The Magpie Nest Cottage at Putty Retreats
Your private cozy home base for a week of whatever you choose: easy productivity, wilderness immersion, and relaxation.
This small house was renovated in 2025-6 with a new kitchen, updated bathroom, & fresh electricals including aircon.
Staying here is gorgeous any time. Staying for a retreat is magical because someone else is tending to you while you are fully focused on your project. Bring your book outline, your sticky notes, your calendar, your storyboard, whatever you need to finally get that thing DONE.
Someone else is putting a plate of delicious food in front of you and someone else is washing up afterwards. Someone else can light the fire, bring in more wood, open the windows, start the kettle.
Someone else is taking care of all the things that might distract you, and this is why you’ll get more done than you expect.
Commit to a week away to work on your big project and not the other 582 things competing for your time.
Let your nervous system respond to the slower pace, distance from the city, quiet and the sounds of nature.
Discover how letting your body relax means your brain can do important work like planning, creating, editing, and ideating.
The Magpie Nest has three private bedrooms, each with a queen bed, and a shared bathroom with a shower and tub. Remodeling has finished and we’re in the decoration stage.
It’s a modest accommodation with luxury in the places that matter like high thread-count sheets, large towels, and great coffee.
The cottage includes working space inside at several desks and tables. You’ll have a cozy fire or aircon when it’s needed. There are numerous power points, lamps, and lounge chairs. You can choose the balance of work time and nature exploration that suits you.
Three meals each day will be provided as part of your stay, entirely custom to your dietary requirements. Guests will share a full kitchen for self-catered snacks.
The property is fragrance-free and uses natural materials wherever possible.
You’ll have secure parking on-site, and you’ll have access to walk throughout the property including manicured lawns, bushwalking, and two dams.
When you’re ready it’s a short trip to real wilderness and afterwards a warm shower and cozy bed.
Questions?
Answers.
What is a micro-retreat?
A micro-retreat is a supported getaway for relaxation and rejuvenation for one to four people. You and your group will get catering, accommodation, and nature to enjoy.
You can choose the supported get-it-done model or the full VIP experience.
Where is it?
Putty is in the lower Hunter valley, about two hours northwest of Sydney. It’s a rural area surrounded by national parkland.
What activities are offered?
The retreat schedule can include moving meditation, guided bushwalking, bird-watching, wallaby-watching, sound baths, arts’n’crafts, and personalised workshops. We will create a schedule with you so each week is unique.
What if it rains?
Depending on how hard it’s raining, we might offer ponchos and continue on with bushwalking, bird watching, etc.; we might switch to exploring by buggy; or we might move activities inside to the studio or even the house up the hill.
Are accommodations private?
Yes, your group will have the entire cottage and each participant has a private bedroom.
Is the cottage accessible?
The cottage is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchairs.
Entry to the cottage includes four steps up to the front door.
What should I bring?
It’s important to remember that the valley is often both colder than and warmer than Sydney, even on the same day. You’ll want options and layers.
Bring plenty of warm clothes so you can explore freely at night or in the damp.
Bring your binoculars if you have some, or borrow a pair from us.
Be sure to bring all your medications because the nearest chemist is an hour and a half away.
What is the food like?
We provide full catering of three meals per day with a focus on healthy, nourishing meals that are freshly prepared.
We can accommodate dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and low FODMAP.
What supplies are in the kitchen?
The kitchen is well stocked. See the full inventory to look inside each drawer.
How do I book a retreat?
Click the Booking button at the top of every page to send an email with your preferred type and dates and we’ll get back to you right away. We’ll have a short call to discuss options.
Who can join a retreat?
Our retreats are open to all adults seeking personal growth and connection with nature.
What items are included with the cottage?
The cottage is a fully stocked house. View the full inventory and look inside the drawers on a separate page here.
What cleaning products are used?
There’s no synthetic fragrances in any products we use. Essential oils like eucalyptus are in some products and others are entirely un-scented.
What's not included?
Travel to and from Putty is not part of the retreat package.
Snacks or in-between-meals — unless specifically discussed on the catering call
Alcohol is not provided and not for sale on-site.
Four-wheel driving and dirt bikes are not allowed on these properties.
Pets are not allowed.
What about internet?
You may or may not have cell service in Putty (Telstra is most likely). There is satellite wifi at the cottage. There’s no cell service or wifi in Dark Arm Valley.
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