3 Reasons I Didn’t Ride a Donkey in Santorini

I chose not to ride a donkey in Santorini for three reasons. I had two before I arrived in Greece, but I found another heartbreaking reason when I was cruising between the islands. 1. Donkey rides in Santorini are tourist traps. I was already sceptical about the authenticity of a donkey ride in Santorini. I’d read online that locals view it as a bizarre activity … Continue reading 3 Reasons I Didn’t Ride a Donkey in Santorini

hahndorf adelaide hills in south australia

Hahndorf: A German Village in the Adelaide Hills

The pretty village of Hahndorf is small slice of 19th century Germany, tucked away in the Adelaide Hills. Just a 30-minute drive from Adelaide’s city centre, visiting Hahndorf is like briefly stepping back in time, and off the continent. In July 2021, we were lucky enough to time our postponed South Australia trip in the 10 days between Melbourne’s two long lockdowns. At the time, … Continue reading Hahndorf: A German Village in the Adelaide Hills

Ballarat Begonia Festival_1

In Bloom: Ballarat Begonia Festival

Spring is in full bloom in Melbourne, which reminded me of the radiant beauty of the Ballarat Begonia Festival, which David & I stumbled upon back in April of this year. Over the Easter long weekend, David & I spent the weekend in Hamilton in the Southern Grampians. A spontaneous stop in Ballarat on the long drive home delivered one of the most beautiful moments … Continue reading In Bloom: Ballarat Begonia Festival

Melbourne Travel Guide

The Wanderbug Bites: October 2021

This is something new I’m trying, since I unceremoniously dumped my New York City Life series after moving back to Australia (and I haven’t even posted my final NYC Life post – I think I’m still in denial that its over). I wanted to find a way to share more in real time (or close to it), and round up interesting travel news, openings and … Continue reading The Wanderbug Bites: October 2021

point danger gold coast

The Best Places in Queensland to visit

Queensland is one of the most popular travel destinations in Australia for first time visitors to the country. Famous for its abundance of sunshine and warm weather, Queensland is full of amazing places to visit from coast to country! Home to the Great Barrier Reef, some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia and the lovely yet laidback cities of Brisbane and the Gold Coast … Continue reading The Best Places in Queensland to visit

burleigh beach gold coast

Burleigh Beach: The Best Beach on the Gold Coast

Burleigh Beach is my favourite beach on the Gold Coast – ask most locals, and they’d likely agree. Most tourists still flock to Surfers, although Burleigh is booming these days, the once sleepy little beach ‘burb still has easygoing charm to go with its extraordinary natural beauty. With a wide, deep beach of soft white spend, not a speck of litter in sight and sweeping … Continue reading Burleigh Beach: The Best Beach on the Gold Coast

Nigretta Falls Southern Grampians Victoria

Rural Australian landscapes in the Grampians

It was so gratifying to be on a road trip over the Easter weekend. David and I went to the Southern Grampians, a rural area four hours’ west of Melbourne. I’ll share a post about the trip soon, but tonight I just wanted to share some of my favourite photos from this beautiful region. I purposefully didn’t do too much in-depth research before the trip … Continue reading Rural Australian landscapes in the Grampians

Sydney Travel Guide: What to see & where to eat

Sydney is Australia’s largest city and unofficial capital, with a stunning oceanfront location and vibrant, diverse neighbourhoods. Sydney is a must-visit on your first trip to Australia and a great spot for a weekend city break for travellers from within Australia. Having lived either side of Sydney, both in Brisbane and Melbourne, I’ve visited Sydney for work and pleasure more times than I can count. … Continue reading Sydney Travel Guide: What to see & where to eat