Country Accommodation - Nature At Its Loveliest...
Glorious gardens, gentle green meadows, wistful water landscapes and eco regeneration areas make Green Star Accredited Crystal Creek Meadows Country Accommodation nature at its loveliest. This tranquil country retreat is surrounded by magnificent views of Kangaroo Valley's mountains and national parks that provide a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty.
Your Chance To Escape...
Discover the National Trust listed landscape of Kangaroo Valley and experience NSW Tourism Award winning hospitality in luxury self catering holiday accommodation. Our luxury eco cottages are set in their own private landscaped garden areas at least 60 metres apart so that all guests experience a true sense of peace and tranquility.
From your cottage you can explore one of the largest private gardens in the South Coast and enjoy magnificent birdlife and native animals.
Crystal Creek Meadows Gardens and Grounds
Stroll through delightful country gardens and enjoy the fresh, clear air where dozens of different rose varieties shade archways and entwine amongst the remains of old stock fencing.
Everywhere you turn you will be surprised by the charm of a fresh and inviting scene, discover lily strewn ponds and dams with a backdrop of neighbouring farm paddocks dotted with grazing cows. You might even spot the resident tortoise, frogs and ducks waddling up the lane.
Summerhouse & Willow Pond
Landscaped to allow you to take in the majestic sandstone escarpments while reclining in the summerhouse or cooking at the BBQ. Perfect location for bird watching while the Black Pacific Ducks and White Faced Herons enjoy the cool pond. You'll even see Willy Wagtail around the water's edge. A perfect place to end the day.
Wedding Marquee Lawn
Surrounded by crab apple and plum trees this spacious lawn provides 360 degree views of the escarpments and rainforest. With a path leading down to the creek this is a wonderful location for a marquee or gazebo style cocktail reception.
Regeneration
We are passionate about our unique gardens and the biodiversity of our property. Crystal Creek Meadows is the only Nature Tourism accommodation provider south of Sydney that has been certified by Eco Tourism Australia.
 Nature tourism is defined as "Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing nature areas".
As part of our environmental sustainability policy we have planted more than 700 native trees. Our new project is regeneration of the perennial streams and creek. So far we have had considerable success in providing habitats for important native animals.
Qantas General Manager for Sales & Distribution Rob Gurney said "The Qantas Group is committed to actively managing its growth in a sustainable manner and seeks to acknowledge and support Australian tourism businesses that protect and promote our distinctive destinations and environment.
"The Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism is designed to celebrate and reward businesses that implement credible sustainability practices that demonstrate innovation and provide a role model for the industry. The Qantas Group is proud to acknowledge the achievements of Crystal Creek Meadows in this area."
Birdlife & Wildlife at Crystal Creek Meadows
Australian birdlife is prolific at Crystal Creek Meadows Country Accommodation, giving pleasure to those relaxing and serious birdwatching opportunities.
These are some of the birds and animals you can see at Crystal Creek Meadows; King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Australian Magpie, Pacific Black Duck, Wood Duck, Satin Bowerbird, Willie Wagtail, Kookaburra, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Raven, Magpie - Lark, Yellow Tornbill, Red-browed Firetail, Golden, Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Pied Currawong, Brown Thornbill, Australian Kestrel, Noisy Miner, Grey Fantail, While-faced Heron, Royal Spoonbill.
Sometimes high up you can make out the Wedge Tailed Eagle. When taking trips down the river you can also see the Ocean Eagle swooping overhead - exhilarating.
We also have the Common Wombats, Blue Tongued Lizard, Eastern Common Froglet, Dwarf Green Tree Frog, Whistling Tree Frog, Goanna, Echidna, and Platypus.
Star Gazing
The night sky displays the amazing Milky Way and the Southern Hemisphere's stars in a clarity you simply can not see in the cities. And made all the more breathtaking with the aid of a telescope provided by your hosts.
Children's Nature Trail & the endangered Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby
A carefully designed walk lets children discover the habitat of some of our local wildlife who live on our property. There is also a drawing competition and they can discover more about our local endangered wildlife through a presentation of the Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby.
Climate Change and benefits associated with staying at Crystal Creek Meadows
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a holiday, to relax and most importantly be able to select accommodation and attractions which have minimised their negative impacts. That is why we have introduced a series of measures to minimise our impacts that contribute to Climate Change. These include using 100% Accredited Green Renewable Energy, recycling and installation of solar panels. Our ethos, policy statements and Environmental Management System, which guests may read, aim to make us more sustainable (More information on Responsible Reporting). Our CO2 footprint was over 50 tonnes per annum in 2007 and has now been cut to 17 tonnes in 2009. We also plant trees for conservation and to make a positive contribution to reducing local climate (Crystal Creek Meadows Charity Program supports the Climate Change Research Centre which is involved in the LUCID project).
Climate Action Leader
Staying at Crystal Creek Meadows means that considerable effort has been made to reduce our Green House Gas emssion footprint and help others as well by piloting the Climate Action accreditation programme online in Australia. We have become the first accommodation provider in Australia to have achieved the highest certification level (Leader) and share the knowledge gained from this program with our community.
Climate Action is a programme operated by EcoTourism Australia with state, federal government, Tourism Australia support and funding. EcoTourism Australia is the peak eco tourism industry body and has won world acclaim. Crystal Creek Meadows is also the founder of the Green Kangaroo program established in Kangaroo Valley for businesses who want to become responsible and thus more sustainable.
Tree Planting Program
Guests can make a positive contribution to reducing the negative impact of their carbon emissions from their return journey to Kangaroo Valley. We do this by planting trees on our property. And to enhance their value we only select local native tree species and plant appropriate understory plants to improve the biodiversity.
There is considerable debate on the moral questions surrounding the merit of offsetting. Thus we do not wish to mislead our guests nor peers and do not use the word "offsetting". However, we do strongly encourage everyone to plant trees. In Australia where we have lost 99% of our open forests (CSIRO). It is vital that everyone recognises that they must reduce emissions and use renewable energy sources. Offsetting is not immediately benefical and does not immediately negate ones CO2 footprint. However, tree planting is a vital conservation commitment we urgently need to follow in Australia. The Climate Change Research Centre and projects like LUCID suggest there are important localised climate benefits gained if we were to reforest. So while we do not wish to imply that planting a tree immediately offsets your emissions, we do want to stress that planting an appropriate native tree(s) will positively enhance the environment. For this reason we continue our commitment to reforestation. Not using the term "offsetting" also means we no longer make the claim "carbon neutral".
A car will emit on average 2.6 Kgs of CO2 per litre. By planting a tree at Crystal Creek Meadows you make a beneficial contribution to the environment that helps toward compensating for your journey's CO2 emissions.
The cost is $3.50. We will select the species and plant it on your behalf (but you are very welcome to plant it yourself if you wish - this can be a fun family activity) and provide you with a certificate to guarantee that we will maintain the plant until its maturity. This way you can help the environment and during your visit take part in the positive beautification of Kangaroo Valley. Alternatively you may select Conservation Volunteers Australia.
As part of our commitment to responsible tourism we have also set up the Crystal Creek Meadows Charity Program for conservation in Kangaroo Valley and action on Climate Change worldwide.
(more information on Charity Fund)
Here are some tips to help reduce your emissions while traveling and on holiday:
- Plan your route to minimise carbon emissions. Crystal Creek Meadows provides free transfers from Berry Railway Station
- If you are flying then you can help compensate for the carbon emission by either planting trees at Crystal Creek Meadows or by calculating the total carbon emissions and contribute to reforestation through Conservation Volunteers Australia
- Walking, canoeing and using the cycle tracks — Crystal Creek Meadows provides free use of mountain bikes
- Buy locally made arts & crafts and foods
- Kangaroo Valley has a Green Kangaroo Symbol for operators who are becoming more sustainable; try Café Bella and Jing Jo Thai in the village
Crystal Creek Meadows is also an active supporter of the Pioneer Museum Park, Friends of the Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby and World Vision Sponsor-a-Child and World Vision Water for Life.
Driving our MGB
Guests do have the opportunity of driving our 1969 silver MG convertible. Why do we consider this a serious commitment to responsible tourism practice?
Family Friendly Kangaroo Valley Accommodation
Crystal Creek Meadows Eco Country Accommodation is ideal for families and small groups with children. The gardens are all level and easy to walk around, and there is plenty of space for the children to expend excess energy.
|
Get Away From It All - Kangaroo Valley Country Retreat
Escape the ordinary and take time out to revitalise and relax at Crystal Creek Meadows Country Accommodation in beautiful Kangaroo Valley - an exceptional Australian rural holiday destination just waiting for you.
|
|
