RAIN, CANCELLED PLANS AND THE ART OF DOING NOTHING

Life can feel like a nonstop loop with work, side hustles, errands, emails, laundry, meals, walking the dog, repeat.

I travelled to Byron Bay for work and to attend the Writers Festival, only to find that the festival was cancelled and the rain kept pouring.

My carefully mapped-out itinerary of morning panels and activities was wiped out, and my first thought was: ugh, seriously?

Then I realised: this might actually be the best thing that could have happened. My room at The Hide was quiet, luxe, and perfectly unbothered, a king bed, a minibar stocked with everything I didn’t know I needed, access to filtered and sparkling water (because hydration is mandatory even when doing nothing), and, blissfully, a strict no-children, no-pets policy.

With the festival cancelled and the rain forcing me indoors, I was given the rare gift of space to breathe, reflect, and truly rest.

I spent the weekend doing exactly that: nothing. I read a book, drank endless tea, watched Sandra Bullock movies (because she gets it), and let the rain provide the soundtrack.

It was a rare, quiet pause in a life that often feels like it never stops moving.

At one point, I left the comfort of my room to enter the ice-cold bath outside, rain still falling around me.

An older couple was nearby, watching with curiosity. Before I stepped in, they asked, amused, “Are you really going in there?” I nodded, took a breath, and slipped into the icy water.

Later, the couple tried it themselves, laughing, challenging their mind and breath, and emerging invigorated and amazed.

Watching them embrace the moment reminded me that wellness isn’t just indulgence, it’s about courage, presence and daring to do something a little uncomfortable for your own benefit.

Between ice baths, dips in the heated magnesium pool, and long stretches in the sauna, I mostly lounged like a pro in the art of doing nothing.

There’s a unique kind of wellness in taking a break from daily responsibilities, even if just for a weekend.

Travelling for work while savouring intentional downtime reminded me that self-care isn’t indulgent, it’s essential.

Byron Bay in the rain became a literal pause button. And here’s the takeaway for all of us living life on repeat: sometimes the best wellness routine is none at all.

Lock the door, pour the tea, watch the rain, and let the world wait for a minute. You deserve it. Radical? Absolutely. Joyous? Even better.

The writer covered the cost of her accommodation; this stay was not sponsored.

When an estate has been carefully curated by its wealthy owners for more than a decade, the next custodian knows they’re in for a treat of a retreat.

Food-packaging entrepreneur Ted Nathan and his wife, Jenny, purchased the original 25ha Ravensdale Farm in Yarramalong Valley for $1.35 million 12 years ago according to title records.

Since then, the pair have reportedly invested more than $5.5 million to acquire several neighbouring parcels in order to create a contemporary compound now measuring more than 49ha.

Today’s Ravensdale Farm and Retreat, about 24kms from Wyong, is now a dual-estate 12-bedroom, 11-bathroom luxury landholding.

The property is expected to sell for about $30 million via an expressions of interest campaign with Cullen & Royle agents Deborah Cullen and Richard Royle.

Alongside the modern three-storey five-bedroom farmhouse, there is a long list of “must have” resort-style amenities and productive farmland primed to produce a passive income.

Framed by a 4m wraparound veranda, the sophisticated main residence has several outdoor spaces for homeowners and their guests to soak up the bucolic backdrop, lush paddocks and established gardens.

Inside, the homestead features multiple living spaces for grand scale entertaining inside and out, a library, a home office, private cinema, games room and accommodation designed for large families or a steady stream of weekend guests.

Custom made for hosting year round, the expansive estate also includes a sports bar with a commercial-grade kitchen, a championship size tennis court which can be transformed into an alfresco cinema when the mood strikes.

Additional spaces designed for fun include a sunken fire pit, a hidden garden with a European-inspired pétanque court, a pickle ball court and a private paddock dedicated to major events and functions.

There is also a separate second residence, Ravensdale Retreat, devoted to guest stays or potential short-term accommodation.

The bonus residence is set up to provide a fully self-contained experience outside of the main home when needed. It has a choice of bedrooms, a spacious living area, an outdoor pavilion, pizza deck, and its own pool.

Beyond its weekender credentials, Ravensdale Farm lives up to its name. A working farm, the estate has cattle infrastructure, fertile pastures featuring Kikuyu and Rhodes grasses complemented by high end irrigation and water systems, as well as land management systems designed for efficiency and long-term resilience.

The land can comfortably support cattle and horses – currently home to approximately 40 cows and calves, plus horses – and has productive fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, a chicken coop and a restored century-old barn.

Surrounded by the rolling green hills of the Yarramalong Valley, Ravensdale Farm and Retreat is approximately a 25-minute drive from Wyong and around 90 minutes from Sydney with coastal hotspots like Terrigal and The Entrance are within easy reach.

Ravensdale Farm and Retreat is on the market with a price guide of $30m via an expressions of interest campaign with Cullen Royle.

RAIN, CANCELLED PLANS AND THE ART OF DOING NOTHING

When the Writers Festival was called off and the skies refused to clear, one weekend away turned into a rare lesson in slowing down, ice baths included.

Built up over more than a decade, Ravensdale Farm and Retreat blends luxury living, resort-style amenities and productive farmland across almost 50 hectares.