Looking After Indoor Plants: The Do's and the Do Not's.

I'm unashamedly OBSESSED with indoor plants. This all started just over 2 years ago when I acquired myself a little fern for my college dorm, and then really took off when I moved into my first apartment. My first two plants were Fernando the Fern and Marvin (he's a type of Lily), both of which still live with me today and both of whom I am EXCEPTIONALLY fond of. Fernando is quite the understated one, but Marvin has become literally enormous, has had a pot upgrade because he outgrew his first and is now approximately 6 times the size he was 2 years ago. I guess you could call him slightly ostentatious, but around here, that's absolutely more than acceptable!

I'm currently a plant mum to 17 little (and also not-so-little, I'm looking at you Marvin...) plant children, plus the step-mum to 8 of my housemates little succulents. For the record, the apartment we live in is quite small, meaning that putting 25 plants inside it is no small feat. Despite my housemate's complaints, I am constantly adding to my collection, with the newest addition joining the fam just last week (his name is Freddie and he's a Fiddle Leaf Fig and yes I already love him dearly). Essentially I'm trying to create an indoor jungle, bring the outside in and surround myself with ALL. THE. GREEN. I also like to think I'm preparing for an apocalypse, because truthfully if the world imploded tomorrow and we all had to live indoors for the rest of our lives, there are enough plants doing enough photosynthesis/clean air making in my place that we'd definitely be okay.

Despite 2 plant deaths, and then one miraculous resurrection, I've had a fairly good run when it comes to indoor plant growing. It's not the easiest thing to get right (hence an unfortunate death...), but I guess I like to think I'm doing pretty good at it and yeah I might even go so far as to say I think I'm a bit of a plant messiah. I've definitely learnt a thing or 2 in the past few years about what my indoor plant children like and what they're not so keen on, which I've decided to share because the world needs more plants. I also genuinely think having indoor plants around the house has made me happier, and that incorporating some into your own life will also make you happier. I also read that Gen Y (of which I am sometimes begrudgingly a member) aren't having babies so much any more because we prefer investing our time and money into plants instead. I can definitely relate, and to be entirely honest, would recommend a plant over an actual baby for many reasons, though mostly the whole less vomit, less noise and more sleep in's thing. Anyways. Without further ado, here's my guide on how to care for indoor plants.

People of the interwebs, meet (part of) my plant family. Now isn't this a pose that you'd like to be a part of?!

1. Watering.

Watering is literally the make-it or break-it of indoor plant growing, so much so that I maintain there are only 2 ways you will kill your indoor plant: you will give it too much water, thereby leading to death by drowning, or you will give it too little water, thereby sentencing it to death by forced banishment to a recreation of the Sahara desert.

Understanding your plants watering preferences is CRUCIAL. Luckily it is also generally rather simple.

Watering will depend on your local climate, but basically in warm months (days with temperatures over 20 degrees), you will likely need to water once a week, and in cooler months (days less than 20 degrees), you will need to seriously back off on the liquids, and likely only need to give the plant children a drink every 2-3 weeks. Plant children do not like to sit in water (this is not a pond remember), so you only ever want to give them enough water that their soil is wet through, and then stop there. This is also important because generally speaking, excess water indoors constitutes a bit of a mess/hazard, so from a cleaning perspective, you also don't want to have excess water sitting in the bottom of pots/trays.

You need to keep an eye on the actual soil in the pot, and when it looks dry, then it's probably rehydration time. If the soil on the top of the pot is wet/damp, then the soil at the bottom will definitely be even wetter, meaning you shouldn't water. The easiest approach is simply to establish a schedule, and (depending on climatic conditions) only water once a week. I designate Mondays as my watering day, because this way I know that I'm not overdoing it, nor forgetting to water.

2. Making an Appropriate Plant Choice.

Choosing the right plant for you is also very very important because if the plant is simply unsuited to your local climate, then no matter how great a plant mum you are, you will likely only be a plant mum for a limited time only. This will wholly depend on your climate, so I strongly suggest doing some research before you go out and spend some money. Alternatively, ask at your local nursery for suggestions. And, if you do head home with a new plant baby and find that it isn't doing so well where you've put it, also try moving it around in your house, because sometimes that in itself will put them in a more suitable climate. For example, my Maiden Hair Ferns only like positions with morning sun near the windows, which took me many years to work out but alas, they're happy now!

Lilies and Palms grow EXCEPTIONALLY well in my apartment, so I have multiple of them scattered about the place. Sure, sometimes I fancy other varieties, but some things simply aren't suited to Canberra's cold winters, so I make do with what I can!

3. Never Underestimate the Plant Home You Give Your Plant Children.

This one has taken me a little while to work out, but the pot, or rather pots that you choose to give your plant children is VERY important. Initially I would buy the plants, take them home and immediately repot them straight into an actual pot (rather than the plastic one they come in). I've since learnt that this is not the best approach. Instead, I leave them in their plastic pots, and simply put them into a bigger legit pot, meaning I get a pot in a pot. I insulate the two layers with some plastic, which helps to mitigate the effects of an accidental over-water, and also keeps things a little more self-contained and tidy. The reason pot them this way is that it makes them much easier to move around, which is very important for my next point below. Also, it gives me flexibility with what pots I use, which is good for when I feel like moving them around and redecorating!

Here you can see that I've put the original plastic pot inside a proper ceramic one with a layer of plastic in between that captures any excess water I may inadvertently give the plant plus keeps things clean AND let's me change up my pots quickly and easily! 

All three of these pots on my bedside are pots inside pots.

4. Dust Off the Leaves.

Every few months my plant children (at least those that are small enough to be lifted manually, so not Marvin), have a shower party. This might seem a bit unconventional, but is a very important part of their upkeep. You can use a dust cloth to do this, but I personally find it quicker, easier and more effective to simply whack them all in the shower and simultaneously give them a wash and a soak. This is very easy to do if you have the plants in smaller plastic pots inside their prettier actual ones (see point #3), so again, I suggest you do that.

If you have an actual house with a backyard, then you can do this with a hose outdoors, but being an apartment-dweller, the shower is my next best bet. Always make sure you turn the water temperature down to cold though (plants don't fancy hot showers like we humans), and don't leave them in there under the water for too long - a few minutes is definitely enough!! Also, only do this every few months, because if you shower them too often, you'll likely overwater them, which plant children don't fancy (see point #1).

(P.S. it is easiest to leave them in the shower for an hour or so afterwards to let them drain and the leaves dry a little before moving them back to their normal places of residence in your house!)

This is what a plant shower party looks like in my house; green, very wet, slightly crowded but FUN nevertheless (there are 11 plants in here - yes, the addiction is real!).

5. Excess Sun Baking is Indoor Plant Leaves in Trauma. 

Put simply, you gotta choose the right spot in your house for your house plants, and being indoor dwellers, in the direct afternoon sun is very likely NOT the spot. Indoor plants, by very virtue of being indoor plants, generally need less sun than their outdoor counterparts, and it pays to keep that in mind when choosing where they'll be living in your house. Most plants can survive, and indeed thrive, on just a few hours of sunshine per day, and some do not even need direct light. Most of my plants live in shady corners of rooms and only see the soft, early morning sunshine; conditions that they quite enjoy. That said, plants need natural light to grow, so you can't leave them in full shade all year round. The solution? Simply move them out for a sun bake every few weeks! This is very quick and easy to do, especially if you do my little pot in a pot trick (point #3 in this post).

I don't have a backyard, but I do have a very sunny balcony that gets the full force of the hot afternoon sun. In winter I move the plants into the direct light of this sun for a few hours every two weeks or so, and in summer I do the same, albeit for a little less time and less often (given the summer sun is much stronger). Doing this means I can keep my plants in the most aesthetically pleasing places in my house, yet still keep them happy with enough sun!

6. Holiday Watering.

Going on holidays is very lovely, in actual fact, so lovely that it's an activity I would DEFINITELY recommend. Unfortunately, most plant children do not agree, and to keep things harmonious, you'd do best not to forget them while you sun yourself on an exotic beach somewhere. Solution? Put them all in some large containers, give them a drink, give them a bit more of a drink and then leave them to sit in a little water at the bottom of the container while you're gone. Also, do this in a shady corner of your house.

It's not ideal to leave plants sitting in water because most don't fancy having wet feet (roots), but if you have no one to come and water them for you, this is your next best option. I only leave them with 2cm or so of water, perhaps a little more for bigger plants or if I'm heading away for longer. As soon as I get home, I take them out of the containers, give them a sun bake on my balcony, then return them to their usual homes, meaning I get a happy holiday and happy plants. JOY!

Here you can see the SMALL amount of water I leave in the bottom of the container. Hydrated plants make for a happy holiday!

6. Foliage over Flowers.

Finally, probably one of my favourite things about indoor plants is that generally indoors it is the foliage that speaks louder than the flowers. Sure, some indoor plants (lilies for example) will flower, usually quite profusely, but for most plants, it's the leaves that create interest and colour. You can get some truly crazy indoor plants, with purple leaves, stripes, different coloured undersides - you name it and it almost certainly comes packaged in an indoor plant!

It took me a while to change the way I looked at plant buying so as not to focus on the flower, as one typically does when outdoor plant shopping, but now I have a very lovely collection of colourful plants that I feel in no way lacks for the absence of flowers. You can even get the most out of foliage in just the one colour, by making sure you have different shaped and sized leaves, which is another trick I've also learnt as time has gone on.

My favourite plant for foliage is definitely my bright pink and purple Begonia, which also has crazy shaped leaves and is an intensely colourful to my house! For green foliage, I love my new Fiddle Leaf Fig, with its large, bright green circular leaves and my Bird of Paradise, which has ENORMOUS leaves that make for a very different and interesting addition to the interior of my bedroom! Palms are also great for some different foliage, as are Cordyline's.

Here's an example of where I've relied upon foliage to create colour; my Bird of Paradise, with its giant green leaves contrasting with a red Cordyline and a pink and purple Begonia.

While I could quite literally chat all day about indoor plants, I might just leave you with these 6 tips today. Happy plant parenting!!!

Vietnamese Mango Summer Salad.

Since first visiting Vietnam back in 2014, I've found myself falling more and more in love with Vietnamese cuisine. I've always been partial to Asian-inspired food, though as the years have gone on I've found myself drawn more towards fresh herbs, vegetable-based dishes, light yet intense flavours and rice noodles. Vietnamese cuisine is strongly based around all these things, and for that reason it has very quickly become my favourite.

In other news, as the seasons change in Australia and we roll around into yet another long, hot summer, I'm finding myself (yet again) deeply in love with mango. In Australia we're exceptionally blessed to have a good supply of locally grown, sweet, fresh mangoes all summer long and oh my do I like to make good use of that fact! I very much enjoy a juicy fresh mango on its own, but mango is also surprisingly adaptable to being added to lots of other dishes. I thought I'd experiment a little and combine my love of Vietnamese cuisine and mangoes, and this Vietnamese Mango Summer Salad was the result.

It's an incredibly light, fresh, wholesome and deliciously tasty salad and one that is definitely going to be on repeat in my kitchen this summer!

Ingredients; 
125gm vermicelli rice noodles, cooked as per packet instructions
1/4 head wombok/Chinese cabbage (approx. 4 cups), roughly chopped
2 large handfuls bean shoots
1 cucumber, sliced thinly
3 shallots/spring onions, chopped
Handful Vietnamese basil
Handful fresh coriander
Handful fresh mint
Flesh from 1 mango*
Marinated tofu (optional, amount variable)

Dressing
Zest and juice of 1 lime
4 tbsp tamari/soy sauce
2 tbsp sesame seed oil
Pinch sesame seeds
Pinch dried chilli flakes

1. Cook the tofu in a pan as you would usually/as per packet instructions.
2. In a large bowl, toss the roughly chopped wombok, cucumber slices, bean shoots, shallots and the herbs (Vietnamese basil, coriander and mint) in a large bowl. (Depending on the size of the herb leaves, I might roughly tear them into smaller pieces before tossing!).
3. Add in the cooked vermicelli noodles, sliced mango and cooked tofu, then toss through again.
4. In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. Mix them together well then add onto the bowl of salad. Again, toss everything thoroughly then serve! Enjoy!

*to get the flesh from my mango, I cut the 'cheeks' of the mango away from the seed, then use a large spoon to scoop the flesh out of the cheeks in one piece. I then slice the flesh into strips and save the seed part to be eaten later!

Chocolate Popsicles.

If you've been here for more than 3 seconds, you'll have probably worked out that I LOVE chocolate. Give me all the chocolate, in all the forms, preferable all the time. I must confess though, in my opinion one of the very best ways to enjoy some chocolatey goodness is in the form of icecream. However sadly eating chocolate icecream is rarely a healthy endeavour, but I'm here to change that.

Enter the refined sugar free, dairy free, wholefoods popsicle. Yes. This is indeed a thing, and it is MAGICAL.

Believe it or not, but these are actually made from chia pudding. That might seem a bit random, but when blended with a few other good things, makes for a creamy yet exceptionally healthy mixture. My objective in making these was also not to base them on coconut yoghurt or banana, not because I dislike those two things (rather quite the opposite!), but because I recognise that some people have certain allergies and/or food requirements, and here at The Orange Kitchen, we aim to be inclusive of all food needs/preferences!

I could write you an entire book about why these are great, both in taste and also in terms of health benefits, but for once in my life, I'll be concise and all I'll say is that they taste amazing, they're going to become a regular throughout the summer in my life and anything sprinkled with rose petals is undeniably great and yeah you should make these ASAP!

Ingredients;
3 tbsp chia seeds
2 cups soy milk
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tbsp almond butter
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
2 tbsp raw cacao powder

To serve;
80gm dairy free milk/dark chocolate
40gm dairy free caramel chocolate
Dried rose petals
Chocolate-coated buckini's

1. In a bowl, combine the chia seeds, 1 cup of the soy milk and the vanilla bean paste. Leave this to set overnight (or for a minimum of 4 hours) until it creates a chia pudding.
2. When set, scoop the chia pudding into a blender. Add in the remaining 1 cup of soy milk, maple syrup, almond butter, coconut oil and raw cacao powder. Blend on a high speed for a few minutes until you have a smooth mixture.
3. Pour the mixture out into some popsicle moulds.* Place the popsicles into the freezer overnight to set, making sure that they're on a flat surface.
4. The following day remove the moulds from the freezer. To get the popsicles out, I find it easiest to run some warm water over the outside of the mould, and then gently pull the popsicle free. Set the popsicles out onto a chopping board/plate lined with a piece on non-stick baking paper/parchment. Put them back into the freezer while you prepare the chocolate.
5. Melt the twos types of chocolate separately. (I do this 'double boiler' style, which is a fancy way of saying I get a saucepan, fill it with a few cm's water, place a bowl over the top and put the chocolate in the bowl, stirring it until fully melted.)
6. When you're chocolate is melted, remove the popsicles from the freezer. Use a spoon to generously drizzle the tips of the popsicles in both types of chocolate, and quickly before it sets, sprinkle them with some rose petals and buckini's. I repeat this process because there's no such thing as too much chocolate!
7. Return them to the freezer to set for a few minutes then enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the freezer (if they even last that long!!!).


*popsicle/icecream moulds are available at most shops that sell kitchenware. In Australia you can find some cheap ones at KMart!

The majority of the ingredients required for these can be purchased at a bulk health foods store. A Source Bulkfoods has just opened up down the road from my house, so it's my new go-to. They have lots of stores around Australia, so check their website for the nearest one to you!! (unsponsored, just sharing some insider hot tips!)

Travelling in Australia: The Must See's.

I've been very fortunate in that every single year of my life that I can remember, I've gone on a holiday somewhere in Australia. In actual fact, the only place I holidayed up until I was 15 years old was Australia. My parents would take the family away for at least a week, usually in the spring school holidays (September/October), and most often somewhere in Queensland, though there a few noteworthy holidays spent in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Since growing up a bit and leaving home, I've been fortunate to also holiday across the globe in some pretty amazing places, and despite loving international travel very dearly, there truly is no place like home, and for me, home is Australia.

Quite simply, I love Australia. It's amazing. There is SO much to do here, so much to see, an incredible variety of places, lots of friendly people, (generally) amazing weather, an infinite supply of good places to eat (Australian's are definitely food lovers!) and a plethora of fun activities across the country. Australia is, as you might realise if you've looked at a map lately, also a VERY LARGE place, meaning you could very well come here and spend several years exploring the place, yet still not touch the surface. This is obviously a dilemma. However, I have your back, because here are my must see's in the land down under, visited, tried and tested by me!

Queensland.

If you're coming to Australia to holiday/are already in Australia and want to holiday, then chances are you want a beach and sunny weather. We have lots of both here, making this somewhat complicated given there are thousands of places you can find those two things. But, without a doubt, Queensland tops the list for sunny beach holidays! However like most things in Australia, Queensland is like, HUGE. So, here's where I think you should head if you're planning on being up north.

The Gold Coast
I spent my childhood holidaying on the Gold Coast (of GC/Goldy as it is commonly referred to). It's changed a lot over the years, some for the better and some for the worse, but nevertheless, I definitely think it is well worth a visit.
I'd suggest staying outside Surfers Paradise. Surfers was the place to be 10/15 years ago, but unfortunately it's now overrun with nightclubs and partying, which isn't always the greatest (though if you fancy a party, that's where you should head!). Instead, I suggest staying in one of the many high-rise apartment complex's along the coast, with Broadbeach being my favourite! Alternatively, further south at Burleigh Heads is also a really nice place to stay!
Getting here is super easy, with Coolangatta Airport serving the GC and surrounds. Alternatively there's Brisbane Airport a little further north. If flying into Coolangatta, a car is somewhat unnecessary if you plan on staying at the beach, though I would seriously recommend hiring some wheels and venturing inland to visit Lamington National Park. There are heaps of walking trails of varying distances through Lamington that take you through some stunning temperate rainforest. I'd recommend the Moran Falls Walk (6.2km return) that begins at O'Reilly's Plateau. The Park is approx. 1 hour drive inland from the coast.
The GC is also home to Wet'n'Wild, Movie World and DreamWorld theme parks, which are less of an attraction to me nowadays, though I must confess, when I was a kid I loved them very much, especially Wet'n'Wild. There's also the Australian Outback Spectacular out at the theme parks too, which is a catered nighttime show about Australia (sounds weird but I promise you it's legit fantastic!) and is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen! Would seriously recommend!
There's also some great shopping around the GC, including Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (it's enormous!) and Robina Town Centre.
In terms of food, there are again endless options! Some of my favourites that I'd recommend are Cardamom Pod, Mandala and Co, Greenhouse Canteen and Bar and Kiss the Berry. Lots of places around the GC do good vegetarian/vegan options, so you'll pretty much find something to please everyone!

Overlooking Moran Falls in Lamington National Park.

Cairns Beaches/Port Douglas
My parents are particularly fond of far-north Queensland, and as a result I've been fortunate enough to spend many family holidays there. Cairns is the gateway to the region, though I strongly recommend that you don't stay in Cairns itself as there are some utterly breathtaking beaches to be found just a short drive further north and Cairns itself actually lacks a beach (it's situated on tidal mud flaps instead, which is kind of as unappealing as it sounds...). My family like Trinity Beach in particular, because it has good accommodation options, a lovely little beachside strip with plenty of food options and a good beach. I've also stayed at Palm Cove in the past and recommend it too for the same reasons that I like Trinity Beach.
A little further north is Port Douglas, which is kind of like heaven on earth. It's a reasonable drive north, approx. 1/1.5 hrs from Cairns, but is well worth the journey. Port Douglas is on the coast, so it has lovely beaches, but it's also the gateway of the Daintree Rainforest and I would seriously recommend that you visit the rainforest! In the past, my family have hired a car from Cairns, so we've driven ourselves into part of the rainforest, but you can do tours there, and indeed, for a better oversight of the area and the ability to access more of the area, I would recommend a tour over driving yourself. Part of the rainforest (up to Cook Town) is only accessible by 4WD vehicle for example, so going with a tour is advisable to experience these harder to reach areas.
You absolutely must visit the Great Barrier Reef when in far-north Queensland. I've been so lucky to visit multiple times, and it remains one of my favourite places in the world. I suggest a tour that takes you to the outer reef because the snorkelling will be better, and if you're game, strongly suggest looking into doing an introductory scuba dive. I've dived two times on the reef and absolutely LOVED both times. There's nothing quite as magical as swimming at eye level with Nemo and Dory, and if you dive, you'll get to see more untouched areas of the reef. We went with Ocean Spirit on a sailing catamaran and it was incredible - definitely gets my recommendation! P.S. bring lots of sunscreen; I spent the day snorkelling here without any sunscreen on my bikini line and ended up with second-degree burns on my butt. (would not recommend those as a souvenir...)
In terms of accommodation, I've always been with my parents, so have been fortunate enough to stay at serviced apartments. I really recommend serviced apartments as they give you the option of self-catering, which can save some money, especially in the seaside towns where dining out can be a bit pricey. I've not stayed there myself, though my parents frequently stay at Sea Temple Palm Cove and swear by the place (if you fancy yourself some beachfront luxury!). There's also a lodge in the Daintree Rainforest that my parents love, again not one I've been lucky enough to stay at myself, but they've been back at least 3 times now, so it must be good! It's called Silky Oaks, and again, is at the higher end of the market, so perhaps goes in the 'splurge' category. AirBnb is another good option to find yourself a place with a kitchen!

(Images for Cairns Beaches/Port Douglas are coming soon!)

Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast (north of Brisbane) is a definite favourite in my family and like the GC and far-north QLD, I've visited many times throughout my life.
One of my favourite little towns is Noosa, which is a quiet, beachside town with an absolutely GORGEOUS beach. Running parallel to the beach is Hastings Street, which is filled with lots of little boutique shops, as well as some larger brands as well. It's the perfect place to retreat for a few hours out of the midday sun and partake in some retail therapy!
I've also stayed at Mooloolaba, which is the centre of the Sunshine Coast and the main residential area in the region. A couple of years ago my mum spontaneously decided that we would go diving with sharks while in Mooloolaba. You can do this at the aquarium there, which is called 'Sea Life Mooloolaba' and honestly it's one of the most unique (and semi-crazy) experiences I've ever had. Not to mention it makes for some great photos and an even better story that I'm still telling people years later! Would definitely recommend!
On the main road that runs parallel with the beach at Mooloolaba you'll find lots of restaurants that get rather busy in the evenings, especially during school holiday periods, so I'd suggest making yourself a reservation earlier in the day to guarantee you have a table. There are also lots of cafes, including Acai Brothers, which is my favourite place to pick up some breakfast. A little further north at Maroochydore you'll find a few more vegan/veggie options, including Moo Free Burgers (100% vegan burger place) and Elixba (the same restaurant you can also find in Byron and on the GC).
In Mooloolaba we stayed at Coco, which was a serviced apartment that had a kitchen. There's a large supermarket just down the road, so we often cooked for ourselves, something I like to do whilst travelling. I really liked the accommodation, and would definitely recommend it, but there are literally hundreds of options in the area, so you're bound to find something for any budget!
I highly recommend a visit to the Eumundi Markets, especially on a Saturday (30 min drive north-west from Mooloolaba/25 min drive south-west from Noosa). There's heaps of food options there as well as lots of cute local vendors selling their wares. It's also a lovely atmosphere!
You'll also find Australia Zoo, which was set up by Steve Irwin and family, located inland near the Sunshine Coast. I can't say I visit zoo's very often, nor necessarily endorse doing so, but Australia Zoo is a very well run facility, with the animals generally having large, open enclosures. It's also a big part of global conservation efforts for endangered animals, as well as super informative. My dad is particularly fond of their birds of prey show (ft. many eagles), which I must confess is quite impressive and worth seeing! The Zoo is approx. 30mins drive south from Mooloolaba/1 hour drive south from Noosa and is slightly inland from the coast.
To access to Sunshine Coast you can fly into Brisbane or Maroochydore Airports, with the latter being much closer. As a family, we always hire a car, which we find is the easiest way to get around, though once in Mooloolaba/Maroochydore themselves, most things are within walking distance.

The beach near Mooloolaba. 

New South Wales.

Australia's most populous state has a lot to offer. Some of Australia's most beautiful beaches can be found along the NSW coastline, whilst inland, you'll find food and wine aplenty. There are also a lot of outstanding national parks in NSW, and it goes without saying that if you're coming to NSW, the state capital Sydney definitely deserves a visit!

Byron Bay
I've recently returned from Byron Bay and quite simply, I am in LOVE. I am so incredibly smitten with the town and it's surrounds that I have literally researched rent/house prices and I genuinely now have plans to live there one day. Byron is a truly magical place, beautifully set on the coastline, and surrounded by an eclectic collection of quaint villages and townships. It's become a bit of a tourist hot-spot in recent years, which is a testament to the beautifully laid-back, casual vibe it possesses that has people world over totally won over!
In Byron itself, you can't miss the Cape Byron Lighthouse and surrounding headland. The area is a National Park (albeit a small one), and has a beautiful walking trail that starts from Wategos Beach and heads around to the most Easterly Point of the Australian mainland, then up to the base of the lighthouse. Take your camera and some swimmers, and head back down to Wategos Beach afterwards to dip your toes in the ocean. If you visit in between June and November you might even spot some whales off the coast enjoying themselves as they migrate along the coast.
Food is big in Byron, and my they do it well, especially vegetarian/vegan food! Some of my favourites are Traditional Thai (they do a mighty fine vegan Pat See Ew!), Folk, We Are Combi, Elixba Byron, and The Beet.
When visiting, I recommend checking out Airbnb for some unique accommodation options. While I was there, I stayed at Suffolk Park, which is a 15 minute drive south of the main township. I liked that it was a little quieter, had a superb beach and was only a short distance away from the action. Alternatively, there are lots of options in Byron itself.
To get here, you can fly into Ballina/Byron Airport, though it is small and flights can be pricey. Instead, I suggest flying into the Gold Coast, hiring a car and driving down!

Lunchtime at Folk, Byron Bay

Heading out for a morning swim; Suffolk Park Beach

Wategos Beach, Byron Bay.

Sydney
Many people mistakenly think that Sydney is the capital of Australia. That particular title is reserved for Canberra, however Sydney still has an awful lot going for it anyway!
There's a lot going on in Sydney, which can be a bit overwhelming at times, though the perk is that there is absolutely something for everyone!
One of my favourite reasons to head to Sydney to to see a show at the world-famous Sydney Opera House. I've seen Florence + the Machine on the steps of the forecourt (amazing!!), but I must confess, I'm a huge ballet fan, so seeing the Australian Ballet on the main stage at the Opera House is one of the most incredible experiences you can have in my opinion. They do lots of shows in Sydney, so I'd suggest checking their website out for shows and tickets.
Sydney is also famous for it's beaches and harbourside swimming pools, neither of which you should miss when visiting the city. Bondi is pretty self explanatory as a must-see (also can confirm that the Bondi Lifeguards are well worth a sneaky gawk in their own right...). I also love the various outdoor swimming pools you can find along the shores of the harbour (for example the Dawn Fraser Baths), which are especially good if you don't like sand/waves or if you've got young children.
When in the Bondi area, you cannot not do the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk. It's very popular (for good reason!), and makes for a great start to a day, as well as a multitude of opportunities to get some quality Instaworthy photos!
I'd be very much lying if I said I don't visit Sydney for the shopping. It is my favourite place for some retail therapy in Australia, and my mother and I have been known to do some serious damage in the shops when we're in town. Pitt Street Mall and surrounds is a large open-air and undercover mixed area where you'll find almost all the major shops, though North Sydney's Chatswood Chase is also worth a visit if you're a shopaholic like me!
When it comes to food, Sydney definitely delivers. Some of my favourites are Sadhana Kitchen (found in Bondi and Newtown), Speedo's Cafe (Bondi), plus HEAPS of places on Enmore Road/King Street in Newtown, such as Bliss and Chips, Golden Lotus, Gigi Pizzeria and Gelato Blue. This is truly only a tiny fraction of the options in Sydney when it comes to good vegan/vegetarian places, so definitely also have a look on Happy Cow for other places near wherever you might be!
In terms of accommodation, Airbnb is a great option in Sydney for some more affordable places to stay. When it comes to hotels, I've stayed at the Adina Apartments Bondi, which were really great, as well as Meriton Kent Street (a favourite in my family).
Sydney is serviced by Australia's main international and domestic airport, plus trains and buses, so it's incredibly easy to get here. When in the city, a car is totally unnecessary, and indeed is often a hindrance due to parking nightmares, so stick to public transport for an easier way to get around!

In Sydney I'd recommend seeing if you can stay in one of the many high rise hotels; the views over the city are amazing!

Sunrise at Bondi Icebergs, an iconic Sydney site along the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk. 

CocoWhip from Sadhana Kitchen. SO. DAMN. TASTY. 15/10 recommend. 

South Coast
The South Coast covers a stretch of the NSW coastline, from Wollongong down to the NSW/Victorian border. It's an insanely beautiful part of the world, and very much best seen via a road trip!
Particular favourites along this rather vast stretch of coastline include Wollongong, Jervis Hay/Huskinsson and Batemans Bay. I spent many childhood holidays at my grandparents holiday house in Batemans Bay, and have so many fond memories of summer's spent by the beach collecting shells and eating fresh apple pie from the bakery there! I sometimes take a day trip to Batemans Bay from Canberra, it being an easy 2 hour drive away. My favourite beach there is McKenzie Beach, which is a short drive south of the main town. I like to pick up some fresh hot chips at one of the many cafes in the area and have a picnic on the beach under the sun!
I visited Jervis Bay/Huskinsson/Hyams Beach recently and despite the rainy weather, the area was intensely beautiful and well worth a visit. I'm planning on heading back this summer, hopefully with a little more sun! Hyams Beach is the whitest beach in the world, and when compared next to the beautiful blue bay, is one of the most visually stunning natural sites I've ever seen! In Huskinsson there's a great little burger shop with plenty of vegan options called Pilgrims Cafe, which is well worth a visit!
In Wollongong you'll find some nice beaches, though the real attraction is Stanwell Tops, a lookout a short drive north of the city. From here you'll get excellent views over the coastline as well as the Sea Cliff Bridge, which is an engineering masterpiece!
There's also rather randomly a Buddhist temple just outside Wollongong, which is a quirky but interesting place to visit and something a bit different! It's called the Nan Tien Temple, and you can even get a vegetarian/vegan meal there when you visit!
I stayed in an AirBnb whilst in Wollongong, though there are plenty of accommodation options in the city. The same can be said for the entire South Coast region, with the area a very popular summer holiday destination for much of southern NSW and the ACT.
The area is most easily accessed with a car, so I'd recommend driving there, or if you fly into Canberra or Sydney, hiring a car and making a road trip!

The Sea Cliff Bridge, just north of Wollongong in NSW. A definite spot to go for a Sunday drive while on the South Coast!

Looking back towards Wollongong from the lookout at Stanwell Tops. 

Lunchtime in Huskinsson ft. one of the best veggie burgers I've ever had!

Royal National Park
Believe it or not, but just an hour south of Sydney you will find this little slice of utter heaven; the Royal National Park. This was actually the second ever national park in the world (second to Yellowstone in the US), which is pretty damn cool, though it's not at all hard to understand why someone thought this part of the Australian coastline was deserving of protected status.
Royal National Park is probably one of the best places to go hiking/bushwalking in Australia. There are heaps of different tracks of varying lengths and difficulties that you can choose, so I'd suggest bringing your sports shoes, a picnic lunch and some water and going on a little adventure into the bush. If you're here in summer, definitely bring some swimmers because there are lots of little beaches dotted along the coast throughout the park. Be warned though, this area is relatively remote and the beaches in the park are not patrolled, meaning that you need to pay close attention to the surf conditions and only enter the water at your own risk.
I visited the park to see the Insta-famous Figure 8 Pools and I have quite the story about my adventure there. Be warned, the Figure 8 Pools are not just an easy walk down a nice path. It's a 4km round trip down/up a steep, muddy trail and then a 1km one way scramble over some rocks before you reach the rocky outcrop the pools are located on. The day I visited there was a massive swell (i.e. the waves were HUGE) and I actually got swept off my feet and along the rock platform. I have scars all over my left foot to evidence the fact that the Pools are quite dangerous, and I would ONLY recommend you consider visiting if the swell is low and the ocean is calm. I went on a totally sunny day with little wind and foolishly thought the ocean's conditions would correspond to the lovely weather. No. ALWAYS look at the swell and if it is big, then avoid the Pools entirely and go for a bushwalk elsewhere in the Park instead. Additionally, the Pools can only be visited at low-tide, so keep that in mind too. There are no facilities at the Pools, so come prepared. The track down begins from Garrawarra Farm Car Park.
The park is best accessed with a car. I saw the Park as part of a roadtrip up the coast, though the area can also easily be reached by heading south from Sydney and could be an easy day trip if you're based in Sydney!
Some parts of the Park require a fee in order to access them, though for the most part the area is freely accessible.
I'm planning on heading back this summer, so hopefully I can update this section with a few extra details in a few months!

Burning Palms Beach, a remote and relatively untouched slice of paradise just an hour south of Sydney. 

Riverina Wine Region
I couldn't talk about NSW without mentioning the area that I grew up in; the Riverina wine region. My childhood home, the town of Griffith, has so much to offer the wine and food enthusiast, as does the wider region and surrounds. The Riverina is referred to as the 'food bowl of Australia', and is one of the most diverse and productive agricultural areas in Australia!
Griffith, the city that I grew up in, is most famous for it's wine/winemaking, and here you can visit many cellar doors to sample and buy wine, many wines of which have been awarded various international prizes, so it really isn't just any old wine, rather some world-class, high quality stuff! Some winery cellar doors I recommend visiting include; DeBortoli Family Winemakers, McWilliams Wines, Warburn Estate, and Calabria Family Estate.
When visiting the Riverina, I'd recommend basing yourself in either Wagga Wagga or Griffith (which are 2 hours drive away from one another). Both cities have flight connections with Sydney, though to best see the area, I'd recommend hiring a car and doing a road trip. There are lots of accommodation options in both cities for all budgets!
Some other honourable food mentions in the Riverina are; Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, Riverina Grove, La Scala Italian Restaurant (genuinely the best Italian food you'll have outside of Italy), The Health Hut Griffith, Catania Fruit Salad Farm, and the Il Corso Cafe's and Restaurants, one of which you'll find in both Wagga and Griffith, though they have different menu's!
If heading out to the Riverina, you cannot miss visiting Altina Wildlife Park. I'm not much a fan of zoo's, but Altina is definitely an exception to that. Here they have all the animals in large enclosures, and you can only visit on personalised tours, meaning that your tour is intimate, very informative and not stressful or loud for the animals. Despite being relatively young, Altina is already one of the most successful zoo's for animal breeding and conservation in Australia. They have a huge variety of animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, lemurs, rhino's, bison, buffalo, aligator's, panda's, antelope, eurasian horses, wolves, meekats and so much more, plus LOTS of babies, pretty much year round. A definite must-see in my opinion!
Finally, if you visit in October, you can enjoy Griffith's Festival of the Gardens, which is well worth seeing. Various private residences open their doors for a weekend with magnificent flowers, good coffee and if you're lucky, some even have live entertainment!

Sunset just 15 minutes from my childhood home. The amazing sunsets are one reason I love rural NSW.

Lunchtime for the giraffe's at Altina Wildlife Park, near Darlington Point, NSW. 

Australian Capital Territory. 

Canberra
Ah Canberra, my very much beloved home. Lots of people give Canberra a bad-wrap, but they are so very wrong. The Australian capital city has a HUGE amount to offer visitors in all seasons, and I am very much a massive fan of the place!
Canberra is famously called the 'Bush Capital' because the city has an abundance of open green spaces and nature reserves. I absolutely love this about Canberra, and one of my favourite things to do on the weekends is to go for a walk or ride. My personal favourites are the walk up Mt Ainslie and Mt Taylor, as well as 'The Pinnacle' in Belconnen. You also shouldn't miss a visit to Lake Burley Griffin, which is the centrepiece of Canberra and one of the most beautiful locations for a walk or run!
You can't come to the Aussie capital and not see some of our federal sites of significance, so make sure to put a visit to Parliament House, the War Memorial, the National Museum of Australia and the various art galleries into your diary!
In terms of food, in recent years Canberra has seriously upped its game to the point where the city can rightly be called a 'foodie heaven'. Some of my favourite's are Sweet Bones Bakery (a vegan bakery and cafe), Eighty20 Food, Round Pizza (DELICIOUS pizzas, including 5 speciality vegan ones!), Au Lac Vegetarian Cuisine, Veganarchy (available at various markets), Kinn Thai, Brodburger,  Elk & Pea, Akiba and Patissez (home of the very famous 'freakshake').
On Sundays I love visiting the Old Bus Depot Markets, which is an undercover market full of local food producers, flower growers and artisans selling their wares.
In my opinion, the best time to visit Canberra is in Spring when you can see the largest floral show in the southern hemisphere, Floriade. Delightfully, there's a lot more than just flowers, including homewares, food, live entertainment and plenty of fun activities for kids. They also do special 'Nightfest' shows, where you can see the flowers after dark.
Canberra is serviced by an international and domestic airport, so flying here is easily done. The city has public transport, but because it's a large and spread out place, I'd recommend hiring a car or driving here as that will make it much easier to get around! Uber is also available in Canberra too, which is another cheap way to get about. If you're centrally located, a bike also makes for an easy and enjoyable mode of transport!
There are lots of accommodation options for all budgets, including some relatively new boutique ones, such as Hotel Hotel, which I've not stayed at myself, but if I were going to do a staycation, this is where you'd find me!

Sunset from the top of Mt. Ainslie. Straight in front is Parliament House and the War Memorial. 

Springtime sunshine at Floriade, the southern hemisphere's biggest flower show.

View from the top of Mt. Painter on a sunny summer's day.

Western Australia.

Western Australia is quite far away from the majority of major city-centres in Australia, and indeed, you'll find most of the Aussie popular over on the east coast. But, WA is an amazing place and undoubtedly one of the most unique natural environments I've ever experienced!

Ningaloo Reef
I'd wanted to visit Ningaloo Reef for years after seeing a documentary on the reef at school. Australia is very famous for it's coral reefs, though most falsely assume the only place you'll find one is in far-north Queensland. In my opinion though, despite being small, Ningaloo is a much nicer reef, primarily because it is so untouched. The area is very remote (it's a solid 2 hour flight north from Perth), meaning it doesn't get huge visitor numbers, but that's part of what makes me love Ningaloo so much. I recall many days where we would be totally alone on a vast stretch of beach, with not another soul in site, just enjoying the sunshine and AMAZING snorkelling.
You can swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo, and indeed I'm told it's one of the best places in the world to do so. Unfortunately it wasn't the right season when I visited to do so, but if you come during March to August (Australian winter), then definitely put it on your list of things to do!
Like I mentioned, the snorkelling here is out-of-this-world. I swam with all kinds of fish, beautiful corals, starfish, turtles, and even a harmless reef shark! Everything is easily accessed from the beach, so no need for any long boat trips to see some sea life!
Being a remote area, there's not a lot in the way of accommodation. We stayed at Mantarays Ningaloo Reef Resort, which I would definitely recommend. Our room/apartment was self-contained, so it had it's own kitchen, meaning we mostly cooked for ourselves rather than ate out whilst here.
Ningloo is serviced by Exmouth/Learmonth Airport, which is connected to Perth. Flights aren't overly regular (twice per day, or so), nor particularly cheap, so keep that in mind.
IMPORTANTLY, to access the coral reef, you need to get around a headland. The drive to the reef is approx. 1 hour from the township of Exmouth, so I would definitely suggest hiring a car, lest you be stuck in the desert! Exmouth itself is a quiet little town on the inland part of the headland, so it can get really hot and the beaches aren't particularly nice, so you will definitely want to have a car to drive around the headland and experience the reef!
Ningaloo is also an excellent place to go wind surfing, with some giant still bays and the famous Indian Ocean winds making for excellent conditions. I don't wind surf myself, though I very much enjoyed watching some people have a go!

(Images for Ningaloo Reef are coming soon!)

Perth
Perth is the world's most remote state capitals. I can confirm that after a 6 hour flight westwards from Sydney, it is indeed remote. However Perth is also quite trendy and happening, courtesy of a strong state economy, and it's quite popular for European visitors given it is much closer to Europe than the rest of Aus, meaning the city is well-positioned for tourists!
One of the most memorable things I did in Perth was visit the Old Fremantle Prison. That probably sounds like a strange attraction, but it is one of the most informative site tours I've ever done and was truly so fascinating, so I'd strongly recommend doing it yourself!
Fremantle was my favourite area of Perth. It's located on the coast and is actually one of Australia's biggest ports. The area is quite trendy, full of fun bars, buskers and lots of cute cafes as well as the Fremantle Markets.
We didn't spend a lot of time in Perth itself, but I do recall that the shopping was quite good! There were also lots of bars, cafes and restaurants around the CBD, so plenty of options to eat out.
A popular day-trip from Perth is to Rottnest Island, which lies just off the coast. It's a full day trip via boat, and very popular because of the super cute Quokkas that live on the island (that are famous for people taking selfies with them!). Hilariously, when we came back from shopping a family piled into the lift in our building looking very windswept. They explained they'd been to Rottnest for the day, which they said was lovely, but VERY windy, so perhaps keep an eye on the weather and choose a day when it isn't blowing a gale!
Perth is serviced by a major international and domestic airport. It's quite far from the rest of Australia, so flying is definitely your best option to get there. In the CBD itself, a car is not necessary, though my family hired one and used that to get to Fremantle, though the trip can easily be done via public transport too!

(Images for Perth are coming soon!)

Tasmania.

Tasmania is an exceptionally cute little island off the bottom of Australia's east coast. It's become quite the tourist hotspot in recent years, primarily due to the beautiful, untouched nature it possesses, as well as the trendy seaside city of Hobart, but it still retains the quiet, old-world charm that's so difficult to chance upon in our busy world.

Freycinet National Park 
One of the most spectacular coastal environments I've ever been is Freycinet National Park, specifically Wineglass Bay and the Bay of Fires on Tasmania's eastern coastline. I visited a few years ago with my parents as part of our family road trip around Tasmania, and Freycinet sticks out in my mind as the trip highlight. We visited in December, which was lovely because it meant some warm weather, but do be warned, Tasmania isn't renowned for it's climatic conditions, so be prepared for some chilly temperatures. The weather definitely doesn't detract from the beauty of the area though!
There are quite a few accommodation options in the area, which you can find here. The area is known for its all inclusive luxury resorts, so if you're feeling like a splurge, I've heard nothing but total praise for Saffire Freycinet (though it definitely doesn't come cheap!). My parents and I actually stayed in Swansea, a small town nearby Freycinet, and drove to the National Park in the morning, spent the day there, then kept heading onwards further north. Swansea is a bigger town (though still quite small!), so there are a few more options there for accommodation and food.
Whilst here, my mum, dad and I did a guided quad-bike tour through part of the area, which was incredibly fun and a great way to see some more off-road, hard-to-reach areas. The company was based out of Coles Bay, and you can find their website here.
To reach the area, you're best to fly into Hobart and drive. Tasmania is best seen via a road trip, so I would highly recommend hiring a car while here. Alternatively you can catch the Spirit of Tasmania ferry across from Melbourne, which is a car-friendly ferry.

Freycinet National Park, viewed from the Coles Bay township. 

Hobart
Hobart is a really charming place with a fascinating history, and a modern, trendy vibe. It's very picturesque, surrounded by rolling hills, a dramatic bay and river and cute little period houses and buildings. One of my ancestors was actually sent to Port Arthur, nearby Hobart, as a convict from England, meaning that I guess my Australian family, in part, owes it roots to Tasmania and Hobart! (She was my all accounts a wild woman, known to dress in men's clothing so she could head out after curfew and drink at the pub!)
Salamanca Market was one of my favourite places in Hobart. Held every Saturday, it's a bustling market full of fresh food and flowers, music, homewares, art and other cute and quirky things. There are heaps of food options around the area the market is held, so I'd recommend spending the morning browsing the wares on offer before enjoying a cold drink and some lunch in the area.
Mt. Wellington is a short drive up above the city, and whilst I did not visit myself, from all accounts it is the place to visit if you fancy some 11/10 views over the city and surrounding region.
I would wholeheartedly suggest doing the Cascades Female Convict Tour in Hobart. The tour covers some of the sites that female convicts were sent and where they worked when 'Van Diemen's Land', as Tasmania was then known, was first established as a British penal colony. The tour guide my family was outstanding, and the tour remains one of the best I've ever done!
I also really recommend a day trip to Port Arthur, which was the site of the first penal colony in Tasmania. It's a fascinating, although sometimes sad, historic site, both 'ancient' (by Australian standards...) and modern. You can also do ghost tours there, which quite frankly scares the hell out of me, but if that's your jam then go for it!
I wasn't vegan when I visited Hobart, but being a student city (thanks to the University there), there are a surprising amount of veggie-friendly places, most of which can be best found via a quick search on HappyCow.
My parents and I stayed at Sullivan's Cove Apartments, which we're absolutely AMAZING! One of the best bath's of my life was taken in the apartment we stayed in, and the views we had over the port were insanely beautiful, so I would definitely recommend them. Alternatively, there is a plethora of options for all budget's, as well as Airbnb!

A quiet Sunday in the port just outside Hobart's CBD. This is where the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race each December/January ends.

The green, rolling surrounds of Port Arthur, just outside Hobart.

This post is entirely unsponsored and every opinion shared is my own, formulated through personal experience and over two decades spent travelling the length and breadth of Australia! All photographs are my own unless credited otherwise. 

I plan to keep adding to this post as I continue to travel around Australia, so keep checking in for updated information and tips!