Lilliana Bowrey Our Newest Elite Ambassador
Dylan Rowe
We are so proud to announce Lilliana Bowrey is joining the team as our newest elite PARGO ambassador!
Lil hails from Noosa Heads not too far from the PARGO hq and has made a big name for herself for all the right reasons! She is an incredible and stylish surfer, model and actor. Lil has Māori, Indonesian and New Guinea heritage. She is on a journey to learn as much as she can about it all.
Immersing herself in the cultures she is from and learning all she can whilst helping others along the way makes her the perfect human to join Project PARGO and help more people gain access to clean water.
Currently residing between Indonesia, New Zealand and Noosa, Lil is always chasing swells and good times. Learning about her Māori and Indonesian heritage she is speaking the languages and really leaning into this journey. We are so proud to have her on the team and we are excited for all the adventures to come.
We caught up with Lil recently and asked her about her life, traveling and working with her partner. We chat about the need for clean water especially in Indonesia and how much she loves her MIDNIGHT Black 1890ml Sports Bottle.
PP: Hey Lil! How are you?
Lil: Hi Guys! I am so amazing now that I’m part of the PARGO Fam haha. Can’t quite get much better than this!
PP : Where are you at the moment?
Lil: Right now, I’m in West Java—Batukaras. The rainy season has kicked in here in Indonesia, and that’s when the waves really start to get fun on this coastline. It’s been a nice change of pace, cruising and swapping the shortboard for the log. Feels a bit like home!
PP : You've had an amazing year! - how's living in Indo treating you?
Lil: This year has definitely been one of the best yet! I moved to Bali with my partner to fully dive into content creation and surfing, and it’s been a journey filled with amazing new adventures and experiences. I’m beyond grateful for everything so far and can’t wait to see what the new year has in store
PP : We've seen footage of you in some solid days in the water recently, tell us about a session that stands out from this year?
Lil: This year, I had the amazing opportunity to experience West Sumbawa for the first time, and I found my favorite wave in the world—Supersuck. I managed to snag a couple waves through the crowd, and now they live in my head rent free, haha! Super stoked to have gotten a solid shot, and hopefully, there are many more to come!
PP : You're living, traveling and working with your partner! That's so rad! - how do you guys go keeping work, work and life, life - or do you blend it all together like we do? Haha
Lil: As you all know, it's pretty rad! Doing life with your best friend/partner and sharing these incredible moments together is something truly special. But, of course, it comes with its challenges too! We’re definitely figuring it out as we go—learning what works and what doesn’t, haha. We mix everything together, but at the end of the day, this is what feels right for us. Finding balance is key—making sure we're still having fun, surfing, and traveling, while also staying on track with our work/career goals!
PP : So you're living in between Indo, NZ and Australia! How good! Do you get much down time or is it go go go?
Lil: We mostly split our time between New Zealand, since Elliot (my partner) is from Piha, and then the rest of the time in Indonesia. Not so much Australia though, as my goal is to experience as much of the world as I can (and, let’s be honest, the waves are better over here, haha). We’re always on the move, following the swell wherever it takes us! People often ask if I ever get tired of constantly moving. And yeah, I do get tired—but not from the travel itself. I guess I have the mentality that I am so damn lucky to be tired from travelling so much! If that makes sense. I know a lot of people that would kill to be in my position of travelling so much and I guess that’s what keeps me going. Gratitude.
"Through my love of surfing, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to some of the most beautiful and remote places in the world, often in search of the best waves. However, I’ve also seen the harsh reality that comes with these stunning locations—poor water and sanitation conditions. I’m so excited and humbled to finally give back through PARGO! I can’t wait to get my hands dirty on a water project. "
PP : You mentioned to us about your Māori and Indonesian heritage and how you're really immersing yourself in it. How is that journey going and how has that changed you most?
Lil: That's right! My mum's side is Indonesian/Papua New Guinean, and my dad’s side is Māori. My grandparents moved to Australia when they were young, and along the way, they lost touch with their cultures and languages. Unfortunately, they never reconnected with them. I speak Indonesian with my great grandma, who still knows a little, and I’m so grateful she’s still with us. But honestly, if it weren’t for me, our connection to the language would be lost. I really want my future kids to speak it, along with Te Reo Māori. This journey has been incredibly eye-opening. It’s changed the way I see things, how I speak, and the way I think about the world.
PP : Living in Indonesia means you always have to have clean filtered water for yourself and always remember not to drink out of the tap to avoid the old infamous Bali belly! Have you kept yourself healthy whilst being over there for so long now?
Lil: That’s right! Indonesia faces challenges with sanitation and sewage coverage, leading to water pollution. Bali’s tap water doesn’t go through the same purification process as it does at home, so it’s really important not to drink it to avoid getting sick. One thing that’s made a huge difference for me is bringing my PARGO 1890ml Insulated Sports Bottle everywhere I go. I fill it up when I can, and it helps me get through the day without relying on plastic bottles of water. Bali's waterways are also heavily impacted by plastic waste, and four of Indonesia’s rivers are among the top 20 most polluted in the world. This, of course, affects water quality, so it’s crucial we do our part and avoid contributing to the problem!
PP : How do you feel about the reality of the locals in the more remote parts of the islands and what the water situation is really like for those who can't afford the filtered water? / We are so excited to have you join the PARGO team and help out by providing people in need access to clean water! Does getting your hands dirty on a water project 'so to speak' excite you?
Lil: Through my love of surfing, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to some of the most beautiful and remote places in the world, often in search of the best waves. However, I’ve also seen the harsh reality that comes with these stunning locations—poor water and sanitation conditions. In many of these areas, people—women, men, and children—are forced to walk over 5 kilometres to collect water from a well, only to carry it back, often multiple times a day. Experiencing this firsthand has made me incredibly grateful for the easy access we have to something as basic as water, something many of us often take for granted. This experience has sparked a desire in me to make a difference, and I’m so excited and humbled to finally give back through PARGO! I can’t wait to get my hands dirty on a water project.
PP : You've been rocking the PARGO products for a while now! Can you tell us your fav product and how it's helped with your adventures lifestyle?
Lil: I’ve been using PARGO products for quite some time now, and I’m a huge fan. Their drink bottles have been a game-changer, not just keeping me hydrated, but also helping me stay accountable when it comes to drinking water. With my busy schedule, I often forget to hydrate, but having my 1890ml Sports Insulated bottle with me everywhere ensures I stay on track. Beyond that, it’s completely eliminated my plastic usage, which is something I’m passionate about as a surfer. Protecting our oceans and environments for future generations is something I deeply care about, and PARGO has helped me do my part in living sustainably.
PP : Whats your go to hydration trick in the tropics?
Lil: My go-to hydration trick is pretty straightforward—just bring my 1890ml Sports Insulated Bottle with me, and I’m good to go! It keeps my water cold for HOURS and makes staying hydrated easy, no matter where I am in the tropics.
