As the summer holidays swiftly approach, we can’t help but begin dreaming of those long, halcyon days by the beach, devouring our favourite holiday foods from fresh prawns to strawberry-topped pavlovas and indulging in the simple things that our busy schedules have a habit of interrupting mid-year — from reading to quality family time and daytime naps.
To celebrate our upcoming sun-filled escapes, we asked four of Australia’s most well-travelled to share their summer travel tips. Here they reveal everything from where they’ll be spending their summers to their beach bag essentials and what’s on their holiday reading lists. We hope your summer plans sound as dreamy as theirs. Happy holidays!
Rhiannon Taylor, Travel Photographer and Founder of In Bed With
1. Where will you be spending your summer holidays?
“I have a quick jaunt to Tulum, Mexico in December before spending it in Australia soaking up the sunshine between our boat shed in Mt Eliza and mum’s beach house in Port Fairy.”
2. What’s your favourite summer holiday memory?
“Spending long days at our boat shed on the Mornington Peninsula as kids. It would be a lazy blur of naps in the sun, followed by a cool down in the water and long kayaking adventures with lots of take away fish and chips to keep us fuelled. Even now as an adult, it’s the best.”
3. What’s in your beach bag?
“My Mecca Cosmetica SPF range — sunscreens for body, face and lips. A podcast on my phone, a camera of some sort and a magazine. Usually Conde Nast Traveller UK — it always has the best inspiration for travel and I just photographed a story on Sydney for one of their upcoming issues so I’m looking forward escaping in pages of wanderlust.”
4. What’s on your beach read list for the holidays?
“Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It’s about learning how to know when to trust your intuition in making decisions both in business and personal life. I think it’s been on the New York Times best seller list for over three years and I’m keen to prepare the mind for next year.
5. What’s on your summer playlist?
“I love my Spotify subscription because it seems to suggest such great playlists. My favourite is Good Morning Jazz — chill tunes and a little bit of nostalgia. It’s perfect tapping along in the background while cooking dinner.”
6. What will you be wearing over the summer holidays?
“Wrap dresses by Ganni, they transition so well from day to night and are really flattering. I also just invested in a great organic hemp summer dress by Mara Hoffman. I made a decision a few years ago to stop purchasing fast fashion and make sure I buy sustainable pieces that pay a fair wage wherever I can. I buy less and less these days, so when I do shop I look for pieces that will last me a long time.”
Brent Wallace, Luxury Travel Agent and Digital Influencer
1. Where will you be spending your summer holidays?
“I’ll be at home in Picton, NSW hanging out in the Southern Highlands until early January before I escape to Halcyon House at Cabarita Beach — my ultimate Aussie beach house hideaway.”
2. What’s your favourite summer holiday memory?
“Days on end spent on Thirroul Beach and freshly peeled prawn sandwiches on soft white bread.”
3. What’s in your beach bag?
“My iPhone with preloaded Spotify play lists, a kindle, my Panama hat bought at COMO Cocoa Island this year, MECCA Cosmetics sunscreen (it doesn’t ghost) and a spare navy T-shirt.”
4. What’s on your beach read list for the holidays?
“Becoming by Michelle Obama and In Pieces by Sally Field. I’ll also catch up with months of downloaded travel magazines I haven’t had time to read.”
5. What’s on your summer playlist?
“I love 80’ and 90’s R&B so Whitney Houston will feature heavily on rotation. I’m actually loving Mariah Cary’s new album Caution, too. You can catch my curated Summer Playlist on Spotify here.”
6. What will you be wearing over the summer holidays?
“Crushed linen shirts and shorts by Olifont in Paddington, I live in them and they come in the most fabulous colours. Navy T-shirts will also feature heavily, teamed with anything white.”
Megan Morton, Interior Stylist, Author and Founder of The School
1. Where will you be spending your summer holidays?
“India — I am there at least two times a year under its glorious influence.”
2. What’s your favourite summer holiday memory?
“Super simple family holidays on a Queensland beach as a pipsqueak. I am re-enacting one of my favourite childhood holidays this year with my own children.”
3. What’s in your beach bag?
“La Mer lip balm, my Eres malliot, vintage terry towelling maxi dress, pure jasmine oil, rosewater in a spray bottle for cooling down, Indian hair oil, Biotique Morning Nectar lotion (this is my absolute cult body lotion) and the endless sun towel (big enough for two to three people) by The Avalon.”
4. What’s on your beach read list for the holidays?
“Re-reading anything from Joan Didion. I try and re read her entire works every two years — she is my Elvis.”
5. What’s on your summer playlist?
“Simple Minds.”
6. What will you be wearing over the summer holidays?
“My newest product — cherry earrings! A faux cherry with sterling silver post. It’s like an outfit pick me up.”
Hermione Olivia, Co-founder of Atelier Romy and Travel Influencer
1. Where will you be spending your summer holidays?
“I’m flying home to Sydney and spending time with my family at Balmoral and Freshwater and then with friends in Byron Bay — heaven!”
2. What’s your favourite summer holiday memory?
“As per above! Living in London, I look forward to being home with my family for an Australian summer all year.”
3. What’s in your beach bag?
“A good book, my favourite sunglasses, sunscreen, earphones and a nectarine.”
4. What’s on your beach read list for the holidays?
“Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton.”
5. What’s on your summer playlist?
“Follow @hermioneolivia on Spotify!”
6. What will you be wearing over the summer holidays?
“My new Loewe basket bag, linen dresses and shirts, Matteau bikinis, Capri Positano Sandals and Celine sunglasses.”
