*April 2023 - Some exciting changes have been made to Lyra including painting the interior following consultation with award winning colour consultant Sonia Van de Haar of Lymesmith, installing new artworks, upgrading the interior furnishings and reinstating the organic vegetable garden. I hope you love the changes as much as I do.
Lyra overlooks the Barrengarry mountain range, midway between Kangaroo Valley and Berry. The house and entertaining area sits in the midst of 7 acres of undisturbed rainforest, serving as an amphitheatre for the lively birdsong of the Australian bush.
Mornings and early evening is a magical time at Lyra where one can sit back and watch the rich array of Australian bird life busy at work. The Lyrebirds are shy but vocal mimics, the Kookaburras are a bit of an eccentric observer and the yellow breasted Greygones are full of joy and curiosity (last time I was at home I watched a pair of Hummingbirds build a nest - absolutely delightful).
Lyra is a stylish hand-crafted post and beam mud brick home, hand-made from materials sourced from the rainforest. Much of the timber has been felled on-site and walls built from rocks and boulders found on the land. The large front living area, with its hand-made concertina doors, opens right up to the garden outdoors. The glass roof panels allow an unobstructed view to the sky lounging in front of the slow combustion wood fire. Firewood is provided all year round apart from in the heat of Summer. The back living room is a beautiful private spot for curling up into a good book or enjoying some TV.
The beating heart of Lyra, however, is its fully equipped kitchen and outdoor entertaining area. The outdoor area serves as a second, open-air living room, and comes with a large wood-fired pizza oven, dining table and sofas. The owner is a passionate cook, baker and entertainer. In this regard, you will have everything you need to create anything from a late-night toasted sandwich, pizza - from novice to chef, cakes, cookies and pies, a quintessential Australian barbeque, a traditional weekend roast; or a family favourite fried rice (please oil the wok after use).
The organic vegetable garden is up and running please do help yourself to whatever is growing.
There are lots of serving platters and the owner has filled the kitchen with a collection of mid-century and vintage crockery and ceramics that she has lovingly collected over the years.
A good quality gas-plumbed Weber barbeque is provided.
Guests are sure to enjoy the heated outdoor spa and fire pit (bring your own wood or use fallen timber found on the property) where you can sit back and relax under the starlit sky.
The property has three private bedrooms with the main downstairs bedroom having a queen bed and its own ensuite. The two upstairs bedrooms each have queen beds and share the second bathroom. There is an extra powder room off the back living room.
Bed linen is 5 star quality - French Linen Duvets, 100% organic bamboo and/or organic cotton sheets.
Each bed is equipped with electric blankets and 100% Australian wool blankets for the winter months plus 5 star quality duvets through the year.
As the custodian of Lyra, the owner asks guests to honour the environmental tradition upon which her home was created by limiting single use plastics wherever possible exercising the discipline of thorough recycling. In this regard, communal pantry and bathroom basics are provided which you are welcome to use.
Check Lyra out on Instagram - @Lyra_Kangaroo_Valley
Please always keep the doors to the organic garden shut lest the critters help themselves!
Complimentary firewood is provided for use in the inside fire place except in the heat of Summer. If you would like to enjoy the fire pit and pizza oven we do ask that only rough wood self-sourced from the property is used. Additional fire wood can also be purchased from the petrol station and rural supplies store in Kangaroo Valley. The owner recommends selecting really good hardwood that is thoroughly dry for the pizza oven. She has had some disasters herself by accidentally using unseasoned damp wood or light wood. Petrol station firewood tends to be pretty light and provides a low temperature burn so don’t skimp, come prepared with good wood and start the pizza oven 4 hours before use.
To keep Lyra’s outdoor spa clean and sanitised, the spa company come and service it each Thursday. They wont disturb you- will just service it and leave it ready for you to enjoy.
To keep the lawns mowed, paths tidy, gardens watered and weeded Lyra’s garden team come and work each Tuesday. The team are a professional group of young men, respectful of your privacy.
Lyra accommodates up to 6 humans. If you have little ones in addition to 6 adults please contact our office so that we help accommodate you.
I hope you love my home.
•For last minute bookings, please contact our office.
Minimum night stays:
Weekend or Midweek 3 nights
Easter - 4 nights
Christmas and New Year - 7 nights
The Fine Print:
The rates calculated by this website are estimates only and may not include discounts or special rates. All rates will be checked by our staff.
- Please note a non-refundable Booking Fee applies to all bookings.
- A Security Bond is processed as a credit card pre-authorisation with all bookings.
- Special does not apply during the Christmas/New Year period or long weekends
