A full moon flickering through the poplars and gums lit our drive through the forest. It was the coldest weekend of the year; the temperature dropping as we drove but our excitement climbing as we wound our way into the mountains. Spotting wild deer through the trees, we imagined bears and wolves too...

We arrived at an expansive beautiful open field, our rammed-earth home for the next few days sitting proudly in the clearing atop a hill. Before heading inside to get the wood fire roaring I stopped for a moment to take in the silence. Looking up at the sky, I breathed that fresh mountain air deep into my lungs, the rush of the week slipping away as I exhaled.

Woodside was a house so equally built for a family getaway as it was for an escape with mates, so we'd combined the two - and brought our fur-child along for good measure! The hosts were legends and their place was so welcoming; we felt right at home. We'd sip hot chocolate, [or a glass of red] as we gazed out the huge windows, just listening to the wild rain as it swept across the tin roof. After meeting the friendly resident cows we could retreat inside, snuggle up in one of the cosy loft beds or perch by the fire, the heart of this adobe.

We played tunes as we flipped crepes into the air in the large family kitchen, drizzling butter and maple on them while swapping jokes and laughter across a beautiful timber table. It made for a good spot to plan the day's adventures before we piled on boots, coats and beanies to brave the cold and go chase waterfalls. Had the snowfields been open we would've been headed for them too!

There's a trout farm nearby, a myriad of bushwalks, Mount Baw Baw on your doorstep and Nooj Pub not far! With the area having so much for explorers at heart to make the most of, this truly was our kinda place for a getaway, and the kids and dogs had just as much fun!