My husband and I finally agreed on something. We needed a break — not from each other, from our family life. Between the relentless mental load of teenagers and work schedules, we'd barely seen each other, let alone spent quality time together.

Small niggles were becoming bigger issues and it felt like we were on opposite sides of a magnet — constantly pushing each other away. So, I found the perfect place for us to escape for an adults-only weekend.

Watch: Mamamia's lifestyle editor on the must-pack travel essentials. Post continues below.

0 0

Must-Pack Travel Essentials

An escape to Samphire Chalets.

Right on our doorstep here in Western Australia, Samphire Chalets is just two hours south of Perth, and ten minutes away from Busselton.

It's tucked into the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands, and the best part? It's an adult-only retreat. You heard me — adult only. It would be just us, along with the 30,000 waterbirds that live in the wetlands. Think peace, quiet and birdsong. Pure bliss, even if you aren't a birdwatcher.

There are three chalets on the property, spaced far enough apart for privacy. They're modern industrial, so really elegant and stylish.

One of the three chalets on the property. Image: Supplied.

There's a fully self-contained kitchen, and the bedroom features a large floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the wetland. It offers uninterrupted sky, bush land, and magical sunsets, making it perfect for our quiet weekend together.

My favourite place to sit was on the couch that ran along the window. It got me up close to the bird life and I could balance my coffee mug on the backrest.

Image: Supplied.

I wandered outside to explore, finding sheep lazily grazing and cows drifting across a distant field. Sunlight shimmered over the wetlands, turning the water into a mirror for drifting clouds while a gentle breeze caressed my face and for a moment, it felt like I'd stepped into Emily Brontë's world.

I'll admit, I was half-expecting a rugged, Jacob Elordi-esque Heathcliff to emerge from the tall wetland grasses. He didn't. But I did have my own version — a slightly rumpled, very tired husband who was currently inside making me a cup of tea.

Image: Supplied.

Where to eat near Samphire Chalets.

There are so many amazing places to eat and drink in the Margaret River Region, but we have a favourite destination. It's a restaurant in Busselton called Inara, and it serves the best Middle Eastern food we've ever had.

We did that thing we always do when we visit. "Let's just order a few small plates," we agreed. By the end of our evening, we were stuffed full and piled up with leftovers, enough for dinner the following night.

Image: Supplied.

The art of slowing down.

The following morning, I made us both coffee — yes there's a coffee machine — then curled up in my corner of the couch.

The giant window was a screen to my own wildlife documentary, and it was a flurry of morning bird life.

Image: Supplied.

As I excitedly called out the birds I'd identified (thanks for the help, bird watching app), I could hear my husband's bemused response over the sounds of my bacon and eggs sizzling in the frypan.

We walked the Wonnerup Beach shoreline with our toes sinking into the white sand. We watched stingrays glide through crystal water and a pod of dolphins frolicking in the distance, and we even saw a rare Nankeen Night Heron (it's a bird) being fed by a local fisherman.

We spent most of the day exploring the region, starting at the beautiful Busselton Jetty. We wandered along the grass, bumping into friends also in town for the weekend.

The beautiful Busselton Jetty. Image: Supplied.

After a quick catch-up, we headed to the Margaret River Roasting Co. My husband had recently been given a box of sample bags, and 'we' (fine! It was me) had finished them all. I wanted to grab a big bag of my favourite flavour and a coffee to take away.

Next came sweet treats from Yallingup Chocolate and a wander around Canal Rocks. This part of the coastline is wonderfully wild and rugged. There's nothing like being up close to the power of waves crashing violently against ancient rocks.

How could you choose just one? Image: Supplied.

I insisted on stopping for a browse around The Studio Gallery so I could get my art fix, but the highlight of our day was our lunch destination — The Berry Farm.

The Berry Farm feels unchanged, even as your life moves on. The perfume of eucalyptus hangs in the air, small wrens dance through the branches of the overgrown cottage garden, and we sat on the same verandah of the café, enjoying the same pie we order year after year, with its buttery, flaky pastry.

It's as though we've stepped back in time, into an old memory.

A pie and treats on offer at The Berry Farm in the Margaret River Region. Image: Supplied.

Our afternoon was spent relaxing, reading and napping back in our chalet.

That evening, as the sun set, I lowered the blackout blinds. It was so peaceful we just collapsed in exhausted heaps, grateful for this cosy hideaway.

"That was a really good weekend," my husband said as we drove home the next morning. He gave my hand a loving squeeze. "It was like it was back before we had the kids, and we'd take our trips down here."

Listen to the latest from Mamamia Out Loud, what women are actually talking about. Post continues below.

He was right. As much as we love the family life we've built, it was a quiet reminder that our relationship needs tending too. And we agreed, we'd be returning to this retreat again for our adults-only reset.

Sarah Schmitt travelled as a guest of Samphire Chalets, Wonnerup WA. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's own. Sarah writes about all the good things in life — food, travel, art and life stuff. You can follow her on Instagram @SaltyBug.

Feature image: Supplied.