Our excitement levels were high as we left the city of Sydney and made our way South to the country. Taking the scenic route to Cambewarra took us through the bustling towns of the Southern Highlands. After winding our way down into Kangaroo Valley, we found ourselves in a complete change of scene cruising through old towns and past livestock paddocks.

After a very warm welcome from our hosts, we lit the indoor fire and settled into the comforts of our cottage with a drink in hand. The cottage is perfect for two couples and could easily accommodate a small family with the loft bedroom being a group favourite. The four of us baked homemade pizzas as we caught up on all of our stories since we'd seen each other last.

The barn doors completely open up the living space for your morning coffee and offer views into the garden and further to the neighbouring farms. We spent a whole day exploring the surroundings, with our cottage being placed perfectly between some of NSW coast's finest beaches by the likes of Jervis Bay's Hyam's Beach and Honeymoon Bay in one direction, and the impressive Fitzroy Falls in the other.

The close-by main towns of Berry and Kangaroo Valley offer a hub for shopping or your classic country town lunch feed. Although called crazy by the locals, why not top off your day with a swim in the Kangaroo River (word of warning, it's not warm in August).