You had me at, “dirty weekend”! As a mum I know how important it is to spend time with your girlfriends. If you can’t do that over cheese and wine (sans kids), then bring the whole tribe with you! Thanks to the lovely Adelady, Simone Mundy for sharing how to have a dirty weekend away (as a mum), in SA!
Hayley x
Image credit: Cockatoo Downs Farmstay
By Simone Mundy
I love being a mum – but if I’m honest I do miss the weekends away with girlfriends. Some of my best girlfriends are not your glamour girls – they are ones with messy hair and thirsty hearts. The ones who appreciate that there is something about chucking on wool, flannel and gumboots that make you feel cosy and adventurous all at the same time. Earth, Wine and Fire – the three ingredients that memories are made of!
I recently had a dirty girls getaway disguised as a family holiday. I gathered two of my favourite Adeladies and their families and we embarked on a group getaway.
Our destination: Cockatoo Downs Farmstay, a 500 hectare Farm, less than a three hour drive from Adelaide. Each morning the converted farm truck comes around and picks up any ring-in weekend farmers. On the morning farm tour you can feed the lambs, horses, deer, buffalo, kangaroo, emu, geese, chickens and my favourite Camilla the camel. Camilla’s an Adelady after my own heart — she loves food and will steal it right out of your hands.
At Cockatoo Downs you can stay in cabins that are reminiscent of the shacks you stayed in during your 80s childhood, a school-style bunkhouse, pitch your own tent or park a caravan. Everything comes with kitchen facilities and bathrooms, but we don’t spend much time inside because the outdoors is too good, especially in winter.
Our afternoons were busy canoeing at the lake, riding bikes or playing ball games. This really is the perfect place to let your kids get free range, whether they are energetic boys or animal loving girls. My girlfriends and I like purposely lose our offspring in the hay maze then offer to prep dinner. Then we hide potatoes in the fire and stick things on to slow cook all afternoon so we can we crack the bottles of wine and gossip.
Every night the hosts bring a literal truck-load of wood for the bonfire which are built like a cheesy Tinder checklist for an ideal man – as tall as a basketballer, hot and lasts all night long. I guarantee that after playing outdoors all day, screen-free, the little ones will roll into bed exhausted and crash.
Once the kids are asleep we like to spend the night singing along to a husband on guitar while waving a wine glass in the orange glow. Memories are made of this!
Any fellow Adeladies who have lived in London on the obligatory rite of passage working visa will know how big and blue the sky is in Adelaide. You don’t fully appreciate how the sky here seems to stretch forever until you’ve lived in a space where it’s grey and only peeks out from between buildings.
The sky at Cockatoo Downs is even better. At night the sky is a sequinned blanket, it’s got that twinkle and those splashes of galaxy and space sprog that makes driving out of the city so worth it.
The owners, Mel and Mel are all-stars and offer catering if you want to bring a big tribe, or as we discovered, for free to join you at the fire if your karaoke chops are smokin’.
They also have BBQ packs and fresh eggs on site to minimise what you need to bring. Hot tip- If you do forget to bring something and need to get to the supermarket there is a gorgeous café and gift shop in Keith called Henry & Rose where my girlfriends and I had a long and leisurely break.
Check out Cockatoo Downs Farmstay on Facebook – we just love this alternative to the beach break. Gather your best hens and their little chickens and get muddy at one of these farm-style stays I am completely open to being bribed by:
Flinders Ranges :: Flinders Bush Retreats — These guys offer a luxury of self-contained guest house, bush camping and even glamping. They have something for everyone, and check out that view!
Image credit: Flinders Bush Retreats
Adelaide Hills :: Broken Gum Country Retreat — Perfect for the whole family or just a quiet weekend away with your partner.
Image credit: Broken Gum Country Retreat
And a special mention to these as well: Kangaroo Island :: Al Pac Em inn, Hindmarsh Island :: Glenford Farmhouse, Clare Valley :: Bunagree Station, Keith :: Cockatoo Downs Farmstay.
Now, get your girls together and let’s get dirty! If you’re after a less dirty girlie weekend away, check out our Top 5 Classy Girls Weekend Ideas in SA.
Simone xx
Cockatoo Downs Farmstay :: (08) 8756 7042 :: [email protected]
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