Puffing Billy

by Carmel | Feb 19, 2019 | Attractions, Dandenong Ranges, Emerald, Local attractions

Relax and take in the views as the steam train, Puffing Billy chugs its way through forests, grasslands and over historial bridges.

Check out those smiles!

by Carmel | Jun 25, 2020 | Buzz, Our guests, Wellbeing

The Kumar family are Ferny Hill Retreat’s guests today. As you can see from their happy faces they’re already enjoying their stay.

Holiday rental with a guest-authored book!

by Carmel | Jun 16, 2020 | Art, Buzz, Our guests

Our guests can contribute to an ongoing story in the ‘And Then … Book’. They can be as whacky as they like, writing their own …

Black Lives Matter

by Carmel | Jun 10, 2020 | Buzz, Wellbeing

Several years ago I was lucky enough to live in a rural First Nations Community in the Northern Territory. As a white woman, it was…

Staying a little longer

by Carmel | May 27, 2020 | Buzz, Local attractions, Our guests

Ferny Hill Retreat’s current guests are enjoying their stay so much they’ve booked 2 extra nights. It’s a pleasure having them here.

Our latest little guest

by Carmel | May 25, 2020 | Buzz, Interior design, Our guests

Isn’t she a cutie? This little guest is taking advantage of Ferny Hill Retreat’s child-friendly features.

Socially isolated & bored

by Carmel | Mar 29, 2020 | Buzz, Humble beginnings, Interior design

The Coronavirus trapped me and everyone else in their homes. Plague and pestilence tends to do that, and I was okay with it at first…

How I turned part of my home into an Airbnb apartment.

by Carmel | Mar 22, 2020 | Art, Buzz, Emerald, Humble beginnings, Interior design

Learn how I transformed part of my home into holiday rental apartment (Airbnb). See, room by room, the changes that were made.

We don’t like our guests to go hungry!

by Carmel | Mar 10, 2020 | Buzz, Food

All guests at Ferny Hill Retreat get a FREE breakfast. We don’t like you to go hungry! So, what do you get?

Creating a funky fireplace

by Carmel | Mar 2, 2020 | Art, Interior design

Ferny Hill Retreat’s funky fireplace, topped by shelves brimming with books, is seriously unreal! Learn how it was created…

Bottomless High Tea Brunch

by Carmel | Feb 6, 2020 | Dandenong Ranges, Events

Every Sat & Sun, Mary Eats Cake offers diners a ‘Bottomless High Tea’. Enjoy a free-flowing, endless supply of delicious food and drink. YUM!

PAVE Arts Festival 2020, Emerald Vic

by Carmel | Feb 5, 2020 | Art, Emerald, Events, Music

Emerald’s PAVE Festival is HUGE! It runs for over a week and its many events bring the streets to life with music, arts and entertainment.

Simon Gaythorpe Open Garden, Olinda

by Carmel | Jan 27, 2020 | Attractions, Dandenong Ranges, Events, Parks & nature

Visit this spectacular hillside garden in the Dandenong Ranges. Simon Gaythorpe has created a stunning garden full of rare and exotic plants…