Being back in Oz this last month gave me the opportunity to reconnect with some of my favourite people and places, as well as brands, while discovering new ones too.
I was reminded of the incredible creative energy and “give it a go “ attitude of Aussies —people building communities, crafting beautiful things, challenging conventions and finding new ways to support each other to feel more connected, not only to ourselves but to nature and the world around us.
This month's Edit is a collection of local and international favourites: people to seek out, practices to experience, objects to live with and ideas to explore.
KAAIAA
It’s important to seek out women who are rethinking what movement can look like at different stages of our lives, and KAAIAA founder Leah Simmons is at the forefront of these conversations.
Originally conceived because Leah couldn't find one practice that brought together everything she was doing to feel her best, KAAIAA combines movement with breath, mindset and recovery. Today, its Bondi Junction studio has evolved its offering specifically around women 40+, incorporating strength, conditioning, mobility, breath, mindset and deliberate recovery.
There is an authentic philosophy and community behind it: midlife doesn't have to represent physical decline. We can continue building strength, challenging ourselves and discovering what our bodies are capable of at every age and stage.
Pony Rider
Pony Rider was founded by Australian designer Kelly Searl from a love of nature, design and adventure, and you can feel that philosophy throughout everything they make.
Their pieces have a wonderful ruggedness to them: canvas bags designed for travel, beautiful throws that belong equally inside or outdoors, and hats that reflect the unique personality of the wearer. I love things that become better after being lived in and taken on adventures, and Pony Rider really embodies that idea.
They're also a certified B Corp, and through The National Project the brand supports the protection and preservation of Australia's national parks.
FELLA Swim
Australian label FELLA creates simple and sexy swimwear. There's a sensuality to them without trying too hard and their designs feel fun and playful which is exactly the Aussie beach girl vibe.
Venroy Linen Shirts
There’s nothing better than an oversized, men’s linen shirt that feels light against the skin, the way it softens with wear and even the way it creases.
Not all fabrics are created equal, and their frequencies can have a surprising impact on how you feel. Think about it like this: everything in the universe vibrates, including us. Our own bodies have a frequency range — healthy humans vibrate around 70 to 90 Hz. When our frequency drops too low, we become more susceptible to illness and fatigue. But the right materials around us can help maintain or even elevate our natural vibration.
Linen, for instance, is the star of high-vibration fabrics. It registers a frequency of around 5,000 angstroms (a unit used to measure light energy), far above synthetic materials like polyester, which sits at zero. This means that while linen is more than just a beautiful fabric, it actively contributes to a positive healthy inner and outer environment.
Venroy is an Australian brand with relaxed, uncomplicated pieces. They're effortless enough to throw over swimwear, but beautiful enough for lunch or dinner. One piece that can see you through an entire day and is the perfect travelling essential.
Blundstone 585 Boots
Classic for a reason.
Blundstone boots - there's absolutely no preciousness about it. Put them on, get them dirty, walk through the bush, wear them travelling, keep them for forever.
The 585 in rustic brown has that worn-in Australian vibe which is totally my jam. And how cute is the new Aerocork Clog. Both are practical, comfortable and become more unique the longer you have them. The best pieces in our wardrobes are often the ones that allow us to get out and experience life.
Ottway
Their philosophy is wonderfully simple: Life is for Living. Just like our approach to longevity, this really resonates with me.
Ottway’s Byron cabin store says so much about the brand. It's built around reused, reclaimed, second-hand and vintage materials, including 120-year-old local timber.
Their clothes have the same feeling—relaxed, slightly nostalgic pieces that feel as though they've already lived a life before you put them on. They're the kind of clothes you wear again and again, travelling, wherever the day takes you.
Upcycled Surfboard Art
These handcrafted pieces from Ruby begin with upcycled surfboards and are transformed with individually sculpted coastal details, meaning no two are quite the same. The imperfection, texture and individuality mean these objects have stories rather than simply being an object to fill a space.
Peter Crone's Mastermind
Peter Crone - "The Mind Architect"- Identifying the subconscious patterns and beliefs that shape our lives. As Peter says “Life will present you with people and circumstances to reveal where you're not free.”
You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete (Buckminster Fuller).
In creating a new model benefiting millions of people, Peter focuses on the internal shift from limitation, fear, suffering, dis-ease and scarcity - to a new paradigm of freedom, love, joy, vitality and abundance.
I’ve been doing his three-month Mastermind Course, which goes much deeper into this work, combining live sessions with Peter, integration and embodiment practices.
The course is phenomenal; practical and dynamic - and I highly recommend it. I’ve laughed and cried throughout and have come to some profound realizations. Check out his podcast series too.
We can nourish our bodies beautifully, move every day, and prioritize sleep, but our beliefs and internal dialogue are vital to our wellbeing. Some of my more memorable quotes from Peter include:
“Your true nature is love. It's not something outside of you that can be lost, or that you need to “wait for or chase.”
“True health isn't just about looking and feeling good ... it's the portal to your divine potential. To discover the profound depth of what it means to be fully YOU and fully alive!"
“Your greatest opportunity of influencing the next generation is to become the you that you wish they would be.”
"Our vibratory state is our contribution to the collective."
Explore Peter Crone's Mastermind
Michael Kors
I wore a Michael Kors sequin tank from his upcoming collection while I was back in Australia - obsessed!
There's a time for linen, bare feet and being in nature—and there's a time for sequins. Clothes can change your energy the moment you put them on. They can make you stand taller, dance a little more, laugh a little louder. Dressing can be playful, and I think sometimes we forget that. Life is too short not to sparkle occasionally.
Happy Animals Byron Bay — Ra Ansems-Ridout
I've always been fascinated by my friend Ra’s intuitive understanding of animals. With a background in medical science and physiotherapy, she later expanded her work into kinesiology, energy healing and animal communication, eventually creating Happy Animals Byron Bay. The compassion and curiosity she brings to the relationship between humans and animals—the idea that when we slow down, listen and become more sensitive to what another being is communicating, there can be a much deeper connection. Our animals give us so much; I love the idea of learning how to listen to them in return.
Vagabond Byron Bay
The best smoothies in town. Vagabond is so relaxed, with a beautiful community feeling. Their smoothies and elixirs are packed with wholefood ingredients—a reminder that food can be simple, delicious and genuinely nourishing.
The Roadhouse Byron Bay
All the locals talk about an early surf at The Pass followed by breakfast at The Roadhouse. It’s a Byron institution where you can arrive straight from the ocean and settle in for a few hours. Good food, good people—the perfect kind of morning or night!
Evolve Sanctuary
Pete’s cooking retreats at Evolve Sanctury are an intimate immersion into the simple pleasure of preparing & sharing deeply nourishing food. Held at Pete’s family home in the ancient volcanic landscape of the Northern Rivers, each retreat gathers a small group around the kitchen with Pete, where he shares the way he genuinely loves to eat & live… beautiful seasonal, local produce, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, nourishing fats, quality proteins & food prepared with care, curiosity & plenty of flavour. These retreats are wonderfully hands on & relaxed, woven through with conversation, laughter & the kind of learning that happens naturally when people gather around a kitchen bench. More than a cooking class, they are an invitation to reconnect with food as nourishment, creativity, ritual & one of the loveliest ways we can care for ourselves & those we love.
Nicola’s offerings at Evolve Sanctuary are woven around the art of presence, inviting guests into a deeper intimacy with themselves, the natural world & the subtle conversations that are always unfolding around us. As a Chajin within the Global Tea Hut lineage, equine guide, breathwork facilitator & multi-instrumentalist, her work has grown from many years of exploring the body, relationship, perception & the ways we come home to ourselves.
Tea ceremony sits at the heart of her offerings, alongside time with the Herd, breath, sound & deep listening. Through the instruments she plays, Nicola creates spaces where life can soften into a slower rhythm & our senses can open again to the beauty of simply being here.
No Bones Byron Bay
I love discovering restaurants that make plant-based eating feel abundant rather than restrictive, and No Bones does exactly that. Their menu is colourful, creative and designed to be shared, with a real emphasis on local produce and thoughtful sourcing. It’s proof that eating more plants can still feel joyful, indulgent and incredibly satisfying.
The Banya — Mullumbimby
An immersive social, bathing, and dining experience in the heart of Mullumbimby. Featuring a marble tiled pool, two large hot mineral pools, a wood-fired sauna, a steam room and a cold plunge. Plus there’s three beautiful massage suites for the ultimate day of relaxation and rejuvenation.
