by Booney » Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:25 am
Alfie’s – Port Vincent.
Not sure where to start with a review of Alfie’s, perhaps eclectic and unique are good starting points.
Alfie’s is set up to host as many people as you like. The main house has a separate toilet and shower and bedding for a dozen or so in 3 bedrooms and this is just the beginning. Down the back 3 identical rooms (think Boy Scout/Girl Guide camp dorms) have bedding for at least 3 in each room and are adjoined to a bathroom with a toilet and 2 showers. Next to this are two caravans with bedding for another 3 or 4 in each, a camper trailer for another couple of people and a yard big enough to pitch tents, swags, kick a ball, park a boat….anything!
Inside the kitchen is stocked with enough cutlery and utensils to feed all of Port Vincent in one setting (well, nearly) and the outdoor kitchen/entertaining/relaxing area is outstanding. With an oven, microwave, urn, pizza oven, massive BBQ ( Alfie, fancy building me one of those BBQ’s? ) a table to seat 12 or more, two TV’s, a fridge, a walk in cool room ($20 a day hire), a combustion heater at one end and a huge fire pit at the other all undercover with café style blinds keeping the weather at bay this area is hard to beat in terms of group gatherings and catering to their needs. Outstanding work, Alfie.
Outside the kitchen is again stocked with more than enough cutlery (seriously, he’s got about 25 egg rings!) to easily cover any BBQ or gatherings needs. There’s a fridge with plumbed cold water and an ice machine, a sink to do the dishes…..there really is everything there. At least 2 of everything in fact. A short walk to the back beach or about 5 minutes back to the wharf for a spot of fishing or to the pub for a cold one or three, the IGA, the kiosk etc means nothing is too far away.
Set behind a nice screen is another huge sunken fire pit in the back yard, a couple of massive gum tree’s provide shade, there’s a games area with dart board, quoits, table tennis (you need to bring bats and balls), cricket stumps and bats, footballs, soccer balls and basketballs for the backboard and ring set up against the shed. There are also kayaks (again about 8 of them!) and bikes on site, these are secured however so not available for use but I’m sure Alfie would be able to negotiate use of these items if you wished. There’s more than enough space for kids (and adults, albeit briefly) to run around or ride their bikes, play cricket etc, the double entry drive means you could enter one side and exit the other by driving around the back of the house with your boat on board so no pesky reversing in and out. The gardens are really well maintained, the lawn well kept and more than enough off street parking for all the cars who ferried the people across.
I’ll only discuss one down side. For adult couples there’s one room with a queen bed and beyond that you’re either separating for a night’s sleep or cuddling close in a double bed with a bunk above you. For couples who are accustomed to nice big beds there’ll be a fight on for the main room, for the others it’s either single bunk or a close night’s sleep in a double. It’s the only real drawback in my books and some people will be fine with it, some won’t be so keen. It would be the perfect spot for a group of blokes with a couple of boats to get away to, or a football/soccer/cricket/netball club to spend an end of season weekend at. It really is set up to cater for groups of 10 or more to all stay in the one spot. There’s no doubt you’ll find nicer places to stay with fancy taps and sheets, and there’s places to stay with water views, but none of them would be as affordable when a group or 12-15 are intending to getaway together.
7.5/10 from me for a group weekend away on the Yorke Peninsula with the adult sleeping arrangements the only minor draw back from me, stay at Alfie’s because trust me you’ll never stay at another place like it!
If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.