Holidays in the country.
Step out and discover…
the simplicity of country life.
When we have conversations with people about our cottage in Gunning, it often comes up ‘Why a holiday property in Gunning? There’s nothing to do'.
Until we became part of the Gunning community nearly 2 years ago, Tim and I were living a very hectic city life (if you consider Canberra the big smoke). Trying to fit in the impossible. On the go constantly with barely anytime to just stop. Although, we’d always been drawn to the country from a lifestyle perspective, we had never really considered it as a ‘holiday destination’.
Holidays are a very personal choice. I often refer to them like coffee! Everyone’s taste buds are different so what might be a nice coffee to one, isn’t to another. Holidays are the same. Some people love the coast and long for a holiday by the sea. Others might want to get out of the country to feel the hustle and bustle of the city. Then there are the ones who want to take the back roads and discover the solitude of country life. I also think our childhood forms the foundation of how we spend our holidays as adults. Ours was always camping at the south coast so there was always been a natural pull to go coastal to get that holiday feeling.
Allow your mind to wonder &
explore a whole new world.
Until now! We’ve spent so much time rediscovering what being on holiday means to us. Maybe it’s because we are now older and so are our children, but what we now want and need from a break is vastly different to what we thought we needed. We have discovered that stepping out of the fast paced city life, is what gives us the holiday feeling. It’s going back to basics that makes us truly unwind and be happy. Like walks along the streets talking to each other (we call it walk and talk!) or just being silent while soaking up the history and wandering who else’s feet had touched this ground all those years ago. It’s washing the dishes together having conversations about how we can solve the problems of the world. It’s the waking slowly and pouring a pot of tea while listening to the birds nattering away outside and wandering what all their noise means. It’s being able to park the car and not use it again while you stay. Everything in a country town is walking distance. Walking to the local park and playing on the swings. Remember when you were a kid and you would swing your legs franticly to get as high as you could and then launch yourself off the swing? Those swings still exist in country towns. Making that jump is no longer as easy! Taking a walk around the country show ground and discovering the old shearing sheds and the community halls that scream the Country Women’s Association.
Rusty old sheds…
the stories they could tell.
Or it’s getting in the car and taking a road trip to explore the surrounding region. Discovering all those small and independent businesses that make these country towns tick. And of course visiting the amazing cellar doors that lie amongst the wide-open paddocks lined with grapevines. It’s choosing a different viewpoint across town to watch the sunrise or sunset while taking big deep breaths of pure country air (our favourites are the Gunning Railway and a high point on Grabine Gullen Road). It’s enjoying a simple, uncomplicated meal at the local pub and strolling through the local markets buying from local makers and growers. Markets that aren’t jam-packed with people or ‘on trend’ wares, just good, honest country produce. Think Aunty Jean’s jam and apricot pie! With every mouthful taking you back to your childhood.
The Lions Gunning Markets.
Uncomplicated and honest.
So whilst we aren’t here to tell you that our way is the only way to holiday and that you should love the country the way we do, we do believe everyone can benefit from spending some time in the country. Whether it be an instant realisation while you stay or something you discover when you return to your everyday life, we truly believe that the country grounds us and has an ability to make us slow down and be ok with having ‘nothing to do’. It centres you without knowing it. While we still love to dip our toes in the ocean and see the lights in the big city sky, the country gives us a sense of calm and shifts our minds to remind us that the simple things in life can still make us happy. Something I think we all need a big dose on in this crazy, hectic world!
