Cool nights, clear air and peace. The Southern Highlands is such a great place to escape, just an hour and half from Sydney.
I’m sitting here on a navy and white cushioned chair in the garden, enjoying every sensory moment. Bees are snuffling through pink roses nestled around the outdoor veranda. A dragonfly searches for its flight path to freedom. The blue tongue lizard lounges in the safety of the flower beds as I enjoy the soft breeze. We leave tomorrow and I’m sad…
The Brief
We are a family group: Mr G and I, two rescue greyhounds Maggie and Georgia, and Mr G’s parents Phil and Rita. We’re searching for a tranquil getaway from Sydney with a pool, multiple living areas (Phil does love to watch TV!), fully fenced areas for the greys, a large grassed garden and spaces for us all to stretch out, relax and enjoy.
Then we found ‘Woodlands’ on Airbnb.
The Arrival
Before we even arrive, I know we’re in good hands. Grainne is our host, and she answers all my interrogation questions with ease and kindness. She’s friendly, responsive and super generous. We’re able to check in at 11am. Most Airbnbs are 2-3pm, so those few extra precious hours feel like we have an extra day.
They moved here from Sydney. Their young girls love horses, so this is an ‘H’- lifestyle change to give them all a different way of living on a farm/horse property with 23 acres. I’m trying to imagine that amount of land. Our cottage is on their property, with views of their beautiful house and gardens in the distance, but close enough that when I try to find cooking knives and a sharpener, the Grainne the house fairy appears within minutes!
I love the little touches of hospitality, jams, muesli, olive oils, fresh flowers, chocolates and milk. It’s the little things that matter.
The Grounds
We park under a covered section and pitter patter over stepping stones towards our cottage.
Before we even get into the house, the greys are out investigating. They’ve found the long stretch of grassed garden that adjoins the fenced pony fields. Princess, the little black and white Shetland pony, softly trots up from the back of the field to say hello! At only 5 years old, she’s super sweet but a bit of a greedy guts – hence the sad muzzle she has to wear. A few head scratches and pats later, greys and ponies are greeting each other.
Possum, the other pony, is the old man of the herd at about 26 years old. Such a typical old man, he keeps to himself and does his own thing, happy in his own world. They’re meant to be paddock mates, but Possum marches to his own drum.
Then there are the donkeys. Rosie is the ginger girl and leader of the pack, partnered with Fancy, the dark brown donkey. Their daughter Bella is the baby of the group and the very inquisitive one, always wanting to know what’s going on. All the equines were named before Grainne got them, each with their own personality and story. This all unfolds during our stay.
There’s something really heartwarming about seeing creatures from wildly different worlds: the racing greyhounds, the rescue ponies, the donkeys, who don’t know each other but know they are safe and say hello.
I can’t say the same for the bunnies in the distance though!
The Gardens
It’s a wrap-around section which isn’t fully fenced for pups, but with some creativity we block off sections and the greys are now safe to roam. There’s an unused pony paddock next door which we open and gate access to, so the greys can stretch their legs safely. There are new ducklings, and I take my instructions seriously, much can go wrong on a stay, but if our greys injure a duckling we will rightly be run out of town! Noted!!
A swimming pool at the end of the gardens beckons. Mr G is in heaven and the next day has his ice bath swim, with Maggie looking on with jealousy as she tries to navigate a step and get her paws and belly cool.
We go on lovely walks early morning, bunnies scurry, and as we enter different paddocks the donkey’s become part of our walking gang and tag along which is amusing and slightly concerning at the same time as they are so big and curious!! Our pups take it all in their stride. It’s just magical.
The House
Grainne has reinvented the former Airbnb. She’s painted, redesigned and created a really homely space. I love the big central island kitchen bench. Last night we all sat around it and grazed, with us all eating and cooking at different times. In the kitchen, there’s a painting of the herd (Princess, Possum, Rosie, Fancy and Bella) created by a previous guest. It’s a beautiful touch that speaks to the connection this place creates with those who stay there.
The formal dining area has lots of space. It becomes the spot our pups hang out in with plenty of room. Whilst I personally love wooden floors, the tiled floors throughout the house are a pup favourite. Maggie in particular loves to lie on a cool tile.
The lounge area has doors which create separate living space. Right now, Rita is having a snooze on the sofa, Maggie has laid down alongside her on the rug. It’s the chillax area. Phil has found the chairs in the formal dining room whilst Mr G and I are outside in the covered garden area working. Mr G is sipping a glass of wine at the outdoor dining table whilst I’m on the Hamptons-style loungers. Birds are singing, peace fills the space where noise once was. It’s gloriously rejuvenating to be in nature.
Everyone has found their space, their home, their recharge spot.
The three bedrooms spin off the main area. We claim a smaller room with a king size bed, ensuite and walk-in wardrobes, whilst Rita and Phil pick a much larger room off the lounge with reading chairs and lots of space. We could have opted for another room with awesome views and storage. I take a Zoom call in the morning from a small office space which also doubles as a kids study and play area.
The Sleep Factor
OMG those pillows are so good, the bed is cosy, beautiful soft bedlinen and the night is quite and silent. ZZZZ 10/10.
Location
Woodlands is a lesser known spot, but it’s a great base to access the Highlands. We head out to Briars for lunch (after some wine tasting at Artemis) which is glorious on a warm day. Over the years we’ve been to Briars a number of times. It’s a posh pub with multiple dining areas to suit your vibe and flex your human-sized chess skills.
We drop into Bowral just a few minutes away. I love a ‘mooch’ – though I now feel wildly underdressed on a Friday afternoon. This is like dining out in Double Bay. It’s a spot for different generations, but you can clearly see retirees with their sons and daughters having lunch. It’s a gentrified area. We meander through the laneways and dawdle in homeware stores where a small stool that you might see in Sydney waiting for a council clean-up is $250 for sale. Art, craft, fashion, health – everything is on offer. If only Sydney had high streets like these. They’re mostly gone, and there’s something warming about this community which touches the heart. We pause by a real estate agent and wonder…
The Verdict
What we are Addicted to? Cuttaway Cottage offers the perfect Southern Highlands escape for families, including those with four-legged friends. With generous space, thoughtful hosting and that intangible magic of finding your own corner of peace, it’s a getaway that leaves you already planning your return.
What do we need to be more Addicted? We were lucky with the weather, but I can imagine it could be quite chilly in the winter months as the bathrooms don’t have heating lights. The tiles are cold, but underfloor heating in the kitchen is a winner.
Cuttaway Cottage See listing on Airbnb for details
