Inside Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew’s epic Airbnb farm retreat – but there’s a HUGE catch if you want to stay there

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Edwina Bartholomew wants you to stay at her tranquil rural retreat, but there is a very big catch. 

Channel Seven personality and her husband, Neil Varcoe, bought the beautiful 42-hectare property, known as Warramba, in January 2016.

The couple spent years carefully renovating the farmhouse, which was built around the 1890s, and the land around it, turning it into a peaceful country getaway.

Warramba is a three-bedroom farmhouse located on 100 acres of restored farmland in the Blue Mountains. The property is marketed as a peaceful escape for those needing to relax and recharge.

The bedrooms are large and comfortably sleep several people, with one king-size bed and two queen-size beds. The king bed can also be split into two single beds if needed, making it ideal for families or groups.

Warramba blends classic elegance with contemporary design, thanks to the work of Melbourne architects Studio Esteta, who designed the interiors of the main house.

In a 2024 interview with Homes To Love, Edwina explained that they were aiming for a style that blended modern and classic elements, reflecting their personal preferences.

I really wanted two things for my home: a bookshelf stretching across an entire wall, and a gorgeous bathtub.

The home’s design features a safari-inspired look, with wooden lighting, French doors that open to the outdoors, and outdoor-style furniture used inside the bedrooms. It also boasts a beautifully maintained kitchen.

The home features both central heating and air conditioning, and a cozy wood fireplace for a more traditional heating option.

There are also two fire pits outside near the river and at the ‘Swag Deck’ atop a nearby hill.

Guests can also enjoy a heated mineral pool, perfect for relaxing and taking in the beautiful countryside views.

Warramba is a peaceful retreat located three hours west of Sydney, in the beautiful Capertee Valley – known as the widest valley of its kind in the world.

The area is nestled within a beautiful landscape, bordered by Wollemi, Capertee, and Gardens of Stone national parks, and the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area.

If you’re curious about Edwina and Neil’s wonderful country life, you can experience it-but it’s quite expensive.

A one-night stay at Warramba costs $700 for two people. Each additional person costs an extra $150 per night.

Edwina and Neil seem reluctant to see their guests leave, and their Airbnb listing reflects this with a requirement for all stays to be at least 90 nights long.

It might be a temporary issue, but anyone planning to spend three months at Warramba should take note.

The property is not available to rent again until July 2026.

In addition to Warramba, Edwina and Neil are currently renovating a country pub in Carcoar, which is located in the Central West region of New South Wales.

In 2023, the couple purchased the property for a little over $1 million. They recently received approval to begin transforming it into ‘Saltash Farm,’ a high-end vacation retreat they’ve long envisioned.

In his July column for Galah magazine, Neil shared that the long-awaited renovation is still ongoing.

‘We expected to be open by now. We were fools,’ he wrote.

We all begin as beginners. We create a plan, a sense of how things should unfold, and then constantly judge our progress, usually feeling like we’re falling short. It’s a curious thing, really.

Neil explained that he’s no longer setting a completion date for the project, because it’s taking time for all the visual elements to come together and look cohesive.

Saltash Farm is a large and impressive historic building. It’s located in a village that’s protected by the National Trust, as the owner explained.

In a 2024 interview with realestate.com.au, Edwina shared that she and her partner are committed to completing their project, even after her recent diagnosis with chronic myeloid leukemia.

‘We are forging ahead with this incredible project despite this health setback,’ Edwina said.

I love spending time in the countryside. It would be wonderful to slow down and enjoy more quality time with my family.

She explained that focusing on home improvement would give her something to do and help distract her from dealing with her cancer diagnosis.

I’m learning to live with this health challenge, and our home renovation has been a welcome and ongoing distraction,” Edwina shared.

Edwina also revealed that she only sees her husband of seven years on weekends and public holidays.

Okay, so I was reading the Daily Mail, and she *finally* confirmed it! They are totally planning to move away from Sydney eventually, which honestly breaks my heart, but it’s not happening right *now*, thankfully. She said it’s still a ways off, so I guess I have some time to enjoy seeing her around here still! It’s just…everything is changing, you know?

‘We are very keen to eventually settle in the country, but we are in no hurry,’ she said.

We’re managing to balance two different approaches, and we expect to keep doing so for quite some time.

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2025-09-26 11:50