Story by Natalie
A Big Warm Hug
Adventure in Trentham East, Macedon Ranges, VIC, AU
Only a brief 60 minute drive from Melbourne you'll find Trentham - a far cry from the hustle and bustle of city life. The quiet and charming town of Trentham is the perfect sanctuary for a weekend escape. Five minutes from the heart of town is the House of Mud and Straw. At the end of a short winding gravel driveway, surrounded by a field of daisies and sitting cosily amongst its neighbouring vast paddocks sits the idyllic farmstead.
Our trip to Trentham coincided with a week of torrential downpour. The rain was not a deterrent but rather enhanced our visit – with the charming town of Trentham best experienced when the chilled and misty weather takes over. The clouds in the sky illuminate a soft grey, bringing out the many different hues of green thriving from the rainfall. The town is hushed and humble, with locals lounging in front of their wood fires for comfort. The quiet life, as they say.
On arrival we lit the wood fire oven in the kitchen, filling the house with a welcoming warmth. The thoughtful design details and homely touches make the farmstead charming yet restrained. Pleasantly decorated with trinkets and collectables that have clearly been collected with love over the years. It's evident that the inspiration of the architecture paid homage to Alistair Knox’s, best known for his work in building and designing many notable mud brick homes. It really feels like home, a place made to be appreciated for those who get to stay for a few days, but also by the owners and their family themselves. My perfect way of describing it is that it’s like a big warm hug.
Trentham has so much to offer for a getaway, both from within the small town and surrounding areas. You can comfortably plan your trip without going too far from the farmstead. Supporting the local business owners and exploring the land close by with the many walks and Trentham Falls in close proximity. Cara, our host, guided our stay with their local knowledge and ensured our best stay possible.
With so much still to experience, I'm already planning my next trip back.
Our trip to Trentham coincided with a week of torrential downpour. The rain was not a deterrent but rather enhanced our visit – with the charming town of Trentham best experienced when the chilled and misty weather takes over. The clouds in the sky illuminate a soft grey, bringing out the many different hues of green thriving from the rainfall. The town is hushed and humble, with locals lounging in front of their wood fires for comfort. The quiet life, as they say.
On arrival we lit the wood fire oven in the kitchen, filling the house with a welcoming warmth. The thoughtful design details and homely touches make the farmstead charming yet restrained. Pleasantly decorated with trinkets and collectables that have clearly been collected with love over the years. It's evident that the inspiration of the architecture paid homage to Alistair Knox’s, best known for his work in building and designing many notable mud brick homes. It really feels like home, a place made to be appreciated for those who get to stay for a few days, but also by the owners and their family themselves. My perfect way of describing it is that it’s like a big warm hug.
Trentham has so much to offer for a getaway, both from within the small town and surrounding areas. You can comfortably plan your trip without going too far from the farmstead. Supporting the local business owners and exploring the land close by with the many walks and Trentham Falls in close proximity. Cara, our host, guided our stay with their local knowledge and ensured our best stay possible.
With so much still to experience, I'm already planning my next trip back.
Things We Did
- Waterfall
- Walk
- Lake
- Café
- Takeaway
A large and magnificent waterfall located only a few minutes drive away from town. Trentham Falls is a must see after heavy rainfall, the excess of water making it flow as furious as ever and the luscious greenery surrounding it.
Starting at the indigenous wetlands we made our way along the trail, taking in the views of backyards from local properties. We met some goats along the way and stopped to say hello, then continued walking amongst the towering eucalyptus trees until we looped back into the town.
While driving through the town we spotted this reserve and packed a ourselves a picnic to enjoy on the grass. Unfortunately on our return it started raining so we went for a little wander around instead and took in the gorgeous scenery of Autumn’s colours slowly making themselves visible in the trees.
Part cafe and part vintage homewares store, Trentham General was a great places to fill our bellies with a big breakfast and coffee before a day of exploring. You can appreciate that the kitchen works closely with local producers to keep the menu up-to-date, my meal of choice being the Goat’s Cheese & Roast Tomato Bruschetta - yummy!
We wanted to support the locals and try a locally made wine so we headed to the Cosmopolitan Hotel to browse their options, returning home with a beautiful red wine to pair with our home-cooked dinner.
Our Adventure Map
Where we stayed
Things we did
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