Story by Jesse
Long Sky
Adventure in Merrijig, High Country, VIC, AU
As we swung open the farm gate, we knew this place was going to be something truly special. With every turn of the ascending driveway delivering yet another endless view over the valley, before the final big reveal. Standing tall and majestic, the property overlooks 100 acres of uninterrupted panoramic views toward Mt Buller and the surrounding Alpine Ranges. The biggest reveal though was pushing open the huge iron doors into one of the largest living spaces I've ever seen!
The interiors effortlessly fit 3 big couches facing a monolithic stone fireplace, a 3 metre dinner table, a ping pong table, and a sun-drenched occasional seating area. Every inch of this 160-year old American barn has been immaculately restored and finished with the kind of luxury you'd expect to find in a 5-star hotel. All 5 bedrooms have plush beds draped in linen each with its own ensuite. The master suite even has its own clawfoot bathtub. Another standout feature was the commercial-quality kitchen that opens to a massive heated deck. Perfect to take in the spectacular mountain landscape at sunrise with a coffee, or a wine to soak up the sunset.
Our crew of 3 tiny humans and 4 adults spent 3 nights exploring the farm, chatting to cows and curling up on the couches by the fire after a meal. Only leaving the property twice to pick up supplies from Mansfield, visit a local winery and play in the fresh snow that fell on Mt Buller.
As a testament to the build, on day two we experienced a chilly 120 km/h windstorm that had zero effect on us inside, keeping the entire barn toasty warm with the epic custom-made iron fireplace....
The interiors effortlessly fit 3 big couches facing a monolithic stone fireplace, a 3 metre dinner table, a ping pong table, and a sun-drenched occasional seating area. Every inch of this 160-year old American barn has been immaculately restored and finished with the kind of luxury you'd expect to find in a 5-star hotel. All 5 bedrooms have plush beds draped in linen each with its own ensuite. The master suite even has its own clawfoot bathtub. Another standout feature was the commercial-quality kitchen that opens to a massive heated deck. Perfect to take in the spectacular mountain landscape at sunrise with a coffee, or a wine to soak up the sunset.
Our crew of 3 tiny humans and 4 adults spent 3 nights exploring the farm, chatting to cows and curling up on the couches by the fire after a meal. Only leaving the property twice to pick up supplies from Mansfield, visit a local winery and play in the fresh snow that fell on Mt Buller.
As a testament to the build, on day two we experienced a chilly 120 km/h windstorm that had zero effect on us inside, keeping the entire barn toasty warm with the epic custom-made iron fireplace....
Things We Did
- Mountain
- Food & Drink
- Farm
- Experience
With winter closing in we were lucky enough to find a dusting of snow on Mt Buller during our stay at the barn. So we bundled up the kids and took a stunning 45-minute drive up the mountain through some seriously tall timber and into the resort for a hike. While staff prepare the slopes for the coming ski season, public car access on the mountain allowed us to drive to within a few hundred metres of the summit, stepping straight into the snow....
On our supply run into Mansfield, we fueled up for the afternoon with some of the finest roasted beans at a well-known local favourite, Merchant Coffee Roasters. The atmosphere there had a cool and friendly vibe. While waiting for our coffee, the food orders we saw coming out of the kitchen looked incredible, but we already made grand plans to get stuck into the epic kitchen back at the barn....
During our stay, the mountains did as mountains do. Each peak creating its own unique weather pattern and light show throughout the day. We experienced everything from warm and sunny bluebird afternoons, frosty mornings, cloud inversions, sideways rain, a freak 120km/hr windstorm and a blanket of a billion stars over the barn each night. All of which we thoroughly enjoyed getting outside....
One of the many reasons we invited friends, Jaryd + Anna, and their two beautiful children on this trip, was to create an adventurous experience for them to celebrate the start of a new chapter in their story. Having been engaged for a few years and kept busy raising their growing family, it was important they had this opportunity to really look each other in the face and reaffirm their commitment to one another and the future of their family.
The plan was to be dressed and out the door at first light. Having picked out a stunning hilltop right in front of the Barn, we prepped the night before for a very early morning so we could catch the sun rising over the valley. However just as first light was expected, a freak storm blew in with winds topping out at 120km/h. Being the absolute legends they are, and having overcome far greater challenges than a little wind to get where they are today, it did little to stop us from heading out the door to hike up the hill....
The plan was to be dressed and out the door at first light. Having picked out a stunning hilltop right in front of the Barn, we prepped the night before for a very early morning so we could catch the sun rising over the valley. However just as first light was expected, a freak storm blew in with winds topping out at 120km/h. Being the absolute legends they are, and having overcome far greater challenges than a little wind to get where they are today, it did little to stop us from heading out the door to hike up the hill....
Our Adventure Map
Where we stayed
Things we did
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