When I was pregnant with Sahara back in 2021 we tried to go on a babymoon; however, each time we had something booked a day or two before we were due to go away, Victoria was plunged back into lockdown. We tried to go to The Whitsundays multiple times and when those trips kept getting cancelled we changed plans and rebooked for Darwin instead – again that got cancelled a day beforehand thanks to another lockdown. Our final attempt saw us try for a mini weekend away closer to home in Daylesford, and even then that had to be cancelled because of yet ANOTHER lockdown 🙄 So eventually we just gave up and came to terms with the fact that we weren’t going to get a babymoon prior to Sahara’s arrival.

I’m pleased to say that we successfully got to have a babymoon this pregnancy before the arrival of our second bub in late September. We spent the past weekend in the small regional Victorian town of Castella – for those that aren’t familiar with it, you’ll find it between Kinglake and Healesville.

Chris booked a cute little guest house called Willow’s Rest on AirBnB for the 2-night getaway. The studio cabin, situated on 10 acres of farmland, is a little haven perfect for those seeking some peace and tranquillity (exactly what we were after prior to the chaos of having 2 kids).

Inside the cabin, you’ll find a studio kitchen equipped with the basic necessities for those happy to cook their own meals such as a cooktop, mini fridge, microwave, toaster etc. I highly advise doing a grocery shop prior to arriving at the cabin, otherwise, you can pop into Kinglake approx. 10 minutes away which has a Foodworks, just be aware that it’s a lot more expensive than doing a shop at Coles or Woolies. If you want to treat yourself to a dinner cooked for you, then I’d recommend ordering takeaway from Songbird Cafe & Larder and enjoying it back at the cabin like we did on the first night – they have a range of options from wood-fired pizzas to burgers, to your stock standard restaurant mains.

The kitchenette is an open floor plan backing into a little lounge area which consists of a couch, coffee table and incredibly large TV with glass sliding doors with views out to the farmland and dam. The studio space also features a 2-person dining table – which was so lovingly set by the host Louisa – again with views out to the farmland, and of course, a queen bed to rest your weary head.

Outside not only will you find a fire pit, farmland (which is often frequented by mobs of kangaroos) and the dam with a mini jetty, but also your very own private outdoor mineral salt rock spa. Use of the hot tub is complimentary for only one night; for those staying multiple nights and wanting to use it again it does incur a $100 extra charge which needs to be requested prior to your arrival.

Note to self, don’t be like me, take your jewellery off before entering the spa – I failed to do so on the first night and within minutes my rings were no longer silver and instead incredibly tarnished. I would highly recommend jumping in the spa just before sundown to fully enjoy the surrounding nature and chance to relax under the stars.

Louisa has gone above and beyond with the little details throughout the studio from the handwritten welcome note accompanied by some goodies including a bottle of McGuigan alcohol-free bubbles, and gorgeous tea options from The Tea Collective. The only thing that would have made it better, was if there were some Grace + Marie products dotted around the space. 😉

The weather wasn’t the greatest during our stay, which actually made for a more relaxed weekend of quality time consisting of spa dips at night, breakfast and cups of tea in bed, watching movies, reading and playing a game of Scrabble (which is provided but you can always bring along your own board games).

While there’s not a whole heap to do in Castella itself, it’s so close to the neighbouring towns such as Kinglake, St Andrew’s or Healesville that it’s easy enough to fill in a day road-tripping around and exploring with no set itinerary in mind – which was just ideal for us as it was the first time we’d had a chance to go away kid-free in quite some time.

Recommendations of where to visit or things to do:

• St Andrews Market – held every Saturday between 9am and 2pm, you’ll find this little local market nestled in a bush setting only 24 minutes from Willow’s Rest. Opposite the market grounds, there are a few local shops you might like to pop your head into, or if you’re feeling peckish you can grab something to eat or a coffee at A Local Baker or A Boy Named Sue.

• Healesville – a 30-minute drive from St Andrews will put you in the town of Healesville where, depending on what you fancy doing, you can enjoy ample food and wine experiences, a visit to the Healesville Sanctuary for those seeking wildlife encounters, or just wander up and down the main street browsing the various shops.

• The Big Bouquet – if you’re looking for something a little unique and fun, you might enjoy a stop at the flower farm where you can visit the Gerbera Glasshouse & Information Room, treat yourself to a sweet treat in the cafe or let the little ones burn some energy on the playground, or purchase some alpaca food from the cafe and get up close with the alpacas while you feed them.

• There’s an abundant choice of places to eat in Healesville ranging from small cafes to a pub lunch; we opted for a bite to eat at Spinner’s and would highly recommend it if you’re a fan of souvlakis (note that while they say their “large” is a standard souvlaki size it’s actually HUGE!).

All in all, it was the perfect weekend of calm and relaxation before the storm that I’m sure will come with having 2 kids under 2. I’d highly recommend a stay at Willow’s Rest for couples looking for some quality time together or it would make a great wedding/engagement gift for your friends/family.