The long, hot summer is over and we are moving into the chilly season. This is a time of special beauty over the wetlands as the morning mists clear to sunny days. Much as we would like some more rain, it is hard not to like a cool, clear, sunny day, specially if you can relax in a warm cosy cottage while enjoying the peace and serenity.

After three years under water, the wetland is finally drying out, as it should. The birds are enjoying a feast as the water gets shallower, and we have pelicans, spoon-bills, ibis, lots of ducks, stilts and dotterels as well as the birds of prey, sea eagles, wedge tail eagles, whistling kites and swamp harriers. A bird-lovers paradise!!

The garden around the cottages has responded very positively to the amazing rain we have had and the shrubs and trees have grown significantly. As a result we are now getting lots of birds around the cottages – Eastern Spinebills, wrens, wattlebirds and other honeyeaters, and of course the cockatoos, rosellas and galahs are still enjoying being fed by our guests.

Good news for those who may have stayed at our cottages and experienced the unpleasant odour from the nearby Regional Outfall Sewer. The successful completion of the Gippsland Water Factory has eliminated the products which used to cause the odour, and after six months odour free, we feel we can confidently assure you that the smell has gone. This is great news for us, as it was so disappointing to have our guests’ experience spoilt by this nasty smell.

The wetland has remained very wet over the summer, and recently another flood raised the level of the water back to the top of the fence posts. My son took this great shot from a helicopter.

The abundance of rain has been a bonus to the cottages, with the wetland holding a massive amount of water, there will be no dry season this year. Although the winter has been chillier, many guests have enjoyed the cosy warm cottages while experiencing the beauty of winter.  The frogs have started their evening chorus, so we expect a delightfully noisy spring.

We have not had a lot of rain, but it has been enough to make the frogs happy. We now have resident cute little Brown Tree Frogs in the garden around the cottages. They especially like the banksias, but have also been known to slip inside when you are not looking. They are obviously very much at home at Frog Gully.

Talented local chef Jeremy Kasper and his wife Vicki have created a fabulous commercial kitchen in Sale, where Jeremy will be offering a great program of cooking classes, www.kasperskitchen.com.au. Combine a visit to Frog Gully Cottages with a culinary experience with Jeremy.

Despite the fact we have had very little of the rain that has drenched the rest of Victoria, we have recieved a massive flood from the rivers coming out of the mountains. 

The view from the cottages is stunning – and this will ensure the water will remain over the summer, keeping water birds and frogs very happy.  There have been no problems with roads being closed.

Should you be planning a visit and hear reports of flooding in the media, please ring and check with us as they are often incorrect.