There isn’t a greater feeling than the one that comes from setting your out-of-office reply as you leave work for the day, a weekend or an adventure-filled break. And while travel has taken a bit of a different shape recently, there is still one thing we can always count on – that when the cool winter chill starts the flow through the country, envious Aussies from all over begin to head north for a taste of the sunshine. So if you’re ready to set that out of office status to ‘chasing warmth and beauty’, get your kikki.K essentials ready to head to lovely Queensland.
The gorgeous Ashley Dobson is very familiar with the sunshine, having officially called Australia home since 2013. While we here at kikki.K are all about the art of writing it down, Ashley’s speciality is capturing beauty in image, working as a professional photographer and capturing all of the magic that her home state has to offer! We got the chance to chat to her about her favourite spots across the sunshine state, including her best tips for those looking to explore.
Q| As a local, my favourite thing to do here is…
A|
Explore! Queensland is full of so much magic and there are so many gems to see that even as a local I am never done chasing amazing new sights and scenery. If I had to name a few that everyone must tick off at least once, I’d say that Tropical North Queensland (Daintree, Port Douglas, Cairns, Magnetic Island), Whitsundays, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island are my absolute favourites that you must see!
Q| When I’m hungry, I can’t go past…
A|
This is an easy one, Sushi! I am obsessed and could probably have this for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can’t go wrong with a sushi train in my opinion, and my favourite that I’m loving at the moment is Uroko. My go-to order is the fresh sashimi, but my saucy addition is a specialty roll like the dynamite or lion king.
Q| When I’m in the mood for an inspiring wander, my go to place is…
A|
Lamington National Park. This National Park is full of lush rainforest! There are so many beautiful walks you can do, gorgeous waterfalls – it really is the place to go! My personal favourite spot in the park is Moran Falls, a can’t miss.
Q| When I’m looking for something special to buy, I always head to…
A|
A camera shop (my guilty pleasure!) Whenever there is something that I want or need, it almost always revolves around my camera. It is so exciting adding to my collection of whatever it may be – lenses, memory cards, hard drives, drone equipment, you name it!
Q| My favourite place to chill-out is…
A|
I love a good beach and the only thing that can make them even better is when it’s a dog friendly beach! Mudjimba on the Sunshine Coast or Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast are definitely the top picks if you want to feel the sand underneath your toes. For me, the perfect chill out day consists of heading to the beach with my umbrella, rug, dog, picnic basket and a cold bevy to watch the sunset. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Q| A hidden gem that needs to be talked about more is….
A|
The west coast of Fraser Island (K’gari) is such a hidden gem! It is such an untouched beauty, it truly blew me away! If you’re trying to escape the crowds and discover hidden parts of Queensland, this is definitely it!
Q| Something visitors to QLD shouldn’t miss is…
A|
The Great Barrier Reef for sure! It is pretty cool to have the world’s largest coral reef system right in our backyard, so you definitely shouldn’t miss a chance to see it for yourself.
Q| If you’re coming, don’t forget to pack…
A|
Sunscreen & bathers of course!
To see more of Ashley’s stunning imagery and to keep track of her adventures, head over to her website or follow her on Instagram @ashleydobson (*immediately adds everything to our vision board*)
If you’re left feeling inspired to do a little exploring, be sure to check out our latest Out Of Office Collection for the perfect travel pieces to come along with you on your next adventures and capture all of the special moments both near and far!
Don’t forget, we love to see which kikki.K favourites you’re bringing along on your next adventure, so be sure to share all of your exploration and more with us by tagging @kikki.K and using #kikkiklove.
The kikki.K Out Of Office Bonded Leather Travel Journal in the wild! 
Ashley documenting memories in her kikki.K Travel Journal
