Allison Wallace 5/29/23 Allison Wallace 5/29/23

Explore a waterfall wonderland in Lamington National Park

If there is one thing you need to know about the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, it’s that it is full of waterfalls!

We spent a full day exploring this section and were lucky enough to have the best weather and not too much water that the many creek crossings weren’t too dramatic. I can imagine after heavy rains that your feet would be wet the whole time.

Staying at O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat meant that we could start whenever we wanted and still make it back for a sunset drink, but you could easily drive out here from anywhere on the Gold Coast for a day trip as well if you started early – just be aware that the windy road to the top will slow you down.

We combined a few trails to make the most of a full day hiking in the park – starting on the West Canungra Creek circuit down to Yerralahla (Blue Pool). You ease into the day, following the Border Track for about 600m before branching in to the West Canungra Creek Circuit.

The first part dives into lush rainforest and leads you to Yerralahla Pool - there is a 400m drop in elevation from O’Reilly’s to the Blue Pool.

Though we hadn’t yet really worked up a sweat, we stripped off to have a quick swim before continuing.

From here, we followed the creek up stream, crisscrossing about 10 times, sometimes rock hopping and only once took our shoes off to wade across. Sometimes the track at crossings isn’t clear, so you (unlike me) you need to keep an eye out for those elusive trail markers!

Sitting by one such crossing for a lunch break, we spotted the local Spiny Blue Crayfish in one of the many deeper pools – a protected species - which looks like a cross between a yabby and a lobster but with vibrant blue markings.

At the junction of the Box Forest Track, there’s a decision to be made: continue along the creek, or head up the valley away from the creek. – we took the Box Forest circuit up to the Border Track that takes you back to O’Reillys .

Waterfalls aren’t the only scenery on this walk

It’s now almost the end of the waterfalls… but the last two falls (reached by short side-tracks) are the most of the day stunning in my opinion. The first signposted side-track leads to Tulleriguam Falls (Box Log Falls). These falls are tucked away and you can feel the temperature drop as you get closer. We stood here for a bit just soaking up nature’s show.

The next (short) side-trip is to Elabana Falls which is by far the busiest spot of the day with a lot of people just walking here from O’Reillys and back.

Elabana Falls is actually not one, but two falls and despite the crowds, it is still spectacular. The falls feature a tall upper section that looks like a curtain and a lower cascade that consists of multiple streams of water flowing into a natural swimming hole.

You will need to scramble over a few rocks to get the best views but the view from the track isn’t too shabby.

We stopped here for a VERY refreshing swim. The chill in the water will take your breath away. We saw plenty of small blue spiny crayfish on our swim too.

Like with any natural pool, there are submerged rocks and varying water depths so sliding and not jumping is recommended – plus, it is super slippery around here.

After spending most of the day descending or being on (relatively) flat ground, it is time to ascend back out of the valley. Be prepared for some exertion at this point but the gradient is pretty gradual.

You might find some obstacles on the trail

By the time we made it back to the retreat, we had logged about 19km and it was worth every step!

Allison Wallace 2/23/23 Allison Wallace 2/23/23

Tips for Hiking the Somerset Trail

Maybe the 2nd of January wasn’t a great day to do a hike in dry bush, but we did it anyway and the views were totally worth it.

The Somerset Trail in D'Aguilar National Park is about an hour from the Sunshine Coast and also an hour from Brisbane so it is a perfect day trip from either starting point.

It is a perfect hiking destination for those who want to explore the natural beauty of Queensland. The trail will take around 3-4 hours to complete, depending on your pace. The best time to visit the Somerset Trail is during the cooler months of the year, from March to November, when the temperatures are more comfortable for hiking – unlike our visit in the peak of summer!

Getting there:

To get to the Somerset Trail, you need to drive to the southern entrance of D'Aguilar National Park. The park is easily accessible by car, and there is ample parking available at the trailhead – called The Gantry. Once you reach the trailhead, you can start your hike, following the well-marked trail.

The trail itself:

Around a 13km loop (the best kind of hike because there is no back-tracking!), the trail moves you through various terrains.

The rainforest of palms and ferns changes to timberland, scribbly gum and pine forest as you make your way to the lookout.

All the recommendations are the do the loop anti-clockwise. This means the hike back from the summit is a bit shorter and most of the uphill bits are early on in the walk.

The trail is clearly signposted so there is very little chance of going off-track.

Make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen as there are limited facilities on the trail.

There’s not real view before or after you reach the lookout so make sure you leave enough time to really appreciate it at the top, but also enjoy the sounds and smells of the bush as you walk.

I have read that in spring, there are plenty of wildflowers to see on the trail, but we visited during a very dry summer and everything was just a bit dusty.

The summit of the Somerset Trail offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, you can even see Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam in the distance. The scenery is truly awe-inspiring and makes the long hike worth every step.

NOTE: It's important to be aware that parts of the Somerset Trail are shared with 4WD, dirt bikes and horse riders. Keep an eye out for these vehicles and always give them right of way. It's also important to be mindful of your impact on the environment and stick to the designated trail.

Allison Wallace 2/8/23 Allison Wallace 2/8/23

Exploring the rocky wonders of Girraween National Park

For years I had seen images of giant granite boulders perched precariously on top of one another showing panoramic views of the Australian bushland beyond. It was a place I absolutely HAD to visit one day and see for myself.

So when planning a getaway close to home, Stanethorpe’s wine region was an easy choice as it butts up against Girraween National Park where you will find this otherworldly landscape. Find your stay here!

There are plenty of different hiking tracks in the park – around 12 in total – so you could be exploring for days.

Given we were travelling with the dog, we didn’t want to be gone for a whole day as he wouldn’t be joining us on this exploration, so we chose to combine the Pyramid and Arch hikes which can be done in about half a day.

In the middle of August, we were blessed with a bright sunny day which is good because I would not want to attempt this hike with any rain.

Most of the trail up to the Arch is easy going but you will need a decent amount of fitness and some grit (and decent shoes with plenty of grip) to make it to the top of the Pyramid.

The walk starts from the visitor centre near Bald Rock Creek, following a well-formed track across the creek and through the trees. You can head straight up to the Pyramid after about a kilometre, but we detoured via the Arch on our way up.

Here the rocks balance on each other in a way that seems like a kid came along and was building a granite city – but this is all nature’s work!

Hiking in winter I was surprised to see so much vibrant yellow wattle and little white flowers that Aiden couldn’t get enough of. It was an amazing contrast with all the hulking granite.

From the Arch, we started to ascend a little more steeply with a series of steps. Don’t get complacent here, this is just the warm-up to the final climb so take your time and enjoy the scenery.

As we finished the last set of stairs, a massive, bare granite rock emerged in front of us. It is huge and a little intimidating when you consider the plan is to climb this exposed, steep surface.

There are little white marks on the granite showing the path to follow but honestly, any way you can get up is the way forward. There are some smaller rocks off to the left we hugged so there was something to hold on to – at least some of the time…

We stopped every now and then to catch our breath and take in the views (and stretch the calves).

Eventually we made our way to the top and the granite levels out. We were rewarded with not only incredible 360-degree views but some insane balancing rocks that defy gravity.

Having some fun with the balancing rocks

It is truly a breathtaking display of nature and we had the summit pretty much to ourselves on a random Thursday. I imagine it gets pretty busy on weekends but we were lucky to take our time at the top.

One of the most impressive sights is Second Pyramid which is the largest single slab of granite in the National Park. It is accessible to proper climbers only so we were more than happy to admire the views from afar.

The climb back down the slab of rock was slow going for fear of slipping – Aiden and I both did a little crab walking at points along the way - but we made it down eventually and headed off for some lunch before collecting the pup for an afternoon of dog-friendly exploring.

Honestly, there really isn’t anything like Girraween National Park that I have seen before in Australia. It is such an impressive display and one I wouldn’t mind visiting again one day.

Looking for your next escape? Book a stay here.

Allison Wallace 9/21/22 Allison Wallace 9/21/22

Dog-friendly vineyards of Stanthorpe

In the middle of winter (or any time of year really…), does anything beat a high-altitude winery tour to warm your insides?

The Granite Belt – or Stanthorpe specifically – is one of the few wine regions in Queensland but it sure packs a punch. Even better, there are a load of vineyards that will welcome both you and your pup!

We tasted a lot of wine on our recent visit when we stayed at Merlot Mountain Retreat, but the best ones were where we could experience it together with our furry friend.

Ridgemill Estate

This was our first stop on arrival – just around the corner from our accommodation and with a wine club called Top Dogs, you just know these guys are dog-friendly!

Some more interested in wine tasting than others…

The vineyard at Ridgemill itself is amongst the highest altitude wineries in Australia at some 840 metres above sea level so we were so happy to be allowed inside to do our wine tasting with Falcor as the outside was definitely getting cold as the sun was setting.

Onto what we came here for – the wine!

Along with some old Aussie faithful varieties, we tasted a Saperavi that we just had to bring home with us – one glass was not enough.

Don’t forget to say hi to the very friendly goats that will race up to the feeding station near the cellar door!

If you want to stay longer here, you can. Ridgemill has eight onsite cabins that are dog friendly and a pet-friendly 3-bedroom house for families as well.

Book a tour here

Summit Estate

This was by far my favourite vineyard on this trip.

There’s a sign at the door at Summit Estate letting you know that they’re ‘fur baby friendly’ and to bring them in, AND a sign with dairy-free cheese tastings – perfection.

Add to this, the staff here could not be friendlier and will want photos of your dog at the vineyard – even down to the chat we had with the guy trimming the vines out the back!

There’s a $7.50 charge of wine tasting, which is waived in return for purchasing a bottle and we certainly nabbed a couple – along with some of the cashew-based cheese.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the estate stays open to let visitors enjoy the incredible sunsets over the vines. After our tasting, we sat our here and let Falcor sniff around while I warmed up with a mulled wine.

Balancing Heart Vineyard

Think wine tasting with sunset views and woodfired oven pizzas and there you have Balancing Heart Vineyard.

The cellar door is also the starting point for a stroll through the vines – dog in tow - taking in breathtaking views of the local area and, of course, the famous rock that gives the winery its name.

Dogs are welcome inside the cellar door but it was a little too busy in the small space for us so we spent the most of our time out on the verandah. There are picnic tables under the trees outside for those who want space and fresh air.

It is important to note that there are two (very) friendly German Shepherds on site so your dog needs to be ok with that. They were a bit too into playing for our fur baby at times.

There are seven wines on offer, and we tasted them all.

As the sun sets, the air cools down but these guys have you covered with outdoor heaters and blankets to borrow. The perfect end to a long day of tastings.

You will need to make sure you book to get a spot with the sunset dinners only running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

That is a just a small taste of the vineyards in the area – and there are also more dog friendly options like Hidden Creek Winery and Café, Jester Hill Wines and Symphony Hill Wines.

Something you will see and hear a lot as you visit the wineries of the region is Strangebirds. This is marketing term that was developed around ten years ago, it’s now become synonymous with the alternative varieties grown in the Granite Belt. To be called a Strangebird there must be less than 1% produced in Australia. It does mean you get to taste varietals you will never see in your average bottle shop!

If beer is more your speed, you can hang out at the Granite Belt Brewery. Dogs on a lead are allowed on the veranda of the brewery and restaurant – perfect for lunch or dinner.

Book a Stanthorpe stay of your very own here or book in for a full day private wine tour including lunch if you don’t feel like driving!

A beer tasting paddle at Granite Belt Brewery.

Allison Wallace 8/21/22 Allison Wallace 8/21/22

A wintery escape to Merlot Mountain Haven

You know we are always on the look out for dog-friendly places to stay and a winter escape to wine country in the Granite Belt had our name all over it, so we were excited to discover a whole house with literal acres of land for our floof at Merlot Mountain Haven.

Less than 10 minutes south of Stanthorpe itself, this house truly is a haven. From the keyless entry to the wood-burning fireplace, and a kitchen stocked with all the necessities, you may never want to leave!

To get to the house, you head along a dirt road, jump out to open the gate and continue to almost complete privacy. The way in is well signposted and marked with solar lights so you won’t get lost either.

The country house itself is three bedrooms, but those not in use for your booking are locked off. The best bit? Up to four dogs can stay per booking with no size restrictions. For our 25kg ball of fluff, this is a welcome surprise.

In terms of being dog-friendly, it doesn’t get much better than this. Dogs are allowed inside, just not on the beds or furniture, plus there’s a securely fenced yard and a fenced paddock for them to run amok to their heart’s delight. Dog beds, bowls, towels and plenty of treats are supplied.

We discovered the pond on the property as soon as we arrived with Falcor the water pup making a beeline and going for a swim! A quick hose off and a towel and he was almost good as new.

Humans are treated just as well with local Washpool bath products, plenty of tea and condiments supplied in the kitchen and a Nespresso coffee machine for those cold early mornings! You could quite easily have all your meals here too with a great bbq out on the deck.

If you can’t wait for the fire to heat up the house, both the lounge and the main bedroom have reverse-cycle aircon that will warm you up in no time.

The master bedroom has an ensuite with heated lamps that were very welcome on the nights that got down to 2-degrees while we visited.

For relaxing after a hard day of wine-tasting, there is a TV with several streaming services ready to go or enjoy the large clawfoot bath in the main bathroom to really wind down.

There's even a small piano situated in the living room if you are musically inclined.

If you want to get out and explore, owners Lance and Marylin have put together a book with all the dog-friendly cafes, restaurants and walks.

This place just opened up for bookings at the end of 2021, and we are so glad it did. I am pretty sure we will be back again – maybe when it is a little warmer and the apples are on the trees.

Allison Wallace 4/28/22 Allison Wallace 4/28/22

A magical visit to the Harry Potter Studio in London

It’s officially called Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter but I just called it Harry Potter World – and it is a must for any fan who makes it to London.

Both my friend Mandy and I were low-key obsessed with the books before the films were even an idea - and the stories that captured our imaginations are no less magical as we made this visit to where much of the eight movies were filmed.

It is basically a huge ‘Harry Potter museum’, where you go on a self-guided tour of the backlot and go aboard the original Hogwarts Express, walk down Diagon Alley and see the Great Hall and Dumbledore’s office at Hogwarts.

You can see real sets from the films, costumes, props and creatures, you can take part in some interactive green screen fun - astride a broomstick of course!

Book a tour here

But what about the details?!

Well, luckily for us, we were staying with a friend in Watford on this London trip which happens to be right next to Leavesden where the studio is. Otherwise, it is about a 20min train ride direct from Euston Station and then a shuttle bus (included in your ticket) to the front door.

You need to buy your tickets online and plan in advance, you physically cannot buy tickets at the entry.

So, how much time do you need to see it all?

Well, we spent the best part of a day exploring, quite simply because there is so much to see! There is Malfoy’s Manor, Dolores Umbridge’s pink office, The Knight Bus, Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Bridge, Godric’s Hollow House, the Ford Anglia, Buckbeak, Aragog, the scaled model of Hogwarts Castle used in the films. Plus, thousands more animatronics, props and costumes!

There is even 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts itself. This is a massive construction that fills a whole room, and it is truly spectacular.

We stopped midway through our walk at the Backlot Café for a Butterbeer – a VERY sweet non-alcoholic drink but kept us going until the end of the day.

On the way out, you head through the store and buy all the Harry Potter merch you can get your hands on. Our visit was years ago, and I still have my Slytherin t-shirt in high rotation! Many wore her Gryffindor jumper that very day!

Of all the ‘worlds’ I have visited, this one was probably the most intriguing as it was the actual set for the movies and there is so much detail. Very different to seeing Jaws pop out of the water at Universal Studios in California that’s for sure.

Allison Wallace 3/15/22 Allison Wallace 3/15/22

Uncover the natural wonder of the Capricorn Caves

Nature is everywhere and it is freaking amazing. The existence of caves is particularly incredible.

Capricorn Caves is one such wonder.

Just outside of Rockhampton and within easy driving distance of Yeppoon, this above ground cave system is cut through a limestone mountain and has an extraordinary number of passages to explore.

The cave system gives us a glimpse into a prehistoric world. Fossils of marine sea life and mega fauna have been found within the limestone cave system, taking us on a journey of the past.

There are three tour options depending on your time and how deep into the caves you are prepared to go. The Cathedral Cave tour is the shortest at 45mins and shows off the biggest caves; the Capricorn Explorer lasts 90 minutes and goes more off the beaten track; and the Capricorn Adventurer tour goes for two hours and you will need to be prepared to get outside of your comfort zone on your belly as you navigate the remote parts of cave systems.

We only had the time (and inclination) to experience the Cathedral Cave tour and it was incredible. We were able to walk upright the whole way and didn’t have to wear helmets (read: no shuffling in the dirt!)

As you are guided through the chambers of the caves on the Cathedral Cave tour you’ll be asked not to touch the delicate walls as the oils in our hands and even delicate contact can cause damage to the limestone but you might wonder why no one is as bothered about the impact of hundreds of feet.

An interesting insight from our guide was that what we are walking on is no longer the delicate limestone but layer upon layer of dried and compacted bat poop (guano). In fact, at one point they decided to drill into the guano and they never reached the bottom of it. Just imagining the volume of poop required to build this firm floor through the caves blows my mind.

Despite this, we didn’t even see any bats on our visit.

As you wind your way through the caves, the obvious highlight is the Cathedral Cave. This space has probably the best acoustics of anywhere and they show it off by turning out the lights and playing an acoustic rendition of Cohen's famous song Hallelujah.

People love it here so much, they plan weddings that take place in the space!

One of the interesting aspects of this cave experience is the lack of water and moisture as they are surrounded by a dry rainforest. The caves are also mostly above ground, so no climbing down into the depths of the earth.

The cave ecosystem is fascinating and it’s always nice to be reminded how ancient our land is - definitely worth a visit.

Book a stay in Yeppoon or Rockhampton and explore them for yourself!

Learn more

Allison Wallace 1/19/22 Allison Wallace 1/19/22

8 things you must experience at Carnarvon Gorge

If you are looking for a place the literally feels out of this world, Carnarvon Gorge is it.

Carnarvon Gorge is truly a spectacular place, and you need more than a couple of days to truly take in all the beauty and appreciate the ancient landscapes.

In the gorge, the “bush” of Australia’s arid interior meets the lush jungle of the wet coastal tropics – a mind-blowing juxtaposition.

Aside from the timing exploring, it will take you some time to get there! Carnarvon National Park is about an 8-hour drive from Brisbane.

We drove up from the Sunshine Coast, taking the trip through Roma on the way there – making an essential stop for treats and coffee at Goomeri Bakery – and looped back via Rolleston to the north for a change of scenery. The journey was half the fun and we stopped for a hot lunch and a game of pool at the quirky Hotel Cracow on our way home.

Here are our 8-must-see adventures on your visit to Carnarvon National Park:

1. The Moss Garden

Most of the highlights in the gorge are side-trails that generally require some up-hill or stairs. Given we had our packs to camp at Big Bend before walking back out the next day, we left them at the turn off to save some energy and appreciate as much as we could. The main walk is just shy of 20km if you don’t do any of the side trails – which would be a mistake in our opinion!

The Moss Garden is the first side trail off to the left as you walk along the Canarvon Great Walk. You walk up a decent staircase to get there but about halfway up you can feel the temperature drop and the air becomes fresher.

When you get to the top, it is incredibly lush and green with loads of fern trees and a boardwalk right up to a small waterfall. You can see the moss on the rocks that gives this area its name.

2. The Amphitheatre

This was our second stop on day one, and it was probably my favourite. It is here, after heading through a deep gash in the gorge, that you will get the best views of the signature towering sandstone cliffs.

You will head up a steep but safe staircase but the climb is worth it, as you’ll be standing beneath 60-metre yellow sandstone walls, two million years in the making. There are some seats at the top where you can sit and really soak in the wonder.

3. The Art Gallery

A place steeped in history. There are more than 2000 engravings, ochre stencils and freehand paintings decorating the 62m-long sandstone walls of the Art Gallery. A site of deep cultural significance to Indigenous people, the local Bidjara and Karingal groups. You can learn about the meaning of the art as you walk along the boardwalk that runs along with it.

4. Camping overnight at Big Bend

Another highlight of this adventure. There are only 10 campsites at Big Bend so you will need to book in advance to make sure you get a spot. This also means there won’t be many people around when the sun sets! There were only six of the sites occupied when we stayed, and it was magical.

Big Bend is at the end of the main gorge walking track and most day-hikers turn around before they even make it there. We almost got lost after the main track ended on our way here – so you need to keep a keen eye out for the small orange markers on rocks highlighting the way to go.

There is a natural (very cold) waterhole with beautiful sandstone walls which was the perfect spot to wash off the day’s work and refresh our muscles.

There is a toilet at the campground and a picnic table which was nice as we hadn’t carried any chairs with us – the tent and water was heavy enough!

It’s actually the first camping area for those doing the 5-day Carnarvon Great Walk and we had a good chat with some through-hikers – maybe that will be another adventure!

5. Ward’s Canyon

Ward’s Canyon was our first detour on the walk out with fresh legs. A short flight of steps takes you 200m up into a little side gorge, where a small waterfall trickles down the rock wall.

Along with being one of the few places you can see the world’s largest fern, the king fern Angiopteris evecta, you’ll notice a rusty tinge in the water as you make your way into the cool gorge. This amazing hue is red algae.

6. Boolimba Bluff

This short hike is not for the faint of heart! We tackled this the day after our overnight camping trip, but the effort was worth the reward!

We had heard the best time to see the views from the top of the bluff was at sunrise so we got up at 4am, grabbed our head torches and headed back into the gorge in the dark and I am so glad we did.

The Boolimba Bluff just briefly starts on the main gorge track, but quickly detours into an extreme number of stairs which never seem to end – there is even a sign telling you there is a steep ascent ahead but don’t let that deter you. The views are amazing at 200 metres above the gorge floor, but we recommend you dress warmly as you wait for the sun to come up.

It was great to do this 7km return trip after our adventure in the gorge as it gives you an amazing perspective on where you hiked before.

7. Mickey Creek Gorge & Warrumbah Bluff

Well outside the gorge itself, there are still incredible sights to see. The day before heading on our overnight hike, we biked around and headed into Mickey Creek and Warrumbah Bluff.

It starts off as a level path leading through the bush, then it is not long before the track narrows and becomes steeper, at times climbing up the creek bank and then crossing to the other side.

There’s a well-worn path beyond it, following the creek further into the bush – we could only go so far without submerging our feet.

After heading up to Mickey Creek, do yourself a favour and take the fork in the road down the track to Warrumbah Creek Gorge.

You will find more of a scramble than a hike but walking over moss covered rocks and climbing makeshift log ladders just adds to the sense of adventure as you go deeper into a narrowing gorge. This was one of my favourite experiences of the trip.

8. A swim in the Rock Pools

There are only a couple of places you can swim in the National Park and the Rock Pools is one of them.

A short 400m walk (over rocks so wear shoes!) will take you to a deep pool that is the perfect spot to cool off in after biking and hiking.

You will need to be prepared for this water to be ICY.

Bonus tip: After hiking up Boolimba Bluff first thing in the morning, we decided to give our legs a rest but still wanted to see more. We managed to get a last-minute afternoon spot on a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight over the gorge and it was the best idea ever!

The helicopter doesn’t actually fly over Carnarvon Gorge itself (not allowed by Parks and Wildlife) but seeing the surrounding landscapes was incredible.

Our friendly pilot pointed out various rock formations including the Magnificent Three Sisters and deep narrow gorges filled with tropical plants before heading back to land in the blink of an eye.

Where to stay: We stayed at Takarakka Bush Resort (now known as BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks Carnarvon Gorge), camping in a larger tent and leaving it all set up while we walked with our light-weight hiking tent into the gorge.

The resort is about 3km from the entry to the Great Walk and has all the amenities you could want. There are also plenty of kitchen and BBQ shelters available so you don’t need to travel with all your cooking gear and it is nice to meet up with people preparing meals and sitting around a campfire.

There is also a creek that runs behind the resort. Apparently you might be able to spot a platypus here but we weren’t that lucky but we did manage to get a refreshing dip at the ‘beach’ end far from where the elusive creatures call home.

The hot showers are welcome on tired legs after days in the gorge too.

There is also a short walk from the camp grounds up to a lookout that is great for sunset. Take a drink and soak in the serenity!

On our last night, we even headed to the Bush Bar for a pre-booked communal roast dinner which capped of a great escape. Not sure if they still do this now it has converted to a BIG4.

Best time to visit: Summer would be a no-go! Aside from the heat, the Gorge itself floods during the wet season and can be closed. We went in mid-September and the daytime temperatures were in the 30s and the nights were cool.