Why Monterey is the Perfect Setting for HBO's 'Big Little Lies'

Fishermans Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf | © Culture Trip

Editorial Manager

Culture Trip explores Monterey to find out why this stunning part of California is the perfect setting for HBO’s hugely successful TV series.

Liane Moriarty’s best-selling novel, Big Little Lies, is set entirely in the fictional Australian town of Pirriwee. The Emmy-winning show that the book inspired is out now on Blu-ray and DVD and moves the action to the very real city of Monterey, California.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

You might also like: 21 Photos That Will Make Monterey Your Next Californian Vacation

Despite our initial reservations, the relocation proved to be one of the major successes of the series as Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley have found their home in this picturesque part of the West Coast of America.

Big Little Lies

The series focusses on three women who become friends whilst facing various problems of their own. Jane (Shailene Woodley) is new in town, with her young son Ziggy about to start school. Through a chance encounter, Jane is befriended by Martha (Reese Witherspoon) who has children of her own, one of whom is also attending the same school as Ziggy. Celeste (Nicole Kidman) is the final part of the trio, a woman who outwardly has it, all with a young husband (Alexander Skarsgård) and twin boys, but hides a violent marriage from everyone around her.

The series not only tells the story of how the women deal with the troubles in their lives, but does so by weaving in various elements of Californian life. The opening titles heavily feature The Bixby Bridge, overlooking The Big Sur, a rugged coastal area that leads into the Pacific.

The Bixby Bridge as seen in Big Little Lies on HBO

Although Monterey is in California, the weather is a microclimate all of its own. As one of the locals told us, you can go from cold and mist off the coast and in the hills, only to be baking in the sun five minutes later among the beaches and vineyards. The area boasts some of the best and most varied terrain you are likely to find anywhere in North America, but just be sure to pack for any weather.

We took the following pictures on the same morning less than a few miles apart, but the dramatic change in weather is obvious to see.

Early morning mist…

Overlooking the Pacific in Monterey at Cannery Row

An hour later…

Pacific Grove in Monterey

The luxury lifestyle of some of the characters, namely Celeste and Laura Dern’s Renata Klein hint at some of the more glamorous elements to life in Monterey. One of the areas close to the coast is Carmel, a town once governed by Mayor Clint Eastwood.

No tour of the area would be complete without seeing how the “other half” live, and a jaunt along 17-Mile Drive is essential on your visit. The scenic route takes in Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach, home to one of the greatest golf courses in the world.

We were lucky enough to spend some time at a humble little abode that overlooks the 18th hole of the course, which would only set you back a paltry $42 million. Bargain!

Home with a view

If that’s all a bit too much for you, then there are cheaper homes available. Another house we visited, still close to the 17-Mile Drive route but a little further away from Pebble Beach, costs $9 million and comes complete with the added bonus of sea views that regularly feature whales and dolphins. How regularly you ask? We were there for less than an hour and had our fill of water spouts and fins… that’s how regularly.

One of the many glamorous homes in Monterey

One of the most iconic elements of the series is The Blue Blues Cafe, a tranquil spot where Celeste, Jane and Martha put the world to rights over a bite to eat and some coffee/wine. It’s not really there in Monterey, sadly, as filming an interior shots meant some of it had to be built on a soundstage, but the inspiration behind the location can be found on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Big Little Lies Cafe Scenes

On our visit we made sure to stop by Paluca Trattoria to sample the cuisine and refreshments on offer and can confirm it all checks out.

Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey

The most famous part of Monterey, at least the most recognisable to those who have yet to visit, is Cannery Row. The coastal areas are unspoilt, and even protected by heavy fines for anyone foolish enough to put the local wildlife at risk or harm.

There are kayaking excursions available, including one we took with Adventures by the Sea, but you can also just walk along the seafront if that seems like too much effort. Mind you, you might miss out on paddling with dolphins if you stay on the land… another thing mentioned but you imagine “it can’t really be that easy…?”

Seal spotting in Monterey

It is. We were in the water for less than 15 minutes and found ourselves confronted by playful dolphins, noisy seals and too many photo opportunities to cope with. Just don’t go too close… the fine is a whopping $30,000 for anyone caught “interfering” with the seals.

Anyway, back to Cannery Row and its own aquatic offering. The Aquarium is one of the most famous in the world, and was recently used as the basis for the locations used in Finding Dory (2016). It has also featured in a number of other films including Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1987). The Monterey Bay Aquarium also features in Big Little Lies, in a scene where Jane and her son Ziggy have a heart-to-heart.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Finally, no trip to California is complete without sampling the delights of the many wineries and vineyards located close by. The characters in the show are constantly sipping away at a glass or two of their favourite tipple, and given the abundance of locally made wine it seems likely that they would be drinking produce from the region. For anyone looking to explore, here’s a handy map of some of the local spots to visit.

Download the FREE iTourMobile App in the Apple app store and Google play store. Once the app is installed search for the Big Little Lies tour in Monterey, CA.

Big Little Lies is out now on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of HBO Home Entertainment

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article