There was something about the drive to Wollongong that flashes in my mind when I think of a road trip; driving along in leisurely ease with radiant sunlight piercing the clear blue sky. It was the first day of autumn, but the summer vibes still clung to the air.

The trip took just under three hours, arriving out our Airbnb in Port Kembla; a beautiful guest suite with windows facing the bright blue ocean. It was the perfect place to unwind and soak up the sun.

The day was still young and bright, so we traipsed the five-minute walk to Port Kembla Beach. The beach was picturesque with the sun shining on the blue water, and seagulls screeching along the golden shore. The tide was low, letting the beach be sprinkled with swimmers and their dogs. We traipsed along the shore embracing the beach sensationslike the feel of sand beneath our feet and brisk water lapping at toes.

There was not much else that came to pass that night except for walking through the city streets, arm in arm, stopping for delicious Mexican and for dessert a jaunt to Cold Rock Ice creamery.

The next day truly embodied the festival’s name; A Sunny Afternoon, for the sun was high in the clear sky, with music in the air and some of your best mates by your side. To get into the true festival spirit (mind you this was my first ever music festival) I donned a summery floral dress with a matching flower crown and painted rainbow glitter on my cheeks. Upon arrival, the place was buzzing with entertainment and excitement. People danced to lively songs and picnic blankets dotted the lawn beneath the early autumn sun. It had a laidback and upbeat atmosphere to it.

The line-up featured Missy Higgins, Kate Miller-Heidke, Something For Kate, Ash Grunwald, Pacific Avenue, Bec Sandridge, 19-Twenty, and Sam Allen. They delivered energetic music as the crowd moved between the acts and enjoyed the performances on stage.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, washing the stage with golden light, we joined the throng of people, preparing for Kate Miller-Heidke appearance. Kate has unique voice and style to her songs’ her powerful piano ballads are accompanied by her melodic and ethereal vocals, and her electro pop tunes incorporate her whimsical opera voice with electric beats. She sang her hit “Zero Gravity” which debuted at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest (to which us Australians were totally robbed of winning! I may have shouted this out to her and many people agreed.) Kate’s songsenchanted everyone like a spell, then her husband blew everyone away with his insane lightning-fast guitar solo.

The crowd broke into wild applause, farewelling Kate and welcoming Missy Higgins on stage. Missy sang a range of her songs, from her popular hits to soulful tunes to her moving melodies with her passionate and earthy voice. She had everyone cheering, dancing, and singing loudly along until late in the night.

This relaxed family friendly festival was much more than the music, it had a shared sense of joy and laughter and friendliness that made it truly standout. Unfortunately covid lockdowns began a few weeks later, so this was the first and only ‘Sunny Afternoon’ festival Yours & Owl ever presented.

We awoke the next morning to birds warbling outside and the barks from our hosts friendly doggos. The day started with bright sunshine sending its warming rays down through a cloudless sky. We traipsed down to the beach café for breakfast, sitting outside eating smashed avo on toast with creamy feta and a splash of lemon, surrounded by the bright yellow sand and kissed by the briny sea air. It was a perfect day to see the Breakwater Lighthouse, standing tall and proud, its white exterior stark against the blue sky and sparkling sea. Then we followed the path around the foreshore leading to the blowhole, where the ocean burst through the rocks, erupting dramatically with its salty spray. A performance from nature, full of power and wonder.

Before heading home, of course we had to visit a few local bookshops, stepping into that calm sanctuary filled with the comforting smell of books was the best way to end the weekend getaway, leaving with some new books and the sun seeped into my skin, dreaming of the next coastal escape.