Brief overnight stay at Aphid's Retreat on 22 December provided a welcome rest break after a long drive in Pre-Christmas holiday traffic. The cottage was ready with a warm loaf of home baked bread and goodies in the fridge and cupboard to enabling a very easy settling in. Ahh! how I love this cottage and the homestead. I met the friendly Nicole on my departure the next morning, I confirmed my return visit booked for 28 December'15 to 2 January 2016. After the Christmas celebrations further north with family it was heaven to return to Aphid's on December 28th with the intent of spending New Years Eve in this tranquil calming environment. The aroma of the lit candles the sound of the instrumental CD playing gentle music greeted me and once again another warm loaf of freshly baked bread made me feel I had returned home. Stewart and Nicole had also provided a few surprises by way of home made confectionary, and slices of Christmas pudding as well as a bottle of "bubbly" to be opened on NYE. Jasper the ever friendly and playful dog greeted me with his favourite ball ready for "play" time. My husband packed the monopoly board game and for the next 5 days we relaxed played monopoly and explored the Kempsey region making short trips to Crescent Head, South West Rocks and Port Macquarie. We relaxed at Aphid's soaking up the serenity of the homestead and the calmness of the cottage. the cottage is clean comforting and cosy. The bed linen is of the highest quality and the kitchen is well equipped with every utensil one could ever need for food preparation for long stays. There are magazines, books and CD's provided and Kempsey is a mere 5km away if you need to shop or wish to dine at a café, restaurant. Stewart and Nicole are friendly, helpful and very accommodating. Aphid's is well and truly ranked as our most favourite destination of all the Airbnb locations we have experienced thus far. Since September 2015 we have stayed at Aphid's 3 times and we will be staying many more times. My husband and I still rank Aphid's as a 12 out of 10.