Everybody needs a little bit of luxury in their life, so when I heard about The Nest in Gundaroo I couldn’t wait to check it out. By Aine Dowling

The Nest is a brand new boutique, luxury accommodation of five unique villas on the main street of Gundaroo. Managed by mother and daughter team Sylvia Gleeson and Lana Mitchell, The Nest accepted its first guests on Friday 11 December after a two-year build. Each villa (or nest if you prefer) is slightly different, but all are designed with comfort for the traveller in mind.

Up front is the entrance and reception, with a large open space that is available for rent to a local business and would make a perfect art/design collective. The five villas are at the rear of the property and there is ample parking at the front as well as each villa. Three villas are studio style and two are double storey with the bedroom in the loft. All villas include a king size bed and two have an extra day-bed. All have a lounge and dining area, kitchen with full size fridge, hotplates and microwave, full bathroom facilities, ceiling fans, and wood burning fires to keep you snuggly warm in winter.

The villas have been furnished by 1825 Interiors and have an authentic country look and feel.

The Nest team approached the Gundaroo community for feedback before the build and according to Sylvia the community was overwhelmingly in favour of the boutique development. “We were thrilled that the community got behind us when we put our ideas up,” says Sylvia, “and since then they’ve been very enthusiastic about the accommodation. We invited them to an open day and red ribbon cutting by the Mayor of Yass before we opened, and the feedback on the villas was very positive.”

Heron has been designed as a honeymoon, anniversary or special occasion suite, with full dressing area off the bedroom (to accommodate gowns and tuxedos), king size bed with lots of plump pillows and cushions, bathroom with double bath and shower, and full length verandah on which to sip your pre-dinner drinks or bubbly. The Heron sleeps two people.

Cockatoo has disabled and wheelchair access and facilities and includes king size bed and day-bed (sleeping up to three people), kitchen, bathroom, lounge and dining.

Magpie sleeps two people in its king size bed, and has big soft and squishy lounges to relax in, kitchen, dining, country bathroom, and verandah.

Rosella and Kestrel are the loft villas with the bedroom upstairs. The Rosella also includes a day-bed and sleeps up to three people. Both villas have the same amenities with king size beds, kitchens, bathrooms, and lovely seating areas.

The Nest opened in early December and is already fully booked over the Christmas period. “We have award winning restaurants and cafés in Gundaroo,” says Sylvia, “including Grazing and Cork St Café pizzas, and both do function menus so are ideal for weddings, and special birthdays, events, and public holidays. We’ve already had enquiries from people who have booked small events and celebrations in Gundaroo and don’t want to drive home so they’re choosing to stay here and make their event even more special. The villas are perfect for a bridal party to prepare for the wedding, and one of our villas is set up especially as wedding/honeymoon suite and is perfect for the bride and groom on their wedding night.”

Accommodation can also include continental or cook-it-yourself breakfast. Tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer, and TV are included, and cots, high chairs and wifi are available.

Check out their website and find them on Facebook.