It has been good finally being able to plan the trip because Mr. HEA finally got a permanent job a few weeks ago. Knowing that meant that we could finally lock in the travel and I have plans for Paris, Brussels, Scuol and The Hague for the weekends and over the hols.
But those are posts for later. I did a little travelling over the weekend. You know the scorcher of a weekend that we had? Yeah, we were at Hunter Valley rocking the vineyards and the Golden Door Spa at Elysia, Cypress Lakes resort.
This is my favorite spot in the Hunter Valley. A little vineyard that reminds me of Tuscany with its rustic decor and gorgeous yellow building, infamous for its iconic namesake Iron gate. Their wines are really lovely too, we bought a Sweet Mandala, very easy to drink for summer. Their sweet Shiraz is also highly recommended. Best served with dessert.
These were the Sculpture in the Vineyards that we got to visit. I absolutely love the pink shoes, made to symbolize how beauty can be made from discarded 'junk'. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Beauty is in the eyes of its beholder" you must go down the Wollimbi Valley wine trail to visit the vineyards that are hosting the event and see for yourself the magnificent works as well as have a tipple or two.
We did that whilst my Rally aficionado friends were away training to be race drivers. They had fun, but I don't think they'd be quitting their day jobs just yet. Lol. For an extra $40 they got the experience of real rally car driving from the passenger seat, which they tell me was the most exhilirating ride of their lives.
We also wined and dined, but I'll write the foodie posts separately so that you can be bombarded with the pics of the gorgeous plates. Trust me they deserve their own pedestals.
Two other recommendations I make to you for a visit to Hunter Valley:
1) call ahead and book yourself in for a treatment at the Golden Door spa.
I had the Dr. Babor AHA Skin Renewal Facial done and it was a real relaxing hour getting my face cleansed and deeply exfoliated whilst being massaged into blissful oblivion. We then soaked in the Jacuzzi and detoxed in the steam room. Love how soft my skin feels after a steam session every time.
2) you must not miss out on a trip to the Ernest Hill cellar door.
They make gorgeous Chardonnays, Shiraz and light dessert wines. I went there to replenish my Luna Spark, but walked away with Moondance instead because the flavors reminded me of the wines I had at my wedding and I hadn't been able to save a bottle of that.
If you have those two things on your list of activities, all the others will very quickly fill up with tasting and shopping trips around Pokolbin and Cessnock. I had a roaring weekend and luckily didn't dehydrate from the heat and alcohol we were tasting.
Hope you get to Hunter soon!
