As Australia’s only true alpine area, the Snowy Mountains lure skiers and snow enthusiasts throughout winter, however the region is beautiful year-round and is equally special under a blazing blue summery sky, when there are ample opportunities for hiking, biking kayaking and horse riding. 

Nestled in the heart of Snowy Mountains is Crackenback, and within there lies The Bastion, a luxury cabin full of warmth and charm. If you mention Crackenback, the first thing that comes to mind is the famous and tasty schnapps and gin distillery, WildBrumby. It’s not a stay in Crackenback without stopping in to warm up for some antipasto boards or a gin tasting or picking up a bottle of Devil’s tongue - which we later enjoyed around the outdoor fire pit back at The Bastion.

It’s no news that I’m an advocate for slow living and The Bastion is the ideal place for doing just that. It’s large and spacious, beautifully furnished and has everything you need to relax in the mountains. The fireplace sets the ambiance in the evenings and a spacious kitchen with a large stovetop and island bench inspired us to make a porcini mushroom risotto - a hearty meal for a cold evening. as we cooked, drank wine and laughed until we were exhausted and reclined in the cosy beds.

It’s the small, homely touches that really made us feel at home - freshly baked bread, fresh yogurt, berry compote and muesli. As four mornings birds, it was an early rise - we prepared some coffee and breakfast bowls with the handmade goods and took in some fresh air on the deck overlooking the lake, which had an icy sheet covering from freezing overnight. Hiking gear on we set off for a day of activities - headed towards Mt Kosciuszko to climb to the Australian mainland's highest peak; a special ascent, accessing expansive views of boulder-strewn plateaux and hills where gum trees cling on for dear life. Even in late May, pre-season the mountains were snow-capped and made for a beautiful day out.

Excited to see more of the area, we opted to hire some mountain bikes and explore the land on wheels. There’s a picturesque lakeside track, Hatchery Bay trail which was perfect for novice or intermediate riders and makes for a great afternoon to sunset activity, watching the sun set over the lake.

After a day full of activities, the best part was knowing we had a cozy crib awaiting our arrival. I’m already looking forward to coming back and bringing family and friends - the place is huge, yet feels so homely!