TRAVEL BUG WITHIN - Adventure, Road Trips, Travel Tips and Reviews

Travel writer Jennifer Johnston shares her travel experiences and tips inspiring midlife adventurers to explore further.

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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

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

Recommended short getaways in Australia and New Zealand

December 13, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Chuffed to be included in blogger Dean Williamson from Lavidaglobal.com list of the best places in Australia and New Zealand for a short getaway "To show you some of the magnificent places you might be missing we have asked some experienced travellers to let us in on their favourite places in Australia and New Zealand to get away for a few … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Australia, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: #thisisqueensland, Moreton Island, Recommended places to visit in Australia and New Zealand, shortbreaks in Australia, weekend getaways from Brisbane

Where to find Queensland’s award winning wineries

November 21, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Image of a man standing in a wine cellar dressed in a short sleeved shirt and blue shorts holds a bottle of wine in his right hand

Discovering Queensland's world-class wineries I’m partial to being outdoors and love to follow the hiking trails through the Australian bush. It had been way too long between visits to Girraween National Park. How long? My eldest, James was almost six when I last clambered over the magnificent granite boulders with some very special friends … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: Granite Belt Wine Country, Mike Hayes, Queensland wines, Sirromet, Sirromet winery, Stanthorpe, Stanthorpe Wine Country, Stanthorpe Wine Tours

Where to find the love in the Granite Belt Region  

October 16, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

I’m not talking about the love of the Bachelor / Bachelorette kind. Rather where you’ll find 'lovely' experiences in this rural region thanks to the passion and determination of the locals.   Queensland is the big-hearted State  One thing I know about Queenslanders is we’re a resilient bunch.  We have an innate ability to draw on our inner … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: #thisisqueensland, Award winning Australian wineries, Best wineries in Queensland, Discover Queensland, Granite Belt Wine Country, Wine Belt

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

September 30, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

What to do at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast Hinterland is brimming with bushwalking experiences and wildlife. Day-trippers and overnight guests can escape from the daily grind by exploring the many trails inside Lamington National Park. I have a few suggestions on how you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: #oreillys, Bushwalking adventures, Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, where to stay in Lamington National Park

What you can expect to see in Lamington National Park

September 26, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Image of a woman wearing dark shirt and trousers and a small daypack bends over near the base of a large tree

Take a walk in Lamington National Park Want to know what it's like to walk through a rainforest reminiscent of the forests that covered the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana? A strange noise breaks the gentle silence of the rainforest. Initially, my thoughts were it sounds like the cries of a baby, but then as it repeats, my brain likens it to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Australia, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: hiking, Lamington National Park, Life's an Adventure, Pack free hiking, where to hike in Queensland

The magic of Binna Burra Lodge

September 16, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

Image of a the entrance to a stone and timber building

When nature unleashes its fury It is with mixed emotions that I sit down to write up this story. On the one hand, I have been looking forward to sharing my experience on my three-day pack free walk with Life’s an Adventure in this very special part of Queensland close to where I live. Lamington National Park is only 90 minutes from my front … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Destinations, Queensland Tagged With: Binna Burra Lodge, Lamington National Park, The bushfires of 2019, Why is Binna Burra so special

Why not climb a mountain?

April 29, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Hiking Mt Maroon Good Friday might be a day of rest for some, but for me, it was a day to hike a mountain. I’d responded to a media call out to join the epic Moonrise on Mount Maroon on Friday, April 19. The requirements: A writer/journalist who is fit enough to hike the seven-hour return night hike Available to depart at 2 pm on Good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adventure, Australia, Destinations, Queensland, Solo Tagged With: climbing Mt Maroon, hiking, Hiking in the Scenic Rim, middle aged woman climbs mountain, Mt Barney National Park, Mt Maroon

The best of Brisbane’s weekend escapes

April 29, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Image of a long stretch of beach taken from a high point

A few years ago, I wrote a story for the Upsider.com.au (sadly, the website no longer exists) so here is the story that was published. These are a few of the places I'd recommend you escape to if you're live locally (like me), or are a visitor to Brissie.  With the recent 'catastrophic' weather event we've experienced (end of February 2022 at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, My Top Ten or Five, Queensland Tagged With: Brisbane escapes, Brisbane's top getaways, Top four day escapes close to Brisbane, weekend escapes near Brisbane, what are the hot destinations in Brisbane

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