Belinda Jackson wins Travel Writer of the Year 2025-26
I am so pleased to announce that I’m the Australian Society of Travel Writers’ new Travel Writer of the Year! The awards were announced at a gala celebration hosted by […]
NOTEBOOK
Canter past Patagonian icefields. Sail the tranquil waters of Lake Como in Italy. Sip coffee in a Palestinian village. Listen to the ancient voices of Australia’s Arnhem Land. Climb the mountain paths of northern Albania. Let’s go!
Winner: ASTW Travel Writer of the Year!
I am so very, very, very pleased to tell you that I have been named Travel Writer of the Year 2023 by the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW)! The ASTW […]
Airline review: Madrid to Cairo with Egyptair
Recently, I completed an epic trek from Cusco, near Macchu Pichu in Peru, to Cairo, Egypt. Let me tell you, it took some serious, late-night internet hunting! I could have […]
Giveaway! Win a night’s stay at MOXY Sydney Airport hotel with The World Awaits podcast
Win a night’s stay for two at the chic Moxy Sydney Airport hotel with 14 nights’ valet parking, through this giveaway with my travel podcast, The World Awaits. You and […]
Flight review: Melbourne-Jakarta-Tokyo with Garuda Indonesia | Sydney Morning Herald
If you’ve ever tried to find a last-minute ticket to Japan from Australia in sakura (cherry blossom) season, read on. You’ll know direct flights sell out hotter than a plate […]
Self-drive safari v luxury game experience: South African safari two ways | Sydney Morning Herald
“Why don’t more Australians do a self-drive safari?” Australian crime novelist @tonyparkauthor had asked me months ago. He lives on the fringes of Kruger where he writes African thrillers, and […]
Flight review: would you pay $900 to fly Perth to Melbourne? Canberra Times
In times of hardship and war, do airlines price gouge? That was the question top of mind as I flew from Perth to Melbourne, a 3.5- hour flight across Australia. Grab […]
Haunted hotels, gold toothbrushes; the best and worst hotels: ABC Radio Adelaide
Gold toothbrushes? Someone else’s hair on the soap? What makes or breaks you for the best and worst hotels you’ve ever stayed in? While I was doing the prep for […]
Why now is the best time to visit Afghanistan: The World Awaits podcast
Come to Central Asia’s forgotten country, Afghanistan. I’ve long been fascinated by Afghanistan, since I first read historian William Dalrymple’s inspiring book In Xanadu; A Quest, and followed Irish travel […]
Navigating the unknown – travel during the Middle East crisis & Australia’s best runway rooms
Travel has taken a huge hit with the Middle East crisis now entering its fifth week, and it can be challenging to keep up with what you should and shouldn’t […]
Escape to the country, within the city limits: Marnong Estate, Victoria
Review of Melbourne hotel Marnong Estate, on the northern fringe of the city. As a travel writer, I’ve got to say that it’s hard not to get gloomy when we […]
Why Ramadan is a season to travel in the Middle East: Canberra Times
We’re just about at the end of Ramadan – the Islamic month of prayer, fasting and reflection – with Eid forecast for later this week, and my story about best […]
The top travel destinations for 2026: ABC Radio, 3AW Radio clips
To misquote Taylor Swift, January slipped away like a bottle of wine – I spent a lot of time on radio and podcasts, chatting about the travel trends of 2026. […]