I have just returned home from a lovely little bush getaway. Just me, my best friend, her gorgeous little bubba and the countryside.

We packed the car and hit the road – venturing into Victoria’s beautiful Yarra Valley – full of rolling green hills, vineyards, orchards and fresh country air.

As soon as I left town, and the first glimpse of bush was in sight, I wound down my window and sucked in the eucalyptus filled air. The ultimate hit of refreshment! As the sky got bigger, and the landscape opened up, I felt stress just melt away, my shoulders seemed to soften, and a little smile crept up on the corners of my lips. Ahhh natural beauty, you just can’t beat it.

It was just what I needed.

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed. And to have my senses put in tune once more.” – John Burroughs

We spent the day winding down – treating ourselves to delicious local produce at lunch, wandering through the quaint little shops in the main street, and just slowing down the pace of life. There was nowhere we had to be, or agenda we needed to adhere to. We had complete freedom. Cider in the sun? Why not! Picnic in the park? Hell yes! Dip in the pool? I’m putting on my bikini!

Last night at our little log cabin we sat out on the deck under the night sky watching the stars. Oh so many stars! We spent the evening eating dinner and making our way through a nice bottle of red. I thought to myself – I am in absolute heaven right now. I was so relaxed and content just sitting outside enjoying the beautiful surrounds. More often than not, it’s the simple things that have the most profound impact. Gum trees, fresh air, my best friend and good conversation. Just fabulous, what more could I want?

As the sun set we listened to a symphony of sounds – I couldn’t believe how loud all the insects and creatures were! The cicadas were out in full force, and started so suddenly, like they were all on cue – talk about surround sound! The beautiful bird calls at dusk were glorious – kookaburras, wattle birds, rosellas, galahs, cockatoos and magpies. Then the frogs started croaking down in the dam below us. I put my feet up, closed my eyes, and just listened to all the wonderful sounds going on around us in nature. Not one man-made sound was heard that night (well, other than a crying baby inside our cabin!).

Spending time with a little person always highlights the power of simplicity. Everything is new and so exciting to them! A puddle – well that’s hours of splashing pleasure! A fork at the lunch table – best new toy ever! There are always new sights, sounds, tastes and things to touch. I know where the saying ‘simple pleasures’ comes from.

I took little Aurelia for a sunrise walk in the morning through the bush. We saw moorhens walking around the reeds on the dam, ducks swimming with their little ducklings, kangaroos bounding across the hillside, rabbits jumping around with their little white tails. She splashed in puddles, picked up sticks, squelched in the mud, pointed at different things and just had a ball. You know what, so did I. Watching her simple fascination really opened up my eyes to the magic that was all around us.

   “Never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things.” Robin Sharma

While we were at the park yesterday we met another mother and her two gorgeous little girls – Cherry and Honey. I was roped into playing hide & seek, and competing in running races around the trees – so much fun. We discovered that they moved up from Melbourne recently as her husband works at the local food & wine hot spot. She said how she loved living here, and that they no longer needed two cars – she and the girls can walk everywhere in town. They don’t have to commute anywhere. As I watched the girls run around the park, wild white ibis birds walking around the place, giant old trees, a fresh water stream running by – I thought, what a lovely little life they have here in the country.

Me and my girlfriend fantasised about having a country house to escape to one day. It’s already on my vision board.

As I drove back home I vowed to venture into the country more often. To get away and explore new parts of the land.

A country getaway is now going on my monthly goals!

When was the last time you went on a little getaway?