Browse for “Must Do” to discover those unmissable experiences guaranteed to make your own trip a success.

Read more about the article Sal Salis, Exmouth – Where the Outback Meets the Reef – A Definite “Must Do”!
Sal Salis WA

Sal Salis, Exmouth – Where the Outback Meets the Reef – A Definite “Must Do”!

We arrived at Sal Salis in good time for a 2pm check-in and were blown away by it.  This really is a very special  place to stay indeed.  It is a digital detox zone (no wi-fi), so forgive me, but I am going to say little more about our stay here beyond the accommodation review.  The photos can do the talking and if you want to know more, then add this place to your bucket list and come and discover it all for yourself - I promise you, you will not leave disappointed.

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Read more about the article Polished Perth
Perth - a blend of old and new but young at heart

Polished Perth

Polished Perth - capital of a state ten time the size of Great Britain - is as close to the nearest big city (Adelaide) as London is to Leningrad.  Perth is a large, clean, modern city much like many others, but its balmy climate, position by the wide, blue Swan River and radiant sunlight bouncing off the skyscrapers gives it a unique charm all of its own.  It is, in every sense, very polished with a smart, high-sheen finish.

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Read more about the article Esperance WA’s Best Beaches
Kangaroos on Lucky Bay - Cape le Grand National Park

Esperance WA’s Best Beaches

The road from Bremer Bay to Esperance (home of Australia's best beaches) was long - very long - and straight.  There were hardly any vehicles on it except the odd road train (shortish) which gave you a start as it rushed past.  The road took us through interesting sounding places like Jerramingup, Munillinup and Nindilibillup.  Up means "place of" around here - I wonder what these places we were passing through were places of ...?  They didn't have enough interest to make us stop long enough to find out.  We were keen to press on to Esperance and explore all those beautiful beaches.  It took us around 4 hours in total to get here.

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Read more about the article From Rooter to Tooter – The food here has SOUL!
Bananas Foster - Chucking in the Cinammon!

From Rooter to Tooter – The food here has SOUL!

The New Orleans School of Cooking was a great place to spend a morning here.  The cooking in the Deep South is way different from the rest of the USA.  It is Creole - a veritable melting pot of all the nationalities that coalesced in this part of the world (Portugeuse, Spanish, French, Italian) and made it what it is today.   Nothing goes to waste - it is "rooter to tooter" as the expression goes - i.e. - everything on the hog is used except it's squeak.

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Read more about the article New Orleans – A Ton of Fun!
New Orleans Jazz Festival

New Orleans – A Ton of Fun!

New Orleans has been throbbing 24/7 since 1718.  It is the birthplace of jazz and has always had music at its heart.  The French Quarter Jazz Festival was in full swing when we arrived - what a great week-end to visit!  New Orleans i's way more than honky tonk pianos and saxophones though.  The food is great here, the welcome is warm, the people are full of life and colour and the vibe is great.

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Read more about the article To Bungy or not to Bungy …
Kawarau Gorge New Zealand - Site of the First Bungy Jump

To Bungy or not to Bungy …

To bungy or not to bungy? The first bungy jump happened here and A.J.  Hackett is still in business with a big centre in town at Kawarau Gorge.  There have been 2 million successful bungy jumps since 1986.  It makes you wonder what the definition of an unsuccessful bungy jump is?!

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Read more about the article Experience the Sounds of Silence of Shadowland
Sounds of Silence - Doubtful Sound

Experience the Sounds of Silence of Shadowland

Yesterday, we took a short cruise with Real Journeys across Lake Manapouri then a coach trip on the remote sub-alpine route over Wilmot Pass and into Doubtful Sound where we docked overnight on the Fiordland Navigator. This is a very peaceful and beautiful place where you can experience the Sounds of Silence of Shadowland.​   The boat turned off its engines and everyone kept a complete silence for five minutes - blissful.

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Read more about the article Putting a pin in Northland’s Toe – Cape Reinga – The Meaning of Life
Cape Reinga Lighthouse

Putting a pin in Northland’s Toe – Cape Reinga – The Meaning of Life

We visited Cape Reinga lighthouse today which is as far as you can go in New Zealand without falling into the sea - Northland's Toe.  The lighthouse overlooks where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasmanian Sea, which creates a whirlpool effect - fascinating.  Maori legend has it that this is the Meaning of Life - where female sea meets male sea, creating the beginnings of life. We passed by beautiful Tapotupota Bay and the huge Te Paki sand dunes on the way.

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Read more about the article Family Reunited – Auckland to KeriKeri, the Bay of Islands
Waitangi Treaty Grounds - Maori Cultural Performance

Family Reunited – Auckland to KeriKeri, the Bay of Islands

A 3 and a half hour drive up Highway 1 today towards KeriKeri will end with a family reunited.  I am staying with my great aunt and cousin and their family in KeriKeri and we haven't seen each other for many years.  Spending a few days with them is one of the main attractions of this trip for me - probablyway  more fun than some of the big tourist sights!

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Read more about the article Storms River Mouth Dolphin Trail – Breathe it all in and unwind …
View from Chalet 26 Storms River Tsitsikamma National Park

Storms River Mouth Dolphin Trail – Breathe it all in and unwind …

From Oudtshoorn, we drove for about an hour through some beautiful scenery to drop off the off the hire car at George airport, stopping off at the impressive Fancourt Golf Club en route to satisfy Tim's curiosity. Two and a half hours later, the pre-booked transfer car had dropped us at the Storms River Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) ready to start our two day hike - The Dolphin Trail.

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Read more about the article Peninsular Tour to the Penguins
African Penguin Colony Boulders Bay Cape Town

Peninsular Tour to the Penguins

We took a Peninsular Tour to the Penguins today, finishing at the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The coastline was pristine - miles and miles of clear blue waters, huge waves and very few people around - perfect. The penguins were a fascinating sight - quite immune to all the attention they get from the tourists. No-one was swimming in the sea. Maybe because the water is very cold here in Summer (it is warmer in Winter, oddly?) - or maybe because sharks are common in these waters. Sharks are so common they employ shark watchers to sound the alarm if they spot one.

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