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Universal Orlando Resort: Where to Stay & Play for a Few Days

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My recent stay at Universal Orlando Resort was so much fun and I’m going to share and highlight my favorite moments with you. First and foremost, I stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort on the property which allowed me early access (one hour) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. It was my first time experiencing Diagon Alley™. I took advantage of the complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and was able to … [Read More...]

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Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

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I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

Strike a pose at Pose Selfie Studio

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I recently had an opportunity to visit the NEW Pose Selfie Studio in Raleigh, NC with my daughter and it was so much fun. The great thing about this studio is that you have all the tools you need to capture your perfect photos alone or you can go … [Read More...]

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

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I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences … [Read More...]

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Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

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I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

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I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences … [Read More...]

Food

Rosé All Day at Seasons 52

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I recently had the opportunity to experience the Seasons 52 Summer Menu paired perfectly with Rose cocktails. The menu changes with the season and I can really appreciate that. My reservation was for 7:00pm and it … [Read More...]

Finding the perfect water shoes for rocky Australian beaches

Rocky beaches have always held a particular kind of magic for me, the kind that turns an ordinary coastal walk into a balancing act and a treasure hunt in equal measure. Living on the east coast of Australia, I have spent countless weekends navigating the uneven shorelines of spots like Noosa Heads and the Mornington Peninsula, where smooth sand gives way to jagged shelves of weathered stone and tide pools full of tiny sea creatures.

For years I made do with cheap pair of rubber thongs, the kind you grab at a servo for a few dollars, and accepted that a day at the beach meant bruised toes and the constant fear of stepping on something sharp. After one particularly painful afternoon at the Mornington Peninsula where I cut my foot open on a barnacle-encrusted rock, I finally committed to hunting down a proper pair of water shoes that could handle everything the rocks threw my way.

Why standard beach footwear falls apart on rocks

The humble Aussie thong, often called a jandal in New Zealand or plugger in some parts of the country, is practically a national uniform during the warmer months. I have worn them to backyard barbecues, to the local pool, and to dozens of sandy beaches up and down the New South Wales and Queensland coasts. But the moment the sand turns into a field of loose pebbles or slippery basalt, they become almost useless.

The problem is the design. A flat sole offers zero traction on wet stone, and the thong sits loosely on the foot, meaning every step requires muscle control to keep it from twisting sideways. I found myself walking with an awkward, wide-legged shuffle that looked ridiculous and did nothing to protect my toes from the sharp rocks hidden beneath the surface water. Beyond the mechanical issues, there is also the very real concern of marine hazards. Several of my favourite rocky spots in Tasmania and along the Great Ocean Road are home to creatures like the velvet crab, and Australian beach safety authorities regularly warn about stepping on sea urchins in shallow rock pools.

After a few too many close calls, I realised I needed something purpose-made. I wanted a shoe that would grip wet rock like a gecko, drain water instantly, and protect my foot from anything lurking beneath the surface, whether that be jagged shells or the occasional blue-ringed octopus sighting that occasionally makes the news during summer.

What actually matters in a good water shoe

My first stop was a BCF store in Melbourne, which had an entire wall dedicated to water shoes ranging from budget options to serious adventure gear. Standing there trying on pair after pair, I quickly learned that not all water shoes are created equal, and that the marketing claims often outpaced reality.

The sole is the single most important feature. I looked for vulcanised rubber or a high-quality synthetic compound with deep, multi-directional lugs. These lugs are the same technology used in hiking shoes, and they bite into uneven rock in a way that smooth soles simply cannot. Drainage is the next priority, and this is where many beach sandals fail. I needed mesh panels or cut-outs in the upper that would let the water pour out the moment my foot left the surf, because walking around in sloshing shoes is its own kind of torture.

Toe protection matters more than I anticipated. Several of the shoes I tried had reinforced toe caps, which sounded unnecessary until I kicked a submerged rock while testing them in a shallow rock pool. The pair with the softest toe cap left me with a sore big toe for a week. Fit is another consideration, and this is where Australian Consumer Law actually works in your favour. Goods sold here must be fit for the purpose they are reasonably intended for, so if a shoe is marketed as a water shoe and falls apart after two trips to the beach, you have a legitimate right to a refund or replacement under the consumer guarantees.

My real-world testing on Australian shores

I bought three different pairs and committed to wearing each one on a proper rocky beach before making my final decision. The first stop was Merimbula on the far south coast of New South Wales, a town famous for its rocky headlands and crystal-clear tidal flats. The second was a return trip to the Mornington Peninsula to confront the very rocks that had wounded me months earlier. The third was a weekend exploring the granite coastline around Albany in Western Australia, where the beaches are some of the most rugged in the country.

Pair number one was a budget option that felt fine in the shop but turned my feet into prunes within an hour because the drainage was poor. Pair number two was a more expensive bootie style that protected beautifully but took forever to dry, which meant I was walking around in damp shoes on the drive home. Pair number three, a mid-range slip-on with a reinforced sole and aggressive tread, struck the perfect balance. It gripped the algae-slick rocks at Merimbula without any drama, drained within a few seconds of leaving the water, and dried completely by the time I finished a long lunch at the local bowlo.

I also took this winning pair on a trip overseas, which is where I found myself looking up a weekend itinerary for a couple's getaway in Key West after my partner and I decided to extend our rocky beach testing to the Florida Keys. The shoes performed beautifully on the coral rubble beaches there, which are essentially the American cousin of our own Tasmanian shorelines.

The pair I actually bought and why

After all that testing, I settled on a specific pair that has now survived two summers and a wet winter in Sydney without any signs of wear. The brand is one that I now see regularly stocked at Kathmandu and Anaconda, and the price sits around the eighty-dollar mark, which felt reasonable for something I use constantly. The upper is a stretchy mesh that hugs the foot without squeezing it, and the toe cap is stiff enough to protect against impacts without feeling like a clunky hiking boot.

What sealed the deal was the outsole pattern. The lugs are deep and widely spaced, which allows them to bite into uneven rock while shedding debris easily. The heel cup is also surprisingly snug, which prevents the shoe from twisting sideways on slippery slopes, a problem I had encountered with cheaper models. I have worn these shoes on everything from the basalt platforms of Kiama to the granite slabs of Wilsons Promontory, and they have handled every challenge with ease.

For anyone who travels further afield, I have also found that the same shoe performed admirably on some very different shorelines, including a stretch of central Vietnamese coast that I researched through coastal guides in Hue before that particular trip. The rocky shelves there gave the shoes a proper workout, and they came through without a scratch.

Care tips to make them last

The biggest mistake I see other people making is tossing their water shoes into the bottom of the car and forgetting about them. Salt water and sand are corrosive, and they will break down even the best materials if you leave them damp for days on end. After every use, I knock the shoes together to dislodge any trapped sand, then rinse them under the tap and stuff them with newspaper or a dry towel.

If they are particularly dirty, I soak them in a bucket of warm water with a small amount of mild detergent, then scrub the soles with an old toothbrush to remove any algae or barnacle residue that might have built up in the lugs. I avoid leaving them in direct sunlight to cure, because the harsh Australian sun can degrade the mesh and glue over time. Instead, I dry them in the shade, which keeps the materials supple and extends the life of the shoe considerably.

Storage matters too. I keep mine in a mesh laundry bag in the garage, which allows air to circulate and prevents any musty odours from developing. With this kind of basic care, a quality pair of water shoes should easily last three or four summers of regular rocky beach exploration, which makes them a far better investment than the disposable thongs I used to wear through every holiday.