Bethungra Dam, NSW

Bethungra Dam at sunset

Since the sun has finally decided to shine, it seems like a good time to mention Bethungra Dam. Bethungra Dam is located just out of the tiny town of Bethungra in south western New South Wales. The dam isn't huge (it covers around 14 hectares) but there is plenty of space to paddle a kayak or tinny and plenty of fish(mainly redfin) hovering under the water. 


There are some craggy hills to one side of the dam which provide a short walk which isn't too challenging and there are plenty of rocky features for any budding photographers looking for a showy subject. When the sun sets, they glow red and with just a little imagination you can imagine you are up in the Scottish Highlands...

Bethungra Dam

Bethungra Dam at sunset

The dam has camping facilities, toilet facilities, BBQ areas but does get busy during school holidays and on warm weekends. That said, the majority of times I have been there (especially in winter) I have had it all to myself.


Bethungra Dam can be accessed via Waterworks Road in Bethungra. This is a dirt road but its in fairly good condition so should be OK for most cars. Bethungra is about 20 minutes from Cootamundra.

Moonrise over Bethungra Dam

Rocky outcrop, Bethungra Dam

BBQ sausages sizzling beside Bethungra Dam!

The Bredbo Christmas Barn

Brebo Christmas Barn

Christmas lovers beware! If you visit the Bredbo Christmas Barn, you are going to spend a lot of time and money...but it will be worth it! The Bredbo Christmas Barn is one of the most amazing places - it is jam packed from floor to ceiling with all things Christmas and walking through the doors is like walking into a place where there is just a little sprinkle of magic in the air. There are themed trees, decorations of EVERY kind you can imagine, statues, candles, lights, wreaths...whatever you want, if it has anything to do with Christmas, you will find it here. It didn't matter how many photos I took, absolutely none of them did the place justice. To understand how wonderfully nuts this place is, you really need to visit.

Bredbo Christmas Barn 

Bredbo Christmas Barn

Bredbo Christmas Barn

Bredbo Christmas Barn

Bredbo is a tiny dot of a town which straddles the Monaro Highway about 45 minutes south of Canberra or 20 minutes north of Cooma. If you like Christmas, this is a must do...and if you are a grinch who hates Christmas, visit the Bredbo Christmas Barn and you just might change your mind!

The Bredbo Christmas Barn is open June - December each year.

Bredbo Christmas Barn

Bredbo Christmas Barn

Miss Heidi's Tea House, Cooma, NSW

Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

The Style: Miss Heidi's Tea House is like a little bit of Austria landed smack bang in the Snowy Mountains. The log cabin dates back to the days of the Snowy Hydro scheme when migrants wanted something to remind them of home. It sits perched on a hill with lovely views to the mountains in the distance. Inside, it really feels like you are in a super-exaggerated version of an Austrian grandma's house complete with paintings of the alps, hats hanging in the entryway and wooden chairs and tables. One word of warning - in a former life, Miss Heidi's was some kind of fairytale adventure park and there are some uber-creepy ceramic princesses with their faces peeling off, one sans-head as well as a handsome prince who has seen better days lurking at the rear of the outdoor eating area. 

Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

The Taste: Sometimes the simple things done properly are much nicer than something fancy which tastes horrible. Miss Heidi's has a pretty simple menu but oooh, the taste!! So good. From the pot of tea brewed properly to buttery pancakes which were crunchy outside and meltingly good inside, every bite was heaven! The menu features Austrian treats including gulasch, schnitzel and strudel as well as scones, tea and coffee. 

Schnitzel and saurkraut, Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

Wurst and saurkraut, Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

Pancakes, Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

Apple strudel, Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

Tea in the mountains, Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

Hot chocolate, Miss Heidi's Teahouse, Cooma

The Price: Reasonable considering it tasted so yummy although a bit more than you would normally expect to pay in a country town. Our morning tea of pancakes, strudel and a pot of tea came in around the $35 mark. Expect to pay $15-20 for the lunch menu - when you factor in that the portion size is huge, the food is delicious and the setting is, well, unique to say the least, it is worth trying at least once if you are in Cooma.

View over the plains to the Snowy Mountains, Cooma

Miss Heidi's Teahouse

The Location: Miss Heidi's Tea House is located near the Mount Gladstone Lookout about 1km off the Snowy Mountains Highway in Cooma. (The turnoff is just south of town). Miss Heidi's is open 7 days per week from 10am - 5pm and for dinner by appointment.

Flying the coop...

A couple of months ago, the other half and I were lucky enough to find two acres of paradise near Cooma in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains. We moved in a few weeks ago and have been madly painting, planting, mowing etc. ever since. 


As well as being really excited about the move, I can't wait to explore our new home town and it's surrounds and the good news is family and friends in Cootamundra mean we wont lose our links to that area either.


Here are some springtime photos from Cooma...

Narlia the Aussie Bulldog

Bruno the Bull Mastiff

Our dogs Bruno and Narlia haven't been too bothered by the move...

Two new chickens for the flock

We have a couple of new chooks to join our old girls - their new run is pretty big and should be a nice home for them when it is done. Dan is in the process of building it and has the main poles and stays in, just waiting on some wire and they should be right to move in.

Chicken run

Cherries!

 Granny Smith Apples

Strawberries

We inherited some fruit trees and have also added some of our own - we are starting to see some fruit already which is exciting!


I look forward to sharing my Cooma adventures!

Dog on the Tuckerbox and Bullocky Bills, Gundagai, NSW

Dog on the Tuckerbox, Gundagai

Bullocky Bill's, Gundagai

The Dog on the Tuckerbox is right up there with the Big Trout on the road trip must-sees in southern New South Wales. Made famous through a bush ballad, the Dog on the Tuckerbox sits proudly overlooking the back end of the Hume Highway just north of Gundagai township. Its a little bit hard to know why he looks so pleased with himself because his surrounds have become less than idyllic but still, in that way dogs do, he seems happy none the less. There have been suggestions that the dog be moved to try and maximise his visits but this has met with resistance so for now, he is still firmly in place. 

Bullock dray, Dog on the Tuckerbox, Gundagai

If you decide to stop off and pay him a visit, PLEASE don't expect him to be a 'big thing' along the lines of the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour - in actual fact, he is tiny. I was a bit surprised that there wasn't more to him but when I looked a bit harder, I noticed that he is quite a handsome little fellow and slightly less tacky than some of Australia's other road trip stop offs. Just near the Dog, there are some old bullock drays and other bits and pieces to look at as well as a small shop selling souvenirs.


To find the dog, look for the BP Service Station which seems to dominate the area - rather than race in there, follow the signs from the service station a little further north. 

Bullocky Bills, Gundagai

Local produce, Bullocky Bill's, Gundagai

Local produce, Bullocky Bill's, Gundagai

Local Produce, Bullocky Bill's, Gundagai

Right near the dog, there is what may be his saviour from obliteration - Bullocky Bills. This place is a treasure trove of locally produced food from Gundagai, Tumut, Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga and Young including sauces, chutneys, olives, licorice, lollies, soap, cleansers, dried fruits and also craft. If you are the type of person who likes to sample what the area you are visiting has to offer, you will seriously not be disappointed if you stop here. 

Bacon and egg roll, Bullocky Bill's breakfast

Alongside the preserved foods, there is also a Dean's Fruit Shop which sources locally grown fruit and vegetables at really reasonable prices. Last but not least, there is the Bullocky Bill's Restaurant which dishes up decent food(burgers, sandwiches, salads, pies, cakes) to power your next stretch of driving. Bullocky Bill's has been Good Food Guide reviewed and recommended and whilst it isn't five star dining, it is fresh, generously portioned and a lot tastier than anything the big fast food chains have to offer up. 

Bullock dray, Gundagai

So next time you are on the Hume Highway in Gundagai, resist the urge to stop under the Golden Arches. Pay an Aussie icon a visit, support local growers and get a decent meal before you continue on your way. I'm pretty sure the old dog would be pleased with the attention.

Dog on the Tuckerbox, Gundagai

Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery and Cafe, Thredbo, NSW

Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery and Cafe, Thredbo, NSW

Schnapps, Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery, Thredbo

The Style: Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery and Cafe is a one part classy art, one part Alpine Kitsch and a lot of fun! The Distillery is located on a few acres of landscaped grounds. These are scattered with sculptures, polished granite and even the odd fibreglass horse! There are nice touches like the little orchard of pink lady apple trees which are a key ingredient in the schnapps of that flavour as well as potted tulips in the spring time.


Inside, you could be forgiven for thinking you are inside an old style ski lodge but for the huge copper distilling vats which dominate one part of the cafe. And yes, there are even home made pretzels hanging from a deer antler light shade!

Deer antler light shade, Wild Brumby Distillery and Cafe, Thredbo

Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery, Thredbo

The Taste: Delicious! The menu features a range of European inspired goodies but the pick has to be the German sausages and kraut. They come served with mustard and bread and they are cooked to sizzling, popping perfection. As I cut mine, little beads of fatty flavour oozed out and I can tell you I mopped up every last bit with the bread. (I did make sure to share a little piece with Booza the resident Jack Russell Terrier.) Other continental treats on offer include schnitzel, gulasch and Austrian salad.The Wild Brumby Cafe also offers up sweet treats and has German beer on tap. Breakfast is served from 10am - 12pm and lunch until 5pm.

Sausages and kraut, Wild Brumby Cafe

Icy cold beer on tap, Wild Brumby Cafe

Lemon Cake, Wild Brumby Cafe, Thredbo

Lovely latte, Wild Brumby Cafe, Thredbo

The Service: It was hectic and the staff were clearly rushed off their feet. They weren't bursting with excitement to help but they were efficient and got the job done pretty quickly. When I have visited on quieter days, there has been a lot more help offered so I think they get the benefit of the doubt.

Booza the resident Jack Russell at Wild Brumby

The Location: Wild Brumby is located off the Alpine Way between Thredbo and Jindabyne overlooking the peaks of Kosciuszko National Park's Snowy Mountains. The spectacular views and crisp, fresh mountain air are hard to beat. Take advantage of the outdoor tables in summer and you wont be disappointed!

Wood and stone garden sculptures, Wild Brumby, Thredbo