• The “other” America

    The “other” America

    These days travel to the USA is commonplace and travel to South America is by no means rare.  But between these two ‘Americas’ lies a third, extraordinary Central America. South of the US border, you will find magnificent Mexico. Once home to rich pre-Columbian cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs and Aztecs, the ruins of…

  • Where will 2018 take you?

    Where will 2018 take you?

    There’s nothing like looking forward to a holiday.  The thought of arriving into a new country you’ve never been to before, with that heady mix of excitement and nerves.  In fact, the enjoyment of a holiday can begin even before that, as you deliberate over where to go. Will you witness the Great Migration of…

  • The Colours of India

    The Colours of India

    From sleek modernity of New Delhi and the glorious palace hotels of Rajasthan to the ethereal glow of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, the vibrant colour, scent and sounds of India never fail to impress. I have never travelled anywhere else with such an intensity of colour as is found in India.  Our fondness for…

  • The Nature of British Columbia

    The Nature of British Columbia

    When I dream of Canada, its images of vast forests, soaring mountains, and grizzlies snapping at salmon that appear.  All that (and more) are what British Columbia, Canada’s western most province, is all about. British Columbia does nature in spades – a wild place where nature, not man, creates the boundaries, and its people, history,…

  • Arctic vs Antarctica
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    Arctic vs Antarctica

    The Arctic and Antarctic both conjure up images of cold, icy, and far-flung lands but what’s the difference? How can you tell the two poles apart? Where are the penguins? What about the bears? 10 important differences to help you choose the pole for you! 1. The Arctic is sea surrounded by land (Greenland, and northern…

  • Ever seen a Rhino fly?

    Ever seen a Rhino fly?

    Blog courtesy of Claire Trickett, andBeyond. Have you ever seen a rhinoceros fly? We have (more on that later), and it is miraculous and mind-blowing, yet humbling and heart-breaking. The harsh reality is that one rhino is killed every eight hours in South Africa and if illegal poaching continues at such an alarming, exponential rate,…

  • Antarctica

    Antarctica

    Antarctica; it’s somewhere I’d dreamed of visiting since reading about the exploits of Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen. And frankly, who doesn’t want to see penguins, I’ve seen Happy Feet! I also love whales, so expectations were high. Believe me when I say that the One Ocean Expeditions cruise I experienced earlier this year blew me…

  • The Great Migration is on!

    The Great Migration is on!

    Millions of wildebeest can now be seen flooding the plains in East Africa as these great animals move in search of greener pastures. The Great Migration is a nine-month cycle of movement where wildebeest accompanied by zebras, gazelles and impalas are on the move, crossing rivers with hungry crocodiles lurking in the waters. It is…

  • Addicted to Caprese

    Addicted to Caprese

    No Man is an Island, so travel with friends. I have travelled to Italy many times; often for work, generally alone, usually frenetic, always wonderful. This time I booked a converted farmhouse about 10 minutes from San Gimignano with half a dozen girlfriends, all who have known each other over 20 years. Flying with Qatar…

  • It’s all about the Journey

    It’s all about the Journey

    If group travel conjures up images of hordes of tourists following a guide with a megaphone, think again! Small group travel today can be the ultimate way to travel to some of the world’s most exciting, challenging and exotic countries. I am in the enviable position of hosting small groups of Kiwi travellers each year…

  • Spectacular Sabi Sabi

    Spectacular Sabi Sabi

    There are never-ending surprises in the African bush. You never know what you are going to see, hear, smell, and that is the thrill of it! I have travelled to Africa many times, yet each dawn of a new day, each sighting of a new animal, and each setting of the glorious African sun is awe-inspiring.…

  • All About Judith

    All About Judith

    I was always destined for a life of travel, from the day I was born! Born in Bandung, West Java, I soon became accustomed to being the odd one out – the only white, freckled kid in a class of 52 Indonesians! I lived between Bandung and London until I was 14.  In London I…