Drop In
When this beach shack was built in 1950, Bendalong was a secret surf spot at the end of a 10 km dirt track. The road is now paved, but this little abode remains and is one of the few original homes built back when the rest of the world was just a distant thought. This feeling lingers though and as soon as you step over the threshold you feel miles from everyone, in your own secret nook, with calm washing over you. It's easy to feel as if you have stepped into your own private sanctuary here, but Drop In is only a 400m stroll to the beach, and 150m to Bendalong General Store & Cafe making it a central location.
For us it is often about how a place makes you feel, how each detail has been considered with a guest in mind. To discover a jar of biscuits, tea, coffee and milk waiting is one thing, but to enter the bathroom and find luxury eco shampoo, conditioner and body wash is another! For us this speaks volumes as an owner has supplied every essential and we can't tell you how many places we have arrived to and have left immediately to go shop for the basics needed to feel at home. These may seem like the smallest necessities, but for two people who regularly forget shampoo and are obsessed with tea they make the biggest difference. "Designed for folks who appreciate beauty & simplicity in places & things." This mantra could not align more perfectly with how the house has been simply styled, alongside vintage accessories that pay homage to the shacks history. There is a feeling that each piece in this home has been lovingly chosen to create an experience and sense of relaxation. This provides the ideal space to slow down, step away from the outside world and simplify each day. We spent our time soaking in the outdoor bath in beautiful Delicious Vibrant Beauty Rose Milk Bath, sipping wine while making homemade pizza, slow mornings making pancakes and visiting the local stingrays at the nearby inlet.
We chose to spend the last night of our stay outside by the fire, sipping on Cupitt's Estate session ale, a selection of cheeses which the winery also makes and enjoying the balmy summer night air. The little coastal nook of Bendalong now holds a special place in our hearts and will definitely be a favourite place to stop in on our road trips south! Thank you Joel and Peta for trusting us to capture your beautiful home and making us feel like we had stepped into a home away from home.
As well as being a beautiful stay Drop In have partnered with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to help fund their amazing work. Their mission is the effective conservation of all Australian native animal species and the habitats in which they live. "For every night booked at Drop In, we will fund the conservation of approximately 1 acre of land… for a year."
