30.4333’S, 152.9000’E

Looking  for a quick getaway, spot of nature and creativity to boot? I found it! The perfect solo mission or as a collective.

Thanks to the local Artist markets in Port Macquarie, Kristy (my bff) and I found ourselves in Bellingen with 12 chickens, 2 cats, a dog and a lovely potter named Anne.

Anne Reilly, a potter from Bellingen who sells her wares on the Mid North Coast market circuit also conveniently runs both pottery workshops and Airbnb from her home studio creating the prefect escape that I can totally recommend.

Dictated by time frames (Kristy living on the Gold Coast & myself in Port Macquarie)  arranged to do a two part pottery workshop. First weekend for learning and making the second weekend for glazing and firing.

The quick creative getaway to The Mid North Coasts’ own hippy village was good for the mind body and soul. A day trip is great to get out of your own space and relax but a night away or weekend lets you extend your experience, take in the actual surroundings and soak up the vibe, I suggest you do if you visit ‘Bello’.

Choosing the overnight option we arrived Saturday and got straight in to the studio with Anne. First up we learnt the basic hand techniques and made beautiful pinch pots and then progressed to plates and bowls. As a first time potter (year 8 excluded) felt it was a perfect creative outlet for me, like many creative I like it to be ‘perfect the first time round’ however unlike painting or drawing this tactile medium was therapeutic and forgiving with lack of technical skills which allowed me to hand mould with confidence.

By mid afternoon we were ready to explore the beautiful Hinterlands, after initiating Anne with her first ever tasty potato scallop & tomato sauce sandwich we headed to the promise land to swim in the magical ‘must see’ watering hole;  Never Never Creek. We were lucky to visit when it was full, clear and open for visitors. Dinner time quickly came around and we checked out the local brewery the Bellingen brewery & co. for a refreshing cocktail and woodfire pizza.

Making  ourselves at home amongst the chickens, cats and speckles of beautiful pottery scattered throughout the house, our stay was relaxing and creative to say the least and we look forward to part 2 of the workshop where will add the glaze and delve deeper into  exploring  the beautiful town.

If you are creative conscious, love good food and appreciate the aesthetics of life you will not be disappointed with a weekend to Bellingen with Anne in her studio.

Contact Anne for your experience, tell her Roxanna sent you!

[ Type ] Short Road trip, Creative, Nature, Workshop
[ Perfect  for ] Solo or as a Collective
[ Vibe] Relaxing & Creative
[ Highlight ] Meeting Sunny the chicken and learning about different coloured eggs
[ Key takeaway ] There is a lot to be said about creative vibes