Beautiful Boat Harbour and its surrounds at Port Stephens are tourism magnets, two and a half hours north of Sydney.

The area became a much-sought after escape, literally, from the earliest days of European settlement in Australia, with the crew of the British ship HMS Providence discovering a group of escaped convicts living with the Worimi people in 1795.

Port Stephens actually became so popular with escaped convicts that in 1820 a garrison of soldiers was established nearby at what is now known as Soldiers Point.

Wanderers Retreat, set on 1.2 hectares of pristine land on Koala Place, Boat Harbour, is the perfect modern day escape from the hustle and bustle of busy 21st century living.

Within easy walking distance of One Mile Beach, the property comprises 13 eco-friendly cabins and treehouses, including a family-friendly Beach Spa House, plus a large residence all nestled in a quiet old growth rainforest setting.

Five cottages and the Beach House feature hot tubs which are very popular with guests, and seven cottages have double spa baths.

Robert Urquhart, from Tourism Brokers, has the freehold property listed at $4,900,000. Adjusted Net Profit was $500,949 for 2021/22, and $582,242 for the 12 months from March 2022 to February 2023.

“Port Stephens and Boat Harbour really are tourist hotspots,” Mr Urquhart said, “and the Wanderers Retreat generates an excellent return.

“It’s on 1.2 ha of land that is deemed melaleuca rainforest so it fits the eco-resort profile very well. It’s a beautiful place and visitors can see the occasional koala there as well.”

Captain James Cook named Port Stephens in 1770 after his friend Philip Stephens, the secretary of the British Admiralty, and the man who had recommended him for command of the history-making Endeavour voyage that charted New Zealand and the east coast of what would become known as Australia.

By 1816 the area around Port Stephens had become an important source of timber and wool, but these days tourism is the big economic driver.

Wanderers Retreat is just 28 minutes from Newcastle airport and a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney.

It’s a place where cares of the big city melt away. Boat Harbour, Port Stephens, Nelson Bay and Fingal Bay offer stunning views of the ocean and the area is wonderful for fishing and dolphin watching.

The nearby Tomaree National Park is a great place for hiking, walking on the beach and whale watching, and you can often see koalas dozing in the trees.

Two prominent places in the park are Point Stephens Light, a lighthouse built in 1862, and the Tomaree Head Fortifications, which are World War II gun emplacements built in 1941.