Mini break, maximum value

While I love the excitement about planning a long holiday months in advance, there’s also something quite thrilling about an impromptu get away – even if it’s for a few days.

One day last week, Adam and I made the snap decision to head for Canberra for the weekend. So on Friday after we’d both finished work for the week, we threw a few clothes in a bag, jumped in the car and drove east…

It’s terribly dry at the moment and despite the parched landscape, it was lovely driving through undulating countryside as the sun set, watching the last rays of  light stream through gum trees. It was the perfect start to our few nights away.

After a restful night at my brother’s apartment, the three of us rose early on Saturday and drove out to a walk-in-aviary on the outskirts of Canberra. Adam is very fond of parrots, so he was very excited to hang out with a bunch of birds for a few hours.  We had a lovely time feeding them apples and meal worms and I became rather chummy with a beautiful little olive lorikeet.

It was then on to a local brewery for beers and burgers for lunch.  We sat in a cool little courtyard that had the most fantastic garden, where Adam and I picked up a bit of inspiration for a section of our own garden.

There may have been an afternoon nap(!)… before we headed out to a wonderful Asian fusion restaurant  for dumplings, a ragout served on a bed of udon noodles, and bok choy cooked in a garlic confit.

Sunday morning there was a leisurely coffee at a new café near my brother’s house, and then a long lunch with some family friends in a little town just outside of Canberra.

Adam and I arrived home last night utterly content and truly relaxed. It was a mini break that packed a mighty punch.  Even just a couple of days away from home, routine and chores had done us the world of good. We packed a lot in, but did it at our own pace, eating well at every opportunity we had.

We really embraced quick get-aways when we lived in England, snatching a few days here and there to explore new places, and it’s something we’d like to try and start doing more regularly here in Australia.

Where are your favourite places to go for a few days away?

Have a wonderful week. x