FROM ADVENTURE SEEKER TO LIFE TEACHER - KAHLEE ANDREWS

Meet Kahlee. Mum, spearfisher, and lover of all things outdoors. Growing up on a small farm with two older brothers to keep up with, Kahlee was always pushed out of her comfort zone adventuring with riding motorbikes, horses, water skiing or catching snakes. This thirst for adventure led her to finding freediving and spearfishing at age 17 and quickly becoming consumed by the sport, traveling around Australia and internationally for spearfishing trips and competitions, winning two national titles and claiming records! This soon became the gateway into sailing, and at 26, living on a yacht for 18 months and meeting her now husband who she now shares two wonderful toddlers with.

How do you make space for adventure while being a Mum? What changes have you made to your activities after becoming a Mum?

Adventure looks a bit different in this season of life. These days it’s about heading out fishing around Moreton Island, catching and cooking our own dinner. Or loading up the motorbikes and heading away on camping trips. As our family grew we went from swag, to rooftop tent, to caravan. We’ve expanded our setup to make things as easy as possible to get out there

Tell us about an adventure you’ve taken your kids on.

Mostly fishing and camping adventures, we aim for low stress family friendly environments which means nice weather and lots of wide outdoors spaces for the wildlings to roam free.

Why is continuing to be adventurous with your kids important to you?

When you conquer a skill like spearfishing, hunting, or fishing it requires resilience and dedication. It’s not something that you can get better at by chance, you have to endure tough conditions, setbacks, and show a level of grit to continue to conquer the unexpected. By pursuing a lifestyle of outdoors adventures we hope to instill a natural curiosity for nature, and the formative values required to adapt and evolve in whatever it is our kids choose to do in life.

What challenges do you face when trying to adventure with kids and how do you overcome or embrace them?

When they’re toddlers or babies, there’s a lot of gear to pack and you do have to plan short bursts of activities around nap times or travel windows. There’s logistically more moving pieces to consider, but we just tackle it as a team and do our best to use checklists and go-boxes to make it as easy as possible to hit the road.

What essential gear do you carry and how does rhino-rack fit into your adventure? Any packing or gear tips for other mums?

Our Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform is essential, serving dual purposes for work and leisure. Its adaptability allows us to switch from storing trade tools and materials (my husband is a carpenter) to securing adventure gear seamlessly. The weatherproof bags also provide crucial extra storage. My tip for fellow adventurous mums is to simplify your packing process to make adventures more feasible.

What message do you want to share with mums this Mother's Day?

This Mother's Day, I want to say: all mums are incredible. Whether it’s just getting out of the house and down to a park or beach, take micro adventures often in those early days, and build your confidence from there.

It is daunting.

Start small, keep your expectations low, and be accepting that it might be 80% hard but 20% amazing. When you look back I promise you’ll be grateful for that 20%.

How do you balance your role as a mother with other aspects of your life, such as work or personal hobbies?

Balancing motherhood with running a business and indulging in personal hobbies is an ongoing challenge that I haven’t figured out - I’m all ears on advice here! I run Devote Digital, a business focused on Marketing Outdoors Brands, so my work and life often intertwine which I am so grateful for as it provides me with a natural balance rather than feeling like it is one or the other.

How have you found support or inspiration from other mothers?

I find immense inspiration from mothers like Kimi Werner, who continue to pursue their passions while raising children. Their journeys reassure me that while motherhood and adventures come with their own set of trials, the experiences and memories created are immensely fulfilling.