Otway Escapes Luxury Cottage Accommodation News
Local Wines
Otways Number 105 Supports Local Producers
As part of Otways Number 105's comittment to Buy Local we now have on sale a selction of Local Wines.
When you stay at Otways Number 105 you will have a wide selection of Local wines available for your purchase.
Some of the wines stockes are;
Swan Bay
Longboard
Pettaval
Bannockburn
Mt Moriac
Dinny Goonan
Scotchmans Hill
Lethbridge
Brown Magpie
Blake
Oakdene
Cheers!
Gourmet Kitchen Upgrade
Granite and Jarrah
Otways Number 105 has recently undertaken an upgrade to its kitchen.
We have now installed Granite Surfaces, beautiful Western Australian Jarrah joinery, an Espresso Bar, Refrigerated Wine fridge, Gas / Elestric Cooking Range. This is now truly a Gourmet Kitchen to suit the most fastidious cook!!
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Local Otway Events
OTWAY ESTATE.
A SLOW LUNCH IN THE OTWAYS
When: 14th March 2010
Cost: $100.00 or $70.00 exc drinks.
$95.00 or $65.00 exc drinks for Slow Food Members.
Bookings: 03 5233 8400
Otway Estate is located an east 25 minute drive from Otways Number 105. Take a leisurly drive through the fertile green hills to Barongarook and experience there offering.
Otway Estate, situated in the beautiful Otway hinterland just outside Colac will host a leisurely five course lunch including wine and beer matching in conjunction with Slow Food South West. Otway Estate promotes low food miles, sourcing the best local produce possible, including there premium cool climate wines, handcrafted beers and seasonal cordial.
SUNNYBRAE RESTAURANT
FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
When: 13,14 March 12.30pm-5.00pm
Where: Sunnybrae Restaurant and Cooking School
Birregurra
Cost: $110.00
Bookings" 5236 2276
Sunnybrae and the Alburrian Ambassador cordially invites you to a celebration of Australian Garlic. Join 50 proud lovers of the stinkingt rose for lunch. Begin with a gartini, then five courses mstches with fragerant wines. There will be a cookwiz with a 10kg prize
GEELONG OTWAY TOURISM FEBRUARY UPDATE
GENERAL INFORMATION
Adrian Feint - Cornucopia - Geelong Gallery is the exclusive Victorian venue for this comprehensive exhibition of Adrian Feint's works including paintings, bookplates, prints and drawings. Runs until 14 February. T: 5229 3645
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival – is fast approaching. The Bellarine is set to shine with the following events.
The Worlds Longest Lunch in Portarlington at Bellarine Estate on 12 March.
A Taste of Classic Queenscliff lunch at the Vue Grand on 14 March
Tastes of the Bellarine Dinner on 19 March.
Longest View Cocktail Party at Kilgour Estate on 21 March.
Visit www.visitbellarine.org for more information on these events
Apollo Bay Music Festival – will be held from 26-28 March. For a list of artists announced to date visit www.apollobaymusicfestival.com
Minya by Moonlight – concert series continues. Visit www.theminya.com.au for a full program. Tickets are $32 which includes a glass of Minya wine. Pre concert dinner or hamper packs are available. T: 5225 1200.
Article: Geelong Advertiser. Nov 21st 2009
A Good Harvest
THE Bellbrae Harvest Restaurant takes a fresh - make that very fresh - view on satisfying palates
Each day, Dave Veal receives a phone call from his fishermen mates in Apollo Bay.
Fresh off the boat, they let the chef know if he can serve salmon or flathead at his restaurant that night.
"If it's something different I'll get it in and serve it as a special," Dave says.
"Using fresh seafood from the region is great."
Dave completed his apprenticeship in the Bay and recently fired up the stove at the iconic Bellbrae Harvest Restaurant after taking the reins last month with girlfriend Gemma Carman.
The couple are breathing life into the stunning mud-brick eatery after the previous operators hit financial strife and shut their doors in May.
And what a relief for the region that the rustic restaurant can again be enjoyed.
It sits on a six-hectare bush property, so you can eat, chat and sip among the peaceful teatrees and overlook the water lily-filled dam with geese ambling past.
The sunny terrace offers outdoor dining during the summer months and the open fire warms during winter.
Living just around the corner, Dave knows he need go no further than his own backyard to find the finest ingredients.
"A lot of foodies and wine lovers are starting to head to this region," he says.
"They're realising this area is as good as anywhere for food and wine."
Dave and Gemma have incorporated produce from the Otway Harvest Trail into their enticing menu, including Gentle Annie berries, Birregurra Estate olives, Beechy Berries blueberries and Birregurra Farm foods.
Dave says he enjoys working with the area's farmers, bakers, makers and growers.
"We know them all personally; it's not like Melbourne where you buy from a rep," he says.
"We're enjoying experiencing a lot of new produce," Gemma adds.
Dave is partial to a pinot from Paraparap's Wolseley Wines, which he serves among a cluster of the region's drops from Otway Estate, Dinny Goonan, Barwon Plains, Bellbrae Estate, Gosling Creek, Banks Estate, Brown Magpie and Bellarine Estate.
"We match the food to go with the wines and we have some organic wines to complement what we have locally," he says.
Bellbrae Harvest Restaurant is the couple's first venture together, but Gemma says food has been central to their relationship.
"I'd come home and say 'Impress me' and he would," Gemma says.
"He's a bit of a perfectionist."
Dave completed his apprenticeship at Sea Grape and Chris's Beacon Point in Apollo Bay. He cooks at Tonik, in Kensington, as well as at Bellbrae.
"I really enjoy matching foods together so people can experience different flavours," he says.
"I like doing something a little off-set."
Gemma, who works front-of-house, is more than happy to be the guinea pig for Dave's culinary creations.
"I love trying new flavours, even down to the more challenging foods," she says.
"Dave can be really creative."
Harvest's brunch menu is a perfect example.
Homemade hazelnut museli is served with lemon-poached prunes, yoghurt and Drysdale honeycomb, while braised local mushrooms are presented on Zeally Bay crunchy organic sourdough toast with caramelised shallots.
"It's nice to have something other than just eggs and bacon," Dave says.
"I throw couscous through my breakfast."
The lunch and dinner menu includes gourmet ingredients such as black garlic, popcorn sprouts and opal basil.
But if there's a flavour you'd rather leave out, speak up.
"I'll try to offer something else that will work," Dave says.
"Chefs with tempers, by the time they've had their tantrum, it could have been done."
Double-baked blue cheese souffl with broccoli and rocket pesto is on offer for entres, as well as sauted scallops with spiced lemongrass, coconut sauce and a cucumber kaffir lime salad.
For mains, the seared rack of lamb is served with garlic chats, courgettes, and a sage and hazelnut beuree blanc.
The Bellbrae Tower has layers of eggplant marinated in sun-dried tomato, as well as olives filled with bocconcini.
"We have a monthly menu, because I want to get local produce at the peak of its season," Dave says.
As usual, the best is saved for last.
Desserts include white chocolate and lavender risotto with Birregurra berry compte, as well as Chai-spiced crme brule. However, it would be near impossible to go past the Deadly Chocolate Plate - enough said.
Top Local Drops Excel
Otway Wines
Local wine buffs will be well aware of the fabulous offerings of cool climate wines in our own backyard. Now, the secret is set to become uncorked!
Dinny Goonan Wines, Blakes Estate and Gosling Creek wineries have all fared brilliantly at the recent Fed Square Wine Awards; with all excelling in the Geelong Region awards and two going on to the statewide awards.
Particular congratulations to Dinny Goonan and Blakes Estate, who with their Silver Medal wines in the regional rounds are now finalists in the prestigious state-wide Annual Federation Square Wine Awards.
In the Geelong area, Gosling Creek won bronze for its sweet and dry Riesling, Pinot Noir and Sparkling Shiraz. Blakes Estate won Silver Medals for their 2006 Pinot Noir and 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir and a Bronze for its 2006 Blanc de Noir (blush sparkling) while Dinny Goonan won a Silver Medal for his 2008 Riesling and Bronze for his 2006 Shiraz and 2008 Early Harvest Riesling.
As part of the annual awards this month, hundreds of Melbournians enjoyed sampling Victorias’ best wines in Federation Square and in the process, were able to discover the joys of the Blakes and Dinny’s work. Enthusiasm was high and business brisk at their stalls.
Congratulations to all three and especially Dinny and the Blakes on their finalist status, placing them firmly amongst Victorias finest! We are privileged to have such well recognised winemakers in our region.
If you haven’t yet tasted their wares….what are you waiting for? Cellar doors will reopen later in the year but are open by appointment now – Blakes Estate 5236 3246, Dinny Goonan Wines 0438 408 420, Gosling Creek 5236 3229.
The Rabbit 150 years on
Barwon Park, Winchelsea
The introduction of the rabbit to Australia is being marked with a family day and market at the wonderful Barwon Park historic mansion. If you want to be involved, it’s time to get a hop-along!
The family day and market, to run on Sunday 11 October from 10am-4pm, will focus on all things rabbit and all things local. There will be art exhibitions, displays on the history of rabbits, an animal nursery, face painting and a rabbit shaped jumping castle for the kids.
A barbecue, and refreshments will also be available and the magnificent Mansion will be open to visit.
Barwon Park is inviting prospective market stall holders to hop to it! Home made / home baked style stalls as well as stalls supporting the ‘rabbit’ theme are welcome to register. Contact Trudi Toyne on 52 67 2209 or at barwon.park@bigpond.com
Lorne Gourmet Trail
Participating Businesses
The Lorne gourmet trail takes you on a journey through the undulating countryside and lush rainforests of Bambra, Birregurra, Deans Marsh, Murroon, Winchelsea, Pennyroyal and surrounds. Let your taste buds lead you on an exploration as you sample the exceptional ambience of the Great Ocean Road’s hinterland - excellent wine, food, produce and great places to stay.
Gentle Annie Berry Gardens
520 Pennyroyal Valley Rd, Pennyroyal
Open 10am to 5pm everyday from November
1 to April 30 (Closed Christmas Day)
Nestled in the picturesque Pennyroyal Valley, Gentle Annie has a huge variety of Pick Your Own pesticide free berry and orchard fruit over six months. Relax in the ambience of the licensed cafe with great coffee, scones and berry pies. Gentle Annie offers delicious in-house produced meals and fine range farm-shop preserves.
Tel (03) 5236 3391 www.gentleannie.com.au
Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm and B&B
115 Division Rd, Murroon
Teahouse and berry picking open 10am to 5pm December to end January
Pick your own berries at the oldest raspberry farm in the South West and enjoy Devonshire teas, light lunches and snacks at the Teahouse. Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm jams, chutneys, relishes and vinegars are all natural, artisan made from our own farm produce or from known, trusted local farms. No unnatural additives are used. Our berries, fruits and produce are grown organically and have NEVER been sprayed. Some products are not available all year, due to our small stock of fruit or produce is either finished or out of season.
Tel (03) 5236 3238 www.pennyroyalraspberry.com
Kinsella’s Bridge Winery
(Gosling Creek wines)
495 Murroon Rd, Murroon. Open 11am to 4pm Weekends, holidays and January. Other times by appointment. Closed July and August
Share a taste of the Otways at the Kinsella’s Bridge Winery and vineyard on Gosling Creek, which flows from the Great Otways National Park to the Barwon River through fern gullies and rolling farmland. Traditional handmade estate bottled Pinot noir, Shiraz and Riesling wines are produced.
Tel (03) 5236 3229 www.goslingcreek.com.au
Old Lorne Road Olives
45 Old Lorne Road, Deans Marsh.
Open Thursday to Monday & some Public Holidays. Open 7 Days in January
This restaurant, product shop and gallery offers a farm gate experience of everything to do with olives. Nestled amongst the olive trees on 15 acres the serene location provides a beautiful afternoon of wine, great food and breathtaking views of the rolling hills of Deans Marsh and surrounds.
Tel (03) 5236 3479 www.oldlorneroadolives.com.au
Martians Café
12 Lorne Road, Deans Marsh.
Open Wednesday to Monday for Breakfast
and Lunch and Thursday to Saturday
for Dinner, (hours extended during holidays).
Browsery and Bottle shop open 9am to 6pm everyday.
Martians Cafe delivers a friendly laid back atmosphere serving home cooked meals using local and seasonal produce. Light meals are also available as well as homemade cakes and cookies and great coffee. A wide range of local produce including local wines and the delicious Four Fat Marshans Fine Foods selection of homemade jams, relishes, vinegars and oils can be purchased, as well as spices and organic wholefoods.
Tel (03) 5236 3350 www.martianscafe.com.au
Blakes Estate Winery
20 Parkers Road, Deans Marsh.
Open 11am to 5pm in January and 11am to 5pm on Weekends until after Easter.
Blakes Estate specialises in Pinot Noir grapes
and produces award winning Pinots and sparkling “Blanc de Noir” made exclusively from our own grapes. Cellar Door wine tasting and sales are available. Alternatively, stay at the self contained ‘Vine Cottage’ and enjoy the idealic rural setting and sample estate made wines at a discount.
Tel (03) 5236 3246 or (03) 5236 3462
www.blakesestate.com.au
Hare Krishna Valley
1265 Winchelsea-Dean’s Marsh Rd, Bambra.
Open everyday, 8am to 8pm. Vegetarian Feast second Sunday of the month at 12noon (Bookings are essential)
Situated on 200 acres in the foothills of the Otway Ranges and surrounded by beautiful forest, stay in the self-contained cottages catering to vegetarians (no drinking or smoking allowed). Hare Krishna Valley is involved in Bio-dynamic farming with seasonal produce available direct to the public. Experience the famous Vegetarian Feast held on the second Sunday of every month. With a yoga studio Hare Krishna Valley also caters for retreats and can facilitate large groups.
Tel (03) 5288 7383 or 0405 577 453
www.harekrishnavalley.com.au
Dinny Goonan Wines
880 Winchelsea - Deans Marsh Rd, Bambra.
Open 11am to 5pm Weekends and Public Holidays in November to April and everyday in January. Other times by appointment.
Taste award winning Shiraz, Cabernets, Riesling, Semillon/Sauvignon and Sparkling wines. Chat with the winemaker. Enjoy a vineyard platter among the vines. Savour a fine coffee. Share local knowledge of other places to explore
Tel (03) 5288 7100 or 0438 408 420
www.dinnygoonan.com.au
Country Dahlias
195 Mathison Road, Winchelsea. Open every day, except Friday, between March 1 and April 21. By appointment in February. Open 1st October until 10th November for Tuber sales.
Australia’s largest dahlia collection on 2.5 acres with over 1,800 bushes, and 15 different types. Bring a picnic lunch to have in the garden. Surrounded by all the colours of the rainbow it is a sight that must be seen to be believed.
Tel (03) 5267 2389
A Taste of the Region
Winch elsea Larder
25 Main Street, Winchelsea Open everyday* 9:30am (10am Sun) to 5pm * Closed Good Friday
Make a stop at the Winchelsea Larder licensed cafe in historic Winchelsea - dine in or takeaway coffee & cake, light lunches, and snacks, and a range of gourmet items from Southwest Victoria. Gift hampers and picnics too!
Tel (03) 5267 2832 www.atasteoftheregion.com.au
The Vault
30 Main St, Winchelsea. Open Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm or by appointment
The Vault houses an extensive range of Australian leather goods and Australian products specialising in Australian Made products. Exquisite Leather goods from ostrich, emu, kangaroo, barramundi and crocodile. Feather goods, Australian cards, gifts, linen, emu oil products and much more.
Tel (03) 5267 2001
Hastings Ostrich Farms
30 Main St, Winchelsea.
Tours by appointment specialising in group tours and bus groups. Tours are 1 to 1.5 hrs in duration. Minimum numbers apply.
Hastings Ostrich Farms were pioneers of ostrich farming in Australia, established in 1989. Red Necks, blue necks, blacks and whites are all breeds on the farms which house between
2000-4000 birds at any one time and export birds and products all over the world. Come and learn about ostrich and the ostrich industry. Ostrich have the closest DNA to Dinosaurs, a brain smaller than their eye balls and stones are critical to their diet. These are unique birds!
Tel (03) 5267 2001
The Winchchelsea Shire Hall Tearooooms
28 Hesse St, Winchelsea
Open everyday, 10am to 4pm
Enjoy a Devonshire tea in the old Shire bluestone building built in 1907. The Winchelsea Shire Hall Tearooms also serve light lunches, sandwiches and foccacias, coffee and have an extensive range of cakes and biscuits for those with a sweet tooth.
Tel (03) 5267 2769
Winchelsea Tavern
20 Willis Street, Winchelsea
Open 7 days 10.30am to 12.00pm
Historic Winchelsea Hotel with modern facilities including cafe’, bar, fine dining, and alfresco areas. Enjoy lunch, dinner, or a casual snack. Call to arrange a function, wedding, party, private meeting in the conference room or private function room. Families most welcome. Open fireplaces and air conditioning.
Tel (03) 5267 2533 or (03) 5267 2067
www.winchelseahotel.com.au
Barwon Park
105 Inverleigh Road, Winchelsea
Open Wednesdays and Sundays 11.00am to 4.00 pm. Other times by appointment.
Barwon Park, a National Trust property, is a majestic 42 room bluestone mansion built for Thomas and Elizabeth Austin in 1871. Largely in its original condition, resonating with the glory of Victoria’s pastoral heritage, visitors are most welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the Mansion’s garden surrounds. Hot and cold drinks are available at the Mansion. The mansion also hosts a number of events through the year.
Tel (03) 5267 2209 www.nattrust.com.au
Birregurra Estate Olives
35 Kettle Lane, Birregurra.
Open Friday to Monday 11.00am to 4.00 pm. Other times by appointment.
Birregurra Estate Olives produce sumptuous Kalamata olives and beautiful cold pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Olives are processed on site
using time honoured recipes. Tastings are definitely recommended.
Tel 0401 554 339 or (03) 5236 2544
www.birregurraestateolives.com.au
Food Trees Australia
35 Kettle Lane, Birregurra
Open Friday to Monday 11.00am to 4.00 pm. Other times by appointment.
Food Trees Australia (Nursery) produce consumable food plants from Herbs to Citrus ,Stone Fruit, Apples, Pears, Medlars, Pomegranate, Figs, Guava, Avocado and many more. Aiming to provide the means to combat “Food Miles” and to be part of the “Slow Food Movement” in a truly Organic way. Food Trees Australia run practical workshops for beginners and the more advanced.
Tel 0401 554 339 or (03) 5236 2544
Birregurra Farm Foooods & Provovedore
43 Main St, Birregurra. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm
Boutique butcher selling game meat and Birregurra sausages, local wines, beers and cheeses as well as coffee and cake courtyard with cheese platters
Her love for the Otways was unsurpassed
Elsie the Springer Spaniel
Born: 18/11/1996 Died: 14/02/08.No-one loved the Otways more than our old springer spaniel, Elsie. For 11 years her tail wagged...even in her dreams.She loved the freedom and all the smells of the Otways. Together we ran many a bush track, up and down hundreds of wild long grassed hills. But, most of all she loved fishing the reefs between Jan Juc and Bells beach; those lethargic fish caught between tides in large rock pools. Even in her old age she would spring and pounce with ageless energy for hours until she would have to be dragged out before high tide trapped us. To every-one who has had the privilege of having such a wonderful dog in their family, 'A Toast' to one of the best!
Great Ocean road
Self sacrificing effort of Beauty 75th Anniversary.
The Great Ocean Road Divides the Ocean from The Otways. This spectacular road is a credit to the 3000 men that took up picks and shovels to etch sea from forest. It has beened classified by many travel magazines as one of the Top 20 journeys of a lifetime and in the top 10 road trips in the world.
Last year on 26 November, 2007 marked the 75th anniversary of the Great Ocean Road.
To Commemorate this anniversary, Plaques have been installed commencing at Torquay at Spring creek and follows the Great ocean Road to Lorne and the Cumberland river.
-Howard Hitchcock, president of the Great Ocean road Trust, wrote in the Melbourne Herald, January 3, 1931:
Ever since the first pioneer settlers came to this attractive coast, the only means of reaching it was by bush tracks and, more or less, uneven and rugged roads from the main highway to Warrnambool and Portland, now called the Princess highway.
Perhaps, from the first, people dreamed of a great ocean road which should follow the picturesque coast line, link up the townlets, and make this lovely area more accessible; but if they did it was only a dream which seemed impossible of realisation.
And so our dream comes true. The Great Ocean road will stand as a monument to persistent, self-scarificing effort. It is a highway made as a fitting memorial to the deeds of our soldiers, but it is also a convenient means of outlet for traffic from remote hills and valleys, a stimulus to settlement and a scenic roadway which is unsurpassed in the Commonwealth.
Otways Number 105
Koalas have been sighted in our Eucalypts
There was great excitement recently when our good friends and neighbours at Otways Number 105 sighted a large and healthy koala in one of their eucalypts. This is the first sighting on this ridge of the Otways that we have noticed in the 12 years we have been in the area. Photos are avilable to prove to guests that apart from all the other birdlife and wildlife around start looking up for our furry friends!
Raptors out in force.
We have been privileged to watch the the development of two fledgling wedge tail eagles and two pergrine falcon fledglings causing nervous havoc to every other bird in the sky this summer. The young wedge tail eagles have now mastered the magnificent gliding of the warm air currents but are still awkward and gawky with their landing manoeuvres.
Jan Juc Cliffs have seen the return of the resident perigrines for the fourth season that I have noticed. The other perigrine nest is in an old cypress tree on our farm at Otway Escapes, we were out at dusk, in late January and we were witness to a perigrine soar and capture a magpie in mid air. The whole event seemed so quick and precise that the poor magpie would not have known he was to be the evening meal!
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