In fact I'm actually feeling really relaxed and happy with a stomach stuffed with delicious food, several glasses of wine, a fill of good conversation and another day full of promise tomorrow.
I'm at Spicers Canopy which is the Spicers Group's newest baby. It's located a little down the range, but on the same property as the oh-so-glamorous Spicers Peak and the accommodation is some fairly flash tents with a central building that functions as a lounge, dining area, kitchen and amenities block. It's glamping, which is loosely translated as very up market camping.
The instructions were to drive up the Cunningham Highway from Brisbane for about two hours and stop at 'The White House'. There we met Russell who guided us on a one and a half hour walk along a creek to Spicers Canopy. It was an easy walk with only one hill climb but I was glad I wore my hiking boots.
There to greet us were Daniel and Angela Mosedale, our hosts for the weekend. Daniel, who is the Executive Chef, had whipped up a carrot cake and some cookies in honour of our arrival, which we enjoyed with tea, coffee or champagne, as you do!
Here's our 'room'.
The bathroom facilities were a share arrangement but there was only a queue once. They were definitely glamping, not camping, style.
Dinner was scheduled for 7pm, with drinks and nibbles first, so we took advantage of the free time to just be in the beautiful bush environment, watch the sun set and chill.
Daniel likes to use local produce so we dined on Black Angus beef reared on the property's door step with a super fresh salad topped with large king prawns before. Dessert was a creme brulee.
Some of the group proceeded down to the fire pit to enjoy toasting marshmallows but we couldn't wait to get into the king size bed. Later that night a thunder storm swept through the valley filling the sky with lightning flashes and washing clean the sky.
In the morning we woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and scrambled eggs Bill Grainger style. The free range eggs came from Kylie's chooks.
After breakfast we decided on a short walk down to the waterhole with some of our new friends.
And then lunch, which was pizzas made by Daniel in the outdoor pizza oven.
It was only 24 hours but it felt like a much longer break - a great stress buster.
There's a special deal at the moment that's well worth considering which is valid for stays until 31 October 2011. $275 per person, per night (twin-share at $550 per tent). Normally $990/night. Includes all lodging, meals, drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) and guided eco walk into the private nature refuge.
Spicers Canopy
1300 286 295
Note: E,d+bK stayed as a guest of Spicers Canopy.