Tag: featured

Skydive, raft and hike your way around Queenstown

On By Lisa OwenIn Adventures, Australia & New Zealand20 Comments

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Following a trip to beautiful Costa Rica trying everything from bungy jumping to rappelling down the side of a waterfall, I was looking to go one better and do something even more exciting and adrenaline pumping.

I decided there was only one way to do that. Jump out of a perfectly good plane, of course. And I chose to do it in New Zealand’s adventure capital, Queenstown.

Skydiving had been high on my bucket list for a long time but I wanted to do it somewhere special – somewhere with unparalleled views and where I knew I was in good hands. read more

Day hikes on Lofoten Islands

On By Lisa OwenIn EuropeLeave a comment

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Do you like beautiful landscapes, road trips and hiking? If you answered yes, then you owe it yourself to make the journey to Norway’s Lofoten Islands – before everyone discovers one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

The Lofoten Islands – located within the Arctic Circle – offers kilometres of spectacular mountain landscapes scattered with quaint fishermen cottages and bridges spanning azure water. And one of the best ways to reach them is by pulling on your hiking boots and navigating muddy and steep mountain sides to see them. You won’t be disappointed. read more

Get down and dirty inside a mud volcano

On By Lisa OwenIn Cartagena, Central & South America, City Guides5 Comments

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Floating in a mud bath inside a volcano would have to be one of my most random travel experiences. But also one of my favourite travel experiences – I don’t think I stopped laughing the whole time I was in the mud bath.

While on a tour along the Caribbean coast of Colombia, our guide recommended we visit the  Volcan de Totumo (Totumo Volcano) – a 15 metre mud volcano about 45 minutes outside of Cartagena.

When you reach the volcano, you’ll wonder if you’re in the right place and may think you’ve been tourist trapped. read more

My favourite places to welcome in the day

On By Lisa OwenIn City Guides, My Favourite Places18 Comments

Every so often, I reach a city that I connect with more than others. When I peek out the window as the sun comes up, look out to the street or over to the ocean, and I simply cannot wait to get out there and explore. The day is just beginning, but I bounce out the door with wide eyes and a stupid grin on my face, my camera in hand snapping away at the parks, and buildings, seascapes or mountains, buskers, markets and street art. The sounds and smells invigorate and inspire me, the people fascinate me, I love all the food, and I never want to leave. read more

Which Greek Island should I visit?

On By Lisa OwenIn City Guides, Europe3 Comments

There’s a lot of Greek Islands out there – some are party islands, others are family resort islands. Here’s a brief rundown of what you can expect to find on some of the more popular islands.

The Cyclades Islands are the group of islands I hear brought up most often when people talk about Greece. These include Santorini, Mykonos and Ios.

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Santorini

Best for sunsets, quad biking, shopping, water activities and hot springs.

Santorini has everything – stunning views and beaches, delicious food, snorkelling, hot springs, and quad bike rental shops on nearly every corner. Santorini is the island most likely to suit everyone’s taste and it was the very first Greek Island I visited. read more