Lyre Bird Hill Winery & Guest House, Koonwarra review: Culture in the country

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This was published 14 years ago

Lyre Bird Hill Winery & Guest House, Koonwarra review: Culture in the country

Wine time ... Lyre Bird Hill has genial hosts and good wines.

Wine time ... Lyre Bird Hill has genial hosts and good wines.

This guest house has all life's necessities plus a few little luxuries, writes Mary O'Brien.

Sometimes I think there's a conspiracy against families. Log on to tourist websites, trawl through brochures, follow up friends' recommendations and often you will find that the nicest places won't take children.

Lyre Bird Hill Winery and Guest House looks inviting on the internet: beautiful rooms overlooking mature gardens, sunlight streaming in the windows and the promise of delicious breakfasts. Unfortunately families are advised to stay in the nearby cottage.

Koonwarra is an oasis of civilisation, a bit like someone picked up a little bit of Brunswick Street and deposited it in a beautiful country setting. There's the Koonwarra Food, Wine and Produce Store, the Peaceful Gardens Organic Cooking School and Farmhouse Kitchen, Revamp Gallery with sustainable clothes and furnishings, the Organic Fix vegie shop, a nursery and aromatherapy shop. If you feel like indulging you can check into the day spa.

Lyre Bird cottage sleeps six with three bedrooms, one with a queen-size bed, another with a double bed and a third bedroom with two single beds. It's basic accommodation that's reasonably priced. There are pluses the Coonara fire makes the sitting and dining area cosy at night, there's an enclosed play area with cubby house for very young children, games and books. Electric blankets are provided. There's a television with video-DVD player and reverse-cycle air-conditioner.

Owners Owen and Robyn Schmidt are genial hosts. Every morning Robyn bakes muffins for her guests and delivers them to the door nice and early for breakfast.

The guest house is a much grander affair than the cottage. It has three bedrooms with en suites, a dining room with fireplace, a sitting room overlooking rose gardens and an outdoor terrace.

One of the benefits of staying at Lyrebird is that you can sample the various wines without having to worry about driving home. We spend a pleasant evening in with a bottle of the 2005 pinot noir, a silky smooth number that goes very well with our roast lamb. If the weather is fine you can sample their wines in the garden area with some local cheese or olives.

The Great Southern Rail Trail is one of the prime attractions in Koonwarra. You can walk, cycle or ride the eight kilometres to Leongatha through fertile green rolling countryside.

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Koonwarra food store and gardens is a popular stop-off. The food is mostly local produce and we discover several Gippsland beers that we have never heard of before. Across the road, Peaceful Gardens is also worth a visit. We can vouch for the stuffed zucchini, pea and ham soup and delicious bread rolls. Revamp gallery is an experience not to be missed. A former stylist and fashion editor, Thomas Burge, runs the sustainable clothing gallery.

Koonwarra is a delightful place to spend a weekend. The cottage is basic but reasonably priced. If you want a simple weekend away without breaking the bank this is a good place to go. If you prefer your comforts, book into the four-star guest house. The good news is that families can stay in the guest house if they block book all the rooms. We just have to find some friends so we can visit again.

VISITORS' BOOK

Lyre Bird Hill Winery & Guest House

Address 370 Inverloch Road, Koonwarra.

Bookings 5664 3204, see lyrebirdhill.com.au.

Getting there Koonwarra is 150 kilometres from Melbourne, just off the South Gippsland Highway.

How much? $110 for two a night in the self-catering cottage, $20 for an extra person; $175 for two a night in the guest house includes breakfast.

Summary The cottage offers reasonably priced basic accommodation in a good location. Opt for the guest house if you enjoy your comforts.

Verdict 14

The score: 19-20 excellent; 17-18 great; 15-16 good; 13-14 comfortable, well run.

All weekends away are conducted anonymously and paid for by Traveller.

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