Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Accommodation for 10 Please!



One of the greatest organisational challenges of our big driving holiday in March 2010 was finding suitable accommodation for our family of 10 and preferably also for our tall family bus/vehicle. During our three and a half weeks away we drove over 4000km and stayed in 11 different locations.

Four sets of family and friends were very brave and hospitable, insisting we sleep in their homes/tents-in-the-yard. We were overwhelmed at their generosity in feeding, preparing room for us to sleep and making us feel at home.

This left seven cities/towns to secure accommodation. Let me share with you a little of the amazing self-serve bed and breakfast historic home we stayed in at Ballarat.


 One of our children found this house on the internet. We were amazed at the beauty and authenticity of this "B & B" when we saw it online and thought for sure it would have a "no children" policy. However as we scrolled down their webpage (which no longer seems to exist)....it stated clearly "CHILDREN WELCOME". I could hardly believe it! We quickly booked for the two nights we would be in Ballarat.


It was dark and late at the end of a very full and exciting day by the time our GPS finally declared we had arrived! We were all quite eager to explore the house but also rather exhausted. It wasn't until morning that we could fully appreciate the beauty of our new place, particularly the manicured gardens.






With only two nights and one very full day of sightseeing, I wasted no time grabbing my camera to try and capture some of the delights very early in the morning. Above is the front entry, and below, the scene as you enter through the door! Everything seemed of huge proportions, from the ceiling heights to the thickness of the walls. Just around the corner, into the next hallway, you are greeted by the row of hats, my first photo above.


The next three photos are taken in one of the bedrooms.....it was enormous!






Below is a photo of a dresser in another bedroom (and my eldest, trying to stand in the corner out of view as I wander around with camera).


The following two photos are in another huge bedroom which also had a fireplace and the massive cupboard as shown.





The lounge/ dining room, complete with antique furnishings, musical instruments, silverware and toys!






Last, but by no means least, the enchanting backyard.




Complete with veggies, herbs and espaliered fruit trees, in fruit!


Staying in "Cumberland House" was one of THE highlights of our holiday. Delicious food was provided for us to make our own breakfasts and the owners even home-delivered the morning paper.

 It would have been lovely to have had more time in Ballarat to enjoy more of this beautiful city (I was secretly hoping to make it to Ballarat Patchwork) and to snap even more photos! We DID manage a very long day at some well known historic tourist sites, I'll share about that another time.



17 comments:

Unknown said...

What a lovely place to stay!
I have never stayed at a B&B.

Andrea said...

I love the odyssey going on vacation with all the kids ..... I admire the sense of family unity! and I share with you ...
beautiful place ...photo of the hats .. .. give me the feeling of family ...

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

It truly was a treat. You felt like you were living in a museum, but with modern conveniences. It seemed too good to be true.
We didn't meet the owners in person but spoke with them on the phone, both from home and while at Cumberland.

Cathy said...

It would be hard to find someone who would not love such a place..in my way of thinking anyway!

The backyard was indeed enchanting.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

I would have to agree with you Cathy.

genie said...

What a beautiful place to stay. I know all of you were thrilled with these fine accommodations. Your photos are wonderful and your commentary tells such a special story. I cannot imagine traveling with that many people, but it looks like you are quite experienced with doing it. You have some special and devoted friends. Thanks for sharing this tip with us. I hope you have a lovely week.

urban muser said...

looks like a lovely place. love that photo of the pink rose.

Unknown said...

Lovely photos - the hats really drew me in!

Pat said...

What a lovely place to stay! You have made many delightful memories through your family travels.

Linda said...

Gorgeous place - all of your shots are wonderful here1

Lisa Gordon said...

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful place to have been, and how lucky you were to find it. Those gardens look like something right out of a magazine! Your photographs are beautiful, and I thank you so much for sharing this today at The Creative Exchange.

Have a wonderful day!

lisa.

Ms. Becky said...

you're a fantastic tour guide. all of your photos are splendid, but I especially like the blush rose. how could a person not have a lovely time in such a house? it's gorgeous.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thank you everyone for taking time to enjoy and leaving your lovely words! It's a wonderful thing to be able share great experiences with others.

Nancy said...

My goodness, what a gorgeous place, inside and out! Love the roses. Just beautiful! :)

Anna said...

What a special place to visit - a wonderful find! I enjoyed your beautiful photos. A visual treat!

Unknown said...

Gosh what a beautiful place to stay. Building is absolutely fantastic.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Such a beautiful home you found to stay in!!! First time here and love it already!!! Have a beautiful weekend!!!

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