Wye River looking towards Sea Zen
There were a couple of options for a mid winter break - first being to fly to the Philippines (or somewhere in Asia) to meet my boyfriend Simon when he finished more than a month of work in Manilla. . .the second to keep it local, go somewhere not too far from Ballarat and hibernate for a while - make and record music and enjoy some peace and quiet without the hassle of flights and airports and excess baggage charges for guitars and musical equipment.
Strangely enough despite living just a couple of hours from one of the world's most spectacular coastlines - I had never 'done' the Great Ocean Road, so when I stumbled upon Sea Zen at Wye River situated right on the Great Ocean Road it didn't take too long to decide it was the perfect place for a mid winter musical retreat. So here's just a few images from our incredibly relaxing stay at Sea Zen.
There's nothing quite like waking up to the sounds of the wild Southern Ocean crashing against the rocks mingled in with the chatter and song of some of the most beautiful Australian native birds - like these incredible King Parrots who were frequent visitors.
Wye River is nestled in a cove between Lorne and Apollo Bay and it's a relatively short but stunning drive to both towns for supplies or cafes and restaurants - however we were really impressed with the local Wye River general store and it's array of local and organic goods including the most incredible fresh baked sour dough. On our return to Sea Zen after a shopping and sightseeing trip there was always the resident Sulphur Crested Cockatoos to welcome us home.
Potato and Leek soup made from Spring Creek Organics produce with Wye River Sourdough toast, roast vegetables and Meredith Dairy Goat's Cheese picked up on the drive from Ballarat
On our first night at Sea Zen with the rain beating down and the ocean raging just a few metres down the hill - we stoked up the combustion fire, prepared for the chilly night ahead. And that's when we discovered the benefits of the double glazed windows and thick insulation went way beyond their sound proofing function that spared any neighbours from having to listen to our rehearsals day and night. Sea Zen proved to be one of the most comfortable places I have ever stayed - and it's nice to know that while you're indulging in a little luxury thanks to some environmentally sensitive design principals - you're doing so without using ridiculous amounts of energy. Even the spa has solar assisted hot water (rain water of course).
After moving a little bit of furniture and setting up some basic gear - Simon and I spent the next couple of days immersed in our music, practicing old and new material and filming live versions of our songs for Youtube. There's something quite inspiring about being able to sing your heart out while gazing out on the sheer beauty of the ocean. In between recording sessions - great food, spas and steam showers to get the creative juices flowing. And knowing we're not keeping the whole neighbourhood awake thanks to the seclusion and the sound proofing is an extra bonus.
On Thursday we took time out for a drive to Apollo Bay, a breathtaking drive along the Great Ocean Road and picked up some amazing local seafood at the Fisherman's Co-op, plus some beautiful lemons at the Apollo Bay Op-shop.
Views from the Sea Zen Balcony
We have to thank Rex and Sibylle from Sea Zen for making us feel so welcome and would recommend their beautiful retreat for anyone wanting to get motivated and get away to pursue their artistic exploits (especially making music) while indulging in a little eco friendly luxury. For more information on Sea Zen at Wye River visit their Facebook page HERE.
After our final night at Sea Zen we headed down the Great Ocean Road arriving at the 12 Apostles just on sunset. . .breathtaking. The perfect way to wind up an incredible week.
