Going back to Australia after 18 years felt surreal. One of those full-circle moments where everything feels familiar but completely new at the same time.
In 2008, I went to Australia in high school for World Youth Day, which is a giant Catholic event with the Pope. We went to Sydney and Cairns, experienced the Great Barrier Reef and many other fun activities aside from the focus of being a faith based pilgrimage. I was quite sick at the time, navigating health issues and chronic illness, but one thing that brought me incredible joy was the energy and views at Bondi Beach in Sydney. I took it all in, wondering and thinking that it would probably be the last time I saw that place… I’m glad I was wrong.
This trip, we did both Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne was a place I had not yet seen, as we had skipped it 18 years prior, so that is where we started, on our way from Hong Kong. The energy is understated but elevated, and the coffee culture is truly next level. Not trendy for the sake of it, but deeply rooted, intentional, and honestly… borderline obsessive in the best way.
We stayed at The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne on the 78th floor, and the views alone were enough to make you pause. You felt like you were floating above the city, watching it wake up slowly each morning. A special gift we received was seeing these gorgeous hot air balloons over the city every morning between 6-7am.
Melbourne’s Coffee Culture Is On Another Level
If there’s one thing Melbourne does better than almost anywhere, it’s craft/artisan coffee.
Fun fact: the flat white was actually invented in Australia (with New Zealand still trying to claim it, but we’ll let that debate live on). Either way, Australians take their coffee so seriously, and you can taste it.
Given the well known facts about Melbourne’s epic coffee and cafe culture, it was imperative that we tried as much as we could!
Out of everywhere we went, my absolute favorite was Higher Ground, only one block away from our hotel. I will genuinely dream about their salted maple cream cold foam cold brew forever. Out of all the incredible coffee we tried, that one stood out. It was rich, slightly sweet, perfectly balanced, and just one of those drinks you think about long after you leave.
The café scene here isn’t just about caffeine. It’s about experience. Long breakfasts, thoughtful ingredients, beautifully designed spaces. You could spend days just café hopping and still not scratch the surface. The energy is incredible.
Another thing is the availability of ancestral health food options. I ordered some groceries to have in the room while we were there and the haul was incredible.
The Great Ocean Road: One of the Most Beautiful Drives in the World
Aside from Albert’s conference that he was attending, we had a couple days to explore when we were not working. One of the highlights of Melbourne was doing a full-day trip along the Great Ocean Road, and it completely exceeded expectations.
We started by driving through lush dairy country, which felt like something out of a movie. Rolling green hills, quiet farmland, and then… alpacas. We stopped at a farm where we got to feed them and have a true farm-to-table meal that felt so aligned with everything I love about intentional, high-quality food.
From there, the landscape shifted dramatically into a rugged coastline.
Some of the most unforgettable stops along the way:
- Twelve Apostles: these massive limestone stacks rising out of the ocean are even more surreal in person
- Loch Ard Gorge: dramatic cliffs and one of the most beautiful hidden coves
- London Arch: a natural rock formation shaped by the sea
And then, something I didn’t expect… seeing wildlife just casually along the road. Kangaroos and koalas in the wild, not in a curated setting, just living. It made the entire experience feel even more magical and untouched.
Initially, I was on the fence about doing an 8-10 hour day, but it is beyond a shadow of a doubt worth it to see the southern tip of Australia. We had an epic experience and the beauty was beyond.
Sydney: Coastal Energy Meets City Life
After Melbourne, we headed to Sydney for a few days, and once again, the energy shift was immediate. More coastal, but also more urban…more vibrant, a little faster-paced but still incredibly beautiful.
We stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, which was perfectly located near the Sydney Opera House and the harbor. Everything felt walkable, easy, and right in the center of it all.
Bondi, Cafés, and That Sydney Lifestyle
A deep dream of mine had come true: to be back in Bondi Beach seeing the incredible sights and surfing / Aussie beach culture, even down to the murals on the side. Everyone was fit and tan and healthy. It was actually insane to see such an enormous amount of healthy, good looking people who take care of themselves and don’t fear the sun or being active.
And then… the food.
18 years ago, I still had a very strong interest in health and wellness, but I was exploring the plant based side of things at the time. I remember the incredible healthy cafes and juice/smoothie culture there that intrigued me at the time. It was amazing to see that their love of health has remained, but evolved.
My favorite café in Sydney was Common Supply. It was beyond. Truly one of those places that aligns with everything I care about: farm-to-table, clean ingredients, ancestral-style eating, no seed oils. It felt like a little pocket of wellness heaven in the middle of the city. I will tell anyone and everyone about this place if they have plans to go to Sydney. On the days we didn’t go there, we ordered it on Uber Eats because it was that good.
We also spent time just walking around, taking it all in. Sydney is one of those cities that doesn’t need an agenda. You just explore.
Culture, Wildlife, and Slowing Down
Some of the most memorable moments weren’t even planned.
We were on a walk exploring everything. One of my favorite things to do while traveling is find a Catholic church and attend mass. Here we visited St Mary’s Cathedral and experienced one of the most beautiful Masses I’ve been to. The Gregorian choir, the reverence, the tradition… it felt grounding in a way that’s hard to put into words. The cathedral was a monstrosity in the best way possible. It was a true work of art from architecture to the interiors and incredible music and reverence. They embrace tradition and have kept their altar rail which they still use to this day.
We then walked through the Royal Botanic Garden, with views of the harbor that almost didn’t feel real. I will never understand why someone will want to climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge though. That is a complete no for me dog.
We also went to Sydney local wildlife Zoo to see local wildlife up close, which complemented what we had already seen in the wild on the road, but more. We saw kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, platypus, crocodiles, tasmanian devils, wombats, different types of snakes and insects and so on.
Another day, we enjoyed taking the ferry to Manly Beach and enjoyed a long walk and exploring the area that I barely recognized 18 years later. There’s something about being out on the water, pulling away from the city, and landing somewhere that feels like its own little world. If you have plans to see Manly while staying in Sydney the ferry is extremely easy to take.
Another favorite thing we did was shop at all of the Zimmermann stores, both outlets and flagship stores. I had incredible luck at the Sydney CBD location as well as the Melbourne outlet. Zimmermann is my favorite fashion clothing brand because it suits my style and shape really well. It was great to shop their clothes in their home country and the staff was helpful and kind.
Australia once again exceeded every expectation I had.
It’s the kind of place where you can have world-class coffee in the morning, take in beautiful views and beautiful people, and end your day by the ocean. It’s grounded, beautiful, and intentional in a way that just resonates.
It reminded me exactly why coming back after 18 years felt so special. It’s far, but definitely worth seeing as it is a piece of the world that is special.