Winter Getaways have been on my mind. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of winter. I love it!
Of course, winter in Brisbane is very mild as compared to other parts of the world and indeed even my own country! I love to go to colder parts of Australia so that I can experience a proper winter. I love to wear coats, scarves, boots and even gloves and beanies! I love cozy cottages and mountain retreats and rainforests and brisk cool mornings and cold evenings indoors beside a fireplace. I love stews and soups and slow cooker meals. I love a glass of port on a cold night and the first coffee of the day is my idea of heaven. It goes down so beautifully and holding it my hands warms me up!
So here I am in lockdown in Brisbane and no winter getaway is planned. So, I thought I’d look back at some I have enjoyed in the past by sharing some links to past posts about winter getaways and also some favourite photographs that bring back the lovely winter getaway feels for me. Note that a few years back I was really, really into photography and so quite a few photo’s have my watermark on them (MLP). The one’s that don’t were probably phone photos. I’m not so much into photography now.
POSSUM CREEK, NSW
Around April 2014 we went to Possum Creek in the Byron Bay Hinterland and stayed a few nights in a gorgeous little cottage. It wasn’t quite winter but it was chilly and the cottage was cosy and lovely. I loved it so much I have this photograph framed at home and I gave a framed photograph of this away once too. See here at ‘Birthday Giveway‘ and ‘Birthday Giveaway – Winner Announcement‘.
Possum Creek Cottage
TASMANIA
One of my most favourite trips we took back in late April/early May 2015 to Tasmania. It wasn’t officially winter yet, it was Autumn but cool and brisk and wonderful. It was my first trip there and I loved it and would love to go back. Here’s where you can see all my posts about that trip to Tasmania (and would you believe I never got around to the last day or two so I still need to do that!).
Here’s a few favourite photo’s from that trip that bring back the winter holiday feels.
Vineyards in the grounds of MONA (Museum of Old & New Art) at Hobart
Autumn Leaves, Hobart
The fireplace at our B&B at St Mary’s as it was when we arrived
The reading room at the Launceston B&B we stayed at.
The Dining Room at the Launceston B&B we stayed at.
Fog out the window of our B&B at Launceston on the day we sadly had to leave this beautiful place!
TOOWOOMBA
In July 2015 we went for a drive and spent the day at a rellie’s place in Toowoomba. It’s a weekender and sometimes rental. It was a nice winter’s day where we had a crowd visiting, a lovely BBQ and sat by the fire.
It was a perfect day to warm ourselves by this gem!
BUNYA MOUNTAINS
In August 2017 we headed for the hills and had a few nights in a lovely cottage up at the Bunya Mountains. To say I loved this place would be an understatement. I was in my absolute element. I was surrounded in beautiful nature and wildlife. We had a gorgeous rustic cottage with a fireplace. Birds would come to visit every afternoon and paddy melons came right up to our verandah every day. I never wanted to leave and I very much would love to go back. I don’t think I did a dedicated post on this trip (I must do that!) but there’s a few snaps in this Taking Stock post and here’s a few below that conjure up winter feels for me.
CANBERRA
I went to Canberra for Floriade with a girlfriend in September 2017. I just LOVED all the beautiful tulips at Floriade. Canberra is a fabulous place for a winter getaway. I’ve been to Canberra twice and I really do love it there! I will visit again as there so much more I want to see.
MELBOURNE
I absolutely love Melbourne and as soon as it’s safe and I’m able I’ll be headed there for a winter getaway and Melbourne fix. I love the little laneways and all the cafes tucked away in them. I love the brisk cool winter air there. I love the European feel to the place and the food is just phenomenal! I had quite a few trips there during 2018 and 2019 and loved every one of them. I still haven’t finished posting on our Great Ocean Road trip!
Here’s all posts I’ve done on Victoria, and here’s a few winter feels pics below.
BALLANDEAN
Last year, after our first lockdown, we had a little getaway to a cottage on a vineyard at Ballandean (Queensland) just south of Stanthorpe. It was lovely! I haven’t yet done a post on this trip but we had three nights there and there was so much to do around the local area. Here’s a quick video of the fireplace once we got it going on arrival. Turn your sound up! The music was on for us when we arrived. The day we arrived it was a very very cold 7 degrees celsius in the middle of the day!
Have you got a winter getaway planned? Do you love them like I do?
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan for #LifeThisWeek
12 Comments
I love a winter getaway and we won’t be having one either this year. I can look at your pics and dream of those weekends in Melbourne…or in the country with a fire, or “camping” at Eucumbene and campfire cooking. Sigh.
I know you love Melbourne like I do Jo. I remember some of your camping trips too and they looked incredible. I truly do love winter getaways and really getting a proper winter experience. Hopefully again one day soon!
We had Bowral and the Hunter cancelled last school hols and I’ve been informed by a dr in a hosptial not to bother planning anything for the September school hols…so I went for a walk by the harbour on Saturday (it’s in my 10kms and away from crowds) and that is all I can plan at the moment. It did lift my spirits tho.
It’s been so sad at how many things we’ve had to cancel and it’s pointless to plan ahead much these days. As you said, we have to find the joy in the simple things like your harbour walk! I’m so glad that lifted your spirits!
No Winter getaways happening here – I’m actually quite happy being home during winter – it’s warm and cosy and I don’t feel obliged to be outside in the rain playing tourist. Your photos did make me realize that it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere (but that would be the case for a lot of us I’m sure).
I’m happy at home too Leanne – but I do love a little treat of a getaway in winter – to a cottage in the mountains or in a rainforest or a trip away down south somewhere. But I’ll survive a year without one and it’s nice to look back at past ones that I’ve enjoyed so much!
I was about to complain that I hadn’t had a holiday / break away in years, and I remembered Italy in late 2018. New Zealand in late 2016. And of course I went to a writing thing in Sydney for four days in 2019. (Oh and I stayed for a night in an apartment before my recent surgery at the Sunny Coast – though not sure that counts!)
We’re actually due to spend four days at Caloundra for my niece’s 25th later this month and I think it’s being pondered at the moment as to whether we keep the booking or cancel early to get a refund, given the uncertainty of Covid etc… I kinda like the idea of a beachside getaway even though I live in a beachside town. Also staying somewhere other than my place, my mum’s or my brother’s would be a treat.
Oh yes your Italy trip looked so wonderful! I can’t remember your NZ one though! I had quite a few trips away during 2018/2019 so I can’t complain but I do long for a fireplace in a cabin in the rainforest or up in the mountains somewhere. It’s just something I really enjoy – lifts my spirits, makes me happy! Hopefully we’ll all get a bit of a change or scenery one day soon.
I enjoyed your post Min and seeing your lovely photos of your past winter trips. I live in regional NSW and have Mt Kosciuszko in line of sight from my verandah so I need the scarves, hats and boots all winter long! I am pining for a beach holiday but it’s not that possible to get out and about at the moment! Myybe we should swap 🙂
You’d be getting your own real winter experience where you are Deb whereas not so much here in Brisbane…though others wouldn’t agree with me. I love beach holidays too but love a winter getaway each year too. We don’t have a fireplace so I love to go somewhere colder than here and enjoy the warmth and coziness of a fireplace and I love to stay somewhere surrounded in nature. Next year hopefully!
I almost got to Canberra in mid June as an Ambassador for Head and Neck Cancer to attend a Parliamentary Breakfast. I bought a coat and others bit n bobs for a chilly Canberra early morning. It was postponed…till this week…now put off till….end November (summer!). I suspect we won’t get there again because lockdowns and Covid (delta) will see to that.
I don’t mind a bit of cold weather but I hate going into a centrally heated place because i feel too hot. My husband hates the cold, and I hate the heat. Opposites in many ways!
I see you like the rugging up part of winter and all that brings. I hope you get more of it again Min. Your photos are lovely.
Thanks for linking up for Life This Week. Next week’s optional prompt is Shopping and it will be interesting for me to decide what to write! So much has changed in #lockdown this time round. Hope to see you link up too. Cheers, Denyse.
Thanks Denyse! It’s a shame you didn’t get to Canberra Denyse. I hope you get there eventually! I love Canberra – it’s a lovely place! You know what, I’m with you as far as centrally heated places! I love the cold but I hate going into centrally heated places at they are generally too hot and very stuffy! We found that a lot in Tasmania – freezing outside and hot and stuffy indoors at a lot of places. I learnt to dress in layers so I could peel them off! My husband is the same as yours. We are opposites too. Mine would love to live in Far North Queensland whereas I would love to live in Tasmania!