Time is marching by. So much has ramped up this month. How are you navigating through these chaotic times? What lies in front of us is always unknown but it seems to be particularly dark in the world at the moment. Paths lead to who knows where but we always find our way. Autumn began … More Settled in March
‘When the rhythm of life changes, dance to the new beat.’ 💓 How’s everyone settling into this new year? Do you ever feel a sense that you’re moving in tune with something bigger than you? For me, increased rhythm has been a bit of a theme this month. The importance of movement Movement … it’s … More Flowing in February
“The real journey is an inward one, exploring the depths of your own consciousness.” Melanie Spears What an apt quote from my Gratitude Journal. Does anyone else feel the same urge to go within … amid the intense energies of this new year. For me personally, it’s been a hectic start, simultaneously calm and chaotic, … More 2026: The Real Journey
This time of the year is often a whirlwind. However I stay away from the commercialism of the season, finding quiet reflection as the year draws to an end. At the moment, I feel an unusual calm, as though I’m right where I need to be. Even though around me is disarray and disorder. It’s … More Celebrating, Contemplating and Looking Ahead
How do you summarise a life of 88 full years … into 25 words or less. It’s impossible. But I’ll try for 525. With some photos thrown in. 2025 has been a year of letting go, of unexpected goodbyes and farewells. A car, a van, a beloved family pet and now the saddest, my mother-in-law. … More In Memory of Margaret
Charters Towers is considered to be where the outback and the tropics meet. It sits at the crossroads of the Flinders Highway and the Gregory Development Road, about 90 minutes south west of Townsville. It’s also where the journey ends for our DMax. Where in the World? Charters Towers has a golden legacy. Once hailed … More The DMax stops in Charters Towers
Maybe you’ve heard the stories about outback Queensland and Australia in general … “Countless gorges, the harshest corrugations on the planet and scenery that’s nothing short of magic.” It’s all true. From Forsayth it’s a rough 45kms trip to Cobbold Gorge. And I mean rough … we felt every bump. It’s nearing the end of … More Just Two Gorges
After Normanton we head to Croydon and it’s there, stopped in the tiny caravan park, a police officer comes knocking on our car window. What the hell have we done? Seems an impassioned political campaign candidate travelling through these parts has seen Doug do a slightly illegal turn on a wide Croydon side street. No … More Croydon to Cobbold, Cops n Dobbers
Much like Burke & Wills, our goal was to reach the ocean at the Gulf of Carpentaria. However, I think we’re doing it a tad easier. We reach Karumba with sunset drinks and sixtieth celebrations, backtrack and love Lawn Hill, now we’re bound for Burketown. We’re on the Savannah Way, a remote 3,700km route that … More From Burketown to Normanton via The Savannah Way – Breaking the Rule of Threes
We’ve been travelling through Outback Queensland since July and I’m continually amazed. Alongside the big kilometres, long and dusty roads and dry outback are also surprisingly lush landscapes. After Karumba we travelled back to Normanton, to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse and then inland towards Lawn Hill. But first … Gregory – the Gateway to … More Outback QLD: Lawn Hill Reopens
“Embracing the gift of life, unwrapping it with joy and gratitude.” Time is whizzing past. Can you feel it? The days, weeks and months flying by … a tapestry of joy filled, ordinary and extraordinary days. Through it all I’m journaling in my Gratitude Diary, as I’ve done for the past twelve years. As well … More Aya Karumba, I’m 60!
Outback Queensland. It’s big, bold, hot and addictive. With red dust swirling in the rear vision mirror, music cranked up and maps in hand every leg of the journey is an adventure. From Alpha to Cloncurry (and beyond) and with dinosaur trails, quirky pubs, artesian baths under outback skies and swimming beneath towering cliffs, she’s … More Outback Queensland: Eight free/low cost campgrounds
“Hasten slowly in this wild place. Let the feeling of peace and tranquility enter the spirit. Breathe deeply and enjoy the scents of the bush.” Photographer, Duncan McDermant, 1978. That’s what a sign reads deep within the National Park. Breath in, breath out … deeply The walk within Carnarvon Gorge is one of the most … More Carnarvon – Is this the best walk in Queensland?
Have you heard of Brewarrina? Bre-where, you might ask. This tiny outback town isn’t high on the tourist radar but, when the Editor of Caravan World Magazine asked me to write a story on it a few months ago, I was intrigued. Something fishy was up. Where is Brewarrina? Brewarrina is a town in the … More Brewarrina – A Fishy Tale: My latest article in print
“A chandelier of stars, 3500 secrets, the iconic bilby and a history so rich it will blow your mind”. That’s how they describe Charleville, the hub of South West Queensland. We’ve arrived from Cunnamulla, home of “the Cunnamulla fella” and a stay at Charlotte Plains outback station. “Pure Bliss“ At Charlotte Plains you can soak … More Captivated by Charleville
It’s not often you find sculptures inside a National Park … plus sandstone caves, pottery and German food, however, that’s exactly what’s within the Pilliga Scrub in western NSW. This little jaunt was in June, on the way back from Lightning Ridge, coming home via Narrabri and Coonabarabran. A great combination of walking, exploring and … More Sculptures in the Scrub: Walk, Explore and Eat in the Pilliga
It’s quirky, unexpected and rather eccentric. As you come into town Stanley the giant steel emu greets you, he’s 18 metres tall and made from old VW beetles and satellite dishes atop steel girders. He’s the creation of artist John Murray and possibly one of the most photographed icons of the outback. “Welcome to Lightning … More Ridgy Didge – Lightning Ridge
“The road is there, it will always be there. You just have to decide when to take it.” – Chris Humphrey. June to August is the perfect time to visit the Red Centre, with warm sunny days and big starry winter nights around a cosy campfire. Coming up over the next few months is a … More Heading North – “Ready for the Red”
I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts lately … Cranky? SAD perhaps. It stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, so they say. It can happen when weather patterns turn. Here in Macedon, Victoria, it’s been days since we’ve seen the sun and it feels like weeks. It’s been unrelenting rain, cold and grey. This is … More Naturally Cranky
Did you know that NSW is Australia’s most populated state? However drive beyond Sydney, in a northwesterly direction, and you’ll hit some pretty big sky country. There’s loads of quiet places to park up … under starry skies, near hot artesian thermal pools, by a river or behind a quirky outback pub. On our recent … More Twelve Free & Low cost camps in Northwest NSW
Dubbo … it’s more than just a half way stop! Our last house and pet sitting gig in February this year, looking after two labradoodles by the name of Kiki and Molly, resulted in us getting to know Dubbo pretty well. It was also the first trip in Olly, our new All Terrain caravan and … More Doin’ Dubbo
Over Easter I read parts of Wayne Dyer’s book “Wisdom of the Ages. A Modern Master brings Eternal Truths into Everyday Life.” I’ve had it on my kindle for ages, and it seemed a good time to dive into it. Inside there’s 60 teachings from 60 ancestral masters like Pascal and Pythagoras, Buddha, Lao-tzu, Confucius, … More How to find Awe amid Chaos.
“You can’t control the river, but you can sure float along with style.” The last time we were in Cohuna I swung from a Tarzan swing and fell into the Gunbower Creek, fully clothed. I’m not sure how stylish it was lol. It produced lots of laughs from Doug and the kids, our and friends … More Rediscovering Cohuna
Another goodbye but this one’s not so sad. We brought her home in October 2019 and the adventures began soon after. Our first trip was on the Murray. A month later we ventured outback to Mungo National Park and the Pink Lakes. It was my sister’s birthday and her wish was to go camping with … More The Chronicles of a Journey
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”Winnie The Pooh Long time readers of my blog will know Harry, but for anyone who doesn’t, let me introduce him. Harry came into our life nearly two decades ago, this scruffy, loveable staffy cross rescue pooch, with his kind nature, who stole our … More A final hug from Harry
Today I celebrate ten years on WordPress, WOW, where has that time gone? ✍️ A whole decade of writing and sharing, about travel, life and love, fun times and hard times, forging connections and friendships, both virtual and real. I feel incredibly blessed. Whilst my blog was fundamentally created to share our travel adventures, in … More A Decade of WP
“When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” —Buddha Mother Nature keeps throwing us surprises with continual wild weather across the country. Cyclones, bushfires, storms, heatwaves and record rains. Summer in Australia is rarely dull. In Far North Queensland towns like Ingham, Tully, Cardwell Townsville … More Whatever the Weather – Wild, Wet Queensland
It’s a vast, “sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains”, a home for unique wildlife and exhilarating stretches of sand and sea. It has a big heart and even bigger road tripping opportunities. And yes, maybe, it’s a bit weird too. In honour of Australia Day this first post for 2025 is focused on our … More Weird, Wonderful Australia
“The only constant in life is change”. It’s unpredictable. Exhilarating. Sometimes scary. But always moving and progressing. And it’s particularly true when travelling and the unknown lies around every corner. We’ve woken to so many varied views and experiences this year and since we left our last house sit in Cooktown in mid November. We’ve … More The ever changing view
Never doubt we can make a difference. I was ecstatic to learn recently that the proposed Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Battery Project, planned for the hinterland area west of Mackay in North Queensland, has officially been cancelled. For those who are unaware, the hydro dam, had it gone ahead would have seen the destruction of many … More The Power of Collective Vision
Have you ever wondered what’s it like to share a house with green tree frogs? As our time in this spectacular pole house slowly comes to an end, the healing work continues and our amphibious co-residents are making their presence felt, more than ever. … More Beyond the Frogs and the Five Senses
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” I’m on the path to recovery after a recent fall which resulted in a fracture in my left ankle. You can read what happened here. Recovery can be a slow process. However, along the way, in this relaxing, idyllic home in Far North Queensland I’m discovering some simple … More Healing Starts from Within
“Wander, wonder, and listen, for Mother Nature is teaching.” Sometimes she has the answers when you don’t even know the questions. I’ve been learning a lot lately. When we let Nature be our teacher, when we listen and learn how to be still, magic happens. And when that peaceful magic happens, a sea of Qi … More Connected in Cooktown
We were planning to go west, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. Sometimes the Universe has other ideas and you just have to follow the signs. And so we have. After our time in Atherton we’ve ended up back in Cooktown, almost at the top of Australia. But first, here … More Cooktown Bound (again)
We’re back in North Queensland, and over the last fortnight we’ve revisited some of our favourite places. And found new ones. No two trips are ever the same and there’s always, always more to discover. New perspectives, people and places, not to mention unexpected encounters with creatures great and small. Turtles at Rollingstone – Bushy … More Five Top Spots in North Queensland
Sometimes I feel like I’ve stumbled upon the best kept travel secret in the world. Every time we leave a house sit it leaves a unique mark, another imprint on our heart. It’s amazing how quickly we can fall in love with new pets and places. It was the same in Mackay, where we’ve just … More Two weeks with Spencer in Mackay – Why we love house sitting
A tongue twirling twist on an old ditty and a great place to meditate. Who says you need to sit in the lotus position at the same time every day. Maybe there are other ways to achieve a calm state of mind. Could it be that anything that places us completely in the present moment, … More She Sells Seashells at Seaforth
It’s been over a month since we returned from Vietnam. Half way through the year, as the days, weeks and months flow into each other. After flying back to Queensland, catching up with our daughter and picking up our car and caravan we’ve settled back happily into nomadic life. There’s been a few issues but … More Highlights of Central Queensland
Vietnam is a real eye opener, especially for those of us who take for granted the orderly ways of the world. Life on the streets is pure madness and wildly colourful and makes traffic in Australia look like a proverbial walk in the park. In Ho Chi Minh City, in District 3, trying to cross … More Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Traffic: Three months in Vietnam
“Imagine if you found a place so beautiful it wouldn’t matter if you couldn’t leave your room for a day or two” Be careful what you wish for. Because that’s exactly what happened to us on the last leg of our Vietnamese trip. After Phong Nha we bused it to Hue, enjoyed a one night … More Our Last Stop: Phu Quoc: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Phong Nha in Vietnam is known as the adventure capital of Asia, with epic cave systems that stretch for hundreds of kilometres, including the world’s biggest cave Hang Son Doong. You can go caving, zip line through jungle, adventure deep underground and access the deepest parts of the National Park. UNESCO World Heritage-listed since 2003, … More Phong Nha Paradise
The bus transfer back to Hanoi from Sapa is smoother than the night train. I’m still not feeling well but manage a small doze on the bus and we make it back to Hanoi in under six hours. The next morning we’re up early, and I think Doug may kill me! He’s caught my cold, … More Cruising to Ninh Binh
It’s 10 o’clock at night and we’re hurtling along the tracks on Train Street, and through Hanoi city. This time we’re on the inside of a Vietnam Sleeper Train, northward bound to the hills of Sapa. ETA 6am the next day. Fast forward eight hours and it’s been a noisy night of relentless rocking, bouncing, … More Slowing Down in Sapa
It’s not the best start. Our flight is delayed due to fog in Hue and when we arrive in Hanoi at midday, we can’t check in, even though our room is ready. Tired from the heat and early start we find two outdoor stools at a nearby cafe intersection, order some banh Mi, two cold … More Hidden Hanoi
It’s the former ancient capital of Vietnam. A place where dynasties were forged and imperial palaces built on the banks of the Perfume (Song Huong) River. And it’s so much more. People come here to visit the UNESCO listed Hue Citadel but, as we discovered, there’s much more to Hue than just tombs and temples. … More Highlights of Hue
Danang is considered the greenest and cleanest city in Vietnam. It combines mountains and coast, lots of parkland, well paved streets and the traffic seems less congested and the air cleaner than in other Vietnamese cities. The Han River divides the beach from the city center, offering a natural boundary that’s bordered by bars, parks, … More Clean and Green Danang
“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” — Gilbert K. Chesterto We are travelling through Vietnam the same way we travel through Australia, slowly, mindfully and with awareness and appreciation for every day. Okay, it’s not quite the same. We don’t have our own wheels and van … More Slow Travel in Hoi An
Dear Universe, Nearly three weeks ago we flew out of Australia and into another world of captivating sights, sounds, smells and colours. The reality was more intense than I anticipated. “Hello, Xin chào and Good Morning Vietnam.” Welcome to Vietnam, a colourful country with a sombre, political past, yet one that embraces its future with … More A Love Letter from Vietnam
With Australia Day being celebrated this week I thought I’d look back to some of our favourite spots around the country. In this vast, expansive land you’ll find pristine beaches and jewelled sea, breathtaking gorges and a serene, big skied outback with big hearted hospitality. Dorothea Mackellar was right, it is indeed “a land of … More Australian Favourites
“There is a period in life when we go backwards as we advance.” ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Most people would argue that there’s no point in going backwards. After all, isn’t January traditionally a time when we look ahead, make resolutions or choose a word or theme that encapsulates what we want to achieve or focus … More Expansive in 2024
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