Benbellen Country Retreat

Property Description

Hannam Vale is a coastal valley just 45 minutes from Port Macquarie and 30 minutes from Laurieton and Taree.

Revitalise yourself with the fresh air, the peaceful relaxed atmosphere and our country hospitality. The large open plan homestead, with it s solar passive design and its quietly stated elegance, is purpose built with your privacy and comfort in mind.

Tucked away at the top of this delightful coastal valley, Benbellen Country Retreat has magnificent valley views and provides a restful farm experience with opportunities to get "close and personal" with our growing alpaca breeding stock - not to mention a fabulous array of things to do and see in this beautiful part of the world. Benbellen is a small working alpaca farm and the home of Benbellen Alpaca Products offering hand spun hand knitted sweaters, shawls, scarves and berets as well as duvets to suit all bed sizes.

Accommodation includes fully ensuite rooms in the homestead itself with balconies and views down the valley to South Brother. There are also two separate cottages suitable for families and for couples who want total privacy. Cherry Tree Cottage is located on the farm itself with uninterrupoted valley views adjacent to the alpacas home paddock; it has accommodation for a couple in the main bedrrom with its queen sized bed and for three young children in the second bedrrom. Penlan Cottage is located away from the farm though close enough for a visit; it can accommodate a larger family or two couples - pets are also welcome at Penlan Cottage. Both cottages have extensive verandas and come fully equipped with all kitchen and cooking facilities including an outdoors BBQ; linen and towelling are supplied and changed regularly on longer stays.

Breakfast provisions are provided in the cottages: home baked bread, home made jam, cereals, milk, yoghurt and orange juice. At Benbellen a full cooked breakfast is provided and a three course dinner with quality wines is available with 24 hour notice at $40 per head for adults; special family meals are also available as are luncheon hampers.

If you must in this ideal restive part of the world where relaxation is the key word ... Benbellen has wireless connectivity to laptops in the homestead; a landline broad connection is also available to those without wireless connectivity.

The cottages have their own land line for old fashioned dial up connect.

Car parking at Benbellen is in the car park off street at the entrance to the property although under cover parking at the homestead is available on request. Cherry Tree and Penlan Cottages have their own under cover parking.

After parking your car in the parking area proceed through the closed gates to the front of the homestead if one or other of us is not about to greet you at the gate.

Check-in time is 10 am and check out time is 2 pm; early arrivals and late departures may be arranged.

There is a additional payment for extra guests at the two cottages based on age: for over 12s the daily charge is $40; 5-12 year olds $25 and under 5s $10. The daily charge for a pet at Penlan Cottage is $5 although there is a requirement for owners to bring their own food bowls and pet bedding.

Hannam Vale abuts onto the Coorabakh National Park and the drive through the Park takes you to some wonderful views off the Lansdowne escarpment. The is also the Dooragan National Park near Laurieton with its two lookouts and their extended views for many kilometres up and down the Mid North Coast.

The area is famous for its rainforests and the Middle Brother Mountain has walks and drives though some of the most majestic of rainforests on the coast; monster trees Big Fella Gum and Bird Tree are found here.

Bushwalking trails are available and the Watui Falls provides a great place for a family picnic in the warmer months from September through to May; the drive to Ellenborough Falls is a great day trip with lots of family things to do on the way.

Blueberry picking is available at a nearby farm in season; horse riding can be arranged year round. Wauchope is less than an hour away with its famous Timbertown and the nearby Billabong Wild Life Sanctuary. The Lorne Valley Macadamia Farm is worth a visit.

Other attractions incluse some of the best golfing on the Mid North Coast; wine tasting; art galleries and local markets; not to mention the wide range of Pacific Coast beaches from Old Bar, Crowdy Bay, Dunbogan and New Haven.

Adventure tourists have activities available from Whale watching, fishing, boating and paragliding.

... and then there is all the on-farm activity at Benbellen Farm itself.

From the South, turn left off the Pacific Highway at Moorland onto Hannam Vale Road (from the North turn right at Johns River onto Stewarts River Road and join Hannam Vale Road at Stewarts River). Follow Hannam Vale Road through Hannam Vale onto Waitui Road, on through Waitui village and turn right into Cherry Tree Lane. Benbellen is clearly identified at the end of the road by a pair of large wagon wheels at the entrance to the parking area.