Laurel View farm stay in the New South Wales Southern Highlands

Pull up a chair and stay a while at Laurel View

I have always been a details person and 'have an eye for it', particularly when it comes to real estate and property. In a former lifetime, I worked as a property manager and have seen close to a thousand or more properties of all shapes and sizes. More often than not, it is a delight to walk into a home and see the love that the owners have poured into it. This is certainly the case with Laurel View farm stay at Burrawang in the Southern Highlands of ​New South Wales.

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The invitation from owners, Vicki and John Mauger, arrived at just the right time. The diary was clear, the weather was going to be perfect, and we had been hankering for a break away from our computer screens. Better still, Peter and I both adore the Southern Highlands. It's such a pretty part of the world and so close to home.

Having thoroughly enjoyed a brief stay at Laurel View, I can tell you that it is a most beautiful country property. Apart from the fact that the house sits in a spectacular rural setting, it's that every aspect of the guest's comfort has been considered. And it's all in the details. Those little things that make such a difference.

Before I show you through Laurel View in a series of postcards, allow me please to share with you my conversation with Vicki Mauger, who told me a little of the history of the home:

​"Thank you, Liz," Vicki said. "We are so pleased that you and Peter enjoyed your stay." 

"The house was Johns family home and was built in the 1950s. The original owners ran the farm as a dairy farm. John's father, Joe, purchased the farm to expand and grow his business in trading in cattle and sheep and potatoes. It wasn't until there was a drop in cattle prices in 1972 that Joe decided to run cattle and sheep to sell through the shop. That's how Maugers Meats began. 

We started as a small business in Burrawang but now also have an outlet in Moss Vale. We are truly a paddock to plate experience,running our cattle and sheep on our own farms and sending them from the abattoirs directly to us.T here are three generations of butchers, Joe (John's Father), John, and his son Mathew. John has retired to the farm to manage the growing of the cattle, as Mathew takes on the responsibility of the retail and wholesale businesses.

The whole philosophy of Maugers Meats is to bring a product that has been grown in an enviroment that is sustainable, healthy and without the use of homones ,a product that you can taste the difference."

[More about Maugers Meats in an upcoming article, coming soon. Watch this space].

"On dad and mum's passing, we rented Laurel View out for a short time, but found that the appreciation for the property was a problem and so we decided to bring it back to life and maintain control by making it into a Farm Stay.

I wanted to preserve the charm of the farm house, so I went to many garage sales with my daughter, Nicole, to source my furniture and collectables. I have some beautiful pieces, and am lucky enough to have a brother in law who is an upholsterer. As such, all of my chairs and lounges have been covered and renewed by Alan Handley. My 75 year old mum helped me to paint all the inside. With the home's eleven foot ceilings and ornate plaster work it was quite a task.

I would like my guests to feel a sense of warmth and friendliness when they walk in the house, but also to enjoy things such as the gorgeous bedspreads and linen that we provide.

The gardens have been resurrected to their former glory and they act as a frame the stunning rural surrounds of Kangaloon, Robertson and, in the far distance, the escarpment.

I have tried to think of most things to make people's stay comfortable and memorable, but sometimes all it takes is a look out the lounge room picture window to see the stunning scenery and with a fire burning and a glass of red wine to make you stop and appreciate."

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Laurel View farm stay - postcards and morsels...

Come, dear Good Things readers. Let me now show you around Laurel View farm stay. And, just a heads up, this is an image-rich postcards and morsels post.

The tree lined driveway and paddocks leading to the house

Laurel View front porch and gardens, which look out to the valley and hills

Spectacular vistas from the front garden

Stone bust in the garden

A panorama of the vistas

That pretty bust in the garden

Wrought iron garden bench under a shady tree

Conifers and camellias provide a quiet corner

White camellias en masse

We were greeted by some curious cows

Potted plants at the side entrance to Laurel View

With cameras at the ready, let's step inside

As we walk in, we can feel the warmth of the wood fire

The views from the kitchen window

A well-equipped country kitchen - with fresh eggs, sausages and bacon in the fridge

Bowls and ornamental pears on the sideboard

Sprays of fresh flowers from the garden - the little details that make all the difference

The sun drenched lounge room

That picture window with vistas to the valley, the hills and the escarpment

A truly warm welcome - the fire was burning brightly

Television, books and DVDs

A bottle of red to welcome us

Stuffed bears and beautifully upholstered chair

Olde world timepiece

The front entrance hall

The spacious dining room

Collector's pieces on the sideboard in the dining room

China coffee cup and saucer

Tiffany lamp on the hallstand

I quickly made friends with this bunny in pjs

Chaise lounge in the master bedroom

The bed head in the master bedroom

Plush towels, bathrobes, throws and gorgeous waffle weave linen

Fresh flowers on the side tables in the bedroom

Hat boxes on the bedroom floor

More flowers on a tallboy in the bedroom

Bedside lamp

Another of the bedrooms

Washstand in the bedroom

Another teddy bear to make one feel at home

Blue and white bathroom with full sized shower and great water pressure!

Vistas from the living room

Himself, feeling right at home

Looking to the house from the fence at the bottom of the driveway

Statue in the garden

Looking to the right across the paddock

The only noise you can hear is frogs and cows

We met farmer and owner, John Mauger, as he fed the cattle

Lifting the feed

The cows soon wandered over for a feed

Close the gates if you go rambling

Looking up at the house from the paddocks below

Sunset at Laurel View

The cosy fire

About Laurel View...

Laurel View is  set on a 100 acre farm. The house has three bedrooms (two queen, one double), a large living room (with a sofa bed), separate dining room, fully equipped kitchen and laundry, two bathrooms and a fully enclosed garden. There is a wood fire in the lounge room, heating and electric blankets in each bedroom, board games and children's toys, books and DVDs, and tea and coffee making facilities.

The property is a working farm. Guests are welcome to take a walk and explore the farm, but need to remember to close any gates they cross through.

My recommendation is that you leave the curtains and blinds open when you go to sleep. You will enjoy seeing the night sky as you drift off to sleep, and can awake with the sunrise.

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Getting there... 

Laurel View farm stay is just off Illawarra Highway in the NSW Southern Highlands, five minutes from the townships of both Robertson and Burrawang; and less than two hours from Canberra or Sydney.
Guests can also visit Fitzroy Falls, Belmore Falls, Carrington Falls, Nelly’s Glen, The Blue Pool, and the Illawarra Fly. All are just a short drive away. For more information and bookings, visit the Laurel View web site.

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The Good Things team enjoyed a short break at Laurel View farm stay as guests of the owners. (Thank you again Vicki and John). We made our own way to and from Robertson via private vehicle. This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are our own.

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It's your turn, dear readers. Do appreciate the finer details? Do you have a thing for cows? And where in the world is your favourite country escape?