New South Wales - Australia 2004 - page 196

Something Special: A Cattle Station
in the Upper Hunter

Located just off the Golden Highway, 1 hour north of Mudgee, 2 1 ⁄ 2
hours west of Cessnock, and 4 hours northwest of Sydney, Runnymede,
Golden Highway, Runnymede, Cassilis, NSW 2329 ( & 02/6376 1183; fax
02/6376 1187), is an 800-hectare (2,000-acre) sheep-and-cattle ranch
(called a station in Australia) where you can get a taste of Aussie ranch
life. The ranch offers farm-style lodgings in a 1930s California-style
bungalow. Two rooms have an en-suite shower, while the third shares
the hosts' bathroom down the hall. The homestead has an open fire in
the living room (and a rarely used TV). There are plenty of native birds
in the gardens, and kangaroos are common. May is the best time to
see sheep shearing, and August is the best time to witness lambing
and calving. Guests rave about hosts Libby and David Morrow. David
offers 1-hour tours of the property for around A$30 (US$20) per “Toy-
ota-load,” and other tours throughout the district.
Doubles go for A$80 to A$90 (US$52-US$59). Rates include break-
fast, but dinner is A$20 (US$13) per person extra (BYO wine or beer).
No credit cards.

rates A$107 (US$70) 1-bedroom unit; A$165 (US$107) 2-bedroom unit. Extra person A$20 (US$13). Ask
about midweek and long-weekend packages. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Large heated outdoor pool; Jacuzzi; lim-
ited room service; massage; babysitting; free laundry service; nonsmoking rooms. In room:A/C, TV, kitchen,
minibar, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
IN THE UPPER HUNTER
Barrington Guest House Barrington Guest House is nestled in a
valley just outside the Barrington Tops National Park. It retains an old-world
charm and serves bacon and eggs for breakfast, scones and cream, and vegetables
boiled soft enough for your dentures. The place has lace tablecloths in the dining
room, a log fire beneath a higgledy-piggledy brick chimney, mahogany walls, high
ceilings, and personalized service—despite the communal mealtimes and the lack
of a menu. Rooms range from the original guesthouse chambers adjoining the din-
ing room, to new and almost luxurious two-story self-contained cottages (sleeping
up to five) that cling to a hillside. I highly recommend the latter—the former are
basic, with no TV and can be noisy if a party's in full swing in the dining room.
This place is very popular with older travelers during the week but attracts a range
of ages on the weekends. The guesthouse grounds attract plenty of animals and act
as a wildlife reserve for several rescued kangaroos. Activities include horseback rid-
ing, guided walks through the rainforest, “billy tea” tours, and night spotting for
quolls (native cats) and possums, bush dancing, tennis, film evenings, and skeet
shooting. It can be a very social scene, too.
Salisbury (via Dungog), NSW 2420. & 02/4995 3212. Fax [phone]. www.barringtonguesthouse.com.
au. 20 rainforest cottages, 21 guesthouse units, 13 with bathroom. Midweek (all rates per person) A$69
(US$5) in a guesthouse room without bathroom, including meals and activities; A$120 (US$78) in a guest-
house room with bathroom, including meals and activities; A$145 (US$94) self-catering cottage, including
activities. Weekend rates (2 nights) room without bathroom A$138 (US$90) inclusive; A$210 (US$137) room
with bathroom; A$290 (US$189) cottage. Ask about packages. AE, DC, MC, V. The guesthouse is about 3 1 ⁄ 2 hr.

Value