Fine Food Beside the Billabong --
My family and friends have been enjoying the unique surroundings of Salisbury Lodges Wilderness Retreat and Araluen Restaurant (“Place of the Water Lily”) for nearly five years. I have been fortunate to have travelled to 72 countries, and stayed in some very exotic wilderness settings. Salisbury Lodges is in my top three special retreats around the world.
Nestled on the pristine southern slopes of the World Heritage listed Barrington Tops National Park and surrounding forestry areas of the Allyn River, Salisbury Lodges is an absolute delight. Both the Lodges and the Restaurant have won numerous coveted awards over the years for fine food and outstanding, unique accommodation.
Whether arriving by car, or helicopter (as we usually do), the warm, friendly greeting from hosts and co-owners Phillippa and Joe Augl is the same. It’s like meeting old friends every time. They truly care for their guests and make every experience memorable, paying particular attention to the little things that really matter.
Joe, an Austrian builder by profession, has taken meticulous care to create a water wonderland with lodges and chalets that appear to hang in the trees, surrounded by a botanic garden of natural and exotic plants. Candlelit dinners on the balconies of Araluen Restaurant, overlooking the floodlit billabong, and against the rainforest backdrop, is my favourite experience. Wildlife abounds, with a cacophony of frogs on one side and the rumbling of the wild Williams River on the other. In the winter, log fires and camp fires are very popular.
This experience is made even more memorable by the Chief Chef’s culinary delights. Phillippa has won many awards for her mains and deserts over the years. My favourite is the fresh wild water trout, expertly deboned by Joe at your table. And their wine cellar is very extensive, specialising in local wines, many of which are exquisite to the pallet.
Most of the Lodges are completely self contained with their own kitchens, while others are just a short walk to Araluen Restaurant. The family Williams Chalet can accommodate 10 -12 people on two levels with full self catering facilities and a wonderful open fire place in the spacious lounge area. It is also very suitable for small conferences with access to a training room off the Restaurant. There is a Lodge for all seasons available. My favourite is the Lake Lodge, overlooking both the billabong and Araluen Restaurant.
Four wheel drive safaris are on offer, with a special trip up the nearest mountain, and walk back via the Rocky Crossing Water Fall, along the banks of the mighty Williams River with two high level steel bridges to cross on the way. These bridges command a unique view of the river and can both be crossed on the shorter 2 hour Blue Gum Walk from the back gate of Salisbury Lodges. There are many walks and forest drives available for the adventurous, or sunlit and shaded balcony nooks to curl up with a good book.
Helicopter flights can be arranged from Cessnock Airport, with a flyover of the Chichester Dam as a special treat, or a stopover at the Camyr Allyn Winery at East Gresford. The flight over the Allyn and Williams River valleys is spectacular, to say the least.
by Peter C. Nicholls
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