karlovac, croatia
Known as the City of Four Rivers by the locals in this town outside of Zagreb. This town holds a lot more meaning in my heart. As the hometown of my family, specifically my Baba (grandma). I was lucky enough to meet my extended family and spend time in their homes. It’s a special thing to have lunch with the people that are so close, yet so far away.
temple of apollo, greece
Venturing out of Athens is a definite must in this land of mythology, history, and archaeology. I embarked on a three-day journey to explore the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, a few Meteora and monasteries in the tablelands of northern Greece. I would definitely recommend using a certified travel guide an tour to get the most out of this experience.
WILLIAM WALLACE MONUMENT, STIRLING, Scotland
I had the opportunity to study at the University of Stirling in Scotland through their International Summer School Program. I was able to visit local high schools, study with aspiring teachers from around the globe, and immerse myself in the Scottish culture. Visiting the Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle were all key highlights, as well as exploring St. Andrews.
You can feel the history pouring out of the land in the form of castles, monuments, and Elizabethan style architecture. The weather is very different to my native Australia, which does take time to adapt to, but not a dealbreaker.
Trinity college, dublin
Visiting Dublin on a day trip from London is a cost-effective way to see the city. The accommodation in Dublin is very pricey. It works out to be cheaper to travel early in the morning via Ryanair and leave at night. The highlight without a doubt is Trinity College for all you academic nerds out there. The city is clean, easy to navigate and the people are very friendly.
adelaide, australia
Cricket at the Adelaide Oval is a must-do experience for any die hard Australian sports fan. The history is compelling and atmosphere is electric.
The tour is a must, the opportunity to watch players train before matches and visit the incredible Don Bradman Memorial Museum.
principality stadium, cardiff, wales
Cardiff is a very old-fashioned European city with the all the hallmarks of British culture. The standout is the city’s prime stadium that holds their rugby union, concerts and international events. I was lucky enough to step foot onto the stadium floor through a guided tour. Cardiff Castle is also a very historical and inclusive site for a family visit.
washington D.C; philadelphia; united states
A history and political buff? Washington DC is the foremost place for anyone that wants to immerse themselves in the polarising timeline of the United States. From the Lincoln Memorial to the National Archives, there is an enormous amount of history to explore! The National Mall is filled with museums for all subjects.
Don’t sleep on Philly! It’s more than just the Rocky Balboa steps, it’s littered with great museums and the home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. (It also holds a special treat for fans of the film, National Treasure).
berlin, prague, salzburg, amsterdam, antwerp; europe
The Holocaust Museum in Berlin is an astounding reminder of the value of life. A timeless monument of the victims of human greed, monstrosity and vice.
Prague is the epicenter of religious architecture that intersects a variety of eras into one city.
Salzburg is picturesque and a callback to the Medieval design of town that runs along a river with a beautiful castle as the salient feature.
Amsterdam’s suburbs are an under-valued tourist attraction that offer an alternative to the unfortunately uncivilised city.
Antwerp’s beauty lies in its simplicity and archetypal European architecture (it’s probably a stop-over at best, to be honest). Unless, you wish to visit a Music Festival.
The Eagle’s Nest is also a great historical place to visit, the home of Adolf Hitler in the Alps. Very eerie (as pic’d above).
niagara falls, canada
Starting in the small town of Wadsworth with a university friend. We decided to make the journey to Niagara Falls through Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. We skirted around Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes to eventually make our way to Buffalo and onto the border crossing at Niagara. The first thing that everyone must know: the falls are loud!! The amount of gushing water creates a cloud of mist that can be seen for some miles away. There are plenty of hydro-electric tours and museums, and fantastic viewpoints of the Falls from below, within and behind the natural landmark!
grand canyon, united states
A road trip for the ages! Starting in Salt Lake City, Utah with a friend from the beautiful city. We ventured south past Bryce Canyon, Kanab and skirted around the Eastern rim of the Grand Canyon. A colossal 10 hour drive with amazing sights on the way! We stayed overnight in the Grand Canyon Village, which felt more like a summer camp. Driving back past the famous Horseshoe Bend, Northern Rim and through the amazing city of St. George. Certainly an experience I will never forget, driving on the opposite side of the road is definitely confusing for the mind!
pyramids of giza, egypt
During my solo travels, I was lucky enough to book a private tour of the pyramids in Giza. This included entry INSIDE each of the pyramids with exclusive access! I highly recommend using one of these private tours, which are fairly inexpensive and found on most reputable tour applications like GetYour Guide. I was lucky enough to have an awesome guide, Mohammed, that was very knowledgeable and absolute gem of a person.
Whilst I stayed in Giza, I found the area to be quite unsafe due to a large number of gypsies that prey on tourists. I would recommend staying in Cairo and visiting the various museums at offer in the city, and visit the Pyramids along with the new museum on a day trip.
9/11 memorial, new york
I was fortunate enough to visit New York on 9/11, as a somber day of learning and remembrance. As we toured the city by bike, we came across countless fire stations, as seen above, celebrating the lives of their loved ones. I will never forget this station in Brooklyn with so many uniformed servicemen, coming together to mourn, celebrate, and reunite with loved one and friends.
queenstown, new zealand
Flying into Christchurch for a road trip to Queenstown is an amazing experience! The panoramic scenes, wildlife and larger than life mountains are breathtaking.
Queenstown is a hub full of adventure, sports, treks and incredible people. The luge (basically Mario Kart down a mountain) is a must do.
hokkaido, japan
Snowboarding/skiing can only be truly experienced in the powder of Japanese snow. Learning the basics of the sport is amazingly simple when the bumps and bruises from falling are cushioned by countless beds of soft, snow. The mountains on the North island are incredible, with great views and fantastic food that will satisfy the pickiest of eaters (like me!).
new york, chicago; united states
New York and Chicago are peas in a pod! The Windy City and the City that Never Sleeps are the heart of the East Coast. Madision Square Garden, Rockefeller Centre, Stature of Liberty, Empire State Building and Central Park are the typical landmarks. BUT watching a NFL game at Metlife should be on your list OR visiting Yankee Stadium in the Upper East. Riding the subway is an experience in itself and is a great transport option for those on a budget. There is a weekly ticket that is great value for money. Also, don’t get sick, it derails your trip.
Chicago is considered an unsafe city by most standards. But ensure you stay in the River North or CBD to avoid any dramas. Wrigley Field is under-rated. Visiting a theater show is a great option for some. For the everyday tourist, the Willis Centre, Lake Michigan, replica Friends set on the Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park are safe bets to keep everyone happy. Note to all, avoid Chicago in the dead of winter, you risk your flight being snowed in (we were lucky to avoid this).
los angeles, san franciso; united states
Los Angeles provides the best and worst of humanity in one city that is sometimes is only a block apart. Whilst you walk around the city, one street may be clean, beautiful and full of entertaining tourist attractions like cinemas, shopping centers and theme parks. Whilst the very next block may be filled with homelessness, disgusting streets and air pollution.
It’s so important to choose a safe and reliable accommodation in preferably a suburban part of the city. Areas such as Hollywood, some parts of the CBD and Venice Beach can be dangerous for those travelling alone as tourists. Travelling in groups or staying away from the city is the best option for LA. Tourist attractions like Universal Studios, Disneyland, Hollywood Walk of Fame and Staples Centre are musts for LA.
San Franciso is the cleaner version of LA. It has a much more organised and safe feel (as long as you stay on the West side of the Bay). The Golden Gate Bridge, Chase Centre, Alcatraz Island and Pier 55 are great landmarks to visit.
rome, venice, cinque terre, florence, vatican city, sorrento; italy
Anyone with a taste for literature and religious history MUST visit Rome and the Vatican City. Both provide incredible experience with Ancient architecture that effortlessly exist in the modern world. The size and scope of the city still amazes me to this day.
Venice is another example of history living and breathing in contemporary society. The gondola rides in the canals are an exciting experience, and strikes a chord to see a city constructed around a vast system of waterways.
The Isle of Capri in Sorrento is a nucleus for the rich and famous, the clear, blue water is stuff of movies (actually most movies are shot here). I would show you, but Nick lost our GoPro (I still haven’t forgiven him).
Cinque Terre must be visited in the summer. The beaches are the main attraction here (do note that some beaches are private and you must pay to enter). The houses are unique and provide great photo opportunities!
Don’t forget Florence! It’s a wonderful city that has great underground museums.
paris, monaco, nice; france
On the verge of being a Third World city on the outskirts of town. Paris is either beautiful or dodgy, depending on your accommodation and experience. We saw both sides of the city. Stay close to the tourist hotspots like the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe and Louvre.
Monaco is a rich man’s paradise. There are two casinos to visit for the gamblers out there. One is a free entry for those that wish to experience the high-life without spending too much money (it’s on the left of the main casino). Both are situated near the hair-point turn on the Grand Prix track.
Nice is the more than nice. It’s great. Splendid beaches (the rocks hurt), brilliant food and culture with a great view of the Mediterranean.
honolulu, hawaii
Do yourself a favour and hire a Sports car. Mustang, Camero or whatever suits your taste. You can drive around the main island in one day. Waikiki is the best place to stay with great food options like the Cheesecake Factory. The outlets are great for bargain shoppers, but they are closer to the airport than the city. Watch out for the reefs in the water, they cut your feet! Diamond Head is a great hike for those that want to get an easy photo, but there are some hidden gems in the middle of the island.
tokyo, japan
Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Dome. Get those done before you leave.
Everything is organised to a tee. Don’t be a fool and stand in the way of people on the footpaths, escalators or lines. This is a place for those clean freaks, organisational wizards and creative specimens alike.
Be respectful and always try to say hello and goodbye in the native tongue!
Vending machines for food. THe easy life.
barcelona, san sebastian; spain
Nothing beats meeting Liverpool legend, Xabi Alonso in the heart of his hometown of San Sebastian.
However, the visiting the religious landmark, Sagrada Familia is pretty close. Whilst the Camp Nou is the modern-day Colosseum of football.
london, england
Harry Potter World in Watford. Harry Potter fans get onto this right now! We almost missed our allocated time, so don’t be late! Big Ben was under construction for us, but the London Eye, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace are great places to visit. I would recommend using a bus to get around, there heaps of tour guides around. For sporting fans out there, the Emirates Stadium is a brilliant stadium (Arsenal fan here).
dubai, united arab emirates
Dubai is a worthwhile stop-over for anyone going for the long-haul to Europe from Australia. It breaks up the 24 hour flight in a great way. The place itself is very hot, even for Australian standards. We arrived just after a sand storm, so the visibility wasn’t great and was difficult to breath at points.
Visiting the tallest building in the world (as of writing this), Burj Khalifa, is the most appealing experience for many. The centers are great for those that like to window shop, but the exchange rate and prices make it unaffordable to buy anything. Unless, you are in the target market of the super rich and affluent.
The Desert Safari is the best experience for thrill-seekers that love to off-road, and also star-gaze with great food and people.
mount kozzy, australia
All I can say is this: don’t think it will be warm at the top of Mount Kosciusko in Summer. It is still very cold. Rug up and put a few layers on. Also, the wind. It’s not still up there!
albany, western australia
Albany is a quant, historical city on the south side of Western Australia. The city is a hotbed of colonial history that stands the test of time. The food is typical of a coastal town with plenty of options. I highly recommend doing a road trip to get to Albany.
We drove from Perth through the desert, forest and coastal roads. The highlight being Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, which stands upon the intersection of the Southern and Indian Ocean. What a sight!
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