In Her Element: Maddy at Otford Lookout
Maddy feels most herself surrounded by nature — where the bush presses up against the sea, and life slows down to the rhythm of waves and wind.
“Being out there makes me feel human, alive, connected — sometimes free. But most importantly, small and part of everything.”
Having grown up on Scotland Island, just north of Sydney, Maddy’s childhood was shaped by saltwater and sandstone. She remembers rowing tiny boats across the bays of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, choosing the stormiest days to set out with her siblings, climbing up waterfalls and into the bush.
Now, her perfect Sunday looks quieter — a run with her mum on the mainland, picking up the newspaper, then sitting on the wharf with her dog, soaking in the sun with a bowl of muesli.
“That’s probably the best Sunday I could ever have — just sitting by the water, feeling the sun on my skin.”
Nature, she says, has shaped how she approaches beauty and self-care. “It makes me feel like I can just accept who I am — the way I was born. There’s no external standard you need to chase. You just get to appreciate the fact that you’re alive.”
Her ritual is grounded and unfussy. A little makeup when she feels like it — but never for the sake of it.
“Makeup is self-expression for me, a creative outlet. It gets me in the mood for whatever’s ahead. But other days, it’s just lip balm, sunscreen and a drink bottle — that’s all I need.”
When asked how others can find their own connection to nature, her advice is simple:
“Spend time with it. Go bushwalking, swimming, hiking — whatever makes you feel alive. Nature doesn’t have to mean wilderness. It can be your local park or garden. Just take time to step outside.”
For Maddy, the beauty of nature — and of life — lies in those small, steady rituals that bring you back to yourself.
