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It was only three nights away, but somehow it felt like a full reset. On Friday arvo, we packed up the car and headed to an Airbnb in Bellawongarah, tucked in the Southern Highlands about 15 minutes from Berry. We didn’t leave the property the entire time – and honestly, it was bliss. The kind of quiet that makes you realise just how noisy the daily grind can be.
The weather was the best kind for spring: mid-20s during the day and crisp evenings that called for the fireplace to get going and flannel PJs (how romantic!). With zero phone reception, I finally finished my book – You Are Here by David Nicholls – a really lovely, cosy read. After weeks of doomscrolling before bed instead of actually reading, it felt like a win. I even started a new book on my Kindle (Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid) and managed to read the latest issue of Elle (without interruption!) while the boys played cricket and AFL on the lawn.
And now, back to reality – hence this post, typed out in that “if I write about it, it still counts as being on holiday” mindset.
How We Packed
We took the same bags featured in my recent YouTube video (featured below) – our trusty Bellroy pieces that somehow make travelling with kids feel organised (and dare I say, chic).
- This lightweight travel pack housed all my gear.
- This expandable pack was my husband’s.
- Masters 8 and 6 packed into this lightweight case (which so happens to be my favourite piece of travel luggage from Bellroy).
- Masters 15 and 13 managed to fit everything into this roomy backpack.
- Smaller additional bags included this backpack, this sling, and this compact crossbody that I used as my smaller day bag.
You’ll recognise these from my recent YouTube video (see below) where I shared how we packed for an eight-day winter trip to Geelong – all under 7kg per person. We really do love travelling lightly.
In terms of what I packed, I kept things relatively pared back but I made sure I still had a few options up my sleeve with the range of weather forecasted. I only had one pair of jeans, a pair of lightweight cargo trousers, a pair of sneakers, lightweight tops for layering and my slippers (a non-negosh).
Check it out in beautiful flatlay form:
(in rough column order, from L to R) Bag*, Jeans, Fleece jumper (sz S – current season one linked), Red cardigan (sz S), Slippers* (new season ones linked), Brown long sleeve top* (sz US 6), Striped boatneck top* (sz 8), White tee (sz S), White long sleeve base layer* (sz S), Toiletries bag*, Grey-checked pouch (containing my chargers & whatnot), Navy shorts* (new season version linked – sz US 6), Brown cargo pants (sold out), Reading material, Camera case
And check out my beauty bits that were very neatly contained in my go-to toiletries bag in the same flatlay glory (spot the lone non-travel sized thing lol):
A selection of the gear featured above is linked including my toiletries case*, Cerave cleanser, Travel-sized Go-To products, Travel-sized hair bits, Lancome eye makeup remover,
What I Wore
The days called for easy, comfortable layers — the kind of pieces that work whether you’re reading in the backyard or wandering around the property pretending you live there full-time. Here are a few of the outfits I wore:
L: Sezane knit (sz S), Uniqlo Heattech top* (sz S), Henne jeans (sz 27), Status Anxiety sunglasses; R: COS striped boat neck top* (sz S); lululemon cargo pants (sold out), New Balance sneakers, Status Anxiety sunglasses;
L: Patagonia fleece jumper (sz S – new season version linked), Uniqlo Heattech top* (sz S), lululemon cargo pants (sold out), New Balance sneakers, Status Anxiety sunglasses, Huzzah cap (my little brand!) R: Sezane knit (sz S), Uniqlo Heattech top* (sz S), Henne jeans (sz 27), Status Anxiety sunglasses;
The Setting
Bellawongarah was magic – misty mornings, golden light in the afternoons. We cooked, read, watched the NRL grand final, and the boys made the most of all the outdoor space to play cricket and AFL.
Clockwise from top left: Rainforest walks with the fam; our reading spot; a cosy breakfast my husband made; makeshift cricket stumps fashioned by our boys
Three nights, some delicious meals, and absolutely no phone reception – that’s the magic formula.
Thanks for stopping by folks!
P.S. This time last year we were in Japan – here are all the posts I wrote about how we packed (carry on only), what I bought and all the outfits I wore.
