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My Royal Melbourne Seniors Classic Adventure: A day on the greens (and in the bunkers!)

<p dir="ltr">G'day to all past, present, and emerging golf enthusiasts!</p> <p dir="ltr">If you're a senior golfer like me, hunting for inspiration, adventure, and authentic golf yarns — this is for you.</p> <p dir="ltr">Picture this: a crisp August morning, and sixty-two senior golfers gathered on Royal Melbourne's West Course for the Vic Seniors Classic 2023. Here's the story of how it all went down...</p> <p dir="ltr">Before anything else, I mustered the guts to jump in. Ever heard of "imposter syndrome"? Trust me, I was its best mate. But the requirements were clear: age 55+ (I'm a proud 65-year-old), GA Handicap under 24.5 (18.5), and a $225 entry fee. Wait, $225? Given that Royal Melbourne's green fees dance around $1000, caddy fee included, it was a no-brainer.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fueled by the temptation of playing a top-notch course for a quarter of the fee, I submitted my application without hesitation. Before I knew it, my name adorned the list of players.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the day approached, I was geared up to tackle the Royal Melbourne challenge.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 8 am shotgun start meant groups teed off from various holes. I found myself at the 11th tee, flanked by two fierce competitors: Peter (Daily Handicap 1) and Damian (12). Yours truly? A modest 20.</p> <p dir="ltr">Standing over the ball, knees a tad wobbly, I swung that driver. The ball sailed gracefully, landing centre fairway, while their shots had taken a wilder route into the rough. The lesson? 'How near,' not 'how far'.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, let's talk about those Royal Melbourne greens. Rumour had it, they were "super fast". Super fast? Imagine sliding a ball across your kitchen's polished tiles — yep, that rapid.</p> <p dir="ltr">Around the course, bunkers became my stern mentors — big, deep, and oh-so unforgiving.</p> <p dir="ltr">Post 18 holes, scorecards were in, followed by the triumphant crowning of winners over lunch.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rodney Ware (75 gross) and Kevin Naismith (81 gross) led in men's gross, while Wayne Moon (72 net) and Craig Lonsdale (73 net) dominated the net division. Melinda Crawford (16, scratch stableford) and Louise Yuen (29 handicap points) shone in the women's.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kudos to winners, fellow players, Royal Melbourne and Golf Australia for the unforgettable day.</p> <p dir="ltr">By the way, can you see yourself on those hallowed Royal Melbourne greens? If your inner golfer nods, I'm your cheerleader. Consider joining me for the 2024 Royal Melbourne Seniors Classic.</p> <p dir="ltr">And as I wrap up, let me leave you with the timeless words of the legendary Peter Thomson: "Golf is a game of how near, not how far".</p> <p dir="ltr">Until next time, keep those swings buttery, putts steadfast, and steer clear of those tricky bunkers.</p> <p dir="ltr">PS: My result? T43rd (net) among the 48 male players. Next time I'll be swinging even better.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><em>About the Writer: Mike Searles is a Melbourne retiree who's living the golfing dream.</em></strong></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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“Unfortunate timing” for Play School’s underwater adventure

<p dir="ltr">Aussie children’s show <em>Play School </em>has prompted debate online after airing an episode focussed on the underwater adventure of two characters. </p> <p dir="ltr">The episode, while harmless enough on its own, caused eyebrows to raise over its timing - with ABC airing the content in the wake of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/surprising-cause-of-death-revealed-for-missing-titan-sub-crew">the Titanic-bound Titan submersible’s implosion</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The segment in question, titled ‘Sea and Space: 2’, saw characters Jemima and Kiya dive deep to the ocean’s “cold and dark” midnight zone at the hands of hosts Kaeng and Rachel.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rachel was delighted to inform audiences that the dolls were “going to the bottom of the sea”, with a close-up shot showcasing the dolls’ descent in their submarine-like prop vessel. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They’ve made it all the way to the bottom of the sea floor,” Rachel went on to share, before revealing that it was “very dark” down there, and wondering whether or not the explorers would get to see any creatures. </p> <p dir="ltr">After taking a look around, Rachel sang about how “two explorers went to sea sea sea to see what they could see see see see, but all that they could see see see was …”</p> <p dir="ltr">Rachel’s fellow host, Kaeng, got involved then to show off a torch fish, and the dolls had the opportunity to check out a whole host of deep-sea creatures along with another few verses of the song.</p> <p dir="ltr">But that wasn’t the end of it, with some concerned viewers taking issue with the timing of the episode, and taking to social media to share their thoughts with like-minded users. </p> <p dir="ltr">One Reddit user shared a clip from the episode, noting that it was “bad timing for the scheduling this morning.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another shared a screenshot from the same segment, writing that the show was “trolling with an episode this morning about submarines”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“OMG I saw this and thought the same,” one shared. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Disgusting!” someone else declared. </p> <p dir="ltr">“<em>Play School </em>just rubbing it in! How vicious,” another said. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, others were not so quick to condemn the network, instead suggesting that the episode - and <em>Play School</em>’s schedule - had been planned out months beforehand, and the timing was not intentional, just unfortunate. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not sure this was a fresh episode probably just an unaware scheduled repeat,” one wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Unfortunate timing for this morning's Play School broadcast," someone thought. </p> <p dir="ltr">And as another put it, “you do realise how far in advance these are filmed and scheduled, right?”</p> <p dir="ltr">And while social media had had plenty to offer, a spokesperson for ABC confirmed to news.com.au that they’d so far received no complaints over the episode. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Play School / ABC</em></p>

TV

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5 films that prove ageing is just another adventure

<p>Not all cinemagoers want to see non-stop violence, fast cars, guns and explosions. It seems that older Australians are hitting the flicks more than ever, and their tastes are influencing the sorts of films that are being released.</p> <p>Not only that, more older actors are starring in these films, with some great character parts on offer.  These five films were not only hits at the box office, they also make the most of some of the older actors that we know and love.</p> <p><strong>1. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)</strong></p> <p><em>“Everything will be all right in the end. So if it is not all right, it is not yet the end.”</em></p> <p>Starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy</p> <p>This is a lovely rom com, with a group of pensioners who move from England to a retirement home in India run by Dev Patel (the lead from this year’s Lion). It was one of the highest grossing films in Australia in the year of its release. The film explores the possibility of reinventing yourself when taken out of your comfort zone.</p> <p><strong>2. Quartet (2012)</strong></p> <p><em>“Four friends looking for a little harmony.”</em></p> <p>Starring Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly</p> <p>Based on the West-End play of the same name,<em> Quartet</em> is directed by Dustin Hoffman and is set in (another) retirement home for professional musicians. The annual concert hits a snag when a diva from one of the resident’s past appears on the scene. Empire Magazine hit the nail on the head when they said that the film is one<em> ‘that will keep Downton fans happy.’</em></p> <p class="photo-deck"><strong>3. The Intern (2015)</strong></p> <p class="photo-deck"><em>"Experience never gets old."</em></p> <p class="photo-deck">Starring Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway and Rene Russo</p> <p>When widower Ben finds himself unhappily retired at 70, he decides to head back to work. Trouble is, the workplace has changed since he was a CEO and Ben finds himself trying to understand the world of online fashion while working for a young woman.</p> <p><strong>4. Last Vegas (2013)</strong></p> <p><em>“One legendary weekend.</em>”</p> <p>Starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman</p> <p>This film could be described as being like <em>The Hangover</em> with a seniors’ card. When four best friends hit Vegas for a bachelor party, they find that they might not be able to hit it like they used to. But that doesn’t stop them giving it a red-hot go.</p> <p><strong>5. Stand Up Guys (2012)</strong></p> <p><em>“They don't make 'em like they used to.”</em></p> <p>Starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin</p> <p>This is a fun comedy film with a bit of crime thrown in. With a group of Hollywood gold as the leads, this film sees some past-their-prime con men trying to get the gang back together for one last job. Other actors in these roles may have seen this film slop, but these A-listers make it work.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Movies

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Dame Joanna Lumley opens up on stress, adventure and ageing gracefully

<p>After a stellar career that has seen her become an award winner, a dame, a comedy legend, and a household name, Joanna Lumley knows a thing or two about balancing priorities. </p> <p>In a candid interview with <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a43008716/dame-joanna-lumley-april-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Good Housekeeping</em></a>, the 76-year-old opened up about the stress she handles in her everyday life and the importance of realising you can slow down. </p> <p>After speaking honestly about experiencing a stress-induced breakdown in her 20s due to burnout, she says she approaches life very differently these days. </p> <p>"I will never, ever misread anything so badly again in my life," she says. </p> <p>"Now, if I’m tired, I will make sure to put my head down and go to sleep. If there’s something completely awful happening, I deal with it head-on or I let it go. I don’t do stress any more; I won’t let myself go there."</p> <p>Despite learning how to slow down when it comes to work, there's nothing Joanna loves more than adventure, with her work recently taking her to the Banda Islands, Zanzibar and Madagascar for a new series exploring the centuries-old spice trade.</p> <p>"You can have an adventure at any age," she says. </p> <p>"I’m not saying everyone should go and do a 14-day trek up some very steep mountains. But, if you’re like me and you’re scared of something, be brave. Chances are, you’ll come back and say: 'Well, wasn’t that something?"'</p> <p>When not travelling to explore every corner of the globe, Joanna finds solace in her latest creative venture: a podcast, called Joanna &amp; The Maestro, which she hosts with her conductor husband, Stephen Barlow.</p> <p>The couple chat about their shared love of classical music, which Joanna revealed was born out of one of the pair's evening rituals. </p> <p>"Every night, I have a bath and listen to Classic FM while Stevie is in the bedroom reading. During my bath, I’ll shout out questions about the music, such as: 'How old was Tchaikovsky when he wrote this?'" she says.</p> <p>"Without fail, Stevie, who’s a musical genius, patiently puts his book down and answers me. So the podcast is me in conversation with him, asking all the silly questions that somebody like me has."</p> <p>The pair first met when Joanna was 31 and they've been married for more than 35 years, but Joanna explained that marriage wasn't always on the cards.</p> <p>"The truth is, if I wasn’t married to Stevie, I wouldn’t be married," she says. </p> <p>"I’ve always loved men, but I never thought: 'Oh, I want to settle down.' It simply didn’t cross my mind. But there was something different about him; I was drawn to his whole mindset – and his knowledge of music."</p> <p>While Joanna is always keeping busy with her various work ventures, one of her most incredible achievements remains when she was awarded a damehood from Princess Anne: even if she fumbled over her words while meeting the royal. </p> <p>“I was met by Princess Anne, but sadly I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I could barely speak," she says.</p> <p>"I apologised and she said: 'Don’t worry, you have a lovely brim on your hat.' She kept on talking before I curtseyed and went out into the Picture Gallery. Stevie was there waiting and I just burst into tears."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Mind

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10 exciting retirement adventure ideas

<p>In the words of Mark Twain, “Years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did.” Now you’ve got a little bit of extra time up your hands heed these words and start your own retirement adventure, like one of the 10 ideas mentioned here.</p> <p><strong>1. Drive the Great Ocean Road </strong></p> <p>We’ve already talked about eight reasons everyone should drive the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Observe what remains of the 12 apostles, visit the many amazing sites and enjoy some of the best scenery Australia has to offer.</p> <p><strong>2. Discover the Red Centre</strong></p> <p>By land, air or water there’s never been a better time to discover the Red Centre. And because you’ve got nothing else going on you could do it all. It’s surprisingly cheap to book a helicopter tour of Uluru, a four wheel drive is classic and even a river cruise through Katherine Gorge is nice!</p> <p><strong>3. Head to a music festival</strong></p> <p>There are a number of festivals that cater to older (and more discerning) musical tastes. The Bluesfest in Byron Bay is a popular choice and recent festivals have included classic acts for all ages like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills and Nash.</p> <p><strong>4. Head to Asia</strong></p> <p>You’ve probably been to Asia before, but now you can really explore. Bhutan is one of Asia’s best kept secrets and retirement is a great time to finally explore it. This land of rugged mountains, ancient shrines and awe-inspiring natural wildlife is a must now you’ve got more time.</p> <p><strong>5. European Peace Walk</strong></p> <p>This newly started walking trail (self-guided) sees you walk 550km across central Europe from Vienna to Trieste, via Bratislava, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia. This annual walk marks the anniversary of World War I and is designed to celebrate and promote the creation of peace in Europe.</p> <p><strong>6. Cross the Arctic Circle </strong></p> <p>This is an ambitious trip, but now that you’ve got some more free time you can afford to be a little bit more adventurous! Depending on your age, budget, fitness and appetite, you can do anything from a four hours trip to an extensive, week-long trek where you’re camping under the stars!</p> <p><strong>7. Master a new sport</strong></p> <p>Now’s your big opportunity to try and master a new sport! Sure, maybe you’ve left it a bit late to try cliff diving, or to get into the octagon as an MMA fighter, but that doesn’t mean there’s any reason to not give any sport you’ve considered trying (but never had the time to) a red hot go.</p> <p><strong>8. Go caravanning</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="../travel/international/2016/01/how-i-drove-a-motorhome-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As recently mentioned in our recent community contributor article</a></strong></span>, how I drove a caravan around the world in retirement sometimes retirement can signal the start of your adventures rather than the end! Explore Australia or even head abroad and enjoy the bliss of life on the open road.</p> <p><strong>9. Volunteering in retirement</strong></p> <p>Giving up a little bit of your time to help others can be an adventure in its own right. As we outlined in our article, <a href="../lifestyle/retirement-life/2015/12/reasons-to-volunteer-in-retirement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>5 reasons to volunteer in retiremen</strong></span>t</a>, evidence shows that giving a little time to help others in retirement isn’t just good for the community, it’s good for you.</p> <p><strong>10. Pick up a new hobby</strong></p> <p>With a little bit of extra time on your hands, you’ll relish the opportunity to explore some of your interests. Whether it’s a new musical instrument, arts and crafts, or even <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="../news/news/2015/11/octogenarian-flies-helicopter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">learning how to fly a helicopter</a></strong></span>, with less restrictions on your time you’re only really limited by your imagination. </p> <p> </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <div class="advert" style="margin: 20px 0 20px 0; float: right;"> </div> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/8-tips-to-help-downsize-in-retirement/"><strong>8 tips that will help you downsize in retirement</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/driving-in-retirement/">Do I need a car in retirement?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/retirement-income/2015/12/common-mistakes-first-time-investors/">5 common mistakes first time investors make</a></strong></em></p>

Retirement Life

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The 10 most extreme travel adventures in the world

<div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"> </div> <h4>1. The steepest peak on Earth: Mount Thor, Nunavut, Canada</h4> <p>At 1675 metres tall, Mount Thor is not the world’s highest peak, but it is the steepest. The most famous summit in Canada and made of pure granite, Mount Thor has a 1250 metre vertical drop, at an average angle of about 105 degrees. Despite the fact the mountain is in a remote area, it’s a popular destination for avid mountain climbers. If taking on the peak is too much for you to handle, you can also visit the site and camp out instead.</p> <p><strong>2. The coldest inhabited place on Earth: Oymyakon, Russia</strong></p> <p>As the coldest inhabited place on earth (with a recorded temperature of -71.2 degrees Celsius in 1924), the small Russian town of Oymyakon, with a population of 500, was once only used as a location for political exiles. Winter temperatures average at about -50 degrees Celsius, which has a serious effect on body function. The ground is permanently frozen all year long and the town currently has only one hotel. Popular sports include skiing, ice hockey and ice fishing.</p> <p><strong>3. The driest place on Earth: Atacama Desert, Chile</strong></p> <p>You’ll definitely need the right kind of sunscreen if you plan on travelling through this desert. According to both NASA and National Geographic, the Atacama Desert in Chile has soil comparable to that of Mars. (Fun fact: Mars scenes from the television series Space Odyssey: Voyage to The Planets were filmed here.) From October 1903 to January 1918, the Atacama Desert did not see so much as one drop of rain, making it the longest rainless period in the world’s recorded history. Sparsely populated, the Atacama Desert has several hotels to choose from that cater to tourists who come to explore the land.</p> <h4>4. The closest place to outer space: Mount Chimborazo</h4> <p>Most humans will never visit outer space, so our two best options for doing so are taking a virtual tour of the International Space Station or going to Mount Chimborazo. An inactive volcano that last erupted in approximately 550 CE, Mount Chimborazo stands at over 6096 metres high. While Mount Everest is over 8839 metres tall, due to the position of the mountain on the earth’s surface the peak of Mount Chimborazo is the furthest spot from the centre of the earth. That also means that standing on it will put you closest to outer space than man can ever reach on foot. Its peak is completely covered by glaciers, but this mountain has several routes for climbers.</p> <p><strong>5. The hottest place on Earth: Lut Desert, Iran</strong></p> <p>Here, temperatures soar as high as 70 degrees Celsius, so it’s important to have a game plan for staying cool and avoiding heat stroke. According to a local legend, the name Dasht-e Lut means ‘toasted wheat’ in Persian, referencing a story about a load of wheat that burst into flames after being accidentally left out in the desert for a few days. Though tourists visit this desert land, it’s a destination only for those willing to take on the challenge of surviving the heat and the unbearably dry climate.</p> <p><strong>6. The most isolated place on Earth: Tristan da Cunha, United Kingdom</strong></p> <p>Looking for a getaway from the everyday? Forget these popular island getaways; this is about as far away from it as you can get. Though formally part of the British Overseas Territory, Tristan da Cunha is over 2816 kilometres away from the nearest land in Africa. Discovered by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha in 1506, the island is home to fewer than 300 inhabitants and has no airport; Tristan da Cunha is accessible only by sea.</p> <p><strong>7. The coldest continent on Earth: Antarctica</strong></p> <p>With a population estimated at somewhere between 1000 and 4000 people, the world’s fifth largest continent is a land of extremes, the coldest and driest continent on the planet. Travellers can only reach it by ice-strengthened vessels made for toughing the rough seas. Though known for its breath-taking scenery, visitors who trek through the wilderness must be well-prepared or accompanied by a tour operator who knows the area well.</p> <p><strong>8. The wettest place on Earth: Mawsynram, India</strong></p> <p>This Indian town receives an average of 11 metres of rainfall every year. In 1985, the Guinness Book of World Records dubbed it the Wettest Place on Earth after it saw 25 metres of rain in a single year. Plagued by a subtropical climate and monsoons, Mawsynram is both a difficult place to live and an interesting trip for tourists.</p> <p><strong>9. The tallest waterfall in the world: Angel Falls, Venezuela</strong></p> <p>Although Angel Falls is located in an isolated jungle region and is not reached all that easily, it remains one of Venezuela’s top tourist attractions, and the pictures make it easy to see why. The falls are approximately 979 metres high and includes a 807 metre plunge and a 402 metres of sloped cascades and rapids.</p> <p><strong>10. The most treacherous waters on Earth: Gansbaai, South Africa</strong></p> <p>Since 1995, cage diving with Great White sharks has been a major tourist attraction in Gansbaai, South Africa. With one of the densest populations of these beasts in the world, Gansbaai is the top destination for an up-close view of the deadly creatures. If you want to play it safe and steer clear of the Great Whites, whale watching is also common in Gansbaai, from the sandy white shores of Pearly Beach.</p> <p>This article originally appeared on<a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/the-10-most-extreme-travel-adventures-in-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Reader's Digest</a>.</p> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div> <div class="slide-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #444444;"> </div>

Travel Tips

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Sophie Delezio celebrates huge milestone ahead of new adventure

<p dir="ltr">Sophie Delezio has celebrated her 21st birthday - but reaching the milestone will just be one big moment in a year that’s jam-packed with them for Sophie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sophie - who suffered severe injuries from two horrific car accidents in the 2000s - spoke to <em>Woman’s Day</em> about the momentous day and what else she has planned this year.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-928b2d73-7fff-dd6b-0a8a-1204db749cf7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Turning 21 does feel huge,” she told the publication. “I had no idea where I was going to be [at this age], mainly because of my journey.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/sophie-delezio1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">“But I’ve tried to not have too many expectations and just live in the moment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve got a lot ahead this year and I’m excited to get things started.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sophie celebrated with her nearest and dearest last month at her parent’s home on Sydney’s North Shore. Along with delicious food, they played prosecco pong - a “classy version of beer pong!” - and sang show tunes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-57d9cf66-7fff-031d-08e7-d0e8e3721489">It was an emotional day for Sophie’s family, but she found the festivities marked a farewell to her old life and the start of her new one, kicking off with a seven-month trip hopping from country to country with <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/he-s-so-good-for-me-sophie-delezio-has-found-love" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her boyfriend</a>, Joseph Salerno.</span></p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CatssL6LnfR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CatssL6LnfR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sophie Delezio (@soph.delezio)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“We’re so excited!” Sophie enthused. “We’re going to Canada, Alaska, New York, then over to Europe, back to the US and then ending in Japan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People think we’re a little crazy for doing it now [due to COVID-19] but you’ve got to do it at one point, and you can’t stay inside forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair’s global itinerary includes seeing “a lot” of musicals - including Sophie’s favourite, Hamilton, for the 15th time - as well as catching Motley Crue, Joseph’s favourite band,  live in San Francisco.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sophie said she was particularly excited to celebrate her birthday for a second time in London - and Joseph has planned to make it a special day for her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve planned a nice little breakfast for us at a place called The Ivy,” Joseph, who works as a chef, told <em>Woman’s Day</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And then we’re off to high tea, and then to a gallery that’s showcasing the artist who did all the illustrations for the <em>Harry Potter</em> books, then a few bars, and then we’ll head to a cool restaurant called Sketch.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4fd68f79-7fff-3748-0cc6-972d8461314e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I [would be] happy with a picnic in the park, but he’s gone above and beyond. We’re going to have a special day,” Sophie added.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/sophie-delezio2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">But their global tour isn’t the only thing in store for the couple this year, who plan to move in with each other when they return to Australia at the end of the year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve got a home in Sydney we’ve bought off the plan, and it’ll just be us two,” Sophie said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a big step but I think if we can get through seven months abroad, then we’ll be OK living together.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s nice having something to look forward to when we get back home from travelling.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Having entered a new decade of her life, Sophie said she will be using it to reset, figure out her priorities and the future of her career.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m just excited for it all,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">To see more photos and read more of Sophie’s exclusive interview with <em>Woman’s Day</em>, head <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/sophie-delezio-21-birthday-71635" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a976eac0-7fff-5a6d-7826-359f0c37d71d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Woman’s Day</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Things everyone should do before summer’s over

<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p><strong>Eat Ice-Cream</strong></p> <p><span>Nothing says summer quite like eating ice cream at the beach, lake or park after a hot day frolicking in the water. Could you buy an entire box of ice cream at the supermarket for the same price as one from the gelato bar? Sure, but where’s the fun in that?</span></p> <p><strong>Walk Barefoot in the grass</strong></p> <p><span>Strolling barefoot through soft grass is the perfect way to get out of your daily bubble and smell the roses (literally!). The smells, sounds and feel of nature will soothe your work-weary soul and melt away stress. It may even offer some unique health benefits; according to proponents of ‘earthing’, walking barefoot can help with insomnia and other afflictions.</span></p> <p><strong>Read under a tree</strong></p> <p><span>Unplug and take a fun novel, gossip mag or other light-hearted read outdoors. Set up under your favourite tree and enjoy the stillness and tactile pleasure of reading a real paper book. Bonus: Everyone looks smarter reading under a tree. It’s pretty much science.</span></p> <p><strong>Visit a farmers market</strong></p> <p><span>Many cities offer a farmer’s market on summer weekends, allowing you to support local farmers and up your health game in the tastiest way possible. Come for the juicy summer fruit and fresh vegies but stay for the interesting crafts, bright flowers, sweet honey, hand-made sausages and new friends.</span></p> <p><strong>Go to an out-door event</strong></p> <p><span>From Shakespearean classics to local bands to movies to music festivals, your outdoor entertainment options are endless in the summer. Check out your neighbourhood social media page or city website for dates and times. Even better, many of these events are free or don’t cost much – just make sure social distancing is part of the contingency plan.</span></p> <p><strong>Run through a sprinkler </strong></p> <p><span>Think playing in a sprinkler is just for kids? Adults can play this refreshing game too and it doesn’t even require a swimsuit. The next time you see a sprinkler watering the grass in the park, take a few running leaps through it. Skip. Laugh. Frolic. You’ll dry, we promise.</span></p> <p><strong>Star Gaze</strong></p> <p><span>The night sky will blow your mind – especially if you can get far enough away from city lights to see the milky way. It’s worth the trip out to the countryside. Seeing the vast expanse of eternity laid out on a clear summer’s night will change your life.</span></p> <p><strong>Go camping </strong></p> <p>Camping is the quintessential summer activity yet so few of us actually do it. Being outdoors (and away from mobile phone service) is a great way to reset and get in touch with nature. If you’re worried about not sleeping well outside your own bed, science shows camping can actually help cure insomnia.</p> <p><strong>Build a sandcastle</strong></p> <p><span>Sand in between your toes (and in your hair and down your swimsuit) is peak summer. But don’t just settle for lying on the beach (don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen). Get creative and have fun by building a sand castle complete with turrets and a moat.</span></p> <p><strong>Watch a street </strong>performer</p> <p><span>Warm evenings turn every street corner into a stage and you’ll be amazed at the talent in your community. Dancers and musicians are staples but in many places you can also find living ‘statues’, contortionists and magicians. Don’t forget to leave them a tip to show you enjoyed their performance.</span></p> <p><strong>Jump off a diving board</strong></p> <div id="primary" class="contentAreaLeft"> <div id="page3" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide listicle-slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>It’s totally fine if you have to hold your nose!</p> <p><strong>Get new sunglasses</strong></p> <p><span>New sunnies can take your look to the next level – as well as protect your eyes. And if you wait till the end of the season, you might just get them on sale!</span></p> <p><strong>Try an outdoor activity </strong></p> <p><span>Forget resolutions, this is about fun. If you’ve ever wanted to try a different workout, this is the best time. Outdoor offerings include yoga in the park, stand-up paddleboarding, guided night hikes, bootcamp, fishing excursions, and much much more.</span></p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/activities/16-things-everyone-should-do-before-summers-over">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/activities/16-things-everyone-should-do-before-summers-over?pages=1">Readers Digest.</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="taboola-mid-article-thumbnails"></div> <div id="taboola-mid-article-reco-reel"></div> </div> <div class="contentAreaRight vc_hidden-xs"></div>

Domestic Travel

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Dreaming of an overseas adventure

<p><em>Reliving the magic of a summer sailing expedition in Greece, Justine Tyerman looks back on her last big voyage before the world changed forever and wonders – did that truly happen?</em></p> <p>The idea was born over a glass of wine... as the best plans often are.</p> <p>‘Why don’t you meet us in Greece this summer and we’ll take you sailing on Birgitta?’ asked Murray and Lyn.</p> <p>‘Are you serious?’ Chris and I chorused in unison, trying not to sound too ridiculously enthusiastic.</p> <p>Coincidentally, we were planning a trip to Europe over the northern summer so my brain went into overdrive. We could actually do this. We could rendezvous at a port somewhere, eat fabulous Greek food, drink ouzo and go for a little sail in a sheltered bay, and maybe even stay the night on the yacht.</p> <p>Chris, on the other hand, had more grandiose ideas of sailing on the high seas, conveniently forgetting his history of severe seasickness and my terror of sailing. So, ever the sensible one, I tempered my husband’s enthusiasm before things got way out of hand. ‘Just a couple of minor problems. Chris gets seasick and I get scared. So we’d better stick with lunch on board and a sedate sail around the calm waters of a sheltered bay.’</p> <p>Murray and Lyn just nodded and smiled.</p> <p><strong>September 5</strong></p> <p><strong><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846322/4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/de7d9aed021440b990170fe17f0914bf" /></strong></p> <p><em>Sunset on our first evening anchored off Paros.</em></p> <p>I felt quite emotional when, six months later, Birgitta sailed into the bay of Naussau on the island of Paros. We were standing on the dock looking out to sea and spotted the tall mast of the yacht with two figures onboard. Murray and Lyn had sailed big seas all the way from Turkey and here they were, our good friends from Gizzy, coming into port to pick us up, just as we’d planned long ago.</p> <p>We boarded in a high state of excitement, stowed our far-too-bulky luggage in the vacant bunk room and had a grand tour of Birgitta. The Swedish-built, 55-foot, six-berth Hallberg-Rassy was absolutely magnificent, far more luxurious and spacious than anticipated. Teak deck, gleaming stainless steel riggings, polished mahogany cabinetry in the lounge, and a fabulously well-equipped galley. The salubrious master cabin had a king size bed and roomy ensuite bathroom while the super-comfortable guest cabin had a V-berth bed, great storage and a bathroom shared with the bunk room.</p> <p>Murray’s thorough safety briefing gave me confidence that this was a vessel where no shortcuts had been taken. There were backups for every essential piece of equipment and in some cases, backups for the backups. For example, there were six fire extinguishers where two would have been sufficient and a special dry-powder system for the engine room because, as Murray emphasised, fire is one of the greatest concerns at sea. He also explained about how the weight of Birgitta’s keel would self-right the yacht if it leaned too far in either direction. Safety was clearly the number one priority on this ship.</p> <p>After collecting some essential food items in Naussau we motored out of the crowded port and anchored in a nearby bay for lunch. Greek salad and lasagne never tasted so good. The tomatoes and sweet red onions exploded with an intensity of flavour I’d never experienced before. And the same applied to the fruit. Peaches, nectarines, melons and grapes bursting with sweetness and juice.</p> <p>The day drifted by like a reverie. Swimming off the back of the yacht in the tepid, crystal clear, aqua-turquoise Aegean and relaxing on the deck with a good book was sublime. Life on board Birgitta was sweet indeed. I could see how days would easily melt into weeks and months . . . even years. Calm seas, blue skies, endless sunshine, the backdrop of the arid, rocky Cyclades with their characteristic blue and white chapels, tasty food and wine, the company of good friends.</p> <p>Late afternoon, Murray stoked up the portable barbeque on the back of the yacht and we dined on Greek lamb garnished with mountain thyme and other local herbs, accompanied by a fresh Mediterranean salad.</p> <p>The evening was the stuff of dreams. The light in the Greek Islands was soft, gentle and luminous. The ice-cold, local rosé plucked from the freezer and sipped at sunset added a rosy hue to an already euphoric experience. The conversation was nothing short of scintillating.</p> <p><strong>September 6</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846358/6b-murray-at-helm-brigitta-the-island-of-serifos-with-its-clusters-of-white-houses.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a7cc0f23d4674a07ba5dfa647a505c7d" /></p> <p><em>Left: Murray at the helm of Birgitta. Right: The island of Serifos with its clusters of white houses.</em></p> <p>Next morning, I expected we’d sidle around the bay and then Murray and Lyn would drop us off at the jetty and set sail for their next destination. However they had other ideas.</p> <p>‘Sail with us to Serifos,’ Murray said. ‘You can disembark there if you want to.’<br />The look of excitement on Chris’s face was priceless. Even more so than the prospect of a round of golf.<br />‘What about your seasickness?’ I asked my husband.<br />‘All sorted,’ he replied flashing a big grin and a packet of pills at me. ‘I’ve discovered a magic drug,’ he said.<br />‘Wonderful,’ I replied wishing there were a potion I could take to stave off my fear.</p> <p>I’ll never forget the moment the big diesel engine was cut, the sails unfurled and Birgitta began to lean into the wind. The sea beyond the sheltered necklace of the bay was anything but calm and Birgitta adopted an angle that made me instinctively adopt my counterbalancing routine. Even when an aeroplane banks after take-off, I automatically lean in the opposite direction as if to hold the aircraft steady. So too on the yacht. I sat on the high side, leaning back with my feet braced against the lower seat, hanging on for dear life.</p> <p>The first few times the bow dived into the trough of a wave and the sea water washed over the canopy of the cockpit, my heart skipped a beat and my knuckles turned white from clutching my handholds. My facial expression must have been a dead giveaway. Lyn began to distract me with ‘grandma chat’. She has eight grandchildren and we were awaiting our first so the topic was well-chosen and offered endless absorbing discussions from baby-wear to birthday cakes.</p> <p>But after an hour of witnessing Murray’s expert helmsmanship, feeling the solid strength of Birgitta and observing the way she self-corrected when the angle was too extreme, I began to relax and enjoy the experience.</p> <p>The teamwork between Murray and Lyn was most impressive. There were incredibly in sync with each other. No raised voices or shouting of orders. They seemed to communicate by telepathy... and hand signals.</p> <p>Chris was in his element, listening intently as Murray instructed him in the art of sailing, and beaming from ear-to-ear as he took control of the wheel for short stints.</p> <p>After about four hours of weaving our way across the seas, the rush of the water on the hull and the wind in the rigging the only sounds, we sailed into the satin waters of Serifos, a small island with clusters of white houses on a hilltop.</p> <p>We dropped anchor in an idyllic bay and began the daily routine of washing the salt water off the deck and windows, and furling the ropes... although they were not called ropes in nautical vernacular, as Murray went to great pains to explain.</p> <p>“The only rope on a boat is the one attached to the ship’s bell,” he said.</p> <p>“All other lines have special names like sheets, halyards and mains derived from the long-past era of sailing ships.”</p> <p>There’s one called the ‘lazy line’... because it’s always slack!</p> <p>Refreshed after a swim in the sea and an outside shower as the sun slid towards the horizon and set in an eye-popping display of amber and gold turning to crimson and mauve, I felt extraordinarily exhilarated and happy beyond belief. I also felt a sense of achievement that I had coped OK with my first open-sea sailing episode and had not disgraced myself too much. There was a glimmering of hope that maybe I could be a sailor after all.</p> <p>Later in the evening, we rowed ashore in the dinghy and caught a local bus up the narrow winding road to Marathoriza, a restaurant at the top of Serifos. One of the great treats of travelling with Murray and Lyn was their local knowledge. Over the past 10 years, they had discovered many hidden gems and this was one of them. The wine was not great but the cuisine was excellent.</p> <p>Walking back down the back streets we came upon two fine-looking Greek men outside a café. We struck up a conversation with them and when they discovered we were Kiwis, they immediately launched into a spirited haka. They were so enthusiastic, I had tears of laughter streaming down my cheeks.</p> <p>We passed by a bakery selling massive loaves of bread for a festival in honour of one of the island’s beloved saints. A bunch of exuberant young people on motorcycles were heading to a bay just around the corner for the festivities. They invited us to join them. ‘Visitors are very welcome — come with us!’ they said. Looking back, I wish we had. Next time perhaps.</p> <p><strong>September 7</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846361/20-laundry-delicious-greek-salad-foinikas-bay-island-of-syros.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/73be626b59b74cc8b9c296adbc71c6a9" /></p> <p><em>Left: I had enormous fun doing the laundry and pegging everything out to dry. Right: A delicious Greek salad, one of many we enjoyed on the yacht.</em></p> <p>At daybreak next morning, while Chris and I were still in the land of nod, our ever-alert captain launched the dinghy and rowed across to a neighbouring yacht to alert the sleeping occupants that their floating home was about to become a ‘permanent landmark’ in the bay.</p> <p>The weather overnight had deteriorated.</p> <p>‘The persistent wind from the north — known locally as the ‘Meltimi’ — is building to full force as it regularly does at this time of year,’ Murray explained.</p> <p>‘It’s a wind not to be underestimated, and I can see why the yacht beside us moved overnight, dragging its anchor.’ </p> <p>I got the impression Murray always slept with one eye open while onboard Birgitta.</p> <p>After breakfast, we went ashore by dinghy for morning coffee and delectable pastries at a lovely little café on Livadakia Beach — after which I thought we’d disembark.</p> <p>‘You may as well stay another night and sail with us to Syros tomorrow. You can get off there if you want to,’ said Murray as we munched our way through another round of pastries.</p> <p>A quick glance at Chris’s animated face confirmed he was dead keen to sail to Syros. Needless to say, we did not disembark. We were well-and-truly hooked!</p> <p>Back on Birgitta, Murray and Chris donned snorkels and flippers to swim along the anchor-line to make sure we were well-secured. There was no hurry to move on so Lyn and I did domestic jobs like washing and cleaning which I found absurdly pleasurable. The yacht had an efficient washing machine and no shortage of line-space on the riggings. I had enormous fun pegging everything out to dry. By the time the next load was ready, the previous load had already dried in the warm breeze. I can’t explain why it made me so happy to do this simple task.</p> <p>We whiled away the afternoon swimming and playing a board game Murray and Lyn had picked up in Turkey. It was mentally very challenging indeed.</p> <p>Lyn’s prowess in the kitchen is legendary. Dinner that night was exceptional, one of a collection of delicious one-pan dishes that were easy to prepare, even when Birgitta was tossing around in choppy conditions. Pork chops slow-cooked with granny smith apples, onions, potatoes, baby courgettes and prunes.</p> <p>Despite my best intentions, my services as a sous chef were abysmal. I was unable to go below decks while we were under sail. After 10 years’ sailing, Lyn, handled the galley in rough seas like the seasoned campaigner that she was. I marvelled at the gourmet dinners she was able to create, seemingly effortlessly. The limit of my culinary endeavours was to throw basic salads together . . . but even that was fun because of the hugely flavoursome fresh ingredients available at the local shops and markets.</p> <p><strong>September 8</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846362/19-chris-helm-lyn-and-murray-during-our-long-lunch-at-foinikas-bay-on-the-island-of-syros.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca1aa28a274c4995b25b37d1f96e5c10" /></p> <p><em>Left: Chris takes the helm. Right: Lyn and Murray during our long lunch at Foinikas Bay on the island of Syros.</em></p> <p>After our customary breakfast of fresh fruit, muesli, Greek yoghurt and local honey outside on the deck on another glorious Aegean morning, we set sail for Syros, about 30 nautical miles away.</p> <p>We’d packed a picnic lunch in a chilly bin early in the day in case of rough seas... and rough they were. Chris relished the exhilaration of taking the helm and reading the oncoming waves. His concentration was intense as he followed Murray’s instructions and kept a close eye on the ‘wind instruments’. We were sailing hard on the wind and our captain was adamant that with concentration, we could make our destination with a minimum of needless tacks. </p> <p>When Lyn was not busy on the ropes, there was lots more ‘grandma chat’ that day. It worked a treat... I coped just fine thanks to my full confidence in our captain and his first mate, and the superior strength and stability of Birgitta. Released from fear, my senses were free to absorb the thrill of sailing and the joy of relying entirely on the power of the wind to propel us across the vast ocean. I marvelled at the responsiveness of the yacht to the slightest adjustments in direction, the tautness of the sails, the glint of the sun on the tall mast and the bow carving effortlessly through the foamy waves. Watching the radiant expression on Murray’s face as he navigated and guided Birgitta to our destination, I began to comprehend the allure, the magnetism, the compulsion to return to this life, year-after-year. </p> <p>Nevertheless, I was relieved to sail into pretty Foinikas Bay on the island of Syros by early-afternoon. We rowed ashore to a beautiful seaside restaurant where the concept of a leisurely, long lunch took on a whole new meaning — a fabulous Greek salad with a huge slab of feta on the top, tiny sardine-like fish, shrimps, fresh bread, beer, rosé and ouzo. I’ll always remember that lunch and the friendly local restaurateur who served us.</p> <p>You guessed it, we didn’t disembark at Syros that day... but little did I realise what lay ahead.</p> <p>Before reboarding Birgitta, Murray circled his pride and joy several times in the dinghy so we could fully appreciate her elegant Scandinavian profile and design. What a beauty!</p> <p>After such a substantial lunch, we ate lightly that evening, enjoying the balmy temperatures and another breath-taking Aegean sunset.</p> <p><strong>September 9</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846363/31b-once-in-calm-waters.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a28bc09fff0245da826ceb74003b3ae1" /></p> <p><em>Left: There were moments on our passage to Kythnos when I secretly wished I had disembarked on Syros and was standing safely on terra firma. Right: Once in calm waters off the island of Kythnos, Chris and Lyn winched Murray up the mast to repair the damage. </em></p> <p>Next morning after breakfast, we rowed ashore with the intention of hiking to the top of the island but the heat and steepness of the terrain defeated us. We still managed to get high enough to gain a magnificent view of the barren, hilly island and sparkling sea surrounding it.</p> <p>The island of Kythnos was our destination for the day and as soon as we sailed clear of the sheltered bay, I knew this would be a real test of my ability to remain calm.</p> <p>There were moments on our passage to Kythnos when I secretly wished I had disembarked on Syros and was standing safely on terra firma. The Meltimi winds were strong and the seas were heaving. The waves seemed enormous as they loomed ahead of us but Murray skillfully weaved his way between them as if skiing a slalom course. The teamwork between helmsman and first mate was outstanding. My respect and admiration for them zoomed to an even higher level.</p> <p>Murray handed over to Chris in some seriously-challenging conditions, and continued his patient tuition despite the occasional drenching when his disciple misjudged the swell and troughs. At times like this I focussed firmly on the horizon, my eyes straining to decipher the hazy outline of our next island haven.</p> <p>Mid-afternoon, when Birgitta was heeling hard against the stiff wind, her sails under maximum pressure, there was a sudden jolt followed by an alarming flapping of the head sail. The snap shackle that keeps the sail aloft had failed allowing the sail to fall to the deck. Murray immediately pointed the yacht up into the wind but with our forward motion gone, it felt like we were floundering in the swell.</p> <p>In typical understated fashion Murray calmly said: ‘We might have a small problem here. I’ll need a life jacket please Lyn.’</p> <p>Murray donned the life jacket and went forward to retrieve and secure the sail. There was no panic or raised voices so I soon realised the situation was well under control and we were not about to abandon ship as my vivid imagination had concluded.</p> <p>I didn’t like the feeling of the yacht wallowing and rolling side-on to the waves so I grabbed a life jacket too and threw one to Chris.</p> <p>Lyn started the engine while Murray dealt with the detached sail and hoisted another sail. We were soon under way again, engine off, heading for a bay on the far side of Kythnos to anchor overnight and do some repairs.</p> <p>Once in calm waters, Chris and Lyn winched Murray up the mast to repair the damage.</p> <p>‘What it is to have a versatile Kiwi skipper who’s grown up on a farm and can fix anything,’ I thought as I watched Murray swinging across the spreaders near the top of the mast.</p> <p>The evening in the sheltered bay of Kolona on the western side of Kythnos was utterly sublime, well worth riding out the rough seas. I’m seldom able to live entirely in the moment but on this occasion, I experienced a state of 100 percent happiness.</p> <p>The walking tracks around the bay looked tempting but we were contented to just relax and chat after a challenging day at sea.</p> <p>I looked forward to our conversations in the evenings. They were always so stimulating and far from trivial, ranging from history and economics to philosophy and politics. We solved many of the world’s woes over a glass of wine at sunset.</p> <p>Lyn created another culinary masterpiece — a chicken dish with eggplant, tomato, onion, courgettes and feta served with fresh ciabatta and a salad of capers, gorgonzola, pear, baby lettuce and rocket... and rosé.</p> <p><strong>September 10</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846328/46.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1e59b861485a4782be4b40654485cae0" /></p> <p><em>Above: The exceptionally picturesque port of Hydra.</em></p> <p>We had an early start next day for the long sail to Hydra. After coffee on board at sunrise, we weighed anchor and hoisted the sails. I’d grown accustomed to the yacht heeling as the wind filled the sails and I no longer felt at all alarmed. The conditions were so calm that day, even I took the helm for a while. However, Captain Murray had to contend with hazards of a different type en route to Hydra. We were crossing a busy shipping lane with large ferries, naval vessels and container ships in all directions so he was busy on the radio most of the day, carefully plotting our course to stay well clear of these huge leviathans.</p> <p>Murray and Lyn are not big fans of the crowded, touristy port of Hydra so we anchored in a secluded bay called Mandraki just around the corner. To secure the yacht so close to the shore, Lyn dived over board with ropes and strops which she attached to rocks some distance from each other.</p> <p>Murray then rowed us ashore to a little jetty where we climbed steep steps to join the coastal pathway to Hydra.</p> <p>The first impression of Hydra was the strong Venetian influence in the architecture with its pastel colours and tiled rooves, so different from the all-white buildings of the Cyclades. The little port was teeming with tourists dining at cafes, strolling along the waterfront and shopping at the boutiques that lined the horseshoe-shaped bay. We could see why Murray wanted to anchor at Mandraki. The yachts were jammed together so tightly in the harbour, it would be a nightmare to disentangle anchors, especially in a storm. As we walked around the waterfront, a massive private launch muscled its way into port, scattering small vessels in its wake.</p> <p>Hydra’s famous donkeys were lined up to take luggage to various hotels in the car-free village. It’s an exceptionally picturesque port, especially with the late afternoon sun casting a pale apricot light on the dwellings. But we were relieved to be able to escape the crowds and go back ‘home’ to Birgitta for another of Lyn’s memorable dinners, pork and oregano meatballs... with a Greek salad of course.</p> <p><strong>September 11</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846329/53.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/df1f29bd156644789a2768f7ab06bd43" /></p> <p><em>Above: Justine and Chris relaxing en route to Ermioni.</em></p> <p>Chris dived overboard and saved Lyn the task of retrieving the ropes next morning, and soon we were sailing the gorgeous coastline of Hydra bound for Ermione on the Peloponnese Peninsula. I was mesmerised by the landscape with its stone windmills, ruins of fortresses and the remains of rock walls trailing up steep hillsides. We passed a tiny white chapel perched on a rocky islet.</p> <p>The sea was so calm we motored some of the way and for the first time, I lay on the deck and read and dozed. I picked up a brilliant book called Shooting Stars and Flying Fish written by Nancy Knudsen about her sailing adventures with husband Ted. The couple found it impossible to settle back into their former corporate lives after five years sailing the world’s great oceans. Knudsen’s beautifully-written story affected me so deeply, I’m keen to read the sequel one day.</p> <p>Knowing our trip was nearing an end, when the wind came up, I lay on my back, gazing up at the tall, graceful, white sails; listening to the sound of the water whooshing against the hull; feeling the undulating motion of the yacht; trying to commit all the sights and sounds and sensations to memory.</p> <p>Ermioni is Murray and Lyn’s base where they stay before and after their sailing expeditions. It’s close to Kalada where Birgitta is parked up in dry dock over the winter. So they are very familiar with the town. We walked through a waterfront park for drinks and nibbles at a fancy restaurant, wandered around the marina packed with yachts bucking against their moorings, and stopped for the most delicious icecreams I’ve ever tasted. We’d eaten so well all day, we didn’t bother with a big dinner that night.</p> <p><strong>September 12</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846364/70-lyn-and-murrays-warmth-generosity-humour-positivity-and-kindness-touched-our-hearts.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/64d4e077609c46ec99f3cf22c9f2944b" /></p> <p><em>Left: The moon rising over a calm sea near Portocheli. Right: Lyn and Murray on our last night together. Their warmth, generosity, humour, positivity and kindness touched our hearts.</em></p> <p>The dazzling red sunrise next morning may have been a portent of the storm that Murray said was brewing. He was keen to get to a safe anchorage at Portocheli before it struck in a couple of days’ time. We went ashore to stock up at the waterfront market which not only sold a splendid array of mouth-watering fresh fruit, vegetables and fish but also clothing. I bought a pair of light slip-ons for 5 euro which became my favourite summer shoes. Chris’s big purchase was a couple of ‘genuine’ Ralph Lauren polo shirts. It was hard to prise Chris away from the produce. He was in heaven.</p> <p>We cruised around the coast in calm conditions and moored at Argolis, a delightful little bay with an abandoned resort right on the waterfront. The complex was the topic of much discussion over lunch as we debated what should be done with the empty buildings overlooking such a perfect, pristine bay.</p> <p>The water was deliciously warm as we swam off the back of the yacht. I used one of the fenders as a buoyancy aid so I could float around effortlessly for ages.  </p> <p>A small uninhabited bay just outside Portocheli was our idyllic location for sunset champagne and dinner on our last dinner together. It was a magical, romantic evening, bathed in the warm, golden glow of the fading sun, a memory I often return to on grey winter days in New Zealand. We reminisced about the many highlights of our voyage on Birgitta and laughed at how many times we failed to get off at the next port. Next day, however, there was no choice but to disembark. Onward flights awaited us — Chris was returning to New Zealand and I was heading for a travel writing assignment in Switzerland.</p> <p>Later in the evening, we sailed into Portocheli’s ‘keyhole’ bay where Birgitta would shelter from the storm. </p> <p><strong>September 13</strong></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846365/80-tears-dribbled-down-my-cheeks-as-we-pulled-away-from-birgitta.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4bdea230492546eea78cd07c38dee74b" /></p> <p><em>Left: Captain Murray presents us with the blue and white Greek flag that we had sailed under for the past nine days. Right: Tears dribbled down my cheeks as we pulled away from Birgitta.</em></p> <p>Prior to disembarking, Murray and Lyn conducted a little ceremony on the deck, presenting us with the blue and white Greek flag that we had sailed under for the past nine days. Dear Lyn also insisted I keep the panama hat she’d lent me from her large collection of Birgitta head wear.</p> <p>The wind was strengthening as we piled our luggage into the dinghy, ready for the rough ride to the jetty. A gust snatched off my precious panama but Chris heroically managed to pluck it from the choppy waves just before it sank. There was no way I was going to lose that coveted hat. Tears dribbled down my cheeks as we pulled away from Birgitta. I wasn’t ready to resume my landlubber-life.</p> <p>We hugged our friends farewell and boarded the ferry to Piraeus. As the huge catamaran thundered out of Portocheli, I could see Birgitta’s tall mast swaying in the wind like a metronome.</p> <p>Beyond the shelter of the port, the storm had whipped the seas into an angry squall. For the next few hours, the ship bashed its way through enormous waves but it didn’t concern me in the least. I was amazed at how seasoned a sailor I had become in such a short time. As for Chris, he was so relaxed he slept most of the way.</p> <p>I occupied myself the way I always do when I have time on my hands. I began writing about our Birgitta experiences, a life-changing adventure for us in so many ways.</p> <p>The voyage not only enabled us to visit beautiful, remote places that were inaccessible without a boat, but it took us both to another dimension. We overcame fears that have held us back for years — Chris’s seasickness and my terror of sailing. And Chris learned valuable new skills as a helmsman. No doubt Murray and Lyn have seen this transformation countless times before but I never would have believed it possible.</p> <p>Our friends’ warmth, generosity, humour, positivity and kindness touched our hearts. The experience also helped us understand the extraordinary life they lead when they disappear from Gisborne for six months every year. To us back home, it always seems like an eternity, but I can now see how the passage of time becomes irrelevant, something fluid not measured by dates but by the rising and setting of the sun.</p> <p>Our one day on Birgitta stretched into nine days, long enough to glimpse a deeply-fulfilling, simple way of life away from the pressures of the modern world. It all seems like a dream to me now... but our photos assure me that it really did happen. If they were of the old-school, printed variety, they would be very tatty round the edges.</p>

International Travel

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Post or it didn’t happen: Live tourist snaps have turned solo adventures into social occasions

<p>In the years since <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32336808">selfie sticks</a> went global, it has become clear that the mobile phone has changed the way we travel. The ubiquity of social media means tourists can now produce content on the move for their networked audiences to view in close to real time.</p> <p>Where once we shared slideshows post trip and saved prints and postcards as keepsakes, we now share <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738315000419">holiday images</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2016.1220969">selfies</a> from the road, sea or air — expanding the “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/026327692009003001">tourist gaze</a>” from the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738315300335">traveller</a> to include remote audiences back home.</p> <p><strong>Instagram-worthy</strong></p> <p>Travelling has gone from a solitary quest to a “<a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203861301/chapters/10.4324/9780203861301-21">social occasion</a>”. As such, gazing is becoming inseparably linked with photography. Taking photos has become habitual, rendering the camera as a way of seeing and experiencing new places.</p> <p>Travellers take selfies that present both locations and people in aesthetically pleasing and positive <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203861301/chapters/10.4324/9780203861301-21">ways</a>.</p> <p>Indeed, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/17/instagrammers-travel-sri-lanka-tourists-peachy-backsides-social-media-obsessed">“instagrammability”</a> of a destination is a key motivation for younger people to travel there - even if filters and <a href="https://twitter.com/polina_marinova/status/1146620000679022593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1146620000679022593&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftravel.nine.com.au%2Flatest%2Fbali-gates-of-heaven-attraction-fake-twitter-response%2F9014aa28-f31e-4ad7-912f-6749efc18b26">mirrors</a> have been used to create a less than realistic image.</p> <p>This transforms the relationship between travellers and their social networks in three important <a href="http://sk.sagepub.com/books/the-tourist-gaze-3-0-3e">ways</a>: between tourists and destination hosts; between fellow tourists; and lastly, between tourists and those that stay home.</p> <p>The urge to share travel imagery is not without risk. An Australian couple were <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-05/australians-released-from-iran/11576776">released</a> from detention in Iran in October, following their arrest for ostensibly flying a drone without a permit.</p> <p>Other tourists earned derision for scrambling to post selfies at <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/northern-territory/influencers-reason-for-deciding-to-climb-uluru-before-the-ban/news-story/b53928ee54800a6070bc0670b1679356">Uluru</a> before it was closed to climbers.</p> <p>Meanwhile, there is a sad story behind the newly popular travelgram destination Rainbow Mountain in the Peruvian Andes. It has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/world/americas/peru-rainbow-mountain.html">reportedly</a> only recently emerged due to climate change melting its once snowy peaks.</p> <p><strong>Testing the effects</strong></p> <p>To understand the way social media photography impacts travelling, we undertook an exploratory <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-019-00151-4">study</a> of overnight visitors at zoological accommodation in lavish surrounds.</p> <p>We divided 12 participants into two groups. One group was directed to abstain from posting on social media but were still able to take photos. The second group had no restrictions on sharing photos. Though the numbers were small, we gathered qualitative information about engagement and attitudes.</p> <p>Participants were invited to book at <a href="http://www.jamalawildlifelodge.com.au/">Jamala Wildlife Lodge</a> in Canberra. The visit was funded by the researchers — Jamala Wildlife Lodge did not sponsor the research and the interviewees’ stay at the Lodge was a standard visit. We then conducted interviews immediately after their departure from the zoo, critically exploring the full experience of their stay.</p> <p>The study confirmed that the desire to share travel pictures in close to real time is strongly scripted into the role of the tourist; altering the way travellers engage with sites they are visiting, but also their sense of urgency to communicate this with remote audiences.</p> <p><strong>Pics or it didn’t happen</strong></p> <p>Participants Mandy and Amy were among those instructed to refrain from posting pictures to social media while at the zoo. They described having to refrain from social media use as a disappointment, even though it seemed to further their engagement.</p> <p><em>Interviewer: Did you look at your social media throughout your stay or did you refrain?</em></p> <p><em>Mandy: A bit yeah. But even then, probably not reading it as much as I often would. I don’t think I commented on anything yeah.</em></p> <p><em>Amy: Even today when we put something up [after staying at the Zoo] about the things we’d done today and only a few people had liked it, there was that little bit of disappointment that ‘Oh more people haven’t liked my post.’ Where we didn’t have that for the previous 24 hours [because of the experiment] … because nobody knew about it.</em></p> <p>The desire for social media recognition resumed after leaving the zoo. For Michelle, posting after the experience presented new concerns:</p> <p><em>Interviewer: How did you feel about not being able to post?</em></p> <p><em>Michelle: Spanner in the works! For me personally not being able to post was a negative experience because I wanted to show people what we’re doing, when we’re doing it.</em></p> <p><em>And I also feel, like a couple of people knew we were going to the zoo, right, and knew that we couldn’t use social media. So, when I eventually post it, they’re going to go, ‘She’s been hanging on to those and now she’s posting them and that’s just a bit weird.’ Like, to post it after the event. Everyone normally posts it in real time.</em></p> <p>Later, Michelle commented that withholding content from posting to social media also diminished a part of the experience itself:</p> <p><em>I sort of feel like if we don’t share the photos it’s like a tree fell down in the forest and no one heard it, like, we’ve had this amazing experience and if I don’t share them, then no one’s going to know that we had this experience, you know, apart from us.</em></p> <p>Tips garnered from travelgrammers fill lots of online video tutorials.</p> <p><strong>Centre Stage</strong></p> <p>Digital photography and social media transform the relationship between the travelling self and its audience, as individuals have an expanded — and potentially diversified — audience.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738315300335">Selfies in tourist contexts</a> reflect the tourist gaze back at the tourist, rather than outward.</p> <p>The perfect digital postcard now incorporates the self centrestage. As one participant suggested:</p> <p><em>Shannon: It almost feels like it’s kind of an expected behaviour when you are doing something touristy … We’ve actually had tour guides before … kind of a bit disappointed if you don’t take a photograph.</em></p> <p>The purpose of photography has <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1470357207084865">shifted</a> from a memory aid to a way of sharing experience in the moment. There is tension now between the need to capture tourist experiences for digital sharing and individual engagement in the tourist activity. Decrying the desire to use photography as a way of communicating experience will not constructively address this tension.</p> <p>To ensure tourism sustainability, and engagement with their target market, tourism providers need to explore better ways to manage travellers’ face-to-face and digital engagement.</p> <p>Digital engagements have become a defining part of travel, and organisations should be encouraged to promote online sharing of experiences — phone charging stations and photo competitions were two suggestions offered by our interviewees.</p> <p>In contrast, device-free days or activities could be another way to encourage face-to-face engagement and prompt tourists to be more considered with their online sharing.</p> <p><em>Written by Michael James Walsh, Naomi F Dale and Raechel Johns. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/travelgram-live-tourist-snaps-have-turned-solo-adventures-into-social-occasions-124583"><em>The Conversation.</em></a></p>

Travel Tips

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Go tell it to the mountain: A Switzerland adventure

<p>There aren’t many countries where you can sit in the spot where it all began. Relaxing in a small meadow on Lake Lucerne’s shores, however, I can make that claim for Switzerland. Here on this patch of grass on 1 August 1291, representatives of three small alpine valleys got together and signed a pact from which modern Switzerland emerged. August 1 is now a national holiday, and the meadow’s name, Field of Rütli, resonates through Swiss history.</p> <p>True, I don’t find much happening in Rütli these days, but it’s a fine place for a picnic and a good location to start an exploration of the Swiss heartland around Lake Lucerne, where history and scenery are equally dramatic. It’s also the spot to start my hunt for William Tell, the local lad who fought for freedom and became the world’s most famous Swiss.</p> <p>I arrive from Lucerne by steamer on an astonishingly scenic ride down its lake, embraced in mountains. My aim is to walk parts of the 36-kilometre Swiss Path, created for the 700th anniversary of Switzerland. With Swiss precision, the pathway is divided into segments representing its 26 cantons. As I walk, signs informs me when each canton joined the confederation, and gives a background to their history. It’s a lovely walk, the path sometimes talking to footbridges across streams and tunnels through cliffs. The landscape is surprisingly wild and rugged: quite the contrast to the bourgeois prettiness of downtown Lucerne.</p> <p>The following morning, a yellow postal bus deposits me back on the Swiss Path at Altdorf, a pleasant town of cobbled squares, painted houses and elaborate shop signs. A twist of bread marking a bakery directs me to a scrumptious almond croissant. Altdorf is the birthplace of William Tell, whose statue I find at the base of a medieval tower. The hero stands with his crossbow over his shoulder, his arm around his son. The monument marks the place where Tell was forced to shoot an apple off his son’s head by Gessler, an arrogant Hapsburg overlord.</p> <p>As I walk onwards, the valley narrows and the cliffs close in. Steep ups and downs challenge my lungs and knees. There’s only enough flat land to support a few villages under towering snow-capped peaks. It’s a rewarding hike to the Tell Chapel along the lake’s shore, which is painted with scenes from Tell’s life. It was from this spot that the hero supposedly leapt from a boat taking him to captivity. Tell fled into the forest and later shot Gessler dead with his crossbow, sparking Swiss independence.</p> <p>Nearby Schwyz sits high above Lake Lucerne in a wide valley of cherry orchards surrounded by snowcapped mountains. This now-quiet backwater canton gave its name and flag to Switzerland, and became famed for its mercenaries, who returned to build the impressive townhouses. The Town Hall is exuberant: cherubs hang over every window and frescoes depict historical battles.</p> <p>In contrast, the Federal Archives are kept in an ultra-modern, concrete building on the edge of town. I drop by to see the original Oath of Alliance signed at the Field of Rütli. Other proclamations mark the adherence of new cantons to Switzerland, each becoming increasingly ornate with ribbons and wax seals. Few countries in the world have such delightful birth certificates.</p> <p>Back by Lake Lucerne, I follow the road to Gersau. Improbably, this was once the world’s smallest republic, independent from 1390 to 1817. At Vitznau I enjoy modern evidence of Switzerland’s fighting spirit at Mühleflüh Artillery Fortress, decommissioned in 1998. I enjoy a scramble through underground bunkers to inspect barracks, kitchens and artillery batteries beneath fake rocks.</p> <p>From here, legs weary, I take to the rack railway up Mt Rigi, and the views become ever more expansive around each dizzying bend. Lake Lucerne shrinks to a puddle and a 200-kilometre range of jagged snow peaks emerges on the horizon. Though less glamorous than more famous viewpoints near Lucerne, such as the James Bond movie setting, Mt Pilatus, Rigi provides a landscape to make my soul sing. Even the cows seem to pause in their chewing and bell-clanking to contemplate the scenery that plunges below their flowery pastures.</p> <p>At the western end of the lake I’m back to base at Lucerne, whose old town straddles the Reuss River and looks onto the yacht-studded lake and panorama of alpine peaks. In 1332, Lucerne became the first big town to join the alliance of alpine cantons. It’s crammed with old guild houses, baroque churches and ornamental fountains. I study a cartoon-like account of its history on the painted panels that line its famous symbol – a covered wooden bridge. One shows William Tell with his crossbow at the ready. The timeline shows me something that I’ve already gathered: Switzerland has a birthplace, a proper birth certificate, and a mythical founding father, providing a story to delight me.</p> <p><em>Written by Brian Johnston. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/switzerland-adventure-go-tell-it-to-the-mountain/">MyDiscoveries.</a> </em></p>

Cruising

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Discover Arnhem Land on an exclusive wilderness adventure

<p>On an exclusive <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Outback Spirit adventure</a> to this remote wilderness, you’ll be granted access to a part of Australia few people ever get to see: a sacred and mystical land occupied by Aboriginal people for more than 60,000 years. As the only tour company with permission to travel right through the heart of Arnhem Land, Outback Spirit delivers an extraordinary experience that no other tour company can provide.  </p> <p>Beginning in Nhulunbuy in east Arnhem Land, <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Outback Spirit’s 13-day adventure</a> travels west through Ramingining, Maningrida and Gunbalanya before heading north up the Cobourg Peninsula. Along the way, you’ll stay in luxury wilderness lodges and safari camps, established in consultation with Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council. Situated in spectacular locations, these camps and lodges have enabled a journey that will awaken new perspectives and foster a deeper understanding of this pristine, ancient landscape. A landscape in which rugged coastlines, towering escarpments, remote islands, lush rainforests, idyllic billabongs and rivers teeming with fish are only just the beginning.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see the natural wonders that await you in Arnhem Land.</p> <p><strong>The oldest surviving culture in the world</strong></p> <p>Travelling through Arnhem Land is an adventure in culture, and it is the insights from local Aboriginal guides that form one of the biggest highlights of Outback Spirit’s adventures. Traditional Owners continue their Indigenous culture and ancient ceremonies to this day, and as a guest with Outback Spirit you’re invited to experience this through activities such as a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony on the beach at Cape Wirrwawuy, where you’ll be welcomed by the land’s original custodians to begin your journey of discovery. Locals share stories of their culture, custom and ancient traditions, including a bush medicine demonstration, all of which serves to help guests understand the deep connection to country held by Indigenous Australians.</p> <p>Over two memorable days at Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris, Mount Borradaile you’ll be guided by local experts to explore some of the best-preserved rock-art galleries in the world. Artwork dating back over 50,000 years includes a six-metre rainbow serpent snaking across the sandstone roof and vivid yellow and red handprints, portraying the world of its ancient inhabitants and inspiring awe and wonder.</p> <p><strong>Astonishing natural surrounds</strong></p> <p>Arnhem Land is abundant in wildlife and offers a wealth of natural riches. Besides the famous saltwater crocs, its coastal regions are important conservation areas for dugongs (often referred to as sea cows and even mermaids), nesting turtles and migratory birds.</p> <p>On this adventure you’ll discover the vast and sacred Arafura Swamp on a wetland cruise and 4WD safari, as Indigenous guides explain why this spectacular area is so significant to them. Covering 1,300 square kilometres, the wetland supports up to 300,000 water birds. Brolgas wade on spindly legs in the shallows and flocks of magpie geese skim across the top of the water. This was the location for the acclaimed film <em>Ten Canoes</em>, and it’s every bit as captivating in real life.</p> <p>Meanwhile, anglers will be privy to the best that Australian fishing has to offer, with the Tomkinson and Liverpool rivers teeming with barramundi, longtail tuna, giant trevally and more. Access to these regions is tightly controlled, but Outback Spirit’s special permits and licences at the Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge once again afford guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here, you’ll be accompanied by expert fishing guides as you navigate pristine rivers in state-of-the-art boats.</p> <p>In one of the least inhabited spots on earth, the Cobourg Peninsula, you’ll spend three exclusive nights exploring the treasures of the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park and the Cobourg Marine Park Sanctuary, where dolphins, dugongs and turtles ply the turquoise waters. Barramundi and other tropical species afford an unforgettable angling experience from one of Outback Spirit’s fishing boats, while the historic Victoria Settlement at Port Essington, the multi-hued cliffs of Rainbow Beach and the palm-covered bushland surrounding Seven Spirit Bay, all offer transformative experiences that will remain with you forever.</p> <p><strong>Unique lodgings </strong></p> <p>A highlight of the tour through Arnhem Land, and exclusive to Outback Spirit passengers, is the stunning accommodations – a network of luxurious, eco-friendly wilderness lodges and safari camps. On the banks of the Arafura Swamp is Outback Spirit’s stunning Murwangi safari camp, where your deluxe safari suite offers all the welcome inclusions you could want while barely making a footprint on the pristine surrounds.</p> <p>At the Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge near Maningrida, you can have the chef expertly cook up your catch of the day, while on the Cobourg Peninsula you’ll enjoy three nights in Outback Spirit’s flagship lodge; Seven Spirit Bay. Here, you’ll be amazed at the 5-star offering in such a remote location, with accommodation consisting of stunning Habitat Villas overlooking Coral Bay. As each day draws to a close, retreat to the Wawidada Pavilion for breathtaking sunsets, beautiful sea breezes and exceptional cuisine.</p> <p><strong>Early bird sale on <em>now</em>! </strong></p> <p>Don’t wait! <a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/destinations/arnhem-land/">Book a trip to Arnhem Land with Outback Spirit before 31 December 2019 and save up to $1,400 per person twin share</a>.</p> <p><strong>Outstanding value inclusions </strong></p> <ul> <li>Small Group Size – 22</li> <li>All meals provided while on tour</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Spend 7 nights in Outback Spirit’s network of luxurious safari camps and wilderness lodges, including 3 nights at the iconic Seven Spirit Bay.</li> <li>Spend 2 nights at Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris, Mount Borradaile</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Travel aboard a 5-star 4WD Mercedes Benz Coach</li> <li>All activity and attraction fees</li> <li>All permit fees to enter Aboriginal Land</li> <li>Escorted by expert tour guides</li> <li>Outback Spirit Explorer Pack featuring handy travel items</li> </ul> <p><strong>About Outback Spirit</strong></p> <p>Founded in 2000 by brothers Andre and Courtney Ellis, Outback Spirit is a multi-award-winning business and Australia’s largest premium small group outback tour operator.</p> <p>Outback Spirit strives to stay ecologically sustainable and limit its impact on the environment through good practice, innovation, and by providing financial support to the Australian Wildlife Conservatory. It also supports remote Indigenous communities across the Kimberley and Arnhem Land through employment opportunities, community sponsorships and support for Indigenous-owned businesses. Outback Spirit has been acknowledged for consistently delivering professional and authentic adventures to remote destinations of Australia.</p> <p>Why would you travel through outback Australia with anyone else?</p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with </em><a href="https://www.outbackspirittours.com.au/"><em>Outback Spirit</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Adventure is waiting, so bring it on

<p>Being bold isn’t just for the young. In fact, everywhere you look it seems like those with more than a few miles on the clock are rediscovering that a good life is a bold life. Stereotypes of how we should age are being smashed and people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s are grabbing life in both hands – and shaking it up.</p> <p>The inspiring Judi Dench was still keeping James Bond in line at 80 and this year she stepped out of her comfort zone to star as Old Deuteronomy in the film adaptation of <em>Cats</em>. David Attenborough is making waves and taking on world leaders at 93. And <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.feroscare.com.au/" target="_blank">Feros Care's</a> Dee describes herself as being “more flamingo than bingo” at 89.</p> <p>Ask those who are cherishing their current stage of life about what drives them and the common thread is having a purpose and knowing they are valued in the community. For every person, that purpose will be different. For some it will be maintaining their role in the workforce; for others it’s about remaining nimble enough to chase the grandchildren or fit enough to walk the Camino de Santiago. It might mean volunteering for a cause close to your heart, pursuing a new hobby or simply connecting with friends.</p> <p>There’s nothing more liberating than being the custodian of your own future. After all, you’re at an age where you have nothing to prove and everything to gain. So live fearlessly – seek new challenges and experiences every day. It takes courage to challenge conformity, but the reward is living an authentic life that renews and prioritises the parts of you that may have been neglected.</p> <p>Revel in the contentment of your accrued wisdom, but remember not to take life too seriously! Have fun, find your tribe of likeminded people and give yourself permission to get swept up in life. Turn ageing into an artform as you explore your creative side, ignite your curiosity and embrace enriching pursuits.</p> <p>At <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.feroscare.com.au/" target="_blank">Feros Care</a>, we have the privilege of supporting seniors who are determined to squeeze the most out of every day. But if you open your eyes, you’ll find them all around you. Seniors who live by the daily mantra of get up, get out and do the things that bring them joy. For 77-year-old Berenice that means daily ocean swimming; for Nina who is 98 years young it’s drumming and dancing; and for Klass, 87, it’s kayaking, entertaining and going to the gym.</p> <p>There’s no definitive formula for living well, but there are many defining truths. Lighten up, dream every day, get your feet wet and your hands dirty. Laugh, maintain friendships, shake things up and face the future with confidence.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.feroscare.com.au/" target="_blank">Feros Care </a>is fuelling a revolution where seniors genuinely embrace the inspiring adventure that is ageing. By exploring what growing bold means to you, we can help you live fearlessly too – from wellbeing programs that help you stay active, to support services that allow you to live well at home and stay connected.</p> <p>If you need some inspiration to help find your purpose, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.feroscare.com.au/feros-stories/articles/finding-purpose-over-70" target="_blank">this great article</a> could be your starting point.</p> <p>Or discover more about seniors living life on their own terms by enjoying our Fearless Films at <em><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.feroscare.com.au/fearlessfilms" target="_blank">feroscare.com.au/fearlessfilms.</a></em></p> <p>Then let <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.feroscare.com.au/" target="_blank">Feros Care</a> help you find your bold self, by calling 1300 763 583.</p>

Retirement Life

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Start your adventure in the Kimberley with El Questro

<p>If you have ever wanted to experience the timeless majesty of the awe inspiring Kimberley region but don’t know where to start, the El Questro Wilderness Park might be the perfect package.</p> <p>The sixty by eighty square kilometre park rewards the visitor with all the diversity and grandeur that this ancient region has to offer.</p> <p><strong>Accommodation options to suit every taste</strong></p> <p>To access the park, you can fly in from any capital city to Kununurra, where a regular road transfer service can take you into the park area. The park offers a range of accommodation options, all of them superbly integrated into the dramatic landscape. At<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.elquestro.com.au/stay/emma-gorge" target="_blank">Emma Gorge</a><span> </span>you can stay in the comfort of delightful tented cabins that give grand vistas of the ancient gorge escarpment, without sacrificing the modern touches of a contemporary licenced restaurant and pool. Emma Gorge has several self-guided nature trails and can also serve as a base for exploring the park.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByUcGsLlV0G/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByUcGsLlV0G/" target="_blank">Champagne Spring is a hidden wonder. Well worth the journey, the 4.8km riverside trail is long and filled with broken terrain, particularly in the second leg of the hike with a refreshing cascading waterfall at the end.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/elquestro/" target="_blank"> El Questro</a> (@elquestro) on Jun 5, 2019 at 12:16am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>If you are looking for more substantial lodgings, you can stay at one of the well-appointed bungalows at<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.elquestro.com.au/stay/the-station" target="_blank">The Station</a><span> </span>on the banks of the Pentecost River. With beautiful tropical surroundings, you can enjoy gourmet meals in the restaurant, a cooling drink in the bar or refresh yourself with a stroll down to the swimming lagoon.</p> <p>The premier accommodation in the park is<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.elquestro.com.au/the-homestead" target="_blank">The Homestead</a>; a sprawling property surrounded by lush tropical gardens and comprising a range of luxury suites. All are superbly decorated and enjoy sweeping views of the Chamberlain Gorge and River system. Tariffs are structured to be fully inclusive of an elegant room, gourmet cuisine, beverages and personalised guided tours in the valley.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw1eDxUA_e3/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw1eDxUA_e3/" target="_blank">Take in expansive views of the Chamberlain River and the Kimberley jungle from the private deck of your Homestead villa, a remote and exclusive retreat on the edge of wilderness. As you soak in your alfresco bath, you may spot swooping birds and jumping fish.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/elquestro/" target="_blank"> El Questro</a> (@elquestro) on Apr 29, 2019 at 3:05am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>The full Kimberley experience</strong></p> <p>The organised tours via boat, helicopter or horseback let you experience the enormous scale of the park and gain access to the best attractions, such as remote waterholes, cascading waterfalls and crystalline rivers that carve into the red rock.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwO16XwAlfE/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwO16XwAlfE/" target="_blank">Doesn't the majestic Emma Gorge look a lot different? All of her stunning layers are showcased at this height. Emma Gorge opens on 17th April. 📸: @ben_broady</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/elquestro/" target="_blank"> El Questro</a> (@elquestro) on Apr 14, 2019 at 3:03am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The flora and exotic wildlife that inhabit the region make for an intense natural experience and your ranger will ensure you get the most value from your time in this unspoiled and largely unexplored piece of unique wilderness.</p> <p><em>Written by Tom Raeside. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/start-your-kimberley-adventure-with-el-questro.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Edible adventures to try in NSW

<p>Planning an entire holiday around food may seem like overkill, but culinary tourism is booming right now. In New South Wales alone, travellers can try everything from oyster shucking to urban beekeeping. These foodie experiences showcase the best Aussie produce from local growers, bakers and chefs.</p> <p>As well as being fun and delicious, each of these food adventures in NSW play a hand in global sustainability. So feel free to go for seconds. </p> <p><strong>Mushroom Foraging, Oberon</strong></p> <p>In the magnificent Blue Mountains, food-lovers can take on a 4WD Foraging Tour in Oberon. I guess you could call it extreme mushroom hunting. Heading deep into the pine forest, visitors will learn to identify and collect wild pine mushrooms. </p> <p>The exhilarating two-hour expedition leaves from Oberon Visitor Information Centre. To book, head to <a href="https://detouradventures.rezdy.com/297003/forest-to-field-oberon-2019">detouradventures.rezdy.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Vegetarian, Vegan &amp; Raw Food Trail, South Coast</strong></p> <p>Take the reigns on your own foodie adventure on the NSW South Coast. Tuck into a variety of culinary delights, from fresh Buddha bowls and meat-free bliss burgers to raw vegan sweets and baked goodies. In Berry, enjoy a bespoke retreat package at the Back 2 Earth Farm Stay. The perfect weekend away, you can indulge in wellness, massage and a raw food workshops. At Greendale’s in the town Pyree, feast on a vegetarian brekkie board with eggs and asparagus, or head to Craft Surf in Ulladulla for a 100% raw, vegan treat.</p> <p>The Shoalhaven Visitor’s Centre has put together a fantastic resource of healthy eateries, from quick bites to baking workshops. Check it out at <a href="https://www.shoalhaven.com/blog/vegetarian-vegan-food">shoalhaven.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Gather and Cook Adventure, Southern Highlands</strong></p> <p>Venture into the lush green hills of the Southern Highlands and join an ingredient gathering expedition with award-winning restaurant, Biota Dining. Trace your meal from the very beginning, picking delicious produce born from rich, cool-climate soil. The experience begins with coffee and a snack at Biota. Fuelled and ready to forage, you’ll head out with the team of chefs to source your ingredients before returning for your hands-on cooking lesson. Of course, you’ll then get to feast on the fruits of your labour. </p> <p>Bookings are essential, so head to the website to find out more – <a href="https://www.biotadining.com/workshops">biotadining.com/workshops</a></p> <p><strong>The Original 100-metre meal, Hunter Valley</strong></p> <p>The concept of a 100-metre meal has taken off around the world, and we have local restaurant owners, Lisa and Andrew Margan, to thank for it. Every Sunday during May and June, Margan Restaurant hosts a 100-metre Meal where hungry diners enjoy a feast of foods all grown within 100 metres of the table. On the property, Lisa and Andrew manage orchards, vegetable patches, bee hives, livestock and a 100-hectare vineyard. </p> <p>If you can’t make it for the 100-metre Meal, you can visit Margan restaurant any time of the year to sample the stellar produce. Open for lunch Friday to Sunday, and dinner Thursday to Sunday. Book a table at <a href="https://www.margan.com.au/hunter-valley-restaurant">margan.com.au</a>.</p> <p><strong>Wild Harvest Sessions, Newrybar</strong></p> <p>You can help shape the menu at Harvest restaurant on the NSW north coast eatery. A short drive from Byron Bay, this well-known restaurant, bakery and deli does creative things with local produce in a beautiful setting. On Wednesday nights, the restaurant holds their popular Wild Harvest Sessions, where Head Chef, Alastair Waddell and Forager, Peter Hardwick try out their new food ideas on a panel of hungry diners. After a day of foraging, brainstorming and creating, the two put out a spread for guests to taste and provide feedback on. The winning dishes will feature on the restaurant’s seasonal menu.</p> <p>This interactive dining experience includes a four-course meal so make sure you arrive hungry. You can also opt for beverage-pairing for an additional cost. Find out more at <a href="https://harvestnewrybar.com.au/restaurant/wild-harvest/">harvestnewrybar.com.au</a>.</p> <p><strong>Wild Food Adventures, Southern Highlands</strong></p> <p>If you were stuck in the outback or in the bush, would you be able to find food? Hopefully, you’ll never find yourself in a ‘Castaway’ situation but it’s always handy to know what is safe to eat in the wild. Wild Food Adventures teaches you exactly that. They offer bespoke day trips, seasonal foraging workshops and outdoor feasts in the Southern Highlands region. You’ll also visit authentic working farms, taste delicious cheeses and fruits matched with local wines and eat delicious meals crafted from local produce. </p> <p>Try the Fungi Forage Vine Tour with a mushroom foraging expert, or the popular Winter Truffle Hunts and explore the stunning Southern Highlands landscape. Book a tour at <a href="https://wildfoodadventures.com.au/">wildfoodadventures.com.au.</a></p> <p><strong>Oyster Shucking, Sapphire Coast</strong></p> <p>The stretch between Shoalhaven and Eden is known as the Oyster Coast, and for good reason. It’s the place to go for great seafood with plenty of fun catch-and-eat experiences to try. Narooma hosts an annual Oyster Festival where foodies can taste Angasi, Pacific and Sydney Rock Oysters. At Jim Wilds Oyster Service, Greenwell Point Rock Oysters and Pacific Oysters, the slippery treats are shucked while you wait. Taste the award-winning, locally-grown Sydney Rock Oysters at Tathra Beach Cafe and Tathra Hotel.</p> <p>To get hands on with your oyster tasting, make a day of it by joining Captain Sponges Magical Oyster Tour on Pambula Lake. You’ll learn all about oyster farming and get to sample some of the goods as well. </p> <p><strong>Foraging and wild food dining in Sydney</strong></p> <p>You don’t need to be out bush to give foraging a go. In Sydney, you can hunt for edible weeds, collect pure honey and sample delicious plant-based dining. </p> <p>Head to the <a href="https://theurbanbeehive.com.au/">Urban Beehive</a> for a beekeeping course where you’ll learn how to manage your own backyard or rooftop beehive. It’s not as scary as it sounds (if you know what you’re doing). Find out how to light smokers, open beehives, handle bees and identify eggs, larvae and pollen, and of course, harvest the honey. </p> <p>Learn about indigenous foraging practices from the traditional owners of the Sydney city area at the <a href="https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/whatson/aboriginal-bush-food-experience">Royal Botanic Garden</a>. Discover the way plants in the garden were used by Aboriginal people and taste seasonal bush tucker foods with the Aboriginal Bush Food Experience. </p> <p>Turn your backyard into a natural medicine cabinet. On the Wonderful Wild Weeds foraging tour of Centennial Parklands, discover the nutritional and medicinal remedies locked inside common weeds growing in your garden, and in parks and reserves.</p> <p>In the hip dining precinct of Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, you can savour a unique plant-based high tea at <a href="https://alibibar.com.au/">Alibi Bar</a>, Ovolo Hotel. Designed by plant-based dining pioneer and US chef, Matthew Kenney, the high tea offers sweet and savoury including Black Sesame Cream with Raspberry Rose.</p> <p>Pocket City Farms grows organic produce in the heart of Sydney’s inner west. They have lots of interesting tours and workshops to take part in from crop swaps to bush tucker workshops. You can also opt to simply enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant Acre, which crafts delicious meals from the kitchen garden. For more info, visit <a href="http://www.pocketcityfarms.com.au/events/wild-food-in-the-city-nov-11">pocketcityfarms.com.au/events</a>.</p> <p>For wild food dining in the city, try <a href="https://www.paperbarkrestaurant.com/">Paperbark Restaurant</a>. Here, Australian ingredients sourced from small-scale producers are central to every dish. For a more laid back experience, check out the Green Lion pub at Rozelle. You’ll find lots of veggie options, including the Green Mack burger with beefless patties.</p> <p><em>Written by Bethany Plint. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/edible-adventures-nsw/"><em>My Discoveries</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

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The lure of an Antarctic Adventure

<p>I blame my grandfather whose massive old atlas used to sit on the bookshelf next to rows of faded and well-thumbed National Geographic magazines. I’d sit for hours poring over the pages, unfolding the maps and imagine travelling to Prussia, Ceylon, the New Hebrides and Yugoslavia. Places I will now never visit, not by those names anyway.</p> <p>But it was the huge, empty white continent of Antarctica that always intrigued me. I imagined infinitely white vistas, ice-encrusted shorelines and flocks of bizarre creatures engaged in all manner of noisy rituals. I made a promise to myself to venture there one day to see Antarctica’s foreboding frozen wastes firsthand.</p> <p>As far as the Antarctic is concerned, the peninsula is the most densely populated location on the continent, sprinkled with remote research bases and minute outposts. At the height of the summer season, the human population numbers over 3,000 – not counting tourists. That figure shrinks to less than 1,000 during the intensely chilly winter.</p> <p>Fast-forward forty-odd years and that misty dream becomes reality. I’m standing on the bow of a modern ice vessel watching hefty chunks of disintegrating pack ice thud against the hull as we pick our way gingerly through a narrow channel. Lonely groups of Adelie Penguins watch curiously as we inch past, while in the distance, a lone Leopard Seal dives for cover under the ice floe. The Akedemik Sergey Vavilov and its seasoned crew of Russian mariners prepare to make the perilous entry into the ever-diminishing confines of the frozen waterways along the Palmer Archipelago.</p> <p>During the pre-dawn, Vavilov enters the relatively broad expanse of the Gerlache Strait and well before the first smell of morning coffee wafts up from the galley, we’re perched around the bow, goggle-eyed, as the snow-splattered peaks embracing the Lemaire Channel loom above us.</p> <p>This is the sort of vision that lasts forever in the mind’s eye – a manic chequerboard of ice chunks, so-called ‘bergie bits’, are arrayed out before us. Now at a virtual crawl, the Vavilov gently nudges them aside, the ice-strengthened steel bow ushering them delicately around the hull amid muffled, squeaking protests.</p> <p>After a suitably reinforcing breakfast we reached our southernmost point, Petermann Island, where a very basic survival hut erected by the Argentines in 1955 provides essential food, shelter and magazines for marooned explorers – handy to know if I miss the last Zodiac back to the ship. A cross erected nearby bears witness to those who didn’t make it.</p> <p>Apart from the curious hut, the little outpost plays host to the southernmost flock of breeding Gentoo Penguins while Sheathbills, Shags and the ever-opportunistic Skuas patrol overhead.</p> <p>The return journey was interrupted with some leisurely Zodiac (rigid inflatable runabout) cruising among the grounded icebergs off Pleneau Island. Seasoned by a stiff, sleety breeze, the scene is like a frozen graveyard. These doomed bergs aren’t going anywhere.</p> <p>Heads suddenly swivel and cameras are produced as a timid female leopard seal and pup suddenly appear, and just as mysteriously disappear, amid the frosted icescape. This is a rare sighting even for experienced expeditioners and just goes to show you never know what you’ll see.</p> <p>We make a call at Port Lockroy on tiny Goudier Island. Abandoned by the British Antarctic Survey in 1962, the cute hut is chock full of artefacts from the mid 20th century’s Antarctic expeditions and is now a heritage listed site and emporium of Antarctica souvenirs from pencil sharpeners to furry penguins.</p> <p>The most visited single site on the peninsula, the preserved station houses a vintage radio room, galley and a working post office where you can send a genuine Antarctic postcard and get your passport stamped.</p> <p>The subject of many postcards, the aptly named Paradise Bay is the epitome of classic Antarctic Peninsula scenery and we disembark for a vigorous stroll to the top of the cliff for a breathtaking view. Deceptively tranquil waterways dotted with ice cakes and framed by snow-dusted cliffs, completely silent except for the occasional screech of a wheeling seabird.</p> <p>Now, years later and safely reliving my adventure in the comfort of reminiscence, I occasionally blow the dust off Pop’s weighty old atlas and smile childishly as my failing eyes pass along what were once simply maps but are now living, full colour diaries of adventure.</p> <p>Writer’s Tip: The comfort of modern expedition vessels has increased enormously at very little cost, if any. As with expedition cruises anywhere, first decide what you want to see and for how long, then set about choosing the vessel most suited to your comfort level and budget. Often the more luxurious ships can be a little timid in their expedition delivery, while the sturdy old ex-Soviet vessels go where others fear to sail.</p> <p><em>Written by Roderick Eime. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/the-lure-of-an-antarctic-adventure/"><em>MyDiscoveries.</em></a></p>

Cruising

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Easy Northern Territory adventures you need to try

<p>The Northern Territory is on everyone’s wish list and these incredible Northern Territory adventures are going to make you want to go sooner.</p> <p>We’ve found camel tours, helicopters, fast boats and slow canoes. Here are 10 unique ways to immerse yourself in the Northern Territory</p> <p><strong>Segway tour at Uluru</strong></p> <p>One thing many people don’t realise about Uluru is that it is huge. The walk around the base is 12km.</p> <p>To see Uluru from all-angles, why not jump on a Segway?</p> <p>Segways move when you lean forward. They are sturdy, easy to manoeuvre and safe for over 50s.</p> <p>Uluru Segway Tours run trips from most resorts to and around Uluru. Our favourite is the Uluru Sunrise and Segway Tour. The organisers will pick you up at your hotel 60 minutes before sunrise. Between May and September, the mornings can be chilly – so bring warm clothing and gloves.</p> <p>Once there, you can enjoy a magical sunrise with a light breakfast, tea and (most importantly) coffee.</p> <p>An experienced local guide will lead you into the Mutitjulu Waterhole. It’s an easy walk from your breakfast spot. Then hop onto a Segway for the cruise around the full 12km base of the rock. This tour takes about five hours.</p> <p>Where: Uluru Northern Territory<br />Price: Tours start at $129<br />Contact: <a href="https://www.ulurusegwaytours.com.au/">ulurusegwaytours.com.au</a></p> <p><strong>Camel ride at Uluru</strong></p> <p>Segways not your style? You could opt to see Uluru by camel.</p> <p>Australia is home to the world’s largest herd of camels. Up to 750,000 of them roam free in the outback. The camels were imported into Australia in the 19th Century from Arabia, India and Afghanistan.</p> <p>Then the combustion engine came along. Camels were no longer needed, and thousands of them were released into the wild.</p> <p>To ride an outback camel really is a uniquely Australian experience. Uluru Camel Tours has sunrise and sunset tours of Uluru as well as an express camel ride.</p> <p>The sunset tour takes 2.5 hours and offers incredible views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Skilled cameleers tell families stories of the territory, its flora and fauna. But the highlight has to be the spectacular sunset, watched from a sand dune. On return to the farm, guests can indulge in outback foods such as damper and enjoy a cool glass of beer, wine or sparkling wine.</p> <p>Where: Tours depart from 10 Kali crt Yulara NT<br />Price: From $80<br />Contact: <a href="https://www.ulurucameltours.com.au/">ulurucameltours.com.au</a></p> <p><strong>Quad riding at a cattle station</strong></p> <p>Undoolya Station, 15 minutes from Alice Springs, is the oldest working cattle station in the Northern Territory. The property is named after the Indigenous word meaning “shadow”. The Government granted Edward Bagot a pastoral lease for the station in 1872. William Hayes bought the property in 1907 and the sixth generation of his descendants still continue to run this incredible working cattle station.</p> <p>Undoolya and the neighbouring Garden Station, also owned by the Hayes Family, are 3500 square kilometres combined. That’s almost the same size as Luxembourg.</p> <p>Apart from cattle, the Hayes family also grow grapes.  Rocky Hill Table Grapes has 60,000 white grape vines over 60 hectares of the property.</p> <p>The Undoolya Discovery Tour departs from Alice Springs and takes families through this unique outback property on quad bikes. You will need to wear enclosed shoes and comfortable clothing. Long pants, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must. Choose from the Quad Rush, a fast thrilling tour for adrenaline-lovers, or the more relaxed outback discovery tour where you can spot some of the unique territory wildlife at a slower pace.</p> <p>The station also has four-wheel drive tours across both properties.</p> <p>Where: Undoolya Station Alice Springs<br />Price: From $140<br />Contact: <a href="https://outbackquadadventures.com.au/">outbackquadadventures.com.au</a></p> <p><strong>Hot air balloon ride in Alice Springs</strong></p> <p>One of the best things about outback Australia is the silence. A balloon tour keeps that peace and quiet and offers stunning views over this unique landscape.</p> <p>Wake before dawn to catch the best part of the day. Outback Balloon Adventures has 30-minute and one-hour balloon flights with views over the West MacDonnell Ranges.  Keep an eye out for wallabies and red kangaroos as you drift over the desert and mulga scrub. At the bush landing site, indulge in fruit juice cocktails, banana bread, muffins and champagne.</p> <p>The balloons fit between two and 24 people. Outback Balloon Adventures also does exclusive charters.</p> <p>Where: Hotel Pickup, Alice Springs, Northern Territory<br />Price: $295 – $390<br />Contact: <a href="http://www.outbackballooning.com.au/">outbackballooning.com.au</a></p> <p><strong>Four-wheel driving in Iytwelepenty / Davenport Ranges National Park</strong></p> <p>Looking for a remote adventure? Want to see the real NT? This is the tour for you. The Iytwelpenty or Davenport Ranges National Park is the traditional home of the Alyawarr, Wakaya, Kaytete and Warumungu people.</p> <p>It’s also a refuge for waterbirds and has an extensive network of waterholes. The best place to swim is the Old Police Station Waterhole. But beware of submerged logs and rocks. Do not jump or dive into the water.</p> <p>Hire a reliable 4WD and head to the park via the Stewart Highway. Turn off either at Bonney Well along Kurundi / Epenarra Road of at Taylor Creek along Murray Downs / Hatches Creek for a more scenic route. Experienced four-wheel drive travellers can take the Frew River Loop 4WD track off the Murray Downs / Hatches Creek Road for 17km of challenging driving.</p> <p>Where: Davenport Ranges National Park Stuary Highway Davenport NT<br />Price: Free<br />Contact: Tennant Creek Ranger Station phone: (08) 8962 4599</p> <p><strong>Helicopter flight over Nitmiluk Gorge, Katherine</strong></p> <p>Nitmiluk National Park is a three-hour drive from Darwin. It has rugged sandstone cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and deep pockets of lush rainforest. It’s pronounced Nit-me-look which means “cicada place” in the Jawoyn language.</p> <p>This is the land of the Rainbow Serpent (Bolung) Dreamtime story. A helicopter flight allows you to appreciate the geography, the scale and the incredible colours of this unique landscape. From above, the snaking 13 gorges are all visible.</p> <p>Helispirit offers helicopter tours over Nitmiluk Gorge in Katherine. Choose from 8, 12, 15, 20, 30 or 45-minute flights through the gorge. If you are travelling with pets, you can leave the dog in the shade at base camp while the fly. Expect to fly over sheer canyon waterfalls, past rocky escarpments and through deep cool canyons. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.</p> <p>Our top tip: Read the Rainbow Serpent story before you fly. According to the Jawoyn people the Bolung still lives in the deep pools of the gorge and care must be taken not to disturb him.</p> <p>Where:  Lot 5449, 1425 Gorge Road Katherine NT<br />Price: $95 to $485<br />Contact: <a href="https://www.helispirit.com.au/">helispirit.com.au/</a></p> <p><strong>Guided canoeing tour through Nitmiluk Gorge</strong></p> <p>If you prefer your adventure on the ground, check out the Katherine River canoe tours.</p> <p>The sheer sandstone walls of Nitmilik Gorge were formed by layers and layers of compressed sand once deposited by an ancient sea. Movements in the earth’s surface split the rock, creating fault lines that eventually filled with water.</p> <p>Nitmiluk Tours takes families on a scenic cruise to the second gorge. From there, you can pick up a canoe and travel as far as the ninth gorge. You can camp overnight, but you will have to book a spot. Day-trippers should only canoe to the fifth gorge if you want to make it back home on time.</p> <p>We recommend the Malappar Traveller Tour. It takes 4.5 hours at a relaxed pace in single or double canoes. The canoe tours are seasonal, running from June to November. The tours begin once the National Parks have completed their annual safety and crocodile survey.</p> <p>To catch a glimpse of the gorge’s spectacular wildlife you will need to be quiet and patient. You should be able to spot water monitors, cormorants, northern snake-necked turtles and barramundi. Crocodiles are rare. If you do see one, do not approach it.</p> <p>Where: Nitmiluk National Park<br />Price: $42 to $164<br />Contact: <a href="https://www.nitmiluktours.com.au/">nitmiluktours.com.au/</a></p> <p><strong>Yellow Water Cruises, Kakadu National Park</strong></p> <p>Kakadu’s rich ever-changing wetlands are home to one-third of Australia’s bird species including the distinctive Jabirus and brilliant brolgas. Crocodiles lurk on the banks and in the water and buffalo roam the floodplains.</p> <p>Kakadu Tourism is the only company that can take you to the sensational Yellow Water Billabong. The company has six cruises each day from 90 minutes to two hours. The most popular tours are the sunset and sunrise cruises.</p> <p>The cruises offer a fascinating commentary on how the Indigenous Bininj people use the wetland’s flora and fauna.</p> <p>Where: Kakadu Hwy, Kakadu NT<br />Price: From $72<br />Contact: <a href="https://www.kakadutourism.com/tours-activities/yellow-water-cruises/yellow-water-cruise/">kakadutourism.com</a></p> <p><strong>Darwin Airboat, Darwin Harbour</strong></p> <p>Hop on board a custom-built V8 airport for a unique thrill. The 45-minute tour starts at Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin and heads through Darwin Harbour towards the city’s scenic mangroves.</p> <p>Your heart will race as the tour guide pumps the accelerator for a “hot lap”. Expect to also spend some time chilling out and scouring the landscape for birds, fish and reptiles – especially crocodiles.</p> <p>Where: Dock 1, Stokes Hill Wharf<br />Price: $165 adults, $115 kids<br />Contact: <a href="http://mattwright.com.au/tours/darwin-airboat-tours/">mattwright.com.au</a></p> <p><strong>Pristine plunge pools of Litchfield National Park</strong></p> <p>Ever seen those amazing photos of people in a natural plunge pool gazing over rugged outback scrub below and thought – I need to go there? That is Litchfield National Park. And it’s just as stunning as it looks in photographs.</p> <p>Litchfield has seven main waterfalls and pools to explore: Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Bluey Rockhole, Walker Creek, Cascades, Tjaynera Falls and Surprise Creek Falls.</p> <p>Take your pick. They are all amazing. Cool off in the crystal clear water, then enjoy a scenic walk. Some of the waterholes also offer camping.</p> <p>Before you go, <a href="https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/litchfield-national-park">check to make sure the pools are open and croc-safe</a>. Rangers do daily sweeps. If a waterway does not have a swimming area sign – do not swim there.</p> <p>Where: Litchfield National Park<br />Price: Free<br />Contact: <a href="https://northernterritory.com/darwin-and-surrounds/destinations/litchfield-national-park">NorthernTerritory.com</a></p> <p><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/easy-northern-territory-adventures-you-need-to-try/">MyDiscoveries.</a></em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Adventurous toddler gets stuck in Westfield skilltester

<p><span>Jos Waechter was desperate to let her 13-month-old boy Lewis stretch his legs after their family embarked on a three-hour drive from the Riverland to Marion Westfield in Adelaide.</span></p> <p><span>Jos was playing the Emoji Movie skill tester arcade machine in the centre and after turning away to talk to someone, discovered Lewis inside the machine surrounded by plush toys.</span></p> <p><span>The family had made the road trip for their four-year-old daughter Abigail who wanted to see the </span><em><span>My Little Pony</span></em><span> movie.</span></p> <p><span>“While my husband Jason was inside with her watching the movie we waited outside,” Jos said.</span></p> <p><span>“We went to the playground and I let him run around a bit.</span></p> <p><span>“I struck up a conversation with some gentleman and had put $5 in the machine. I had a couple of tries and Lewis was at my feet playing with the control stick.</span></p> <p><span>“I was chatting to the guys and in the time it took to look away and back again he was gone.”</span></p> <p><span>The 38-year-old mother immediately thought Lewis had slipped down the side of the machine but then saw his head emerge among the plush toys inside the machine.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><img width="500" height="769" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45713/1_500x769.jpg" alt="1 (1)"/></span></p> <p><span>The toddler has just recently started walking and his mother explained he was a fan of exploring cabinets and closets at home.</span></p> <p><span>A worker from the nearby arcade came and opened up the machine.</span></p> <p><span>“He was only in there for between five and 10 minutes,” Jos said.</span></p> <p><span>“When the owner got him out they gave him a little devil plush toy, which I thought was appropriate.</span></p> <p><span>“He’s just started walking so I know I’m going to have to keep an eye on him.”</span></p>

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