A Locals Guide to Australia
For Christmas and New Years I went back home (to Geelong) to visit my loving family and supportive friends. I stayed in Australia for a total of 3 and a half weeks, jumping from the town in which I grew up, all the way along the Surf Coast (the famous Great Ocean Road) and the Bellarine Peninsula, over to the Mornington Peninsula, up to Melbourne and then finally landed in Sydney. Yes, it was action packed for sure! I am very blessed to have the time to see all of my special people and do all of my favorite things. So, in this week’s blog post, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite NEW local discoveries… just incase you ever get the chance to go down under too!
Home sweet home - Surf Coast, Victoria (Australia)
FLOW -
Ebb & Flow Wellness Studio, Yoga in Geelong
Gorgeous studio with wooden floors, while walls and loft style windows filled with natural light – a relaxed environment run by lovely people in a charming part of Geelong
Power Living, Yoga in Manly (Sydney)
Energetic classes and a total yoga lovers paradise – bring a towel as the room gets hot and you will definitely leave nice and sweaty
SYDNEY LOVE!
EAT –
Southside, Café in Geelong
New to Pakington Street, this place has all the boxes ticked: crowd pleasing menu and "cool" décor - go for lunch and coffee with your mates!
Pizza Religion, Restaurant in Geelong
My brother said, “Best pizza I’ve ever had!” – SOLD! ;-) Mum and I really enjoyed the salads too.
Bar Brose, Sydney
Cool, hip and trendy but not too much of a scene, this restaurant in Darlinghurst ticks all boxes when it comes to friendly service, great ambience, yummy food and tempting cocktails. The small plates are great for sharing, oh and you HAVE TO try the white negroni.
Lucy Liu, Melbourne
Music pumping, fun vibes and delicious bites sums up this dimly lit, narrow restaurant tucked away down one of Melbourne’s many hidden laneways. The menu is extensive and offers something for everyone, including those with food sensitivities like me (gluten be gone)!
Kitty Burns, Melbourne
Super cute décor and beautifully presented food - almost too good to eat. Check out the menu online and their Instagram feed to drool over all the tasty options on offer. This place is definitely worth the trip into Richmond with all your mates (get your camera out ready to take pics). As with all good cafes in Melbourne, it gets pretty busy during peak serving times, so get there early if possible to be seated nice and quickly.
Reunion & Co, Melbourne
A café on Bridge Road in Richmond serving great coffee and hearty food. Value for money, friendly staff and a nice ambience to sit down, relax and read the daily paper. Ahhh local city life!
INDULGE –
Pana Chocolate
Raw, vegan, gluten free, Certified Organic, low glycemic natural sweeteners, nutrient dense, superfood infused… you have totally won me over Pana. Pop into the store to stock up on all your favorite sweet treats (guilt free). There is honestly something for everyone to enjoy here. These delicious goodies also make the perfect gift for someone special, that is if you don’t eat them first (trust me, very tempting).
We got to sample all of this! Couldn't pick a favorite... Still drooling!
SHOP –
Bhumi Organic Cotton
It’s not only important to try to eat an organic diet, but it is just as important to shop for organic beauty, home and fashion goods. Here at Bhumi Organic Cotton, you can be sure that everything in store has been thoughtfully created. The cotton clothes, bedding and towels etc. are all Certified Organic, meaning there are no harmful or toxic chemicals used in production. They are also proud to work with the local people and small communities in India to ensure things like work safety, fair wages and labor, as well as the environmental are all protected. Their products are simply beautiful and feel super soft to the touch.
Organic cotton soft to the touch
EXPLORE - THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
The Mornington Peninsula is a scenic area dotted with small towns offering delicious food and lots off opportunities to strip off in the heat of summer for a refreshing swim. I had the privilege of visiting Peninsula Fresh Organics to check out their Certified Organic farm and food shop, while chatting up a storm with the lovely owners Wayne and Tash. We had a delicious lunch at the Epicurean which is foodie heaven and a must on your to do list. I thoroughly recommend making it all the way around to Sorrento and Portsea for the beaches, gorgeous coastal walking trails, boutique shops and restaurants.
Take a dip at one of the many beaches along the Mornington Peninsula - this one is Shelley Beach in Portsea
TASMANIA
Tasmania is like a mini New Zealand in the way that it is an island so densely packed with nature, in particular charming countryside and national forest. Driving around, the scenery is just beautiful, making road trips from one area to another really enjoyable. Hobart is home to the popular Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), historic Battery Point, cool cafes and very good restaurants priding themselves on local offerings. A trip here via ferry or plane is perfect for a romantic getaway. If you love to hike and get active in the great outdoors, or just simply relax and rejuvenate, then Tasmania is perfect for you.
Where to stay:
Eagle Peaks, Freycinet National Park (to visit Wineglass Bay, Coles Bay)
Pump House Point, Lake St Clair
Battery Point, Hobart
The natural beauty captured on our hike in the Lake St Clair area