Editors note:
Pack your gear and go. Adventure doesn’t always need a plan—sometimes, the best moments happen when you just hit the road. That’s exactly what singer-songwriter Julianna Laine did on a last minute trip to Double Island Point, embracing the rugged beauty of the Australian coastline with nothing but the essentials, a few good mates, and a thirst for exploration.
At Remote Projects, we’re all about celebrating these everyday adventures—the ones that take you to the places you've never been before, and create memories you can visit time and time again.
Words by Julianna Laine, photos taken by Coral Littlejohn
“What are you doing next weekend? There’s a wave I’ve heard about”
is how most great adventures in my life end up starting out and this one was no different. With a desire to disconnect and go off grid, when we got the offer to camp up the East coast from a few local friends, we were quick to say yes. We are free. What should we bring and where should we meet?
A quick grocery run, 2 inflatable air mattresses, a minimal camp setup, our trusty canvas bags and a few borrowed pillows and blankets later, we were on route to the promised land - Double Island Point. I had heard about this place years ago when I lived in Australia, but never had the chance to make it there. Excited and unsure of what might lie ahead, we met up with our friends after they had finished work on Friday afternoon and loaded up the cars.
“We don’t have much room in the truck, so maybe don’t bring much. But don’t worry about boards. We always have room for more surfboards”
We took the ferry across, then pulled over to let some air out of the tires. We didn’t need much—just a few solid pieces of gear, a sense of curiosity, and the road ahead. Queued up Charlie Crockett and then we were driving across the beach racing the setting sun and the rising tide to make it to our spot where we would set up camp for the next couple nights.
We assembled our tents in the dark then set up our camp kitchen. As someone who often feels ill-prepared for most expeditions and situations in life, I was glad to see our friends had thought of all the little details that I had overlooked. Headlamps, mugs, salt and pepper… things like that. We drank some red wine and then called it a night, planning to get up early to see what the waves had in store for us.
The next few days felt like a blur of sunshine, perfect blue water, some lucky waves and laughing about stuff I can’t quite seem to recall now… It was nice to feel fully present and I was curious about the stories our friends would tell. Tales of looking for love and most often coming up short, but sometimes finding the right one. Trading thoughts about what we think we know and what we want to learn. Mostly about love and waves. There were march flies, sea snakes and possibly sharks. A constant reminder that we are only just human.
The days slipped past as they always do and the weekend drew to a close. We packed everything up - you would never even know we were there. The waves we surfed, the stories we told and the time we shared vanished into thin air. I thought about all the people that have come and gone before us and all the people who will come and go after, making their own memories and creating their own adventures. The stories that this magical little corner of the world hold, I’m sure, are plentiful.
A week later while I sit back at my kitchen table in Byron Bay writing this, it was hard to know if it really happened or if it was a dream… I guess most things in life often feel this way to me. While we were driving back I thought of a quote that resonates with me. I see myself and my friends (who are surfers and nomads alike) in these words.
My favourite people are travellers,
Nomads holding keys between their teeth and no baggage.
Ask them where they’re going, they’ll say
“Where the wind takes me”
Ask them when they’re coming back, they’ll smile
And you’ll realise they never really leave. - Michaelea Angemeer
Words by Julianna Laine photos taken by Coral Littlejohn
Julianna Laine is a singer-songwriter and adventurer who finds inspiration in the open road, new experiences, and the stories we create along the way. If you enjoyed this story, check out her music below:
Whether you’re hitting the road, setting up camp, or exploring the rugged beauty of this country, we love seeing where your journey takes you. Explore your backyard, embrace the adventure, and if you feel like sharing, tag us—we’d love to hear your story