OUR TRAVELS

Where am I – on board the Crystal Serenity, cruising from Darwin to Bali.

A glamorous sampling of the Crystal Cruise experience, on a 4-night voyage that took in stops at Kupang on the island of Timor as well as Komodo Island, Indonesia: a picturesque beauty (and home to the famous Komodo Dragon.)

Where am I – spending two weeks with my family travelling around Rajasthan, the "Land of Kings,” in northwest India.

This was my second visit (and my families first.) It was such a treat to share this amazing destination with them.

Where am I – Cruising from Hobart to Sydney on board the Holland America Line (HAL) 'Noordam'

A lovely four night getaway - the back end of a longer voyage starting in Auckland on 23rd November.

Where am I – a ship inspection on board the Disney Wonder (Port Melbourne.)

One of only six Disney cruise ships, the Wonder is heading off to Alaska after it’s final season here in Australia. Our closest option will then be the soon to launch Disney Adventure (coming 2026), which will be the biggest in the fleet with a home port in Singapore.

Where am I – stopping over (for a few nights) in Abu Dhabi, on the way to explore the Middle East and Europe.

Where we stayed – At the very refined St Regis Abu Dhabi.

Where am I – South Korea (Seoul & Busan)

Duration – A week (during January)

Suitable for – Just about everyone, it has the hustle-and-bustle of Seoul's metropolis, Busan's foodie cafe scene, and stunning cultural sites.

Where am I – Japan (Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka & Kamakura)

Duration – Three weeks

Suitable for – Just about every type of traveller. It has cultural experience, natural beaty and heaps of adventure!

Where am I – on the way home to Australia, in the bustling mega metropolis of Hong Kong.

Where we stayed – The Murray on Hong Kong Island. Part of the contemporary Niccolo collection of hotels, and a member (the only in HKG) of the prestigious ‘Leading Hotels of the World.’

Where am I – the “Las Vegas of Asia”, Macau / Macao. A UNESCO World Heritage site and the most densely populated region in the world.

Where we stayed – the divine Four Seasons Hotel Macao, a complete oasis in the very heart of the Cotai casino strip

Where am I – making a long awaited return to Spain, this time spending a few weeks in the glorious southern region of Andalusia.

Where am I – enjoying a week in Portugal: a land of sunshine, fascinating history, beautiful countryside, great food, lovely welcoming locals - and Port!

Where am I – living out my childhood (and grown up!) dream, to visit the land of the Pharaohs.

How we travelled – as part of a small group on the fantastic 12 day Intrepid ‘Experience Egypt.’

Where am I – in the kingdom of Jordan, stopping by for a few days on the way to Egypt.

Highlight - Petra of course, without hesitation! Justifiably one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, our time spent rambling around the ancient rock-cut city was a life highlight.

Where are we – Bali, Indonesia

Destination – Bali, and more specifically the somewhat undiscovered gem that is Sanur, for the Labour Day Long Weekend

Duration – Literally just the long weekend, flying in after work on Friday and back in the office first thing Tuesday.

Suitable for – our team trip, but also anyone that has a little time up their sleeve but doesn’t want to venture that far. It was certainly achievable to be there for such a short time frame - we packed a lot in, whilst still having a lot of opportunities for lovely r&r (and one of two indulgent spa treatments!)

Where am I – South Africa - Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve,  Sanbona Wildlife Reserve,  Knysna, Kariega Game Reserve,  Johannesburg,  Sun City

Duration – Two weeks

Suitable for – Anyone who wants a combination of major cities and game reserves along the Garden Route of South Africa.

Where are we – one of the last ship inspections for this season, on board the Azamara Pursuit (Port Melbourne)

Where am I – Road tripping with the family around New Zealand

Duration – Two weeks

Suitable for – Anyone who wants the freedom to explore New Zealand’s independently

Where am I – a truly once in a lifetime invitation to the Brit Awards.

Who we saw – everyone! From Charli XCX to Lenny Kravitz. Amazing performances including JADE, Sabrina Carpenter, Teddy Swims and Myles Smith - viewed from our VIP front row seats. An unforgettable night out at London’s O2 Arena

Where am I – a stopover in Doha, the capital of Qatar, enroute to London.

Where we stayed – the 5* beachfront Rixos Gulf Hotel

Duration – 2 nights, plenty of time to squeeze in Museum Visits & Desert Safaris, an evening of exploration at Souk Waqif & a lot of indulgent (large) meals!

Where are we:  Ship inspection on board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer (Port Melbourne)

Suitable for: Well-travelled (generally 50+) small ship cruise aficionados that enjoy fine food, fine wine and attentive service.

Where am I – I travelled primarily for a reunion with my school friends in Wales, with Italy and Switzerland beforehand, and France following.

Duration - 4 weeks

Where are we – a ship inspection on board the Coral Adventurer (Port Melbourne)

Suitable for – the average age on board ranges from around 55-60yrs. An intrepid kind of traveller, seeking an authentic experience on board a comfortable small ship with a friendly Australian crew.

Where are we – a ship inspection on board the Silver Nova (Port Melbourne)

Suitable for – a brand synonymous with European flair and intimate, all-inclusive luxury. Silversea has always appealed to our clients who enjoy the finer things in life, personalised butler service (in all suites), great cuisine and some wonderful intensive itineraries - that pretty much cover the whole globe!

Where am I – River Cruising in Europe - Germany, Austria, Budapest & Italy

Duration – Two weeks

Suitable for – Anyone who wants to visit European cities without having to pack up and move each time (river cruises are a spectacular way to travel!)

Where am I – the Philippines.

Destination – Manila, Cebu, Bohol, El Nido & Boracay

Duration – It was a quick visit for us (8 nights) but still felt like a decent break. Given the number of places we squeezed in, for most of our clients I’d probably suggest adding more time or taking out an island or two.

Suitable for – Couples, friends and families. And incidentally very LGBTIQA+ welcoming which was lovely.

Today we had the pleasure to meet with Christina, Luxury Leisure Sales Manager, from Phaea Blue Palace; a brand new member of the exclusive SLH collection (Small Luxury Hotels of the World.) Their ethos is to balance a unique sense of place with authentic Greek hospitality - perfect!

Where am I – Siem Reap, gateway to the ruins of Angkor

Duration – Three days

Suitable for – all kinds of intrepid travellers. The small city is easily accessible on foot and home to a wide variety of accommodation, lovely restaurants and a vibrant night market / bar scene.

Where am I – paradise! aka Sri Lanka.

Destination – Colombo, Kandalama, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, Weligama, Galle & Negombo.

Duration – Just over two weeks.

Suitable for – Our trip was definitely perfect for a couple, but there’s something on the island of Sri Lanka for absolutely everyone.