Whenever I write about my love of camping, I get comments asking how to do it. Lots of you want to give it a go but don’t know where to start – and I can see why. Walking into a camping shop is overwhelming and if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for I [...]

We recently spent a weekend at the glorious Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria, checking out some of the wonderful walking tracks there. The first walk we did was to the top of a mountain, Mt Bishop (an easier walk than it sounds!), and the three of us headed off with Steve carrying Abbey in a carrier [...]

  I’ve fallen in love. Hard. It’s the unexpected kind: when you think nothing could surprise you, and then you see this place and you just fall for it. Gippsland. It’s always been there, right on my doorstep. The edge of it is just an hour’s drive from my home, but I ignored it – [...]

Today I have a story for the doubters. Anyone who says, ‘I hate camping’ or ‘I couldn’t do it’ or ‘I’m too old for that’ – read on for an inspiring story. My Dad always loved heading out into the bush – fishing, camping, bushwalking, photographing nature. I often think Dad has adventure in his [...]

People are often surprised by my decision to go camping. It’s something you either really love or really despise – the thought of no toilets or showers, setting up, the dirt and mess, cooking over a fire – it makes a lot of people dream of five-star hotels. And it isn’t so much that I [...]

Saturday. Early morning: Wake up, start complaining about having no motivation to pack and go away for just one night. Husband says, ‘Too bad’. Start packing. Late morning: Arrive. Pretend to be very, very busy looking after child while husband sets up the tent. Feel silly when I realise child is actually helping husband. Whatever, [...]

I often refer to Tasmania, particularly Hobart, as my second home. Having family there means I’ve spent a lot of time in one of Australia’s most beautiful states, and it just feels like home. But there’s another spot that comes an equal second – a special part of the country just a couple of hours [...]

This weekend, we headed up to Mt Buller here in Victoria for a day at the snow. I’d always wanted to try skiing, but I had no idea how I’d go. I was worried about falling (Steve told me not to be nervous, that I would definitely fall), scared about going downhill (you can imagine [...]

Sure, there are things to do in Walhalla: history to explore, fun to be had, eating to be done. Yes, it is a wonderful spot for a girls’ weekend away, with wine, chocolate and warmth. But none of those things are the reason I would – and will – go back. So, what really makes Walhalla something [...]

Following my recent weekend away to Walhalla (read more about the destination here), I’ve been pondering: what makes for a good girls’ weekend away? I’ve been on hundreds a few girls’ weekends whenever I can on occasion and I find there are some specific ingredients required: Wine, and a perfect spot in which to drink it. [...]