Your hosts: Duncan and Caroline Woodhead
Duncan and Caroline purchased their 42 acre rural property on the outskirts of Alstonville in 2003 and opened Alstonville Country Cottages, self contained holiday accommodation, in late 2005. They had previously owned and run a Stonefruit Orchard on the other side of Alstonville for 15 years.
In January 2000, they set off cruising in their 38ft yacht, with their two young sons, Owen and Peter then aged 8 and 6 years old. They home schooled the boys and travelled on their yacht for a period of two years with many exciting and fascinating experiences. They sailed from Ballina to New Zealand, then to Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia and finally to Vanuatu and back home to Alstonville.
In 2002 when they returned from cruising they wanted a property with ocean views and a new challenge. They sold their orchard and started on the exciting project of developing this uncultivated property with its stunning views. Firstly they built their own house out of timbercrete stone blocks and then started landscaping and developing the cottages, pool and surrounds.They knew the land was not suitable for horticulture so with their joint interest in people, holidays and the environment they decided on the new adventure of rural tourism and created Alstonville Country Cottages.
They also began the Duck Creek Landcare Group, regenerating the native rainforest on the property which is a remnant of the Big Scrub Rainforest and used to cover much of this area. They also keep livestock of a horse and donkeys, chickens as well as breeding Murray Grey cows. They appreciate the ability to live on a rural property but still be only a few minutes away from the coast and their yacht which is moored on the Richmond River.
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