On arrival at our B&B we were blown away at just how beautiful it was! We stayed at Oakdene Heritage Accommodation and highly recommend it!
Our rooms were attached to a main house but like a separate wing/studio apartment with our own front and back entrance. It was very private. The fireplace was stacked with timber and burning away beautifully. It was so gorgeously warm and welcoming for two weary travellers on a very cold afternoon and after such an active day. There was a four-poster bed, a beautiful lounge area in front of the fire, a separate bathroom with a claw foot bath, a beautiful kitchen area fully stocked with snacks, milk, tea, coffee, chocolates, breakfast supplies and more! We were in heaven! I was very excited and posted a few phone pics to Instagram.
After we had rested a while and warmed by the fire we went to dinner at St Mary’s Hotel, a short stroll up the road. It was very busy as it was full of Targa officials as the traditional east coast loop to St Helens part of the race was kicking off the next day. From memory, our meal was exceptional!
Unfortunately, we weren’t in St Mary’s long enough for me to get any photo’s around the town. It’s a small township located 600 metres above sea level and surrounded by mountains, forests and valleys. It had the small country town feel that I love so much. I really hope one day I can return for a longer stay! Meanwhile, here are some snaps I took around our beautiful accommodation. Once again, for the photography enthusiasts, I’ve included my camera settings.
Our own private front door
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F8 Shutter Speed: 1/25s ISO: 200
The wood pile out the back
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/200s ISO: 200
One of the chooks out the back
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F8 Shutter Speed: 1/25s ISO: 200
Out the back near where we parked our car
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/200s ISO: 200
A rose in the gardens
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F1.4 Shutter Speed: 1/640s ISO: 200
The Oakdene fireplace as it was when we arrived
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F1.4 Shutter Speed: 1/8s ISO: 800
Beautiful ceiling rose and chandelier
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F8 Shutter Speed: 1/155 ISO: 800
This beautiful claw foot bath was absolute luxury to bathe in!
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F1.4 Shutter Speed: 1/25s ISO: 800
Camera Settings – Lens: 50mm Aperture: F1.4 Shutter Speed: 1/80s ISO: 200
Next Tassie Trip post we finally move on to Day 6. After our night at St Mary’s we head off to explore the Bay of Fires as we make our way to Launceston where we will spend the next two nights.
Here’s where to go to see Day 1 – Hobart, Day 2 – Hobart, Day 3 – Richmond, and Day 4 – Port Arthur, Day 5 – Bicheno, Day 5 – Wineglass Bay, Day 5 – Sleepy Bay, and Day 5 – Cape Tourville of our Tassie Trip!
Ciao for now,
Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys and Steph’s Joy for #WordlessWednesday
22 Comments
Stunning photos Min. The rose is spectacular.
I wish I’d learned about manual settings on my camera.
Now I just use my iPhone.
Thanks for linking #WW
Thanks Trish! The camera can do so much more once you understand how. I’m sad that I didn’t get more photos at St Mary’s but we were exhausted and it was so cold up there – plus we were there for only a very short time. Thanks again for hosting WW! 🙂
How beautiful! That bath. Those flowers. That whole vibe just screams “come in and relax” …
So beautiful Leanne! I felt like a real fancy pants – such luxury and decadence at the end of a very active and tiring day. Loved it there and didn’t want to leave! 🙂
Gorgeous Min! I would so love to get into that claw bath. Did you just take the prime lens with you? x
Thanks Steph! No I took a variety of lenses – 50mm (prime), 105mm (micro), 12-24mm (wide angle). I also took along my two kit lenses (18-55mm & 70-200mm) but didn’t use them because the quality of them is poor and unreliable (so don’t know why I bothered taking them!!). I need to get a good quality zoom lens. I got so tired of carting around the backpack full of lens and constantly changing lens – hence the need for a good quality zoom lens (the one I want costs an absolute fortune) for convenience! 🙂
WOW! That’s very swish accommodation – lucky you. love your images. x
Thank you Jody! 🙂 x
Omg the claw foot bath!!!! Sooo nice.
I know! You should have heard my squeal when I saw that bath! It was so divine to bathe in too! 🙂
Min, all of these photos are exceptional because what you have done apart from them being individually terrific photos is set a mood. You have created a narrative, from arrival, exploring the garden, exploring the “house” being warmed by the fire and resting in the bath. What you have done in this short series is tell the story without words yet we the viewer can use the photos and diverge from your narrative to create our own.
Individually each photo is wonderful. The doorway is so inviting. The sharpness of the wood pile and the area where you parked your car actually provide a sense of coldness in the air, as does the chook with its fluffed up winter feathers. The photo of the rose is stunning, you have captured the delicateness of the petals. Its my favourite of the photos in this set. You have really captured the warmth emanating from the fire and the “regalness” of the chandelier and the bath. The detail in the ceiling rose above the chandelier is so well portrayed and the final photo of the baths claw uses contrast of the four colours to a stunning effect.
Just terrific Min.
Ciao,
Patrick
Patrick, thank you! That is exactly what I was trying to do when I took these photo’s – set the mood & tell a story. To me, photography is not always about perfectly or conventionally framed images. It can also be glimpses & textures for example – to set a mood, tell a story, and make the viewer feel they are there. I wish I took more images but I was so tired after such a big day! Thank you for your lovely comments! 🙂
That’s beautiful! I love the bath shot!
Thank you Lydia 🙂 !
That looks like the sort of place I was trying to book for hubster’s birthday for a romantic weekend away – originally I tried to get something in Stanthorpe but it was booked out – so instead we are off to Montville this weekend. Don’t think it will be as nice as this though!
This place was pretty special! Wonder if you’re staying at the same place we stayed at at Montville last year? Misty View Cottages? Have a great weekend away! 🙂
Oh that rose…and the bath! Just beautiful! !
Kate
Aren’t they Kate?! We were very lucky 🙂
How beautiful – I can imagine myself sinking into that big bath. And I love that rose – gorgeous.
Sinking into that big claw foot bath was pure luxury Malinda! 🙂
Oh how absolutely beautiful. I can see why you loved it there so much. We’re yet to visit Tassie, but I really would love to some time soon. xx
It was such a thrill to arrive to such luxury and comfort after such a big day! Hope you get to Tassie one day very soon Robyn. You’ll love it! 🙂 xo