Tourist to Traveller

Chefchaouen doesn’t just photograph beautifully... it feels different the moment you arrive. Tucked into the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco, this blue-washed city invites you to slow down, wander without a plan, and breathe a little deeper. But here’s what most travellers get wrong: they rush it. Chefchaouen is often squeezed into a tight Morocco itinerary as a quick day trip, leaving just enou...

Palau is one of those destinations that doesn’t just live up to the hype... it rewrites what you thought tropical travel could be. Remote, raw, and wildly beautiful, it’s a place where emerald islands rise out of electric-blue water, WWII history sits alongside ancient culture, and nature is protected. Palau is a small island nation in Micronesia that consistently ranks as one of the world’s top d...

Travelling the world with a chronic illness isn’t something you often see talked about online, especially when the illness doesn’t “look” obvious. From the outside, my travels might seem carefree and high-energy, but behind every trip is careful planning, flexibility, and a deep understanding of my body. In this episode, I’m sharing something I don’t often talk about publicly: my experience living...

Long-haul flights are a fact of life when you’re a frequent flyer. They’re the gateway to bucket-list adventures… but they can also be uncomfortable, exhausting, and wildly unpredictable. On a recent trip from Australia to the USA, a “quick” stopover in Dallas turned into a 24-hour airport survival situation when a once-in-a-century snowstorm hit Texas. Flights were cancelled, hotels were full, Ub...

Before I even landed in Spain, the Caminito del Rey was already locked into my bucket list. I’d seen the photos... narrow walkways hugging towering cliffs, the river below, and views that felt almost unreal. What I didn’t realise at the time was how misunderstood this hike actually is. Despite its dramatic reputation (and its past as one of the world’s most dangerous walks), the Caminito del Rey t...

There’s a moment that happens every time I arrive at an off-grid tiny house. My phone loses signal, the noise drops away, and finally I feel like I can breathe again.  Over the years, my yearly off-grid tiny house stay has become a ritual... not just a getaway, but a full reset. It’s the kind of travel experience that doesn’t just give you memories, but actually changes how you feel when you come...

Marrakech is one of those cities that pulls you in fast... the colour, sound, movement, magic. It’s exciting, intoxicating… and for many travellers, completely overwhelming.  The truth is, you can’t truly “do” Marrakech in a day. But if 24 hours is all you’ve got, you can experience something real... the rhythm of the medina, the calm behind carved wooden doors, and the quiet moments that live bet...

Have you ever caught yourself dreaming about taking a solo trip… only to immediately talk yourself out of it? Worries about safety, loneliness, or simply not knowing where to start can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already juggling work, life, and limited time off. I remember boarding the plane for my very first solo trip, heart racing, wondering if I’d made a huge mistake. But by the...

Efate Island was my first introduction to Vanuatu, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect it to leave such an impression. I thought it would be a stop centred around Port Vila, before moving on to other islands. What I found instead surprised me. Once you step beyond Port Vila, Efate opens up into freshwater swimming holes, quiet beaches, island day trips and cultural experiences.  In this episode, I...

Every traveller has that moment... standing at an airport carousel hoping your bag magically appears, realising your card’s been blocked overseas, or discovering the “must-see” attraction is completely sold out. I’ve been there. More than once. And while those moments usually become funny stories after the trip, they’re stressful, expensive, and exhausting in the moment... especially when you’ve u...

Standing on the rim of a live volcano, feeling the ground rumble beneath your feet, watching lava burst into the night sky... this was a special moment for me.  In this episode of Tourist to Traveller , I’m taking you to Tanna Island in Vanuatu, one of the most raw, powerful, and unforgettable places I’ve ever travelled. This is an island ruled by nature, not infrastructure, where life moves slowl...

Some of my most memorable travel moments didn’t come from five-star hotels or big-ticket tours. They came from wandering side streets, eating where locals eat, and realising I didn’t need to spend more to experience more. Travelling on a budget has a reputation for being restrictive... like you’re constantly saying no, missing out, or stressing over every dollar. But in reality, when it’s done wel...

Some birthdays don’t need balloons, speeches, or the pressure of hosting everyone you’ve ever met. Some birthdays need a little adventure. In this episode, I’m sharing why milestone birthday travel has become one of my favourite traditions... and why, for some celebrations, a passport makes far more sense than a party.  If the idea of hosting a big birthday fills you with dread, but the thought of...

On my recent trip to Palau in Micronesia, I wanted to go beyond the postcard views and curated tours. I was craving a hidden gem experience... something immersive and completely unforgettable. That’s how we ended up paddling through the Rock Islands on a two-day, one-night self-guided kayaking and camping adventure. In this episode, I’m taking you inside that experience, from hidden caves and WWII...

Jet lag used to be the part of travel I dreaded most. Not the packing. Not the long flights. The bone-deep exhaustion that hit on arrival... the kind that steals your first few days and makes everything feel foggy, flat, and harder than it should be. As an Aussie, long-haul travel is just part of the deal. Whether I’m landing in Athens, Casablanca or Barcelona, it’s usually after 20+ hours of flyi...

Southern Spain has a way of pulling you in. It’s not just the big-ticket sights... the Moorish palaces, the cliffside walks, the UNESCO-listed landmarks... it’s the in-between moments. Rooftop sunsets with €2 wine. Wandering historic villages with no real plan. Eating tapas while watching locals dancing in the streets.  In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how to experience Andalusia properly... w...

After more than 20 years of travelling, I’ve learned that travel isn’t just about where you go. It’s about how you show up while you’re there. I’ve experienced some truly magical moments on the road… and I’ve also been stuck next to some wildly uncomfortable travel behaviour. The kind that doesn’t ruin a trip entirely, but subtly drains the joy out of flights, airports, tours, and group adventures...

If you’ve seen the news lately, chances are you’ve seen headlines about escalating conflict in parts of the Middle East and Europe. And when those headlines start appearing, many travellers immediately ask the same question: Should I still travel? It’s a complicated space to navigate. Safety matters, of course. But the world is also far more nuanced than a breaking news alert or a dramatic headlin...

Some travel memories blur with time. Others stay so vivid you can almost taste them again. For me, so many of those lasting memories are tied to food... not just what was on the plate, but where I was sitting, who I was with, and that exact moment when I took a bite and knew it was special. In this episode, I’m sharing the most unforgettable meals I’ve eaten around the world. These aren’t fancy fi...

Have you ever scrolled through Instagram, saved a hundred dreamy travel posts… and then felt completely stuck on where to start? Like everyone else has some secret system for planning epic trips, and you somehow missed the memo. I’ve been there. And after more than 20 years of fitting bucket-list adventures around full-time work, and real-life responsibilities, I’ve learned that great travel doesn...

Tasmania is one of those destinations people think they understand, until they actually go. It’s often labelled as cold, quiet, or somewhere you just “do a quick lap.” But spend any real time there and you realise Tasmania is layered, wild, creative, and deeply rewarding for travellers who are willing to slow down. In this destination deep dive, I’m sharing how to experience Tasmania... from choos...

For every dreamy travel photo you see online, there’s usually a moment behind the scenes where something didn’t go to plan. A missed flight. Accommodation that looked nothing like the photos. Or that sinking feeling when you realise you’ve packed your itinerary so tightly there’s no room to actually enjoy the trip. After more than 20 years of travelling, often squeezing bucket-list adventures into...

Most travellers have never heard of Palau, and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.  Palau is one of the most unique destinations in the Pacific. With more than 300 islands and one of the world’s largest marine sanctuaries, Palau offers a very different experience to more commercialised tropical destinations. Tucked away in Micronesia, Palau is a country where visitor numbers are intention...

Travel is changing… and if you’ve felt that pull towards slower, more meaningful adventures, you’re not alone. The way we travel in 2026 looks very different to the whirlwind, checklist-style trips of the past. Travellers are craving depth over speed, intention over excess, and experiences that actually enhance their lives. In this episode of the Tourist to Traveller Podcast, I explore the 10 bigg...

I’m an independent traveller at heart. I love planning my own trips and moving at my own pace. But sometimes, a group tour is honestly the smartest option, especially when time, energy, or logistics are working against you. The problem is, not all group tours are created equal. If you’ve ever been stuck on a massive bus, rushed through highlights, or dragged from one tourist shop to another, you’l...