by Loreena Walsh | Slider Features, Thoughts & Ideas, Trip Planning
As you may or may not know we’ve been given the amazing opportunity to try our hand at shooting a documentary for Nat Geo TV as Nissan X-trail Adventurers. On top of getting the chance to experience this, we also get to decide our destination, Where would we like to take our next family adventure?
For us, this decision was actually made over 3 years ago.
When we travelled the Stuart Highway in 2008 from Darwin to Adelaide, we really had no idea what we’d discover. I mean, we’d seen images of Uluru on TV, we knew we’d take a detour into Kakadu, and we had to visit Coober Pedy for sure, I mean people seriously live underground there! Little did we know that the true spirit of Australia would capture our souls. We not only experienced things beyond our wildest dreams, but we discovered there were so many more hidden treasures out there we just knew we had to hit the road again to explore.
It’s taken3 years for the opportunity to discover a new region of Australia to appear. We’ve done plenty of short trips and camping trips, but nothing that isn’t easily accessible from home.
So, given this amazing chance to not only show other Aussie families the fun and adventure you can experience together on a road trip, but also choose our destination, we knew before we entered just where we’d go….
Adelaide Coast Line
Kangaroo Island was the place on the top of our list, followed Closely by returning to Melbourne (we fell in love with Melbourne the first time we visited) and driving the Great Ocean Road…. How blessed are we that we get to do BOTH those things while capturing the adventure for other families to watch on Nat Geo TV!
Our obsession with Kangaroo Island was almost instant from the moment we read about it. I remember arriving in Adelaide and reading the local paper (we always like to read local papers on our travels to get a feel for a place) and in that paper was an advertisement for a Wildlife Park for sale on Kangaroo Island. We read all we could about Kangaroo Island, and discovered that Australia had our very own “Aussie Galapagos” Island, full of amazing animals, untouched and gorgeous nature. We’re Wildlife lovers, so we dreamt about what it would be like to own a Wildlife park in such an amazing place. We knew that one day we’d return to explore this amazing paradise ourselves.
As for the Great Ocean Road, well that’s just a MUST DO for any Australian. It’s such a long way from our home base, we just weren’t sure when we would ever get the opportunity to do this stretch. Well, now we know I guess! At the end of February, flying into Melbourne and hitting the road in our Nat Geo Nissan X-trail to capture the amazing, amazing places and spaces all along the Great Ocean Road and beyond!
So there you have it, at the end of February, just a couple of weeks away, we’ll be flying into Melbourne, taking a road trip down the Great Ocean Road right through to Kangaroo Island, to show you all how amazing this part of the country is.
Do you have a dream destination? Do you have anything you’d like us to stop and see on the way? Let us know!
by Loreena Walsh | Slider Features, Thoughts & Ideas
Ok, let me start this post by saying 2 things….
Firstly that I am SUPER EXCITED! The second that I’m so nervous I just can’t explain!
We have an AMAZING opportunity to try our hand at documentary making for Nat Geo Australia!
A few weeks ago I entered a competition that’s being run by National Geographic AU and Nissan to find the Next Nat Geo – Nissan X-trail Adventurers….
Totally unexpectedly we recieved a phone call!!!
We’ve been chosen as one of 3 families to be sent off on an Aussie Adventure of our choice, to experience the Nissan X-Trail, and become the next Nissan X-trail Nat Geo Adventurers!
You can see our entry on the Nat Geo TV Website we are on the right 🙂
We’ll be filming and photographing our adventures and then you’ll all get a chance to watch us!!
We even get to work with a real Nat Geo Film Crew!!!
So yep, I’m TOTALLY nervous about being on TV!!!
Once all 3 families have finished their holidays, Nat Geo will open voting so that one family gets to WIN AN X-TRAIL!!
I can’t tell you how much that would be life changing for us, but whatever happens, just know:
The itinerary we’ve planned will blow your socks off with action, adventure and fun!!
We’ll be heading off toward the end of February and we’ll be sharing our adventure on the way, it is all feeling so very surreal right now!
To celebrate we’re running a couple of competitions so be sure to check them out.
We really hope you pop back to our blog or stay tuned via Facebook to share the journey with us, and if you’ve ever had experience filming a Doco we’d love all the tips we can get 😀
by Loreena Walsh | NSW Destinations & Activities, Photography, Slider Features
It had been a while since we’d been to a Rodeo, when Matt was actually riding bulls we’d go all the time. This is Kendall Rodeo in NSW, it was a nice day out, and included all the favourites, barrel racing, novice bullride (the kids version of this is so cute.. look at the little guy in the last photo! As well as Bareback Bronc and Saddle Bronc, not to mention the Open Bull Riding! It was a sweltering hot day, but being behind the camera helped take my mind off it, hope you enjoy the photos…..
This post is part of Aussie Wordless Wednesday over at My Little Drummer Boys be sure to head over there to discover some more great blogs and photographs.
by Loreena Walsh | Photography, Slider Features
Yesterday we stopped at the 2 most Christmassy houses in the area, the kids love it and the street is lined with cars as people get out to take in the gorgeous, gorgeous displays…..
This post is part of Wordless Wednesday, a link up with My Little Drummer Boys & Faith Hope & a Whole Lotta Love
by Loreena Walsh | Photography, Slider Features
Photos from the Total Lunar Eclipse that Australia experienced tonight: (The last one is my fave) 🙂
by Loreena Walsh | Slider Features, Thoughts & Ideas
I was lucky enough recently to discover a movement called Travel Bloggers Give Back and couldn’t wait to be involved. The goal is to highlight worthy charities, so I’ve collected a few that are meaningful to me.
What Gifts Will You be Giving This Christmas?
For us, we’re downsizing our “stuff” because we can’t take it with us on the road, so this Christmas our presents need to have a purpose, for others it can be a case of “they have everything” so there’s nothing to buy that won’t be quickly forgotten about of discarded.
For kids, it’s just downright overwhelming to receive mountains of plastic “stuff”. I wonder what we’re really teaching our kids each year?
I’ve been thinking about how to really make Christmas gifts have meaning, and this is my resulting thoughts:
Most people we need don’t need things, they just need happiness, and how better to make someone happy than to know they’ve helped make a difference in the world. Buy the gift of change for your friends and family, it’s good for the soul.
The Ultimate List of Christmas Gifts That REALLY Give!
Adopt a Koala: This is a truly unique gift that can change the life of so many injured Koalas! The Koala Preservation Society of N.S.W Inc. in situated in Port Macquarie NSW and they do a wonderful job with helping sick and injured Koalas. They do wonderful tours and need much needed donations to keep doing their amazing work. You can choose which Koala you adopt or for something a little more fun perhaps buy your very own “Barry the Koala” the Koala hospital love recieving photos of where Barry gets to travel throughout Australia and the World 🙂
Sponsor a Conservation Project: Australia Zoo do a huge amount within Australia and around the World to help take care of the future of animal species. They have many projects in operation, but a great way to get involved is to become a Conservation Project Sponsor. You receive a great pack as part of the sponsorship, so it will make an especially great gift. Some of the projects include Tiger Conservation in Sumatra, Tassie Devil Conservation in Tasmania, Crocodile Conservation and there’s a whole lot more to choose from.
Help Animals Worldwide: WWF is one of the most active animal welfare organisations worldwide and offer an amazing range of products that are suitable for gift giving and also help them continue their amazing work. With plenty of useful products to choose from as well as the opportunity to sponsor animals there’s sure to be something for everyone.
Giving Pigs, Goats, Chickens and So Much More!: Worldvision is a great organisation and I love that on their online store you can buy goats, chickens, pigs and a super fun range of gifts from just a few $$ upward. You can also train a teacher for just $125AU which is such a small amount in the larger scheme of things. I know lots of friends who would find it funny and inspiring to know I’d bought a chicken in their name… something we should all think about.
Sending Immunisations, Pencils & Books: Unicef is a well known aid organisation, imagine if someone you cared for knew they helped to send books and pencils or immunisations overseas to where it was most needed? There’s plenty of options here.
Fair Trade Goodness: So your friends and family don’t want to see a card saying you donated a pig on their behalf? No worries, New Internationalist offers a great range of free trade products that help in a number of ways, especially by creating a global economy where even the most remote communities have the opportunity to sell their goods to better their lives in a fair way.
Help Save the Oceans & Animals: I love the Sea Shephard and the work that they do, so owning their products is something I do anyway. The great thing is that they sell lots of great items that I can give as gifts and people will love and as a bonus I get to support the amazing and brave work they do!
Fun in the Sun + Help Cancer Research: If you’re an Aussie or a traveller who’s been to Australia you’ll understand the need for great sun protection. Buying from the Cancer Council ensures that products meet necessary standards for your own or your family’s sun safety and that the proceeds go toward ground breaking cancer research by Australian Scientists. You can buy swimwear, hats, and other products here.
SO just do it! Be the change in your friends and family! Move away from crazy commercialised gifts, you know your brother really doesn’t want more socks, he may just want to change a child’s life? I dare you to be adventurous and try to make every gift you give this year one that helps to change the world.
Do you know any other great charities that offer great ways to give unique and helpful Christmas gifts? Share them in the comments:
Other bloggers helping to change the world:
