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I’ve stayed in many a B & B over the years, and I can say in all honesty that Wanulla is one of the nicest I have ever stayed in. Located in downtown Toowoomba, Queensland, it’s a grand old period house set in a beautiful garden.
Not only is it furnished exquisitely, owners Steve and Margaret Savage are the consummate hosts, thinking of every possible detail to make our stay a pleasant one. They have the perfect attributes for B & B hosts, knowing exactly when to join in conversation with guests and when to stand back. They are an interesting, widely-travelled couple and we would love to have spent longer chatting with them if we hadn’t been on such a busy schedule.
It was a love of entertaining and meeting new people that inspired the couple to open their B & B. Queensland-born Margaret spent 19 years working as an accountant in various European countries. She met Steve in England in 2003 and they bought Wanulla in 2009, marrying under a large tree in the front yard a few years ago.
One of the first subdivisions on Toowoomba’s Caledonian Estate, the house was built around 1905 -1910 in typical Queenslander style with wide verandas. It is in a prime yet quiet position close to Queens Park, antique stores and cafés, so you can leave your car and walk to most places, as we did when we dined at the lovely Encores restaurant at the Empire Theatre.
Wanulla combines both traditional elegance and contemporary comforts. Guests have exclusive use of the lounge and dining room, furnished with tasteful antiques, as well as the sun-drenched veranda overlooking the garden.
At the same time, it provides all the special touches that Steve and Margaret themselves enjoy when staying at B & Bs. They provide afternoon tea with homemade cakes and scones on arrival, and for guests staying two nights or longer, they offer evening drinks and canapés.
This is luxury accommodation at remarkably affordable prices (between $160 and $200 per night, depending on which room you choose and whether or not it’s a weekend). There are two queen-size rooms to choose from. We stayed in the spacious Deluxe room at the front of the house overlooking the garden. It is furnished with an antique queen sleigh bed and has a separate dressing room and ensuite with shower, but no bath.
The Queen room is smaller than the Deluxe room but has a gorgeous ensuite with both a shower and luxury bath. All the other luxury inclusions are the same.
Guests enjoy a full gourmet breakfast and it really is first class, with beautiful juices and jams, and cooked to order specialities such as pancetta ‘cups’ filled with parmesan, ricotta and egg.
Margaret and Steve have successfully created accommodation that appeals to a broad spectrum of travellers, from couples wanting a romantic getaway, to people touring the country, to business travellers. Because of their attention to detail and their discretion as hosts, anyone would feel comfortable staying at this gorgeous property.
The Food Wine Travel checklist:
Comfy bed √
Good shower √
Free wifi √
Free parking √
Tea and coffee in room √
Fresh milk √
We stayed in: Deluxe Room.
Fact File:
B & B Wanulla
4 Burns Street
Toowoomba Qld
Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 4639 3487
We stayed at Wanulla while doing our posts on Southern Queensland Country’s Autumn Breathe Breaks and Autumn Shared Table lunch. There is much to see and do in this beautiful part of Queensland, including attractions in Toowoomba itself, such as the Japanese Garden, the Cobb & Co Museum and Carnival of Flowers.
