Switching off for a sunset in Noumea

I didn’t have very long in Noumea, but I knew I wanted to hang out at the Baie des Citrons, or Lemon Bay as it’s called in English. We spent the morning on a bus tour around the city and finding the Place des Cocotiers. In the evening, we took the bus to Baie des Citrons. The sheltered beach was dotted with New Caledonian children splashing around … Continue reading Switching off for a sunset in Noumea

An evening in Mykonos

Mykonos is unlike any other island I’ve ever visited. In fact, it’s unlike anywhere I’ve ever visited. Unfortunately, my cruise only stopped on the island for 3-4 hours, but I loved the little bit that I saw. I had enough time to eat delicious seafood for dinner, watch the sunset, visit the iconic windmills (although, was not particularly wowed by them), check out a couple of bars … Continue reading An evening in Mykonos

Lazy days at Opera Plage Beach Club, Nice

One of the most bizarre things about the beaches in the Italian and French Rivieras is that huge sections of them are roped off and come at a price. I’ve never seen a private beach club in Australia and it seems strange to me that someone can own part of the beach. It’s a smart business move, however, because most of these beaches have rocks … Continue reading Lazy days at Opera Plage Beach Club, Nice

A Weekend on Slow Stradbroke Island

Another day in Queensland, another unspoilt island. While my northern hemisphere friends are shaking off their winter coats and welcoming some sunshine, I’m saying goodbye to summer for another year. To get one more beach holiday in before the temperature drops I spent a long weekend on stunning North Stradbroke Island, or “Straddie” as we know it, with my boyfriend. Stradbroke Island is only a … Continue reading A Weekend on Slow Stradbroke Island

Treating my feet on an Amalfi beach

The Italian Riviera was good for my feet. In Sorrento I bought custom made sandals and on the Amalfi beach I enjoyed a foot massage, which I purchased before remembering that I have insanely ticklish feet. I managed not to kick the masseuse, but I gave my stomach muscles a work out as I tried not to giggle. Like Positano, the small town of Amalfi is … Continue reading Treating my feet on an Amalfi beach

Postcards: Make time for Moreton Island

I can’t believe it took me 20 years to get to Moreton Island. I’d heard of it, sure. It seems almost everyone in Brisbane has been for a day trip or a weekend away camping. However, I’d never prioritised it as something I had to see. It’s easy to take for granted something that is so close to home and I’ve been very guilty of engaging more … Continue reading Postcards: Make time for Moreton Island

Postcards: Colour-coordinated Patmos

Cast in the Aegean Sea, the Greek Island of Patmos  is a popular site for Christian pilgrimages. It’s known for the Monastery of St John and his Cave of the Apocalypse, which is where he saw a vision of Jesus. It is here that he wrote his Letters to the Ephesians. I’d heard of these in primary school but for me, they had no meaning. … Continue reading Postcards: Colour-coordinated Patmos

Monterosso: The best beach in Cinque Terre

Monterosso al Mare is one of my favourite Cinque Terre villages, for having the best beach. We had lunch on the deck of Nuovo Bar Eden, overlooking one of the private beaches.  The fact that you can charge people for a beach seems so strange to me – I know that wouldn’t go down well in Australia. How can anyone set up shop and own the … Continue reading Monterosso: The best beach in Cinque Terre

Santorini Photo Diary

As one of the most photogenic Greek islands, I had high expectations for Santorini. What surprised me most was that Oia, the picture-perfect town perched high on the island, is very different to the rest of the volcanic island. We arrived by tender boat after hopping off the cruise ship and met a bus which would drive us up the island to Oia. We passed … Continue reading Santorini Photo Diary

This is bliss: Sailing around Capri

Water that really sparkles. Deep blue oceans and glittering turquoise grottos. Endless blue skies. Golden yet gentle sunshine. Diving off the boat deep into the Mediterranean’s Tyrrhenian Sea. Watching my worries float away as I soaked up the sunshine from the deck. Sailing around Capri was one of the highlights from my five weeks in Europe. The most blissful day I’ve ever had while travelling … Continue reading This is bliss: Sailing around Capri