Considering it usually takes us around five hours to drive to the snow from Melbourne in the Australian winter, it’s mind-boggling to me that in Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, Japan, you can literally ski a mountain in only a 30 minute drive. Mt Moiwa (藻岩山, Moiwayama) is located to the southwest of Sapporo, less than 15 km away, and offers fantastic far-reaching views across the city from the summit.  On the southwestern side of the mountain is the Mt. Moiwa Ski Resort. To the northeastern side is the Mount Moiwa Ropeway with an observation deck and restaurant for the general non ..read more

After a successful (and super fun!) first adventure bikepacking from Wangaratta to Bright on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, it was time to hit the road again with another easy bikepacking trip. After a little thought, we realised that there was a weekend-worthy rail trail even closer (and easier) to access than Wang from Melbourne’s CBD: Lilydale to Warburton! We’ve visited Warburton countless times in the past and love it (including a stay at the olde-world Warburton Lodge Motel). But cycling the area and staying in a campground for the night was going to bring us a whole new perspectiv ..read more

As much as I love Melbourne, I always had one big bone to pick with it: you have to drive a couple of hours outside of the CBD to access some of the area’s best hiking spots. Or so I thought. Being from North Yorkshire in England, where I can walk out of my front door and into a network of thousands of public footpaths with no people in sight, I found it a little suffocating to not have those kinds of easy walking opportunities in Australia. That being said, I decided to make it my mission to find the best walks 1 hour from Melbourne (or less!). Surely there had to be some! And I surprised my ..read more

The moment I arrived into Walhalla through the winding mountainside roads, thick with native forest, I was stunned. It was simply gorgeous. Why the hell hadn’t I visited (or even heard of!) this stunning time-capsule mountain town earlier?! I constantly seek out unique places in Victoria, and Walhalla is probably one of the most quirky places I’ve visited to date. “Stepping back in time” is such an overused travel cliche, but with no petrol stations, commercial buildings, and only a couple of pubs, holiday cottages and traditional-style shops, Walhalla really is a true rural escape from mains ..read more

Nestled in the northeast of Singapore, Pulau Ubin island lured me in with the promise of tranquillity and rustic natural beauty. Away from the bright city lights and bustling lifestyle, this small island offers an idyllic wildlife-filled escape, right on Singapore’s doorstep. Approximately 10.19 square kilometres in size, the lush island of Pulau Ubin is popular for cycling or walking through its many trails and boardwalks, with many interesting natural landmarks and historic points of interest to stop at. But as a solo female traveller, the question of safety naturally crossed my mind and I ..read more

Tokyo is a city where the future seems to arrive before the present. A dazzling metropolis where its wild nightlife, cutting-edge fashion districts, quirky technology and culinary delights serve as the epicentre of modern Japan.  But Tokyo’s urban dynamism, while undeniably mesmerising and super cool to visit for a couple of days, doesn’t really offer a holistic representation of Japan’s deeply rooted history and ancient culture. The skyscrapers, fast-paced lifestyle, and even the sheer number of people overshadows the rich tapestry of Japan’s traditional heritage. If, like me, you’re th ..read more

In all honesty, I’ve always considered Phillip Island a little overrated. It’s busy, overpriced and you can find better wildlife experiences and just as spectacular (if not better?) coastal scenery elsewhere in Victoria, especially at the nearby stunning Wilsons Prom National Park. That being said, there’s definitely one activity that I highly recommend doing on Phillip Island if you like walking – the 8.5km Cape Woolamai Circuit track. Starting at the surf beach, this coastal walk skirts around the highest point on Phillip Island, the Cape Woolamai Peninsula, an easy and wonderfully varied h ..read more

Matsumoto in the Nagano prefecture of Japan has the best of both worlds. Located on the cusp of the Japanese Alps, it’s a launching pad to explore the mountains. In the summer, locals and tourists flock to hike and do water sports. In winter, it’s all about skiing and snowboarding. But the city itself is also an attractive ancient castle town with pockets of preserved history and culture surrounded by a modern metropolis.  Located only 2.5 hours away from Tokyo, Matsumoto is a popular day trip destination from Japan’s capital, especially as you can squeeze in most of the touristic highli ..read more

To kick off 2023 in style and set the tone for the rest of the year, my sister and I wanted to embark on a wholesome outdoor adventure over the long bank holiday weekend. As proud residents of northeast England, something epic to take advantage of and celebrate our beautiful surrounding landscapes was in order.  We decided to tackle the Cleveland Way, a 34 km/21 mile walk from Scarborough to Whitby along the coastline, with an overnight stop at the very cool YHA Boggle Hole. And boy did we luck out with the most glorious winter sunshine and clear skies imaginable (though the endless thic ..read more

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