The Reluctant Holidaymaker: Can a Country Getaway Really Be a Relaxation?

As I settled into my hire car, the promise of an hour’s drive to Scotsburn – a tiny town in Victoria’s Central Highlands – was both a blessing and a curse. My toddler had finally succumbed to sleep, leaving me to ponder the wisdom of trading city chaos for rural tranquility.

The notion that holidays can be restorative is often met with skepticism by parents. But what if this assumption is misguided? What if it’s precisely the type of holiday we need – one that strips away the trappings of urban life and forces us to slow down?

Ballarat, a city just an hour’s drive from Scotsburn, was recently crowned Australia’s happiest city. While quantifying happiness can be open to interpretation, wandering through its charming streets reveals something special about this place. Vibrant street art and bustling cafes create a lively atmosphere that’s hard to resist.

Our accommodation, Mingara Park Cottage, was a masterclass in rural chic. The owners had transformed an old log cabin into a cozy oasis with floor-to-ceiling windows and a stone fireplace that radiated warmth. As I stood on the veranda, sipping coffee and watching goats graze in the nearby paddock, calm washed over me.

Ballarat defies conventional wisdom about parenting holidays. For too long, we’ve been told that family vacations are synonymous with chaos – an opportunity for kids to run wild while parents stress about logistics and tantrums. Not in Ballarat. The city’s cafes were filled with relaxed families enjoying leisurely meals without a care, while parks teemed with children playing together.

Time seemed to have slowed down – not just for me, but for everyone. Of course, our trip wasn’t without its challenges. Toddlers can be unpredictable at the best of times, and ours was no exception. But as we navigated attractions like Lake Wendouree’s adventure playground and Sovereign Hill’s open-air museum, I began to realize it wasn’t just the kids who were having fun.

As we sat in the sun-drenched beer garden at the Buninyong Hotel, sipping wine and chatting with locals, a sense of belonging washed over me. It was as if we’d finally found a place where we could be ourselves – not just as parents, but as individuals.

Rethinking our approach to family holidays might be in order. We’re too quick to dismiss the idea that they can be restorative and too focused on creating elaborate itineraries. Perhaps a country getaway, far from city chaos, is exactly what we need – not just for our kids, but for ourselves.

Reflecting on our trip leaves me with a sense of wonder at the power of place to transform us. Ballarat may have been crowned Australia’s happiest city, but happiness is contagious – and sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to find it.