Where in the World Wednesday- Sugar Pine Walk, Australia

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Where in the world is this you might say?

Well, it’s not somewhere on the usual tourist trail as its nowhere near the coast or any major Australian cities. If I was to say it the Sugar Pine Walk in Laurel Hill you would probably still look me like you have no idea where that is. However, if you do happen to find yourself in the Snowy Mountains (Southern NSW) or if you are looking for an interesting area to visit within Australia then this could be right up your street.

Located in the small (and I mean VERY small) village of Laurel Hill you will find this beautiful walk amongst the majestic sugar pines. The trees were planted in 1928 and as soon as you walk in you feel like you are completely away from the world.They are within the Bago State Forest and a very popular attraction within the area. When you pull up in the car park it will all look a little unassuming however as soon as you walk into the forest it will captivate you. It’s not a long walk nor is it strenuous however it is incredibly calming. It so quiet and that quietness coupled with the natural beauty makes for a very magical feel. You almost expect to see fairies flying around or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs wondering up along the path. Photographers will also love this spot as with the sunlight filtering in, the floor covered in pine needles, a canopy so high it’s almost in the heavens and stumps and fallen branches all through the area it makes for some fantastic images. So many insta worthy shots to be had.In actual fact a lot of weddings I the area will come and have their pictures taken here due to the picturesque backdrop.

As it is a flat walk it is suitable for all ages, you just need to be careful as the grounds is covered in pine needles so could be a little unsteady. It’s free to go and would only set you back the fuel to get there. It is signposted but if you head South of Batlow on the Tumbarumba road and you will be sure to find it.

If you want to continue on your walk you can meet up with the Hume and Hovell Walking Track and follow in the footsteps of two of Australia’s first explorers, There are lots of great walking tracks within this area for all levels of walkers.

The walk is close to some rural charming towns including Batlow, Tumut and Tumbarumba. There are lots of great cafes and pubs which will ensure you don’t leave the area without being fed and watered. If you find yourself in Tumbarumba you should check out the delightful Nest or Dare to Bite and tell them we sent you.

Whenever I visit this area I always make sure I stop by. Trust me you will love it.

For more information please do check out this link

This post was originally posted 1st April 2016 and was one of my first posts (ah bless). It needed updating and has been updated on 4th April 2018.

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Globetrotters – Old School Traveller

Woohoo it’s Sunday so that means it’s time to introduce you to another Globetrotter.

The first blog post I read from the Old School Traveller was the first of their 5 part series called A Singular Honeymoon. I loved it! Why do you need to be married if you want the honeymoon experience now? It reminded me of when Carrie ‘married herself’ and gift registered for herself in Sex in The City after spending me a $ on engagement presents, wedding presents, baby showers and baby gifts. Whilst this wasn’t the thinking behind having a singular honeymoon  it was more about having that experience even if a honeymoon wasn’t in the near future. What I also liked was that he set himself the rule that he wasn’t allowed to say no to anything. I personally think all adventures should be like this.  The Old School Traveller is now married and his wife has a style section on the blog.

On the blog, you will find help with travel booking, restaurant guides, travel inspo, travel stories and the new addition of the style section. Links will be below to the blog and social channel so you can see for yourself.

The imagery of his words, the quality content, the images all just convey a beautiful sense of  an old school romance for travelling and seeing the world- so let me hand you over to The Old School Traveller.


A little bit about me, I trained in Fine Art as an Oil Painter, which I still am, but soon moved into photography and became a ‘Celebrity’ shooter for postcard and poster printers in the 80’s. After a bit of a mishap, I moved home to Wales and got into the hospitality industry, running a pub in Wales where I was also the chef, cellar man and host, and then ran a 22 bedroom hotel near Cambridge in England. Here, my cooking levels increased as did my interest in both food and wine. After this, I became an actor and comedy writer in Bristol, before moving to Australia to become a Television Executive. Due to the unbearable type of people I was meeting I got out and set up my own graphics business and started to travel extensively back and forth to Europe in particular but also to Asia and America. I am well past 1 million airmails and with three trips to Europe a year from Brisbane, I can’t see that slowing down anytime soon. During the last year or so, I have decided to put my travel experiences, my love of food and wine, my back catalogue of photographs and my sense of humour to better use, and I’m now focussing on travel/food blogging…. and here I am, OST.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
Having spent the first half of my life in Europe and the second in Australia, I love going home. Australia is it’s own paradise but I find I need to get my fix of the ever changing face of architecture, art, cuisine, dialect and scenery that Europe offers. I’m a Europhile no doubt. Ultimately I love beauty, whether it be in scenery, in the joy of wonderful food and wine or simply the smell of wild thyme on a Greek hillside. Ultimately though, seeing the joy on my partner’s face when she experiences something incredible and that she never thought she would be part of, makes everything worthwhile. It’s these images that stay with me – of her, my, our happiness. It’s something I’ve noticed out there in ‘blogland’; the sheer lack of true happiness in the images. More a postcard than a love letter.

Why do you think travelling is important?
Travelling broadens the mind for sure, but I feel it’s truly about finding your home from home. Those places that just welcome you and make you feel as if you truly belong. I’m not after wild adventure, I’ve had enough of that in my life. I’m more interested in happiness, relaxation and the understanding of inner self. I find that the older you become, the more you appreciate that that’s being lost and the desire to just .. be.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?



That’s a tough one as I have about 200,000 to choose from, but I think this one from Folegandros. I just woke up from an afternoon nap and took it from bed. The light and composition and that it’s also fairly unusual, speaks to me quite a lot.

Which is your favourite – sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?
Sun – Greece. The ever-changing light, bright colours, the beautiful Aegean, the crisp whites and hospitality. Snow – The Swiss Alps. They just know how to do it and everything works perfectly under extreme conditions. You need ‘reliable’ when travelling through Winter. Sea – Italy. The whole coast of Italy is a delight, including some wonderfully islands, both secluded and popular. And again, that light, especially around the bay of Naples.

Who do you usually travel with?
I spent pretty much 15 years travelling on my own but now with my wife. She is an incredible traveller. Easy going, happy to do other things (shop) while I write or take my photos, or to just join in. She came late to European travel and has embraced my love for it with open arms, and it’s truly a sharing experience now. Each trip is usually one of my favourite places that I want us to share, one that she, Kati, wants to see, and one that’s new to both of us. It works.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Save as much money as you can on flights and hotels to be able to spend the money on luxuries elsewhere. The Airport transfer, for example, is something that I couldn’t afford when I was younger but is now crucial to a relaxing trip. Lugging baggage around, waiting for buses, taxi’s etc and not knowing where you’re going cause a lot of stress between travelling couples. For example, getting to Naples airport from Positano. Paying for the private transfer allowed us to experience the incredible coastal road, we got to stop off at Pompeii for two hours with our luggage safely in the car and then on to catch our flight. No stress and it meant that we didn’t have to go out and back to Pompeii and use up a whole day getting there and back. So airport transfers…… and earplugs on flights. Crucial. Even keep them in when watching movies. Eradicates white noise and fellow travellers and you arrive so much more refreshed, less tired, less stressed and less prone to jet lag.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
You’ll have to read that here.  It involved Ouzo and a boat load of Honeymooners.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Right now, Milos Island in the Cyclades. It’s our secret. It’s a wonderfully small and unspoilt little gem. Like the Greek Islands used to be before the ‘too big’ cruise ships and tourism ruined the more obvious islands. It’s like they have seen how the other islands have been spoiled and have laid the groundwork for a great trip as was. Empty beaches, old school Tavernas, wonderful seafood, great geology, amazing sunsets, friendly locals, pristine and about a quarter of the price of Mykonos/Santorini… It has everything, and it’s the reason that we fell in love with the Greek Islands all those years ago. It is truly a magical place that I thought had gone….and very much Old School Traveller.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
The next trip, always. Seville, Jerez and Cadiz have always been on the list and I finally get to cross them off, but we’re also going to Bologna, and as true foodie and cook, my grin will be the widest there. Italy after all, is my spiritual home and if Italy’s stomach doesn’t bring the widest smile to my face, nowhere will.

To see more from The Old School Traveller you can find them here

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Globetrotters- G’day Debbie 👋 

This weeks Globetrotter is a special one as it’s my lovely MumDebbie

My mum and dad are solely responsible for my sisters and my traveling genes. They took us on our first overseas trip when we were little and that started us all off on trying to see as much as the world as possible. They are always off seeing or doing something new. From walking the Kokoda track (REPEATEDLY!), hiking in Nepal, exploring India, cycling through Europe or just exploring new places within Australia they truly are #travelgoals. I mean any two people that can take 3 girls under 9 on a 30 hour flight must have some awesome travel resilliance. She’s also managed to wave her daughters off from most airports and whilst I know she misses us all dearly she wants us to go and explore and see the world. As a previous teacher she knows just how important the life lessons you get from travelling are.

You can find a lot of travel stories and pictures on both Debbie’s blog and Instagram and links are below. On the blog Debbie covers all topics so you will get travel as well as lifestyle, books to read and lots of fun stories about our family. She manages to get herself into rather hilarious travel mishaps which thankfully she blogs about.  Debbie was the main reason I started blogging. She has been blogging since 2011 and it was great to see her have her own creative space to share her stories, thoughts, photographs and travels. If she didn’t start her blog all those years ago then The Wandering Darlings wouldn’t be here! Thanks Mum x

So with out further ado everyone say G’day to my Mum – Debbie…


I made my travelling debut 25 years ago when we exchanged jobs, houses, cars and lives with an English teacher and his family and took our three young daughters to live on the other side of the world. We loved the Teacher Exchange program which saw us move from a small town in Australia to the village of Cheddar in Somerset UK for a year. I’ve been travelling the world ever since with my husband, my daughters and even on my own. I favour active holidays, think climbing mountains in Nepal, cycling through France, Belgium, Croatia and New Zealand, hiking in Papua New Guinea, skiing in the Italian Alps and visiting past Rotary Exchange students in Sweden, Denmark and Finland – just to name a few! I love adventures and always seem to be caught up in some excitement. I was made redundant at the end of 2016 and my husband retired in 2017 so we now have lots more time to make travel plans. I enjoy blogging, reading, writing, cycling, running, hiking and spending time with family, especially my three daughters who have also lived and travelled all over the world

What is your favourite type of trip/holiday?

Adventure/active trips with my husband. Think biking and barging from Paris to Bruges, cycling and sailing in Croatia, trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, walking the notorious Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, cycling the Otago Rail Trail in New Zealand’s South Island, Friendship Exchange with Rotarians in India. I love visiting family and friends overseas and always try to add in a little adventurous side trip.

Why do you enjoy travelling? 

Our family’s motto is borrowed from a Danish saying – To Travel is to Live. I enjoy seeing new places, interacting with people, experiencing new things, leaving a part of myself behind when I leave home to become a new person while travelling. Travel is freedom, it tests you and your relationships with others, it’s stressful, it’s fun, it’s hard, but it makes you feel so alive despite all the hurdles.

Our first experience of travelling was moving to England with our three small daughters on a yearlong Teacher Exchange back in 1992. It was a pivotal point in all our lives and has set us up with a love of travel and adventures.

Quotes to live by:

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.

It’s all the little moments that make life a very big adventure.

Tell us the funniest story from one of your adventures?

Where do I start?? My life is full of adventures and funny stories but one that I love telling is this.

Driving through Denmark with my daughters and saying “there’s a big castle around here somewhere, but I can’t see it”. Looking, looking, looking…they said is it that one right in front of us? I couldn’t see it for looking.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels? 

That’s hard! This my most favourite recent travel pic. The Moeraki Boulders in New Zealand


If you could go anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

My dream place to visit is the Greek Islands and I will get there one day! I’ve just heard Mykonos and Santorini are among the most expensive places to visit in the world.

What is the best piece of travel advice you could give?

Sorry I couldn’t leave it at just one so I’ve listed three!

1. Always dress and pack for where you’re going to not where you’ve come from.

2. Be organised but also be spontaneous and ready to take opportunities should they arise.

3. Don’t live the trip through your camera or phone, put them down from time to time and just soak in the sights with your whole being.

To find more from Debbie check out the links below

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Almost home time 

As my current adventure draws to a close I’m getting a little sad at the thought of reality drawing in and the routine of normal life.

Over the last three weeks my partner and I have been celebrating Christmas with family on the Gold Coast,  been surprised by best friends, gallavanted around the north island of New Zealand and now spending a few days in the heat in Brisbane before heading back to the cold and grey UK.

We’ve had some amazing experiences and I’m hoping the 24 hour flight will give me some good quiet time to get up to speed with my blog so I can share it all with you.

I’ve been updating Instagram with a few photos -rather small collection against the 1,800 or so I have still to go through #ithinkihaveanaddiction 📷 If you are on Instagram you can find me @thewanderingdarlings or on Facebook search for the The Wandering Darlings.

But reality  isn’t for another 4 days so as the sun is shining (its up soooo early in Brisbane!) I’m off to fill every last hour with fun, sun and excitement.
Keep an eye out over the next few weeks when I’ll be doing some mass uploading on our adventures down under.

Happy New Year

X

UK Heatwave*

* I use this term very loosely

As an Aussie kid I know a thing or too about summer – and I mean a proper summer not this one day (or week) of sun.

We swam in creeks,  weren’t allowed out at lunch unless we had a hat on, didn’t have air con managed to not only function like a normal human being but also NEVER mutted the words ‘it’s too hot’. 

Now imagine my surprise that after 10 years of living in the UK I have now become a climatised as what to expect for the great British summer, And that the one day it’s over 30 degrees I’m there with my pommy  friends struggling to cope. 

Today I’ve eaten 3 ice lollies, let my team finish early as it was too hot to keep them working, had the aircon in my car up full ball, taken a photo of the temperature gauge (obvs), checked on the weather for the rest of the week (like 100 times) to see if this will last longer than a week, faked smiled when 20 people said ‘your Australian you should be used to this’ and  then struggled to actually do anything constructive- Because. Of. The. Heat(!) 

Ugh.

Who am I ?!
England just isn’t equipped to cope with this sort of weather. There was actually news articles about how bosses shouldn’t let people work if it was over 30 degrees. But it is really is so lovely when it’s nice. The shackles of the grey doom and gloom melts away and everyone is in the parks at lunch and after work, everyone is out walking/cycling/sporting, tescos runs out of ice lollies as all the work places are buying them, fan sales sky rocket  and everyone just looks… Happy. 

So yes I’m dissapointed that my Aussie bred body is struggling like an English rose but you know what if our summer for this year is just going to be this one week of heatwave then I’m going to bloody enjoy it. As I’ll only be complaining about the rain and lack of sun before to long. 


  


Renewing my book of travel 

If there’s any Aussies out there who have had to renew your passport abroad you are going to understand this all to well.

Firstly when I moved here 9.5 years ago I wasn’t expecting that I would have to renew my passport here so low and behold when it came up for renewale this year I needed to find out the process rather swiftly.

Probably through naivety I thought it would be a case of filling in a form, having some hideous photos taken and the posting it off and it coming back a few months later.

Oh if only it was that simple.

Yes I had to fill in a form and have the hideous non smiling photos (I actually had two lots done as the first ones were so bad) but rather than posting the form I had to 1) organise an appointment at the high commission in London and 2) attend said appointment.

London for me is a good 2.5 hours away which in Aussue terms is nothing but in British terms this required a long weekend break to the capital. I even considered flying home for 2 weeks to get it renewed as it would have been cheaper.

After realising a quick trip home was a little excessive I booked my appointment to get it renewed.

Going to Australia House was like a little taste of home. Aussie flags everywhere and all the staff have our beautiful accents.

I got there and was told I was late for my appointment which was strange as I was actually 45 min early. Called the help desk and was told my appointment was supposed to be the month before. Which I wasnt according to the paperwork I had so there was no way I was leaving without getting this form in. I really didn’t want to have to go out and  tell my hubby that the trip to London was for nothing. So after chatting to the lady on the phone and explaining that something had happened and how far I had travelled she found some time to squeeze me in. She was a legend.

Once that minor issue was sorted I then barely had to wait and within 10 minuets was back out again. My current passport had be cut to cancel it, which felt like she was cutting off my legs.

Then within a week my new passport was here on my doorstep in all its glory and  FYI the new passport design is fabulous.
Now my next drama is getting my residence visa moved from my old passport to my new one but I’ll save that for another day.

X

Curing a bout of homesickness 

Having lived away from home (and when I mean home I mean the every inch of Australia) I have lots of different techniques to get me through the homesickness.

Last week this was my perfect cure- cocktails, good friends and maps of my great Island home.

Thank Skippy (God doesn’t really feel like the right person to thank) for  Walkabout Pubs 😂

Hidden gems 

  
On our road trip from Cairns to Brisbane we tried to stop off at interesting sport that caught our eye along the road. We saw a sign for Murray Falls and thought that sounded like something we should check out. After a long drive down a very bumpy dusty road in the camper we came across this beautiful sight. Well worth the stop and just goes to show sometimes you need to go ‘off map’ sometimes and see what you find 💙🚐🇦🇺