Are you seeking exciting world travel adventures? The type of travel rich in experience. With you in mind, that’s why I wrote my latest book: “The Youthful Midlife Traveller: A Baby Boomer’s Guide to Independent World Travel” It’s a follow on from my original popular book, My Senior Gap Year (or The Youthful Art of Midlife Travel as a subsequent titled version). My Senior Gap Year tells the stories of the adventures of a grey haired senior backpacking around the world. This new book, shares the advice and all the valuable tips as well as from other seasoned travellers. Of course a certain pan ..read more

There’s something thrilling about chasing adventure in the great Australian outback. The call of the wild beckoned us as we set off on a quest to explore South Australia’s renowned outback tracks – The Strzelecki Track, Oodnadatta Track, and Birdsville Track. Expecting dusty, rough tracks that would test the best driving skills, we were in for a surprise. The outback tracks, though mainly unsealed, resembled well-traveled highways in parts, with many sealed sections. It’s as if the outback is shedding its old skin, embracing modernity while still preserving its timeless charm. Reminiscing abo ..read more

Imagine being part of a one-of-a-kind music festival set in the heart of the Australian outback—the Birdsville Big Red Bash. The tenth annual musical festival, this iconic event draws ten thousand music lovers from across the country and around the world. With its remote location in the Simpson Desert, it promises an adventure like no other. A captivating journey and unique experience is what the Birdsville Big Red Bash offers. Half The Fun is The Journey to the Bash Just reaching the festival is a challenge in itself. Along with the remaining hundreds of others, it was a race against ti ..read more

G’day from Nusa Dua, Bali. I know that’s a bit culturally inappropriate, but hey, the place is mostly crawling with Aussies, so I reckon I can get away with it. After being back in Bali again it’s easy to understand why it’s such a popular tropical oasis to relax, rejuvenate and get your adrenaline pumping… if that’s what you choose! Whether you’re looking for the ultimate relaxation or some exciting water sports activities, Nusa Dua has something for everyone. So grab a tropical drink, put on your sunglasses, and join me as we dive in! #SpaLife: No trip to Bali could ever be complete without ..read more

Heading west after Australia’s Longest Shortcut leaves the red dust behind, to take you through the Wheatbelt on the way to Perth. For the traveller, the Wheatbelt offers more than just it’s main economic contributor of cereal crops and mining. Westonia is a must see stop. Like a real life movie set, the main street is lined with business shop fronts. But it’s all a facade… check out the video below. Further inland of the central wheatbelt area, huge granite rock outcrops, like mini Ulurus, offer at some locations, complete with a vast lake, fantastic camping spots. A final stopover, just a s ..read more

One of the features of Australia’s Longest Shortcut is it takes you right through to the very heart of Australia. The Red Centre. Part of the shortcut is the Plenty Highway. The signs warned of the need for four wheel drive with high clearance. Maybe they hadn’t got around to updating the sign as apart from a few rough sections, the many now sealed parts make it an excellent shorter trip to Alice Springs. It was disappointing though to see the impact covid has had on Alice. The international tourists and backpackers are still largely missing and Todd Street Mall is certainly showing the resul ..read more

What a great idea. A pub that also does haircuts … where you can actually come out looking smarter than when you went in!! Which is what we found at the Wellshot Pub at Ilfacombe on the Capricorn Highway. A Father’s Day Parmi and a pint for lunch, and a clean up at the same time! Further along the highway at Longreach The Stockman’s Hall of Fame, showcases the real heart of the Australian pioneering spirit. Across the road the Qantas (actually called the Queensland And Northern Territory Aviation Service) huge 747 jumbo jet is a striking feature entering the town. Comparing this against their ..read more

“Please don’t send these pictures to India”, my friend Ben said (his real name!) I agreed we would keep them between us. We were being flippant, but the point Ben was making was the huge difference in how we produce food in western countries like Australia compared to many poorer regions around the world such as India where many of his family originates from. Unlike these poorer countries where manual labour brings the connection of food to land much closer, the chasm between our food and where it comes from has become so great. For the majority of us, we really have absolutely no idea the so ..read more

“Who’d be a farmer?” I’d heard that comment a couple times. I’d taken on a seasonal farm stint in south east Western Australia. As far as the eye could see, golden coloured crops gently flowed back and forth with the warm wind. It was harvest time. You could almost see the glint in farming brothers, John and Michael Bertola’s eyes. All their year’s efforts were finally there for the taking, waiting to be rewarded. And it was looking like a bumper season. Unfortunately, as is the nature of farming, the weather had other plans. In fact for the first month, I spent more time back in Perth waitin ..read more

It was a bit weird. We were on the outskirts of Laverton in Western Australia and had just finished the last stretch of gravel road on The Outback Way, Australia’s Longest Shortcut. With the bitumen now ahead of us, there was a sense of disappointment our adventure had come to an end. It’s probably better described as a slow adventure. This section of the shortcut from Yulara, just east of Alice Springs to well into Western Australia, The Great Central Highway offers quite the unique experience. I remember once when we were living in Saudi Arabia. We were having a family picnic with friends u ..read more