Travel Bug Within

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

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Five things to do in and near Darwin

August 19, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

The time is 'right' to visit the Northern Territory before it gets too hot. On the cusp of the dry season, here's five new must do’s for Darwin. This was my second visit to Darwin, I’ve shared some other favourite experiences from my first trip. Tiwi Islands   The Tiwi Islands are a chain of nine islands 80 Kilometres (50 miles) north of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, My Top Ten or Five, Northern Territory Tagged With: #discoverDarwin, Five things to do in Darwin, Kakadu National Park, must do in the Northern Territory, Northern Territory highlights, Tiwi Islands, Top five things to do in Darwin, Tours from Darwin

A history tour of Darwin

July 17, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

A tour to learn about the history of Darwin From my high school studies of Australian history, I knew a little about the bombing of Darwin in 1942. And my recent visit to the Tiwi Islands, 80 kilometres north of Darwin educated me further. It was on the smaller of the Tiwi Islands - Bathurst - that Father John McGrath on that fateful day of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, Northern Territory Tagged With: Darwin, Darwin city tour, Darwin war history, day tour in Darwin, Tour Tubs Darwin City Tour, Tours of Darwin, where to find the history of Darwin

The best of Brisbane’s weekend escapes

April 29, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Winter in Brisbane is all about warm days filled with sunshine and blue skies. Want to know where I'd recommend you escape to if you're a local or a visitor to Brissie? Check out my story from the Upsider on four of my suggestions (And it was hard to write about only four!) Open beach on Moreton Island … [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

What’s not to love in Seattle

February 25, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Seattle is a city that pulses with an energetic vibe. And that’s not just because it is the headquarters for two of the largest corporations in the world: Amazon and Microsoft.  Nestled in between two imposing mountain ranges - the Olympics and the Cascade - which help to bring the precipitation Seattle is renowned for, this city is blessed with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, USA Tagged With: first time in Seattle - what to do, Highlights of Seattle, MoPop, Museums of Seattle, Seattle, Visit Seattle, what to do in Seattle

A Texan town loaded with charm and a couple of characters

February 15, 2019 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

The North Texan town called Grapevine, located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, possesses a unique history, charm and character. Add in a dash of Texan southern hospitality and you have a place worthy of a stopover, whether it’s for a few hours or a few days. What's great about Grapevine? Savouring the last sip of my frozen margarita, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, USA Tagged With: DFW stopover, Esparaza's Restaurant Grapevine, Grapefest, Grapevine Texas, Things to do in Grapevine, Tolberts Grapevine, Weinberger's Deli Grapevine, What is great about Texas, What is near DFW, What to do near Dallas Fort Worth Airport, Whats great about Grapevine, Where to visit in Texas

Solo traveller exploring Dubai and Abu Dhabi

August 12, 2018 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

A pitstop in Abu Dhabi and Dubai The sparkling lights from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa dominates the view from my hotel window. I’m perched on the sofa in my 15th-floor room in the Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai waiting for my large bath to fill. It’s been a hectic couple of days since my early morning arrival in Dubai … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Top Ten or Five, Single Mum Travel Tales, UAE, Why have me write for you? Tagged With: Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, Solo female traveller in Abu Dhabi, travelling on your own in Dubai, what to see and do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Where to get a drink in Hoi An the top five bars I recommend

November 12, 2017 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

The bars I recommend in Hoi An When the sun dips and nighttime descends on Hoi An, the streets of the old town magically transform into a labyrinth of colour. The strands of multicolored Japanese lanterns casting an ethereal glow add to the special atmosphere. Wander the town's streets and absorb the festive ambiance. Make the most of the lack of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, Vietnam Tagged With: #discovervietnam, Bars in Hoi An, nightlife in Hoi An, Top five bars in Hoi An, Vietnam, where to go for a drink in Hoi An

Five Brisbane destination experiences for adventurers

November 7, 2017 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Brisbane is a destination of choice Brisbane attracted just over 1.1 million international visitors last year. With four of the new Qantas 787-900 Dreamliner fleet flying out of Brisbane from mid-2018 and the Gold Coast (one hour south of Brisbane) hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games in April, it’s likely international visitors to the river city … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, My Top Ten or Five, Queensland Tagged With: #closetobrisbane, #Riverlife, #StoryBridgeClimb, #WalakaboutCreekAdventures, Brisbane, Brisbane and adventure activities, Brisbane City Council city cat, five outdoor adventure activities in Brisbane Australia, Lonely Planet rates Brisbane as the hippest city in Australia, what can tourists do in Brisbane, what to see and do in Brisbane Australia

Saigon – my five insider tips

April 17, 2016 By Jennifer Johnston Leave a Comment

Best things to do in Saigon Nestled adjacent to the Saigon River, some 80 kilometres from the South China Sea – Ho Chi Minh City is the main commercial and economic hub for Vietnam. With nine million people and over six million motorbikes bursting onto the city streets at all hours of the day and night, Ho Chi Minh City is a mesmerising chaos, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, Vietnam Tagged With: #discovervietnam, Discover Saigon, Five Insider Tips to Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Luxe experiences in Saigon, Saigon, Shopping an bars in Saigon, travel, Vietnam, what to do in Ho Chi Minh City, what to see and do in Saigon

Darwin – you don’t have to be dying to get there

November 8, 2015 By Jennifer Johnston 2 Comments

 Darwin has its own charm and character This is based not only on its geographical location but also on history and a couple of significant natural events. On the 19th February 1942, during World War II, the city was bombed by the same Japanese force which struck Pearl Harbour. Darwin suffered a great deal of destruction from the bombings, which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Australia, Destinations, My Top Ten or Five, Northern Territory Tagged With: #discoverDarwin, A weekend in Darwin, Australian life, Ben Quilty Afghanistan exhibit, Darwin, Darwin Travel Tips, Last Cab to Darwin, Laureen Ward Parap Village Markets, Litchfield National Park, Mindil Beach Markets, Northern Territory, NT Australia, Outdoor Deckchair cinema, Sweetheart the croc, there's more to Darwin, Top 10 things to do in Darwin, What to see and do in Darwin, where crocs rule, where to eat in Darwin

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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

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