BANNABY FARM COTTAGE is a gorgeous country hide-away on the Great Dividing Range, 16km east of the historic township of Taralga, 2 ½ hours south-west of Sydney. This is a place to relax and contemplate the good things in life with family and friends, a thousand miles from care. Read a book in front of the slow combustion fire, sleep in, take a long bath, enjoy evening drinks on the deck, go for long walks, indulge in fine foods, immerse yourself in the local history.

With 120-heactares to explore at Bannaby Farm alone, there’s no end of wonderful walks and bike rides to be had in Bannaby. Wildlife abounds in area, wombats and kangaroos and exquisite birdlife - from tiny wrens and Eastern Spinebills to giant Wedge-Tailed Eagles that nest on the nearby hilltops. Ask us about suitable walks and bike rides for your group. The Bannaby district is steeped in history. Just down the road, you can visit the fascinating local cemetery in the grounds of the tiny weatherboard St Matthews Anglican Church. Here tombstones grand – and humble - chronicle the lives, loves and tragedies of the locals dating back to colonial times. Across on the next hilltop is Bannaby Station’s famous shearing shed – a towering tin cathedral of rural enterprise - that in its heyday saw 30,000 sheep shorn in a season. The main town of Taralga is a 15-kminute drive away. With its broad main street flanked by gorgeous buildings constructed from the local basalt rock, Taralga’s heritage is, quite literally, etched in stone. Historically a service town for the surrounding farm district, in recent years the village has gained a reputation as a popular foodie destination, showcasing local produce. The Argyle Inn, with its award-winning restaurant and beautiful Victorian-inspired décor, is a must-visit, as is the Grand Ettie café which has a stylish, yet simple, menu prepared by husband-and-wife team Brenden Gredidge and Chloe Smith. If you’re looking for more basic fare, there’s The Taralga Hotel and the Taralga Sports Club at the southern end of town which both have good pub food. In winter, icy winds sweep across the tablelands from the south, often bringing with them snow, making these watering holes with their blazing fires, hot food and warm country hospitality, all the more inviting.