Over the years the feeling of splendid isolation here has restored many a jaded soul, particularly when blended with the traditional Australian farmhouse setting which eschews no modern comforts. Driving up the last few kilometres of dirt road and watching the mobile telephone signal melt away, along with the worries of city life, sets the stage for your stay in this exquisite country homestead. A
s you open the door to a warm fire in winter or cool breeze in summer you see that all the bedrooms open onto the extensive verandah perfectly positioned to welcome the morning sun. Some mornings sparkle with dew or frost or sometimes snow and others greet you with an otherworldly mist crawling down the valley. As the day gets underway, your choices are endless, relax and do nothing, explore the property and locality, meander through the vines, roam the caves and that's to name just a few. There is plenty of wildlife to see during the day, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, an abundant native bird population and on the odd occasion listen for the lyre bird calling, however wombats are night time wanderers. After your day’s activities, adjourn to the verandah and enjoy the peaceful tranquillity as the sun sets and the muted colours of a typical Australian sunset spread across the blue gums covering the Great Divide. Just after dark, try a bit of satellite spotting in the night sky and, if luck is on your side, watching the moon rise over the Great Divide is a magical moment and never to be forgotten. Over the years the superbly equipped kitchen has been home to the creation of many a great feast, especially when there was all hands on deck for a busy vineyard task such as netting or picking. The opportunity is now for our guests to continue this theme and show off their Master Chef credentials. As with all great traditions an after dinner glass of something special to wash down a tall story by the open fire is a must. Before you retire, if the weather is clear, turn down the lights and go outside to experience the Milky Way in all its spectacular glory across the sky, identify the planets, the Southern Cross and Orion. Stars and planets that seem so close that you could reach out and touch them in the cool, crystal clear mountain air. If conditions are right, to the north you can see the glow of the Sydney’s lights just above the hills.
