Natural beauty is everywhere you look on Phillip Island. Many of you will have already wandered along one of the beautiful walks listed in our compendium (emailed to you at the time of booking). Our favourite walk is Berry’s Beach to Pyramid Rock, only a few minute’s drive from our property. Along the rugged coast, you will spot (among other wildlife) rock wallabies, Sea eagles, Kites, Peregrine Falcons and at the right time of year, whales if you are lucky! Now Rom and I love our food, one of our favourite local spots is Kelp Dining. They serve up the most delish kingfish ceviche and the cauliflower tacos are next level, you can wash that down with a chilli marg that will not disappoint! Make sure you book in advance as they are not surprisingly, very busy. We wanted to know the story behind this great spot so we asked Sheree to tell us a little more about their journey.

Travis has been a Chef since he was 17. In fact, he dropped high school to follow his love for cooking. After a few snow seasons, he followed his love for snowboarding to Canada where he lived a pretty frequent diet of chicken wings and poutine. I (Sheree) just so happened to be in Canada too, where I was snowboarding and avoiding growing up.

After travelling (and meeting) in the northern parts of the Americas, we pretty soon gained some serious love for the flavours and variations in American food.

We made our way around some different parts of the world cooking and slinging drinks like we did best. We eventually got tired of travelling and sat pretty back at our roots on the Island.

After moving around so many venues we realised we had some pretty valuable knowledge and creativity we never saw here at home. The light bulb came on and we thought “if they can do it, we can do it.”

3 years later, Kelp was born.

Kelp’s offerings came from what might have been lacking in our tiny town. What was missing? Tacos, share-food and a quality cocktail is what.

It’s been just over 2 years now, and what has been a slow transformation, we’re seeing the great rewards of giving your all into what you create and for that – we’re pretty stoked.

Anyone that asks me, will get a very honest answer about how hard it’s been, and it has been HARD. I knew it would be, but not like this. Inflation, equipment breakdown, human resources, COVID – you name it. If you press your ear up against the walls, you might still hear the echo of my head bangs.

Although it’s been tough, and we have made so many mistakes, We have no regrets. What a journey It’s been owning a little restaurant. We know so much now! No degree can teach you the knowledge you need to buy a restaurant, it’s all in experience and you’ll never be ready to start. You just do.

Hands down, my favourite part is the customers that have become our friends and the friends that have become our customers. The people of our town and the kelp community are unreal, and I wouldn’t have met half the people I know today. Oh the fact that Trav and I are still a couple, is a true mystery in itself.

We’ll be here slinging out Tacos and cocktails for the foreseeable future, come see what we’re all about.