I arrived at my beautiful accommodation on Bribie Island in the afternoon and was welcomed by rainbow lorikeets in the backyard. I live close by on the mainland so I already felt relaxed and excited to settle into The Shell House at Holiday House Bribie. The first thing I noticed was the retro beach shack vibes which truly made me feel like I was at the seaside! I stay at The Shell House often so I know the owners well now. They greeted me on arrival and gave me a unique access code for the front door. I am so glad that I was not responsible for safekeeping a key.

I walked into The Shell House and immediately saw the incredibly comfortable daybed under a beautiful painting by Jai Vasicek. Whenever I stay, I cannot believe that the owners designed and renovated The Shell House themselves – it’s simply gorgeous! Everything about the villa just feels so bespoke and handmade, from the handles to the hand craftsmanship of the whole place.

I walked through the crisp and clean interiors to the large bedroom that contained the most comfortable, king size bed. I could curl up there forever, listening to the sounds of the natural environment just outside of the window. The ocean gently roared in the background and I could hear the sounds of the native birds calling in the forest.

I changed into a swimsuit and walked to the end of the street where there is a beach access point. The short distance was only a house or two between Holiday House Bribie and the beach track. I felt like I was on my own private beach. The sun was high in the sky and nobody was around. A couple of walkers strolled along the water’s edge now and then. The water was so clear and warm that I had to jump in. Today’s ocean was gentle and calm with hardly any waves. I kept an eye out for dolphins and was lucky enough to spot a couple! I just love floating in the water, watching the dolphins jumping in front of me.

Finally it was time to return to The Shell House. I brought some food with me so I made myself a snack in the well equipped kitchen. I had an early night with a good book and a cup of tea. It was so good to sink into that huge comfortable bed and enjoyed the feeling of freshly washed, pure linen sheets against my skin.

The next day I woke up bright and early to the filtered sunlight and sounds of nature. I made myself a frothy latte with the Nespresso machine in the full-sized kitchen and made my way to the bush track by The Surf Club. I wandered through the dappled light, listening for the birds calling and watching the amazing shapes of the surrounding bushland.

The ocean track was easy to find as I made my way down to the water. The ocean had small waves today so I took my boogie board down to the red and yellow flags, and swam in front of the Lifesavers. They regularly patrol the beach and the surf tower looks so quintessentially Aussie. I felt completely safe and the waves were just the right size anyway.

After my swim, I stopped off at the local Fish ‘n Chip shop for the food from my childhood – dim sim with freshly made tartare sauce.

I ate the delicious food while sitting on the park benches overlooking the ocean. There was a gentle breeze to cool me down. Then I picked out a gelato flavour from the local cafe. They regularly change their flavours and this time I tried blood orange sorbet. The sugar offset the bitterness of the orange and the sorbet melted in my mouth. I meandered through the park to reach The Shell House, eating my sorbet along the way. I saw plenty of wildlife including a native bush turkey!

After my active morning, I spent the remainder of the day relaxing. The Shell House has a Netflix subscription on the frame tv so I watched a show or 2 on that super comfy daybed. Then I sat in the outdoor chairs by the front door and read a book. The veranda and trees provided me with cool shade as I stretched out my legs.

At sunset, I strolled through the park and sat at the table in The Surf Club. They seated me on their huge deck where I had a view of the ocean. I watched the sky turn wonderful colours over the surrounding islands until the soft, gentle glow of the sky faded into black. The bistro style food was delicious but more than I could eat. I recommend the chicken Caesar salad or the oysters 🙂

That night back at the accommodation, I sat outside and watched the stars over a glass of wine. In the morning I snuck out for one last early morning swim and watched the sunrise from the beach. It was such a peaceful way to finish my stay.

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