As you might know, it’s not like us to rest on our laurels… not that I have any idea what that really means… but aside from the conference, our niece’s 18th birthday, winning a writing competition and moving house, we’ve also taken a great opportunity to visit yet another part of Australia that neither of us has ever been before.
This week just gone, we visited the Yarra region in Victoria to check out a new hotel in the town of Marysville. Marysville made the news for the worst imaginable reason in 2009 when a ferocious wildfire swept through the area destroying everything in its path.
We were interested to see how things were going in this hardy yet picturesque part of the world.
We also had the honour of accompanying our friend Nikki Parkinson from StylingYou.com.au to the Telstra Business Awards, of which she was a finalist.
Anyway, we won’t give any more away. Here’s our week through Instagram!
It’s the last week of the Archibald prize exhibition in the Art Gallery of NSW, so we’ve finally found a spare couple of hours to check out the art. There are some amazing pieces here but I do quite like this weird bit of sculpture by the superbly named Karl de Waal.
This photo isn’t on our Instagram feed (yet) but I do love the depth of focus you get and just the oddness of the artist’s concept.
This afternoon we met with the very personable Nick from Zomato – formerly Urban Spoon. He’s given us this incredible muffin from Nutorious, who make all kinds of amazing nut-based delicacies. This is a glazed nut and raspberry muffin with a caramel and peanut butter injection!
I know!
Image courtesy of @theremarksgroup.
Tonight – in spite of my earlier muffin gobbling exploits – I’ve managed to squeeze into my suit for this black tie awards ceremony. Nikki from StylingYou.com.au has invited Mrs Romance and myself, and a few others from The Remarkables Group to the Telstra Business Awards.
It feels a bit like being at the Oscars with excellent food and wine being served and some amazing speakers giving keynotes.
We’ve finally made it down to the Yarra to check out the Vibe Hotel that opened in Marysville in March this year.
We were keen to see what’s become of this ill-fated little town ever since a terrible bushfire destroyed so many lives and buildings in what people refer to now as Black Saturday 7th February 2009.
Marysville and its people have proven to be amazingly brave and resilient, and the town is definitely back on the up. The Vibe Hotel feels like it’s always been part of the town, which is a testament to its design. And of course, it’s very comfortable.
Anyway, we’ve headed just a little way out of town to see the Steavenson Falls. These 84-metre high falls are quite magnificent… and also give us the opportunity to play with our Olympus camera a bit too. This shot’s taken with a 0.5 second aperture speed. That’s what’s made the water look all soft and white. Nice, ay?
This morning, we’ve come to feed the fish. This is the Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm in Buxton the next town along from Marysville. Here you can either just feed the fish or actually fish for them and take what you catch away for dinner.
We’ve decided a whole salmon might be a bit too much for us to eat, but feeding them in this beautiful setting is very relaxing.
On the say-so of Phil, the Vibe’s manager, we’ve popped into the Lolly Shop in Marysville, where you can buy fresh bread. This olive sourdough is superb. From the Buxton fish farm we’ve picked up a smoked trout fillet and some salmon pate, and we’ve driven out of town to a quite little picnic spot in the forest.
This is really what it means to visit the Yarra. The freshest produce in the most beautiful surroundings.
There are many amazing roads around this part of country Victoria. This road into Marysville, with the towering trees and greed fields is picture perfect, but the road over the mountains called the Black Spur is a real roller coaster. It’s worth coming here just for the drive!
Tonight we’ve decided to go local. The Buxton Hotel – or ‘The Bucky’ as it’s known – has a great feel to it. It’s also got some interestingly named brews available. I could barely look the barwoman in the eye when I ordered an Angry Cock cider, but it’s worth the blush.
This cider’s 100% grown and made in the Yarra, and it’s worryingly drinkable.
The food at The Bucky’s also pretty popular. My chicken parmigiana is enormous and delicious… and it looks like my chips are quite tempting too, doesn’t it. Mrs Romance never fails to spot an opportunity to nick my food when I’m distracted!
Stolen food does taste better though.
Even Hair Romance is in on the action here in the Yarra. It’s pretty rare to get weather like this in Victoria this time of the year, so we’re making the most of it. And why not, when the view’s as good as that…
How was your weekend? What’s the rudest drink you’ve ever bought? Tell us in the comments!
Sonia from Sonia Styling
We stayed in Marysville pre-bushfires and absolutely loved it. I think a trip back to the Yarra Valley is definitely in order one day very soon. We had a rather large weekend which was super fun, but has me looking forward to quite the opposite this weekend!
Mr Romance
It must have been so lovely there pre-fire, Sonia. Such a sad thought, isn’t it? So much was lost. The Phoenix Museum in town is very heart-wrenching, but such an important part of the town.
Sounds like another classic w/e for you! We’ve just started packing, so it should be an ‘interesting’ weekend ahead. Hopefully still find time to relax over a glass or two though!
Jxx
Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie
Marysville is beautiful, isn’t it. We used to go through that area a bit as kids, I even went on a school camp there when I was 11! It’s so heartening to see how well they are recovering from the bushfires, I still find it hard to think about that time without getting upset (the Kinglake one could well have been my family home if the wind hadn’t had changed, and we all knew so many people impacted by those fires). I think it’s time I headed back up there soon!
Mr Romance
It’s so sad, isn’t it, Liz? It’s strange, here in NSW we really didn’t get how bad it was during the fires. Actually visiting the places that were affected really makes more sense and gives perspective. The area really is back on the up though. Definitely worth heading back there and checking things out. The Vibe hotel is really lovely and so well positioned. Great spot to explore regional Vic. 🙂
Jxx