We left our Airbnb in Wodonga early, the kind of early where the day is still stretching awake.

The scent of roses lingered in the cool air and birdsong drifted through the garden like a soft welcome to morning.

The garden was so beautiful that even as we were packing our bags, I had to wander out one last time.

I sat for a while, breathing deeply, opening my ears to the soundtrack of early morning.

It felt soothing, unhurried, peaceful — a moment asking nothing of me except to be present.

We drove home via country roads, choosing the slower way, the way that lets you notice things.

The road carried us through the small town of Yarck and then on through the Yarra Valley.

There is something about small country towns in the early morning light.

Quiet streets and soft shadows hold that fleeting moment before the day begins to hurry.

We stopped in Yarck for morning coffee and chai.

Cups warming our hands, we wandered the quiet streets while the town gently came to life around us.

We’ve stayed overnight here before.

This time, it was only a brief stop, long enough to stretch our legs and let the quiet settle around us.

The countryside stretched out around us, rolling and green, wide and generous.

Back in the car, the landscape slowly shifted as we continued on.

Vineyards and open paddocks gave way to busier roads, the rhythm of travel changing almost without us noticing.

The journey felt like a gentle unwinding, each kilometre easing us closer to home.

By the time we reached Melbourne, the day was fully awake. The final stop before arriving home was a café, where I met up with my son and daughter-in-law. There’s something grounding about that moment — sitting down together, coffee on the table, stories exchanged, the journey folding neatly into family and familiar laughter.

It felt like the perfect ending to a beautiful few days away — a reminder that travel doesn’t always need grand destinations. Sometimes it’s early mornings, country roads, and the simple joy of arriving home.

Today’s route: