Girl Traveller

A travel writer’s guide to the world’s most interesting places

Girl… rides some sweet waves in Lagos, Portugal

Where: TSE The Surf Experience, Portgal Why: Since learning the basics in California at The Cali Camp, I’ve become hooked on surfing. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of paddling out into the ocean and catching a wave and now that the weather has warmed up, I decided it was time to get back in a wetsuit, jump on a board and find some waves a little closer to home. Enter Portugal – the land of sun, sea, good food and some of the world’s gnarliest surf spots – and after considering the breaks at Porto, I settled on the Algarve region four hours south of Lisbon.

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Girl… goes to a five-day finca party in Benifallet, Spain

Where: Benifallet, Spain Why: I was recently invited to party in Spain. If you’re thinking tapas and posh cocktails in a fancy Spanish bar, you couldn’t be further from the truth. This was a five-day party set on rocky terraced land heavy with Valencia orange orchards and olive groves and a tiny crumbling finca (a traditional stone house) in the Catalunyan woodlands, just two-hours south of Barcelona, slightly inland from the Costa Dorada.

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Girl… spends a week doing nothing much on Koh Samui

Where: Koh Samui, Thailand Why: Thailand is pretty much to Australians what Spain to Brits, meaning, it’s where we all go on holiday. It’s cheap, it’s close, it’s fun, got great food, good weather, lovely beaches and for me, it’s the perfect stop-over destination on the 24-hour hell-flight home to London from Sydney. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been to Thailand in my life, but I’d say more than 25… And in recent years, I’ve always ended up in Koh Samui.

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Girl… stays in an artist’s studio in Byron Bay, Australia

Where: Beach Studio @ Artist House, Byron Bay, Australia Why: During my second long, hot summer at university, when I was into hippy skirts and peasant blouses (still am, sort of), my best friend and I packed a rucksack each, bought a load of vegan snacks and hit the road, hitchhiking (really!) all the way from Canberra to the mecca of Aussie alternative living, Byron Bay. Known for gorgeous beaches, healthy living and a super-chill vibe, I decided to return to see if I still loved the place as much as I did back then and dragged my friend Tom along with me.

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Girl… rounds up the best eating and drinking in Canberra, Australia

I was recently in Australia and spent some time in my hometown of Canberra. Although most of the world thinks Sydney is the nation’s capital, it’s actually this pretty city, which is a two and a half hour drive south of Sydney and a nine hour drive north of Melbourne. A little bit like New York, it gets super hot in the summer (temperatures can go above 40°C) and freezing cold in the winter (it’s been known to snow!), but unlike New York, the entire city is covered with fragrant eucalyptus trees and I think Canberra has even been given the official title of ‘urban forest’ because there are more trees than people!

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Girl… goes to surf camp in California

Where: The Cali Camp, Dana Point, USA Why: Ever since dating a surfer at university, I’ve wanted to learn how to surf. Yet over the years, I never quite found the time or always had partners who weren’t interested in learning with me, so finding myself between boyfriends and with a spare week on my hands, I decided to take the plunge, go it alone and live the California dream at The Cali Camp.

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Girl… goes five star at Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania

Where: Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania, Australia* Why: For too long, Tasmania has been that under-touristed, overlooked bit off the bottom of mainland Australia. With a landscape resembling parts of Scotland and a climate more in line with Cornwall, it’s little wonder that the flashy tropical islands in the north, with their soaring temperatures, coral reefs and white-sand beaches, have left the rocky outpost of Tasmania literally in the shade. But in recent years, the island’s wild mountains, vast lakes and hidden beaches have proved an irresistible draw for both Australian and international tourists alike,

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Girl… loves Céline’s Baby Audrey sunnies

You’ll probably notice that I wear the same sunglasses a lot – either my trusty Ray-Ban Wayfarers when I’m doing something sporty or… my Céline Baby Audreys! I got them last year and it took me A LONG TIME to get my hands on a pair, as these babies were sold out everywhere. But I finally tracked down a pair (they’re easier to find, now, and you can even get them on Amazon!) and wear them all the time.

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