Tyntynder Lodge, Bright review: Dogs at the lodge

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This was published 14 years ago

Tyntynder Lodge, Bright review: Dogs at the lodge

Hound haven ... humans and dogs can relax by the wood fire.

Hound haven ... humans and dogs can relax by the wood fire.

Kathy Evans discovers a country cottage that welcomes the entire family.

After more than four hours squashed between suitcases in the boot of a car, our dogs wake to a rain-washed garden of roses and camellias that backs on to a river flanked by a footpath exuding exciting odours; and best of all, no leads required.

With barely a backward glance, they are off along the bank chasing butterflies, the car journey from Melbourne to Bright a distant memory.

On return to the cottage at Tyntynder Lodge, where we are staying, they wolf their doggy dinner from ceramic bowls embellished with shiny bones before flopping on a dog bed in front of a pot bellied wood fire. Their expression says it all; oh yes, this is surely paradise.

It is pretty good for us humans too. Tyntynder Lodge, built in the 1950s by a dentist going through a midlife crisis, according to the blurb, is understated and tasteful. Set at the end of Tyntynder Lane in large gardens, it's a five-minute drive out of Bright and right on the Ovens River – you can meander into town along its curves.

We are lucky enough to stay in Cottage No. 4, which has the biggest and most beautiful garden but all four adjoining cottages offer two reasonable-sized bedrooms, open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas. It proves that you do not have to sacrifice quality because you happen to have a mutt. In fact, you'd never guess a four-legged creature has ever crossed the threshold of our cottage; there is not one single dog hair on the couches or the polished wooden floors, the beds are pristine and the bathroom sparkles bright white. Beware the bedroom bunk beds, though, ours don't have a guard rail and are not suitable for very small children.

Tyntynder Lodge has won the prize for the Best Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Victoria for the past four years and it's not hard to see why. However, there is a price to pay for this canine utopia; you cannot leave your dog alone in the cottages. Take it with you, take it to a creche two minutes away or call in the dog-sitter who charges $35 for three hours. I wonder about this; our dogs, in human years are 21 and old enough to manage short spells by themselves. Apparently it has to do with noise; in the past the neighbours have complained about dogs barking.

With this in mind, owner Catherine Falcke provides an extensive list of dog-friendly places. It names the restaurants that are welcoming; and those which are not, including a place which has been "downright rude" to customers and another where the owners can be "pernickety". Ours find a welcome at Back To Basics on Gavan Street in the town centre, which serves lovely gluten-free scones and breads; an added bonus for anyone with coeliacs.

Not wanting to pay for a dog-sitter, we take ours with us the next day when we go to the Mountain Fresh Trout & Salmon Farm on the road to Harrietville, about a 20-minute drive away.

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A few years ago we spent a wet weekend in Donegal, Ireland, trying in vain to catch salmon. We are heartened by the assistant at the tourist information office in Bright who assures us that here, you are virtually guaranteed to catch something other than a chill.

So we stand by the pond with our bamboo rods (supplied) and ball of bait. We don't have long to wait before a huge rainbow trout bites. My daughter yanks the rod and the fish arcs out of the water and lays flapping on the bank. The dogs, delighted, give chase, pulling over the chair to which they are tied, and we all run after the dogs, in a sketch straight from a Chevy Chase movie.

After an hour we have four fat fish, which isn't difficult seeing as there are around 400,000 swimming about in the 40 or so ponds. The woman at the fish farm cleans and guts them for you while you watch. My children are strangely enraptured when she cuts out the still beating heart and lays it on the bench in front of them. We take our catch home and cook one (the girl) on the barbecue that night.

Despite the tranquil setting, the gurgle of the river close by, the strange birds calling from a sky cramped with stars, none of us have much of a appetite. It is better not to know the sex of what you are eating, or give it a name – Finnoula, in this case. The dogs love it though.

VISITORS' BOOK

Tyntynder Lodge, Bright

Address 4 Tyntynder Lane, Bright, 3741.

Bookings Phone 0408 476 046, see tyntynderbright.com.au.

Getting there About four hours from Melbourne via Hume Highway/Great Alpine Road.

Summary Suits children, dogs and parents alike. Very high standard of cleanliness, beautiful and tranquil. Lots of river walks for dogs close by.

How much $430 a couple for two nights. Children are $40 extra per stay. Dogs also $40 extra per stay.

Verdict 18.

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

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

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