Absolutely wonderful retreat

An absolutely wonderful weekend retreat. Hospitality and breakfasts superb!! Thank you so much Dirk and Pam. Looking forward to our return very, very soon. Cheers, Leanne and Leisha, Duncraig, WA. 29/11/09

Wondeful experience - in Japanese

It was a wonderful experience for us. Thank you very much, Takashi and Kana, Singapore/Japan, 28/Nov/09.

Leeuwin Lighthouse wins tourism award

SW tourism winner a leading light at awards

CHRISTIANA JONES, The West AustralianNovember 23, 2009, 5:28 am

WAN / Danella Bevis ©

It may conjure thoughts of a solitary life but for Paul Sofilas being the manager and guide of Australia's tallest mainland lighthouse has seen him celebrated for sharing the Cape Leeuwin building's heritage with about 90,000 people each year.

The manager and guide of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was just one of the winners at the weekend's Western Australian Tourism Awards, which acknowledge the State's best tourism service providers and event holders.

Mr Sofilas, who lives at the cottages at Cape Leeuwin and manages the 113-year-old lighthouse, received the Golden Guide Award in front of 820 people at the Burswood ballroom on Saturday night.

Other winners included the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association, which was awarded the Sir David Brand Award for Tourism for a second time.

Beautiful scenery

Thanks to Dirk and Pam, we have had a lovely stay, restful, lovely hospitality and beautiful scenery. Rosalind and David, Perth, 23/11/09

Peacetree Pineau to die for

Jane Tucker from Peacetree Estate produces some marvelous preservative-free wines that we all love. We bought 1 1/2 cases of SSB, a case of 05 Cab Merlot, a case of 04 Shiraz and a case of 2008 Tempranillo. The Tempranillo has just been released, and she reluctantly let me have a case, as that represented 1/30th of her stock. It was only on the promise that I would put most of it down for a few years, that she let me have it. It is a beautifully complex wine with the characteristic fruity flavour that I so love.

But she has just bottled a Pineau, A white wine with 2 year old brandy and aged in oak. It is real heaven in a glass. We could only have a taste as the bottles had not been labelled, but as soon as they are ready, we are going to get a couple of bottles. The wine makes a beautiful apperitif (22% alcohol) and has an amazing balance of sweetness and acidity, with a subtle butterscotch flavour.

Jane, Pam and Jo, with Jo carrying her stock of SSB

The empty barrel and two demijohns filled to the top with Pineau. These will be placed in a sunny spot to "mature" in a "traditional" way for a year. Seems an awful lot of good liquer to go to waste if the experiment fails?

Jane in her winery is an absolutely enthusiastic wine maker. Their 2009 stock is rapidly running out, so you better get in quick if you want any. The entire bottling of the 09 Pineau is on the right, waiting to be labelled and boxed. That definitely will not last long. Order at www.peacetreeestate.com.

Flower Girls

Pam, Jill and Dee arranging flowers for a dinner with Premier Colin Barnett as speaker. The dinner was at the new Convention Centre in Margaret River and Colin Barnett spoke very well, outlining some of the things that are happening in the region.

Difficult to leave

We had a wonderful stay, it is difficult to leave. Thank you for the delicious breakfast and wonderful hospitality. Loved the room's decor, just my taste and the spa was an added luxury. Thanks Dirk and Pam for a most enjoyable weekend. We will recommend this little gem to our friends. Thanks, Cara and Adam, Perth, 22/11/09