After making Melbourne home for the past few months and falling in love with the colourful city, it was time to move on and begin our east coast travels – the reason we’d stopped and worked in Melbourne. As much as I loved the big city it was nice to leave it behind to see what makes Australia stand out to us Brits – its beaches and smaller coastal or remote stops with breathtaking views. Our first stop provided just that, a few hours north of Sydney is Barrington Tops Twistops Retreat.
We chose to go on our east coast adventure with Loka, a unique travel company who drives groups of travellers like myself up or down the east coast stopping at places you’d never think to see on your own and breaking up the would-be long bus journeys. Many options for transport just drop you at the main tourist areas, such as a long drive from Sydney to Byron Bay and then it’s down to you to find your way. With Loka we have guided stops with the majority of stops including an activity or tour around the area so you don’t feel so lost. We had four stops before even reaching Byron from Sydney, hence this unique and brilliant one night stop at Barrington Tops.
It’s a great escapement from the city, driving up the empty winding road towards the one visible house through the trees. Twistops retreat is basically 500 acres of land right up in picturesque mountains, surrounded by the Barrington river offering activities such as tubing, bike rides and rainforest walks. The large house became our accommodation for the night which also features an outdoor bar and entertainment area and best of all a hot tub offering amazing views whilst you sit back and relax.
Upon arrival went got straight to our pre paid activity of river tubing. Suited and booted in our life’s jackets, helmets and water shoes we took a bumpy ride in the jeep down to the river. If you haven’t heard of tubing before it’s simply sitting in a rubber ring being pulled down the river in this case from the rapids. It’s no doubt a laugh but initially I panicked being pulled down through the rapids not expecting to go as fast as I did and hoping to not fall in the surprisingly deep water! Between fast slide-like drops are moment of just bobbing along the water and taking in the greenery and wildlife around. It’s crazy that only a few hours before we were in the busyness that is Sydney and now we’re relaxing in the water in the middle of the mountains. After a fun loop of the river it was back up to the house and straight in the hot tub. With a 360° view of the mountains and warm bubbling water after the cold river it was ultimate relaxation.
We spent the evening eating and drinking of course, thanks to the Twistops staff serving up pizza after pizza from their outdoor woodfire cooker. The licensed venue means you can’t take any alcohol of your own but the bar isn’t reasonably priced offering beers, cider, wine and spirits. Before we knew it we were playing beer bong on the table tennis top with the staff and fellow Loka team! The outdoor area is the ultimate garden games space with a darts board, table tennis, pool table and retro posters and signs adding a homely feel. There’s also a hammock to chill out on taking in the views and plenty of farm animals roaming around completing the ultimate countryside feel.
The accomodstion is basic but all you need for a night – a bed and pillow each and bathroom usage. The next morning we were served breakfast and it felt breathtaking sitting outdoors looking at the miles or greenery surrounding us as the sun began to heat up for the day. We took a short walk up the mountains, along with Twistops’ resident dog who walks ahead to apparently scare off any snakes! Again the views are amazing.
This is a great stop to start the east coast adventure and a way to get to know your first bus load of people. With a fun activity, top views in a uniqueness location and a mix of entertainment and relaxation I’d reccomend a night at Twistops Barrington Tops to anyone travelling the east coast.
It was Alice 