Exploring Countries Through Travel, Nature and Walking
We have travelled and explored countries throughout our lives, often on foot, discovering landscapes, cultures, and nature along the way. While we can no longer walk the great hiking trails we once did, we love sharing our travel memories with others. This website is filled with personal experiences, helpful tips, and photos from the places we have explored and loved. For us, the joy of a holiday begins with the planning, as we have always preferred independent travel over resort-style vacations. Our journeys have taken us to some of the world’s most stunning destinations, where we have walked scenic trails, admired breathtaking landscapes, and encountered fascinating wildlife.
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Travel Memories from Iconic Destinations
We travelled to New Zealand many times and went on hiking trips. Milford Sound: after a spectacular drive through steep mountains, lakes, and beech forests, we enjoyed a stunning cruise.
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Istanbul — a city that blends rich history with modern life. Stunning mosques, bustling bazaars, and scenic views along the Bosphorus. Our visit was too short, so we had to come back.
Vietnam was great, the bustling cities and a Ha Long Bay cruise. We explored peaceful rice fields on a Mekong Delta tour. Most of all, we loved the exciting cuisine and the friendly, helpful people.
Great Hiking Trips Around the World
Before we moved to Australia, we walked many of the stunning hiking trails in Europe. We have only travel memories and no photos from this time. We walked fantastic hiking trails there and the travel memories will stay with us forever. Because we lived so long in Europe, we were eager to explore the landscapes and cultures of the Southern Hemisphere.
A great hike we loved, Marion’s Lookout (1,223 meters), Tasmania, Australia. A fantastic half day walk, some challenging in parts but with stunning views.
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In the Red Centre of Australia, we hiked the Ormiston Pound Trail. A spectacular 9-kilometre loop through breathtaking landscapes. The walk finished at the red cliffs and waterhole.
In the Canadian Rockies, we went hiking to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. The hike starts from Lake Louise; it is a 4–6 hour, 15 km hike to an elevation of 2100 metres.
Adventure Trips we loved
When we were younger, hiking and skiing were often central to our adventure trips. As we grew older, our style of exploring countries evolved, and we embraced a wider range of experiences. We swapped steep mountain trails for white-water rafting and canoeing adventures, and discovered Asia through river journeys, boat excursions, and motorcycle trips across Vietnam. One of our most unforgettable adventures was an incredible hiking journey through the remote highlands of Laos, where culture, landscapes, and exploration came together perfectly.
Our canoe trip down the fast-flowing Ord River in the Kimberley was a real adventure. We had to navigating hazards and hoping not to capsize. We made it, thanks to Go Wild Adventures Eco-Canoeing.
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From Turangi, New Zealand, we did a 2.5 hours Grade 3 whitewater rafting tour on the Tongariro River. We tackled 13 kilometres and 60 rapids in roaring water. That was the most fun adventure we had.
Hiking trips in Asia: The Tiger Trails hiking tour to a Khmu hill tribe village in the highlands was the highlight of our visit to Luang Prabang, Laos. We hiked 5-hours with our guide to get there.
Wildlife We Spotted Along the Way
Exploring countries has also given us unforgettable wildlife encounters, especially in Australia, which we consider one of the world’s best destinations for seeing animals in the wild. Tasmania stands out, where we spotted wallabies, wombats, Tasmanian devils, echidnas, quolls, possums, and even a platypus in its natural habitat. On Bruny Island, we were lucky to encounter rare albino wallabies. In northern Australia, we observed crocodiles and countless waterbirds, while inland regions revealed kangaroos and emus across vast open landscapes. Our favourite place to see koalas in the wild was Magnetic Island, where they can be observed up close in their natural environment.
During a great trip to the Kakadu National Park, Australia, we went on a Guluyambi Cultural Cruise along the East Alligator River. There we saw a massive saltwater crocodile basking on the riverbed.
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On hiking trips in the Daintree Rainforest North Queensland, Australia, we spotted a cassowary. This is an elusive large flightless bird. It can live up to 40 years and live solitaire, except when mating..
Just meters from the carpark at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, we saw a black bear. It was catching salmon in the creek. Our unforgettable travel memories from our trip to wild Alaska.
Exploring Countries by Region
Australia
During our 36 years in Australia, we explored almost every corner of this remarkable country. While exploring countries across the world, Australia has remained one of the most diverse and rewarding destinations we know. A few places still remain on our bucket list, particularly some remote regions in Central Australia. Over the years, we have enjoyed countless journeys from south to north and east to west, combining scenic travel with memorable hiking trips across an extraordinary range of landscapes.
The best time to travel in Australia depends largely on the region, but spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) generally offer the most pleasant conditions. Mild temperatures and fewer crowds make these seasons ideal for exploring much of the country.
Summer (December to March) can be very hot and humid in the north, but it is perfect for beach lovers in southern Australia. During this time, we often chose to explore Tasmania, where cooler temperatures create excellent conditions for walking and hiking trips.
Winter (June to August) is the ideal season to visit the Top End. Warm, dry weather makes it perfect for exploring the Northern Territory’s highlights, including Darwin, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Litchfield, and Nitmiluk National Parks, as well as the dramatic landscapes of the Red Centre. It is also the best time to experience Tropical Queensland, including Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, and the northern regions of Western Australia, such as Broome and the Kimberley.
New Zealand
Another country we have explored many times is beautiful New Zealand, and it remains one of our all-time favourites. While exploring countries through travel and walking, New Zealand stands out for its diversity, scenery, and welcoming atmosphere. We discovered both the North and South Islands on our journeys, each offering very different experiences.
The South Island is ideal for lovers of dramatic landscapes. With majestic mountains, stunning fjords, and impressive glaciers, it is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. From world-class skiing and bungee jumping to some of the most spectacular hiking trails on the planet, the South Island delivers unforgettable adventure and nature-based travel experiences. We explored it by motorhome in the quieter autumn season, which made the journey even more special.
Even so, we travelled more often to the North Island, which we found more diverse and easier to explore. We enjoyed its vibrant cities, excellent museums, lively arts scene, geothermal wonders, Māori culture, and beautiful beaches. For both islands, we recommend allowing at least 10 to 14 days to truly experience what they have to offer. One of the things we love most about exploring New Zealand is the warmth and friendliness of the Kiwis, who are always welcoming and happy to help.
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North Amerika
Exploring countries across North America has given us some of our most memorable travel experiences. Our journey through British Columbia, Canada, was one of the best tours we have ever done, especially travelling by motorhome. After spending a few days exploring the vibrant city of Vancouver, we exchanged hotel accommodation for a motorhome and set off toward Banff. Along the way, we explored several national parks and stayed overnight beside beautiful mountain lakes. Travelling in autumn made the experience even more special, with quiet campgrounds and colourful landscapes. From Banff, we continued to the Icefields Parkway and Jasper, where the scenery was breathtaking and we enjoyed fantastic hiking trips. On our return journey, we even went mushroom foraging in Wells Gray Provincial Park, followed by a short stop in Whistler before taking the ferry to stunning Vancouver Island.
Our trip to Alaska was unexpectedly shortened. After arriving in Juneau, we had to return to Australia for medical reasons. Despite this, one of the highlights of exploring this remarkable region was cruising through the Inside Passage. We travelled by ferry from Bellingham to Juneau, stopping at charming little hamlets along the way. It was an unforgettable journey, and we loved every minute of it.
Our time in Juneau was brief, with most of our planned excursions cancelled, but we were still able to visit the impressive Mendenhall Glacier and witness a bear catching salmon in the wild — a moment that made this short stay truly special.
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Asia
Sadly, we did not spend enough time in Asia during our earlier travels, although we visited Singapore and Malaysia many years ago. After retiring, we finally had the opportunity to explore more of this fascinating region, travelling through Vietnam and Laos — and it turned out to be one of our best journeys. While exploring countries across Asia, we combined gentle adventure trips with light hiking, which brought us closer to both the landscapes and the people.
We especially loved the vibrant towns, vivid markets, and bustling streets filled with colour and life. Everywhere we went, people were incredibly kind, always smiling, welcoming, and eager to help. Discovering Asia’s rich cultural heritage, magnificent temples, and beautiful countryside made these journeys truly unforgettable. Looking back, we only wish we had gone sooner — and stayed longer.
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Europe
Since moving to Australia, we have returned to Europe only once, but it became a memorable journey through Germany, Greece, and Turkey. While exploring countries across Europe, we began in Athens, where we discovered ancient landmarks and outstanding museums. From there, we took a ferry to the beautiful islands of Santorini and Naxos, enjoying their unique mix of history, culture, and coastal scenery.
Our time in Turkey was far too short, with only three days in Istanbul — yet it was one of the most exciting cities we have ever visited. The city’s energy, history, and atmosphere left a lasting impression. From Istanbul, we flew to Germany. Although we had lived there for many years, we had never visited the capital, so it was finally time to explore Berlin. We found it to be a wonderful city, known for its modern architecture, rich history, vibrant art scene, and welcoming pub culture.
Before flying back to Australia, we travelled to Franconia, where we once lived. Spending time with family and friends was a highlight, and we even revisited some of the hiking trails we had walked more than 30 years earlier — a perfect way to reconnect with both the landscape and our memories.
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These are our travel memories from a lifetime of exploring countries across the world. We may be a little older and wiser now, but our passion for travel remains strong, and we hope to add many more journeys in the years ahead. While the great hiking trips of the past may no longer be possible, new forms of exploration and adventure still await us.
Our travels continue to evolve, and we look forward to discovering inspiring destinations in different ways. We invite you to return from time to time as we share new travel ideas and experiences.