Bliss. No other word could describe this place better! Mark & Geoff were the hosts with the mosts. From the moment of booking, communication was warm, friendly, prompt and full of helpful tips for our stay. The house could not be more well equipped. Everything you could possibly need (and more!) is right there at your fingertips. The boat shed on the the beach was incredible. Kayaks, inflatable flamingo (and a host of other blow-ups), beach toys for the kids, a bar fridge to keep food and drinks in, deck chairs and beach towels… like I’ve said, everything you could possibly need. The stairs up to the house can be a bit daunting at first… but I actually appreciated the leg workout by the end of the trip - it made me feel like I was doing something to work of all of the drinks and delicious foods consumed. On the subject of food, you must be a little prepared on this front - being a boat access only property (we arrived by barge which drops you right on the sand in front of the house). Should you run short of food though, please do take up Mark & Geoff’s suggestion in the guest guide and order some wharf-delivered prawns (so fresh and delicious) from Cellar By The Sea. They also have salads, alcohol, bread, coffee and a range of other scrumptious treats on their boat. You must be careful of your water usage here as all you’ve got are the water tanks - but it’s not hard, if you follow the rules. Our kids actually commented on the drive back that it made them realise how excessive we are with our water usage at home! Some of the highlights of our trip: the view from the balcony was absolutely incredible (one night we witnessed the moonlight paving a path across the ocean to Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Another day, after rain, the most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever seen), watching little hermit crabs scurry around beneath the surface of the water right out front of the house (the kids were fascinated!), lunching on prawns and beers right on the beach out front of the house on a hot summer day, taking part of a fabulous bushwalk to Resolute Beach (another hidden gem), collecting some excellent shells with the kids on our daily walks along the beach, meeting the locals (always friendly) and chatting about the history of Mackerel, and on our final night taking some of our hosts’ records for a spin over a few gin and tonics. Honestly, one of the best houses I’ve ever stayed in. Some beautiful, life-long memories made here. A hidden gem of a place and well worth the added effort to get to. We can’t wait to revisit. Thank you, thank you, Geoff and Mark!