STAY: SAPPHIRE COAST

Words Phoebe Tully Photographs Luisa Brimble

Halfway between Melbourne and Sydney is a little slice of paradise within a little slice of paradise. Lotte’s Hjem is a 150-year-old weatherboard cottage nestled in the arts hub of New South Wales’s untouched Sapphire Coast.

Hjem (pronounced ‘him’) is the Norwegian word for home, and to Miranda O’Rourke and Harrison Balodis, that’s certainly what it’s become.

‘We found Lotte’s by sheer luck,’” says Miranda. ‘Harrison house-sat for Lotte, and fell in love with the place. He said if she ever wanted to sell, he would buy it. We all nearly died of joy the day she decided to sell!’

But the love affair does not end with the cottage. ‘The Sapphire Coast has always been and will always be home,’ says Miranda. ‘We both feel so connected to it because we have the best childhood memories there.’

The couple has filled Lotte’s with French antiques, restored the fireplace and added a kitchen garden. Comfortably sleeping seven guests, it’s a place for adventurers as well as homebodies. The well-provisioned kitchen and covered courtyard are tempting for those staying in, while the short walk into town is perfect for those wanting to explore the area.

Miranda previously worked for Parterre Australia, an interior and landscape design company that imported European antiques. ‘I learned a lot about design in that job. Both Harrison and I love antiques, a passion which was passed down from our mothers.’ Harrison worked as a gardener on the set of River Cottage Australia, which fuelled both his career in film and television, as well as his love of garden design and cooking.

‘Growing up in the country was a decision made for us by our mothers,’ says Miranda. She speaks fondly of getting off the school bus, saddling her horse and riding to a friend’s house. ‘We had walkie-talkies and Mum would buzz me when I had to come home for dinner. It was complete freedom. I always knew I wanted to have children and I wanted them to have a life like that.’

Harrison and Miranda went to the same high school, but didn’t ‘officially’ meet until they both lived in Sydney. ‘We have a shared love of interior design and collecting. We both struggled with city life after a great childhood filled with outdoor activities. I had a beat-up uni-student car and on our days off we would explore Berry, Kiama, Orange or Newcastle just to get our “hit” of country air!’

Lotte’s Hjem is in the coastal town of Pambula. ‘I think Pambula was the forgotten town on the coast. It didn’t have many shops, only a little supermarket. But recently it’s really taken off. The local bakery helped drive change for Pambula and slowly little shops have popped up, which really add to the village charm.’

Miranda and Harrison start their ideal Pambula weekend in the national parks. ‘Ben Boyd National Park is huge and there is endless adventure,’ says Harrison. ‘A bit further south is The Pinnacles, a unique rock formation, and lots of rock pools. The area is unique, the water is clear and there is so much untouched raw beauty around.’

Miranda adds, ‘I would go for a morning swim, then on my way back, I’d stop by the local café, Toast, and do a spot of shopping at Goldfinch Store or Switchfoot Boardstore. I’d come home with some bread from Wild Rye’s Baking Co as well as some local oysters, and laze around with a book or take a bath. Harrison would be in the garden or planning what to cook next.

‘I think the world is moving so fast and we all need to slow down and enjoy our own company. The Sapphire Coast is the perfect place for this.’ n Lotte’s Hjem is available for booking through Airbnb. @lotteshjem