Northern beaches lifestyle ticks all boxes for Matt Cameron-Smith

Matt Cameron-Smith has lived in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and London, but Sydney’s northern beaches are his pick.

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia chief executive Matt Cameron-Smith at home with Chilli. Picture: Jane Dempster

Surfer, travel entrepreneur and chief executive Matt Cameron-Smith has lived in Brisbane, Queensland’s Gold Coast and London, but Sydney’s northern beaches are his pick.

The former AAT Kings and Trafalgar chief executive who was recently announced as the new boss of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, managing seven hotels and campgrounds employing up to 1200 staff, plumps for the Sydney suburb of Balgowlah.

“With surfing, I probably get out at least once a week to Manly or Queenscliff — those beaches would always be my pick, you get out of the water and you have amazing cafes to choose from for your coffee,” says Cameron-Smith, adding that he and his wife Jasmine and their three children have lived in Balgowlah, north of the Sydney CBD, for the past seven years.

“After living in London for seven years, where I worked for Rydges Hotels and Tourism ­Australia, we craved that beach lifestyle.

“When we got back to Australia we fell in love with the place, and have been here ever since, you are only 14km to the city, and you have the bus, road or ferry into the city. Once you get across the Spit Bridge it is another world.”

Cameron-Smith’s teenage sons are also happily ensconced at a nearby school.

“There is no better way to get around Sydney than the ferry, that’s a nice way to come home on a Friday night from our Elizabeth Street offices in the city after a long week,” he says.

In Balgowlah, the family enjoys the open plan nature of their house and make use of its extensive outside spaces.

“We tend to eat and play outside, as well as on the trampoline, and the aspect is perfect for the breezes that come through the northern beaches. We are very much beach people and there’s plenty of storage for the kids’ surfboards and bikes,” Cameron-Smith says.

“For us it’s all about minimalism,” says Cameron-Smith, adding that the family’s golden retriever, Chilli, can come and go inside and outside the house as he pleases.

“There’s bus routes for the kids and the house’s decoration is all about the fact that we like to entertain a lot and we like to have a place the kids and their friends can come and feel comfortable.”

‘With surfing, I probably get out at least once a week to Manly or Queenscliff — those beaches would always be my pick, you get out of the water and you have amazing cafes to choose from for your coffee.’ Picture: Jane Dempster

Cameron-Smith says he loves leading Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, a role he took on last August, and has since overseen a $50m renovation of the five-star Sails in the Desert hotel.

“I am loving it, (but) there is no easy job in the tourism and travel sector at the moment, the challenges are still there,” he says.

“The business has a high sense of purpose in terms of improving the lives of Indigenous people and Torres Strait Islanders through tourism.”

Apart from his role with Voyages Indigenous Tourism, Cameron-Smith is also on the board of the Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia group which ­showcases 28 vineyards. “It’s all about experiences beyond the cellar door, such as chef-to-table dining, blending classes,” he says, adding that there are members all over Australia including the NSW Hunter Valley, Victoria’s wine regions, the Barossa and Western Australia’s Margaret River. Members include Moorilla Estate, Montalto and Pernot Ricard representing Jacobs Creek and St Hugo wines.

“It’s an initiative out of Tourism Australia. We talk about how we get tourists to visit these destinations and get a more immersive experience,” he says.

So what are Cameron-Smith’s favourite wines?

“I tend towards chardonnay and semillon for white and shiraz and cabernet for red,” he says. “You have got to love all your children equally.

“It’s been a great education understanding the technology ­behind wine, and I get to work with some amazing and creative people.”