Cortes Cottage

Cortes Cottage is a secluded farmstay perfect for slow mornings and cosy evenings to bookend winery adventures. It’s set on one of Australia’s oldest operating walnut farms, Valley Nut Groves.

Owner Ronaldo Cortes renovated the weatherboard cottage, preserving the heritage exterior and adding some smart joinery and modern comforts. It’s a two-bedroom residence – one room has a queen-size bed; the other, two singles. There’s a fully equipped kitchen; a rainfall showerhead in the bathroom; and a claw-foot tub for a deep soak.

A record player in the lounge room sets the quiet country mood, and there’s a fireplace to keep toasty in cooler months. In warmer weather, you can fold the back doors away, so the kitchen opens up on to the deck and flows into the garden and out to the sheep paddock.

There’s solar power on the roof; an adjacent water tank, and an outdoor compost bin so no kitchen scraps go to waste. The small herb garden can be used to season your meals. Time your visit right and you could be plucking ripe walnuts from the tree, removing the flesh and eating them straight from the shell.

Adventure on foot for 15 minutes through the cow paddock and orchard to reach the Ovens River for a spot of fishing or a swim.

Explore The King Valley further in our detailed Out of Town to The King Valley guide.