Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Moana Hope, but most people know me as Mo. I am a proud mum of two beautiful babies, Ahi and Svea. I’m a full-time caregiver for my sister Lavinia and married to my beautiful wife Isabella. I was a professional AFLW player and I’ve tried to win Australian Survivor twice (I came third on Australian Survivor: All Stars). I’ve got 14 brothers and sisters, and I run a traffic management company with 120 employees.

What do you love about Melbourne?

Melbourne is a great city with loads of amazing things to do, but most of all it is the home of AFL and AFLW.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?
Smith & Daughters in Collingwood – it has the most delicious food and cocktails. It’s a vegan restaurant and I honestly would order one of everything from the menu if I could fit it all in.

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Where do you go for brunch or breakfast?
I go to Brothers Keeper in Kooyong – it has the best smashed avo and eggs. The juice is so fresh and the staff are lovely. For lunch, it would have to be yum cha at Red Emperor, Southbank.

Any fave shops?
Bassike for an outfit. I also love technology, so I can’t walk past a JB Hi-Fi without going in. My other guilty pleasure is Gold Class cinemas at Crown Melbourne. It’s my outlet and the place I like to go to relax.

When you want to impress someone, where do you take them?
To an oval and kick a footy (ha!). I am not really into impressing people, but I’d say a nice coffee date and chat at a cafe.

What’s one of the city’s most underrated places?

Birrarung Marr, an urban park on the north bank of the Yarra River. It’s such a great spot in Melbourne. It hosts festivals and activities for kids and creates a great sense of community.

Is there an essential Melbourne song?
Up There Cazaly – the song Mike Brady sings at every Melbourne AFL Grand Final.

Moana Hope is speaking about body and mind positivity at Bodfest – a day of body positivity and self love – on October 8. You can stream the talk, which includes speakers Amy Sheppard and Isabella Manfredi, on demand.

@moanahope

“My Melbourne” is a regular column discovering the places and spaces that captivate and entice Melbourne’s well-known residents.