Adam, Paul and myself are meant to be in England at the moment but with Australia’s borders still effectively closed due to COVID-19, we unfortunately had to postpone our trip. Although we completely understand why we’re not abroad, the last few weeks have been tinged with a hint of sadness at the situation. Adam and I were so looking forward to introducing Paul to our English family. As a bit of a consolation prize we decided to scoot off on a bit of a mini-break – a few days away from home to recharge, reset and just get out of our normal routines for a little while.
We ended up in Gundaroo, a cute village not far from Australia’s capital city, Canberra…
Our home for three nights was a tiny stone cabin at Hillside – a property on the outskirts of Gundaroo with fabulous views across the surrounding countryside. It was cozy and comfortable inside, and Jan our host was fabulously attentive. Her continental breakfasts were generous, we were treated every afternoon to a delicious homemade treat and she ensured Paul was taken care of with a porta-cot and an overflowing toy box.
While Jan lives in the property’s main house, she’s happy for guests to wander the property and its numerous walking tracks, as well as explore her extensive kitchen garden. There were tables and chairs scattered all over the place, so you were able to sit and take in the peaceful surroundings.
Travelling with an infant means routine doesn’t go completely out the window, so we often had quiet mornings in our cabin, and set off exploring after Paul’s first nap of the day. We had beautiful three course lunches at Grazing, in Gundaroo itself, and at Poacher’s Pantry near the town of Murrumbateman. The entire area is home to a number of cool climate wineries, so we indulged in a few lovely tipples as well!
The weekend we visited was cold and rainy. The countryside looked green and lush, and many of the hills were enveloped in cloud and fog, lending to some pretty dramatic scenery.
Our four days away felt just right- long enough to switch off, but short enough to manage a baby in a small space. While it wasn’t the July holiday we were anticipating, it was pretty lovely – and after so many months sticking close to home, it was so nice to be out exploring again.
Have a wonderful week.
M. x
Wattle and Ash 