Sydney
Morning Herald & The Age
Good
Weekends Away -100 best destinations for the passionate traveller
July
2005 - Peter Muir
“The
tin dog that stands by the front door of Sue and Marks Kelly's stylish
B&B just outside the small village of Federal in northern NSW may
be slightly rusty, but the service the owners provide certainly isn't.
Their spacious home dates from 1900, with more recent additions that
are in harmony with the turn-of the century style"
"After
a charming welcome from Mark (and Bella, a dog definitely not made of
tin) we were shown to our accommodation, the Palm Room, where we were
brought afternoon tea with homemade cake. The spacious bedrooms all
have their own bathroom and private veranda with CD player, fridge,
the best tea and coffee and a constant supply of homemade biscuits.
But if you think this sounds good, just wait for breakfast.”
Rating
17.5/20
Delicious
Magazine - January
2005
Belinda
Jeffery
“It'd
be tempting to permanently move into this serene hinterland retreat,
especially if you could have the Kelly's fabulous breakfast every morning.
With dishes such as vanilla poached quinces, and potato and feta cakes
with caramelised tomatoes, it's a great start to the day.
All four guest rooms have an understated elegance and a wonderful calm,
tropical feel. Settle on the wide verandas with a cup of tea and one
of Sue Kelly's famous homemade slices, listen to the gentle sounds of
the creek and birds and you won't want to leave.”
Sydney
Morning Herald Travel - December 2003
Craig
McGregor ( For full article go to www.smh.com.au
)
“This
is The Tin Dog, a serene rural retreat created with exquisite good taste
in what seems to be an almost Singapore-like subtropical oasis near
the village of Federal . "
"The
property is basically a made-over Federation homestead with two bedrooms,
two smart pavilion rooms that have been added, swimming pool, summer
house, spacious verandas and lawns, all clustered around a tree-fern-fringed
creek. The ambience is minimalist - white on white offset by polished
timber floors and art works, absolutely frill-free, a beautifully balanced
fusion of the natural and the formal.”
“Sue
cooks a true chef's breakfast, which differs every day. Typically, there
are exotic fresh fruits and juices, local muesli or porridge, Italian
baked eggs, home-made breads, coffee and tea, served on an umbrella-shaded
deck overlooking the lawns and pool. She and Mark have just the right
friendly presence when you need advice on restaurants, local tours,
tennis, massages, yoga, beauty spas and the usual spectrum of Byron
Bay alternative therapies ("the hugging and massaging capital of
Australia", as it's called).”
"The
Tin Dog's rooms are cool and airy, with sunshine flooding in through
ceiling-high windows. They all have very modern ensuites except for
the Cedar Room, which is part of the original house and has deep red
cedar walls and an old-fashioned clawfoot bath. Each room has a fridge,
coffee-making facilities and a stereo, with attention to detail showing
in everything from the bathrobes and pool towels to the teas and home-made
biscuits in the cupboard.”
“There
are no children. Or pets. Once again, they thought this was what couples,
including parents, needed: a haven, for even just a couple of nights,
where you can shrug off city cares and daily responsibilities and reconnect
with each other, with the landscape, even perhaps with the sort of life
people live in the country when they aren't, inevitably, working. In
this they have succeeded. “
“I
wrote in my notebook: "Tranquility. Peace. Solace. Quietude. Recuperation."
Pluses:
Idyllic bush location, peaceful ambience, smart vernacular/modernist
aesthetic, close to Byron Bay , great breakfasts.
Minuses:
No children. No pets. Drive to nearest restaurants.
Rating:
18 out of 20.
Establishments
featured in Weekends Away are visited anonymously by Herald writers,
who pay their own way.
Conde
Nast Travel UK
– January 2004
Rory
MacLean
“A
discreet haven where you'd be barking not to love the space, the comfort
and the gourmet breakfasts”
“I
turned off the Pacific Highway and fell into a private oasis in one
the most beautiful valleys on earth. The Tin Dog, a retreat in the hinterland
of Byron Bay surrounded by subtropical rainforest and macadamia plantations
is the creation of former Sydneysiders Mark and Sue Kelly.”
“……is
a nurturing, restorative place. The two guest suites in the main house,
including the King Room with its vast bed and sunken spa bathroom, are
light and airy. A wooden walkway runs between bamboo and banana trees
to the more private Garden and Palm Rooms, the latter rising above the
12-metre pool”
“Outside,
a timber bridge crosses a brook to an open summer house with a double
hammock. In a pergola, guests can grill steak and seafood on the gas
barbecue. The Kellys live on the property and are always on call but
encourage visitors to think of the hotel as their won personal space.
“The
Tin Dog is 20 minutes' drive from the beaches of Byron Bay, Australia's
surfing Mecca and millionaire haven. Inland, the high ridge roads offer
views of lush valleys along the edge of Nightcap National Park . There
are bushwalks to Minyon Falls , 2,000 year-old Antarctic beeches and
‘mod Oz' restaurants. Retail therapy is provided by the nearby village
of Bangalow .”
“…
because of Sue's seductive breakfasts. In addition to serving a remarkable
muesli with pear and roasted macadamia nuts, she conjures up an imaginative
cooked breakfast: feta-and-potato cakes with caramelised tomatoes; spinach
and roasted field mushrooms served with eggs and sourdough bread; and
a cross between a soufflé and a savoury bread-and-butter pudding,
with pancetta and parmesan. A neighbour hand-picks the coffee beans,
and the honey is from local bees that feed on macadamia flowers. As
I sat at breakfast, the breeze rustled through the palm canopy and a
kookaburra flew softly between the trees.”
Sunday
Telegraph Escape - January 2004
Sheridan
Rogers
“Driving
along the narrow, winding roads of the lush Byron Bay hinterland in
northern NSW, windows down, singing along to the radio and going nowhere
in particular, is one of life's great pleasures.”
“The
Kelly's attention to detail is noteworthy – there's a plate of irresistible
home-made biscuits in one of the cabinets, along with a selection of
tea bags and white mugs, and fresh coffee and milk in the fridge.”
“Best
of all, there's no TV or telephones in the rooms ( and mobile reception
is poor).”
“In
the morning, when I awake, the wholesome aroma of poached plums drifts
into my room. Birds call. A slight breeze rustles in the Bangalow palms.”
“This
was followed by a dish of luscious scrambled eggs tossed with fresh
herbs, baked in a ramekin lined with smoked salmon and served with sliced
avocado drizzled with lemon myrtle-infused macadamia oil. There's fruit
toast with local honey and home-made banana bread – if you can fit it
in. And freshly squeezed orange juice, and brewed tea and coffee.”
Australian
Gourmet Traveller - April
2002
Sophie
Knox
“Evidence
of the house's Federation architecture still remains in the floor-to-ceilings
door frames and open fires, but the new is embodied in the extensive
range of artwork and massive selection of CDs, which can be played on
the stereo systems in each of the four guest quarters. Two large and
inviting sitting rooms full of books and magazines are positioned at
either end of the house.”
“Later,
sitting on the veranda in my waffle-weave robe ( found hanging in the
cherrywood closet ), with the sounds of Miles Davis hitting the spot,
I am in paradise.”
“…..
and nourish them with the delicious breakfast served on the sunny veranda
of the main house. ……. The plate of freshly sliced mango, pear, plums,
strawberries and grapes and the bowl of Byron Bay Macadamia and Pear
Muesli are followed by smoked salmon-encased perfectly scrambled egg
with sourdough toast.”
“Making the first turn
onto the highway, I take a deep breath in, regretting that the holiday
is now over. But in breathing out, I sense that my mind and body have
been restored by an invigorating stay in one of the most naturally remarkable
and culturally abundant spots on the New South Wales coast, and in a
retreat that provides so much more than a warm bed and a hearty breakfast.”
