Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Autumn / Winter 2010 Newsletter.
What a difference a year makes!
This time last year the hills were humming to the sound of people pumping water! Today our tanks are full, the dams have water and the paddocks are green with new growth. We couldn't be happier.
In this newsletter we have focused on activities away from the beach and in the beautiful hinterland. Bush walking or visiting one on the local townships to sample their delights would not be a nicer way to spend an Autumn or Winters Day.
We hope you enjoy the content and continue to visit our beautiful region.
Otways Number 105 News:
 We are constantly endeavouring to ensure our guests have the most enjoyable and interesting experience when they visit Otways Number 105.
Recently, we undertook a major upgrade of our Kitchen Area. To provide the very best facilities we have now installed a Espresso Bar and a fully stocked wine fridge. The kitchen joinery has also been upgraded with natural granite surfaces and Jarrah.
We are very proud of the final result, and sure you will also appreciate the upgrade. New photos are available on our Virtual Accommodation Tour.
Autumn Accommodation Deal:
 Autumn Accommodation Deal (expires - 6th June) and applies to bookings made for accommodation until 31st August 2010.
This is an exclusive offer to recipients of the newsletter only. You must make reference to this Newsletter when you make a booking.
If you cannot come and stay yourself, why not send the email to a friend! Or even better, ask for a gift voucher.
If you book for a midweek escape (Sunday Night- Thursday Night) you will receive a 20% Discount of our standard rates.
This is a saving of $144.00 for a 2 night booking! Perfect for a Winter Getaway - stay at Otways Number 105 luxury self contained Otways accommodation with spa, sauna and cosy log burning fire.
You must personally contact Otway Escapes office to secure your booking.
A Spotlight on Local Business and Attractions
 Dinny Goonan Family Estate. www.dinnygoonan.com.au.
Otways Number 105 Stocks Dinny Goonan Wines.
Dinny Goonan has been identified by James Halliday as a leading wine producer and have been awarded a FIVE STAR rating by James Halliday in his 2010 Wine Companion.
This rating places Dinny Goonan Wines in the top 15% of all Australian wineries.
Halliday scored both the Early Harvest Riesling 2008 and the Single Vineyard Shiraz 2006 at 94/100, and was also full of praise for the Riesling 2008 which received 91 points.
Winery History. - The property at Bambra was purchased in 1988 for the purpose of establishing a vineyard, although as viticultural pioneers in the area there was no certainty regarding the varieties which would do best; and at the time, there was no-one with local experience who could offer advice.
Dinny had recently completed his Viticulture Diploma at Charles Sturt University and was convinced the property offered great potential for the production of premium wines in a cool climate site. So, in the early 1990s a trial planting of ten varieties was planted in what became known as the ‘Nursery Block’ – and then it was simply a matter of waiting to see what grew well, and what didn’t.
As it turned out, the Riesling and Shiraz varieties thrived in the Otway hinterland climate and the decision was taken to focus on these as the flagship varieties for Dinny Goonan Wines. Successive, extensive plantings of Riesling and Shiraz have followed.
As the vines developed and started to produce fruit Dinny headed back to Charles Sturt University to complete a Wine Science Degree and hone his skills as a winemaker.
A purpose built winery was established in time for the 2006 vintage. Wine volumes have increased significantly as the newer vines have come into production, but Dinny Goonan Wines still take pride in hand pruning the vines each winter and hand picking the fruit in summer. We remain a small winery, where we make beautiful wines solely from fruit grown on the estate.
Martians Bar. Deans Marsh www.martianscafe.com.au
Otways Number 105 recommends a visit.
 This is our local dining and music venue. Who would have thought that such a vibrant Bar would exist in Deans Marsh!
To visit Martians is truly a unique experience. Tahli, Andrew and staff invite you to come and experience the relaxing vibe that is Martians Cafe. Martians Cafe is also a bar and music venue and is a perfect stop off jaunt or a just a great place to meet in a friendly and creative atmosphere.
Located on the Lorne Road at the foothills of the Otway Ranges in Deans Marsh, the cafe and bar is only twenty minutes from Lorne and Colac, and 40 minutes from Geelong.
The cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and prides itself on great coffee, homemade meals which include burgers, salads, curries, pasta dips, pies and more. There is a fully licensed bar with a wide range of drinks and local wines, as well as a bottle shop.
Martians Cafe has become a very popular music venue amongst punters and musicians alike. Artists such as Archie Roach, Chris Wilson and Rebecca Barnard have honoured our stage and have received wonderful receptions from our audiences.
Friday is the more usual night for performers to play but Saturday and Sunday afternoons or evening gigs do take place.
What's On At Martians Bar?
Sweet Delores - Sun 30th May 2-5 $10. Ocean Grove's country duo Narelle Jolley and Susan Russell play beautifully together with sweet harmonies, ukelele and guitar. 100% of the door money taken goes to the musicians. For more info email martianscafe@bigpond.com OR PHONE 5236 3350
Coming up... Cyndi Boste, Lloyd Speigal, Damian Howard and Pete Denahy, Van Walker and Coralea...
Interesting Things to do in the Hinterland
 Heritage Walks - For detailed information on the walks and Trail Notes visit www.visitotways.com. Otways Number 105 also has details at the property.
Birregurra History Walk - This charming and historic town is located 15 mins by road from Otways Number 105. Twenty plaques have been installed around the town with photos and information that will provide an interesting insight into the history of the town. Once you have completed the walk you can enjoy the hospitality of the various cafes or the local hotel.
Forrest History Walk - This timber milling town is located 20 mins by road from Otways Number 105. As with Biregurra, 27 Information plaques have been installed around the town. Forrest also has a the beautiful Lake Elizabeth, which is located 10mins out of the town. This area is pristine and has an abundance of wildlife including Platapus, Echidna, and numerous Birds.
Beware of the fabled Otways Panther!!
Red Rock Volcanic Reserve - This is a 35 min journey by road from Otways Number 105. This is the remanet site of many ancient Volcanic Eruptions. The residual craters and lakes were produced by the eruptions. The area is also surrounded by farms that have English style dry wall fencing. This is indeed a fascinating visit.
Kennett River Koala Walk - This is a 55min journey by road from Otways Number 105. Take your binoculars and travel the Great Ocean Road to Kennet River via Lorne, or for the more adventurous you can follow the myriad of 4WD tracks. At the Grey River camping site turn right and follow the directions. You won’t be disappointed.
Colac Tourist Information
 Colac has a unique position in the Great Ocean Road ‘country-way’. It’s as if all — well most — roads across the Otway Ranges to the coastal section between Lorne and Lavers Hill radiate from this rural Victorian city. This opens up even more opportunities to explore the region, with the spectacular volcanic plains and the tree-covered ranges only short drives out of town.
Colac is rich in natural and historic features and a bustling commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural and forest industries. Colac is also recognised as a leading dairying region.
- Lake Colac, one of south-west Victoria’s water sport hubs, is popular for a range of activities, including boating, rowing, yachting, swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing and fishing.
- The 15ha botanic gardens are perfectly located overlooking the lake, while the caravan park and foreshore camping reserve are also in this picturesque area.
- Most of the shops in Murray Street now display modern facades, but some reveal a hint of their heritage in ornate gable-ends above footpath canopies.
- Take a look at the former bank buildings, the National Bank (1885), State Bank (1873) and Union Bank (1916), as well as the Shire Hall and Post Office.
- Market Square, otherwise known as Memorial Square, holds great notable war significance, standing amongst the gardens.
- An inscription in stone records Federal Opposition leader Andrew Fisher’s ‘last man and last shilling’ speech delivered in Colac in July, 1914.
- Built in 1877, 3 blocks south is Colac railway station.
 The region surrounding Colac is the largest volcanic plain in the world which covers a portion of Victoria's Western District. Just 5km from Colac is the turn-off to Red Rock lookout. It is then a short drive through Cororooke and Coragulac to the lookout at Alvie. Drive to the top of Red Rock for 360-degree views that include the world’s third-largest volcanic plain.
In the picture are Lake Corangamite, Australia’s biggest permanent salt lake: Mt Elephant, Camperdown and a chain of other lakes and hills. Turn to the southeast and the view changes, with Colac on the banks of Lake Colac and the Otway Ranges sweeping down to the south.
You’ll find some of the Otways’ best waterfalls close by and there are usually excellent picnic grounds near them. A couple of spots also have camping grounds and Visitor Information Centres can supply maps and more details.
 Other fascinating Otways settlements to explore include Barramunga, Forrest, Barwon Downs and Tanybryn.
But south-east of Forrest there is a special, almost hidden place, to explore. It is here that a giant landslide nearly 50 years ago created the beautiful Lake Elizabeth, now home to a wide range of wildlife, including the elusive platypus.
Nearby, historic Barwon Park has gone down in Australian history as the place where rabbits were first released. You will discover a drystone walling built by craftsman in the 1800's from Scotland, Ireland and Wales in aid to stop the spread of rabbits. The property is open to the public and is well worth a visit.
Otway thoughts from Christine
 After a safe summer in the Otways, Autumn is displaying perfect mild days, cool nights and a stillness that makes walking invigorating and sitting out under pristine night skies breathtaking. Autumn is the perfect season to set your mind on a healthy lifestyle regime.
Over the last six months, the Baker heart and diabetes institute has been running free medical assessments in Colac. Colac does have a high incidence of obesity. These tests included, ECG, cholesterol, blood sugars, blood pressure, weight and total body fats.
To all our guests it is worth getting tested, even if you think you are fit and healthy. It was a great free service for this region.
On the Otway Escapes farm we grow all our own vegetables. In season now, we are eating: lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, pumpkin, mustard, kale and green asian vegetables. Brett threw out some turnip seeds and so many came up that I was scanning recipe books for turnip chutney to get rid of them. In Deans Marsh there is a strong and dedicated organic garden group where you can always swap your vegetables. Good news is that an Organic restaurant is about to open up in Deans Marsh.
In the orchard all the fruit trees will be pruned in the next month. We still have lots of apples which we juice with carrots, beetroot and ginger every morning. Our lemon trees are loving autumn. I always have a fresh lemon juice to start the day as a liver cleanser and I am about to pick the cumquats to make chutney.
The chickens are loving life as usual and spend their days pecking and backward scratching around the farm. Your eggs for breakfast come from such contented and truly free range chickens! We have two young geese as new additions. We got them as two week old orphans and after four months they follow our black silky rooster everywhere and love tormenting the two dogs!
For all our guests the birdlife at Otways Number 105 is prolific. As usual the cockatoos, galahs, rosellas and parrots are considered family around the House. I was sitting out on the Otways Number 105 balcony just yesterday and there were three different raptors. A white Goshawk then above that a brown Goshawk and gliding further up was a Wedgetail eagle. On the farm we have two brown goshawks that fly into the
Otway National Park at dawn and fly back at the same time at dusk. You hear their rapid shrill like clockwork!
Best Wishes,
Christine & Brett Smith
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