It’s time to find out what all the fuss is about. I’ve heard about this style of holiday accommodation since the early 2000s but until this very moment of parking up my traditional camper, I have never gone “glamping” — that is, fancy camping. I’ve been living out of my pop-top camper as I travel around Australia with my dog Mallee, and this morning we just packed up from where we’d been living off-grid in a regional park (like a national park but dogs allowed).
It had the benefit of a cold bore-water shower and a long-drop toilet (all you need to know is it doesn’t flush). So I’m about as ready as a traveller can be to experience some luxury. And what luxury I’ve pulled into at The Lodge, which sits on 16 acres just outside the rustic-charm town of Bellingen on the NSW mid-coast hinterland.
Think Margaret River meets Bridgetown. The great thing about departing for the around-Australia adventure from Perth is that so many of you have done the trip and all in your own unique way, which means so many people have local tips, tricks and recommendations. And when three separate WA friends said I had to put Bellingen on my non-existent itinerary, I did.
And I’m doing it in style. The Lodge is perched halfway up a lush hillside, originally a motel, and it has been stylishly renovated to offer 30 rooms of boutique accommodation. Guests can dine at the famous Three Blue Ducks, which took over the restaurant last year.
You can choose to stay in family rooms, pools.