I arrived just after a wild downpour to find the whole place transformed. Honestly, I could not have been more excited. Everything felt freshly alive and smelled of possibility, just like a brand new relationship.

I was greeted by what looked like a mini river weaving its way through camp. She was wet, alright friends. Some might see a disaster. I saw an adventure waiting to happen, embracing this moment with Mother Nature. The nearby waterfall was loud, carrying the storm’s energy downstream. Everything felt awake, including me.

My bell tent sat nestled along the creek. Inside, a soft bed dressed in beautiful linen promised me warmth. You know, again like every new shiny relationship, but I could tell this was going to be exactly as promised. A basket of kitchen supplies and towels sat on one side of the tent, with another single bed for extras on the other. I was happy to be solo for this experience. Just me and Mother Nature. It feeds my soul.

An outdoor bath and shower with steaming hot water blended into the ferns and trees, along with a kitchen sink, campfire cooking pots, chairs and a wooden table. A firepit sat as the centrepiece, with stacks of dry wood, thankfully, ready for this MasterChef to get crackin in the bush kitchen. The compost toilet was separate for my camp area, although nearby and easy to get to. Talk about a loo with a view.

As the light softened, I built my fire, cutting wood, striking sparks and watching it catch like a tiny sun of my own making. Dinner on the campfire was a bit smoky, slightly charred, but full of care factor. The creek sang beside me, the fire crackled, and I felt completely alive in the untamed rhythm of the bush. I could feel my nervous system finally relax and in that moment, I knew this was exactly what I needed. The rain returned softly that night, tapping on the bell tent like a sweet lullaby. Cosy and warm, just as she promised, I drifted right into dreamland.

Morning brought mist and birdsong. Slipping on damp earth and laughing at myself, I made my way to my very own private waterfall. And man, she was roaring. Later, after a campfire breakfast, I drifted solo along the creek in my canoe, watching sparrows land at the tip like they were leading the way.

The sun made an appearance a few times that afternoon, though each glimpse was fleeting, slipping behind clouds as quickly as it came. I soaked in a hot outdoor bath just before the day ended, watching the clouds roll in and the rain fall gently from the sky. It wasn’t the sunny glamping trip I imagined, but the wildness, quiet and simple joys gave me something better. I mean, how good are the mems made with that kind of peace?

Morning brought a farm animal tour with the hosts, feeding pigs, piglets, Highland cows, sheep, geese and an albino looking pony.

By the time I left, I felt full, peaceful and quietly alive, carrying the memory of a messy, cosy and unforgettable adventure. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that surprise you the most.