What are the best restaurants in Valencia, Spain and what should you be eating while there? Click to read my top foodie picks after spending months in Valencia!
My first dry suit diving experience into glacier water at Silfra Crack, one of the highlights of diving in Iceland.
Where to stay in Kyoto, including the top neighbourhoods, hotel recommendations and how to stay in Kyoto like a local.
The following is a guest article by Sally Elbassir, the owner and food taster of Passport and Plates, originally titled "The Tapas, Taverns and History of
Looking for the best 3 days in Madrid itinerary? I've got you! After living in Madrid for 4 months, these are the BEST things to do in Madrid in a few days!
The following is a guest article by Sally Elbassir, the owner and food taster of Passport and Plates, originally titled "The Tapas, Taverns and History of
I'm spending the summer in Valencia, Spain! Click to learn what this quaint city has to offer. It'll convince you to book a flight and see it for yourself!
Looking for the best 3 days in Madrid itinerary? I've got you! After living in Madrid for 4 months, these are the BEST things to do in Madrid in a few days!
Markawamachuko is a huge archaeological complex in the remote north of Peru. Here's my experiences visiting Marcahuamachuco site in Peru.
What are the best restaurants in Valencia, Spain and what should you be eating while there? Click to read my top foodie picks after spending months in Valencia!
Looking for the best 3 days in Madrid itinerary? I've got you! After living in Madrid for 4 months, these are the BEST things to do in Madrid in a few days!
31 things to do in Hobart including Hobart tourist attractions, what to do in Hobart in winter, day trips from Hobart and what's on in Hobart.
Zebedee Springs is a series of natural thermal rock pools - literally an oasis in the wilderness. Sounds lovely doesn't it and I am sure it was - once! Sadly, Zebedee Springs has been discovered. The reality is that Zebedee Springs is
Discover the charming village of Scopello Sicily. Best things to do in Scopello, Scopello accommodation, Scopello beaches
I’ve long been a fan of Sarah and her wife’s blog Sarahpluslaura. Not only are they ridiculously cute and super loved up but they also have been to and blogged about some amazing places! Rece…
Find out what it is like to stay at Q Station the re-purposed quarantine station in Sydney.
The goal for the day is make it to the peak of Mt Misen! We've talked many times here about how much there is to do on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima, a destination that regularly draws us in when we visit Japan.
Australian Outback - learn about amazing outback windmills, outback Australians and Outback adventures in the most remove parts of the land.
Wanna be a Princess or a Prince for the day? True castle lovers should definitely head one (or all) of these magnificent castles in Slovenia.
With its slow-paced, welcoming atmosphere, Chanticleer Garden near Philadelphia was the loveliest garden we visited.
Wondering what to do in Croatia? After ten years of living here, I have made this giant list of the best things to do in Croatia for you.
The Three Capes Track in Tasmania is a multi-day walk on the Tasman Peninsula. It has 46 km of coastal hiking and three public huts.
An itinerary and photo tour of 9 charming medieval towns in Catalonia Spain, most built in the 11 - 14th centuries, plus Figueres for the Dali museum.
A traveller's guide to Longwood Gardens. The world is divided in two types of people. 'Gardening people' who love nothing more than spending their time mucking about in dirt and 'non-gardening people' who don't! Can you tell which one I am?
Get a birds-eye view from 285 metres above the city at Melbourne Skydeck, relax in Bar 88, share a meal to remember or take on the Edge experience if you dare.
Staying at a hostel for family travel is a great idea. Hostels have private room with ensuites, washing and cooking facilities and more.
Tiwi Islands Tours - Take the Tiwi Islands Ferry from Darwin. Learn about this unique Aboriginal settlement. Culture, art and history of the Tiwi Islands.
This list of the seven must-see museums in Auckland, New Zealand for visitors and locals highlights culture and history, hands-on science, art, or space.
Family Travel Experts, Wyld Family Travel have spent over a decade mastering the art of travel with kids, long term travel with teenagers and now couple travel.
If you want to do some wine tasting in a small wine regions with a massive amount of charm and hospitality, the Markgraflerland Wine Region of Germany, a sub-region of the Baden wine region, is just the place.
The Chapel of Bones in Evora, Portugal is a macabre ossuary decorated with the bones of 5,000 humans, one of many bone churches around the world.
Location - Bairnsdale to Orbost, East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia Distance - 95.5 km (one way) Terrain - Sealed between Bairnsdale and Nicholson then gravel and compacted earth to Orbost. Difficulty - Easy to moderate. Highlights - The views across undulating farmland along the Nicholson to Bruthen section. Website - East Gippsland Rail Trail The East Gippsland Rail Trail, runs for almost 100km through south-eastern Victoria, connecting the regional centre of Bairnsdale at its western end with the outskirts of Orbost in the east. One of the best things about this trail is that it can be divided into separate rides. Unless you are super-fit, don't feel any compulsion to ride the whole length in a single day. Stay in one of the regional towns, load the bikes on the car each morning and drive to the beginning of each section. Or better yet do what we have done and stay in the heart of the East Gippsland Lakes, one of the most picturesque regions in eastern Australia. My favourite town by far is Paynesville (click here for my blog post on Paynesville), just across from Raymond Island and its large colony of koalas (click here for my blog post on Raymond Island). Bairnsdale to Nicholson - 9km (one way) Look for the start of the trail at Howitt Park, McEacharn St. The trail is sealed and almost flat for the full distance to Nicholson. If you haven't ridden a bike for a while or you've got the family with you this section is a great introduction to rail trail cycling. The start of the trail at Howitt Park As you leave Bairnsdale you'll notice a few small gardens on the right-hand side of the track where local residents have made use of the reserve to grow vegetables. After the gardens the trail enters open farmland. Cycling across the old railway bridge at Nicholson is a highlight of this section. A short detour just before the bridge leads into Nicholson and down to the Nicholson River - a great spot for a picnic lunch. The old railway bridge at Nicholson The Nicholson River - a perfect spot for a picnic Nicholson to Bruthen - 21.5km (one way) The Nicholson to Bruthen section continues as an easy cycle even though the sealed trail runs out quickly and becomes compacted earth. The last time David and I cycled this trail we came across a young man engaged in rabbit control on behalf of the local rural Land Board. We stopped to say hello and got into a long conversation about local wildlife and rabbit control. He was the source of amazing knowledge and told us that there were once 10 billion rabbits in Australia. (Yes - you read that right - '10 billion'.) Although the rabbit epidemic has eased a lot since then, I couldn't help thinking how futile his efforts seemed. One guy with a truck and a smoke machine just didn't look to me like it was going to help much. Bruthen General Store About half way between Nicholson and Bruthen the trail passes the site of the old Bumberrah Station. Sadly, there is nothing left of the station now but the shelter and information board has come in handy a couple of times when we have been caught in the rain. A turn-off not far from the shelter leads to a blueberry farm which sells chutneys, jams, liqueurs and other blueberry products. The lady who runs the cellar door shop is just lovely but much as we both enjoy fresh blueberries it turns out that they don't make great chutneys and liqueurs. The short detour into Bruthen is well worth it to admire the town's heritage architecture. Bruthen's fifteen minutes of fame arrived on 27 November 1958 when Flt Lt Ralph Oborn became the first pilot to eject safely from an aeroplane in Australia. His jet aircraft 'flamed out' over Bruthen at 40,000ft. He managed to avoid crashing into the built up area of the town before ejecting at 500ft. It was the first time he had ever used a parachute. All that remained of his plane, the nose cone, is on display in the centre of town. All that is left of the aircraft whose pilot was the first person to safely eject from an aircraft in Australia. Bruthen to Nowa Nowa - 27 km (one way) This section of the trail has an isolated, 'alone in the world' feel to it as it passes through the Colquhoun State Forest. If you like getting away from everything this is the ride for you. Of course, the lack of people makes the occasional sight of fellow cyclists that much more welcome. There is no water at all on this part of the trail so take an adequate supply with you. The high point of the trail is at Colquhoun, just a name on a map really, not too far past the midway point between Bruthen and Nowa Nowa. This part of the trail has an 'alone in the world' feel to it. About 10 km east of Bruthen, the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail leads down to Lakes Entrance. See the heading Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail below. Nowa Nowa to Orbost - 38 km (one way) I have included this part of the trail for completeness. David and I have not cycled this section ourselves but from the descriptions I have read, it sounds the least scenic and interesting part of the trail. I welcome comments from anyone who has first hand knowledge of the Nowa Nowa to Orbost section. The Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail - 17 km (one way) The Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail is a detour from the main trail which leads through the forest down to Lakes Entrance. It begins at Seaton Track, 11 kms east of Bruthen. The cycling is very different to the main part of the East Gippsland Rail Trail. The track is much narrower, rougher and quite steep in parts. For much of its length, it follows the route of an old tramway built in the early 1900s to move granite to Lakes Entrance. There is a short signposted detour leading to the old quarry. If you have even a passing interest in history and old artefacts the detour is well worth taking. Stopping for a rest at the old quarry If you start this trail from Lakes Entrance you will find the first part of the ride, quite a climb - or so we were told. D and I cheated by beginning at Log Crossing Picnic Area. It isn't easy to find but it is marked on the map in the Department of Sustainability and Environment PDF brochure of the trail - click here. There is plenty of parking and it is a lovely spot for a forest picnic. The Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail Even if you skip the first/last few kilometres into Lakes Entrance this is not an easy ride. I wouldn't recommend it for beginner cyclists. However if a sense of achievement is your motivation then go for it. The scenery through the forest is lovely and there are lots of interesting little bridges and creek crossings. We have only cycled this track once and on the day we did a recent storm had brought down a large gum. It was lying lengthwise along the track and with no way around it we literally had to climb through branches and foliage for 30-35metres carrying our bikes before we could continue. David - ever the gentleman - lifting my bike through the fallen tree. This gives you an idea just how difficult getting through the tree was. Facilities on the East Gippsland Rail Trail Between Bairnsdale and Nicholson a local volunteer group, sorry I can't remember their name, have installed some very welcome water fountains. Apart from that, there are no facilities on the track at all. If you want lunch then plan to divert to one of the nearby towns. It is only a short ride into any of them. Click on the following links for my reviews on other Victorian bike trails: - Falls Creek - Historic Huts and Aqueducts The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail The Bennetts Trail - Bright to Wandiligong
Battle of Gallipoli - a fabulous story about how Kate Armstrong visited the grave of a long-lost uncle in Turkey during the war.
Spend 48 hours in Athens and create unforgettable memories with Dave’s itinerary for spending 48 hours Athens Greece.
You can easily see Reykjavik and surrounding areas in four days and feel like you've done more than scrape the surface with this 4-day reykjavik itinerary.
Sweeping panoramic views, impressive natural attractions, and adventure are among the seemingly endless list of things to do in Wanaka.
Auckland is a city of 1.5 million people. You would think it would be a simple thing to organise bike hire for a two week trip in a city that size. Not for us, the easy option. David doesn’t hire bikes. He much prefers to subject himself, and me, to the enormous hassle and precision planning required to fly our bikes with us across the Tasman Sea from Australia.
A self-guided walking tour up Queen Street Auckland New Zealand exposes a haunted hotel, leaning building, underground creek, and more.
Trinity Buoy Wharf, in London's Docklands area, is a hidden enclave for creatives. Here you find London's smallest museum, an American diner and much else.
Confused by the difference between a bistrot and a brasserie? Intimidated by ordering a meal in French? This is your guide to dining out in Paris.
You don't want to run out of money while traveling, so here are some ways you can support yourself financially.
Amalia Gorge in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. How far it is, how hard it is and tips for coming out alive.
Discover the top things to do in Obidos Portugal. Explore the enchanting medieval charm of Obidos with our must-see attractions and activities
The Gippsland region of Victoria in Australia is our home. The Gippsland region stretches from just east of Melbourne to the New South Wales border. It is a huge region by any explanation. Gippsland consists
Mount Usher Gardens Wicklow are a great day trip from Dublin or an easy and pleasant stop during an itinerary around Ireland. Find here info and photos.
The Byzantine castle town of Mystras is a must-see for anyone visiting the Peloponnese in Greece. Read more about this rarely visited UNESCO site in Greece.
We often don't find city passes or discount passes to be great deals for us because we're slow travellers. We like to have a good look around, spend some downtime in a local cafe or tea shop, take time out to eat and wander off on a few tangents along the way. That said we did pick up the Osaka Amazing Pass on our first visit to the city and while it might not have been "amazing" value it turned out to be pretty darn good. We'll definitely pick up another one next time we're in town as there are still plenty of Osaka attractions we want to see.
The Pinnacles Desert and the stromatolites of Lake Thetis make a great day trip for anyone with even a vague interest in what the earth may have looked like in primordial times. The Pinnacles may be as old as half a million years, while the stromatolites show life as it was at the dawn of time - 3.5 billion years ago.
