After work (yes I am working through the Christmas holidays) we headed towards Geelong in search of a sandy beach to enjoy the open ocean and pulled over for our first stop just past Geelong, before reaching Queenscliff.

The beach was quiet as people left for the day, so we enjoyed an uncrowded stretch. Shoes off immediately. The kids ran ahead, straight to the water, shrieking at how cold it was while daring each other to go just a little deeper. I stayed back for a moment, breathing in that unmistakable coastal air — salt, seaweed, and space. The kind of stop that resets everyone without trying. A reminder of the beauty nature provides free of charge.

From there, we continued to Queenscliff Harbour as the day softened into evening. The marina felt calm and steady, boats rocking gently as if the day itself was winding down. The kids leaned over the railings, counting boats and asking where they might be heading next. There’s something about harbours that invites curiosity. A reminder that every vessel has a story, a departure, a return.

Opened my phone and googled away. Queenscliff is known as the historic guardian of Port Phillip Heads, once a strategic military and quarantine town guarding the entrance to the bay. We drove past the fort (which i plan to revisit during openjng hours) and you can still feel that layered history in the historical buildings and wide streets.

As the sun set, we took a leisurely walk down the pier. It was the perfect lighting for photos, and a nice, relaxing gear shift for the chaotic last week of Christmas and Hmong New Year. While it wasn’t a big trip or a packed itinerary, it was perfect for unwinding. Just a beach stop, a harbour, and an evening walk together. But those are often the moments that linger the longest — simple, shared, and quietly full.