Port Stephens

Had a quick trip up the coast to support my son who was playing in a NSW bowls final at Soldiers Point.
My GPS took us round via Stockton and the Williamstown jets were out and about, thundering through the sky - singular stunts and formation flying. Impressive and scary.







We stayed at Aqua Mantra in Port Stephens - very nice, with a good pool.

 

 While the bowler went for a practice I tried out the pool and then wandered down to the Marina and along the beach.
Looking across toward the breakwater I could see some dolphins nosing around. A couple of guys were fishing off the breakwater, and the dolphins joined in. It wasn't long before the men gave up fishing and got their cameras out, very entertaining. On the same little sandy stretch of beach a large group were learning to kayak, and a determined swimmer hugged the shoreline, up and down in the sparkling clear water.
Out early the next day for a big program of bowls. My bowler played some great bowls, but a few early ones advantaged the opponent, and in the end the gap was too big to close. It was good to see my sister and her husband who popped over from Tea Gardens to watch our bowler and have lunch. The bowls comp was a knock-out, so we headed home a day early. Mrs Bowler was proud that he had reached the finals but pleased to have him back. J had given me some tips in case the game was tense and the bowler needed "lightening up". At one stage I called out "J is doing her thing" and was asked "what do you mean?". "Making you laugh". He mentioned I could have chosen better words - the baby is due any day and I must have made his heart race in a non-bowls helpful way.

My car was glad to get out of the garage and have a good stretch, but I can't say I enjoyed the drive. I prefer a more leisurely middle lane approach. It is always good to have a rest stop at the twin service stations near Wyong. Oliver's is great. Love their healthy fast food, and such a nice name too.

Wedding accommodation

Hunter Valley - January 2012

Most have a weekend 2 night minimum stay which includes either Fri-Sat or Sat-Sun. So Thurs-Fri might be a problem? Checked with Rebecca at Leisure Inn who explained that generally throughout the Hunter Valley accommodation there will be a requirement for a 2 night stay, but Thurs-Fri is okay for this. If you want to stay on a Saturday, then you also have to stay either Friday or Sunday.

Checkin usually 2pm - so too late to tidy up before the wedding ceremony on the Friday, but okay for between wedding and reception.

If you were thinking of finding somewhere close to Tamburlaine so you wouldn't have to drive back to your accommodation it may be difficult. There is no street lighting, and the roads are narrow - hard to see where to put your feet in the pitch dark. Is the wedding on a full moon night?

Most of these will allow an extra person or two, at extra rates.
Day visitors - about 4 okay, any more and extra rates apply - cost of sewerage, water, environment levy etc

Favourite
Grapevines Boutique Accommodation
minimum 2 night stay
Has a LARGE spacious modern villa sleeps 4 ($90 ppn for extras - up to 8 but 8 might be compromising the comfort)
with an interconnecting door to a 2 bedroom villa (up to 4 people).
Then there are 4 studio villas for 2 people each.

The large villa has a huge deck which looks across miles of peaceful land, to Barrington Tops in the distance.
It is quiet, off the road, reasonably close to the ceremony site at the gardens, a little drive from the reception at Tamburlaine organic Winery.

10 people would fit comfortably in the combined large villa and 2 bedroom villa.

4 rollaway extra beds are possible at $60 per night each.

We've taken this

Our 2 night stay can be Thursday and Friday - midweek rates for Thursday, weekend rates for Friday.


Walking distance to Harrigan's Irish hotel.

Bonus - two gentle friendly dogs.

HARRIGAN'S IRISH PUB AND ACCOMMODATION
2 night minimum stay.

They have Wedding Rates which means at least 5 rooms have to be booked to get the lower rate.

They accept Thurs & Fri as the minimum two night stay, and split the rates, one night at midweek, one night at weekend rates.

No microwaves in rooms so doesn't suit us oldies who use a heated wheat bag to recover from a long drive.

Possibility of hiring the wine tour mini bus to collect people from Tamburlaine and drop them at the hotel???

Leisure Inn

Advantage - close to the gardens.

Good set up with each little cabin having a 1 bedroom apartment with a connecting door if required to the studio apartment next door. So you can hire the 1 bedroom apartment, or the studio, or combine them for a 2 bedroom apartment.

Looks a bit like a glorified caravan park with all the little cabins scattered about but the rooms are sleek, modern and clean, with very good facilities.

Rebecca at the front of house is an absolute asset to this place - hospitality par excellence! Rebecca says booking from their web site will get you better rates than any other option.

1 bedroom - $209 Thurs, $270 Friday = $479
Studio - $169 Thurs, $214 Friday = $383
2 bedrooms - $289 Thurs, $440 Fri = $729

Cam Way Estate

Next door to Tamburlaine, but down a long dirt road. If you were thinking of walking home after the reception you will need a strong torch, comfy shoes, and watch out for wombats.

A good option is the 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage $960 for 4 people. - that is weekend rates. If you stayed Thurs-Friday it would be one night at mid-week rate, one night at weekend rate. $740.
Then they still have the opportunity to let again for the weekend rates for Saturday and Sunday night.
There are other combinations of cottages available.


Mercure at the gardens

We stayed in the cheapest option, a studio apartment on a Monday night in late August. It was close to the road which was noisy morning and evening. The more up-market options must be better.
There was no microwave to heat up the wheat bag to ward off the driving stress headache. Had to buy panadol from reception at $2.50 a dose.
The studio arrangement felt cramped, the curtains had black grease stains, bits of the bathroom were warped from water damage and the bathroom decor was a little odd - cave like.
Hospitality was minimalist. No notepaper, the guidebook in the room a little tatty and with maps removed - reception coolly supplied another when asked.
Advantage - right at the gardens and the village shops/cafes/restaurants/bottle shop etc. Tempus Two winery and restaurant,cocktail bar, cheese shop just across the road.
Balcony in early morning - birds, lake, kangaroos, horses - just have to block out the road with its roaring traffic of vans, trucks, tractors, utes and cars.

Document Delivery just Ducky

Melissa enjoyed her time in Reference. So the ILL team wouldn't miss her too much, DD Duck takes his place on the trolley.