There’s no truer sense of peace than sitting by a fire pit, with a view of the vineyard, accompanied by the gentle trickle of rain. With the crisp smell of nature, comes gentle wafts of sweetness. Next door, Michael has just finished pressing fermented grapes, and the delicious smell carries on the soft breeze. There’s no better way to put it really. The Designer Barn at Dawning Day Farms is sheer luxury. What a great place to get away from urban living.

Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Michael, Katrina, and their incredibly wonderful Border Collie, Kevin. They explained the Designer Barn was a newly completed addition. One step inside the threshold, and it becomes evident why this place is aptly named the Designer Barn. The craftsmanship in every detail of this place is immaculate; From the polished concrete flooring to the well-thought-out inclusions in the kitchen.

On our first night in, the rain encouraged us to cosy up by lighting the fire. The soft glow provided the perfect amount of light for a truly cinematic movie night. The state-of-the-art projector and sound system are simply lush. Michael and Katrina left us a complimentary bottle of their Pinot Noir, along with their homemade pickles which we enjoyed along with our Wes Anderson flick.

The next day providing only spots of rain, it gave us a chance to discover the local Exeter community. We first stopped in at the Exeter General Store for breakfast, featuring the best Bacon & Egg Roll we’ve ever eaten in our lives! It was evident that the produce used to make their food was local, as was the produce for sale on the shelves, including Dawning Day Farms' mind-blowing pickles and sauces.

Across the road, we popped into Quintessential Exeter, a chic boutique clothing store featuring everything from giftable knick-knacks to designer labels such as CeliaB that are hard to come by outside of the online space. After picking up some pieces, we crossed the road once more to find the historic Exeter train station. This heritage-listed railway station was first opened in 1878 and features all the quaint touches of history. Opposite the train station, we found an Antique Shop, with old records we perused before making the decision to find more places to explore. Just a short drive down the road. This place did not disappoint. At the top of the Hill was a congregation of enormous trees, modern art sculptures and wildflowers, home to a spectacular view of the Southern Highlands region.

As it approached nightfall, we decided to head back to Dawning Day Farms, where Michael treated us to a Wine Tasting at their Cellar Door, just a short hop, skip and a jump from our front door. Kevin joined us for a few pats too, as we enjoyed the warmth radiating from the fire. We enjoyed chatting with the locals of the area and got a real feel for the sense of community in this beautiful part of the Southern Highlands.

The next day, with hands full of pellets and gumboots on our feet, we assisted Michael in herding their goats, sheep and alpacas to the neighbouring paddock, with Kevin doing a nice job of keeping them in check too! We later stopped by the Sutton Forest Inn, a local family-focused bistro and bar. We took a table outside and watched the children play on the swing set and old stationary tractor while enjoying the classic Chicken Schnitzel on offer. The food was incredible, as was the dessert, Apple Crumble.

As the last night approached, we lit the fire for the last time and watched another movie, sad to be leaving this beautiful place. We truly enjoyed every moment of our stay and were grateful to Michael, Katrina and Kevin for making us feel right at home. The Designer Barn provided everything needed for a perfect stay, rain, hail or shine, and we will definitely be back again for more pickles and wine.