Getaway
Down by The
BOAT SHEDat Lake Hume
The lovingly restored The Boat Shed in Lake Hume Resort near Albury is the jewel in the crown – changing the look and feel of this laidback patch of Aussie paradise. Words: Michelle Hespe
As we pull into Lake Hume Resort, the sun is sinking towards the horizon. Lake Hume is turned into a shimmering golden expanse surrounded by undulating hills on one side, and the majestic concrete work of art that is the dam’s weir, rising up on the other. From where we are on the top of the hill, the kayaks flitting across the lake’s surface look like shiny beetles, oars like thin legs creating symmetrical ripples on either side as they skim along. There are groups of families and friends lounging on towels and camp chairs on the grassy knolls above the beach, where kids and dogs splash around in the shallow water. It’s a picture-perfect postcard of an Australian summer. The Boat Shed stands straight and tall on the main grassy slope – its 1920s-style white exterior with smart navy trims giving it a nautical feel – and it wouldn’t look out of place on a palm-tree-lined Miami street. People mingle on the pub’s balcony above the resort’s pool, the clinking of glasses and merry chatter drifting over to us along with the unmistakable scents of wood-fired pizzas, burgers and chicken wings. We cruise carefully along the resort’s main road, dodging kids on bikes and skateboards as we go, and in the neat row of cabins we find the one we’re calling home for the weekend. It’s a newly renovated three-bedroom, floorboarded cottage with a large open kitchen, dining room and lounge room – perfect for families or a group of friends. The simple, stylish décor is chic and fresh, and there’s a welcome bunch of Australian native flowers on the dining table with a lovely welcome note, and some local gourmet snacks – olives, crackers, cheese and chocolate chip cookies – tucked into a welcome hamper.
DINING AT THE BOAT SHED
It’s a Friday night and we are just in time for Happy Hour. We order a cold beer and a glass of bubbles, and join the crowds of happy patrons chilling out on the deck. The sun has slipped below the hills now and it’s hard not to unwind and relax in the Hamptons’ styled space, as some classic Café Del Mar tunes drift out across the darkening lake. We take our table next to a window overlooking the beautifully manicured gardens, order some meals to share, and settle in for a dinner of grilled haloumi, Japanese chicken wings and wasabi tuna tartare for entrees, followed by the classics – fish and chips with homemade fries and scotch fillet steak cooked to perfection. The evening drifts along at a slow pace, with the attentive staff letting us enjoy the delicious food and one another’s company.
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