Going walkabout with Sally Fitzgibbons

11 February 2020

3 mins Read

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.