My legendary friend, the Queen of all Queens, Caz, arrived at the Otways National Forest just after me, bringing the rain with her. The ground was moist and smelled of new beginnings—a fresh start.

We spent the afternoon in our cozy little cabin, reading our books and watching the king parrots fly to the bird feeder. Everyone's friendship grew that day, including our feathery friends. Books, birds, and cuppa teas—could there be anything better on a misty afternoon? We sipped tea in front of the indoor wood fire, staying cozy well into the night. A bath was enjoyed, with a misty rain playlist setting the tone. We drifted to sleep with peace in our hearts.

Caz figured out the coffee machine while I literally worked out that morning. We then drove into Apollo Bay and found ourselves at the delightful bird café. The views were beautiful, just like those at the cottage, though here the ocean was involved. We fueled our bodies and were now ready to unleash our wild spirits, submerged in nature! We spent most of the day exploring Otways National Park, chasing waterfalls, discovering rainforest walks, and exploring rock pools at Blanket Bay. Everything felt fresh after the rain the night before, and I swear if you stood still long enough, you could hear Mother Nature singing her song.

Back at our humble abode, we made it just in time to see the sunset from the front verandah as we settled in for the night. We lit the outdoor fire, hot chocolate in hand, with marshmallows bobbing to the top. We felt like we were on top of the world after the day we had. We toasted to living life and our adventurous spirits, watching shooting stars streak across the night sky.

Do you wish upon a star?