Gili Trawangan has become one of our favourite summer spots in Indonesia. Located off the shores of Lombok, Gili T is known for its laid-back culture, excellent diving opportunities and friendly locals. Although the main streets are bustling with eager tourists, we found peace and quiet just off the main strip at Kelapa Villas.
Looking to escape Bali’s bustling cities? Nusa Lembongan is a mere 30-minute boat ride away and offers white sand, turquoise blue water and a more relaxed pace. The ultimate way to enjoy this tropical paradise is from The Tamarind Resort, one of the island’s best places to stay.
Usually when we fly into Melbourne, we catch a crowded bus into the city with our luggage piled up around us. Fortunately we were able to drive our Mazda 6 Atenza Sedan Turbo on our road trip to Great Ocean Road. The Mazda 6 has stylish nappa leather seats, real wood and Ultrasuede® trim. Did we mention how sleek the lines are on the Mazda 6! We connected our Spotify playlist and hit the road!
Our first stop was the iconic surf spot, Bells Beach. Though we’re not the biggest surfers ourselves, a pitstop at this picturesque beach is worthwhile. From the lookout we even caught a glimpse of pink water out in the ocean, something we’d never seen before in person.
A fun photo spot along the way is the official Great Ocean Road archway. There is also a lot of information at the site about the Great Ocean Road’s history.
After the Great Ocean Road arch, the road starts to get really winding so best to drive during daylight (preferably towards sunset) and take your time. Luckily for us our Mazda 6 sedan had great control and steering, which made for a pleasant ride.
We reached Princetown at sunset and enjoyed a good night’s sleep before waking up early to catch the Twelve Apostles at dawn. Although it was a little cold early in the morning, the fairy floss coloured sunrise was so worth it. There were only a few other tourists there which meant it was very peaceful as well.
Later we headed down to the beach below via the infamous Gibson Steps. This is a great spot to visit at low tide to explore as far along the beach as possible.
As the sun came out and the day started to warm up, we were grateful for the air conditioned seats in our Mazda. It was perfect having our own car to explore this stretch of the Great Ocean Road as there are many scenic attractions within a few minutes drive of each other. We really recommend hiring a car for the day to see them all with ease.
One of our favourite scenic spots was The Grotto; a natural pool carved into a cliff face. We could have stayed there all day as it was so tranquil, the only sounds were the waves crashing and native birds chirping. Set aside some good time to see this spot!
After admiring the beautiful oceanside scenes, we made our way inland to see more of the Great Otway National Park. The drive to Hopetoun Falls is stunning, passing through thick forest and Redwood trees. You can already hear the waterfall flowing from the carpark as it’s only a short walk down to the falls. The waterfall was magnificent and flowing very heavily (even in warm November).
As we headed back to the city, we realised we hadn’t needed to refuel after many hours of driving across two days. The fuel efficiency of the Mazda 6 Atenza Sedan Turbo is the best we’ve experienced. It gives you great peace of mind on long road trips knowing you won’t get stuck in the middle of the forest!
Our Great Ocean Road trip was one to remember. Not only were the seaside towns and picturesque photo spots incredible, but the journey itself is just as amazing. It truly is one of the best roads to drive along in Australia and one for your road trip bucket list. Thanks Mazda for fuelling our adventure!
Website: mazda.com.au
Instagram: @mazdaaus
Facebook: /MazdaAUS
Master Dynamic are no stranger to producing high quality audio gear with a deep passion for building beautifully crafted, rich and technically sophisticated sound tools for creative minds. They have just launched a new premium True Wireless Earphone, the MW07. Keeping with their fashion-forward design these earphones are uniquely eye-catching, lightweight and incredibly durable. Not only do they provide 14 hours of on-the-go listening and bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, but the sound quality is rich and expansive with their 10mm Beryllium drivers housed in PVD-coated stainless steel acoustic enclosures. Now you may be thinking how do they compare to Apple Airpods? These MW07 blows the Airpods out of the water with a unique design and superior sound quality, these True Wireless Earphone are a must for Christmas.
Website: masteranddynamic.com
Recommended Products: MW07 True Wireless Earphones
Known worldwide for their stylish, high quality designs; Samsonsite is the go-to luggage brand for seasoned travellers. Their range of lightweight luggage is the ultimate combination of a unique, fashionable aesthetic and minimal mass. Two lightweight models we love are the 1.7 Kg Cosmolite 3 – 55cm Spinner, perfect for a week away or the 3.2 Kg Aspero 75cm Spinner, better suited for a few months holiday. Each kilo counts when travelling, so it’s comforting knowing these stylish suitcases won’t be weighing you down.
Website: samsonite.com.au
Recommended Products: Aspero – 75mm Spinner | Cosmolite 3 – 55cm Spinner
Summer is truly here and the need to survive the heat in style has never been stronger. Bluemint is a beachwear and lifestyle brandspecialising in high quality printed swim shorts. With seasonal and fresh designs, their swim shorts are the perfect addition to your Christmas gift list (or wishlist) for summer. Two of our favourites this season are the Arthus – Maple and Masala swim shorts integrating florals, leaves and ferns into one fresh print. To complete the beach attire we recommend a high-quality white linen shirt which will never go out of style.
Website: bluemint.com
Recommended Products: Arthus – Maple + Masala | White Linen Long Sleeve Shirt
As photographers, we are proud of our camera equipment and having a bag that is both protective and helps improves workflow goes a long way. Founded by photographers, Brevite are a brand that understand the unique lifestyle of photographers and makes camera backpacks to suit their needs. Brevite stock a range of bags including our top pick – the Rucksack, a photographer’s dream featuring a fast access side compartment, modular insert to take out on different adventures, laptop sleeve, and multiple straps for heavy loads. A close second is the Romer, a stylish featherlite bag which protects and secures your gear under all weather conditions. This backpack also includes a modular insert and laptop sleeve, however does not have the side camera entry of the Rucksack. All Brevite bags come with a lifetime warranty though, so you can’t go wrong no matter which style you choose.
Website: brevite.co
Recommended Products: The Rucksack | The Romer
Skincare is an important part of any man’s daily routine and we can’t recommend Hunter Lab products enough. Made in Melbourne and choosing nature’s most effective botanicals, Hunter Lab produces high quality skincare in appeasing packaging that is sure to impress. They have a range of products including moisturisers, shampoos, face scrubs and much more. Using just a couple of products provides great results, so their skincare is particularly suited to those with a busy lifestyle who want to keep their routine simple. To find out more about these products visit our latest review. Hunter Lab’s done the heavy lifting and created a range of gifting options so you’re Xmas shopping couldn’t be easier.
Website: hunterlab.com.au
Recommended Products: Essentials Set | Charcoal Cleansing Kit
