On a cold Sunday night, we tucked into a beautiful quiche followed by white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, the final sweet gesture from a weekend away at Lush Pastures.
Past the cute town of Yankalilla, your first sighting of the hilltop Lush Pastures is the brightly coloured lodges which are visible as you drive up a dirt road past sheep and cows.
Owners Andy and Cheryl Lush come out of the house to greet us at our car, and from there the indulgence begins.
Designed by Max Pritchard, the three stand-alone rooms/lodges are simple, comfortable and modern. The Lushes allowed the architect free range, and the design enhances your appreciation of the breathtaking panoramic views.
"“It is 270-degree views from the lodges, and from the property itself you have 360 views if you go to different spots.”"
Looking down a valley, over a few hills and out to the sea, sitting in our comfortable armchairs (or tucked in bed) was like being in a plane about to take off. We could have relaxed and enjoyed the scenery for hours.
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“It’s an incredible building to live and work in, and all of our guests when they walk in, they take a photo and it just doesn’t do the view justice,” Cheryl says.
“It is 270-degree views from the lodges, and from the property itself you have 360 views if you go to different spots.”
The view was what sold them on the location, with the couple encouraged to leave their return-verandah home in Glenelg after friends left the city for Meadows.
“It came about very strangely,” Cheryl says. “Some friends had bought land at Meadows and were talking about having a vegetable garden, chooks and growing their own stuff. They were talking about having a gallery and living that life.
“I said, ‘I always wanted to do that’, and I talked to Andy. He said, ‘I’ve always wanted to do that, too’. We’d only been married 20 years and never discussed it, and so within four weeks we’d found this property.”
They lived in the barn on the property for a year while it was being built and the end result has been worth it.
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“I can cook and Andy can grow fruits and vegetables, and we have the farm and tractor, and then we have people come and we sit and eat and drink. What better life is there than that?”
Before guests arrive, Cheryl organises a custom menu according to their preferences and the produce available. This is printed for your perusal – and to take home as a souvenir. Wines are by The Hardy’s K1, with beer from Vale Ale.
We stayed for one night. Arriving on a chilly Saturday afternoon, we had a cup of tea, some cake and biscuits, and spent a few hours relaxing by the fire before dinner.
Cheryl and Andy, and their two gorgeous dogs Bella and Gemma, are natural entertainers, enjoying the night as much as we did.
“The evening meal is like a dinner party in our home,” Cheryl says.
“We set the table – we have a big table made from a slab of red and blue gum and it is quite wide – but we don’t plate; we serve from the middle so people can pass dishes around and have as little or as much as they want.”
Breakfast is served to order, with a delicious range of muesli and preserved fruit from Cheryl’s pantry, plus eggs, bacon or salmon.
If you want to explore any of the beautiful surrounding areas, Cheryl also packs a picnic lunch for you to take on the Saturday.
The produce is as sourced as locally as possible, often from the couple’s own gardens. They have fresh figs, apples and tomatoes.
“We are very generous; people are here to enjoy, relax and indulge.”
As that final touch, Cheryl packs a quiche for you to take home for dinner on the Sunday, where you’ll no doubt fall into bed full of food and fully relaxed.
All expenses at Lush Pastures were paid for by Melissa Mack.
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