sometimes you just need a few days away.
somewhere comfortable to sleep. a walk by the water. coffee without rushing. an evening where nobody needs anything from you.
my mid north coast trip was four nights across three different stays.
two nights in a tiny home at jimmy’s beach. one night in a superior cabin at seal rocks. one night in a junior safari tent at bonny hills.
i do date myself quite well.
jimmy’s beach
i started with two nights at reflections jimmy’s beach in a tiny home.
i like having two nights at the beginning of a trip. you can unpack, get your bearings and have a whole day without thinking about checkout.
otherwise you spend a surprising amount of your holiday relocating your toiletries.
jimmy’s beach was a lovely place to slow down. beach walks, time near the water and a little home to come back to.
having somewhere comfortable makes going away alone feel easier. you can head out for a while, come back and decide what you feel like doing next.
you don’t need every hour planned.
sometimes you need to sit down and enjoy the fact that you’re away.
seal rocks
i’ve been visiting seal rocks for years. i have a soft spot for it and still miss the old dirt road.
this time i stayed in a superior cabin. it was cold and rainy, so the evening became wine, cheese, a bath and a lounge room dance.
very adaptable. questionable choreography.
the cabin had a deck and a bath. having somewhere lovely to stay meant the weather didn’t spoil the evening.
i could settle in and enjoy it.
the next morning i walked up to sugarloaf point lighthouse.
a quiet night followed by some fresh air and a walk was exactly what i needed.
when you’re booking a trip, think about whether you’d enjoy your accommodation on a rainy afternoon too. you might end up spending more time there than you planned.
bonny hills
my final night was in a junior safari tent at reflections bonny hills.
after eight months travelling australia in a swag, i’m quite capable of camping.
i’m also very capable of appreciating a proper bed.
i loved finishing the trip with something different. the tent, the deck, a beach walk and time to enjoy being outside.
you’ve booked somewhere beautiful. give yourself time to actually be there.
one useful detail when choosing your accommodation: the junior safari tent uses the park’s shared bathroom facilities and camp kitchen. check the exact tent category so you know what you’re booking.
how it felt going alone
i felt completely safe and comfortable during all three stays.
that mattered to me.
i had my own space, but there were other people around. i could explore during the day and come back somewhere that felt welcoming.
for me, reflections really understands what can make these stays appealing to women travelling solo.
you don’t have to start with a remote campsite. you can start with a tiny home near the beach.
borrowing this trip
my route was two nights at jimmy’s beach, one at seal rocks and one at bonny hills. another night at either of the last two would give you more time to settle in.
i also stayed overnight in newcastle to break up the driving.
there is no prize for arriving exhausted.
plan to get to your accommodation in daylight. take something for an easy dinner and pack a book for the rainy version of your holiday.
leave some gaps too.
a beach walk and a lovely place to sleep can be enough for one day.