Hi, I’m Monique.

Welcome to Monique Lives Life.

I’m an Australian travel photographer, scuba diving instructor and self-confessed itinerary nerd based in Perth, Western Australia.

If there’s a spreadsheet, colour-coded map or overly researched Google tab involved in planning a trip… there’s a good chance I made it.

I genuinely love the planning almost as much as the travelling.

Not because I want to cram every attraction into a holiday, but because I want to make every day count. I want to find the little local café that’s better than the famous one. The hidden beach instead of the busiest one. The walking route that accidentally becomes the highlight of the trip.

That’s exactly why I started this blog.

So… what is Monique Lives Life?

Originally, this was simply somewhere to share my adventures.

Over time, it became a place to collect everything I’d learned along the way – the mistakes, the hidden gems, the incredible experiences and the practical advice I wished I’d known before I travelled.

These days you’ll find:

• Practical itineraries that help you see more without burning yourself out
• Honest destination guides based on real experiences
• Scuba diving recommendations from around the world
• Hiking adventures and outdoor escapes
• Travel photography and tips
• The occasional lesson learned the hard way, so hopefully you don’t have to.

Every recommendation comes from places I’ve actually visited.

If I say somewhere is worth your time, it’s because I genuinely thought it was.

When I’m not travelling…

You’ll usually find me doing one of four things:

• Planning my next adventure.
• Editing far too many photos.
• Walking my dog, Carrots.
• Convincing myself I don’t need another camera / cute outfit / plant

My travel philosophy

I don’t believe the best trips are the ones where you tick off the most attractions.

I think they’re the ones where you leave feeling like you actually experienced a place.

Sometimes that means slowing down.

Sometimes it means squeezing an incredible amount into a day because you know exactly where you’re going.

It’s all about finding the balance.

If I can help make your next adventure a little easier to plan, inspire you to visit somewhere unexpected, or simply give you the confidence to book that trip you’ve been dreaming about, then this blog has done exactly what I hoped it would.

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you find something here that inspires your next adventure.

Monique

Quick facts

• 📍 Based in Perth, Australia
• 🤿 Certified Scuba Diving Instructor
• 📸 Travel photographer
• 🥾 Favourite way to explore? On foot.
• 🌏 Favourite thing to plan? Adventure holidays
• ☕ Coffee order: long black
• ✈️ Favourite destination (so far): Italy
• 🐶 Travel assistant: Carrots (Chief Walk Inspector)