Our First Family Staycation + GIVEAWAY!

We’ve been feeling the effects cabin fever for months now. Travelling has gotten a bit – well, different. But we didn’t want that stop us from a little getaway. It’s been a long stretch of not doing anything as a family and we just wanted to get out, have a change of scenery and create memories for our boys. I used to think that travelling was only for when we would fly somewhere but lockdown has made me realise it can be as simple as exploring our own country and what it has to offer. And a little staycation would be a perfect way to ease into travelling together as a family of four. So that’s what we did. A couple of weeks ago, my family and I went on a little trip to Pretoria and stayed at the beautiful Rosemary Hill Farm. I collaborated with the fabulous Thobi (aka @Thobi_rose on socials) to experience a staycation two ways: a family staycation and a couple’s staycation.

So, what did we think?

Rosemary Hill Farm

Rosemary Hill Farm is a scenic estate in Pretoria. It’s close enough for a car ride with little ones in the back but far away enough from the hustle and bustle of Joburg. It offers so much; it’s a farm, a wedding venue and has a variety of different types of accommodation. I love that how spacious it is. There are big open spaces and I can go on forever about the trees, something I’ve really missed. It’s just a calm and peaceful space to enjoy the outdoors.

Accommodation & Hospitality

The estate offers many different types of accommodation for different types of guests. We stayed at the Garden Cottage – a beautiful thatched roof house with two bedrooms; the master bedroom and a kids room upstairs. It has a lounge with a sofa and a TV in the main bedroom. The bathroom, which is a shared space for the whole family, includes a shower and a big bathtub. It’s perfect for a family of four. The cottage is self-catering, fully equipt with a small kitchen with a gas stove, fridge with basic amenities like water and milk and a microwave. If you prefer to take a break from cooking, there’s also a restaurant on-site within walking distance.

The staff is very welcoming and helpful. We were taken care of by Katlego who made sure our stay went smoothly. He communicated with us before our arrival via Whatsapp so we could check in remotely. There’s also a cleaning team that can clean the cottage while you’re out and about during the day.

I really loved the little touches they made to make it a more comfortable stay for a family. They had a travel cot ready for Kenzo in our room, which I know other mamas would really appreciate. So you could actually stay there as a family of five – two kids and a baby. With it being May, it got a bit chilly in the evenings, so the electric blanket in the master bedroom was very welcomed. The team also made a plan to bring extra heaters for us so Kenzo and Kai could also stay warm.

How kid-friendly is it?

Apart from the simplicity of just being outdoors, Rosemary Hill is a kid’s playground. It has many different activities that would keep your kids busy, entertained and tired out in time for bedtime. On our first day there, we visited Acro Branch and did their kid and adult course. They have courses for different competency levels and a separate course for kids Kai’s age. Kai loved it so much, he did the course twice! Rosemary Hill is also known for its mountain biking trails, which I promised Kai we’d go back to explore. If your family are hikers, there are also hiking trails there. The restaurant also has a kid-friendly menu with smaller meals options like chips and chicken strips among others.

Activities

On our second day, the group went on a Segway tour around the estate. If you haven’t been on a Segway, I would recommend it. It’s so much fun and once you get the hang of it, you don’t want to get off. I stayed behind with the kids that afternoon while Kev went on the tour. Of course, that’s something to keep in mind when travelling – to choose activities you and your partner can tag-team on. My thing was horseback riding later that day, so Kev took over baby minding duties while Kai and I rode our horses. We spent the whole day promising Kai a ride on a pony (as that what kids his age could ride) so to our surprise, they actually got him a small horse instead. He was so chuffed. This was hands down Kai’s favourite moment from our trip. He kept telling me he couldn’t wait to tell his friends at school that he rode a real horse! I honestly didn’t think that horseriding would be so relaxing. It’s something that I definitely want to do again.

Overall, we had a great weekend away. The kids loved it, we did new things and it was a nice little break from home. I’ve got so much more to share on travelling with kids, so let me know what you’d be keen on hearing about and I can put together some tips and learnings for you.

Rosemary Hill Farm is a great option for you and your family to stay and get some much needed fresh air.

GIVEAWAY

Thobi and I are running a staycation giveaway at Rosemary Hill Farm where two winners will be chosen: one for a couple’s staycation and another for a family staycation. We’ve also included some of our favourite local brands in the prizes. Spot the photo above on my Instagram feed and enter to WIN:

• 1x two-night stay for 2 OR for a family of 4 at Rosemary Hill Farm including breakfast, dinner + 1 activity (Segway tour or horse riding)
• 1x mixed case of l’Ormarins cap classified wine
• 1x Kelp Carry Couture bag
• 1x Acrobranch voucher for a couple or family of 4
• 1x BOS variety pack hamper
• 1x Entertainer VIP app

All of the terms and conditions are in the caption.

Let me know, what are the key things you look for in a family holiday?

Photography by Vije Vijendranath @Instahubbyza