Spring Roadtrip - Duntryleague.

It was a short drive from Carcoar to Orange where we checked into the Duntryleague guesthouse. The heritage listed mansion, built in 1876, rose imposingly as we made our way up the drive. The boys were a little gobsmacked by the sheer size of the house with its grand sweeping staircase and stained glass windows. I loved it’s quirkiness and the boys thought it was something out of a story book with creaking floorboards, little nooks and hidey holes and vast grounds filled with towering conifers. We played several games of hide and seek amongst the giant tree trunks then kicked back in our suite for an hour’s down time before dinner in the restaurant downstairs. After a really good meal, the boys gave Daddy a run down of their day over the phone and we all conked out for the night.

In the morning we could hear the thwack of golfers sending balls down the fairway and the raucous morning chorus of birds in the magnolia tree beneath our window. After breakfasting down in the sun soaked morning room it was time to pack up and head 500kms north to Tamworth. 

Our first stop of the day was in Dubbo where I found my way to Press (another Instagram find) for an excellent coffee hit and some tasty morning eats for the boys. They burnt off some energy on the flying fox at Elston Park before we continued on our way. Lunch was a very quick stop at Coonabarabran, then it was onwards along the long straight stretches of the Oxley highway to Gunnedah and eventually the Husband’s old stomping ground of Tamworth. It was after 4pm by the time we checked into the Best Western Sanctuary Inn. We were all exhausted from the day’s travel, so we went no further than the motel swimming pool for a dip and a quick walk two blocks down the street for some dinner. Its impossible for us to go through Tamworth without spending at least an hour at the Tamworth Regional Playground at Bicentennial Park, so we checked out of the motel very early the next morning and had breakfast at Hopscotch before the boys let loose on the Skywalk and flying fox. By 9am we were back on the road up to Armidale then across to Dorrigo and down the range along Waterfall Way to the coast and Moonee Beach. 

xx Em 

Spring Roadtrip - Carcoar.

We’re home from our Spring Roadtrip and I have far too many photos to squeeze into one or two posts so prepare to be inundated! 

Our trip took us up to Moonee Beach on the north coast of NSW for a bit of a family reunion. I decided to make the long drive more interesting by breaking it up with overnight stays in Orange and Tamworth on the way up and Tamworth and Dubbo on the way home. On each leg of the journey we made time to explore some of the towns and villages we went through. Instagram was a great resource for finding fantastic places to eat and interesting things to see. That little bit of prep done in the weeks leading up to the trip paid off in dividends and my seasoned little road trippers and I really enjoyed ourselves.

Day One was a very pretty drive inland up to Orange via the towns of Boorowa, Cowra, Carcoar, Blayney & Millthorpe. The landscape was a patchwork of green and gold with canola fields in full bloom.We stopped at Pantry on Pudman in Boorowa for morning tea then continued on to Carcoar where we allowed ourselves a couple of hours to explore the village and have lunch. The last time I’d stopped at Carcoar was more than a decade ago, back when (pre-kids) Hubby and I would jump in the car and go exploring on a whim. The historic village hasn’t lost its charm in that time, its still just as delightful and beautiful and filled with lovely people and sights to drink in. We strolled up and down the streets and along the river to stretch our legs before stepping into the 20th Century Toy Museum. 

It was a treasure trove of 1900’s toys and collectables. The boys loved the original Thunderbirds and Dr Who section and I got nostalgic seeing an old Mork and Mindy game, the pencil sharpener collection from the eighties and memorabilia of every craze we went through as kids. For lunch we popped next door to The Village Grocer for something to eat and afterwards... 

...I finally got to indulge myself with a visit to Tomolly. 

I’ve been following  Belinda’s Instagram account and loved the features in Australian Country Style so it was wonderful to pop in and see her beautiful homewares store in person.

When I’d finished drinking in all the pretty my eyes could handle and bought the Husband a beautiful Italian shaving soap, we jumped in the car and drove a little way up the hill so that Harry could explore the abandoned train station and we could take in the view of the village.

We bid Carcoar farewell and continued on to Orange...but that’s for another post.

xx Em.

Birthday Brunch amongst the Blooms.

The Husband turned a year older today and we celebrated with a champagne brunch at Tulip Top Gardens.

Crazy gorgeous spring sunshine, bubbles under the blossom trees, tulips in bloom and a brunchy feast rounded off with cake. Happy days!

Happy Birthday Husband. We love you more than cheesecake!

xx Em