It’s my birthday in a few weeks. The countdown is on. This year I will be turning 40 which is a bit of holy moly guacamole!

My sisters have planned a surprise weekend away for late November which I am excited for. Then in January, I am going to Norfolk Island with my best friend. We get to go in a plane and all. Pumped for that!

My boyfriend is away for my birthday so still wanting to celebrate the occasion together, we stayed at Kangaroo Valley last weekend. I booked it as an entrée, sort of the first course in the lead up to my birthday.

However, entrée it was not.

It was incredible. We had such a perfect weekend. And if you know my version of perfect, you will know how much it meant. We were so fortunate with the weather, the timing, the accommodation, the beach, the food…. everything. It was amazing.

We stayed at The Cottage, just a short walk to the super cute little town of Kangaroo Valley. The Cottage is owned by Australian artist and stylist Lisa Madigan. It has a level of sophistication about it as everything is styled in black and white.

After living in an incomplete, half renovated home for the past three years I love to book luxurious places to enjoy when we go away as a treat. And The Cottage lived up to my high expectations.

I was on a high for the whole weekend. No feelings of not deserving this treat, or regret over the expense of splurging. Instead, I revelled in it.

It had everything my dreams are made of in a house; French windows and doors, marble benchtops, an open fireplace, couch with cushions galore, a giant shower head as well as a bathtub.

It was a place with real style, that Lisa spared no expense decking out. Linen sheets from In Bed, crystal glass wear, SMEG appliances, Aesop toiletries, cups and saucers from Chef vs Clay and herbal tea from Love Tea.

Despite having a page-long list of things to do while in the area, we took our time to enjoy the place. We even slept in (which is a rare event), cooked our breakfast from the fresh ingredients provided and sat out in the garden for an afternoon platter. Our weekend turned out so much better by just taking our time and not rushing around.

When you book at the Cottage, it is a two-night minimum, like many places these days, but you will need it plus some more to get into vacay mode and to have time to see all the south coast has to offer. Well, it’s just a taster really. There is never enough time. You will need to revisit for sure.

Kangaroo Valley was a perfect base for exploring. We drove through the quiet and luscious rolling hills down through Nowra to Jervis Bay, where we spent most of our weekend. We just went slow. We didn’t do much at all, just enjoyed our time together, in the water, doing beach walks, short bush walks, getting coffee, and lunch. As well as being mindful to stop saying ‘wow’.

If you are visiting, what I can recommend is;

• Make sure to stop off into Cambewarra Lookout. One of the best views you will find in New South Wales

• Get a photo on Hampden Bridge; a heritage-listed single-span suspension bridge

• Take a drive out to see Tallowa Dam

• If you are after some yummy spicy chai then you must go to Maddison’s in the Valley in Kangaroo Valley

• Go swim in the turquoise waters of Hyams Beach, popular for its white sands

• Get your fresh fish for lunch from The Salty Crab in Vincentia

• If you have packed your walking shoes then take a day trip out to The Three Views Walking Track or Drawing Room Rocks

• If you like a bit of history there are remains of a shipwreck along the Abraham Bosom Walking Track, only a 20-minute walk from the car park. Another place where the water is crystal clear

• Stop off at Gerringong and check out the black house on the hill; Headland House - only $3500 a night if you want to stay

• Going away with a dog is possible. We were fortunate to take Reggie with us. Our first family holiday since Dusty passed, and he came along and joined in everything we did. We were not inconvenienced at all. He had a blast!

If you are after a place that is comfortable and welcoming then The Cottage is for you.

Have you been to Kangaroo Valley before? There is so much to see and explore. What did you enjoy? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.