What most people think a girls weekend is like probably differs greatly from my idea of the perfect one. Of course, I think my way of having the perfect girls weekend is the best.
For me, a perfect girls’ weekend means getting back to nature with the people I love and living slowly. It’s the ultimate reset.
For this girls weekend we originally booked a coastal camp site. But with the forecast of wild winds and rain, we pivoted to cabining inland. Luckily we did because lots of big trees were blown over all across New South Wales that weekend .
Women’s Magic
A little bit about us. My best friends from high school and I have grown up together. We make a unique trio, bonded by a love for performance that we’ve encouraged in each other over the years.
Experiencing our teenage years and everything after that together created an unbreakable bond. We talk about everything, AND I MEAN EVERY.THING!
Our shared history means nothing is off limits. We know there’s truly no judgment between us. That the key ingredient to an amazing girls weekend.
I want my children to witness female friendships where women support each other without judgment, embracing both the best and worst parts of one another. I hope the next generation of women nurtures friendships like that.
We share experiences and knowledge. I think that’s what “Women’s’ Business” places are all about, sharing wisdom for the benefit of everyone, including future generations. Naturally we vent about things that annoy us, especially the lost knowledge about the land and women’s health. Our old souls miss the village that used to support one another through shared experiences. That’s why we go away together, to reconnect with what we’ve lost.
Places to Visit
We met up at The Chubby Cat Cafe in Tarago. There I thoroughly enjoyed a decaf flat white (so I could sleep that night), while my friends had soy lattes. The coffee was so good that we went back on Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday, I even grabbed a take away long black coffee for the drive home. I was pleasantly surprised to find such great barista skills in rural New South Wales. The Chubby Cat Cafe serves Seven Mile Roasters Coffee and donates to Bear Cottage, a children’s hospice on the northern beaches.
Next door to The Chubby Cat Cafe we visited the Corang Estate Cellar Door and Pantry. It was tempting to sit down and taste some wines with a cheese platter. But we decided to make our purchases and head to the AirBnB.
We highly recommend the Corang Estate bubbles and rose, which we enjoyed slightly irresponsibly since we weren’t driving anywhere and only had ourselves to look after.
Darlinghurst Farm
During these girls weekends we mostly express gratitude for being able to spend quality time together in beautiful natural places. Darlinghurst Farm is located just past Goulburn at Lake Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia.
We know not everyone can afford or make the time to get away, so we really treasure these moments. Weekends like these nurture our souls until the next time we can reunite.
The Darlinghurst Farm cabin makes the perfect weekend getaway. Surrounded by nature, it offers gorgeous bush views and provides a peaceful, private setting. You can relax in the hammock on the deck, share stories by the fire, or sip tea by the indoor fireplace on cooler evenings. We did all three and highly recommend it.
This off grid cabin is self sustainable, powered by solar panels, and water supplied by rain. Darlinghurst farm is set on unspoiled bush acreage. With lots of space to run around the cabin also welcome pets.
What To Do When Cabining
Upon arrival we familiarised ourselves with the property. Then it was time to leisurely stroll to collect fire wood. You can buy it there, but we enjoyed the grounding experience of gathering it ourselves. With Kylie in charge of fire making we knew the firewood would be neatly sorted into piles. We can confirm that organisation is key for a great fire.
We got the fire started just before dawn to keep the mosquitos away. And before we knew it, it was dark. Our first evening of girls weekend was spent building the fire, cooking dinner and enjoying a few special drinks as we chatted around the crackling, dancing, memorising flames. It was bliss, and before we realised it midnight had past.
The next morning Chef Kylie cooked up breakfast wraps for the three of us. @ridesforpancakes says she is available as a camping chef “at the right price”. Luckily for us food is her love language and she knows how to make us feel truly cared for.
Our next girls weekend activity was a real treat. Darlinghurst Farm offers onsite pottery classes with its AirBnB host, Michael who is an award winning artist. It was our first time using a pottery wheel. It was also one of the rare times I was grateful for my tough hands. Kylie even lost some skin to the wheel-don’t let Ghost fool you, pottery is a serious sport.
A Slow Saturday
After noticing Kylie’s injury, she wisely called coffee time and we headed back to The Chubby Cat Cafe at Tarago. We strolled around town before spotting grey clouds and deciding to return to the cabin before the rain set in.
With the temperature dropping and rain threatening, we set up the indoor fireplace and cozied up in the cabin. Kylie brought the food, I brought the craft and Teresa brought the skincare. We spent Saturday afternoon in pure relaxation.
That evening we had a sing along as I tuned up the guitar that was in the cabin and tested what songs I remembered. There was also some sight reading of piano music and singing that brought back memories of our high school musical days together.
Nature and music are so good for the soul.
Bungendore Adventure on the Way Home
Any girls weekend away that involves a car trip also means a slow, scenic adventure home. We explored Bungendore, a rural country town with an old world charm, on our way back to Canberra, Camden and Newport.
After easily parking three cars within 100 meters of one another- something we cold never do in Sydney- we strolled along the main street together. We calmly walked past restaurants as people stood to one side of the path and waited for each other to pass. It felt like everyone was smiling and saying hello.
Bungendore still holds that old county charm, and it felt wonderful to just be there.
We spent a lot of time wondering around the Village Antiques shop, which is full of unexpected treasures. Out the back we discovered a beautiful garden nursery.
Following our noses led us to the Pie Shop. There I happily slurped down a chocolate milkshake in an old fashioned tumbler. We also indulged in handmade vegetable and lamb pies which were delicious.
After lunch we walked into the Bungendore Leather shop which is packed from floor to ceiling with things to see. We all bought keepsakes to bring home. Then we crossed the road to the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery.
We spent a lot of time admiring the amazing craftsmanship at the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery. It is full of handmade furniture, jewellery boxes and artwork. I wanted to touch everything in this art gallery where all the pieces are for sale. If you only have time for one stop in Bungendore this should be it.
Girls Weekend Resource Sharing
Girls weekends are all about sharing experiences and knowledge. We swapped our latest book and podcast recommendations. Especially helpful resources like the Hormone Repair Manual by Lara Briden which Kylie borrowed from another wise women. Since knowledge is power, I’m about to purchase it myself. If you’d like to read it before my review you can purchase the Hormone Repair Manual by Lara Briden here.
Things to Pack on a Girls Weekend
I’m not going to spell out the obvious about what clothes, shoes and skincare to pack on a girls weekend. But I will confess that I took our biggest suitcase and threw everything in since there was no baggage limit. It felt rebellious and liberating all at once. I joked about packing for a month-realistically my subconscious was telling me I need a long holiday.
When camping or staying in an AirBnB we always bring our own Global knife https://amzn.to/3WvOY8U to ensure that cooking is easy and enjoyable. Nothing frustrates me more than trying to cut with a blunt knife. It’s the simple hacks in life that make every day enjoyable.
Since we were off grid we weren’t sure about the quality of the drinking water. So Kylie packed her camping water reservoir. I think I’m about to order one from https://amzn.to/4hkjYRx
Girls Weekend Shenanigans
Of course we support and encourage each other to feel safe to be silly and fun. The natural ebb and flow of talking non stop, laughing at the top of our lungs, and then quietly doing our own thing sparks creativity. Simply being together helps our bodies and minds relax, reminding us how to have crazy fun.
Then we go back to our loved ones as better people after indulging in some well deserved self care.
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