Travel Talks
Australian outback travel tips
The Outback is exhilarating, timeless, where nature is in charge of the schedule, where you need to work with the rhythm of the landscape and weather.
The Outback is an adventure, at our doorstep, it is a special place where the Aussi identity is part and parcel of the experience.
How to save money while on holiday
Accommodation, especially if you have one or two days in a place location is critical as you do not want to spend your time travelling to and from places and activities.
Location versus the cost of the accommodation is the tricky balancing act I have not always got it right myself.
Sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is about practical steps and not promises about what is proposed for tomorrow.
Sustainable tourism is a personal commitment by visitors to make a minimal impact on the destination while contributing to an economic future for the local inhabitants. Most of all sustainable tourism is about the balance between the visitor experience and the protection of the destination.
Travel connections
Consider arriving the day before you absolutely have to be there. You can have a delayed flight which causes you to miss your connection with a cruise, a train or pre-booked tour group. Even before you arrive you spend your time on the flight wondering how on earth you are going to join the activity you have been planning on for over six months. Travel the day before, chill out and relax. You will have an extra night’s accommodation to pay for, think of the expense as part of your personal travel insurance.
Travel planning tips
Question one: Where do you want to go and in which direction?
Check out Sydney to Melbourne classic road trip (one week). You can start in either Sydney or Melbourne. Perhaps the airlines are running specials to Melbourne, or you have family and friends in Sydney with a few extra days planned at the beginning of your road trip.
Budget, cost and the balancing act of supply and demand
Location influences the daily cost of food, outings and activities. Balance the thought of Great Barrier Reef experience against snorkelling Turquoise Bay (Western Australia) where costs are substantially cheaper than tourist hot spot Great Barrier. Of course you have to get there, that’s another balancing act. Transport versus daily cost.
Ten tips for a romantic holiday location on a budget
Romantic holidays are often promoted in glossy magazines and online as getaways to expensive luxury locations. The enticing scenes of tropical palms, drinks in hand and platters of nibbles at the elbow are an advertising staple. It costs money. Your holiday can be romantic, have romantic moments and here are ten tips to inspire you think beyond the budget planning of a luxury resort.
Holidays let’s borrow joy and enjoy the moment
I’ve just spent the last few months wondering why we can’t feel inspired to feel excited about holidaying in our backyard. It just feels familiar. Then the lightbulb moment and thought about the emotion of holidays, the why we wanted to travel. And it came down to joy.
Does the ANZAC team have a national costume
Forget about the kilt that makes its appearance at various civic functions and the annual Christmas parade. I won’t tell anyone but it is definitely not ANZAC, it actually belongs to Scotland and Ireland. If we can’t claim the kilt and have no recourse to dinky dirndl skirts with garters for the men to hold up their trousers. What is left. Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC have a defined cultural identity in clothing, it’s not obvious to visitors as they probably think we are scruffy. Casual board shorts, polynesian flower power and black is the new cool are part of our emerging, emerged clothing ID.
The patriotic tourist
The serious holiday, the holiday with the intention of doing good, the holiday for a good cause is now fashionable. New Zealand tourism advertising has got it nailed. No longer do you need to go to Africa to support charitable causes. You can stay at home (yes, I know we can’t go overseas at the moment) and feel saintly while visiting Waiheke or Bondi Beach. Who would have thought chilling out the local vineyard was a worthwhile cause.