Riverbend Cottage

05/04/2026

Happy Easter from Riverbend Cottage 🐣🌿

🐰As the day winds down, we hope it has been filled with simple moments, good company and a little bit of Easter magic.

There is something special about evenings like this — quiet, cosy, and full of gratitude 💛

28/03/2026

They say you are not meant to light your fire before ANZAC Day… 👀🔥

Well… we have officially broken the rule 😅🥶
It is SO cold already — there was no holding out any longer ❄️

Has anyone else caved yet? Or are you sticking to the old wives tale? 🤔

I have heard a few different versions of this over the years…

21/03/2026

🐟 River Life at Riverbend Cottage 🌿

We thought the river was quiet… then these two glide past 👀🐟✨

Pretty sure it is a carp — an introduced species that has become very common in Aussie rivers 🇦🇺

The water is looking so much clearer again after the recent algae event 💧🙌 but alert is still active.

Love seeing the river come back to life 🌾💚

20/03/2026

📰Well it has made the news...
A week later and we still have the blue green algae bloom.🏞

We are not living on the property yet but it is reminder that we definately need multiple water sources.🚰

16/03/2026

✨ Cooma Show Day 🤍🐑🚜

There is just something about a country show…

From the animals (I could have taken half of them home 😅🐐), to the machinery, local businesses and community groups — it is such a good reminder of the lifestyle we are working towards at Riverbend 🌿

The animals were a highlight (obviously 🐑🦃), and even found a Snowy Mountains Monopoly 👀

Simple days like this are what it is all about 🤍

16/03/2026

River Update – Blue-Green Algae Red Alert 🚨

Stopped by the river today and unfortunately there is currently a Blue-Green Algae Red Alert in place. 💧🦠

A red alert means algae levels are high enough that the water is not safe for people or animals to drink, swim in, or come into contact with. 🚫

This includes dogs, livestock, and wildlife that may drink from the river. 🐕🐄

Even though the river still looks beautiful 🌿🌞 the algae can produce toxins that may cause illness if ingested or if it comes into contact with skin.

For now we will be keeping the dogs well away from the water and just enjoying the view from the bank. 🐾🏞️

If you’re visiting rivers or waterways around the region, it’s always worth checking alerts and avoiding contact when a Red Alert is in place. ⚠️💧

Nature is still stunning out here — we just have to respect it. 🌿✨

15/03/2026

Weekend adventure through the Monaro 🚗🌄

We took the back road from Cooma → Captains Flat → Canberra this weekend and were reminded again how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the country. 🌿⛰️

Rolling hills, big skies, old railway bridges, curious cows 🐄 and plenty of fresh country air. The dogs absolutely loved the ride too. 🐾

The scenery the whole way was incredible — the Monaro really does put on a show. 🌾🌤️

Then just to keep the adventure interesting… we lost the clutch in Canberra. 🙀⚙️

Simon somehow managed to drive us all the way home like an absolute legend behind the wheel. 🚙👏

And just when we thought the adventure was over… Harley decided the back of the car was the perfect place for an emergency. 🐕💩😅

So yes… it was definitely a full road trip experience.

Sometimes the best days are the ones that don’t quite go to plan. 🌄

13/03/2026

🌿 River Update – Murrumbidgee River

Snowy Monaro Regional Council has issued a Blue-Green Algae Red Alert for the Murrumbidgee River at Mittagang Crossing near Cooma.

As Riverbend Cottage sits along the river, we will be keeping our dogs out of the water until the alert is lifted.

If you are in the area, avoid contact with untreated river water and don’t allow animals to drink from it.

Stay safe everyone 🐕🌿

You can read the full alert here:

A blue-green algae red alert is in effect for the Murrumbidgee River at Mittagang Crossing, just outside Cooma, as of 4pm Thursday 12 March 2026. Blue-green algae is hazardous to both human and animal health.

Residents and visitors are advised to avoid all contact with untreated water from the affected area of the Murrumbidgee River until further notice. Untreated water is not safe to use for any purpose under a red-level algae alert.

All recreational activities in the affected area of the Murrumbidgee River are prohibited, including fishing, boating and swimming.

Untreated water from the affected area must not be used as a source of human or animal drinking water.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council has issued this alert in conjunction with WaterNSW, following the detection of blue-green algae at Mittagang Crossing.

Cooma’s potable water supply is not affected by this alert.

Treated water from the Cooma Water Treatment Plant is stringently and frequently tested. Tap water for all properties connected to the town water supply remains entirely safe to use for all purposes.

Council is working closely with WaterNSW and NSW Health while this alert is in effect.

The red-level alert for untreated water in Mittagang Crossing area of the Murrumbidgee River will remain in place until monitoring and testing results show it is safe for the alert to be lifted.

For more information about this alert, visit the WaterNSW Algae Alerts Map at https://qrco.de/algae-alerts or the WaterInsights portal at https://qrco.de/waterinsights.

Contact Council with any questions or concerns. Email [email protected] or call our water and wastewater team on 1300 345 345.

14/02/2026

We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day ❤️

Instead, we spent the day cutting firewood together at Riverbend Cottage 🪵🌿

Because love, for us, isn’t flowers or one day a year 💐
It is building something side by side 💕
It is hard work, shared dreams and choosing each other through every season ✨

This is our kind of romance 🏡🔥

06/02/2026

It's not always work - having fun at the end of the day.

26/01/2026

This last week we celebrated Stef's 40th Birthday!

10/01/2026

🚜✨ Delivery day at Riverbend Cottage.

Today we welcomed a Fordson Power Major to the property - solid, honest and built to work 🌾

There’s something special about old machinery like this ⚙️🛠️
No screens, no sensors — just steel, grit and decades of stories in every panel 🧡

Ready to start a new chapter caring for this land 🌿🏡