From childhood memories to mid-20s rambles, these elevated spots ignite a sense of wonder and beckon us to pause, breathe, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

 

My favourite place in the world is a lookout at the most easterly point of the little coastal village where I grew up. You can see headlands and beaches to the north and south, and watch the sunset sink down behind the mountains, casting a glowy orange light over my hometown.

 

 

When I was a little kid I’d groan at being dragged up the hill. As a teenager I’d thrash my way up there on a bike and sit on the wooden fence, relishing in the tiny moment of independence.

Over the years I’ve spotted whales, checked waves, and run up and down it for sports training. It was the first place I drove to when I got my licence and it was my first stop when I came back from travelling or uni semesters because arriving there made me feel like I was home.

It’s a picturesque place on a calm clear day but it’s even better when the southerly wind is howling and the winter swells roll against the cliff sending salty mist across the coast.

On those days you can lean into the wind, mouth open, eyes shut, tasting the wild salty air, and letting it rip away any stress or muddled thoughts. I always come back with a clear head and a happy heart.

Although that particular lookout is a special favourite of mine, I’m always on the look-out for a good lookout.

They have the ability to give you perspective, make you feel small, and bring on a sense of having truly arrived somewhere all at once.

They inspire us to go further, explore more, and see if we can find out what might be just beyond that mountain or around that next headland. 

 

 

There’s nothing like reaching the end of a hike with a great lookout, releasing the weight of your pack, leaning against the railing, taking a breath, and appreciating how far you’ve come. Or stumbling upon the unexpected, unofficial lookout mid-hike and taking it as a sign to rest and snack and chat, or just to soak up the sounds of nature.

Another beautiful thing about lookouts is that they’re for everyone. You don’t have to be a hiker or an extreme adventurer to find them. 

 

 

They’re the perfect excuse to stop on a long drive. They turn your trip from a chore to an adventure in a heartbeat, as you crack the door and feel the fresh air rush in, stretch your legs, and gaze out over new territory you’re yet to explore. 

Regardless of where we find them, lookouts make us pause, linger, live in the moment, and reset. Something we don’t get a lot of in day-to-day life.

Some are fancy, with big beautiful platforms and info signs, and some might just be a brief, scrubby parting of the trees halfway along a bush track, but they all evoke that same sense of nostalgia and wonder. 

 

 

I don’t think I’m the only one to feel this way. I reckon it’s something innate in humans, to want to be able to see where we are, where we’ve come from, and pause, taking a deep breath while the wind whips away our worries. 

So here’s to lookouts, may they forever inspire selfies with friends, picnic stops, sunrise missions, summer beers at sunset, early morning surf checks, and unofficial camping adventures for generations to come. 

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