Maddison Brown Discovers New Zealand’s Hidden Coastal Gems — ‘It’s Just as Magical as Summer Bay!’

While Home and Away’s Summer Bay may be a sun-drenched dream for viewers, actress Maddison Brown has found that real-life paradise exists a little further south — in New Zealand. The Aussie star, who plays cardiac nurse Jo Langham, says she’s fallen in love with Aotearoa’s breathtaking beaches and untouched beauty.

“I absolutely adore New Zealand,” Maddison beams, listing her must-visit coastal escapes — from the sparkling Bay of Islands to the laid-back Bay of Plenty. “I’ll actually be spending Christmas there this year, and I can’t wait!”

Brown has been spending increasing amounts of time across the Tasman thanks to her fiancé, Kiwi actor Simon Meade, best known for Under the Vines. The couple’s favorite getaway? Queenstown, where Meade once lived while filming. “There’s something about the light, the mountains, and that crisp air — it’s just perfection,” she says.

Still, Maddison’s heart belongs to Sydney’s Palm Beach, the real-life location of Summer Bay. “We were filming there today, and it was just magical. A pod of dolphins swam by as we were shooting,” she recalls with a grin. “Every time I’m there, I think — how is this my office?!”

Before joining Home and Away, Maddison had already built an impressive résumé. She starred opposite Nicole Kidman in Strangerland (2015), and after spending over a decade working in the U.S. — including a standout role in the Dynasty reboot — she decided to return home to Australia.

“There’s nothing more iconic than Home and Away,” she says proudly. “Even now, when I see Ray [Meagher] — Alf Stewart himself — I have to pinch myself. It’s surreal.”

Since joining the soap, Brown admits she’s never been happier. “I’m honestly having the best time,” she says. “The cast is incredible. To be working in Sydney, surrounded by so many talented, kind people, means everything to me.”

Her character, however, has faced a much tougher road. Jo’s backstory is marked by heartbreak — the loss of her mother, Christina, in a devastating car crash that Jo herself was driving in. The trauma fractured her family. Jo’s memories of the incident are hazy, and her sister Lacey has never forgiven her, believing she was responsible for their mother’s death. Their father, David, later followed his daughters to Summer Bay in an effort to mend the family — but healing has been slow and painful.

Recently, Jo began hypnotherapy, desperate to recover her lost memories and uncover the truth about what really happened that day. Maddison explains,

“Jo’s whole motivation is about healing. She wants her family back. She believes that by remembering the truth, she can finally find peace and rebuild those broken relationships.”

Off-screen, the on-set chemistry between the trio mirrors their fictional family bond. “We just clicked right away,” Maddison says warmly. “Jeremy [who plays David] honestly feels like a real dad to us, and Sophia [Pennington, who plays Lacey] and I are like sisters. I adore my little Langham family.”

Having grown up with two sisters of her own, Maddison finds the dynamic deeply relatable. “Filming those emotional scenes can be intense, but we balance it with laughter and support,” she shares. “Watching Jo and Lacey slowly reconnect has been beautiful. After all the pain, seeing them edge toward forgiveness — it’s really moving.”

For Maddison Brown, life right now is a blend of beach bliss, career fulfillment, and heartfelt storytelling — whether it’s under the Sydney sun or along New Zealand’s windswept shores.