock beside it.
About
The Rushes sits beside the lower lakes of the River Murray and where this river ends its incredible 2530km journey as it flows through the Coorong before entering the Southern Ocean. Enjoy morning walks and the natural wonder of the beautiful Murray Lower Lakes and Goolwa Beach with its abundant bird life. Goolwa Beach is a popular surfing and fishing spot, famous for its Pippi’s or Cockles easily found on the beach when in season. The Coorong National Park is where the film Storm Boy is based and is a must see. The Coorong can be accessed through regular tours leaving from the wharf.
The Rushes cottage facade fits well into this State Heritage area and inside natural and recycled materials have been beautifully blended. Light fills the rooms from the central private courtyard that has an alfresco open fireplace constructed with old red bricks, the perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine. The Rushes gardens are a peaceful spot to relax over looking the river or amongst the lush gardens on the rear deck.
Goolwa offers a fine selection of restaurants, cafes, pubs and other eateries where you can enjoy a quick coffee or a full menu. Why not try the local seafood? Just a stone’s throw from The Rushes is the Goolwa Wharf Market. A great place to sample local produce, meet some of the locals or even pick up a bargain.
Goolwa is the only place in Australia where steam train meets steam paddle steamer with Goolwa being the home of the steam paddle steamer the Oscar W. The steam train departs from the wharfe on weekends and public holidays for its return trip along the coast to the beautiful seaside town of Victor Harbor.
For the history buff Goolwa has plenty to offer. Dating back to 1837 when the area was considered as the site for the colony’s capital. It is also the home of Australia’s first public railway and the filming of the original Storm Boy. There’s plenty to see with local heritage architecture particularly in the area known as Little Scotland and a selection of art galleries and shops.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach loungers
Pool/Spa
Hot tub
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car recommended
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Sofa bed
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Netflix
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Stereo
Streaming services
Video library
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Climate control
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a rural location
Near a hospital
Near the sea
On a lake
On a river
On the waterfront
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Motor boating nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Whale watching nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
General
Garden
Unit size: 1,938 square feet
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You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Goolwa, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Goolwa Museum and Goolwa Old Railway Superintendent's Cottage are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Steam Exchange Brewery and Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club Marina. Travelling with kids? Consider Urimbirra Wildlife Park and Nangawooka Flora Reserve. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and hiking/biking trails. Visit our Goolwa travel guide
Is The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct located?
This family-friendly Goolwa holiday home is located on the waterfront, just steps away from Artworx Gallery and Goolwa Wharf Markets. Goolwa Museum and Goolwa Old Railway Superintendent's Cottage are also within 5 minutes. Goolwa Station is only a 2-minute walk.
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The Rushes Riverside Goolwa - State Heritage Precinct Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Lovely property - better than expected, beautiful decor. Close to all facilities, restaurants Goolwa market and Cockle train. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
allanga1993
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Chris M.
11 Aug 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
birthday getaway
fabulous property ,very clean ,comfortable,made for a great getaway.
The Rushes is in a great location handy to Goolwa restaurants and attractions. Very high standard and well presented accommodation perfect for two couples holidaying together. Would highly recommend!
Prefect location just a short stroll from Goolwa wharf and across the road from Hays kitchen. Lots of thoughtful touches provided. The courtyard fireplace was amazing for our winter getaway. Doreen was super responsive to our queries and recommended some great places to eat
Second time we have stayed here and it was amazing as expected. Clean, well equipped and beautifully furnished in the heart of Goolwa. Can’t wait to return
Beautiful property, just like home experience. Everything you could need on hand and the location just a short walk to all attractions and restaurants etc. Thank you Doreen.
Our stay was terrific - The Rushes was impeccably furnished with the courtyard and open fireplace a real highlight for the family. Doreen has an incredible eye for detail and we had absolutely everything we needed during our stay. The bathtub in the master bedroom was perfection!
We stayed at this lovely Goolwa property. The owner and manager, Doreen, made it a wonderful stay for us through her attention to detail, the cleanliness of the property and the beautiful design of the premises both inside and out. The place is located close to the heart of Goolwa, has easy private parking, and is on a picturesque walk along the foreshore, railway and parks nearby. We would be delighted to return!
We had a fantastic and fun stay at The Rushes, the layout of two master bedrooms with own bathrooms, seperated by the courtyard for privacy was perfect for two couples sharing the accomodation. The house was beautifully decorated, clean and very generous provisions were provided in both the kitchen and the bathrooms, the kitchen was set up well with everything you could need for your stay, although there was a shortage of mugs for 4 people we managed. The location to the wharf and the easter markets was fantastic and just a short walk into the main street was appreciated too. We had a great time and have already been discussing when we can go stay again. Thank you for having us.
Immaculately decorated, beautifully presented, excellent location - from The Rushes it is an easy walk to the Main Street, Hector’s wharf, the Riverside Cafe on Liverpool Road and Bombora on the river. The location made it possible for us to give the car a holiday and walk along the riverside walking track in both directions. The sheltered private garden was a great place for morning book reading. The house has every amenity for a very comfortable stay. We didn’t have the opportunity to use the outside fire place in the courtyard but that’s a reason for us to return for another visit. We all had a very enjoyable and relaxing time.
The Rushes was the perfect place for a last minute escape. Supurbly appointed, warm, comfortable and well equipped for us to dine in when needed. The house has a perfect layout to share with our friends who joined us for several days, both bedrooms have there own bathrooms and are private. We loved the central living area and the house is so well situated to the Goolwa heritsge areas and the whaves. Beautiful walks, the Cockle train (Steam train) was running which was an added bonus. Lunch at Kuti Shack was sunning and the open fire in the internal courtyard was fun! The entire property was spotless and our hosts were so kind and accommodating when we had to delay our arrival by 24 hours. We can not recomend the property highly enough!
Beautiful property perfectly located within short walking distance to both the Goolwa wharf and Main Street, with plenty of dining options for a relaxing stay!
The property was extremely clean and tidy and provided all the comforts of home. The large bedroom bath and outdoor fireplace made for a cosy winter break.