How to pack lightly for a long trip

When we planned our visit to Australia last year, we made sure we reserved enough days for Tasmania too! Many of our friends said it was a waste of time. But we love all things natural like waterfalls, coasts and mountains and didn’t care much for large cities. So we decided to explore this place for hidden gems and we simply fell in love with Tassie! Here is our 9 day road trip in Tasmania!   How to Get to Tasmania Tasmania is an island south of Australia, the size of Florida, population 500,000.  You can fly to Hobart or Launceston from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, or take the ferry from Melbourne (9 and half hours). We flew Melbourne-Launceston (Launnie!!) in an hour.   Where to Stay and What to Eat in Tasmania In a relatively small area, say Wales, we make a central location our base and make day trips to see the sights. This would not work in Tasmania during our 1,700 KM journey. We prefer rural B&Bs, hotels being the second choice. Aussies are friendly and ...

Tasmania is probably my new favourite place in the world. I fell for it harder than I have anywhere else. More than I did Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines or Slovenia. It is just so ridiculously gorgeous.  Before I write about my time in Tasmania in detail, I’d first like to share a few of my favourite photos from my week spent on the island. Hopefully they’ll convince you to visit one day, it truly is a wonderful part of the world. We began in Hobart, state capital of Tasmania and all-round wonderful city that provided a welcome relief from the major cities in Australia. I hadn’t warmed to either Sydney or Melbourne but fell in love with Hobart in seconds. There were no towering glass skyscrapers here. Instead the streets were lined with old Georgian buildings; former warehouses and port buildings converted into small restaurants, cafes and craft shops. The weather was fantastic, which, as I was told repeatedly, is a bit of a rarity for the city. While the temp...

Updated : 2/2/20 | February 2nd, 2020 Few countries capture the imagination quite like Australia. With world-class beaches, unusual wildlife, stunning natural landscapes, a unique history, and a fun and vibrant culture, Australia has something to offer every traveler who makes the journey to the Land Down Under. While the country is easy to navigate as a solo traveler, there are also plenty of amazing tour options for those who prefer traveling in groups or who might not have the time to plan their own getaway. I’ve been visiting Australia since 2006 and have used many tour companies over the years (in addition to getting around on my own). So in this post, I share my list of the best travel companies in Australia to help you make the most out of your next trip. From simple walking tours to in-depth, multi-day excursions, there’s something on the list for every interest — and every budget! Quick Overview Best Bike Tour: Bonza Bike Tours Best Walking Tour: I’m Free Best ...

Updated: 12/2/18 | December 2nd, 2018 The city of Perth was founded on June 12, 1829 by Captain James Stirling as the center for the Swan River Colony. Despite a slow start and skirmishes with the native Aborigines, the city prospered and grew. In 1850, an influx of convicts boosted the size of the colony, and their labor helped build the city. The discovery of gold in the 1890s triggered a mineral boom that has still not subsided. This boom has been the key to Perth’s growth, as well as the growth of the whole of Western Australia. Over the last few years, the rise of commodity prices and the subsequent mining and oil drilling boom has ballooned Perth’s population. The city is now a hub of activity and growth. (It grows 10% per year.) But, despite all that growth, the city still remains a wonderful place to visit. It’s clean, the people are friendly, it’s easy to get around, and it sits right on the ocean. It has more a small town feel than that of the biggest city of Wester...

On our recent trip to Queensland’s Gold Coast we decided to do something different and give the theme parks a miss. We have done them every couple of years and the last time we went was only 2 years ago in 2014. We took the kids snorkelling at Whitehaven Beach this time last year so I thought we would go snorkelling again, this time off Moreton Island at the Tangalooma Wrecks.

During early February the Spirit Of Tasmania was advertising a ‘kids sail free’ promotion for the ferry to Tasmania from Melbourne on certain dates over winter. Being the avid traveller I am, I had to check it out as it seemed too good to be true.

Quokkas and Coffee: A long weekend in Perth, Fremantle and Rottnest Island OCEANIA | AUSTRALIA PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2018 | DISCLOSURE: PARTNER CONTENT WITH EXPEDIA Ever since I first saw a photo of a Quokka (and more on these cute guys later), I knew I had to get over to Perth and Rottnest Island when I was living in Australia. As with all grand plans, it never happened, but when I found myself back in the continent a year later I made a beeline to the capital of Western Australia, and it was well worth the wait. Western Australia is one of the lesser explored parts of the country, but that certainly doesn’t make it any less worthy of a visit than the more traversed east coast. While I only had a long weekend to enjoy my city break in Perth, the whole of this vast state packs plenty of excellent places and hidden gems to explore. As my go-to flight and hotel booking site when I lived in Australia, I’ve partnered up with Expedia.com.au to share the highlights of my long weekend...