Sunlight filtered through the cypress as we rolled up to the cabin, the air sharp with pine and wattle. Next door, a spring paddock hummed with life, lambs scattered across the green. It was the kind of arrival that makes you exhale and instantly slow down.

The cabin itself was extraordinary — two former prison cells reimagined with sleek, modern design. Heavy iron doors, engraved panels and weathered timber sat comfortably beside brass fittings and warm light. The history wasn’t hidden; it was celebrated, woven into the aesthetic.

Behind a barn-style door, the bathroom felt like boutique luxury. Vertical tiles caught the light, brass taps gleamed, and a generous mirror bounced sunshine across the space. Hand soaps and thoughtful extras made it feel indulgent. The kitchen carried that same rustic-meets-stylish energy, turning even a simple meal into part of the adventure.

We caught sunset at the beach, the horizon burning gold as waves pounded the coast. Later, we lit the woodburner inside, step lights glowing softly as the cabin settled into the kind of stillness you just don’t find back home.

Morning brought coffee, breakfast, and coastal walks — rugged San Remo tracks, sea spray, whale sightings, and paper-wrapped fish and chips at Cowes. Back at the cabin, we closed the day around the outdoor fire, perched on rough stone blocks among native plants, flames crackling as night drew everything into silence.

Sannyside offered calm with an edge — unplugged, unhurried, and full of character.