EP 117 Roadtrip through Australia's Red Centre, Michelin Keys now rate world's best hotels & dogs on planes
As Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Uluru Handback, host Belle Jackson shares how you can take a bite of the red dust on a drive holiday around the Red Centre Way. From Alice Springs/Alice Springs to Watarrka/Kings Canyon and Uluru, here's your list of where to stay, what to eat and some of the best things to do on a roadtrip in the Northern Territory.Also, the world's best hotels are recognised in the new Michelin Key hotels guide; Australia's Lizard Island is the only the three-key hotel, with Longtitude 131 near Uluru, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island and Drift House in Port Fairy, Victoria. For the full listAnd dogs on planes - are you on board? Virgin Australia has launched its new trial, as well as more generous carry-on limits. Belle's recommendations on the Red Centre Way: Ooraminna Station, 40 mins from Alice Springs, https://www.ooraminna.com.au/ Ormiston Gorge, West Macdonnell Ranges https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/tjoritja-west-macdonnell-national-park/ormiston-gorgeKings Creek Station https://kingscreekstation.com.au/ Ayres Rock Resort, https://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/Standley Chasm, West Macdonnell Ranges, https://standleychasm.com.au/ Northern Territory Tourism https://northernterritory.com/Other places mentioned:Melbourne Winery https://www.melbournewinery.com.au/ Virgin Australia https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/ #northernterritorySend us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au
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EP 116 Why Siem Reap should top your travel list with teens; maximise your frequent flyer points & the lowdown on Kyoto's new tourism tax
Bursting with culture, balmy nights, bustling streets and flavoursome food make Siem Reap a must-do for any family holiday, especially when it could be the last trip you do with your teens.This week, host Kirstie Bedford explains why Siem Reap is the ultimate last hurrah when it comes to family holidays.Finder details how you can get the most out of your frequent flyer points – and the best credit cards to maximise them.And we give you the lowdown on the new Kyoto tourism tax, which comes into play next year. Read Responsible Travel's detailed report about tourism taxes at https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/tourist-taxesKirstie's cover story in the Sunday Star Times is at https://www.thepost.co.nz/travel/360838639/last-hurrah-why-siem-reap-should-be-last-family-holiday-you-do-teens-go and her hotel review for Karryon is here https://karryon.com.au/luxury/fcc-angkor-by-avani-cultural-heart-cambodia/.And you can find out more about FCC Angkor by Avani, where Kirstie stayed at https://www.avanihotels.com/.Send us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au
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EP 115 Africa through the eyes of an expert; biggest travel icks & the best pies in Australia
Ivona Siniarska has been to Africa 40 times and the founder and managing director of travel booker Take Off Go says it's more than a destination, "it's a deep-seated emotion".From Kenya to South Africa, Ivona talks to us about the best places to go, where to start for first-timers, and how to ensure you're travelling in a way that's right by the wildlife, and ensures you are able to make the most of the experience, https://www.takeoffgo.com/Also, loud talkers, crowding the luggage carousel and throwing your plane seat back… these are just some of the things that give us the ick when we travel, according to Vodafone.And the Great Aussie Pie Competition results are in - listen in for where to get the best pie in Australia. Road trips just got a whole lot more delicious, https://greataussiepiecomp.com.au/Read Kirstie's shortlisted adventure story for the Australian Society of Travel Writers' Excellence Awards about Sardinia and Belle's shortlisted culinary story about eating in Oman.Belle has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Travel Writer of the Year award; her stories include AlUla in Saudi Arabia and Moor, Please! A fabulous self-guided journey on Spain's public trains from Seville to Jerez and Cadiz, with Inntravel.And if you'd like to hear Belle chatting with 2GB about her cover story about travelling through Tunisia with Intrepid Travel, and the goat that tried to derail it all, listen here, https://omny.fm/shows/2gb-afternoons/travel-tunisia Send us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au
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EP 114 Rome to Nairobi connecting through classical music; US visitors love Australia & do you need domestic travel insurance?
“Opera and classical music shouldn’t be just for the elite,” says Australian-born soprano Breana Stillman. The opera singer leads a double life; based in Rome and singing throughout Europe, she’s also on a mission to bring classical music and opera to disadvantaged youth in central Africa, using art as a therapy. Breana spends several months a year in Kenya with the charity she founded, OperAffinity, working and performing with impoverished children to develop their artistic abilities, and to create cultural connection through music. Follow Breana's journey and for more on OperAffinity and its festival in Todi, Italy, https://www.breanasoprano.com/, https://www.operaffinity.com/ Also, while Americans are travelling to Australian in record numbers, Aussies are choosing Asia over the US for their international holidays, according to the latest Travel Trends Report from the Australian Travel Industry Association, https://atia.travel/ And finally, Southern Cross Travel Insurance makes the case for taking out travel insurance for domestic travel, https://www.scti.com.au/ Send us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au
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Ep 113 Melissa Hoyer on travelling the celeb circuit; Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List & making your data last when you travel
Melissa Hoyer is one of Australia’s most respected lifestyle commentators, journalists and editors, who has worked in the travel and lifestyle sector of the media industry for more than three decades, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and JK Rowling.This week, we take a look at what life's like for a leading commentator travelling on the celeb circuit, and find out where the A-listers like to go.Also, Intrepid's "Not Hot List" is out! This annual report highlights the lesser-known destinations and regions for those who care about treading lightly when they travel.And our tip this week is from eSIM provider Saily about how to get the most out of your data when you travel. Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au or on Instagram here.Send us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au
Su The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust
Where does your wanderlust lead you? To Melbourne’s cafes or the vast deserts of the Empty Quarter, a New Zealand vineyard or the pavements of New York… what’s your neighbourhood? Join travel journalists and editors Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson for inspiring stories and inside information from across the world. Website https://theworldawaits.auInstagram @theworldawaitspodcast Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)
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