Going walkabout with Sally Fitzgibbons

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Australian surfing prodigy Sally Fitzgibbons has travelled from beach-to-beach around the country and across the world since she was 17, collecting trophies along the way.

She’s also authored Live Like Sally, a book that provides its readers with tips on how to have a healthy lifestyle, and has recently partnered with hotel brand Novotel as its new wellness ambassador, and Solar D Sunscreen. We chat to Sally about her favourite travel experiences.

1. As a child, our family holidays always…

Revolved around sporting activities. Surf lifesaving, soccer, athletics, surfing, running, sailing and representative sport for school took us all over Australia…

 

I made such great memories in teams, achieving my goals. We all supported one another as a family and did crazy fun road trips up and down the east coast.

2. Now, when I have spare time I head straight to…

Gerroa on the South Coast of NSW, where I grew up. I’m always travelling the globe with my surfing, so when I touch down in Australia there’s nothing better than driving home to spend time with my family. It is my favourite place to train in and out of the water.

3. The best thing about living on the South Coast is…

The beautiful open spaces. It is spectacular seeing the green rolling hills, dotted with livestock, meet the ocean.

 

It washes a wave of calmness and belonging over me as soon as I see the countryside and the long stretches of uncrowded beaches. This is where I started my dream and it will always be home.

4. My favourite beach in Australia is…

Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa. This is where I grew up surfing with my family and the place that really ignited my passion for the sport.

 

If it wasn’t home, it would be Bells Beach, one of the most prestigious waves in Australian surf history.

5. My favourite city in Australia is…

Sydney. I spend a lot of time there for ‘out of water’ commitments and have formed some great friendships there. And Sydney Harbour is simply amazing.

6. I keep fit and healthy while travelling by…

Going for a run at dawn, whether it be on the coast or in the city. The best thing about running is that you can do it anywhere and I love exploring by foot – it’s a great way to sight-see in different places.

7. The three things I always pack when travelling are…

My surfboards go everywhere with me – my day never feels complete without being in the ocean.

 

My fit ball – I use it as soon as I wake up to stretch out, then at training through the day and right up until I go to bed. It is one of my best buddies – haha! And my Solar D Sunscreen, of course.

8. My last great holiday/beach read was…

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.

9. The number one place on my bucket list is…

King Island, Tasmania. The island and landscapes look incredible and I’ve heard there are some amazing waves and sea life there.

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This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

    Michael TurtleBy Michael Turtle
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    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves . Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.