Mary-Ellen was prompt and thoughtful with communication and provided some great recommendations for the area - we took her advice on visiting Newey's in Kirup and their produce was amazing, so we would second the recommendations for future guests! The house is on a main road and, with trucks passing frequently, was therefore a little noisy, but not to the extent that we had trouble sleeping. The house is also well-screened and private, which we appreciated, with a lush backyard. The house has a lot of character, and while chilly is well stocked with blankets, heaters and hot water bottles to complement the fireplaces, so despite our staying during an early winter cold stretch we were warm and comfortable. The kitchen was well-stocked with everything we could need to cook during our stay, which allowed us to make good use of the local produce, and has a lovely deep bath which I appreciated after we raided the Tinderbox store two doors down for some lovely natural skin and body care products. There are some great cafes/bakeries an easy walk down the road for breakfasts also; all in all, this was a lovely base from which to explore Balingup and surrounding towns.