Bendooley Estate & The Berkelouw Book Shop

  Location: Bendooley Estate & The Berkelouw Book Shop

Photos taken by Hai & Nat with a Canon EOS 70D

Happily married and now 31 years old, Hai surprised me with a trip to Bendooley Estate for my birthday.
It was about an hour and 15 minute drive from Hinchinbrook, and I was so excited because at this estate they also housed a Book Barn. A Book Barn! When I heard these words, my eyes lit up. People who have grown up with me knows I love my books and I love to collect.
We headed out on our mini road trip - past tall green trees, rolling hills and dirt roads to reach this immaculate and charming estate with trimmed hedges and timber buildings.

Inside, a huge fireplace fills your eyes as you walk in.With a fire already going, the warmth was so welcoming. In front of the fireplace, tables and chairs were ready to serve lunch. Flanking the restaurant floor were books. To the left, new books hand-picked by the staff. To the right, shelves and shelves of second-hand books - all categorized by genre and author.
Hai drove us there two hours before lunch, so I could spend my morning browsing. I love my husband for being so thoughtful. I spent my full two hours there, and bought my treasures. My favorite find was a book published in 1924, by a British man who travels to China, Japan and Mongolia. The pages are aged, browned and delicate and holds a special place on my bookshelf.

For lunch we sat down and ordered wines, two cheese platter (mossvale blue and gippsland brie) with house-made crackers, seasoned fries (its a huge serving!) margarita wood-fire pizza, black Angus eye fillet beef and duck ragout gnocchi.
We obviously ordered too much but it was my birthday so we indulged. The food was delicious and of high quality and we finally felt like a married couple out on a real fancy lunch.

The weather unfortunately didn't hold up so we couldn't explore the rest of the estate that day but I promised myself to keep visiting so I can discover more of this beautiful place.