The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust

Belinda Jackson & Kirstie Bedford
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Where does your wanderlust lead you? To Melbourne’s cafes or the vast deserts of the Empty Quarter, a New Zealand vineyard or the pavements of New York… what’s your neighbourhood? Join travel journalists and editors Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson for inspiring stories and inside information from across the world. Website https://theworldawaits.auInstagram @theworldawaitspodcast Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)

  1. EP 144 Barefoot hiking; the most instagrammable hotels & flight attendant tips for better sleep on planes

    3 DAYS AGO

    EP 144 Barefoot hiking; the most instagrammable hotels & flight attendant tips for better sleep on planes

    Slowing down, connecting with nature and managing mental health are all the benefits of barefoot hiking, says our interviewee this week. ​ Dale Noppers is a safety professional in Western Australia who has been taking people barefoot hiking for more than seven years. He talks this week about the reasons it's so important to get your shoes off, and explains some simple ways to get started in your own backyard.  We also chat about the most Instagrammable hotels in Australia with Sovereign Interior's designer Cayley Scrooby, and Sherry Peters, who has been a flight attendant for 27 years and flies up to 12 times a month, gives us her top tips for the best sleep solutions when you're travelling long-haul. Dale Noppers barefoot hiking tours can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565575561949 The story Kirstie mentioned is here: https://karryon.com.au/luxury/aktg-australian-advisors-exclusive-event/ Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    41 min
  2. EP 143 South African safari by e-bike, car & in luxury; fuel-saving tips & the death of the working holiday? And the winner of our hotel stay giveaway!

    22 APR

    EP 143 South African safari by e-bike, car & in luxury; fuel-saving tips & the death of the working holiday? And the winner of our hotel stay giveaway!

    How do you like to see wild animals? From the comfort of a guided safari vehicle? What about driving by yourself or perhaps by ebike? Host Belle Jackson tried all three options in South Africa recently, and shares her successes.  We're talking the all-inclusive and exceptionally knowledgeable experiences provided by leading luxury safari company Sabi Sabi Game Reserve; sabisabi.com  And also, what it's like to self-drive through Kruger National Park, with expert travel planner Travel Africa Your Way and about spotting ostriches and kudu while e-biking to the Cape of Good Hope, South of Cape Town, thanks to new tour company Cape Point Bike Tours, led by its enthusiastic owner Neil Kohler;  capepointebiketours.com; travelafricayourway.com.au We're also announcing the winner of our giveaway of a night & buffet breakfast at the Novotel Melbourne Airport! Thanks to everyone who entered, it was a hard-fought comp!  See https://all.accor.com/hotel/B327/index.en.shtml  Also, why Gen Z's lost interest in taking an overseas working holiday, according to new research from Southern Cross Travel Insurance. And finally, Crusader Caravans shares tips on how road trippers can manage increasing fuel prices.   Download SAILY in your app store and use our code 'theworldawaits' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase; see saily.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    36 min
  3. Ep 142 Japan's lesser-known regions, flights and fuel surcharges & Australia's prettiest national parks

    15 APR

    Ep 142 Japan's lesser-known regions, flights and fuel surcharges & Australia's prettiest national parks

    Rob Goss is a UK-born, Tokyo-based writer who has lived in Japan for almost two decades and authored more than a dozen books about the popular island nation.  His latest book, Another Japan (Gestalten, Sep 2026), with photographer Irwin Wong, looks at community, rejuvenation, and cultural preservation in non-urban Japan. Here, he talks to us about some of the best lesser-known places to go, and he has some top tips for first-time visitors. You'll find him at:  https://www.tokyofreelance.com/bio/ https://www.instagram.com/robgosswriter/ The story Kirstie mentioned about Australians still prioritising travel is here And the village of dolls in Japan which Rob and Kirstie talk about is here. We also discuss how fuel surcharges are impacting flights, and give you an update on the cruise industry in light of the Middle East conflict, and we have found some of Australia's prettiest national parks that you may have never heard of.  Download SAILY in your app store and use our code 'theworldawaits' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase; see saily.com Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    41 min
  4. EP 141 Travelling in Afghanistan, keeping your eyes healthy on the road & why cash is still king

    8 APR

    EP 141 Travelling in Afghanistan, keeping your eyes healthy on the road & why cash is still king

    Come to Central Asia's forgotten country, Afghanistan. This episode, we are joined by Afghanistan’s first female tour guide, Fatima Haidari, and adventure travel company Untamed Borders' founder James Willcox, who is the author of the new Brandt Afghanistan guidebook.  From Herat and now living in Italy, Fatima leads virtual tours through Afghanistan, a tribal country with enormous diversity. She talks not only about the tours, but the impact tourism has upon her country, from the natural beauty of Bamiyan, chaotic, crowded Kabul and the poetic heart of Herat.   "Isolation is the worst way to punish a population," says Fatima, who shares the profit from the tours with a women's education charity operating in Afghanistan. "Because the media is so heavily censored, tourism is one way to help open up the country. It helps local businesses and helps us to get out of isolation just a little bit." Our tip this week is born from personal experience, as we share tips on keeping your eyes healthy while you travel, safe from polluted water and cabin pressure, thanks to The Eye Practice, based in Sydney CBD.   And do you use cash or card when you're on the road? The inaugural Travelex Travel Money Insights Report; see travelex.com.au Download SAILY in your app store and use our code 'theworldawaits' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase; see saily.com Fatima's virtual tour https://untamedborders.com/itinerary/virtual-tours-with-fatima-afghanistan/  Untamed Borders https://untamedborders.com/  The Bradt guidebook to Afghanistan https://www.bradtguides.com/product/afghanistan-pb/  Champions of the Golden Valley  https://www.championsofthegoldenvalley.com/  Secret Marathon Film https://thesecretmarathon.com/  For more eyecare tips https://www.theeyepractice.com.au/optometrist-sydney/why-flying-dries-out-your-eyes-and-how-to-prevent-it/  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    57 min
  5. EP 140 Hot Take: Navigating the unknown – travel during the Middle East crisis & Australia's best airport hotels with a runway view

    1 APR

    EP 140 Hot Take: Navigating the unknown – travel during the Middle East crisis & Australia's best airport hotels with a runway view

    Travel has taken a huge hit with the Middle East crisis now entering its fifth week, and it can be challenging to keep up with what you should and shouldn't do with travel plans during these significant and devastating world events. This week on our Hot Take, hosts Belinda Jackson and Kirstie Bedford bring you the good and the bad news to help you navigate this uncertain time when it comes to travel plans – with some positive solutions. Our tip is for all the the aviation geeks out there. We’re sharing the best runway rooms at Australasian airports; so if the sight of a plane taking off gets your blood pumping, this is the list for you.  And if you can't get enough #avgeek, listen in for Belle's tarmac tour of Melbourne Airport; the airport does occasionally offer similar tours, see melbourneairport.com.au/community/airport-tours Download SAILY in your app store and use our code 'theworldawaits' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase; see saily.com Here are links to the stories Kirstie mentions.: Accor's Middle East CEO Virtuoso Australia New Zealand forum stats Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    37 min
  6. EP 139 Fly flat-bed to Europe with Toby Venus of Point Hacks; biggest hotel rooms & how new EU border rules will hit travellers

    25 MAR

    EP 139 Fly flat-bed to Europe with Toby Venus of Point Hacks; biggest hotel rooms & how new EU border rules will hit travellers

    Toby Venus of the Point Hacks podcast joins us this episode to demystify frequent flyer points – how to earn, how to burn and creating a checklist to keep your points in good shape and working for you.    Coming to you from the Novotel Melbourne Airport, Toby shares some sneaky hacks, and we're talking gift cards, credit cards, hotel loyalty programs and the difference between rewards seats and the perils of the points-plus-pay scheme, so buckle up, avgeeks! We also have a giveaway for a night's stay and buffet breakfast at the Novotel Melbourne Airport - jump on our instagram competition post to enter!   Also, which of the world's most visited cities gives you best bang for your buck on hotel stays, and how to prepare for the new border rules for entry to the EU - saily.com shares some tips on getting prepped.  And stay tuned for Kirstie's super exciting news, as well as the announcement of the winner of two Andrea Barton crime novels.  freepoints.com.au  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    49 min
  7. EP 138 Hiking and biking NZ's Queen Charlotte Track; the world's 50 top cities & the best places to travel with your pooch

    18 MAR

    EP 138 Hiking and biking NZ's Queen Charlotte Track; the world's 50 top cities & the best places to travel with your pooch

    New Zealand is renowned for its spectacular scenery, and the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island will not disappoint. Come with host Kirstie Bedford as she hikes and bikes the Queen Charlotte Track, and kayaks in the glassy waters of the Marlborough Sounds, where seals and dolphins are your only neighbours, then beds down in lodges only accessible via the track, boat or helicopter. She explains how to get there, why this is one of the best places to hike in New Zealand, and where to stay pre- and post your hike.  Also, an Australian city has for the first time made the top 50 best cities list by Time Out. Find out where it is, and we give our personal recommendations of some of the best things to do while you're there! And, love to travel but don't want to leave your furry friend behind? We have the rundown of the best places around the country for those wanting to travel with their pooch. Check out some of the stunning images and footage of Kirstie's trip here.  The full list of Time Out’s 50 Best Cities 2026 can be found here. Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    30 min
  8. EP 137 Europe by motorbike with the Pillion Princess; getting home from the Middle East & should you cancel your Euro-trip?

    11 MAR

    EP 137 Europe by motorbike with the Pillion Princess; getting home from the Middle East & should you cancel your Euro-trip?

    She's the queen of the roadtrip, and bestselling author and travel writer Lee Atkinson joins us to talk about her latest adventure, motorbiking across the European Alps.  A self-described 'pillion princess', Lee and husband Bill shipped their Suzuki V-Strom tourer to the UK to ride 10,000km through the mountains over three months. Lee shares the trials of ultra-light packing and the joys of kevlar jeans.  Her latest book, Ultimate Backroads & Detours: Australia is for lovers of road trips, but haters of traffic, and is out now. Visit leeatkinson.com.au   ​ Also, some personal anecdotes about getting out of the Middle East as war takes hold of the region, and the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) says not to panic-cancel your upcoming European trip. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au

    43 min
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About

Where does your wanderlust lead you? To Melbourne’s cafes or the vast deserts of the Empty Quarter, a New Zealand vineyard or the pavements of New York… what’s your neighbourhood? Join travel journalists and editors Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson for inspiring stories and inside information from across the world. Website https://theworldawaits.auInstagram @theworldawaitspodcast Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)

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