Step back to a time when neighbours chatted in the middle of the street; the kids roamed free until called in for dinner; when you could see the Milky Way from your back garden and woke to the sound of kookaburras in the morning. The perfect retreat to try laid back island life - a sweet character cottage in an enchanted garden filled with birdlife on Russell Island - just half an hour from the mainland but a million miles from its bustle and stress.
Your adventure starts on the car barge across Moreton Bay or (if you choose not to bring your car) on the twenty minute ferry ride to Russell Island. In the middle of a marine national park, you are quite likely to see dolphins and turtles on the way as well as many varieties of sea birds. Dugongs, lots of fish and crabs live here too. (Fishing is allowed around Russell Island - if you like catching fish and crabs you’ll love it here).
Enchanted Garden cottage is the perfect place from which to enjoy everything the island has to offer - at the northern end of the island, it is under 2 kilometres to the shops, jetty, walks, parks, arts centre, community garden, fishing and swimming spots, boat ramp and restaurants. All are easy to walk to. But, with a bike path running from one end of the island to the other, why not copy so many islanders and give bike riding a go. Our cottage even has its own bike shed where you will find 4 bikes and helmets.
Visit the old Kennedy Farm, an old avocado orchard, where the locals go to pick up avas, stroll the grounds or sit under the trees at Rosie’s Island Beans coffee cart (arguably the best on the islands). Until about 1pm, this is the informal meeting place for the island community. Grab a seat with the friendly locals and find out what is going on.
The old farm house is the home of RICARTS, the island’s community arts centre, where you might pick up a treasure from the gallery or even do an art or craft class, which are held every week day morning.
Adjacent is the community garden, one of the first in Queensland, abundant with vegetables and fruit.
A little further down the island are the Turtle Swamp wetlands and Whistling Kite wetlands (both easy, clear family walks).
But whether you have been seeing the sights, visiting the other islands (via the free inter island ferry), fishing or crabbing or kayaking, you can relax after your day’s activities back at your wooded oasis. Chill with a drink in the protected garden room under the grapevines by lantern light? Or maybe a bbq and a fire under the stars on a chilly winter night is more your thing. Feeling romantic? Our garden love seat is the perfect place to enjoy champagne with your darling….or maybe propose?
The garden embraces a spacious pergola-covered patio. With 3 barbecues - two gas and one charcoal - an extendable table with 8 chairs and an open fire, (and the well equipped kitchen), the cottage is so inviting to cook and eat al fresco. You are welcome to pick some fruit and herbs fresh from the garden.
Bedroom one has one comfortable queen sized bed. Bedroom two can be set up as a comfortable king size bed or two singles, on request, depending on your needs. A comfortable queen size bed is also set up in the library/office.
