Style Trunk

Anyway, aside from quality, longevity and timelessness, one of the key elements of choosing the pieces I did take was versatility. Will it work with the rest of my absolute must-takes? Will it suit different occasions, climates, footwear? This wrap skirt from Zara was one such piece that ticked all the boxes. It came in my favourite colour (black), had enough detail to make it interesting (the wraparound style, the big white button) and unlike a lot of skirts I come across, was actually a shape that I liked.

Byron Bay

I'll be honest, there were times when I hated the travelling. Australia is huge and there were days when we drove on a seemingly endless stretch of road for hours on end, with nothing to entertain us but views of fields outside and a carefully curated playlist. Our campervan was basic and had definitely seen better days (word to the wise: if you're considering a road trip in Aus and want to get a camper, hire one well in advance. We booked ours a couple of weeks in advance and it was slim, slim pickings), and in that summer heat it wasn't the most comfortable of places to get a good night's sleep (we soon affectionately renamed our camper 'the sweatbox'. Another word to the wise: buy a battery-operated fan before you start your trip to keep those unbearably sweaty nights at bay).

For someone who has always lived in British cities, Australia is also very buggy - especially in the more rural places - and midges on the east coast are rife. Then there's the camping itself. You have to get used to sharing bathrooms, kitchens and living with just the bare necessities. You'll also have to get used to wearing the same clothes for days on end, purely because you can't bring yourself to rummage through the van to try and find something clean/not creased beyond repair.

Byron Bay

But then, all that was a small price to pay for what was an incredible experience. There's nothing like finally arriving at your destination and camping right next to the beach, in the middle of a forest or at the foot of a mountain for a mere $30 a night, spending your days exploring some of the best of nature and your nights barbecuing under the stars with a few cold beers and a kangaroo hopping past. Plus, I'm a firm believer that spending a few weeks in not much more than your favourite bikini, no makeup and no cares in the world is extremely good for the soul.

I'll delve into my favourite places we visited in separate blog posts over the next few weeks but for now, this was our route:

Sydney - This is where we flew into and spent a week before embarking on the road trip. We didn't camp so I don't know what it's like if you have a camper but it goes without saying that this is a must-visit. Read my travel guide to Sydney for more on this wonderful city.

Yamba. Swimsuit: ASOS

Byron Bay

Coffee Iconic, Brisbane

Fairy Pool, Noosa. Swimsuit: & Other Stories

Noosa - Noosa is a bit more resort-y than the other places we visited (and as a result, more expensive) but worth stopping at for a couple of days. There are some great beaches and the coastal walk through the national park is something else - keep an eye out for koalas in the eucalyptus trees and make sure you stop off for a swim at the fairy pool. Eumundi, a short drive from Noosa, is worth a day trip too for the iconic markets (a lot of tat but a few gems) and shops along Memorial Drive (stop into Humdrum Espresso for great coffee).

Fraser Island

Fraser Island - A must stop on any east coast road trip. The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island (or K'Gari, to give it its traditional name) is wild Australia at its best and is home to perched lakes, the purest strain of dingo and the starriest skies you'll probably ever see. You can get to the island on your own via ferry but you'll need a 4WD to navigate yourself around (there are no 'roads', just tracks). We went on a tour with Drop Bear Adventures which I'd highly recommend if you're a first timer on the island - they showed us how to drive 4WDs along the beach and through the forested areas, took us to all the best places and kept us fed and entertained the whole time, as well as giving us the history of the island and the indigenous people that once inhabited it.

1770. Bikini: Solid and Striped

Seventeen Seventy - A funny little place with not a lot going on, but Seventeen Seventy's got a charm all of its own. It's tiny (essentially just one street), with just one restaurant/pub and a beach but it's the kind of place that really forces you to slow down. We spent our time here paddle boarding, surfing in nearby Agnes Water and taking advantage of our beachfront location with a few sundowners.

Whitehaven Beach

Whitsundays - It was quite a drive from Seventeen Seventy to Airlie Beach so we stopped at a campsite at Capricorn Caves (a forested area with baby kangaroos making a few appearances) just north of Rockhampton along the way. Rockhampton was a bit of a ghost town when we were there mid-week but it's worth stopping off for a couple of hours to take a look at the Victorian-era architecture (particularly along Quay Street) and pop into the Criterion for a drink. From there it was up to Airlie Beach which we used as a base to visit the Whitsundays. It was beautiful and Whitehaven Beach is just as white-sanded and crystal clear-watered as you will have seen on the pictures but if I'm really honest, I found it a lot more commercial than I thought it would be. Airlie Beach itself is a bit tacky and full of backpackers but you can stay on one of the resorts on the islands for a heftier price. Having said that, it's definitely worth visiting because you don't come across those kinds of beaches very often - we went on a boat trip which is probably the best way to do it, just check the itinerary carefully before you book as some companies say you'll 'see' Whitehaven Beach which actually means you'll see it from a distance but not actually set foot on it.

Palm Cove. Dress: Ganni

Palm Cove - Palm Cove was a bit of an impromptu stop on our trip after it was recommended by a friend. It's just north of Cairns (I wouldn't bother stopping in the city itself) and is made up of just a few streets but it's wonderful. Leaning palm trees dramatically line the beach and cafes, bars and restaurants fill Williams Esplanade behind it - we drank at Chill Cafe (they do a great happy hour for that post-beach wind down), ate at Il Forno and breakfasted at Espresso & Co, and they were all wonderful.

Cape Tribulation - By the fourth week on our road trip we'd reached Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland. A remote place, it's where the rainforest meets the beach and development has (thankfully) been kept to a minimum, so there isn't much to do but hike and soak up the incredible surroundings. We spent a night there which was probably enough for us but you could easily spend a few days if you want to truly switch off (phone reception is practically non-existent). From there we turned back around and made our way south again, stopping off at Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest for a couple of hours first (a must, I've never seen anything like it - a bit like a real-life version of FernGully for any fellow fans of that early '90s classic).

Lake Maraboon, Emerald

Somewhere in the Outback. Vest: Rick Owens. Jeans: COS

Three Sisters, Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains - Our last stop before heading back to Sydney was the Blue Mountains, about an hour or so out of the city. We weren't prepared for how cold it was going to be, especially after spending weeks in the high 30s, so pack a few jumpers and jackets as well as warm weather gear. We stayed in Katoomba which was the perfect base for hiking as well as having plenty of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops (Cassiopeia on Lurline Street served up the best, as well as a few cakes/pastries). We also ate at Station Bar (great if you like craft beer and pizzas) and drank at The Lookout in Echo Point where although the prices were definitely geared towards the tourists, the view and setting couldn't get any better.