Shonee Bowtell on Survivor, Babymoons, and her Byron Bay Favourites
We chat with Survivor icon, Survivor slayer, Survivor mother, Shonee Bowtell, who joined us for a delightful stay at The Lord Byron. The trip was an exciting one. Not just because it was a babymoon vacay, nor because it came in the midst of Australia vs The World airing on the big screen. But we were fortunate enough to host Shonee on the night of her engagement to (now) fiancé, Matt. Congratulations Shonee, Matt and Vally!
Hi Shonee! We’re so happy to have you, Matt and Vally with us at The Lord Byron for a babymoon before number two arrives. As a four-time Survivor queen, you know more than most about surviving in the jungle! How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically for Survivor: Australia vs The World? Did prep look differently this time around with a (then) 9-month old?
Prep was very different with a 9 month old! I actually didn’t do anything… besides some occasional workouts at home. Maybe giving birth was my mental endurance prep! Otherwise, most of my prep was probably outfit selection!
‘Life is for living’ is a mantra we often hear from you. What has led you to have this outlook?
‘Life is for living’ is something I say to myself when I want to be challenged, do something different, or get out of my comfort zone. Because life IS for living and nothing great happens in your comfort zone, right?!
Shonee, we love seeing snippets of your and Matt’s relationship through the ‘gram – the laughs, the love, and everything in between. Since becoming parents, how has your relationship grown or developed?
Matt is literally the best partner in the world, so it’s no surprise he’s also the most dedicated father! He truely is everything I could ever want and more.
Let’s turn to Byron Bay and babymooning. You (and Vally!) are gourmands at heart. In Byron, what eateries or local bites are on your hit-list?
We love going to The Farm. The food is delicious, but most importantly it’s so kid friendly. We love showing Vally all of the animals, playing in the park, and running around in the fields. Light Years is also a favourite of ours.
What’s your idea of a perfect Byron weekend getaway?
Having wholesome family time at the beach and parks. Spotting whales and dolphins. The beautiful sunsets and just the relaxed vibes. We absolutely loved having a kitchen in our apartment at The Lord Byron too, as life with a toddler makes it a bit tricky to eat out for every meal.
And now, wrapping up with a quick six of your Byron Bay favourites from this getaway!
Favourite spot to eat
The Farm
Favourite for coffee
Sunday Sustainable Bakery
Favourite thing to do
Beach time!
Favourite part of The Lord Byron
We loved the heated pool, it’s so great to be able to have a swim even when the weather is a bit colder
Favourite thing to pack
Vally’s books! He’s a huge book worm and could listen to books and point out the objects and animals all day long
To keep up with Shonee and all things style and family, find her @shoneebowtell on Instagram.
Shonee, Matt and Vally stayed in our 2-bedroom Apartment: a fully-furnished space, with full access to our entire range of facilities (including heated pool, tennis court and complimentary parking!).