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Entire home

The Mia Mia Newstead - view from the front

Newly renovated kitchen with microwave and dishwasher.

Newly renovated kitchen leading out to a large outdoor dining and living space.

View of the outdoor dining table from the kitchen.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.8

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Fireplace

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Air conditioning

Washer

Check-in time

2:00 PM

Check-out time

11:00 AM

Explore the area

Newstead, VIC

Old Castlemaine Gaol12 min drive
Restorers Barn14 min drive
Lake Daylesford32 min drive
Bendigo, VIC (BXG)53 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lovely and quiet

suzette m.

Nov 30, 2023

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

En Suite Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Main Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Separate dining area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

The Mia Mia Newstead - Pet Friendly Country Retreat close to town

Comfortably sleeping four people, The Mia Mia has a separate kitchen area which has a fridge, kettle, chopping board, cups, plates, glasses, wine glasses, and utensils. We provide basic cooking ingredients including salt, pepper, oil and sauce, and complimentary coffee, tea, and long life milk.

COVID: we take the safety of our guests seriously and have introduced enhanced cleaning measures so you can feel assured during your stay.

The Mia Mia will sleep 4 people in two bedrooms comprised of:

1 x Queen Bed with dressing room and en suite
1 x Queen Bed with wardrobe

Both beds are dressed with high quality linen and doonas and have wall heaters and pedestal fans.

The lounge room has two comfortable couches, board games, Singstar Playstation and TV, Netflix and Foxtel. The split system and a wood fire is perfect for those crisp winter nights.

The en suite bathroom has a shower and toilet. The second bathroom has a shower over a bath and a separate toilet. We provide lovely soft high quality towels, and hand wash.

The Mia Mia provides free laundry facilities with fully equipped laundry.

Enjoy a glass of wine or beer in front of the fire, on the verandah or up the hill near the shepherds hut.

The cottage is only 2 minutes drive or 15 minute walk from the town centre. We welcome guests to leave seed out for the multitude of native birds.

The Mia Mia is the perfect place to recharge the batteries amongst the stunning rural farm views, the rustling sound of gum trees after a day of exploring the treasures of the area including Castlemaine, Maldon, Vaughan Springs, Maryborough and Daylesford.

Property manager

Bronwyn Laughlin

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Fenced in backyard; deck without railing.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Guests to bring bedding & not allowed on furniture

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Long-term renters welcome

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Newstead

Located in Newstead, this holiday home is in a rural area. Maldon Museum and Archives Association and Old Castlemaine Gaol are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit The Mill Castlemaine and Wesley Hill Market. Travelling with kids? Consider Main Street and Buda Historic Home & Garden. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Newstead, VIC

What's nearby

Old Castlemaine Gaol - 12 min drive
Restorers Barn - 14 min drive
Wesley Hill Market - 16 min drive
Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa - 28 min drive
Lake Daylesford - 32 min drive

Getting around

Castlemaine Station - 12 min drive
Bendigo, VIC (BXG) - 54 min drive

Restaurants

‪Dig Cafe & Wine Bar - ‬18 min walk
‪Crown Hotel - ‬18 min walk
‪Kt's - ‬13 min drive
‪Busk - ‬17 min walk
‪Curracloe Farm - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Mia Mia Newstead - Pet Friendly Country Retreat close to town pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Mia Mia Newstead - Pet Friendly Country Retreat close to town?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Mia Mia Newstead - Pet Friendly Country Retreat close to town?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Mia Mia Newstead - Pet Friendly Country Retreat close to town located?

This family-friendly Newstead holiday home is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Welshmans Reef Bushland Reserve and Muckleford South Bushland Reserve. Cairn Curran Reservoir and Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve are also within 6 miles (10 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Amenities

6.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Lesley V.

2 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved the property

We really loved our stay at the property. The house is charming, with spacious and comfortable living areas and a newly refurbished kitchen, well equipped for self catering. Our favourite was the big, open deck with lovely views - a great spot for kangaroo and bird watching. Bronwyn provided good communication and was very helpful with recommendations on local attractions and services. We hope to visit again soon.

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristy S.

23 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family weekend at the Mia Mia

We had a fabulous stay at the Mia Mia. Bronwyn was a fantastic host, providing comprehensive information about the property and recommendations for the area. The house was beautiful, clean and well equipped with everything we needed, and we appreciated the extra touch of arriving to a cosy warm fire. The Mia Mia was a great base for exploring Castlemaine, but we could have easily enjoyed spending the entire time at the house (which we hope to do on a future visit). We would definitely stay again!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

DAVID B.

23 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mia mia

Lovely, very well presented, perfect location, great place to relax and recharge one's batteries.

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

suzette m.

30 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay

Lovely and quiet

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sharon

22 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

The tranquility was perfect

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Graham A.

16 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect and quiet with plenty of space to relax

We simply loved the place with clean surroundings, lots of though in the layout and the use of the property. Bronwyn was very accommodating in our needs and assisted in every way. Our dog loved the new surrounding and plenty of places to sniff and explore. Lots of space for storage including in the kitchen area which can be critical when bringing your food. The deck outside is shaded and a great place to relax with a drink as the sun goes down. Overall a very enjoyable stay. Thank you.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Martin S.

15 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Newstead Farm House

Great property, nice comfortable clean house, good town, great weather.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

2/10 Terrible

Angelo

9 July 2023

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Untidy, un-kept gardens, run down home, overall very poor interior conditions, even the access to property had a 'couldnt care' attitude...extremely disappointing weekend away that we really were looking forward to.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dean L., Melbourne, Vic

7 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful country retreat

Great location, 10-15 mins walk into Newstead which was a lovely quaint little town

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie T.

7 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house very well set up.

Lovely property nice to be able to walk around the paddocks. Lovely to have fire wood.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tara H.

30 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely country home

Set on a beautiful bush block, this home is authentically Australian. The fire was lit and place warm and welcoming. Birdlife added to the ambience. Thanks for a calming few days away.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nerida G.

12 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very comfortable dog friendly home

We loved Mia Mia and would visit again A comfortable home for human or pooch super accessible to great walks, food and wine.

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Annette B.

31 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend unwind

Mia Mia was a delightful place to stay. A gorgeous renovated farmhouse. We had a walk into town, sat in the sun on the large outside deck and relaxed by the wood fire. House was well stocked with cooking equipment, magazines, books, games. Loved watching the kangaroos and enjoyed a meal at the local pub. Hosts were very pleasant and very easy to converse with. Highly recommend.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Denise N.

3 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable and homely. Great surrounds for arty nature loving people. Great chatting to the host.

A pleasure to stay here. We’d come back any time. The wood heater soon got the lounge room very comfortable. We enjoyed the art work and lp’s

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Julia P.

23 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely stay in charming country house

We had a lovely time - kept warm by the fire place, played the plentiful supplied games and walked around the country surrounds. Bronwyn was very helpful and flexible when our plans changed due to COVID. Highly recommend!

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Kylie B.

22 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely views and open space

Thanks for nice stay . Great location with beautiful surroundings.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kara B.

13 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A gorgeous house and property!

A gorgeous house and property, in a great location to explore! It's great to find such interesting places to stay with family (and the dog as well).

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

30 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Definitely coming back

We loved our stay here! The house is on a beautiful property off the main road so it's nice and quiet. We spotted a few kangaroos hopping through a nearby paddock. The house was older but cozy and clean. Bedding was comfortable. The wood fire inside heated up the whole house so we were warm despite it being chilly outside. We bought our greyhound who also had a great time hanging out in the little fenced back yard and sleeping by the fire place. Quick 15 min drive to get to Castlemaine and only a few minutes into town for morning coffee's. The hosts were easy to communicate with and left us lots of helpful information. It was such a great place to come with kids, we'll definitely be back :)

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenny A.

22 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Getaway

Quaint cottage on a beautiful property in amongst rolling hills. Short drive to Castlemaine and Malden, easy walk into Newstead. Comfortable beds and living area. Dogs enjoyed the open paddocks for a morning run. Small secure, closed off yard as well for them. We enjoyed the stay!

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anita B.

22 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

Very enjoyable, beautiful location

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

John Y.

9 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Idyllic

Huge property in idyllic surroundings, so peaceful and quiet, there is everything in the house for a fantastic stay, especially the wood heater which warms the place nicely on these cold Autumn nights Highly recommended with faultless communication with the owners

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

peter R.

29 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Really nice and peaceful.

Pretty farmhouse in amongst small creek and farmland. Very pleasant stay, the deck was really nice and very good bird watching.

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stu R., Melbourne

25 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A repeat fantastic stay thank you

Yogi just loved staying at the farm as did we. Stunning birds keeping us company on the balcony. Warm and cosy fire. Lots to see and do. Great dog friendly wineries nearby. Scenic walks art galleries. Thoroughly recommended

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim T.

23 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quintessential rural getaway!

We loved loved loved our stay at the Mia Mia! The bed was so lovely and comfy and we had all we needed to bunker in for our stay! The birdlife here is exceptional and we really enjoyed sitting on the patio watching the world go by! Thankyou so much Bronwyn for all the help and information you provided!. Highly recommend for a relaxing break and we will definitely be back!

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melusi Z.

21 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mia Mia is the best!

We absolutely loved our stay at Mia Mia and we'll definitely be back! The furnishings are cozy and comfortable, with plenty of space for all of us. The deck was the highlight, with wonderful views of the countryside. Loved it!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

About the host

Hosted by Bronwyn Laughlin

Hi, we are Bronwyn and Kieran

We have always wanted a country escape from Melbourne and it has finally become a reality. Kieran is a fanatical North Melbourne fan. I love animals and crave escaping Melbourne! We met in London at work and have travelled a lot around Europe and now many road trips within Australia with our two dogs.

We enjoy day trips exploring new areas, reading, continuing the UNO Championship we do every holiday, and lots of walks along the beach or bush.

Being new to HomeAway we welcome your honest feedback and suggestions on how we could improve The Mia Mia. We hope you find your stay a peaceful relaxing place to reconnect with nature and recharge your batteries, and hope you love it as much as we do.

If you have any questions or would like to know anything else we'd love to year from you.

Why they chose this property

I grew up in Tassie and since moving to Melbourne after university I craved a country escape and got a fixation with Castlemaine.

Twenty years later my dream came true. I love The Mia Mia. It is surrounded by 17 acres yet benefits from town water and electricity and is walking distance from the town. Newstead is a lovely friendly community packed with history. It has everything you need - a supermarket, cafe, butcher and newsagent.

Beyond Newstead, there are plenty of towns and local markets to explore - something we do often.

What makes this property unique

I love being up on the hill, watching the sunset over the paddocks in summer, and star gazing around the fire pit in winter. There are plenty of spots inside and outside to relax with a good book.