
Aussie Mama Julia Ashwood of The Vista
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by
Photographed by Bridget Wood
Julia Ashwood is a back-to-the-land kind of mother. Raised on a working farm outside Byron Bay, Australia, the ambitious and whip-smart Ashwood quickly ascended the ranks in fashion advertising and marketing, eventually landing in NYC working for a handful of major brands. And just over four years ago she decided to forge her own path and launch The Vista, a high-style travel site. But despite her globetrotting, her heart was still in Byron Bay. Immediately following the birth of her daughter, Delilah (now two), she and her husband Matt moved back to the charming (and increasingly cool) coastal town. This past year has been a busy one: They scored their dream house—a perfectly aged farmhouse on 40 acres, complete with sheep, alpaca, and pearl hens—welcomed baby Alby Boy, now four months old; and launched two new interactive Vista guides, California and Byron Bay. While the family can just as often be found exploring far-flung places around the world, Juila has made quite the nest for her little crew in Byron Bay.
Below, she shows us around her dreamy property and introduces us to her two tiny travel companions. Click through and brace yourself for some major wanderlust.
- "We definitely held out to find the right space in Byron. When we saw this one advertised, my husband recognized it straight away, as he had helped a local farmer move some cattle off the road and back onto the land just a few months prior. This old farmhouse is set on 40 acres, and it's 5 minutes to the beach and town with a ever-changing vista across the ocean. The paddocks around the house are home to sheep, alpaca, and cattle, and we have a few Guineafowl roaming about, too. It's quiet and tranquil with loads of space for the ever-expanding veggie patch, and the kids adore it just as much as we do. We have been in this space for 8 months now. However it feels like a lot longer. It's a farmhouse-cum-surf-shack really, with a rusty red roof and years of stories in its walls."
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Julia wears All That Remains pants and a Babe Rainbow tee. DeeDee wears a vintage dress.
- "In one word, eclectic! Matty has what feels like hundreds of artworks, and on top of this are the many things we have collected through our years of traveling. Indian rugs, design books, Japanese pottery, Moroccan jewelry—plus we have a penchant for loads of lovely plants and flowers."
- "Nothing really!"
- "For me, Byron is home. I grew up here on a farm just 15 minutes away in a smaller coastal town, Lennox Head. We decided to return back to the area after many years in both Sydney and NYC when our daughter was just six weeks old. Things have definitely progressed and changed significantly since I left the area at the age of 17. However, this has also brought along a lot of new business and opportunity to the area, along with an incredible collection of wonderful, conscious, and creative local people."
- "L.A. certainly feels like a second home, with many friends out there who are very close to us. We would explore opportunities there. I also have Spanish heritage, so the idea of living abroad in Europe for a time would be an amazing experience for our little family. However, Australia has our hearts for now."
- "Byron has an incredible food scene. It's a multicultural fusion! Barrio is a fairly new restaurant by a lovely Argentinian gent, and Francisco's Table is a great spot for any meal, just 10 minutes from our house. There's also a fun new Italian spot called Di Vino, and a lovely home-style Greek restaurant with a lovely outdoor courtyard which I adore, Kouzina. We love popping out on any given night for wood-fired pizzas and wine at the local halls, too. Like most kids, ours enjoy the outdoors, so a day in nature will be spent either at the beach or bushwalking to a nearby waterfall or plateau. Our 90-page Byron Bay guide has it all!!"
- "I think growing up on a farm had a lot to do with it, as we were always quite limited in the amount of time we could spend away from the property. I also had a lovely cousin whom I'm still close with who would send me inspiring postcards with tales from her travels all across the world. I collected them all in a giant photo album which I still have to this day."
- When mama knows how to have fun.
- "We loved being immersed in the natural beauty of Kauai. New Zealand is also a place we gravitate to, and I fell in love with Spain and Portugal as a young traveller, however we are yet to go back there as a family."
- "Traveling is an incredible educational experience for children. Allowing them to see different places, try different foods, hear different music, and make new friends—all this is irreplaceable."
- "Traveling of course doesn't just mean internationally—a weekend away can be filled with new experiences. We often just pack up the van with the tent and go camping, just to be under the stars and away from our normal habits—and phones and Wi-Fi! My best tip is patience and flexibility—if you're a parent, you probably already know that it's the kids who captain the boat! We always have plenty of healthy snacks, water, radio, books, and play lots of eye spy!"
- "We definitely have to be more organized—there's no flying by the seat of our pants these days. Hotel rooms and hired cars with baby seats must be pre-booked, and long-haul flights are normally avoided unless we have scheduled stop overs. We do manage to carve out time without the kids, which I think is so important, too. We have a little unwritten rule—80 percent with kids, 20 percent romance. Perhaps that's our key to sanity and sustaining our marriage!"
- "We hope to explore more of Oz this year. Western Australia and the tropical north. We're always interested in exploring new places, however Mexico and L.A. always seem to make there way back on the travel list each year, too."
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Julia wears a Matteau swimsuit and Little Tienda shirt. DeeDee wears a Zulu and Zephyr swimsuit.
- "Never guessing what mood my toddler may be in?! But really the most exciting would be that I have been granted the opportunity to: a) Have children and love them unconditionally and forevermore, and b) To do my best to raise children of the next generation who are aware, humble, and kind."
- "Delilah’s multiple personalities—age 2 is a roller coaster, that's for sure."
- "Delilah Bee Rabbidge—we loved the sweet sounding song in this name. Alby Boy Rabbidge—Alby was named after a great and jovial Australian adventurer."
- "DeeDee is addicted to music. She's constantly moving about the house—with sass—in her own style of dance, creating songs on her ukulele. Alby is just 4 months old today, however he's got the cheekiest smile around and he's very alert and in tune. Those big dark blue eyes of his get me every time."
- "I was never a goo-goo ga-ga mum. But yes, I always knew when the time was right I would want to have children. I was 35 when I fell pregnant with DeeDee."
- "I loved both of my pregnancies. Having a wonderful husband who is an excellent cook helps, too!"
- Playing peek-a-boo.
- "Because I run my own business, I still continued to work, though I did make sure I took a step back for at least 4-to-8 weeks prior to, and post both births."
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Julia wears All That Remains pants. Alby Boy wears Bobo Choses.
- "If it feels good, do it! We love color and embrace it whole heartedly. We also love a bit of midcentury decor when we can incorporate it."
- A practiced multi-tasker.
- "Our new side board, made by Jeremy Lee, is our latest purchase. It holds all DeeDee’s books and Matty's ever-growing record collection. Our Jedda-Daisy Culley paintings are also a favorite."
- "I think anyone who has a toddler knows that mess is inevitable—you just can't fight it! They are busy little people indeed. We did our best to control it to one room but that lasted, oh, about a week!"
- "Ina May Gaskin! She was an incredible mentor. Her books, documentaries, and Ted Talks are certainly recommended. We also really enjoyed the teachings of Nadine Duncan and her course ‘She Births,’ a lovely mix of Buddhism, yoga, science, and street sense! Her emphasis on the idea of 'daddy doula' also enables the partner in the equation to step in and feel a stronger connection throughout both the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period."
- The sweetest snuggles.
- "In my eyes, all of my close friends who have had children are icons and teachers to me. They also remind me that there are good days and bad, but that their childhood goes so, so quickly, and to embrace it and them every single day."
- "My mother is the most selfless and generous, not to mention beautiful woman. I feel like a lot of my childhood was spent driving her crazy with the next dance or drama audition in town! My dad was an orphan and from a very young age had to fend for himself. He in turn created a life for my brother and I that he perhaps missed out on. He granted us incredible education and support throughout those years. My family all now live close by, so seeing them as grandparents now warms my heart."
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Left to right: All That Remains dress and velvet jacket, Sancia checked jump suit, All That Remains pants, MLM The Label Gown, and All That Remains shirt. DeeDee wears a vintage dress.
- "Relaxed yet firm—sounds like a mattress! I think it's so important to hold a sense of authority but to equally balance that with tons of good fun."
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Julia wears an All That Remains shirt. DeeDee wears vintage. Alby Boy wears Número 74 pants.
- "I think due to all the political chaos that is surrounding us, it's important to focus on community and doing what we can as a family to offer support locally, and teaching our kids to do the same."
- "Enjoy your birth and have total faith in your body. You've got this!"
- "Not today!"
- "Professionally I'm a travel influencer and writer. We create interactive travel guides that are available to downloaded online. We also feature and review hotels and unique stays across the world."
- "I grew up in Lennox Head, studied communications at university in Queensland, went on into marketing positions at Billabong, General Pants, and OneTeaspoon—I was even a weather woman for around 18 months for Channel 9! I then moved across to advertising, and worked between Sydney and NYC with large commercial brands. I founded The Vista around four-and-a-half years ago."
- "We certainty focus a lot more on kids within our travel guides now, however there is something for everyone. Having kids has actually taught me to be more efficient with my time, as outside of general parenting, you find you don't have a lot of it anymore."
- "Yes! We are so lucky—DeeDee is in a wonderful local daycare, we have a gorgeous nanny one day a week, and my mum is always on call. I have Alby with me at all times."
- "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I find that stress gets in the way of your flow. The moment I get a little itchy about where the next job may be coming from, it just gets in the way… Manifest, relax, work hard, be kind, and the rest will follow."
- "Of course! This is very real. However we can't be superheroes every day. I usually sit DeeDee down and chat to her one-on-one, apologize or explain my words or actions. Like everything, communication is key."
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Julia wears a Little Tienda jumpsuit. Deedee wears vintage.
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"Very! One aspect that I'm now very conscious of, is body image, especially bringing up a little woman."
- "Quite masculine, as I love tees and pants or jeans, or even a suit. Living by the coast is also so relaxed—I love dresses and sandals from sun up to sun down."
- "It's been consistent, I think. Right now I'm breast feeding, which is always tricky, but I have a lot of button-down, oversized shirts—mostly borrowed from Matt’s wardrobe."
- "All That Remains for her color pallets, focus on sustainability, classic cuts, and pretty, feminine touches. One Teaspoon for the best denim shorts in the world. Jesse Kamm for her fabulous pants! Lucy Folk for her savvy, forward-thinking styles and sunglasses. Holly Ryan for her incredible jewels, which I live in."
- "Mukti organic skin care is my go-to! I wake up and apply Vitamin C, I have a bath with a restorative mask, and I sleep in the age-defiance night serum. I actually haven't used anything else for two years now."
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Julia wears a Little Tienda skirt and top and a Worn Store hat. DeeDee wears an Animals Observatory tee and Spell dress. Alby Boy wears Número 74 pants.
- "Walking, yoga, and meditation, plus swimming in the ocean—these few things are my favorite ways to spend any 'me' time. Also a massage at Comma Byron Bay when I can squeeze it in."
- "At 6:30 a.m. I'm out of the house. As long as I'm home by 8:30 a.m., before Matty heads to work or before the daycare run, I can get some movement in. This makes all the difference in my day."
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"Always! Anyone who knows me knows I'm always thinking and planning and dreaming up the next big thing. This year we are focussing on collaboration and partnering up with great, like-minded brands, we also plan to release more interactive travel guides and our own travel merch, which is something I'm so excited to share!"
For more on Julia, her sweet family, and their world travels, follow her on Instagram.
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