Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Jul 3

It can be eco friendly to take less medicines on vacation, so pick your destination well!

If you are hoping to go to a far flung travel destination, it’s not all vaccinations and tablets - and in fact these can add to your eco footprint along the way.

Now I am not saying don’t take medication if it is available and recommended by your doctor or travel clinic - but maybe by choosing your destination with some care - you can avoid the potential for disease and so reduce your chemical uses!

All medications - even the contraceptive pill and paracetamol can leave chemical residues in the environment so lets not be silly here - but if you choose from malaria-free countries, you could have a less stressful holiday too!

So here is just a simple list or the main malaria free holiday destinations by continent that you could consider:

Continental Europe:
Every country in Europe (2010) does not have any malarial risk, including the whole of Russia.

Africa:
The only countries currently listed as malarial-free destinations are Tunisia, Lesotho and Libya as well as the Seychelles.  However seasonal variations mean that many other destinations will be declared ‘malaria free’ for months at a time - as will certain cities which are above a certain height.

The Middle East:
Due to the harsh dry climate, countries like Jordan, Israel, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Qatar are all declared as malaria-free countries - so no worries here!

Central & South East Asia:
The islands of Japan, North Korea and South Korea are free as well as the expanse of Mongolia, but all other tropical areas and islands are at risk virtually all the time.

However, there are 2 cities in south-east Asia that do remain malaria free amid the jungles and swamps - Brunei and Singapore.

North America:
The whole of North America (including Hawaii) Canada and Greenland are not in any way at risk of malaria - so any vacations here will not require malarial medication.  The area though does still have other illness in the more remote areas - so don’t think any destination is completely safe!

The Caribbean:
The islands making up the Caribbean are as good as free of the disease, apart from the island that makes up Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  But do check for local reports if travelling to swampy areas.

Central & South America:
Unfortunately these areas are dotted with various patches of malaria in all the forested and wetland areas - so you need to be specific about where you travel to.  The only countries in Central or South America that are completely free of malarial risk are Chile and Uruguay.

Other Destinations:
The delightful Maldives in the Indian Ocean are always a popular destination not only due to their dazzling beauty, sandy islands and azure dolphin filled waters - but also because of their malaria-free situation - unlike neighbouring Sri Lanka!

Needless to say; Australia, New Zealand and all affiliated islands are completely risk-free for this disease - but of course have plenty of other things to worry the tourist!

However, bite avoidance is an obvious first step in any holiday destination - as insect bites can pass on many such debilitating diseases! 

Just make sure that you are aware of all the risks in all the destinationsyou are considering before you use this guide to choose your next eco holiday!

posted by Catherine on Jun 28

When the little guy took on 1 of the largest petrochemical firms in the States!

I just love a David and Goliath case - it makes you proud to be the little guy!  That is why I wanted to tell you about this amazing film I just watched about just that: A newly qualified young Ecuadorian Lawyer is fighting a case against Texaco (now owned by Chevron - one of the 6 ‘major’ petroleum companies in the world).

Basically, over the past 2 decades petrochemical companies have moved in on the Ecuadorian rainforest to drill for oil and haven’t really paid much attention to the effects on the local people and the local environment.  And although it was only really a short while ago - the people involved didn’t really think it was ‘that much’ of a problem - and so did nothing about it.

But now a local has changed all that.  Sickened by all this pollution, disregard for human life and wanton destruction of such a beautiful and irreplaceable environment - Pablo Fajardo struggled against the odds to get a law degree and is now fighting for the 30,000 indigenous people who have been affected.

The Facts:
In The Ecuadorian Amazon there were many indigenous tribes living a peaceful existence off the land.  The habitat was lush, the wildlife plentiful and the people were healthy.  Then they found the Lago Agrio Oil Field.

Texaco moved in to the area and started setting up drilling and refining factories and littering the rainforest with miles and miles of oil-carrying pipelines.

They took over large areas of the rainforest either for mining or for waste dumps - and in their time they really made an impact - a bad one!

Yes, the Ecuadorian government gave them permission to drill for oil - but I don’t think they were aware that the results would be so damaging to their own country and people.

As a result of their presence here and their bad management and control practices they are quoted as having dumped ‘18 billion gallons of toxic filth into the Amazon’; ‘flooded 17,000 square miles of both rainforest and agricultural land with toxic waste and cancer’ and have spilled so much oil here that they have surpassed the Exxon Valdez disaster by nearly 30 times!

One of Texaco’s responses was that people shouldn’t be living here anyway as it is a working oil field and that ‘it isn’t contamination - it is industrial exploitation permitted by law’!

The Effects:
Amazingly, there is still totally obvious areas of pollution today - literally pits of thick oil waste all over the place! 

They do not need to rely on witnesses from the past - they can simply take people to some of Texaco’s waste pits and see the destruction for themselves - and the new Ecuadorian President did just that in 2007; nearly 20 years after the lawsuit was first filed!  It’s all still there……..

As the local people have no real water system for their homes - they all bath and drink from the rivers and stream where they live - and unfortunately this is where most of the toxic waste has been and still is running into.  There has been an increase in cancer and leukemia across the area as well as many other illnesses that we associate with pollution and petrochemicals.

However, the Texaco Chief Scientist claims that they have tested water across the area ‘all the time’ and that ‘99% of streams sampled meet US EPA and WHO drinking water standards’!  I doubt if a test on US streams would ever be that high!  Anyway - she then goes on to say that all the rashes and skin complaints that babies and children are getting are because they have ‘poor sanitation’ and that ‘their water contains fecal bacteria and sewage’ - so how does THAT pass for ‘drinking water’?

I love it when their own arguments contradict each other!

The Results:
Well, you can still help with this battle and others like it by supporting charities that work in these areas. 

I mean you don’t have to become a human rights attorney to make a difference - although if you did - that would be great! You just need to keep yourself aware of all the injustice in the world, and try to support those charities and groups that are making a difference in the areas you are passionate about.

Charities involved in this area include the Rainforest Foundation Fund, Oxfam America, Amazon Watch, Amazon Defence Front, Rainforest Action Network, Unicef, WWF, Flora & Fauna as well as Pablo himself!  And I’m sure there are many more.

So whether it is just people in general, sick children, the environment, the wildlife, the Amazon itself or the rights of indigenous people - your volunteering or regular donations can all add up to get things put right!

I’m not going to tell you what happened in the film - you will have to go out and watch it yourself and add your support to the cause!

posted by Catherine on Jun 2

If I raise enough money for charity - will it off-set the cost of the flight to get there?

A friend of mine is going to be taking part in a Charity Trek across Patagonia later in the year - but it made me think of the eco side of things - not just the ethical part.

Don’t forget that ethical holidays are all about the people - so raising money for a humanitarian charity and supporting the local population as guides and hosts along the way fit’s the bill perfectly.

But what about the eco friendly side?  Flying a group of up to 70 charity trekkers and all their equipment across the globe to the very south of South America isn’t really carbon-friendly is it?

So, can we justify these as Eco Holidays or Eco Adventures at all? They are for charity - and they all have responsible travel codes of ethics - but the flight is a bit of a sore point.

The Eco Side: 
Well, they certainly offer the particient something to remember - and the experience of another culture and meeting like-minded people in their group.  And no doubt, a large percentage of these people will be taking a holiday anyway - so why not make it count?

Added to this, they will have worked hard to raise the money, sharing experiences with other people and opening other peoples eye’s up to the charity they are raising money for and for the culture and country that they are going to be visiting. 

It’s not like they are going to be a drain on the country either.  There is no chance of my friend just sitting around the pool, eating all inclusive burgers and ice cream!  They will be out taking advantage of the natural world and eating local food cooked by local people - maybe even learning the language too!

Not So Eco:
Firstly, think of a group of up to 70 people all turning up in the same place at the same time.  This is certainly something that is avoided on very ethical tours. And for good reason.

Another friend went to Machu Picchu a few years back with a group of 75 people, and a second group of charity trekkers overlapped them in the same hotel - so that’s over 100 people all blundering around Cuzco at the same time, wanting the same things at the same time! 

All those people booking on to the same plane, creating all that waste - and possibly bringing foreign products into the local stores, just through demand.  And could it create a market for child beggars and child salesmen - taking time off school to make money in the markets?

And - what are you raising the money for in the first place?  If it is for an eco charity like WWF -  should you be using all those resources on your journey - including a flight - to raise money to help reduce the effects of carbon in the atmosphere.  I mean flying to the other side of the world to raise money for a company that is spending their donations on trying to reduce carbon emissions couldn’t be more ironic.

But - I fancy a long horse riding ’holiday’ across the Mongolian plains, living in local homes and eating yak butter - and that would be a great eco holiday if I went there by train.  Now, wouldn’t it be a good idea to raise money for a charity at the same time rather than just save the whole experience all for myself?

What do you think?

posted by Catherine on May 4

If you live in California, or a planning a trip there in the next week - then look this place up.

Basically, it is a huge celebration of the landscapes, natural heritage, wildlife and rich native culture, across a huge area of the state; including walks, sea kayaking, very early birding tours and heritage trails from coast to mountain top!

There are areas of land here that can almost take you back in time to a place where humanity hasn’t interfered. A place where native Americans still practice their way of life, whether it’s salmon fishing or kayaking through their land and hunting.

The rivers run free here - and virtually untouched by dams and pollution. There are also large patches of land that are home to some very endangered species - both large and small - as well as hummingbirds, frogs and condors! Out at sea there is ample chance to see whales and dolphins as well!

The Festival 2010:
There are 69 events in total over the Friday thru Monday morning festival days, and there are plenty of experts on hand to to run workshops, run tours and offer hands-on advice.

The areas covered in this festival are wide reaching and include Redwood National & State Park, Smith River National Recreation Ground and Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge amongst many others.

And in fact it was the Castle Rock refuge that is the predescesser of this event as this refuge is home to hundreds of migrating Aleutian Geese - which formed The Aleutian Goose Festival.

What’s There?
Firstly the event will be host to it’s keynote speaker: Micheal Fay (from National Geographic) on the Friday evening, as well as offering up a whole host of active biologists, geologists, ornithologists and foresters to help you explore all the available habitats.

Whether you are studying earthquakes and owls, ecology and salamanders or condors and giant redwoods - there will be plenty of time available for you to explore and learn to work with and love these precious habitats and their vital biodiversity.

And all this in your own back yard!

Getting There:
All events are based at or start from the Crescent City Cultural Center in northern California, although some leave before 5am!

You need to register for the event and pay a 1-off fee, but this includes the keynote speech and Friday night reception - as well as all the free events and the meet-and-greet.

There is of course no way that you could attend all 69 events anyway - so make sure you take a look at the schedule of events and get your moneys worth - and really get ‘inside’ this amazing habitat in the US.

Anything Else?
As if this wasn’t enough, the festival coincides with the International Migratory Bird Day (May 8th), and is a celebration of all migratory bird species for North, Central & South America - certainly a huge event to be incorporated into this annual wildlife festival.

posted by Catherine on Apr 30

There is so much ‘greenwash’ about these days - how can you be sure you are choosing the right one?

Just searching for ‘eco friendly beach resorts’ or eco friendly family vacations’ on the internet can bring you up websites and resorts that are clearly not eco holidays at all!  They have just made sure that they use the ‘right’ words to get to the top of the search engines.

And even some websites that talk about eco lodges and responsible tourism might not actually have any proof of the ‘green ethics’ of the location.  It may be as simple as that they have recycling bins, wash your sheets less and heat their water using solar power - which is no real struggle if they are based in the tropics anyway!

So, How Can You Tell?
Well, just as with other products available today including electrical appliances, safety gear and organic food - there are certification programs to prove a company’s eco credentials - and to check the properly based on non-flexible criteria.

Rather than somebody reading Eco Friendly Hotel A’s website and then saying - ‘Oh, it’s lovely.  They take all your recycling away, cook only local food and have planted only native plants’, these certification bodies will actually go there and analyse those actions.

For example, they may say they separate all the recycling - but where do they send it and how?  What if they send it all down to their local tip (which may be a ruined piece of forest) or they just burn it on a distant patch of wasteland?

Then the local food could be a problem.  Are they growing crops that are ‘water demanding’ in a dry climate just to please the guests?  Are they catching rare wildlife for the plate, or fishing unsustainably in a polluted or degraded river or lake?  What species are they hunting and are they safe to eat?

By checking for these certifications you will make sure you get the real story.

Why Check For Certification?
Just as with membership to any exclusive club or society, association or certification with a well known responsible tourism or ecotourism body will allow your business to stand out from the crowd.

So, if a company, business, hotel or manufacturer can prove beyond a doubt that their products are certifiably eco friendly (having been tested by experts) then they know that they are among the best eco holidays out there - and have the backing of certification.

This obviously helps you as a consumer to choose the best holiday company or hotel based on your beliefs or desires.  Rather than having to research every hotels website looking for eco friendly attributes - you could just look for the logo that represents what you are hoping to find from your holiday.

For example, 1 logo might mean that the hotel is ‘minimizing their impact on the local environment and protecting wildlife’ (Natures Best), whereas others might be looking at whether a hotel is trying to ’reduce waste, energy consumption, water and facilitate use of public transport (Green Tourism).

Some countries have their own eco labels, whereas other certifications are internationally recognised.

How Does Certification Help?
Well, apart from reducing your holiday search from ‘all the hotels in Argentina that use the word ‘eco holidays’ in their search engine ranking’ to ‘Eco Logo A registered eco hotels in Argentina’, it also means that you will not feel disappointed with your choice of trip upon arrival in terms of responsible or eco traits - but also that you know that you are spending your money on something that really is making a difference to the location and the people that you wish to visit on your trip.

And, if more and more people start to ask for, or search for, those resorts and eco lodges that have these certifications - then more companies will want to become certified to improve their own business.

And, if a company are claiming that they are eco friendly or are ‘one of the best eco lodges in so-and-so’, then why wouldn’t they want to prove that by getting certified?  If they are doing all these things anyway - why not prove it?

Don’t be embarrassed to ask what their eco credentials are before booking.  I mean if you were a vegan and saw a tasty cake for sale - wouldn’t you want to check that it was free from animal products before you ate it?

posted by Catherine on Feb 18

March 27th 2010 will be the 4th Earth Hour across the globe - and you can get involved in something big!

After the reportedly pointless Copenhagen meeting last year, we need to try a different tack - and I think the Earth Hour is certainly getting results.

Not only is it so easy for you to get involved and make it even more of a success than last year, but it is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the tireless and endless work of the World Wide Fund for Nature (the WWF) and to keep up-to-date with global wildlife news and activities.

The Challenge:
Earth Hour is as simple as turning off your lights for an hour - that really is all you need to do to be a part of this global movement. 

Of course, you sitting in the dark for 60 minutes isn’t much fun and it only involves you - so why not make a night of it with your friends and family.  The more people that are at your event the bigger the impact:

• If they are with you then they don’t have their lights on at home either.
• They will know more about Earth Hour so can pass on the word.
• They will know more about Climate Change and so could lower their impact.
• They will have so much fun that they might organise their own event next year, inviting more people!

There are also massive events being organised across the world and in major towns and cities that you could become a part of too.  And there is even a video competition for Earth Hour this year - you need to create a short video that the WWF can use to promote Earth Hour on the website - and you could win £1000 for your efforts as well!

The Results:
Although turning off your lights for an hour at 8.30pm local time will help visually show the cause - you should really Sign Up on the official WWF page so that your numbers can be counted towards the global targets and be used in official figures.

The numbers of people involved has been steadily rising - and this year they are aiming for 1 billion to join in!  So make your actions count, and be a part of this.

Only 37 days left to sign up - so get organising!!!

Read a related article from WWF’s 2009’s Earth Hour.

posted by Catherine on Feb 7

Last time you went on holiday - did you inadvertently encourage animal ‘tourist attractions’?

Sometimes it’s a fine line between having the opportunity of seeing a rare or unusual animal and having that animal abused or used in some way that isn’t natural or has caused the death or injury of others of the same kind.

You probably think that it is easy to tell the difference - but not always.

Take for example the dolphins used in ‘friendly dolphin events’ across Mexico and many other countries.  Yes, they are in a nice beach-side enclosure, seem ‘happy’ enough to swim around you and are fed by the keepers - but were they wild caught?  And separated from their family pod?

What about ‘pets’ in hotels and lodges around the world?  Yes we have parrots and lizards as pets back home, but were theirs taken from the wild at the cost of the parents - or the habitat itself!

The Obvious Ones:
However, sometimes it’s all too obvious that an animal is suffering.

A monkey chained to a tree, a bear made to dance or small donkeys made to carry tourists around a historic site!

These are the ones that need to be dealt with - but the frightening part is that these cruel acts are only to be found because they are making someone a lot of money.  And that means that there are tourists across the globe that are paying local people to show them or photograph them with (maltreated) exotic animals.

Think about it - if a local man traps a young bear and spends months training it to dance to music but no-one gave him a single penny for his troubles - I doubt if he would bother to do it again.

And if every tourist visiting that historic site told the man with the donkey that they would not pay to ride one of his donkeys as they could only really carry the weight of a child - do you think he is going to keep buying more donkeys and standing around in the street for days on end for nothing!

What Can You Do:
There are plenty of organisations out there who are striving to protect these animals and to try to stop their abuse and you could help them to achieve their goals.

The International Primate Protection League would like to help stop abuse of monkeys and apes with their campaigning and the rescue of mistreated animals.  They can send you a small form that you can complete if you ever see monkeys or apes being abused, containing details on location, time, date and possibly with photographic evidence to help them identify the species and the abuse.

You can of course just donate to their efforts without ever seeing an abused animal - and your donation will help make sure that you never do!

Donkeys have got someone fighting their side too with The Brooke amongst others, that are trying to make sure that donkeys, asses and mules used to help people make a living are kept in god health and looked after.

Because equines help to earn a living for their owner - they are sometimes put though a hard time or made to work through injuries just to earn more money.  So, to make sure that these animals are still helping their owners without getting hurt or abused, charities like the Brooke give advice and support to their owners to help them make better use of their resources (and less stress for the donkey!).

It’s not just these species that are used, I have seen baby anteaters, baby elephants, tiger cubs and even sloths that have been waved infront of tourists to try to make some money.

Have you paid to see one of them?

posted by Catherine on Jan 16

Take a break in the countryside and leave the car at home - 4 legs is all you need!

There are thousands of places across the globe that specialise in horse riding holidays where you turn up and saddle up!

Some are only a few days long and others can last a week or two.  Others just keep coming back to the same place every night, and others trek across vast wildernesses like Patagonia, Canada and Mongolia.

You can do it for pleasure, to learn a new skill or to raise money for charity - but you can do it!

Eco Friendly Transport!
You can cover more distance on a horse when you want to explore and they don’t churn out dangerous emissions and use up valuable gas!

Once you have arrived at the farm or ranch, you can relax and slip into a different world for your vacation.

Instead of sight-seeing in a town or city where you have to drive around to get to anything, you can just walk outside of your lodge and meet your partner.

Even if you want to travel many miles, it will only cost you a few swigs of water to get you there and back!

Reach Those Difficult Places:
Also on horseback you will be able to travel to those places where 4 heels just can’t fit, like up a mountain pass to see a magnificent sunset, or down steep valley sides to get to the isolated waterfall.

And being high up offers you views you might not see on your own 2 feet!

Horse trails use up far less land than car trails - and no trees need to be pulled down to make a road, or habitats destroyed to cater for wider vehicles.

Riding through the landscape therefore has much less of an impact than other forms of transport and it gives you the opportunity to enjoy the whole experience more - as you don’t need to watch your step - the horse does that!

You can watch the landscape change colour in the sunlight, observe the colourful wildlife and birds pass you by - even if they are behind you.  Just hold on to the saddle and enjoy the ride!

Next Holiday?
So next time you are thinking of taking a short break close to home, or farther afield - why not consider a horseback one?

You don’t need to be an experienced rider either - unless you are hoping to ride up an active volcano - there are plenty of riding centers that take on complete beginners right up to regular riders.  Just make sure the school know your real level before you book.

I once went on a ride for the day and when we started galloping along the beach the chap behind me started making a lot of noise!  When we all stopped to find out what happened he said he had only ever walked on a horse before.  He put down that he was ‘experienced’ because he had ridden a horse that was walking loads of times!  He wasn’t experienced in the right sense - and it nearly lost him his saddle!

So, Tally-Ho I say!

posted by Catherine on Dec 18

Qualified vets are always needed to help the local people of Iquitos, Amazonian Peru.

It’s not just the wildlife in the amazon that needs our care and attention - the dogs and cats that keep the community happy need a bit of help along the way too.

Pets form an important part of a community, and they get ill the same as we do but not everyone can afford the vets bills!

So, What Can You Do?
Well, you can visit the website of Amazon Cares for a start, and take a look at the great work that volunteers carry out there on the banks of the mighty Amazon.

Take time to read about the projects they run and their dedication to the people they help. Have a peak at their constantly updated images and blog posts of vets and vet nurses already out there helping out in their clinic.you should seriously consider a short (or long) program with Amazon Cares!

Think you can spare a few weeks of your life to make a huge difference to some poorly pets across the globe - and add a great bonus to your future veterinary resume!

Working closely in a surgery like this will teach you a huge amount about yourself - and you will learn a huge amount from the resident team even if you are newly qualified. So, if you have recently finished your training and wanted to travel a bit before settling into a permanent veterinary position back home - have a look at their site.

What Do They Do?
They work tirelessly to promote great animal health and the reduction of breeding animals in the community. They also work closely with the communities as well as their pets, including:

• Free mobile veterinary clinics to more remote areas
• Humane education and domestic violence programmes
• Assisted animal therapy for disabled children
• Free wildlife veterinary care and ‘animal orphange’
• Continued veterinary support to national veterinary collages and surgeries

They really have it all covered!

The Results:
My friend recently returned from a trip working with the team in Iquitos and not only did she help neuter and treat thousands of animals in the short time she was there - she made some great friends.

She also got to live in a riverside home on stilts (!) took some amazing photo’s of the surroundings, the Amazon and her team working in the surgery.

She also got the opportunity to travel to Cusco afterwards as well as a quick visit to the lost city of Machu Picchu as well.

I’m not suprised she was so glad that she went!

posted by Catherine on Sep 2

Heading To South America for a bit of eco adventure!

There are some fantastic wildlife areas in Argentina and the country has so much to offer the visitor that I thought I would try to interest you in some of the eco lodges here that offer that little bit of uniqueness that you would expect from your vacation.

The following 3 locations are spread over the country and include stays in locally run estancia - a large ranch or farm estate.

La Alegría Eco Lodge - Misiones, Iguazu Area:

A small and personal destination submersed in the jungles and waterways of this ancient and wildlife-filled part of the country.

There are only ever a maximum of 6 guests so there is no overcrowding or overuse of resources. There is also little need to stock up with excessive amount of other supplies as the types of guest this attracts are not there for just a ’sunny vacation with all the extras’ - people come here to be at one with nature and to explore the many habitats in peace!

Accommodation is in log cabins, designed and heated in the traditional ways. The freshwater swimming pool is fed by a 100% hydraulic pump from the nearby stream and isn’t treated with chemicals.

Most of the meals are grown and prepared on site, and the hosts join their guests for all meals allowing for some great story telling and traditional celebrations! Your hosts Patricia and Marcelo are also experts on the local area and offer guided tours, horseback trails and other adventures.

Or they just leave you alone to find your own way or just relax in the pool!

Yacutinga Lodge - Misiones, Iguazu Area:

Not far from that lodge is this unique biological lodge that has links to a wildlife reserve and the work of the WWF - as a result it is a bit pricier!

The buildings are made of local materials and set in harmony with natures shapes, totally integrated and the wildlife habitats are literally on your doorstep. Each of the fantastic and spacious rooms has it’s own private and uninterrupted view of the forest outside.

The outside comes inside here, and fallen trees and plants fill the reception and rooms - making it a bit quirky. Almost everything used is from the forests - yet only 4 out of the 570 acres of this pristine wilderness are inhabited by the buildings.

Activities here range from helping out with surveying, planting of indigenous trees, to awareness courses on the natural resources and guided walks. There are thousands of trees, plants, birds, insects and mammals to find in these forests and the funds from your visit will help to make sure that they remain there!

Rincón del Socorro - Esteros del Ibera.

This delightful 12,000 hectare former cattle ranch has been amazingly transformed into a nature reserve by it’s current owners. Using identical resources and techniques they have restored the farm house over 2 years - but adding the modern touch.

Covering both wetland and savannah habitats there will be plenty of places you can just get away from it all by yourself - or get immersed in the whole wildlife packages that the hosts offer.

There are plenty of activities on offer, including horseback riding, canoeing and wildlife watching - and nearly all activities are included in the price so you can make the most of it all. Sit yourself down in the tack room for a traditional drink of afternoon ‘mate’, of wander around the wonderfully restored buildings.

Meals are mainly local and organic and the meat is free-range - well, there is no shortage of land here! Using local traditional foods and gourmet dishes for meals, there is something for everyone, and the local wines will no doubt go down a treat!