The two-time long course champion has called Port Macquarie home for almost three years and will aim to break a local drought.

Tim van Berkel finished second to Paul Ambrose in 2012 and Melinda Cockshutt third behind Chrissie Wellington and Kate Major in 2008.

Steffen claimed the title in 2011 while flying the Swiss flag and she will hope May can be a month of double celebrations.

A 'local" win at Ironman Australia will be followed with her receiving her Australian citizenship 10 days later.

After a four year break from Ironman racing, Steffen kicked off her comeback to full distance racing with a win on debut in Western Australia only 12 months after the birth of son Xander.

"Ironman is really hard and a hard sport on your body and mind," she said.

"In 2015, I was a bit burned out, needed a break and then I had another little break having a baby.

"I am enjoying racing again, but I am enjoying it a different way. I am a mum now and I enjoy that part of my life so much. I enjoy having both aspects in my life and it works really well."

"My last race in Hawaii wasn't that great and I was disappointed with that and one of the reasons why I stopped going back there.

"I wasn't sure about my return to racing, but I thought I would give it a go and if it worked out, I would keep doing it. If not, I would stop. I would have been happy either way."

The Swiss superstar admitted she never thought she would return to racing after having her son.

"I look at triathlon differently now and enjoy it more because it is not the number one priority," she said.

"Number one is Xander and triathlon has become a job that I do and when I get home, I am done with it. I have found the balance I need to do well in both aspects of my life.

"From the outside my comeback probably looks like an easy journey, but it wasn't at all.

"It is different now being a mum, the whole training and daily routine is different to how it used to be.

"It took me a while to realise that I have to change things to get the same success. But this season I know roughly what I have to do and we will keep doing what we do because it works."

Caroline said racing Ironman Australia, in front of her friends and neighbours, is another important step in her return to the Ironman World Championship in Kona in October.

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