Cockatoo Valley and the Barossa Wineries

Resident Kangaroo

Monty and Duncan
Millie
Saltram Winery Restaurant

The Miner’s Cottage is in the Cockatoo Valley adjacent to the Barossa Valley, famous for big red wines, especially Shiraz. The Cockatoo Valley is named for the flocks of beautiful noisy galahs that inhabit it. Each night they gathered in the trees above our heads and squawked incessantly. There were also grass parrots, harder to see, and in the morning noisy kookaburras laughing in the trees. We only heard them if we left our door open as the walls in our cottage were too thick. They would lead the dawn chorus between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. with their unforgettable laughter. Each evening we strolled the fields to see the kangaroos and birds with Godfrey’s binoculars. This was my favourite place in Australia outside Tasmania. It is such a unique environment. Twice we saw a mother and baby kangaroo close by in the field adjacent to the cottage. Magic! I never tire of watching them move.

The wineries we visited in the area were excellent. We were given lists from Godfrey of the Miner’s Cottage, Jack of Melbourne and Rod of Adelaid. We eventually visited Turkey Flats, Saltram (great lunch), Yalumba, Bethany, Whistler, and The Willows. We found it frustrating to buy only one or two bottles. We especially enjoyed the town of Angaston and kept returning to Blond Coffee for delicious lattes and other goodies.

Our second day we had lunch at Maggie Beer’s. I’d seen her gourmet pates, chutneys and jams at all the markets and small shops throughout Australia. This shop and cafe was a food lover’s paradise. Virtually everything she sells is available for tasting, and I tasted everything except the pasta sauces. They make up little picnic baskets with a selection of her goodies and you get to taste them all before choosing from their list. We chose duck with peppercorn pate and the pheasant pate. Rice salads, cornichons and plum paste to cut the rich flavour of the meat were included along with warm bread rolls. For dessert we had passion fruit and vanilla and honey ice creams. These were as delicious as those on Bruny Island. We sat on the patio overlooking a small lake and enjoyed the view.The place was filled with people so I think she is the Delia Smith of Australia because many of her cookbooks were on display and for sale in the shop. At 2 p.m. every day she does a cooking demonstration using verjus, sort of a non-alcoholic grape juice. I had some at home once but didn’t use it and ended up throwing it out. Perhaps I should have stayed for her demo.

We stopped touring at around 3:30 p.m both days and returned to the cottage. It was too special to be away for long. There was a resident dog, Monty, and a cat, Millie, and they always showed up at mealtimes. I cooked on the barbecue behind the cottage every evening, and we ate outside even though it was cool. When the dog heard the barbecue igniter snapping, he showed up with the cat. However, they were very polite and sat patiently waiting for tidbits. We didn’t feed them until our final morning when I broke down and gave them a few bits of bacon rind. Godfrey provided us with such delicious bacon and sausages with fresh eggs from his hens so one night we finished leftovers and had omelettes with the meats.

I really loved it here, there was a bouquet of Australian flowers, dishes of chocolate coffee beans, beautiful foods for breakfast, bacon and sausages surrounded fresh tomatoes, the butter was graced with sprigs of fresh lavender. I wanted to stay for a whole month and do little more than sleep, eat, taste wines, take walks and write the blog. Godfrey is planning to build an eco-cottage back where we take our walks. I want to come and stay again.

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