Ontario Cottage Rentals

Location: Gibson Lake, Near Bala, Ontario.

This cottage is a must for those who like hiking and swimming in a lake with a sandy beach. Hawkwind is surrounded by acres of mature trees on Crown land, lots of room for hiking, mountain biking, camping or exploring. Perched on the shore of Gibson Lake, the cottage is also blessed with a long sandy shoreline, great for sunbathing, sandcastles, and gently wading into the water.

Like most typical Muskoka cottages, Hawkwind is a cozy three-bedroom 1300 sq. ft. cabin furnished with lovely pine furnishings and simple decor, very much in the traditional style.

The living room's centerpiece is a wood-burning fireplace with insert, surrounded by sofas and armchairs. (There is additional electric heat for those cool evenings.) A large ceiling fan in the living room will help circulate the air on a warm day. Television with satellite, VCR, DVD and CD player are available for entertainment, as well as games and puzzles for a rainy day. Flooring is a natural pine wood.

Adjoining the living room is a dining area, with table and chairs seating six. A special little nook has additional seating for dining or enjoying a book.

The kitchen is very compact, with a fridge, microwave, convection oven, and a two-burner hotplate. Pots and pans, dishes and cutlery are supplied. This kitchen is not for gourmet chefs, but great for whipping up a quick meal. Dad will enjoy making his specialties on the barbeque.

There are three bedrooms: The master bedroom at the back has a queen bed, dressers and small closet. There is a set of glass doors looking out on the deck with a beautiful lake view. The second bedroom has a set of bunk beds, as well as a single bed. The third bedroom has a queen bed. All are on the ground floor, and all have a view of the lake.

The bathroom is a four-piece with sink, toilet, tub and shower. Flooring throughout the cabin is wood.

Outdoors, the deck is a large 25 x 10 area with sun and shade. There is a barbeque and chairs for lounging.

As an extra bonus, there is a spacious gazebo that looks out over the water. It is furnished with table and chairs, and will be a shady, bug-free escape any time of the summer.

The waterfront is where you'll probably spend all your time, with its sand beach, its comfortable 16 x 8 foot dock, and the broad vista of a quiet scenic bay at the south end of the lake. The water at the end of the dock is an easy four feet. For swimmers, there is also a swim raft a few yards further out. The waterfront is 150 feet, facing north. There are about 18 steps going down from the cottage to the lakeshore. There is a fire pit at the beach, and plenty of wood can be found in the bush for burning, when burning regulations allow. (Check with the local fire marshall.)

Water toys available are a paddleboat, canoe, and kayak and swim raft. Fishing is good, with bass, pike, pickerel and crappy to be found. The boat launch is at the south end of the lake, about two kms away. The nearest marina is Wawatosa on Six Mile Lake.

Hawkwind's most exciting feature is its nature park. The cottage is found at the end of a very long winding private drive that takes you through acres of Crown land covered with the gorgeous pines that Muskoka is known for. Hiking and biking opportunities galore!

Hawkwind is an easy two-hour drive from the Toronto area, and an easy jaunt off the highway. It's a perfect getaway and a great way to enjoy nature at its best!

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