Christmas Leek Orchid

Joanna went horse riding at the Nicols in Karridale with Terry while I went for a walk in the bush. Discovered a leek orchid called the Christmas Leek Orchid, Praesophyllum brownii (it was first collected by Robert Brown in Albany in December 1801).

Joanna and Terry returning from a horse ride around the blue gum plantation.  The leek orchid was down in that creek line to the right.

The perfect getaway in WA!

We arrived in the afternoon to a beautiful house tucked away amidst forest and wildflowers. And then it only got better. Dirk and Pam, our hosts, and now our new friends, were right there to greet us with warm smiles, tea with homemade muffins and lots of sightseeing suggestions.
There are 4 rooms in this B&B, and they are all alike - very comfortable and nicely appointed, with luxurious baths. The beds are particularly comfy and it was difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Except that a gourment breakfast awaited us. Eggs and bacon, or sausage, toast, etc. made to order. I recommend the mushroom omelet - superb!
We felt quite at home and were very sorry to leave after 4 blissful nights. This was the perfect compliment to the Margaret River region, where there is so much to see and do and you can come home to nice people, a fire is it's chilly and a great night's sleep.
Thank you Pam and Dirk. We hope to return soon.

thekidtraveler, Chennai, Tripadvisor, Oct 14, 2009

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• Date of stay October 2009

Best nights sleep!

We arrived Saturday afternoon at 3:15 to find the front door open and Dirk and Pam, our hosts, working in the garden. They were both up to their elbows in top soil as they did Spring planting. Dirk checked us in, showed us the house and took us to our immaculate room. We felt comfortable within seconds. It was like we were family. He showed us the features – including the jetted tub, separate toilet and shower and provided a quick talk on their contribution to the environment by collecting the ‘cold water’ from the shower ‘start’ to water the plants outside our patio door. A black bucket is in the shower and we did our part and watered those newly planted flowers the next morning. They do collect rainwater and are very focused on energy conservation. Our room had everything we needed to make it comfortable including a nice heater and dual electric blankets to warm up the bed before we got in. It was chilly out here in the quiet forest. The room was spotless and the bed perfect with a comfortable high end mattress. Dirk provided recommendations on where to go for dinner and what to see in the area. He recommended some very good wineries, one of which wasn’t even on the map. We both had one of the best nights’ sleeps we’ve had in a long time, with only the squawk of Rodney the Rooster waking us up in the morning. There is absolutely no noise from the other rooms even though the B&B was fully occupied. We were the first ones out for breakfast and found a variety of cereals, fresh fruit, yogurt, muesli, tea, juices and ....liquorice allsorts and incredible 'fresh baked muffins' which are always there. It was set up perfectly and offered selections even for those on restricted diets. We helped ourselves and Dirk came out to see how we were doing. Grant finished his cereal and Pam came out to ask him how he wanted his fresh eggs – ‘the hens are laying’. He decided on a mushroom/bacon omelette with toast and was delighted with the result. We were soon joined by the other guests who were also provided with their custom excellent ‘hot’ breakfast selections. As we chatted, the time passed quickly and we suddenly realized it was 10:30. Unfortunately, we had only booked for one night and were heading back up to Perth with clear directions on how to get to the Margaret River Chocolate Co. We’d definitely go back in an instant and certainly stay for more than a single night. Thank you Pam and Dirk!

GGPOPNINO, Calgary, Tripadvisor, Oct 16, 2009

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Heavenly Retreat

This place is amazing!!! Dirk was warm and sincere. He introduced us to many places that we could visit around the margaret river region as soon as we arrived. The bed was so comfortable that I just did not want to get out of bed. There were so many pretty pillows, layers of blanket and the bed could also be heated. The toilet was huge and i loved the double spa bath and aromatic salts that were provided. Breakfast was also a delight. There was a delicious spread which included fruits, cereals, yogurt, muffins. Dirk also whipped up a perfect mushroom/bacon omelette which i had for two days. The place is surrounded by nature and it was truly relaxing to enjoy breakfast at the verandah while listening to the birds chirping. This is definitely a place which I will return to :) Thank you Dirk, for making our stay so wonderful!

nicoltra, Singapore, Tripadvisor, Oct 26, 2009

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• Date of stay October 2009

Great base for Margaret River

We chose this place because of its fabulous reviews on tripadvisor, and weren't disappointed. The room is spacious with the high points being

- a fabulous bathroom [with both shower and spa tub, separate toilet area],
- cozy bed [spotless and comfortable linen],
- a glass wall overlooking dense trees
- fast wireless internet

Everything was spotlessly clean on check-in. We weren't aware that there was no room service when we booked, but that must be us over overlooking the details; it didn't turn out to be a problem. The accommodation is accurately described on the website.

The cottage seems to be designed as a B&B: four guestrooms are on one side of the cottage, and the hosts' private quarters on the other, thus giving privacy to all. In between the wings is the grand room which makes for the entrance. It's open to all guests for use and houses the TV/DVD system, coffee/tea stuff, munchies, DVDs etc.

The location isn't in the center of town, but that adds to the beauty of the cottage's setting. The city center is just a short drive away.

Our hosts Dirk and Pam were super - very friendly, with spot-on recommendations, and best of all, great cooks.

Should we come back to Margaret River, we'll be back to Loaring Place.

In case you're not a traveling couple, please note that the bathroom [at least in our room Ellenbrook] does not have a door. However the toilet area is separately enclosed.

anuja, Singapore, Singapore Oct 28, 2009 Tripadvisor

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• Date of stay October 2009

We loved the spa bath!

We went to Margaret River for a long weekend away from Perth and my boyfriend kept the accomodation details a surprise. What a great surprise it was! Loaring Place has friendly attentive staff who are always keen for a chat and are happy to offer reccommendations for lunch and dinner venues. The room was clean, luxurious and roomy. We loved the spa bath! Breakfast was delicious and relaxed served outside on the patio, with fresh eggs from the chooks that live around the side of the house. I hope we can stay here again next year! 


nosila14, Date of stay November 2009, Tripadvisor, Nov 11, 2009

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Comfy bed ++

Great location
Friendly hosts
Great breaky- fresh fruit, local jams and bacon and eggs if you wanted.
Spacious rooms
Comfy bed ++
Spa bath- perfect to enjoy a glass of champagne at night
Value for money (we stayed mid week which was cheaper than the weekend rate)

The first B & B that we have stayed at and would (and have already) highly recommend Loaring Place to others.

Travelleroo, November, Tripadvisor, Nov 17, 2009 

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• Date of stay November 2009

Multiple jams from the local berry farm

Essentially, I agree with all the positive comments posted by other reviewers. In particular, the superbly comfortable bed with loads of pillows/cushions and the friendly/helpful owners. The multiple jams from the local berry farm were all delicious.

The lack of servicing was a surprise to us (pretty well unheard of in a UK B and B), but wasn't a problem for our 4 night stay. Also the “no food in the rooms” policy meant no morning cup of tea in bed (the well-equipped large communal area enabled us to have afternoon tea with lovely home-made muffins).

The one really negative point (though not serious enough to stop me giving a 5 star rating) was the lack of storage space for clothes. The room had a hanging rail with 5 coat hangers, but no drawers at all. The shelf over the hanging rail had a spare quilt on it, so could hardly be used. The bedside tables were exactly that – small tables without shelves or drawers. There were some small cupboards in the bathroom – not really suitable for clothes. JohnL45, Somerset, UK, October.  Tripadvisor, Nov 18, 2009

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Randburg, South Africa

Will and Edna were so exhausted after visiting Jewel Cave they were unable to get up before breakfast and take Casey for a walk.  They have been checking out the place with the view to retiring in WA. 14-15/12/09.

Summer Cicadas have come out

You know it is summer when cicadas start ticking.

Holly and Fir Trees Pictures - Kerstgroet

Dag Dirk en Pam,

Een heel mooi kerstfeest en Gods zegen voor het nieuwe jaar.

Hartelijke groet,

Nico en Katie.
Holland

Nico and Katie stayed at Loaring Place B&B some months ago and sent some pictures of what is needed to make a real Christmas.

Newcastle tragic

Dear Dirk and Pam, Thanks for an especially wonderful second stay!. As always your hospitality is very much appreciated. Such a lovely "Home from Home". Thanks also for the encouragement for Newcastle - keep the faith Dirk!. Best wishes for 2010, The Wallaces and David. 9-14th December 2009.

Discow for the Perth Christmas Pageant

Discow is off to Perth. Rock Sand has completed her cow and it is now on its way to Perth where it will take part in the Xmas Pageant this Sunday. The cow will come back to Margaret River and join 79 other cows in the Cape to Cape Cow Parade from March to June next year.

Rock Sand has left Margaret River for a while as she travels to Bali and Cambodia and wherever takes her fancy. She has to come back as she has left her paints here. How we are going to cope without her I don't know as she has been an incredible help to us in the B&B.

If you can get to the Fibonacci Center this Saturday you will have a chance to pick up the last of Rock Sand Clay's stained glass work.

Laundry Delivery

This is Steve from Bunbury Steam Laundry who delivers all the crisp linen for our rooms and takes it away, where it then goes to Perth for cleaning.

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.