RIVER BEND
Peter Leuver finds first-class accommodation on the Duckmaloi River.

It is always a pleasant drive to Oberon from Sydney—the route via Bells Line of Road especially, as the Blue Mountains views are spectacular and the traffic minimal. Oberon is perhaps the closest grazing area to Sydney and, at 1171 metres above sea level, the highest spot on the Central Tablelands.

The area is blessed with beautiful skies and cloud formations. These clouds keep filling its brilliant rivers with lovely fresh water in which huge numbers of brown trout thrive. The Duckmaloi River is a personal favourite; it meanders through lovely grazing country and on one of its sweeping bends, advertising man Wayne McCarthy has built a beautiful home designed by a Canadian architect. It is made from solid western red cedar logs, shipped out from Canada in four huge crates.

The home is built on a hill overlooking a bend of the river and I am not sure whether the hill was designed to accommodate the house or vice versa. It suits perfectly and sits there imposingly keeping an eye on the river. From its every window you can see trout rising.

The house has two stories and five bedrooms, all luxuriously appointed with lovely warm beds and underfloor heating to keep feet warm. It was built as a private home for family and friends, no expense spared. There are more cushions than you could ever snooze on, more lounges than you could ever lounge on, and more plates and glassware than you could use in a long weekend. The cedar kitchen has every modern appliance imaginable and the dining room has a table that sits 16 guests. The lounge room has a large glass fronted open fireplace, big lounge chairs, a TV set, a CD player on which you can enjoy Schubert’s Trout Quintet and a VCR if you prefer to watch A River Somewhere.

The large covered verandah has a weber, so you can sit and watch the trout rise with a glass full of something that trout fishermen seem to love while contemplating the forthcoming meal.

Blackberries and willows were a big problem but Wayne had the lot cleared and there’s now a grass covered gentle slope right to the river’s edge. Three doe-eyed alpacas, some friendly grey kangaroos and a wombat help keep the grass in check.

If you want to fish (I knew you’d ask that) there are some beautiful long pools joined by small runs here and there; upstream some rapids and more pools, and downstream from the house more small rapids and bubbly runs. A platypus family is located just to the left of the house and there’s trout wherever there’s water—almost 2.5 km of river to enjoy.

If you have done enough fishing there is lots to see locally—the Jenolan Caves,
historic little villages and the charming towns of Bathurst and Mt Victoria with their antique, coffee and book shops.

With some luck you may get snowed in during the winter . . . “What a pity we can’t get back to work.”

River Bend is available on a self catering basis—everything is there, just bring rods, food and cheerful company—there’s enough room for up to 5 couples.

House rental starts at $1200 for two nights midweek—more for weekends and holiday periods.

Indulge your wife, friends and phone (02) 6336 1375.