From Wanaka to Queenstown: days 4 & 5 in New Zealand

We left the gorgeous Hawk House yesterday morning and drove into Wanaka for breakfast before starting our trip over to Cardrona and across to Queenstown before checking into our new accomodation. I wanted to stop into Arrowtown as well for a look around along the way. When we were driving through … [Read more...]

Rangi Kahu: The Hawk House

I often get asked how I find some of the places that we have stayed in on AirBnB over the years. It's a job I take very seriously (ha!) trying to find somewhere that I know will be special and make a holiday all the more enjoyable. I love staying in homes as you can cook and do washing (not … [Read more...]

Snowy showers, wineries & lavender: day 3 in New Zealand

I mean does it get any more ideal for me? All three things in one day! We woke to the most fantastic rain and wind storm in the morning that called for going back to bed and bunkering in. This house has the most amazing glass windows that just make you sit and watch the world unfolding. What better … [Read more...]

From snow to ancient forests: day 2 in New Zealand

We woke yesterday morning to a drift of snow on the mountains across from our house so we decided we better go and find some snow for the girls to play in. Anyone who knows me would know that I have wrote the obsession with snow - finding it, wishing for it - it just seems so magical to me. I have … [Read more...]

Wine glasses, great light and amazing views: our first 24 hours in NZ

YOU GUYS. We have arrived in NZ and the excitement levels are high. Even the hormonal teenager is having a good time and is impressed and that is saying something. Truly. From the moment you arrive into Queenstown over the snow caped mountains you can't help but be blown away by its beauty. New … [Read more...]

Happy winter Farm Days

We've just had some magical days up at Rob's Dad's farm, always a treat to visit and stay at a different time of year when the light is different, the trees with their leaves gone, bonfires to burn, cool nights by the fire. It's such special place for everyone in our family...years of memories … [Read more...]

A wedding anniversary weekend in Canberra

The post weekend blues have hit hard for me since we got back from the most fun weekend I have had in a while. 2 nights away with my sister and her husband to celebrate our wedding anniversaries (we have the same date but 6 years apart I think) that we booked and planned at the end of last year and … [Read more...]

Slow, summer days at the start of the year

Happy New Year friends, not sure if I have said that yet? And if I have, there's no harm in saying that again now is there? We are still on the road between family homes and visits, catching up with cousins and siblings and doing lots of not much in between. We had a wonderful week as ever at the … [Read more...]

A weekend at The Woods Farm

I was thrilled a few months ago now to be contacted by the good people at The Woods Farm in Jervis Bay asking if we'd like to come and stay with them for a few nights - who wouldn't?! And one look at their website and Instagram and I was sold. Cute, quirky accomodation that the girls would LOVE … [Read more...]

Girls on Tour: Day 2 (Orange to Young)

Another beautiful day yesterday as we travelled from Orange out to Young and back again for the second day of our Girls on Tour trip. You can read about this trip here and then here. We started our morning out with breakfast at Byng Street Local Store & Cafe which was pumping on a busy Saturday … [Read more...]

Girls on Tour: Day 1 (Bathurst to Orange)

Yesterday morning we hit the road for day 1 of our regional shopping tour : a group of business chicks who have customers based out in regional areas who wanted to showcase the great businesses out in these areas and encourage people to visit, shop online and follow these stores over Christmas and … [Read more...]

Girls on Tour: NSW Drought awareness road & shopping trip!

It's been a few months now since the media attention for the drought that has hit so many parts of our country. We were inundated with information on how to help farmers and businesses doing it tough, and after we have seen some rainfall and can believe that Haz and Megs stopped the drought with … [Read more...]

7 reasons why you need a girl’s weekend away

Last weekend a group of friends from home escaped our homes and families for 3 nights of pure bliss....a girl's weekend! Now these things take planning. They take many, many whats app messages. They take time to plan, lots of text messages and effort that at times make you think "ah stuff it, it … [Read more...]

The joy of a country roadside motel

We had the joy last week of staying in one of my favourite places: the Australian small country town roadside motel. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and long life milk, but it has always captured a part of my life and I'm doing my best to keep the tradition alive for our girls. We spent my … [Read more...]

Full & Thorough Reporting

This morning we are hitting the road and heading back home after a week away. We stopped in at the farm for a night, then further north to Byron for another family reunion with Rob's Dad's side of the family that was almost a year in planning - always the way when trying to wrangle so many people. … [Read more...]

Cheeky mid week escape to Mt Hay Luxury Retreat

It took me all of 3 seconds to answer the lovely Louise's email asking me if I would like to come and stay at the gorgeous luxury retreat Mt Hay in Berry, but about 4 months to finally get around to booking in a date that would work for Rob and I, lining up someone to look after the kids, you know … [Read more...]

Holidays and kids and expectations

I have long admitted my problem with expectations and the frustrations I have when they are not met. I think I first wrote about back in 2014 when the kids were a little smaller, and I was a little younger I suppose. I definitely think that they have dropped somewhat since then. Maybe it's … [Read more...]

The MUST have travel accessory: FRANKiE4 Active Flats

A sponsored post for FRANKiE4 Footwear This giveaway has now closed and the winners have been chosen (Janine & Greta are the lucky winners and have been notified) There’s nothing much I love doing more than using my passport. The planning of an overseas trip, all the trawling through AirBnB … [Read more...]

Winter days at the beach

We've had such a lovely week up at the beach doing a whole lot of not much. We are that family that don't go anywhere, do activities or the like when we go on holidays (same at home) we do pretty much not much at ALL until the kids start to really lose it, we're all ok. So there's walks on the … [Read more...]

Full & Thorough reporting: The social edition

Goodness me we have had ourselves a social week at the Macdonald house. We've been to Sydney twice, I have eaten and drunk waaaaaaaaay more than I should have and had LOTS of fun along the way. Pour yourself a drink, have a seat and have a look at where we've been. Monday night we headed up to … [Read more...]