Beechworth and Wild Berries

It's such a beautiful drive out to Stanley, just 10 minutes from Beechworth centre. Surrounded by lush berry and nut farms, rolling hills and pine plantations, this quiet little town is the perfect country escape without the crowds of tourists.

Sawyer's Eco Lodge is set amongst the gum trees which were blooming and buzzing while we were there, making the whole place smell like honey! Inside is richly decorated with timbers of all shapes and sizes, all milled and crafted by the owner Ian. Our dogs loved running around the open property and the secure deck meant we could let them sun-bake without supervision.

This area is great for slow escapes, with plenty of walks, lookouts, and farms to buy produce from: or pick your own! It was awesome stumbling on mountains of blackberries ripe for picking in one of the walking areas we went to, with amazing views of the mountains around.

For a hint of civilisation, Beechworth has plenty of great cafes, restaurants and shops just 10 minutes from the lodge. We treated ourselves at The Ox and Hound with an amazing meal full of local ingredients.

Relaxing by the HUGE fireplace, playing games of Monopoly, and connecting with the natural surrounds and produce was a great way to spend a summer weekend.
...

Things We Did

  • Lookout
  • Farm
  • Food & Drink
  • Lake
  • Walk
  • Photo 1 for undefined
  • Photo 2 for undefined
    Drive-up Musgrove Road and keep to the right for access to the upper road of the pine plantation. Awesome views and blackberry bushes galore await....
    • Photo 1 for undefined
    • Photo 2 for undefined
    • Photo 3 for undefined
    • Photo 4 for undefined
      We went blackberry picking when we stumbled on piles and piles of them just near the lodge. There were also mountains of them at the back of the property, but they weren't quite ripe yet....
      • Photo 1 for undefined
      • Photo 2 for undefined
      • Photo 3 for undefined
      • Photo 4 for undefined
        Delicious food using local ingredients in hearty dishes. The service was top notch and the food was drool-worthy....
        • Photo 1 for undefined
        • Photo 2 for undefined
        • Photo 3 for undefined
          We visited the beautiful Lake Sambell in the heart of Beechworth: perfect for kayaking, paddle-boarding, swimming and letting the dogs have a splash around. Our pup Cypress took his first proper swim there by misjudging the depth whilst playing fetch....
          • Photo 1 for undefined
          • Photo 2 for undefined
            Stanley is bursting with produce, from berries and apples to nuts and honey. Just a short walk up the road is a farm called Snowline Fruits with an onsite produce shop (dogs not allowed). We bought some delicious blackberries, boysenberries, creamed honey, and black currants which didn't last long....
            • Photo 1 for undefined
            • Photo 2 for undefined
            • Photo 3 for undefined
              The property is huge, with plenty of room for running, fetching and playing with the dogs, or taking a stroll through the bush. There are also blackberry bushes at the back of the property if you're there at the right time of year!...

              Our Adventure Map

              Where we stayed
              Things we did

              We've plotted our adventure on the map below. Select the map icons to discover more details.


              Share The Love

              Add this story to your bucket list or gift it to someone you think deserves it!

              Gift this

              Book Our Adventure

              Book through this story to receive our itinerary and extra tips to help you live your adventure to the fullest.

              What are Riparide Stories?

              Riparide Stories are authentic experiences shared by real travelers (who are handy with a camera). It's like reading your best friend's travel journal - packed with photos, honest reviews and visual itineraries.