Unlock the Secrets of Sutherland Downs Retreat: Top Hosting Tips from Ben and Ali

Looking for the ultimate escape to the North Coast? Discover the hidden gem that is Sutherland Downs Retreat at Coomba Bay on the north coast of NSW. It’s where beautiful countryside meets coastal charm. At Travellarks, we’re proud to showcase hosts like Ben and Ali, the passionate owners behind this stunning retreat. In this exclusive guide, Ben and Ali share their top holiday ownership tips that have made Sutherland Downs a favourite getaway for guests from all walks of life. Whether you’re planning a family reunion, work retreat, or just a relaxing holiday, their insights will give you an inside look at what makes their retreat so special.

1. Tell Us a Little About Yourselves

We’re Ben and Ali. We live on the Northern Beaches of Sydney with our three kids.

2. How Did You Enter into the Accommodation Business?

We had been looking for rural properties close to the beaches, especially in the Pacific Palms area. Living near Dee Why, we loved the idea of owning a large property in one of our favourite parts of the world. The prospect of offering spacious, affordable accommodation for larger groups was a big draw. After a couple of attempts, we were thrilled to have an offer accepted on Sutherland Downs.

3. What’s Your Take on Sutherland Downs’ 9 Top Holiday Ownership Tips?

1. Community Connection

We’re proud to have a fantastic local team—Becky, our manager, and Aiden, who helps maintain the property—ensuring everything is sparkling and ready for guests. We rely on friendly, local tradespeople to keep everything in top shape. Being connected to the community elevates the guest experience, creating a sense of home.

2. Target Market

We believe multi-family groups (whether they’re from the same family or different) are ideal for Sutherland Downs. However, our retreat is perfect for all kinds of events—work retreats, family reunions, or even birthday gatherings. It truly suits all seasons and occasions.

3. Put Yourselves in the Shoes of Your Guests

To create a memorable experience, we feel it’s essential to put ourselves in our guests’ shoes. We aim to create a getaway that feels welcoming, where guests will want to return again and again. Our accommodation is designed with everything needed to spark that holiday feeling and make lasting memories.

4. Offer something extra. Guests book fee free through Travellarks and the small touches have the biggest impact, like our grazing platter on arrival, 6 pack of local craft beer, a bottle of Great Lakes Wine… and the absolute winner, a bag of carrots to feed the ponies! Plus we have ever increasing entertainment facilities and amenities, and sports games like trampoline, games room, firepit, hot tub, even recently a Pickle Ball court! And so much more.

5. Listen to guest feedback. They love how spacious the accommodation is whilst being able to sleep so many people (up to 21). They also love the ponies, Blackie and Zorro, the pool, the games room and the quiet!

6. Know your area and what it can offer your guests. The natural beauty in close proximity to the property is by far the best attribute of the area. World class destinations like Seal Rocks, Blueys Beach and lesser known gems like the Pacific Palms Rec Club (for $1 oysters on Sunday!) or the hike to the Whoota Whoota lookout are just scratching the surface of what’s available in the area. The world seems to value experiences over the material things in life more and more. This means that perhaps the absolute mod cons in a house are often not as highly regarded as some awesome local knowledge about where to get fresh prawns or local craft beer.

7. Focus on high impact, lowest effort tasks. Don’t fall for only doing the things you like doing and are good at in your business. Always try to expertly manage the balance of time spend, money spend and level of quality.

8. Seek Improvements. Sutherland Down’s Retreat give their Top Hosting Tips. This includes always having safe and secure improvements and following the council’s legal and engineering guidelines with safety ensured. We’ve now installed a wood fired hot tub with a cracking view of a property and lake. We will also commence our fruit orchard dream in the late winter / early spring. If you’d like to help, bring seeds!

9. List with the Right Platform. I’m a big fan of ‘delegated decision making’ which is where you put your trust in someone to make a choice for you. The way Travellarks said that they chose only properties with certain attributes, ensuring that guests will always get an awesome experience, really appealed. Also, being around the energy of the Travellarks girls who work hard with owners to grow their platform & encourage our skills.

Conclusion

Sutherland Downs Retreat’s top holiday hosting tips provide valuable insights for accommodation owners and anyone aiming to deliver a memorable guest experience. By following these expert tips, you’ll be well-equipped to create an outstanding getaway that keeps guests returning year after year. Whether you’re managing a holiday retreat or running your own rural accommodation business, these practical strategies are key to providing a top-rated stay. At Travellarks, we’re proud to support small businesses like Sutherland Downs by helping them grow through no booking fees, allowing owners to keep more of their hard-earned revenue. With guest satisfaction and booking rates on the rise, these tips are your gateway to success and an unforgettable guest experience.

If you think Sutherland Downs is an amazing holiday destination, check out their Stays with a WOW listing.