• Search
  • Search
“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” That classic ‘Back to the Future’ quote was rather fitting for my abseiling tour in Whian Whian State Conservation Area in Northern NSW, which I covered for Locale Magazine’s Spring 2025 issue. Tim Williams from @wildernessadventures led me on an off-road journey which, though starting at a carpark, saw us leave roads behind to traverse through dense bushland with no signage and no clear path to follow. Despite living in this region for more than 25 years, I had no idea there were multiple abseiling pitches just over the ridge from Minyon Falls, and if not for Tim’s curiosity and expert guidance, I’d likely still be in the dark. #minyonfalls #wildernessadventures #abseiling #whianwhian #nswnationalparks #adventuretour #northernrivers #lismore #nsw #visitnsw #astw_inc #travelwriter #hosted
I’ve stayed at a lot of hostels over the years, but none have been as flash as @thehoteldrifter in Byron Bay. Officially opened this week, it’s taken the bones of the old Vali on Lateen Lane and created something altogether more enticing, with a brand new rooftop swimming pool and barbecue area, social space buzzing with guests playing cards and pool, and rooms that dance from your typical bunk setups (but with more privacy and accessible charge ports) through to queen and king rooms with fridges, en-suite and working record players to help set the mood. Worth a look. The final shot is from opening night, when people were able to get flash tattoos to mark the occasion. #drifterbyronbay #byronbay #nsw #thedrifterhotel #travelgram #travelstoke #instatravel #astw_inc #repeattraveller
To paraphrase Forrest Gump, ‘Life is like a degustation dinner with no menu, you never know what you’re going to get’. That’s what we experienced at Bendigo’s @aliumdining last night, where the cavalcade of dishes that emerged from the kitchen were a secret until they arrived at the table. A beetroot jam doughnut topped with smoked eel was the first sign we were in for something unique. It was soon followed by prosciutto and pickled cabbage, a tasty dish I didn’t catch the name of, pork terrine with edible flowers, scallop tartare with macadamias nuts, and wagyu steak. To finish, a silky-smooth lemon curd tart. Naturally, there was plenty of great regional wine. Highly recommend stopping by Alium to try the Glenwillow 2017 Reserve Shiraz and Minim 2024 Nero d’Avola. #bendigo #hosted #aliumbendigo #explorebendigo #astw_inc #astwbendigo2025 #foodiegram #foodporn #travelgram #travelingram #victoria #regionalvictoria #repeattraveller @astw_inc @explorebendigo
A crisp-white stupa isn’t something you’d typically expect to see peeking through the dry Australian bushland. In Bendigo shire, the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is a curious surprise that stands apart from its surrounding landscape. A focal point of the Buddhist community, it welcomes people of all faiths and no faiths to visit, contemplate and explore the surrounding gardens. Our visit during the ASTW Convention coincided with the Vegecarian Festival, where multicultural market stalls, cooking demos, and the chance to have your furry-nosed family member blessed by the monks and nuns is an enduring annual drawcard. (I managed to get a few doggo pats in). Entry is by donation, or you can pre-book a 90-minute guided tour for $12-15. @greatstupabendigo @explorebendigo @astw_inc #astw_inc #explorebendigo #astwbendigo2025 #bendigo #victoria #seeaustralia #travelwriter #instatravel #travelling #repeattraveller #hosted
Mi casa for the @astw_inc convention: Quality Hotel Lakeside Bendigo… plus a bonus video of Lake Weeroona right across the road. A gorgeous outlook. Look forward to experiencing more of Bendigo over the coming days. #astwbendigo2025 #astwconvention2025 #bendigo #victoria @explorebendigo @lakesidehotelbendigo #travelgram #instatravel #travelstoke #repeattraveller #astw_inc
This week we had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Murphy, as he crossed the rainbow bridge. It was sudden and still hard to process. We’re heartbroken, but know that he will live on in our memories, as we replay every joyous moment over and over, or scroll through the 2500 photos and videos I’ve taken (no exaggeration). We’ll meet again someday. Until then, rest in peace, little man.
Earlier this month we represented Lifesavers with Pride - the peak body for LGBTQIA+ lifesavers across Australia - at Brisbane Pride. With the help of Surf Life Saving Queensland, we demonstrated and shared the importance of learning CPR. There was a great response with more than 200 people stopping by our stall to learn the basics, and see that surf life saving welcomes everyone. The ocean doesn’t discriminate and neither do we. #mysurflife #lifesaverswithpride #brisbanepride #cpr #surflifesaving #surflifesavingqld
If you want to experience local life, head to the market. Port Vila’s main produce market sits in a prominent location on the waterfront, surrounded by stalls selling handicrafts and souvenirs. While the veggies all looked delicious, it was the coconuts we had our eyes on. They’re an essential part of Vanuatu’s economy and culture - but they’re also severely at risk, with invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles devastating plantations. Work is being done to try and get them under control, but it’s an uphill battle, evidenced by the countless coconut palms we saw missing their fronds. #vanuatu #portvila #copra #coconuts #vanuatuislands #vanuatumoments #instatravel #travelgram #instatraveling #travelinggram #repeattraveller
When life presents a blue lagoon, you jump right in. Or, in this case, grab the nearest rope swing dangling from a tree and embrace the Tarzan within. The balmy spring sunshine, laughter filtering across the water and riot of blooming bougainvillea added to the on holiday vibe of the Blue Lagoon - Vanuatu’s most famous natural ocean inlet. Around 40 minutes from Port Vila. Entry is $6 per child and $20 per adult.
Oh hey, Vanuatu. It’s taken us a while to get here, but we’ve finally made the pilgrimage to your palm-fringed islands. The biggest takeaway? You’re even more stunning in person than we realized. Our first stop: an early morning visit to the gentle cascades of @edenontheriver - a hidden, sun-dappled paradise less than 25 minutes drive from Port Vila.
Words to live by. #backalleyartgallery #lismorelaneways #streetart #streetarteverywhere #mural #murals #lismore #northernrivers #repeattraveller #galah
Throwback to a bleary-eyed pre-dawn start for a flight over the Gold Coast Hinterland with @goballooning. As you can see, it was worth it — a silent glide across the treetops, farms and communities of Mount Tamborine and surrounds, broken only by the intense flame and heat of the burner. Stunning. #goldcoast #goldcoasthinterland #goballooning #queensland #thisisqueensland #southeastqueensland #instatravel #travelstoke #travelwriter #astw_inc #repeattraveller

Recent Posts