The race is on: with the film adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestseller rom-com People We Meet on Vacation slated for a January 2026 release, I sought to be an experienced viewer when the film drops—not just by rereading the piece that made middle school me believe in love again—but by recreating the travel-slash-love story and experiencing the love firsthand.

Henry’s novel chronicles Alex and Poppy’s—portrayed in the upcoming film by Tom Blyth and Emily Bader—last-ditch attempt to mend their relationship by vacationing in California’s desert paradise, Palm Springs. Unfortunately, I am half the world away, so instead of catching the first flight to Cali’s desert, I saw the first bus to the equally sandy Bondi Beach.

As I got off to the view of Bondi Pavilion set against the beach, Poppy would have parked her car by Palm Canyon Drive. For the literal too-warm welcome she would’ve received, I was shielded from the heat by sprawling white canopies that lined the heritage-listed building. The sight made me tap into another romantic fantasy: A damsel heroine in Greek mythology. Though bold letters on its arched doorway listed various things you could find inside the Pav’s two levels, most people seemed to already know their way around… and by “around” I mean to the famous(ly fancy) wine-and-dine. Still, the vibrant ambience inside, blended with the distant sounds of waves and seagulls from the beach, would surely resolve the couple's fight arc in Henry’s novel much quicker.

As a broke university student, I refrained from the triple-digit menu at Pav’s restaurants and instead crossed the street towards Campbell Parade. Its roadside rows of miscellaneous shops were easily comparable to the iconic Palm Canyon Drive. But my attention was on the nearby school, which was spilling over with stalls, where they held the weekly Bondi Markets. When asked whether I could find antiques that Canyon Drive was known for, a stallholder kindly told me to try the next day—Saturdays are the local fresh market, while antiques and artisanal stalls are slotted for Sundays.

Palm Springs has Cabazon Dinosaurs; every year in October, Sydney hosts the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, competing for the sculpture sensation title. Steps away from Bondi Pavilion, the sculptures sprawled across the 2km coastal track between Bondi and Tamarama were a wild mix of things, resulting in funny sights like a couple intently staring into an unassuming branch—that I only realised was a sculpture upon closer inspection. Very romantic indeed.

Although Bondi was a gem compared to the beauty of Palm Canyon, I jumped at the chance to make this romantic trip my own by venturing to Sydney’s North.

Only a ten-minute walk from Milsons Point station was Sydney’s true romantic hub of the season. McDougall Street in Kirribilli is famous for turning purple at the peak of spring from the blooming jacarandas. And who are the people at the forefront of scenic locations, if not the lovebirds?

When a lady asked me for help taking a picture of her with her pup, I felt an instant bond—one of being the few single people in the street. Just then, she signalled me to hold and scooched over for a guy and two adorable children in matching overalls. I suddenly became a photographer for a family picture. It had been a tradition of 6 years since they had their pre-wedding shoot at the same spot, the lady explained.

My mind was set: That sounds like the perfect start to my love story with a future special someone. The lady helped me take the first picture, and we shared a “See you next year!” when we parted ways.

Sydney is like a choose-your-own-romance adventure: get steamy in Bondi or go to Kirribilli for a first kiss under the trees. Here’s to hoping Blyth and Bader make a press stop here to have a taste.

PEOPLE WE MEET IN SYDNEY

• BONDI BEACH AND SURROUNDS

40 minutes from the city by the 333 bus

Bondi Pavilion

Open Daily 6.30-22.00

What to do: Lunchtime Concerts (once a month, see schedule on their website), Gallery, Outdoor Cinema, Wine-and-dine (see ‘Eats’)

Eats: Promenade Bondi, Glory Days, Surfish Cafe

Campbell Parade

Where to go: Bondi Markets at Bondi Beach Public School, Curlewis St Shops

Eats: Bondi Surf Seafoods, Easy Tiger Bondi Beach, Yo-Chi, Anita Gelato

Sculpture by the Sea

Sculpture by the Sea will return to Bondi Beach in September 2026

• KIRRIBILLI

15 minutes from Central Station by train, alight at Milsons Point

Where to go: Kirribilli Markets, Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden

Eats: The Botanist Kirribilli, The Flying Bear, Foys Kirribilli

McDougall St

Best time to go: Late October-early November

Be mindful as this is a residential neighbourhood

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Niki Almira (they/them) is in their third year of a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing, Film Studies Minor) at UNSW Sydney. Their interests are a mixed bag of skittles, ranging from classical literature to the latest trending baby animals.

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