Postcards Summer Series: 10 January 2009

The Old Post Office B&B
The Old Post Office B&B was built in 1897 and operated for over a hundred years as a post office. Located in Howlong, New South Wales, its 10 minutes by car to Rutherglens township and under four hours drive north-east of Melbourne. The guest house has been lovingly renovated by its owner Robyn Cotter and features two luxurious suites with an interconnecting lounge, a gourmet kitchen and a conservatory style dining space. Crossing back over the border into Rutherglen, Suzie takes cooking lessons at Parker Pies which has won over 100 awards at the Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition.

The Old Post Office B and B
39 Hawkins St, Howlong NSW
www.theoldpostofficebedandbreakfast.com

Parker Pies
86 88 Main St, Rutherglen
Ph: 02 6032 8497
www.parkerpies.com.au

Echuca Houseboat
Plenty of warm sunshine, plenty of water in the Murray and every water sport imaginable, Echuca has got it all. And what better way to experience the mighty Murray than on board a luxury houseboat. These Luxury on the Murray houseboats are ideal for large families offering plenty of privacy, with loads of space and comfort. Houseboats are growing in popularity because theyre easy to handle. And the best thing is, if you share the costs with friends theyre cheaper than a motel. Below deck youll find all the comforts of home including four king size bedrooms, all with their very own ensuite and every room has an LCD TV and DVD player. Luxury on the Murray houseboats can accommodate up to 12 people and prices start from $1900 for a weekend.

Luxury on the Murray
Ph: 03 5483 6244
www.luxboats.com.au

Tea Rooms of Yarck
Two hours drive north east of Melbourne youll find Yarck. Just a small dot on the Maroonda Highway thats getting a real name for itself thanks to a little restaurant thats full of surprises. Tea Rooms of Yarck is a curious place and even more curious is their food. The menu is Italian with Sardinian flavours and it changes every day. Originally from Sardinia in Italy, Pietro Porcu is a chef, restaurateur and now a farmer. He found this farm in Yarck five years ago and Tea Rooms of Yarck is his way of bringing the paddock to the plate. Pietro also runs the successful South Yarra restaurant Da Noi. Tea Rooms of Yarck is open for dinner on Friday nights, and for lunch and dinner on weekends.

Tea Rooms of Yarck
6585 Maroondah Highway, Yarck
Ph: 03 5773 4233

Great Ocean Ecolodge
The Great Ocean Ecolodge is an accredited multi-award-winning, environmentally sustainable guest house, set in the Otway National Park. The lodge was built using sustainable and recycled materials. It has five bedrooms, all with an ensuite. The great hall is the perfect spot to warm yourself in front of the fire while checking out the surrounding views. Meal times are always interesting, with some fantastic produce from the organic garden. Its also the site of the Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology, and if you are really hands on, you can help with breakfast for the Koalas being nursed there. Also included in your stay is a guided dusk walk in the surrounding bush, where you can search for native birds, wallabies, kangaroos and koalas.

Great Ocean Ecolodge
The Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology
Cape Otway Lighthouse Rd, Cape Otway
Ph 03 5237 9297
www.capeotwaycentre.com.au

Lake House
The Lake House is a dream come true. If you've been lucky enough to visit you'll know its lakeside position is absolutely magical, and that the restaurant is acclaimed as Victoria's best outside of Melbourne. The public face of the celebrated restaurant is Alla Wolf Tasker and the man behind the art hung throughout the establishment is her husband, Allan Wolf Tasker. Gorgeous art is only one of the things this place has to offer. Set on six acres of manicured gardens, there are 32 rooms and suites to choose from. You can robe up and head to the Salus Day spa to soak in one of the private tree-top mineral spas. Here at the Lake House you don't just bathe in natural spring water. They also bottle it, so you can cleanse inside and out.

Lake House
King St, Daylesford
Ph 03 5348 3329
www.lakehouse.com.au

What's On

Rocky Horror Show
If you want to cross over to the wild side then the Rocky Horror Show is still playing at the Comedy Theatre. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
Where: Comedy Theatre
When: Ticketek on 1300 795 012
More: Visit www.rockyhorror.com.au

Red Hill Country Music Festival
Tomorrow, why not head to the Peninsula for the Red Hill Country Music Festival, promising a day of fabulous entertainment in a great family atmosphere.
Where: Red Hill Showgrounds
When: 11 January
More: Visit www.redhillcmf.com.au

Moonlight Cinema
And to make the most of our warm summer evenings get yourself along to the Moonlight Cinemas in the Royal Botanic Gardens until March 15th.
Where: Botanical Gardens
When: Until March 15th
More: Visit www.moonlight.com.au