SLOW STAYS

There’s a special kind of magic in the Byron Hinterland; you can’t imagine it from afar, only feel it tingle on your skin when you arrive. It seeps into your bones, wraps its arms around you the longer you stay. On the banks of the Wilson River a few short minutes from the village of Federal, Heartwood Farm is a handcrafted escape on a 100-acre cattle farm. Reclaimed materials used in the renovation and artisanal Australian products found throughout the cottage each have a story behind them (hello, vintage bar cart and Tasmanian whisky). But the onus is really on reconnecting with nature – drinking in the views as you soak in the circular plunge pool, and picking veggies and herbs from the garden to take on a picnic. It’s savouring your morning coffee as you watch the calves, running the clawfoot bath, and letting your daydreams run wild.