Starting with a cup of tea, weekends at Renee and James’s Clareville home overlooking Pittwater on Sydney’s northern beaches are about as idyllic as they come. “We keep a mini fridge and kettle in our wardrobe so we can make a cuppa and relax in bed for that little bit longer,” says Renee. “Most often, the kids will end up coming in for a tea or a chat, which is just the nicest way to begin the day.”
From there, the couple and their five children, aged from 11 up to 23, can enjoy the day as they like, be it reading a book in the sitting room, eating meals outside shaded by the towering gum trees, exploring nearby mangroves and rock pools, or kayaking on the waters of Refuge…