Didn’t sleep well so tired.

After breakfast Maggie fought with someone over rights to use the washing machine and I chilled out.

The resort is surrounded by vineyards with the bottling plant off in the  distance.

The rooms are built looking out on the vines.

We went for a talk on wine making at 11 and the after we chatted to the host.

No it wasn’t Lisa McGuigan but she was at the back.

We enjoyed a bottle of her Shiraz the night before.

Andrew our host told us we should go to Nelson Bay as it was pretty and next door was Shoal Bay and we could walk up Tamaree Hill as it had a great view at the top.

Actually he said ‘it was the best view you ever did see’ but I wasn’t convinced. Anyway we thought a recommendation shouldn’t be sniffed at so we thought we would give it a go. Now Australians don’t see distance the same way way we do so it was a mere hour and a half away but anyway.

On the way we passed a pond that had more Pelicans in it than we had seen in the Pelican reserve combined so we stopped to take some pics.

When we eventually arrived in Nelson I was wondering if it was worth it as it seemed to basically be a marina and a bit of a beach but we followed the road round to Shoal Bay to see what it was like. Stopped of for Banana bread and Fruit Loaf. Fruit loaf toasted is such a tasty thing. Here they offer it as a menu item. Huge big thick slice with loads of butter is a lovely thing.
So after that we went down to beach. It is a beautiful beach an somehow reminds me of the Caribbean, Cuba or maybe Jamaica.

I get a chance to have a proper swim and Maggie gets to soak up some rays.

From there we then go down to the end of the beach where the walk up Tomaree Head starts. This is up to the top of a big hill where the Tomaree radar once stood This was and early warning radar dating from 1942. It’s claim to fame was that it was the first radar produced wholly in Australia and also the first one manned by the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force).

All that remains is the mounting point for the radar array.

The walk up is strenuous enough to warrant a few beaks on the way and seats are placed at strategic intervals. It is well worth the climb and Andrew gets a gold star for suggesting it.

When we get back down it is back to the Hunter Resort.
We just have to stop on the way as we see what must be more than a dozen Kangaroo’s of to the side of the road. They are just munching away and enjoying the evening sun.

 

In fact Maggie tooted the horn to get them to bounce away but they aren’t into reforming and just stand and look at us as if to say, who do you think you are.

 

So we chill and watch them.
It is the end to another memorable day, or not quite.
We have determined we wouldn’t eat at the resort as they let us down big time in that department last night.

Across the road at the Tuscany Wine estate where they do the cheese tasting they also have a bar and restaurant, The Mill.

I remember as it is the same name as one in Gomshall, Surrey where I have often ate with my good friend Paul Moorcraft before embarking on foreign work adventures. so we book a table there and are not let down. A bit more expensive so we have to rationalise that we are having a treat.
A treat it is, Wild Boar followed by more steak for me. Sous-vide Wagyu rump, slow roasted carrots and eschallots, king brown mushrooms and tarragon emulsion. Tastes as good as it reads.

Maggie has a Duo of spatchcock; prosciutto wrapped breast, confit leg; pumpkin, radicchio, walnut and fetta salad, fig dressing.
All helped and washed down by a local Shiraz from down the road, an Allandale Shiraz.
Good to spoil yourself every now and again.
I guess we needed spoiling as we arrived back to some bad news.
Harry the giant of a labradoodle that Lisa and Mark have has been unwell. He has had cancer for some time and has managed to shrug it off to a large extent. Well his time has unfortunately run out and today was his last day. We are both devastated for Mark, Lisa but even more so for Lila and Marnie who loved him dearly and will have more difficulty understanding why things like this happen. It is at times like this that we feel so far from home.