Phillip Island

AFL Grand Final comes with the bonus of a Friday public holiday—perfect for a weekend getaway. Tom and I packed up the car and hit the road for a 90-minute drive southeast of Melbourne to Phillip Island, famous for its unique wildlife, wild beaches, and the roar of engines at the Grand Prix circuit.

September 26-28

Friday: Penguin Parade
We hit the road early—8:30am to beat the traffic—and stopped off on the southeast side of the island. It's an easy walk to Forrest Caves, dramatic sea caves that are visible at low tide.

Despite the cold, overcast drizzle, we pushed on to the Cape Woolamai Circuit—the island’s best hike. I did this one last year on a day trip, and was excited to share it with Tom. The 8 km trail follows the cape along two beaches, rolling hills, and cliffs with sweeping ocean views. Cleeland Bight Beach is only passable at low tide, so we reversed the loop. 

One of the unique things about this trek is the contrast of calm, sheltered waters on one side of the cape, and wild surf on the other. Along the way we spotted wallabies, including one with a joey in her pouch!

The crowds picked up when we reached Woolamai Surf Beach.

After a hearty lunch at Rusty Water Brewery, we checked into our bnb in Cowes. We took some down time before heading to the Penguin Parade. Phillip Island hosts the world’s largest colony of little penguins, the smallest (1 ft) and only blue and white penguin species. Every evening, they waddle ashore at Summerland Beach and return to their burrows.

 

We arrived at sunset and waited patiently as darkness fell, giving the penguins cover from birds of prey.

At 7:01pm, we heard them before we saw them—small, noisy groups waddling ashore in mostly neat lines. 843 penguins were counted that evening; a research team has been monitoring the colony since 1968, making it the longest ongoing bird study in the world.

After about 20 minutes, we moved to the “penguin highway” boardwalk to follow the tiny birds as they scurried toward their nests. It was breeding season, so pairs take turns sitting on their eggs. 

No photos are allowed to protect their sensitive eyes, so it was disappointing to see many visitors ignoring this rule (even though free professional photos and videos are provided). I highly recommend paying extra to watch from the Penguins Premium platform. 

Saturday: Pyramid Rock
Tom and I set off for the island’s rugged south coast and were treated to an unexpected sight along the road—a pair of peacocks courting, the male fanning his tail and rattling his feathers. Our hike began at Pyramid Rock, following the trail to Berry’s Beach. 

It was a windy walk, with wallabies darting through the scrub along the way. Plan for 1.5 hours to complete the 6 km trek.

After lunch at The Store, we took a scenic drive around the Summerland Peninsula.

The Nobbies outcrop was packed with visitors, drawn by the panoramic views toward Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest colony of fur seals. The area was also teeming with Cape Barren geese.

 

We rounded out the day with a tasting at Purple Hen Winery—some criss-crossing of the island, but its compact size made it easy. Back in Cowes, we settled in for the big game: Brisbane Lions vs Geelong Cats.

Sunday: Cowes Beach

After checking out of our bnb, Tom went for a long run while I stopped by Red Rocks Beach and then went for a paddle along Cowes Beach. 

The protected waters of Cowes Beach and Smith Beach are the island's top places for swimming and paddling, though Sunday was a bit windy. Still a refreshing way to finish the weekend!

Spring Smells

September 1 is the first day of spring in Australia. This year, it was all about the smells. At the pool, every breath between strokes carried the sweetness of blooms. On my weekend bike rides, the change was even more dramatic—one week branches were budding with flowers, the next they'd turned into fresh green leaves. 

 

 

 

Mid-month, Tom was away in Madrid for work, so I decided to host a dinner party. Cooking and entertaining isn't usually my comfort zone, but with Kate, Clarissa, and Nadia around the table, the house felt warm and lively. It was such a fun night!

 

That same weekend, I joined Emily at Victoria Park for the AFLW game, Hawthorn vs. Collingwood. Crisp spring air, footy, and good company felt like the perfect way to settle into the new season.

Sydney Marathon

This month, Melbourne teased us with glimpses of spring: warm, sunny spells broken by days hovering between blue skies and blustery winds. The late-winter blooms, like golden wattle, were a reminder that a seasonal shift is coming.

After a two-month break, I braved an early-August bay swim with the squad. The water was 8°C—beautiful, calm, and far too cold for me! I’ll wait until October before diving back in regularly.

 

Tom and I are in the thick of house-hunting, hoping to downsize and experience the beach lifestyle. It’s proving to be a competitive and not particularly fun process, but we're holding onto patience and perseverance.

 

The big milestone of the month was Tom's run in the Sydney Marathon—one of the seven World Marathon Majors. His training paid off, as he maintained a consistent pace and finished strong in 3 hours and 51 minutes—achieving his goal and setting a new personal record. The course was beautiful, taking runners over the iconic Harbour Bridge and finishing at the Opera House, with perfect weather and 35,000 participants adding to the atmosphere. I sat this one out, staying home with the boys and cheering him on from afar.

Otherwise, August was a quiet stretch—work, heaps of reading, and some good meals with friends at Rice Paper Scissors and Lilac Wine.

 

 

Brisbane

After two wonderful weeks in Europe, it felt good to be home in July—even if that meant cold mornings, dark evenings, and bare trees. The first few days back were a blur of jet lag and winter sniffles, but once we settled in, the pace of the month turned quiet and cozy.

 

There were a few bright, sunny days tucked between the grey ones. I kept up my cycling and pool sessions, but my bay swims have been on pause for now. Some of my squadmates are still braving the icy water, which is inspiring—maybe next winter!

 

July 14th was our first wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it’s already been a year! I surprised Tom with a tour and tasting at Starward Whisky Distillery, followed by a special dinner at Patsy’s. 

The last week of July took me to southern Queensland for a work trip. I flew two hours north to Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, swapping Melbourne’s winter gloom for... rain. So much for the dry season!

Rachel, my boss, and her partner Neal picked me up from the airport, and we went to BrewDog for dinner before driving to their home in Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast (about an hour north). They live with their two rescued beagles, Ava and Magill, plus a foster beagle named Griffin.

On Sunday morning, we went to Ballinger Beach, where the dogs ran wild.

 

With the pups back at home, we drove up to Maleny to try our luck at the platypus viewing platform—no sightings this time.

After lunch in Montville, we spent some time exploring the Glass House Mountains—towering volcanic remnants that look like something out of Jurassic Park and hold deep First Nations significance. We stopped for a photo at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.

Then we hiked the short but steep trail up Wild Horse Mountain for sweeping views across the coast and hinterland. 

On Monday, Rachel and I caught the train down to "Brissie." The two-hour scenic ride costs just 50 cents! After checking into our hotel, we toured Queensland University of Technology’s biomedical engineering labs—cutting-edge facilities doing incredible research without the use of animals.

That afternoon, I wandered around Brisbane’s CBD. The layout of the river city felt familiar to other capital cities. It was pleasantly sunny and mild (50s and 60s). 

The tropical vegetation in the Botanic Gardens reminded me of Hawaii. 

South Bank has a man-made beach lagoon.

The view from Kangaroo Point Cliffs is stunning—especially in the morning light.

Views from the Sky Deck are also worth a visit. Sunset is lovely, but I went back in the morning and had it all to myself.

The conference spanned three full days of presentations and networking, hosted by the Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART)—the peak body for the responsible use of animals in science. I delivered two presentations on behalf of Animal-Free Science Advocacy. Nerve-racking at first, but ultimately a really rewarding experience. After so many hours indoors, I made a habit of starting each day with an early walk to clear my head and soak in some fresh air.

I flew home on Thursday evening, tired but grateful. Next time I’m back on the Sunshine Coast, I’ve got my eye on Noosa and maybe even the southern Great Barrier Reef.