Whether travelling or in everyday life, life can sometimes get quite stressful with all the things to organise day by day. Travellers who have settled in Melbourne for a while to fully experience the vibe of this beautiful city may find themselves longing for a relaxing escape to the coast sometimes. For Melbournians, weekend activities outside the city come naturally, as with less than a couple of hours drive you can find yourself at some of the most beautiful, unspoilt coastlines.
"A mindful day in nature" with Filsoultravel offers, as the name suggests, the perfect combination of nature and a diverse program of bush walks along the coast to the most beautiful white beaches, delicious, healthy food and a good portion of yoga, which is suitable for beginners. A great day to unwind surrounded by nature with good vibes from the Colombian organiser Lina and the well mixed group. But read more about my personal experience here.
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Our excursion into serenity began on a Sunday winter morning at 9.00am with the sun on our side and a pleasant 17 degrees. Meeting point was at the National Gallery Victoria (NGV), easy to reach by bus, train and even the car could be parked there for free, because it was Sunday. As warm as one can greet each other in times of coronavirus, Lina welcomed us with a big smile and a sanatiser in her hand. Then we stepped into the cozy 12-passenger bus, for which part of the spendings for the excursion were donated to reduce our CO2 footprint #greentravel. Part of the group were still sleepy and snoozing in the bus, but some were already open to exchange names and countries of origin in the early morning. Always exciting; There were 9 people on the bus from 7 different countries: Australia, Colombia, Brazil, Pakistan, Spain, France, and Germany. #Melbourne Style.
Around 11am we made the first stop at Cape Schank, where we took a short walk along the coast to the rocks which are rising out of the ocean. If climbing over the rocks with the fresh coastal wind in our faces didn't wake us up, it was the freshly grounded coffee which we received as a morning snack by the lighthouse. Jim, Lina's boyfriend and co-organiser, showed us the process of coffee grounding and also taught us a bit about the Colombian coffee, which we enjoyed with a beautiful homemade banana bread (with vegan option).
Full of energy, we continued with the second, longer (5km) walk which led us through the dreamy, fairytale bush along the coast to one of the most beautiful, white beaches. Here we took off our shoes and walked barefoot through the ice cold stream that had to be crossed to get to the open water. Typical German, no water is too cold, I rolled up my sweatpants #Chiller style and ran in the cold water up to my knees. Feeling the cold in my bones quiet fast, I quickly joined the group who sat close to each other on a blanket looking at the sea with dreamy eyes. So relaxing.
We continued with the second part of the walk, with lunch as the final destination, and growling stomachs which let to a faster pace. Surrounded by trees with stunning views of the green mountains and the sea, Lina encouraged us to be quiet for a moment and focus only on the nature and our steps. Although I enjoyed the conversations with the group and also with Lina during the first part of the walk, this change of focus was really good and helped me to switch off and leave the "normal" world behind me for a moment.
I want to book a tour with Filsoultravel
Around 2pm we reached a small picnic area in the countryside, where Jim was waiting for us with a laid table. For lunch we had Colombian arepas, which are served with different topings and spreads. We had a variety of vegetarian and vegan options which were delicious. The atmosphere at the table was great and lively conversations and laughter were exchanged before we continued to the next stop where we got by bus which Jim has brought to us already.
I want to eat Arepas with Lina!
We continued to Arthur Seat, where we briefly enjoyed the view before heading to a nearby open grass field for our yoga session. Lina was very well prepared. Yoga mats were provided and she also kept an eye on the time so we wouldn't miss the sunset. The yoga exercises were suitable for beginners and helped us to surrender even deeper into this beautifu relaxing day.
Just in time for sunset and already a bit frozen (even in Australia it gets cold in winter) we packed up our mats and walked to the lookout point where Jim was waiting for us like an angel with warm teas, biscuits, chocolate and fruit skewers. I quickly grabbed a cup and a biscuit to say goodbye to a perfect day with a view of the sun sinking into the ocean. Tired from all the fresh air and activities, the drive back was very quiet. I enjoyed listening to the relaxing music played in the front of the bus while dusk faded into the darkness of night outside.
My conclusion for this trip, all thumbs up and 5 stars. Great for everyone with an open heart or those who want to open their hearts.
If you fancy a trip into nature with Lina,get in touch here! Lina offers trips around Melbourne and on the East Coast.
