Things To Do
Food & Wine
There are not many places on earth where you can stand on a balcony, spotting wild platypus whilst drinking a barista served coffee or cooking a on BBQ. Barrington Hideaway’s proximity to Gloucester gives guests easy access to a number a great cafes, a butcher and a some yummy country baking. After a quick trip “into town” your coffee will still be warm and can be enjoyed, amongst the trees, on the deck. The local IGA has a great bottle-shop that stocks regional craft beer and the Avon Valley Meats has a some delicious smoked goods and other locally sourced produce.
Cafes:
There are a number of cafes along the main street, take your pick! Returning visitors will note some new cafes in town, so check out The Common and Batter and Dough for your caffeine hit or breakfast.
Bakeries:
In addition to the classic country baker, Hebbey’s Bakery, which sells yummy pies alongside a fully range of classic treats, you can order online from Batter & Dough who does amazing small batch artisan breads and sweet treats.
Restaurants:
Gloucester is more than just a “two hotel town”! Whilst you can get great pub food at either the Roundabout Inn (they have a great range of regional craft beer on tap) or the Avon Valley Inn Hotel, there are also other great options including Roadies Cafe who often does woodfired pizza.
Nothing say rural Australia like a Chinese restaurant in bowling club and we are lucky to have a great one in Gloucester. Jack-High Restaurant is at the Gloucester bowling club which is on the left as you leaving Gloucester towards Barrington. Our favourite is the satay king prawns!
Local Wineries & Cellar Doors:
Amongst the other primary production, the region is home to numerous vineyards and there are a number cellar doors in the Gloucester District.
Mograni Creek Estate
Gloucester River Winery
Less than 10 minutes drive from Barrington Hideaway, Faulls Ridge Wine is perched atop the scenic ridges above Gloucester. Don’t miss their 2018 & 2019 Verdelho, 2018 Chambourcin, 2018 Rose and 2018 Shiraz. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in their beautiful garden and soak up the magnificent view as you enjoy a fine wine experience.
Bucketts Scenic Walk
The Bucketts Scenic Walk is a hidden gem and it begins just a few kms from Barrington Hideaway.You access the start of the trail via Bucketts Rd which is off Thunderbolts Way just after the bridge as you leave Gloucester.
After an initial steep ascent through a paddock you are amongst Ferns, Orchids and Grass Tress. A scramble over the granite outcrops brings you to some special views over the fertile farm land below.
Wildlife in the area includes the Wallaroo, Red-necked Wallaby, Burtons Lizard, Peregrine Falcons and the iconic Wedgetailed EagleThe path is easy to follow and it leads you to many “lookout” spots. A complete loop will take you less than 2 hrs, it is best when there is low light in the morning or afternoon.
Farmers' Market & Festivals
Since being opened up for farming by the Australian Agricultural Company (AA Co) in the 1830s, the Gloucester region has been dairy and beef country. There is also a strong boutique farming scene in the region with everything from Silver Perch to Garlic thriving in the region.
The best place to sample the local produce and to buy local craft is at the fortnightly farmers market, held on the 2nd Saturday of each month at Billabong Park from 8:30am to 12:00pm.
“Gloucester Farmers Market was conceived out of The Gloucester Project, an initiative which aimed to support and encourage self-sustaining communities. The farmers market provides the venue for regional growers and producers to come together and sell their produce direct to the community.”
Reference: http://www.gloucestermarkets.com.au/
Snow on the Tops
Known to be one of the closest places to Sydney, Newcastle & Brisbane to play in the snow, the Barrington Tops can turn into a winter wonderland between June-August each year.As the snowfall is unpredictable, it is best to plan a weekend away at Barrington Hideaway and hope to view snow “on the Tops” as a bonus. The kids will love it and the drive is very scenic.
Special care needs to be taken on the road when there is snow around so please ask us for the latest travel advice.
Photos thanks to Petra Yager who won our 2016 winter photo competition.
River Activities
Barrington Tops National Park and the valleys below are popular with kayakers due to its sections of white water and attractive scenery.
The Barrington River is a perennial river of the Manning River catchment and rises within the Great Dividing Range. It flows generally east, joined by five tributaries including the Kerripit, Dilgry, Cobark, and Moppy rivers, before passing Barrington Hideaway and reaching its confluence with the Gloucester River, near Gloucester.
The Barrington River is readily accessible from the banks below the cottages and the pristine waters beckon on a hot day. To access the river you need to walk around the back of the cottages (along the road that runs parallel to the river) and head North (to the left if you are looking at the river). You will see a sign pointing to the river bank.
PLEASE NOTE: The river path is not maintained. It is a natural environment and accessing the river has risks – all of the wildlife and water risks that make Australia infamous! Use at you own risk.
Paddling canoes, dinghies or kayaks is possible in the deep holes below the cottages or in many other sections of the river in close proximity.
Every year on the second Sunday of September, the Barrington River puts up a challenge for the Gloucester Mountain Man Tri Challenge. Consisting of a 20.4 km mountain bike ride along mountain roads, creek beds, cattle tracks and rainforest, a 10.7 km kayak paddle down the crystal clear waters of the Barrington River, and a 8.8 km run leg along the scenic Thunderbolts Way, the “mountain man” is a unique event not to be missed. Year round you can construct your own adventure race with a kayak, mountain bike and hike within the Gloucester valley.
For those who like to throw in a line, fishing while at Barrington Hideaway is a must. The Barrington River, which runs at the rear of the property, is a ready source of the famed Australian Bass (we encourage catch and release). Trout are also plentiful in other waterways close by.
Platypus/Wildlife Spotting
The extensive native gardens, large farm dams and the water quality of the Barrington River, create an ideal environment for a variety of wildlife.
Azure Kingfishers, King Parrots, Black Cockatoos, Rosellas and Blue Wrens are just some of the many birds which can be seen around the cottages and along the river.
At Barrington Hideaway you have the chance to have a memorable encounter with an animal unique to Australia-the furry, warm-blooded, egg-laying mammalian platypus. The resident platypus can be sited frequently from the verandah, the river track or from a kayak.
Check out our social media pages from footage captured at Barrington Hideaway to help you spot the Platypus.
Some interesting Platypus facts to help with your siting…
Mainly a nocturnal animal, the platypus (ornithorhynchus anatinus…) considered to be one of the world’s most unusual animals can best be seen during the early morning and late evening.
Platypus usually emerge from their burrows in the late afternoon or early evening and begin foraging for food. This activity is often interspersed with grooming and scratching.
The Platypus spends about half its time in the water feeding. They spend up to 10-12 hours a day diving and foraging for food, returning to the surface every 30 to 60 seconds to consume food collected and to breath. Appearances at the surface are generally short and last only about 10 to 30 seconds.
Normally a platypus stays underwater for between one and two minutes, but if disturbed it can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes.
Platypus swim by using alternate strokes of their webbed fore-limbs while the hind limbs are held close to the body. The hind limbs and tail are generally used as rudders and brakes. When swimming, platypus create ‘bow-waves’ and diving animals roll porpoise-like beneath the surface.