A few years ago, I wrote about my blissful two-day ‘digital detox’ aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train in the wilds of British Columbia. Disconnecting from phones and the internet gave me the rare chance to focus entirely on my surroundings. So, a week aboard Oceanwide Expeditions’ newest ship, ‘Hondius,’ in Northern Spitsbergen (also known as […]
Category Archives: Destination
Linda’s welcome at Phinda Private Game Reserve
I arrived at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve yesterday and was greeted by the most extraordinary welcome party imaginable! As our plane descended towards the airstrip, a lioness and her two teenage cubs stood at the very edge, almost as if they were waving us in. It was a surreal moment, seeing these magnificent creatures […]
Linda’s ‘Mega Lekker’ escape to South Africa
The first e-postcards have arrived from me as I embark on a two-week adventure exploring the wonders of South Africa! Our journey began as soon as we landed in Cape Town. Without missing a beat, we headed straight to Franschhoek, nestled in the heart of the Western Cape Winelands. Our home for the next few […]
Discover the Unexpected: A Christmas Week in Japan
Japan is really popular right now! My last visit was in April 2019 when I walked the Nakasendo Trail, so I was excited to spend a week there with my family before Christmas. We flew with Air New Zealand, and on our approach to Narita, we got great views of Mt Fuji. We then took […]
A 500m cruise on Ponant’s luxury icebreaker in Lyttelton Harbour
Living in Lyttelton, I see a lot of cruise ships arriving and departing each summer, but Ponant’s luxury icebreaker the ‘Commandant Charcot’ is unique, so when I was offered the opportunity to enjoy a overnight aboard in the harbour, I jumped at the chance. The Charcot had just voyaged from Antarctica and was turning around […]
Savouring San Sebastián: A Foodie’s Delight and Cultural Escape
After our whirlwind tour of Barcelona, we decided to slow things down a bit. We caught a short flight to San Sebastián and settled into an apartment in the old town for four nights. It was a welcome change of pace and a perfect opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture. San Sebastián is […]
Three Nights of Disney Magic: An Auckland Adventure at Sea
I recently embarked on a 3-night Disney Magic at Sea Cruise out of Auckland with my family. Instead of just sharing my perspective, I thought it would be fun to get some feedback from my daughters, Lily and Charlotte because, after all, it is Disney! Here’s what Lily, who is 12, had to say about […]
Island Adventures: Our Family Holiday in Samoa
With a quick 3-hour direct flight from Auckland and just a 1-hour time difference, Samoa turned out to be a fantastic holiday spot for our family, including our kids aged 8 and 10. We spent 12 days exploring Apia, Lalomanu Beach on Upolu’s northern coast, and a few days on the larger, quieter island of […]
Travel Journal | 50 Hours in Barcelona: A Whirlwind Journey
We really made the most of our time in Barcelona! By cramming as much as we could into each day, we soaked up the vibrant atmosphere and stunning sights the best way we knew how. Day 1: The afternoon started with a leisurely wander through the Gothic Quarter, a maze of narrow, winding streets filled […]
Travel Journal | From Urban Calm to Arctic Wilderness: A Journey from Oslo to Longyearbyen
Oslo often flies under the radar for travellers eager to explore Europe’s iconic cities, likely because it lacks well-known landmarks and is seen as quite pricey. So, I was pleasantly surprised by how impressive it is for a first-time visitor. The city boasts vast green spaces, including two massive sculpture parks, a hip urban seafront […]