Suspended: High among the trees of the Tarra-Bulga rainforest.
GAVIN HANSFORD
The sun rises and sets slightly differently in this sprawling and diverse pocket of eastern Victoria known as the Wellington region of Central Gippsland.
Maybe it’s the combination of beaches to the south and alpine ranges to the north that give the area its unique glow. Or maybe it’s the profound beauty that emanates from the Tarra-Bulga rainforest, condensing the air and casting the landscape in a soft, dreamy haze.
As a travel destination, the area has so much to offer already spoilt-for-choice Melburnians. First-class restaurants beckon foodies, unspoilt national parks call out to nature lovers and hidden B&Bs lure city romantics.
It may not be a secret for much longer, but it’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway. The only problem is, you might end up wanting to stay for more than just a weekend.
» www.inspiredbygippsland.com.au
Eat
Tinamba Hotel
4-6 Tinamba Seaton Road, Tinamba 5145 1484
Fine dining really isn’t fine dining without a baby grand piano playing while you eat. It’s all here at the Tinamba Hotel, where the charm of a country pub combines with the upbeat sophistication of a modern bistro. The casual dining room offers a relaxed but refined setting. On the day we visit, it is full of people who have come to sample this unique spot where city sophistication meets old-fashioned comfort.
» www.tinambahotel.com.au
Lyrebird Café (Tarra-Bulga Guesthouse)
1885 Grand Ridge Road, Balook. 5196 6141
Tarra-Bulga Guesthouse and Lyrebird Café is the perfect place to get away. Everything about the Lyrebird Café feels healthy, from the organic and biodynamic food to the genuinely friendly service. History has been well preserved, and the comfortable guesthouse maintains much of its 1930s charm, while the beautiful garden would be perfect for a wedding or function.
» www.tarra-bulga.com
Stay
Bon Accord B&B
153-155 Dawson Street, Sale 5144 5555
A former school and racehorse stables make up most of the buildings in this elegantly restored bed and breakfast on more than 8000 square metres. A heritage-listed gum tree, believed to be 600 years old, anchors the 1860s property in history and stands as a reminder of Sale’s resplendent past. Our host, Tim Dunnett, took over the property three years ago when he and his three children opted for a tree change. We spend the night in the wonderfully grand Stables Apartment, where a decanter of port welcomes us on a sideboard. A timber staircase takes us up to the loft-like second floor, where bed and bath sit regally under a romantic thatched roof. Refreshed after a country night’s sleep, we cross the courtyard to the breakfast nook, where our host delivers a gourmet breakfast complete with freshly laid poached eggs and that morning’s paper. You couldn’t ask for much more from this warm country establishment and its fine host.
» www.bonaccordb-b.com.au
Tarra Valley Rainforest Retreat
1788 Tarra Valley Road, Tarra Valley 5186 1313
It’s hard to tell whether the warmth of this cozy rainforest retreat comes from its welcoming host or its Swiss-chalet charm. In the end, we agree it’s probably both. Lisa Grassby is the wonderfully welcoming host at the helm of this dog-friendly guesthouse, which she runs with her partner Roman Manser. Animal and bird lovers will certainly feel at home at this guesthouse nestled inside the cool temperate rainforest. From your balcony, you can watch Jerry the bird as he sings, along with hundreds of other feathered friends. Inside the spacious guest lounge, the adorable dog Sloofy pads around, showing as much affection for his guests as his owners. Grassby brings her visitors a home-cooked meal, which we eat in the candle-lit kitchen with a bottle of local wine. Massages are available on request, and a dog-friendly room is available for people with pooches. This is accommodation with an old-fashioned, personal touch.
» www.tarravalleyrainforestretreat.com
Do
- Gippsland Plains Rail Trail
Start in Maffra and head through the sweeping dairy farms and paddocks to Stratford, home of lolly shops and Turkish treasures. It’s an hour round trip, but you may want to stay for afternoon tea.
- Suspension bridge
Walk through the canopy of the Tarra-Bulga rainforest and discover the unique ecosystem in the ferntree gully.
- Gippsland Vehicle Collection
The Maffra Shed, 1a Sale Road, Maffra. 5147 3223
www.gippslandvehiclecollection.org.au
This extensive collection of vehicles dating back to the start of the last century is worth a visit. Half of the display changes every four months. We see a collection of vehicles from the 1970s, including a 1977 Lincoln Continental owned by actor Paul Newman.
Georgia Wilkins travelled courtesy of Destination Gippsland