Kangaroo Valley hideaway has character-laden home and studio for nature lovers

This home among the gum trees in the picturesque Kangaroo Valley, only two hours from Canberra, could be a restful weekend retreat, an artist’s colony or a children’s adventure playground.

Ferndale is a 1.9ha, or just under five-acre, treed block with a double-storey country cottage and separate studio only a short seven-minute drive to the rural village of Kangaroo Valley.

Found down a country lane at 587 Mount Scanzi Road, Ferndale‘s beautiful forest setting, dam, walking tracks and plentiful birdlife and native fauna make it a nature lover’s delight. It is on the market at $1,025,000 – $1,125,000.

Agent Frank Carter from Raine and Horne, Bowral, said that Ferndale was the best of both worlds – private and peaceful but with shops, services, cafes and the local school close by.

The charming two-bedroom timber cottage set on a cleared space in the woods has an inviting sun-drenched, north-facing, timber-decked veranda on two sides to rock back, relax and take in the views.

Inside, polished timber floors, high vaulted ceilings and cedar window frames give it a rustic feel and warm tones, while a cast iron slow combustion heater in the middle of the living area keeps the downstairs space cosy in the cooler months. Ceiling to floor windows opens the cottage to the outdoors and allows the light to pour in.

That country feel continues in the kitchen with Tasmanian oak joinery, a gas range and large pantry. A separate dining room could also be converted into a third bedroom.

There is also a portico entry where you can hang coats and take off footwear, a modern bathroom, separate toilet and large laundry.

Upstairs, lovely feature windows frame the forest in the bedrooms, which continue that natural look and feel with wood panelled ceilings and polished timber floorboards.

The barn-style studio, located about 100 metres away from the cottage, is a bonus. Built in a similar style, it is a double-storey weatherboard structure with Colorbond roof.

Ideal for extra family accommodation, artist’s studio or home business, it has two living areas, with a bathroom and studio space downstairs and a huge seven-metre long carpeted loft room upstairs. There is also an adjoining carport.

You can raise your own chickens with a netted, fenced chicken run and house with a laying area already established, and small horse yard and shelter would be perfect for a children’s pony.

The dam and two rainwater tanks totalling just over 30,000 litres provide water needs. Reverse cycle air conditioning keeps the summer heat at bay, and there is electric hot water and bottled gas.

Mr Carter said interest had been mainly from those seeking a weekender to escape the city for some peace and quiet.

“You can light a fire, pour a glass of wine, put the feet up, unpack the bags and chill out,” Mr Carter said.

The Kangaroo Valley Country Club golf course is minutes away on the way to the village and Ferndale is only 40 minutes to the coast, making it perfect for a holiday rental property through Airbnb, when not enjoying the sylvan tranquility yourself.

The current owners have held Ferndale as an investment property for the past five years, during which it has been permanently tenanted.

For more information call Frank Barker on 0456 555 422 or go here.