Tucked away on the Central Coast, Bateau Bay offers a relaxing seaside escape and will see you surrounded by a huge selection of cafes and quiet beaches.

The Collectors Studio is a small, suite-style home a short stroll from one of the local beaches. A private decked walkway will lead you to the door, and though the place is small, it has been meticulously designed so that every inch has meaning. You understand this as soon as the door opens; it's beautifully created and we were not only impressed from the get-go, but also felt welcomed by our host. We barely wanted to leave.

We spent our mornings at a slow pace, enjoying the sunshine flowing through open windows. We'd then wander to the local cafes for breakfast and coffee and forget all our problems for a short period of time. Our days were a blur of local beach visits and afternoons spent reading in and out of the home. At sunset, we strolled over to Long Jetty, which faces west to the setting sun, and enjoyed the dusk colours as the night fell.

The whole, slow-paced trip had us unplugging from our usual life for a brief moment. Though sad that it was all over so quickly, it was a sign that we had thoroughly enjoyed our trip.