January 2024 – Sunshine Coast, QLD
My partner and I took our annual road trip to Alexander Headland on the Sunshine Coast for New Year, with an overnight in the Tweed Valley on the way up and in the Gold Coast hinterland on the way home!
July 2023 – Sunshine Coast, QLD and Auckland New Zealand
A sneaky flight to the Sunshine Coast to spend a few days with the inlaws, then a little trip across the ditch to see a good friend in Auckland, New Zealand. Used Qantas points and pay for a round trip Sydney – Maroochydore – Auckland – Sydney.
May 2023 – Singapore, Riau Islands – Indonesia and Taipei – Taiwan
A ten day trip to 3 countries! 3 nights in Singapore, including the point of the trip – seeing Blackpink perform at the National Stadium. Then a ferry over to Batam Island, Indonesia for 4 nights at a resort lying by the pool and relaxing. Then a quick Scoot flight to Taipei for 3 nights – a new country for me!
Used Qantas points for a mult flight Sydney – Singapore and Taipei – Sydney. Only $150 in fees!
April 2023 – South Coast NSW
Easter time with the family at mum’s house, celebrating the ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ festival in Ulladulla with some fireworks, a few bushwalks and driving home via Kiama for lunch, lolly shops and the famous Blow Hole.
January 2023 – Narrawallee NSW
Had a nice few days with mum down the south coast, before ending up in the hospital with severe indigestion. Urgh – not the way I wanted to end my 6 week holiday!
December/January 2022/2023 – Alexander Headland, Sunshine Coast, QLD
The regular heading north for Christmas roadtrip, the destination was my inlaws new house at Alexander Headland. We did an overnight in Tweed Heads, explored Coolangatta then stayed at the Sunshine Coast for 10 days exploring the beaches and hinterland, before driving home with an overnight stay in Beechmont, in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
July 2022 – Narrawallee and Mollymook, NSW
I took the neice and nephew on a road trip for the weekend, and we all survived! Winter beach exploring, baking with nana and bushwalking to find firewood. Good family times.
July 2022 – Vancouver, Pemberton, Whistler – Canada and Portland, Oregon Coast, Seattle USA
My first overseas trip since Covid! Woo hoo! I flew into Vancouver, Canada to stay with friends. After a few days exploring we did a roadtrip into the USA to visit the Oregon Coast, Portland, Columbia River Gorge and driving to Seattle through Prosser Valley. After a night in Belvue, WA, we drove back to Vancouver. It was then up to Pemberton and Whistler for a family wedding before driving back to Vancouver and then flying home.
Flights Sydney to Vancouver with Air Canada. I swear economy is getting smaller! It felt very cramped – or maybe I’m just out of practice. 14 and 15 hour flights are lonnnngggg. Even longer in a mask.
April 2022 – Narrawallee, NSW
For the Anzac weekend I headed South (after I got over Covid that is) to see mum and the family, and enjoy local fairs and events in the Shoalhaven region. Unbelievably it was still warm enough in the ocean for a swim!
January 2022 – Sapphire Coast, NSW
January holidays meant time for a South Coast girls road trip! We stopped at Mollymook for a night, then went Blueberry picking in the forest before driving to Merimbula to stay with a good friend. We wandered the boardwalk and went to the beach. A fun day was had by all at Magic Mountain theme park. We then drove over the Monaro plains to Cooma and onto an alpaca farm at Tuggeranong, just outside Canberra. it was so good to explore new places and see old friends!
January 2022 – Sunshine Coast, QLD
We snuck in a sneaky long weekend for New Years Eve at the apartment at Mooloolaba. Unfortunately it rained nearly the whole time, and then beach was out of action thanks to a summer typhoon. Thankfully I was able to utilise the spa and pool!
Flights Sydney to Sunshine Coast with Jetstar. It had been 2 years since my last flight I was just so excited to get on a plane!
December 2021 – Narrawallee and Mollymook, NSW
Finally after lockdown we could travel again! The Artist and I headed to mums for Christmas with the family, and some much needed downtime, beachtime and family time.
June 2021 – Narrawallee and Milton, NSW
I had some one-on-one time with my mum down the coast over the long weekend. Lucky, as we were unware that shortly after Sydney and some of NSW would be put into lockdown for over three months! We hung out at garden bars, markets and antique shops and spent time relaxing in front of the fire with homemade dessert.
April 2021 – South Coast, NSW and Canberra, ACT
We headed down to mum’s for family Easter, bittersweet for myself and my brother and his family as it was the first family catch up without dad. The Artist and I then road tripped across the Kings Highway, through Braidwood and Bungendore to spend the night in Canberra, seeing the Botticelli to Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery.
March 2021 – Killcare, Central Coast, NSW
A group of friends and I hired a house for the weekend at Killcare. We hiked in the Bouddi National Park, had an expensive meal at Bells, Killcare (Happy birthday to us all) visited cafes and ate cheese platters.
October / December 2020 / January 2021 – Milton and Narrawallee
Every school holidays I try to make it down to see my parents on the South Coast. We had a relaxing 3 days walking on the beach and having good lunches, both at home and out and about. Unfortunately a few trips were devastating as my father was battling cancer and we had to say goodbye to him in Pallative Care in Milton Hospital. In between the visits, funeral, Christmas, New Year and lockdown, what a sad time. I then headed back in January to see my mum and spend some quaility time with her.
July 2020 – Sunshine Coast Roadtrip, QLD
For a few weeks the border opened to Queensland and The Artist and I roadtripped up to Mooloolaba for some much needed sun. We took the back highways inland, through rural NSW to cross the border and had a week staying seaside, escaping the rain and cold back in Sydney.
July 2020 – Narrawallee and Lake Illawarra, NSW
With state wide travel allowed, a friend and her kids and I headed down to Narrawalle mid week for fireplces, whale watching, feeding kangaroos and bushwalks. On our return trip to Sydney we spent a night at Windang in the caravan park at the mouth of Lake Illawarra.
May 2020 – South Coast, NSW
Covid-19 upon us, lockdown was in place through March and April, with restrictions easing towards the end of May and through June. I road tripped down to see my parents, their new cat, have some quality family time and help my dad after surgery.
December 2019 – Sunshine Coast, QLD
After Christmas we drove up the NSW coast for a week at Mooloolaba for New Years. We meandered through the Northern Rivers district, stayed overnight in Ballina and Yamba and spent our days swimming, resting and walking up and down the coast.
November 2019 – Patonga, NSW
A girl’s weekend at Patonga, a sleepy fishing village on the NSW Central Coast. We stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb cottage.
September/October 2019 – South Korea and Japan
Three amazing weeks in South Korea and Japan. We trained and ferried between Seoul, Busan, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Mt Fuji and Tokyo. Caught the fast hydrofoil between the two countries and then used the Japan Rail Pass to get around.
Flights Sydney to Seoul with Asiana. Very good service and comfort. Flights Tokyo to Gold Coast and Gold Coast to Sydney with Jetstar. Terrible service and comfort. Its time to stop using the budgetest of budget airlines for long haul flights.
July 2019 – South Coast Road Trip, NSW
Four days staying down the coast at Wollongong and Narrawallee. Myself and a good friend and her kids visited the Sea Bridge, Botanical Gardens, Tree Top Illawarra Fly and Boardwalk.
July 2019 – Mooloolaba, QLD
A week staying at an apartment on Mooloolaba beach. winter escape with swimming, walking and kayaking. We just stayed local as we had no car.
Flights there and back with Virgin using Frequent Flier. A long delay coming home meant we sat in the airport for about 4 hours!
March 2019 – Narrawallee, NSW
A rainy wet weekend at mum and dad’s house, with a day out wandering around Milton.
January 2019 – Queenstown and Surrounds, New Zealand
A week exploring Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mt Cook, Lake Wanaka, Twizel and Lake Tekapo, staying in BnBs and AirBnBs.
Flights Sydney to Queenstown with Jetstar. Such bad turbulence leaving Queenstown, I was terrified!
December 2018 – Mooloolaba, QLD’s Sunshine Coast
Celebrated Christmas on the Sunshine Coast in an apartment overlooking the ocean. Shared my time between the pool and the beach, with a road trip to Coollum and an overnight stay in Kingscliff on the way up.
November 2018 – Burrill Lake, NSW
My dad’s 70th was a big occasion and we headed south for a 4 day stay. We got an apartment on the lake at Burrill Lake, NSW.
October 2018 – Mollymook, NSW
A long weekend at mum and dads. On the way down I stopped at Lake Conjola and on the way back visiting the Tulips in Bowral.
August 2018 – Mollymook NSW
A weekend down the South Coast to celebrate a good friend’s 40th Birthday at Bannisters Pavillion, Mollymook. Followed up the next day with High Tea.
July 2018 – Narrawallee, NSW
A three night winter escape. Stopped at the Kiama Blowhole and Berry on the way down. Did a day trip for lunch at Batemans Bay with mum and dad, on the Clyde River.
January 2018 – Western Samoa
A week on the islands of Savaii and Upolu in the beautifu nation of Western Samoa. Defintely put this little country on your list!
Flights Sydney to Apia via Brisbane with Virgin Australia. Delays meant I was running to make my connection! Apia to Sydney via Auckland with Air New Zealand. Flying direct to Samoa proved expensive, which is a shame as I think more Sydney folk should visit!
December 2017 – Mollymook, NSW
A week for Christmas time with my partner and the family. The typical fun, with a train trip home up the coast, a relaxing way to travel!
September / October 2017 – Peru, Bolivia and Chile
Four weeks in South America. A week in Lima with a day trip to Paracas, Ica and Huacachina, then a few days in Cusco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail, Aguas Calientes, back to Cusco, Puno and Lake Titicaca. In Bolivia I visited La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, the Salar De Uyuni (Salt Flats) and the Altiplato desert. In Chile I split my time between San Pedro Atacama and Santiago with a day trip to Val Paraiso and Vina Del Mar.
Flights: Sydney to Santiago with Qantas, oldest plane on record with the worst entertainment system. Santiago to Lima with LATAM, very expensive and nothing to show for it. Lima to Cusco with Avianca, a hairy landing! La Paz to Sucre with Boliviana de Aviacion, short and sweet. Calama to Santiago with LATAM. Santiago to Auckland with LATAM. Nice plane, but what’s with taking our water bottles at the gate and then not giving us any water on board! Auckland to Sydney with Qantas – always reliable.
August 2017 – South Coast NSW
Weekend with the parents at their home on the South Coast of NSW
July 2017 – Bathurst, NSW
A weekend the NSW tablelands, visiting Abercrombie Caves and attending the Bathurst Winter Festival.
July 2017 – Melbourne, Australia
Four days in an Airbnb to see some art exhibitions
Flights Sydney to Melbourne with Tiger Airways. Front of the plane going down with lots of leg room, back of the plane coming back, no leg room!
April 2017 – Narrawallee, NSW
Easter trip to see the family
February 2017 – Paraparaumu, New Zealand
A quick trip over with the family for my dear nana’s funeral.
January 2017 – Kingscliff, NSW Far North Coast
Visiting a friend and her lovely gift shop in Kingscliff, a pretty beach town.
December 2016 and January 2017 – Narrawallee, South Coast
Christmas trip to see the family, with new baby nephew in tow.
September and August 2016 – Narrawallee, South Coast
Another trip to mum and dads. Checked out the usual beaches in Winter.
July 2016 – Bali, Indonesia
A week staying in a beachfront resort with a girlfriend. Relaxing, shopping and exploring.
Flights: Return with Air Asia
June 2016 – Hobart, Tasmania
A long weekend with the girls for a friends’ wedding.
Flights: Return with Qantas.Nice to be out of the budget zone for a change!
April 2016 – Hawaii
Nine days exploring the Hilo and Kuna coast of the Big Island, with a day to recover in Waikiki.
Flights: Sydney to Honolulu return with Jetstar. You get what you pay for. And don’t even THINK about asking for an upgrade. Though booking the aisle and window worked, middle seat free on both flights!
March 2016 – Mollymook
Easter trip to see the parents and kayak on Narrawallee Inlet.
January 2016 – Vincentia, Jervis Bay
Road trip to Jervis Bay to stay in a holiday house with the girls, swim in the crystal water of the Bay and spend nights in Huskisson and at the Husky Fair.
December 2015 – Mollymook
Christmas and New Year with the family. Beach trips, rainforest walks and exploring the back of Milton, NSW.
October 2015 – Mollymook
Five days with the family for my brother’s wedding at Mollymook Golf Course, NSW South Coast. Great catching up with extended family and being bridesmaid!
September 2015 – New Zealand
Just spent time with the Family in Wellington and then with friends in Auckland. Did the road trip between the two.
Flights: Sydney to Wellington and Auckland to Sydney with Air New Zealand. They have the best safety videos ever.
August 2015 – Queensland
4 days with The Artist staying at Alexander Headland, Mooloolaba QLD. Exploring the beaches and hinterland.
Flights: Used my Qantas Frequent Flier points but flew with partner airline Jetstar.
June 2015 – South Coast
3 days with The Artist visiting M&D at Narrawallee, South Coast NSW. Included a day trip to Pebbly Beach and Depot Beach, to have a picnic with some kangaroos.
April 2015 – California
2 weeks staying with The Artist in Seal Beach, Orange County. Road trip to Pismo beach via Santa Barbara, seeing Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay and Santa Monica. Visited the Getty Art Museum and the cute village of Larchmont.
Flights: Sydney to LA via Melbourne. Window seats all the way with Qantas. Long haul was the bomb, exit aisle window in the FIRST row of economy.
LA to Sydney via Auckland with Air New Zealand. Window seat with middle seat spare.
March 2015 – South Coast
2 days vising M&D, with café lunches, ocean swims and birthday meals.
February 2015 – South Coast
2 days visiting M&D, walking around the town of Milton, walking the boardwalk and ocean swims.
December 2014/January 2015 – California
4 weeks visiting The Artist in Seal Beach. Day trips to Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Long Beach, Anaheim. 10 day road trip to Yosemite, Bass Lake, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Barbara.
Flights: Sydney to Los Angeles with United. Busy flight just before Christmas. Sat at the back, window seat.
Los Angeles to Sydney with Qantas. Typical red eye flight, window seat.
October 2014 – South Coast
Weekend with M&D, brother, SIL and niece, hanging at home, backyard time.
October 2014 – California
6 days with The Artist seeing Disneyland, San Clemente Orange County and Seal Beach.
Flight: Hong Kong to California via Seattle with Delta. Great half empty flight with whole row to myself for 14 hours. I needed it seeing as I was violently ill for 4 hours.
LA to Sydney with Qantas, busy red eye flight, luckily I felt a bit better by then.
September/October 2015 – China
3 week G Adventures tour of China. Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Leshan, Emei Shan, Yangtze River, Yichang, Yangshuo, Hong Kong. 4 overnight trains in 2nd class, boat cruises, plenty of laughs with the usual gang.
Flights: Sydney to Beijing via Gangzhou with Air China. Window seat, no issues – except getting lost in Gangzhou’s airport on my stop over.
Xian to Chengdu with China Southern. Part of the tour, better than I expected.
July 2014 – QLD
Quick weekend in Coolangatta with The Artist, beach side apartment, frozen yoghurt, sunsets, walks.
Flights: Sydney to Gold Coast and Brisbane to Sydney with Tiger Airways
June 2014 – South Coast
Weekend in Narrawalle with M&D and The Artist – board games, look outs, waterfalls.
May 2014 – QLD
Visiting The Artist in Brisbane for a weekend – car washes, dinner out, seeing the night lights up Mt Gravatt.
Flights: Sydney to Brisbane with Tiger Airways. Cheap and cheerful.
April 2014 – QLD
Visiting The Artist in Brisbane – Museums, South Bank, markets and lunches
Flights: Sydney to Brisbane with Jet Star. Another cheap Aussie domestic company.
April 2014 – Western Australia
8 days in Cottesloe Beach for a friend’s wedding. Visited Fremantle and road tripped to Busselton and Margaret River, Yalinup Caves.
Flights: Sydney to Perth with Qantas, using my Frequent Flyer Points.
March 2014 – QLD
Weekend in Coolangatta and Brisbane with The Artist. Glow worms at Natural Bridge, Mt Cootha, Botanical Gardens, waterfalls and glow worms up Tamborine Mountain,
FLIGHTS: Sydney to Gold Coast and Brisbane to Sydney with Tiger Airways.
March 2014 – South Coast
Weekend at M&Ds with brother, SIL and niece, including visiting the Milton Show.
March 2014 – Brisbane, QLD
Weekend visiting The Artist. Ikea shopping, Gold Coast beach trips at Southport and visiting Mt Gravatt lookout.
Flights: Sydney to Brisbane with Virgin Australia using Frequent Flier Points.
February 2014 – Brisbane, QLD
First weekend of many visiting The Artist during his sojourn in Brisbane. Stayed in a hotel in Wooloongabba, visited South Bank and Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
Flights: Sydney to Brisbane with Tiger Airways.
January 2014 – Far North Coast
Weekend visiting my bestie in Kingscliff, Northern NSW. Bike riding, mall trips and BBQs.
Flights: Sydney to Gold Coast with Jetstar.
January 2014 – South Coast, Sapphire Coast and Bega
Road trip down the South Coast for a wedding. 3 Nights in Narooma, then a 2 night farm stay and wedding at Candelo, near Bega. Final stop at my new home away from home, Narrawallee near Mollymook. Stopped at Kiama, Bermagui and Mimosa Rocks National Park.
December 2013 – South Coast
First trip to my parent’s new retiree location, Narrawallee, near Milton-Ulladulla and Mollymook on the NSW South Coast. A 3 hour road trip to beaches, villages and resort living.
November 2013 – Copacabana
A family wedding for 3 days on NSW Central Coast. Shame it rained on the wedding day. Enjoyed family birthdays and wedding planning and celebrating in 2 huge houses by the beach.
September/October 2013 – USA, Canada, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore
A weekend in Pennsylvania, ten days in the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver, Seattle, LA, then a 2 week G Adventures tour of Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Samui, Nikkon Si Thamarat) Malaysia (Penang, Cameron Mountains, Kuala Lumpur, Melacca) and Singapore. Delayed flights, lost passport, stolen bag, machine guns, lakes, glaciers, hikes, shops, theatre, lady boys, zoos. What an adventure.
Flights: Sydney to New York via Hawaii with Hawaiian Air. 9 hours times 2. Painful. Newark to Calgary with Air Canada. Seattle to LA with United. LA to Bangkok via Taipei, delayed by 10 hours, Grrr. Koh Samui to Bangkok with Bangkok Air boutique airline, to get my replacement passport. Singapore to Sydney with Fly Scoot, another budget airline that has popped up.
June 2013 – New Zealand
Wellington for 4 days with my cousin to see family. Storms, raging winds, flag poles, board games, ping pong.
Flights: Sydney to Wellington with Air New Zealand. Bumpiest landing ever, literally clutching each other’s arms.
May 2013 – Far North Coast, NSW
Quick 2 nights visiting friends at Kingscliff, NSW.
Flights: Sydney to Gold Coast flying Tiger Airways.
January 2013 – Tasmania
7 Days road tripping around Tasmania, Launceston, Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay, Hobart, Mt Wellington, Port Arthur.
Flights: Sydney to Launceston and Hobart to Sydney with Virgin Australia. Earning more and more points.
August 2012 – Coolangatta
5 day mini break with The Artist to Coolangatta, QLD for a friend’s wedding at the Surf Club. Stunning weather that felt like Spring, not Winter.
Flights: Sydney to Gold Coast with Tiger Airways. Lucky we didn’t go Jetstar, their flights were cancelled.
June 2012 – Melbourne
4 days in Melbourne with The Artist, VIC for Comic Con Australia. Shopping, Markets, Galleries etc.
Flights: Sydney to Melbourne with Virgin Australia.
January 2012 – Canberra
Road trip to Canberra with the Artist for 2 nights to see the Renaissance Art Exhibition at the National Art Gallery.
October 2011 – Far North Coast and QLD
The Artist and I stayed for 3 nights at Kingscliff on the beach, and it rained the whole time. Stayed with friends in Redcliffe for 2 nights.
Flights: Sydney to Gold Coast and Brisbane to Sydney with Jetstar.
June 2011 – Blue Mountains
Staying in a 100 year old B&B in Katoomba with The Artist for the weekend. Open fires and flooded spa baths (oops).
September/October 2010 – USA, Mexico and Canada
4 week trip to San Francisco, then a Mexico Cruise to Catalina Island, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego and back to San Francisco. Road trip through Yosemite and Death Valley to Las Vegas and then a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. Flew up to Vancouver to go to a friend’s wedding in Osoyoos, then road tripped to Seattle and flew to LA to see friends before heading home.
Flights: Sydney to San Francisco with Air Canada, Las Vegas to Vancouver via Phoenix with United, Seattle to LA with American Airlines and LA to Sydney with Qantas.
September 2010 – Nowra
South Coast wedding for my cousin, staying in a house in Greenwell Point.
June 2010 – Gerroa, South Coast
House by the beach with a bunch of friends, with spa, markets and cafes.
January 2010 –QLD
2 nights in Brisbane and Redcliffe with friends recovering after my Borneo adventure.
Flights: Brisbane to Sydney with Jetstar.
December 2009 / January 2010 – Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
2 Week Intrepid Tour around Malaysian Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Jungle Camp, Sepilok Orangutan Park, Mt Kinabalu hike, beaches and island hopping.
Flights: Sydney to Gold Coast with Jetstar, Gold Coast to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia.
June/July 2009 – New Zealand
Visited Auckland to see friends, stayed at Lake Taupo for some fun days and nights and then got to Wellington to see the family.
Flights: Sydney to Auckland and Wellington to Sydney with Air New Zealand.
April 2009 – Melbourne
30th Birthday trip with my bestie, shopping, art galleries and the musical Wicked!
Flights: Sydney to Melbourne with Tiger Airways.
April 2009 – Anna Bay
Easter long weekend at a house in Anna Bay with friends, Port Stephens, NSW.
February 2009 – Budgewoi
Weekend away for a friend’s wedding at a Golf Club Resort on NSW’s Central Coast.
December 2008/January 2009 – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
3 week G Adventures tour of Bangkok, Siem Reap, Angkor Watt, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Chao Doc, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hoi Ann, Hue, Halong Bay, Hanoi
Flights: Sydney to Bangkok with Air Asia, Hanoi to Sydney via Bangkok with Air Asia, hit with an exorbitant excess luggage fee.
June 2008 – Blue Mountains
Girls trip away to Wentworth falls, cabins, fireplaces, bushwalks and lookouts.
April 2008 – Budgewoi
Easter long weekend in a rented house at Budgewoi on the Central Coast, NSW with friends
December 2007/January 2008 – Tarthra
A week down at Tartha on the Sapphire Coast of NSW with friends, beach house, day swims, parties, local races.
December 2007 – Yamba
Week of Christmas fun with the family. Prawning, swimming, limousine riding, family BBQs and cricket.
October 2007 – New York, Los Angeles
My first USA trip, 5 days visiting New York while couch surfing in New Jersey, then 4 days in Venice Beach, LA visiting all the sights, Universal Studios, Santa Monica, Malibu, celeb homes.
Flights: London to New York with Air France, New York to LA with United , LA to Sydney with Qantas. Almost missed my flight out of London as I was heading to the wrong airport and had to do a quick tube change! Damn you London and your 5 airports!
August/September 2007 – Eastern Europe, Greece and Iceland
6 week European summer holiday backpackers adventure. Split, Croatia for 3 days (lost camera), then a 7 day island hopping cruise of Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline. Train to Zagreb, then Llubijana, Slovenia and Lake Bled. Train to Lake Balaton in Hungary and then up to Budapest. Overnight train to Krakow, Poland to see the salt mine and Auschwitz. Overnight train to Prague. Train to Dresden, Germany then onto Berlin for 4 days. Headed to Mykonos to get on a G Adventures Sail Greece 7 day Yacht adventure to Paros, Naxos, Amorgos and Santorini. Back to London for 2 days then onto Iceland for 4 days in Reykjavik and glacier walking. Phew!
Flights: London to Split Croatia with Wizz Air, Berlin to Mykonos with German Wings (At 3am nonetheless), Mykonos to London with Easyjet. London to Reykjavik with Icelandic Air.
July 2007 – Northern England
Took the train up to Cumbria and the Lakes district to stay in a B&B and go to a friend’s wedding in a 900 year old church.
June 2007 – Wales
Weekend in Wales horse riding with friends.
May 2007 – Ireland
7 days touring around Northern Ireland and Ireland with Paddywagons tours. Dublin, Belfast, Causeway Coast, Sligo, Galway, Dingle Peninsula, Kilarney, Blarney.
Flights: London to Dublin with Air France
May 2007 – Scotland
Long weekend hanging out with Scottish locals, road ripping up and down the coast and around Glasgow.
Flights: London to Glasgow with Ryan Air. Would have been less expensive if I had not accidentally booked my flight for 6 am instead of 6pm, then had to pay a fee to get on the next flight at 10pm.
April 2007 – Paris
5 days solo in Paris revisiting my favourite sites, galleries, day trip to Versailles. Would have been less stressful if I wasn’t grabbed on the subway by a strange drunk man.
Flights: London to Paris with Easyjet.
April 2007 – Turkey
4 days in Istanbul and Gallipoli with friends and a 6 day tour around Turkey, visiting Channakule, Troy, Ephesus, Kusadasi, Pammukale, Cappadocia. Hot air balloon rides, motorbikes, overnight buses.
Flights: London to Istanbul with Easyjet.
March 2007 – Leeds
Took the train up to Leeds to stay with a friend, and visited Whitby and Scarborough.
March 2007 – London
Moved to London to live for 8 months travelling and working, let the adventures begin!
Flights: Sydney to London via Singapore with Qantas. Excellent service, but sat in the middle row of the middle. NEVER AGAIN. Will pay extra and give my first born for a window seat on all future long haul flights.
November 2006 – South Stradbroke Island
Attended a friend’s wedding at the resort at South Stradbroke Island.
Flights: Sydney to Brisbane with Jetstar.
February 2006 – Lake Macquarie
Weekend with friends in Wandanian, near Lake Macquarie on the Central Coast, NSW
January 2006 – Kilcare
Weekend in a beach house at Kilcare on the Central Coast, NSW for a friend’s birthday.
September/October 2005 – Western Europe
5 weeks around Europe on a 28 day Contiki Tour. London, Paris, Bordeaux, Barcelona, Nice, Monaco, Pisa, Florence, Pompeii, Corfu, Rome, Verona, Venice, Vienna, Austrian Tyrol, Lucerne, Rhine Valley, Munich, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, London. My first ever big solo trip and some amazing lifelong friendships formed.
Flights: Sydney to London via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. 10 hour stop over in Hong Kong, got to see some gardens and a mall near the airport, busted sleeping in the airport lounge. Landed in London at midnight, did well to get the Tube to my station and find my hotel in the dark and the rain!
April 2004 – South Pacific Cruise
10 day cruise on the Pacific Sky cruise ship, stopping at Port Vila Vanuatu, Lifou, Isle of Pines and Noumea New Caledonia.
April 2003 – Byron Bay
Camping trip with friends at Byron Bay, trips up to Sea World and road trip back down the coast.
March 2003 – Adelaide
Quick weekend in Glenelg, Adelaide, SA to attend a friend’s wedding.
Flights: Sydney to Adelaide with Virgin Australia.
June 2002 – Melbourne
My first trip to VIC’s capital with friends to stay in the city, shop, eat, explore.
Flights: Sydney to Melbourne with Qantas
July 2001 – Blackheath, Blue Mountains
Hired a house with friends for winter mountains fun. No snow unfortunately.
December 2001/January 2002 – Nelson’s Bay
Summer holiday with all the family from Yamba and New Zealand for Christmas by the beach at Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, NSW.
October 2000 – New Zealand
Birthday present for my 21st was a trip to NZ to see family. Stayed in Pautahanui Bay, road tripped to Lake Taupo and Mt Ruhapehu for some skiing.
Flights: Sydney to Wellington with Air New Zealand.
April 2000 – The Entrance, Central Coast
Staying with friends in a family holiday house.
February 2000 – Byron Bay
Caught the train up with a group of girls to hang like hippies, eat, swim, explore, horse ride.
October 1997 – Vanuatu
Lottery winning family flew us to Vanuatu for a week to help them celebrate their wedding. Yes please!
Flights: Sydney to Port Vila with Air Vanuatu
December 1996 – New Zealand
Family Christmas in Wellington with the family. Road trip to Tauranga and Mt Monganui to see more family. Continued up through Hamilton, Auckland to the Bay of Islands.
Flights: Sydney to Wellington and Auckland to Sydney with Qantas
December 1996 – South Pacific Cruise
10 day cruise on the Fairstar cruise ship, stopping at Port Vila Vanuatu, Lifou and Noumea New Caledonia.
April 1996 – Kangaroo Island
10 day family road trip through the Yass Plains to Cape Jervis, over to Kangaroo Island, SA for a week, Victor Harbour, Glenelg, Adelaide, McClarenvale and the Barossa Valley.
July 1994 – Little Beach
School holiday fun with dad and my brother while mum stayed in Sydney and worked. Used the family holiday house on the Central Coast.
October 1991 – Fraser Island
2 week camping adventure with family and friends on Fraser Island, QLD exploring the lakes and beaches.
January 1991 – QLD
10 day family holiday with friends staying at the Gold Coast, theme parks, beaches, road trips.
1990 – 1995 Various repeat camping trips with the same 3 other families around NSW to Patonga – Central Coast, Watagan’s State forest (eww leeches) – Hunter Region, Bundanoon, Warrumbungles, Barrington Tops National Park, Red Rock – Mid North Coast, Mudgee. Childhood gold, these camping trips were.
October 1990 – New Zealand
My brother (aged 7) and me (aged 11) flew to Auckland unaccompanied to spend the holidays with my nana for 10 days.
Flights: Sydney to Auckland with Qantas. Flight over there were 5 unaccompanied kids and we were treated like royalty. On the way back there were 25, we were treated like cattle.
October 1987 – QLD
The inaugural family road trip to QLD, stayed in Coffs Harbour, NSW for a week and then onto the Gold Coast and Dreamworld and Wet and Wild theme park. Finished it off in a hut on the Sunshine Coast. Saw the big banana, big pineapple, cuddled a koala, water slides – stuff of kid’s holiday dreams.
May 1987 – New Zealand
The typical New Zealand family holiday. Spent a lot of time with family, but also did very touristy things like Rotorua and the hot springs, Lake Taupo and Mt Ruapehu.
Flights: Sydney to Auckland and Wellington to Sydney with Qantas.
December 1983 – New Zealand
My first ever trip (and first ever flight!) to Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington aged 4 for Christmas with the family.
Flights: Sydney to Auckland and Wellington to Sydney with Qantas. Remember sitting in front of the wall in economy with my baby brother in one of those attachment bassinet things.
