We started our morning with a quiet stroll along the edge of Lake Dulverton. The water was like a mirror, and the black swans were tucked away amongst the reeds, barely making a ripple as they watched us walk by. It’s a lovely, peaceful habitat, and Lisa spent quite a while trying to get the perfect shot of them through the tall grass.
As we wandered back toward the main street, we couldn't help but laugh at the topiary. It’s everywhere! The local council has clearly put a lot of heart into it. We saw bushes trimmed into the shapes of horses and birds, all standing guard along the footpaths. It gives the town such a quirky, whimsical feel.
We were standing outside the Oatlands Lodge, admiring the architecture, when the owner, Jeremy, stepped out for a chat. He’s a former Brisbane fellow who, along with his partner Dan, decided they’d had enough of the big city rush. He told us a wonderful story about how they ended up here. Apparently, they were just visiting on a whim and stopped at the Lodge. Even though there was a "No Vacancy" sign, Jeremy knocked anyway and managed to talk the "very cranky" owner at the time into giving them a room. They loved it so much they eventually came back and convinced him to sell them the whole place! We ended up yarning with him for a good forty minutes. It’s those chance encounters that really make a trip special.
Jeremy and Dan also own the pancake shop across the road, so after our long chat, we decided that was exactly what we needed for lunch.
The shop was so inviting, and the display cabinet was a real test of our self-discipline. It was brimming with homemade chocolate tarts, lemon blueberry scones, and some of the tallest vanilla slices we’ve ever seen. Lisa was tempted by the cakes, but we eventually settled on a proper meal.
After lunch, we took a walk over to the Callington Mill. It’s a massive, towering structure that dominates the skyline. We wandered through the courtyard near the distillery, which was decorated with these massive green glazed pots and an old stone fountain. It felt very European, tucked away behind the stone walls.
We did pop into the distillery for a tasting, but we have to be honest—none of the spirits quite hit the mark for us. Steve usually has a pretty broad palate for a drop of whisky or gin, but we both decided to leave empty-handed this time. Still, the building itself is a marvel.
We stayed late enough to see the mill after the sun went down, and it was a completely different experience. They light the whole thing up against the black sky, and it looks incredibly dramatic. Standing there in the dark, looking up at those huge sails, you really get a sense of how much history is packed into this little corner of Tasmania.
