Exploreable

07/06/2026

Going to bed at 1pm as I've eaten all my calories and if I stay awake I'll eat all the chips, chocolate and cheese in the house!

05/06/2026

Wow! What a walk, ride, or spin! 🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️👩‍🦽 This trail is seriously accessible for everyone, which is exactly what we love to see. 🌿

Just a little heads up for my friends on wheels: there are some hill sections along the way! 🎢 Make sure you have plenty of energy (or battery power!) to tackle those climbs. Aside from that, the paths are lovely and wide, making it a smooth journey for all. 🛠️

The adventure starts on a beautiful boardwalk winding right through the mangroves. 🦀 Then, you head up the hill where the magic happens. You are rewarded with a viewpoint that has absolutely stunning views over Rhyll Inlet! 🌊 I even got lucky enough to see a ship docked on the day I was there! 🚢

After soaking in the view, it is an easy cruise downhill to another short boardwalk and a peaceful picnic area before you turn back. 🧺✨

Definitely one to add to your list! 🗺️💪

Comment "Rhyll" below to receive your free nature guide.

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body.

03/06/2026

🥵 Stairway to Heaven... can I please respectfully disagree?! 🙋‍♀️

Because let’s be real, a staircase that goes up for days does NOT make me feel at peace and heavenly. It makes me feel sore, achy, and absolutely out of breath! 🫁❌

That basically sums up the Moorooduc Quarry walk. Is it lovely? Yes. Are there nice views? Absolutely. But what ruins it are the stairs. The stairs that just go up, and up, and up, and UP! 🏔️🚶‍♀️

Seriously, I was actually a bit disappointed! As I climbed so high, I was genuinely expecting to reach the top of Mt Everest. Instead, all that greeted me at the summit were glimpses of the quarry and some lovely vistas across the valley. 😅👀

Maybe I’m just ungrateful, or maybe I am just way too unfit for a walk like this! 🤷‍♀️ Put it this way: if you are someone who genuinely likes stairs, go for it, this is your paradise! 🏃‍♂️💨

For the rest of us... feel free to tell me what I was missing up there while I sit at the bottom recovering! 🥤👇

Comment "Quarry" for a full free copy of this walk.

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body - but no stairs, please no more stairs!

01/06/2026

Geelong Botanical Gardens really do pack a punch! 🥊✨

I had such a lovely afternoon wandering through the grounds today. Between the beautiful entry gate and those classic bollards that always make me smile, it is such a great spot to get lost in for a few hours. 🌸🚶‍♀️ Plus, having a cafe on-site is always a massive bonus for a post-walk treat! ☕️🧁

I do have one question for the garden buffs out there though. The 21st Century Garden right at the entrance is designed for drought-tolerant species, but I honestly felt thirsty just looking at it! 🌵☀️

I spotted a tiny puddle and was left wondering if that was actually meant to be a lake? I know we haven't had much rain lately, but it certainly feels like it is living up to the "drought" theme a bit too well. 😅💦

Has anyone else noticed this, or did I just catch it on a particularly parched day? 🧐

Regardless, the gardens are stunning and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Write "Gardens" for a full, free copy of this nature guide.

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body.

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

😱 THE MONSTROUS RUMBLE INSTRUMENT (MRI) 😱

So, along with my two knee replacements, my shoulder has been acting up. To confirm the issue, I had to have an MRI. I told myself, "Okay, I can do this. My feet go in first, and it’ll only be up to my shoulders so my head stays out." 🧘‍♀️

Little did I know. 🤦‍♀️

We got there and as soon as I saw the machine, I was completely taken over by Delores (my internal panic queen). Not only did I have to go in headfirst, but the gap was even smaller than I imagined! Plus, I am not exactly petite, which made the whole thing feel like trying to fit a grand piano into a glovebox. 🎹

Me: "Breathe, you can do this." 🌬️

Delores: "No you can't! You’re going to suffocate or panic and smash the whole machine trying to claw your way out!" 🚫

Okay... breathe in 1, 2... out 1, 2. In I go. There was no way I was opening my eyes to see how cramped it was. There was supposed to be music, but it was out of order. The sound of that machine? OMG. I felt like I was inside a heavy metal grinder in a factory. 🏗️🔊

I’m trying to breathe, counting backwards by 7s in German, and visualizing success, but all I could really do was try to stop Delores from freaking out. I knew if I asked to get out, they’d let me, but then I’d just have to do it all over again.

So I breathed, I counted, and somehow I made it! 🏆

The verdict? I need a shoulder replacement. But honestly, ain’t nobody got time for that! 🙅‍♀️ I have way too much kayaking to do, so that surgery is going right to the very bottom of my to-do list. 🛶💦

And if someone has a strategy for getting through MRI's, I am all ears! 👂

Check out my story if you want to see how I practised beforehand!

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body - even those falling apart!💀🦴

29/05/2026

🚣‍♂️ SAFETY BEACH PADDLE: Calm, Choppy, and Pure Adrenaline! 🌊✨

What a stunning area this is! 😍 The absolute best part? It is not far at all to get the kayak down to the water, which is always a massive win in my book! 🎒🛶

The paddle started out absolutely beautiful as I headed on down, gently following the gorgeous shoreline. 🏖️ But Port Phillip loves to keep us on our toes! Out of nowhere, the perfectly calm conditions suddenly turned into these massive (well, in my head anyway!) rolling waves. 🌊😳

At first, Delores tried to make me panic 🧠💥 (you know that inner voice!), but I wasn't having it! I just tackled them head-on, paddling straight over them and making sure they didn't break on me. 💪🚣‍♀️

It was 5 minutes of pure adrenaline and absolute fun! 🏄‍♀️💥 And just as quickly as it started, the wind died right down and everything went straight back to normal. Talk about a coastal rollercoaster! 🎢🙌

This really is a lovely paddle, and if you time it right, you get treated to the most stunning sunsets. 🌅 Every bit of the effort is worth it!

Have you ever had a sudden wind change turn your peaceful paddle into an instant workout? 👇 Let me know in the comments! 👇

Comment "Waves" for a full free copy of this guide.

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body.

27/05/2026

How did I not know about this place?! 🏰✨

I stumbled across Coolart Homestead and honestly, I felt like I wasn’t posh enough to even look at it! This late-19th-century mansion is absolutely massive and surrounded by the most stunning, beautifully kept gardens.

🕵️‍♂️ Lesson Learned (Again):
In classic fashion for my walks, I didn't do enough research beforehand. 🤦‍♂️ The day I turned up, the homestead itself was closed! If you want to look inside, take note: it is only open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

🦆 The Missing Wetlands:
The other big surprise? Despite all the rain we’ve had lately, there was barely any water in the wetlands! I’m not sure where it all went, but it definitely wasn't there. 🤷‍♂️

🚶‍♂️ The Walk:
Even without the water, it is still a beautiful, short loop. You wander across some lovely boardwalks before heading back along a natural bush trail. I spent the whole time floating through the area, dreaming of being a lady of the manor! 👑💃

♿ Accessibility Question:
It was a bit damp and muddy underfoot during my visit, but it's a pretty flat, low-gradient loop. If anyone has tackled this track in a wheelchair or with a pram, I would love to know how you found it! I imagine it might be totally doable with wheels once things dry out in the summer. ☀️🌿

Highly recommend checking it out (just check the calendar first!). 🗓️👇

Comment "Coolart" for a full, free copy of this nature guide.

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body.

25/05/2026

The "Woolloomooloo" Challenge 🚶‍♀️✨

Looking for a walk that’s as fun to say as it is to explore? This route from Circular Quay to Woolloomooloo is a total winner!

Apart from the stunning harbour views, I’ll be honest: I mostly wanted to do this walk just to see if I could master saying "Wool-loo-moo-loo" without tripping over my tongue! 👅😂

The scenery is gorgeous and the path is mostly flat at the start. There are a few hills and one staircase to navigate, but overall, it’s a very manageable trek. 👟

We happened to time our visit with a half marathon, so naturally, my son took some "action shots" of me pretending to be part of the race. 🏃‍♀️📸 I’d love to tell you I looked like a pro athlete, but let’s just say the photos tell a very different story! 😅

If you’re in Sydney and want those iconic harbour shots for your own collection, grab a copy of this walk guide and get moving. It’s worth every step (and every attempt to pronounce the destination)! 🇦🇺⚓️

Comment 'Woolloomooloo' for a full, free copy of this guide.

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body.

24/05/2026

Imposter Syndrome: It’s real, folks! 🫣🤯

This week, I attended my very first networking event with the Frankston Business Chamber… and let me tell you, I walked in and was this close to walking straight back out! 🚪🚶‍♀️💨

There were, like, actual grown-up adults everywhere, and I had absolutely no idea what to do. As a school teacher, I’m used to managing rooms full of kids. But these? These were real-life adults! (Says the 54-year-old, middle-aged woman… 🤫🤣)

The "Delores" inside me desperately wanted to run, but I forced myself to push through those feelings and step into the room. 🎢💪

Thankfully, I spotted a familiar face and immediately clung to him like a koala on a tree! 🐨🌳 Once I realized the poor guy actually needed to breathe, I reluctantly detached myself and attempted some adult small talk. 🗣️💬

The real relief came when my friends from the entrepreneurship course turned up. Suddenly, the panic faded, and I actually started to enjoy myself! 🎉✨

You have to start somewhere, and the Frankston Business Chamber is a seriously great, welcoming bunch of people to start with. For now, I figure I'll just fake it till I make it! 🎭😎

ExploreABLE might be new, and it might not be well-known yet, but I am fiercely passionate about it. I’m completely willing to put up with a little discomfort to see where this incredible adventure takes us. 🏔️♿🎒

Imposter or not, strap yourselves in, because ExploreABLE is here to stay and we are just warming up! 🚀🔥🥾

Follow ExploreABLE - nature guides for every mind and every body.

It