Sydney summer

I have been back in Sydney for the past two months now, making the most of the hot Australian summer and am soon preparing to head back to what remains of the European winter (which I have heard is copping an awful lot of snow right about now, which is hard to imagine in this heat). Since returning home for my extended holiday, I have felt somewhat like a tourist, peering out at the beautiful scenes of Sydney through rose coloured glasses and feeling a renewed sense of appreciation for the beautiful city I grew up in.

I have spent my days just doing what always felt so normal and what I always took for granted – long walks along the beachfront, swimming in secluded bays others are yet to discover, drinking damn good coffee every morning, watching the little ‘nippers’ learn their useful surf skills and of course, catching up with good friends. While I might not yet be taking the laid back Sydney lifestyle for granted, I am ready and excited to get back to Paris and immerse myself into a culture so different from my own.

Today I went for a walk from Shelly Beach to Manly - it's one of my favourite spots and just a short stroll from my parents' house. So close to the hustle of busy Sydney life, yet so tranquil and naturally beautiful, Shelly is where the beach meets the bay and is one of the best places to clear the mind and appreciate this beachside city at it's finest - Sydney really does hold a special energy and a relaxed culture difficult to find in any other part of the world and I am so lucky to call this beautiful place my home. x

Weekend coffee on the rocks - South Curl Curl Headland

Dad at his saturday morning coffee spot - his usual binoculars at the ready

Young 'nippers' braving the big breaks at South Curl Curl rock pool

An Australian ceiling at the Shelly Beach bushwalk

Tranquil Shelly Beach

Crystal clear waters

That's why they call it Shelly!

Aussie pine cone

A view through the trees to a wayward surfboard

Fun at Shelly

Mossy rocks

A secret path to the beach 

The local Water Dragon

Aussie bush

A common find in the Sydney bush

Fairy Bower beach pool

Fairy Bower beach pool - such beaut colours!

Walkway from Shelly to Manly Beach

Fairy Bower cafe

Fairy Bower paddleboard hire

Glorious Manly Beach

Famous Manly Norfolk Pines

Manly Surf Club

Summer beachgoers - remember to swim between the flags!

The lapping coast

Walking back to Shelly Beach

New Zealand

Goodness, it's been quiet around here. I escaped some of the Euro winter and headed back home to Australia for a couple of months, where I have been enjoying all my old favourite things and soaking up as much vitamin D as possible, before heading back to Paris in February to face what remains of winter. It's been a busy time catching up with family and friends over the holiday season and now it's finally time to again put pencil to paper and show a few pics of my trip Down Under.

My family and I were in beautiful New Zealand last week - we spent 5 days at my grandparents house in Taupo, which is a beautiful lake town in the middle of the north island. It was wonderful to have some time with the family and to visit a few of the spots I remember from when I was just a 'wee thing'. New Zealand will always be a special place to me. I hold very fond memories as a young thing playing in the summer sun. Here are a few pictures from our time at Taupo. What a beautiful spot it is!

Soon I will post about some of my favourite local spots in Sydney. Sending big Australian bisous x