Confirmed. The Grass is Greener in Gippsland

The drive itself felt like part of the adventure! There’s something about driving through South Gippsland that makes you want to slow down before you’ve even arrived. Rolling green hills, black cows dotted across paddocks and winding country roads. I even pulled over to pick myself a little bunch of roadside flowers!

Then I arrived at Berrys Creek Farm Stay. Set amongst 165 acres of rolling farmland, the cottage is the kinda place that makes you feel at home straight away. There are amazing valley views from almost every window, three cosy bedrooms beautifully styled, a big country kitchen with fresh native flowers on the dining table and plenty of space to simply settle in. I must add, the wallpaper at the bathroom sink was pretty darn gorge too!

A welcome hamper was waiting for me in the kitchen, filled with farm fresh goodies from the hosts. Super lovely!

There was a light sun shower beginning, but I wasn’t about to let a little rain ruin my plans for an epic, over the top bubble bath. I managed to light the outdoor fire and watched the flames dance into golden hour.

I ran the outdoor tub, poured myself a wine and jumped on into the steamy goodness. Girl sunk. Deep... I lay there setting just like the sun. Yep. I was one happy chappy. Like a pig in ahhh, mud. As one might say on the farm.

The next morning was slow. Rain tapping on the roof, coffee in bed, rolling hills outside the windows and nowhere I needed to be but here. I turned one of the spare bedrooms into my dressing room and kept the main bedroom purely for sleeping.

Because obviously, friends. Ha!

I prepped some local farm produce for dinner, pork belly with roast veggies and a very improvised pear sauce because that was the only fruit I had with me. Goes pretty good, friends, I must add.

Later, I put together an afternoon platter and headed out to the cabana. I don’t usually eat cabana, but being fresh from the farm, I knew I had to give it a crack. And it was bloody delicious. A hot shower, cosy clothes and another quiet night in finished off the day, with the biggest decision being what to watch on Netflix. Having WiFi at the property was super handy, as the next morning involved another cuppa in bed while I replied to four out of seven of my boyfriends.

Jokes. About some of that.

Eventually, it was time for this solo travelling gypsy to check out of the cottage. I said goodbye and gave thanks to my little farm oasis before heading to nearby Lyrebird Forest Walk for one last dose of nature. I walked all the tracks, but the river walk was by far my favourite. Water flowing, giant tree ferns towering overhead and that beautiful damp forest smell after rain. It felt wild, peaceful and exactly what my soul needed.

I found a gorgeous picnic bench beside the stream, pulled out the roast pork wrap I’d prepped that morning and sat there for a while.

No emails. No boyfriends. No deadlines. No rushing off somewhere else. Just me, my lunch and the sound of the river. Peace. I know I need nature like we humans need air.

I left feeling grounded, with a clearer mind and that completely content kinda feeling. A whole lot more like myself, as though I’d let go of something old to make space for the new.

Maybe that’s the magic of getting away. You don’t always come back with answers. Sometimes, you come back home to your own heart, knowing you had the answers all along.