The best Breakfast Ever

Since leaving Melbourne we’ve been boasting how we hadn’t stayed in one single powered camp site let alone a caravan park. We were real “bush campers”. Well all that went out the window yesterday when we stumbled on the Eco Point Murramarang resort at South Durras Beach. We’ve officially sold out – powered site, carefully manicured lawns and gardens, kids playground, swimming pool, 2 bars, restaurant and kids club for Ollie 4 hours a day – we’re in heaven!

The resort is right on the most magnificent beach (teeming with fish – caught 15 flathead today) and home to various kangaroo families that are very kid friendly (they apparently don’t like the taste of small children).

We set up for breakfast this morning overlooking the beach – the photo says it all.

Love from Lord & Lady Darvall and the Children

Dog on the Tuckerbox

Our longest one day road hop – 7 hours – from Beechworth to the historic town of Braidwood (OK, it seems every town we visit is historic). Stayed in a very unusual old eco hotel/motel run by a very eccentric English fellow who was determined to cut off all outside supplies – power, water, gas, rubbish – very admirable but not appreciated by the local shire who didn’t share his enthusiasm for not paying the rates. He had a great collection of chooks and goats which the kids loved and a huge, soft queen sized bed which Jane and I loved.

Tomorrow off to Murramarang National Park on the coast north of Bateman’s Bay – look out fish!

Love from the Wandering Darvalls

ps. Ollie met the Dog on the Tuckerbox as we sang "there's a track leading back to an old fashioned shack in a town called Gundagai..."

Death by Easter Egg

After our narrow escape from the deadly chestnuts of Omeo, we thought Beechworth would be a safe haven. No surf beaches to drown in, no tiger snakes to munch the kids, camp fires to incinerate them …. we didn’t figure on “death by Easter Egg”.

We’ve been going to Beechworth for Easter for the last 5 years or so and the highlight (for the kids and Cadbury Limited) is the massive Easter egg hunt with assorted cousins. This year Ollie, Squimpy (Eloise) and Hoopsy (Henry) consumed about 1 tonne between them. It took Ollie days to come down from the sugar high.

Meanwhile Jane and I were trying to corner the Beechworth property market – I think the local agents must ring their hands with anticipation of the out-of-towners descending on them each year dreaming of a tree change. Anyway, we put an offer on a property – stay tuned.

Love from Eloise, Henry, Ollie and their parents

PS. Matt and George kindly let us put up our camper trailer in their front yard for a week – they didn’t know what they were in for!
PPS. Everyone must check out George’s fabulous Fromagerie “The Larder” in Beechworth.

Death by Chestnut

We stopped for the night in the high country town of Omeo as we crossed the mountains from Wilsons Prom to Beechworth. Picture the idyllic scene – collecting freshly fallen chestnuts with the kids below the beautiful copper autumn leaves in the fresh mountain air, then to the open fire to roast our harvest….STOP...WARNING…KIDS ABOUT TO DIE AN AGONISING DEATH…the lady from the hotel kindly advised us that just one of the horse chestnuts we had lovingly collected would kill the kids. So we had pizza instead. If you ever stop in Omeo – have dinner at Diane’s Pizza shop – bloody best pizzas ever!

Looking forward to catching up with Matt and George over Easter at Beechworth and consuming tonnes of Easter eggs and hot cross buns.

Love from the Darvalls

PS. There is some fascinating Federation civic architecture in Omeo – the courthouse and post office are brilliant.
PPS. Don’t eat the chestnuts!