Travel Writers Radio

Where did Australians travel to last year? Helen Hayes speaks with the CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association, Dean Long to find out. Figures showed that 11.6 million international trips were taken by Australian residents last year…many of them to Japan. Helen digs into the data with Dean Long to see what we can learn. Image: Dean Long

Swimming with Australian sea lions, e-biking, hiking, kayaking, surfing, beach combing, staying in luxury villas and dining on fresh seafood ... Reporter Carolyne Jasinski found this amazing adventure at Baird Bay on the far west coast of South Australia. Carolyne speaks with the resident managers of the Baird Bay Experience and its Villa-stay, Kat and Brendon Bevan. Photo Carolyne Jasinski (using...

Team member Fiona Harper was invited on board Coral Geographer, an expedition ship that carries only about 120 passengers for its journeys from Darwin into some of the most remote locations in the east Indonesian archipelago. Fiona visited the Spice Islands and West Papua and apart from the pristine waters, coral and fish in the region, Fiona particularly enjoyed visiting villages along the way an...

About a week before Christmas 2024, a devastating earthquake shook the South Pacific country of Vanuatu, capital Port Vila hit the hardest with significant damage to several buildings, the seaport and airport. More than a dozen people died while hundreds more were injured in the natural disaster. While visiting the annual TRAVMEDIA International Media Marketplace (IMM) in Sydney, our correspondent...

Mardi Gras is fast approaching – March 4 is the date – and places like New Orleans in Louisiana are gearing up for the crowds that will flock to Bourbon Street in the French Quarter for its tradition of jazz, blues and a grand parade, but as Mike Smith discovers speaking with Doug Bourgeois of Explore Louisiana, there’s a lot more to experience in this southern state. Photo: French Quarter by Mike...

Reporter Carmen Jenner is fortunate to live where she does, because Western Australia has some of Australia’s most amazing natural attractions each with their own story, some historic, others simply unique adventure experiences. One of the most popular regions of WA is The Kimberley, particularly the town of Broome with its colourful history of pearling, landscapes of many hues and a vibrant mix o...

Thanks for joining us for Traver Writers Radio this week. We have some interesting stories from our team and we hope you enjoy them wherever and however you choose to listen. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. To get in contact please email: info@travelwritersradio.com We're proud to have been officially ranked among the Top 10 Travel Podcasts in the World.

Two of our team members have come up with a brilliant business idea based on their specific skills and experience. Fiona Harper and Carolyne Jasinski have participated in scores of media familiarization trips both here and overseas. They have also both worked for tourism bodies as hosts guiding other media and travel agents on visits to a range of destinations – so they know both sides of the coin...

We reckon we should kick off with the most mouth-watering story first. An Ice Cream Festival with 144 flavours across three locations – Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula running right through the week, including this coming weekend. And did they really come up with white chocolate, curry and coconut in a cone? Yes they did come up with that flavour plus a few other wild ones....

Blake Riddington, Regional Director of TravMedia Australia and New Zealand, chats with Helen Hayes to give the lowdown on last week's successful IMM - the International Media Marketplace - in Sydney. This homegrown event is going gangbusters. Photo: Blake Riddington (supplied)

Thanks for listening to Travel Writers Radio - here's your latest delivery of independent authentic travel journalism from the professional team of writers and broadcasters. Our mantra: No AI and No BS. We'd love to have your comments - email us: info@travelwritersradio.com

Helen Hayes pays a visit to Boise, Idaho, the capital of Idaho and one of the fastest growing cities in the US. It is known as the 'City of Trees' and has an interesting Basque history.

We have all heard the saying that food is medicine. Well we have an example here in Adelaide where Food writer and chef Dianne Mattsson prepares special meals for those whose health situations require very special dietary approaches. And it is timely with AFL figure Neale Daniher being named Australian of the Year for raising $100 million to research motor neuron disease (MND) , not for himself bu...

In association with its annual industry event staged in Melbourne at this time each year, Melbourne Convention Bureau published a report this year on the impact of business events on the city over the past decade. Graeme Kemlo, who has been covering the business events sector of the tourism industry for the past 20 years or so, attends AIME each year. Hear he spells out the key elements of the rep...

Helen Hayes chats with Lisa Pagotto of Crooked Compass, whose latest offering is a traditional lodge experience in a village in Papua New Guinea.

Here's a story of a privately owned island off the coast of South Australia which is being converted from a sheep farm to a safe haven for vulnerable native fauna species. Carolyne Jasinski talks to Jonas Woolford about the history of Flinders island, the family's abalone business and the massive conservation project they are undertaking. Photo: Carolyne Jasinski

On a famil to Japan, Carmen Jenner dived into the tradition of bathing in an onsen and wondered how many other professions promote getting naked with your colleagues. Her interview also revealed how listeners can win free and direct flights with ANA to Japan by following this link: https://www.linkdtourism.com/jnto-ana-flight-competition/. Carmen also shared her experience of visiting the Ehime an...

Carolyne Jasinski, who is a frequent cruiser and often a guest lecturer on cruise ships, gives Part 2 of her tips and traps for cruise newbies. Speaking with Graeme Kemlo, she covers onboard sales, getting the right insurance cover and where to find discount cruises due to relocation of vessels. She provided these links: Each cruise line will list their own deals or you can check sites like cruise...

Graeme Kemlo and Carolyne Jasinski reminisce about Adelaide's famous Pie Floater - an Aussie meat pie served in mushy pea soup with tomato sauce (ketchup) that used to be popular after night clubbing. But where is the famous dispensary - the pie cart - and what has happened to the local "delicacy" now? Carolyne promises to track it down and share this unique culinary experience.

After many, many cruises, Carolyne Jasinski has accumulated a host of tips and tricks to make exploring the seven seas easier ... and cheaper. Tune in for the details. Photo: Don't get taken for a ride on your cruise

Graeme Kemlo and Karin Avila were separately in Vietnam recently but both found common ground ... the local coffee scene. We discover Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world producing a staggering 1.8 million tonnes of coffee annually. And Vietnamese coffee isn’t just about a strong brew. Have you heard of ‘egg,’ ‘weasel’, or ‘salt’ coffee? Photo Egg Coffee by Karin Avila

In the lead-up to Australasia’s largest gathering of people in the business events industry – AIME - we discover how helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests of Tropical North Queensland can win business from local and international clients. Graeme Kemlo, who will be at AIME, speaks to Tara Bennett from the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region convention bureau. Tara’s been out pl...

Kristin Henning's recent trip to Sweden took an unexpected and emotional turn. She found some public records about her late grandfather and, in following these clues, she ended up at the house he grew up in. It has opened her eyes, and heart, to new reasons to travel ... following in the footsteps of your ancestors. Photo: Henning ancestral home. Kristin and Tom are returning to Scandinavia in Sep...

There’s no business like snow business for Helen Hayes who is in Idaho learning about a small community-owned, not-for-profit ski resort called Bogus Basin. Helen speaks with Susan Saad from the resort which is just 45 minutes from the capital, Boise. Photo: Helen Hayes

Chinese New Year is being celebrated all around the world. Mike Smith tells us that 2025 - the Year of the Snake - will be an exciting fruitful year, especially for those born under that sign. They are determined, wise and particularly fiery. Photo: Mike Smith: New Year Celebrations in Macau