Hi, I'm Lesley

I'm a journalist/sub editor for a regional daily newspaper and keen to start traveling internationally now my daughter has grown up. I'm a 'young' 48, looking forward to venturing out of Australia more and soaking up different cultures and sights and perhaps write a few travel stories along the way. My partner Simon is a photographer and wine writer who has some travel experience and is keen to get more. We opened our own boutique, short-stay accommodation The Grey House in our hometown of Grafton in July 2014. It's 130 year old worker's cottage we have restored to create a homely but stylish space for visitors to rest their head and explore our historic city with its vast waterway -- the Clarence River -- right at its centre.

In 2017 we added Troutbeck Cottage, Ebor (1.5 hours from Grafton). The cute one-bedroom mountain escape is in walking distance to village's famous waterfalls. It has been refurbished to channelling a Scandi cabin style and is suitable for couples and families wanting to get back to nature in comfort. I'm an avid collector of vintage furniture and contemporary art some of which you will see at both The Grey House and Troutbeck Cottage.