Travel Bug Within

A travel blog inspiring mid-life adventurers to chase their wanderlust and explore further

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Australia
      • New South Wales
      • Northern Territory
      • Queensland
      • South Australia
      • Tasmania
      • Victoria
      • Western Australia
    • Fiji
    • New Zealand
    • Asia
      • Bali
      • Hong Kong
      • Japan
      • Thailand
      • UAE
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
    • Iceland
    • Ireland
    • United Kingdom
      • England
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • USA
      • Hawaii
  • My Adventures
    • Solo
    • Family
    • Single Mum Travel Tales
  • Travel Advice
    • My Top Five or Ten
    • Hotel and Restaurant Reviews
    • Book Reviews
  • Other Stories
    • Feature profile and lifestyle stories
  • About
    • About Me with the travel bug
    • Contact
    • Why the name Travel Bug Within

Hello Southern Great Barrier Reef

January 9, 2021 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Picture of an open bitumen road with mountains in the background

Brisbane to Yeppoon road trip: how to spend a perfect week exploring Queensland's Capricorn Coast With 300 kilometres of coastline, there are plenty of choices when it comes to exploring stretches of golden sand and coastal communities before arriving at the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef Almost half-way through 2020, with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: Agnes Waters, Great Keppel Island, Queensland, Yeppoon

Forest bathing in Lamington National Park

December 30, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

A young man wearing a sweatshort and long pants looks up into the trees surrounded by rainforest

Connect with nature in Lamington National Park I have hiked various trails inside World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, including traversing the famous Border Track a month before the destructive bushfires tore through the Binna Burra side of the Park in September 2019. Twelve months later, I returned to the Gondwana Rainforest to check … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Queensland

Blissed-out in Noosa

October 20, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Beach and smooth blue water with surfers in the water

With its laid-back lifestyle, sandy beaches, national parks, cosmopolitan cafes and a balmy Queensland climate conducive to all-year-round outdoor activities, Noosa holds loads of appeal. But with so many choices, where can you go to experience that blissed-out feeling? Firstly - I'll clarify what I mean by blissed-out - so you don't go thinking … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Queensland

Treasures to find at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

August 11, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Crimson Rosella bird perched on a fence with seed in his beak

In these restrictive times I have been fortunate to be able to get out and explore places close to home. A two hour drive from home is O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat They have been hosting guests from the late 1920's when visitors would travel up Green Mountain to the secluded location via horse. A century later, there is a sealed road into … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Queensland

5 Things to do in Bundaberg Queensland

July 30, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

5 Things to do in Bundaberg  COVID has created many hardships and challenges. Travel writers like me who love to explore have to place international travel on the backburner for a while. After three months of lockdown, I was itching to burst out of Brisbane. Without overseas as an option, these ‘strange’ COVID times have forced me to look closer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, Queensland

Day trips from Cairns

July 3, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Blow up duck and unicorn toy float in a large pool

The best day trips from Cairns for when we can play again When a popular play has only a few nights left before the end of the season, there is typically a last-minute rush for tickets for final performances. When COVID-19 restrictions are lifted there will be a rush for tickets to Cairns. Why? Because not only is Cairns a tropical … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Queensland

Enjoy five star luxury at the Riley Hotel in Cairns

July 3, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Two white chairs and small table in a open plan hotel lobby

My review on the Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort Accessibility Besides the agreeable temperature and friendly locals, another feature about Cairns I love, nothing is too far away. From the airport, it is only 4.8 kilometres to the Cairns esplanade (a 10 minute drive) to my home for the next few nights, at the Riley. The lobby is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Hotel Reviews, Queensland

A sunny love affair

May 8, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Surf beach with rolling waves and people in simming in the water

A sunny love affair with Queensland's Sunshine Coast With unspoiled golden beaches and a rural hinterland brimming with natural wonders I'll openly admit to an ongoing love affair with Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The recent relaxation on some restrictions on travel within Australia and the hope that in the not too distant future, the Sunshine … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, Family, Queensland Tagged With: Sunshine Coast, What to see outside of Brisbane, where to holiday in Queensland, why I love the sunshine coast

A Taste of Kakadu celebrates more than Indigenous food

March 16, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Image of \fFour orange Kakadu plum fruits on top of green pandansu leaves on a table

 Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park Taste of Kakadu in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is an immersive Indigenous Food Festival celebrating local bush food, culture, and country. I experienced part of the 2019 Taste of Kakadu taking the opportunity to connect with Indigenous Australians and appreciate their culture … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Destinations, Northern Territory Tagged With: #seeaustralia, Australia, Bush tucker, Food festivals in Australia, Indigenous culture, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Taste of Kakadu Festival

The Granite Belt Region: Where optimism and the scent of rain is in the air

February 22, 2020 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Red apple on the branch of a tree covered in green leaves

Things to do in the Granite Wine Belt Region “I haven’t had to mow the lawn in two years,” says Warren Thomas. Now if you’re a lawn lover, not having any grass to mow for that long could be depressing. But not for Warren, husband to the owner of local Ballandean business Washpool Skin Wellness  Rather than dwelling on not having to drag the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Australia, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: Granite Belt Wine Country, Queensland, Regional Australia, Weekend escapes from Brisbane, Wine region of Australia

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Who is Travel Bug Within?

A mid-life adventurer sharing stories about interesting places in an honest and occasionally sarcastic way.

I hope to tickle your wanderlust and encourage you to explore further via Travel Bug Within

Jennifer x

Logo of the Australian Society of Travel Writers

For feature stories click on the bird logo linking to my personal website

Copyright Jennifer Johnston 2014 • Site by Swish Design