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

Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee, NSW

Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

Kaybunda Lavender Fields is  one of those places I have heard about about but never quite gotten to. I have meant to see it since moving to Cootamundra so with the smell of Spring on the breeze, I decided it was time to hit the road and see what it was all about. The Lavender Fields are situated a short drive from Junee township and I must say I was a little bit disappointed to see that the 'fields' were more of a smallish paddock of straggly plants...BUT there is a little more to this story. 

Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

I initially hesitated, feeling like an intruder wandering around somebody's private garden but considering the 40 minute drive I had just made, I pushed on. I'm glad I did. The truth behind the fields' lacklustre appearance is that the previous owner became ill and didn't have much time to put into the gardens. Step in a family relocating to Junee from Queensland who have taken on the venture and, it seems, are determined to make it work!

Products on display, Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

Products on display, Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

Dried lavender bunches, Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

Three generations were there when I visited and a bunch of nicer people you could never hope to meet. I asked to see the gift shop and was pleased to see that crammed into the relatively small space, there were several dozen different types of products showcasing Kaybunda's lavender. From lavender lollies (shockingly yummy!) to pet deodorant, from dried flowers to furniture polish, bath salts, lotions and potions, all was available to try before you buy. This was a good tactic because everything was so lovely and I ended up spending up big. All the while, the new owners outlined their plans and hopes for the future of Kaybunda Lavender Fields. They are planning to provide easier access to the garden, add a pergola, expand the store and, most importantly, get the lavender back to its beautiful best.

Lavender, Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

Rosemary, Kaybunda Lavender Fields, Junee

So whilst you certainly wouldn't need a whole day to see Kaybundah, if you are near Junee and looking for some lavender scented gifts (or even a little treat for yourself), really consider stopping by to support the Kaybunda Lavender Fields. With any luck, it is a place that will become bigger and better with time!


Kaybunda Lavender Fields is located at 126 Murrulebale Road, Old Junee (about a five minute drive from town).

Floriade Nightfest, Canberra, ACT

Tulips, Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

By day, there is no denying that Floriade is beautiful but by night, it is a sensory experience which takes you way beyond just looking at thousands of flowers. For some reason, I found that the inky night sky blocked out distractions and the visual focus was on the flower beds themselves rather than the myriad of passing daytime distractions. 


The sharp crunch of gravel underfoot was interspersed with soft sploshes as my feet smashed into puddles, magnified by the darkness. Add to that the smell of damp earth, rain and flowers hanging on the petrified, icy cold air and the tingle of frost kissing your cheeks and it all combined to create a unusual experience. Maybe it is because usually, you garden in the daytime which made the Floriade Nightfest so special, maybe it was just having more time and less crowds so that each display could really be enjoyed. I'm not certain what the magic ingredient was, but I can heartily recommend Nightfest!

Tulips, Floriade Nightfest

Ferris wheel, fairy lights and flowers, Floriade, Canberra

As well as the flowers, Floriade Nightfest offers up some other suprises too with cooking and flower arranging demonstrations, movies on an inflatable outdoor screen, cocktail bars, and even the chance to have your hair and makeup done at Garnier World. Add the Floriade Nightfest market which offered up arts and crafts, candles, soap, clothing and a heap of interesting food stalls into the mix and the event really lived up to it's theme 'A feast for the senses.' 

Night market, Floriade Nightfest Canberra

Floral display, Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

Floriade and Floriade Nightfest are located within Commonwealth Park Park off Commonwealth Avenue and Parkes Way, Canberra. There are free shuttle buses from the Canberra CBD or it is an easy five minute walk from the city centre. Floriade runs annually from mid-September. (Remember to rug up because the Canberra nights at this time of year can still dip below freezing...brrr!)

Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

Lanterns, Floriade Nightfest

Useful Links:

Floriade Official site

Graze@the Factory, Junee, NSW

Graze@the Factory, Junee

The Style: I'm not sure if it was the surprisingly pleasant unseasonable warm weather casting a romantic spell but Graze@the Factory felt like a little bit of Provence dropped into the middle of Junee. The interior is roughly whitewashed brick walls, chunky wood furniture and wine barrels set off by some quirky prices of furniture and art. Outside, a rich red stone wall hugs the dining area which is filled with olive trees, citrus, lavender and a vegetable and herb garden as well as a wood-fire pizza oven which is put to use on the last Friday of each month. The area was a lovely place to let your mind wander to far away places while sipping a glass of red...

Woodfire pizza oven, Graze@the Factory, Junee

The taste: The food at Graze@the Factory is similar to modern pub menus with burgers, steaks and the like sitting alongside, soup, risotto and pizza. The quality was quite good with the food being very tasty and the salad crunchy and fresh. The lamb burger and the prawn risotto were both a cut above and at around $15, the price was right as well.

Lamb Burger, Graze@the Factory, Junee

Prawn, onion and capsicum risotto, Graze@the Factory, Junee

Open steak sandwich, Graze@the Factory, Junee

BBQ chicken wrap, Graze@the Factory, Junee

The service: If I had to criticise anything about Graze@the Factory, it was the service. It was by no means bad but the little touches were missing - admittedly, it was very busy but our table was left with dirty plates on it for about 15 minutes. They were taken but unfortunately, the smears of food they left behind weren't spotted until our meals were delivered. That said, the staff were apologetic and dealt with it. I think a few extra pairs of hands would have made all the difference because they were run off their feet.

Part of the restaurant vege patch, Graze@the Factory, Junee

The price: On the lunch menu, starters ranged from $6.50 - $11.50, light meals from $8.00 - $9.50 and mains from $13.50 - $23.50.


The location: Graze@the Factory is located within the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, Lord Street, Junee, NSW. 

Graze@the Factory, Junee