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The world awaits a podcast for travel tales to inspire your wanderlust The World Awaits travel podcast Travel tales to inspire your wanderlust About us The World Awaits is Australia's top weekly travel podcast, dropping each Thursday on every major podcast platform. Co-hosted by Melbourne-based journalists, colleagues and friends Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson with sound producer (and resident movie reporter) Alaisdair Leith , each episode is curated to inspire your wanderlust, with travel trends, interviews and tips to help you travel better. Past interviewees have included G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip , Lonely Planet guidebook founder Tony Wheeler , Channel Nine's Travel Guide Kevin Moloney and Australian Geographic Society’s 2024 Adventurer of the Year Lucy Barnard . We talk to travel book authors, walkers, explorers, wine drinkers, guides on the ground – and anyone with an amazing story to tell, as well as covering all the latest travel trends. If you love to travel, this is where you need to be. Listen here Our latest episodes Click 'listen ' for more episodes EP 109 Surf, solo travel and Bali tips from the pioneer of women-only surf retreats; the grey gap year & food etiquette in Japan When Chelsea Ross launched the world’s first women-only surf retreat in Bali, it was purely because it was something she would have loved to do herself. Twenty-two years later, she’s hosted more than 18,000 women seeking a transformational experience in Bali through Goddess Retreats . Here, she shares her experience, tips for the best ways to have a wellness experience in the popular Indonesian hotspot, and explains why you should give surfing a go – and how to get started if you do! We also have the latest research on the 'grey gap year ', and our tip is from JNTO which gives us the low-down on food etiquette in Japan. And here's Kirstie's story about the luxury advisors turned digital nomads, which she mentioned. Listen here EP 108 World's best dive sites; best workcation cities & do you need domestic travel insurance? Welcome to the underwater world of photographer and professional diver Todd Thimios , who shares his best dive sites in Australia and around the world – he’s got some hot tips for snorkellers, too. To win a copy of Todd's book, Ultimate Dive Sites, follow us on instagram and catch him at the Go Diving Show at Sydney Showgrounds 6-7 September. Also, do we really need travel insurance for local travel within Australia? Southern Cross Travel Insurance might just change your mind, scti.com.au And where's the best place in the world to work and holiday? IWG's annual Work from Anywhere Barometer names the best cities for a workcation, iwgplc.com Finally, news from Sabi Sabi private game reserve in South Africa, and the next big hot in cycling tourism from Victoria's High Country Listen here EP 107 Gay digital nomads on living life abroad; Aussies turning to AI for travel plans & boat safety in Bali “We’ve kind of become addicted to the novelty, life is always exciting… someone said to me, ‘you never get beyond the honeymoon stage ’, and I thought well that’s entirely true... but honeymoons are awesome…" Brent Hartinger of Brent and Michael are Going Places. Authors, travel writers, digital creators and husbands, Brent Hartinger and Michael Jensen have lived in more than 30 countries and travelled to more than 60. Listen to their insights into what it’s like living a nomadic life, with top tips on how you can do it too. Also, Compare the Market has found almost 30 per cent of Aussies say they have relied on AI tools for travel plans - do you trust it? And, we talk boat safety in Bali? You can also listen to Belle chatting about it on ABC here . Listen here EP 106 The new Cairo, avoiding a rainy holiday & things left in Ubers You've booked a holiday to Egypt, but the Grand Egyptian Museum's (GEM) opening has been postponed...again! "All is not lost!" says podcast host and Egypt aficionado Belle Jackson, who is just back from Cairo. Belle shares her top things to do in Cairo, including the best museums and neighbourhoods, essential experiences and answers the age-old question, is Cairo safe right now? For more of Belle's Egypt, see @global_salsa And we have a winner of our tropical Thai holiday giveaway of four nights at Avani+ Khao Lak ! Thanks to Avani Hotels & Resorts , who generously offered this prize to our listeners to celebrate our 100th episode! And finally, our tip this week is how to avoid the rainiest places in the world (unless you love a downpour!), and we cover off the craziest things people have left in Ubers. Listen here Meet the team The World Awaits is co-hosted by Melbourne-based travel journalists, colleagues and friends Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson, with our sound producer (and resident film reviewer) Alaisdair Leith. Co-host Kirstie Bedford Co-host KIRSTIE BEDFORD has the same enthusiasm for travel she held as a six-year-old when she boarded her first international flight. In her 20s, she did the customary European tour, cycling along the French Riviera and zipping around Tuscany on a scooter. But it’s learning from other cultures she holds dearest – biking with locals on Vietnam’s Cam Kim Island; cooking traditional Sri Lankan dishes in Colombo; drinking sake with a Japanese family in Shikoku; and a Welcome to Country ceremony with Indigenous elders in Broome. Kirstie is Editor, Luxury @ Karryon, Editor of The Wanderer magazine, and a regular contributor to Signature Media publications and the New Zealand Herald. When she's not writing for work, she's working on her other writing passion, crime fiction. Co-host Belinda Jackson Co-host BELINDA JACKSON has travelled to every continent and lived on three, eating everything she was told to (and many things she should not have). She’s played piano while crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica, hiked through ancient olive groves in Palestine, danced in Russian nightclubs, taken a dingy to find hidden Australian rock art galleries, and slipped out of bed and into a Maldivian lagoon. In a former life, she was a journalist in Ireland, her second home is Cairo, and she has more than a passing fancy for the Middle East’s scarves and carpets. Belle is a regular contributor to the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age 's Traveller section, Luxury Escapes, Gourmet Traveller and chats to ABC Radio and commercial stations including 3AW and 2GB. See globalsalsa.com. Sound producer, tech & film reviewer Alaisdair Leith Sound producer ALAISDAIR LEITH is a man of many talents. Founder and editor of Novastream, he spends many a week reviewing the latest movies, games, TV and pop culture. When he’s not at the movies, trialling the latest travel gadgets, or dropping the latest travel story, he’s editing The World Awaits travel podcast. Alaisdair ensures every episode is music to your ears, even if it means late-night edits and he always does it all with a smile. See novastreamnetwork.com Contact us Got a comment, enter a giveaway, or just say hi! Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. Melbourne, Australia If you’d like to support us so we can continue to bring you inspirational travel interviews, you can 'buy us a coffee’ at https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits. hello@theworldawaits.au First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for getting in touch! Send © 2023 by The World Awaits. All rights reserved.

Australia's top travel podcast, dropping weekly with travel tales to inspire your wanderlust The World Awaits Contact Got a story idea you’d love to share? Drop us a line – we’re all ears! If you’d like to support us so we can continue to bring you inspirational travel interviews, you can buy us a ‘coffee’ at https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits. Email hello@theworldawaits.au Social Media Got a comment, enter a giveaway, or just say hi! Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

< Back Best fares to Europe & the US, top tiny towns & pre-travel checklist Want to get the best airfare to Europe or the US? We’re going full #avgeek, as flight booking expert Mark Trim shares insider secrets on airlines to watch, alternative routes and the best time to buy. He also shares tips on booking in shoulder seasons and the Asian gateways offering great lie-flat deals. The co-founder of the Complex Travel Group, which specialises in round-the-world fares Want to get the best airfare to Europe or the US? We’re going full #avgeek , as flight booking expert Mark Trim shares insider secrets on airlines to watch, alternative routes and the best time to buy. He also shares tips on booking in shoulder seasons and the Asian gateways offering great lie-flat deals. The co-founder of the Complex Travel Group, which specialises in round-the-world fares , adds that the ‘best’ airfare may be the most wallet-friendly, or it could also be the one stuffed with fabulous destinations for a memorable adventure, see complextravel.com.au Also, Airbnb releases its list of the best tiny towns to visit in Australia, and tick off your essential pre-travel checklist with smartraveller.gov.au , from vaccinations to passport checks. Click to listen now Power in Numbers 30 Programs 50 Locations 200 Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

Australia's top travel podcast, dropping weekly with travel tales to inspire your wanderlust WORK WITH US The World Awaits works with travel-related brands across Australia and the world. Options include: Sponsored episodes A mix of pre, mid or end-roll, host-read ads to be inserted into each episode 30-second mid-roll ads supplied by the client 20-minute interviews on agreed theme with hosts Takeover of the news segment at the top or tip at the end of the show These can be with a mix of any of the above for permanent placement in TWA's catalogue for evergreen branding Get in touch to reach a travel-savvy audience that’s ready to hit the road. Contact us Who we've partnered with...

< Back The waterways of Vietnam, tourist taxes & safe sports Done Saigon and Hanoi, ready to explore more of Vietnam? Co-host Belle Jackson talks about why you should have the water cities of Hue (on the Perfume River), Kê Gà (on Kê Gà Bay) and Can Tho (on the Mekong Delta), on your must-visit list. She also shares the cultural tourism of the Azerai hotel group, and new flights from Melbourne into Hanoi with Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet, azerai.com, vietjetair.com Done Saigon and Hanoi, ready to explore more of Vietnam? Co-host Belle Jackson talks about why you should have the water cities of Hue (on the Perfume River), Kê Gà (on Kê Gà Bay) and Can Tho (on the Mekong Delta), on your must-visit list. She also shares the cultural tourism of the Azerai hotel group, and new flights from Melbourne into Hanoi with Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet, azerai.com , vietjetair.com Also, we talk about tourist taxes in New Zealand, Bali and Venice and whether they’ve deterred tourists visiting Europe – the visitation numbers say “Hmmm, not so much.” And our tips this week are from Smartraveller, who suggests you read the fine print on adventure sports, carry an emergency beacon if doing mountain sports, ask for that safety equipment and ensure you’re insured, https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ Power in Numbers 30 Programs 50 Locations 200 Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back Stargazing around the world; best Aussie towns & making travel memories When was the last time you really soaked up the night sky? Spotted a full moon? Admired the Milky Way? Saw an aurora? When was the last time you really soaked up the night sky? Spotted a full moon? Admired the Milky Way? Saw an aurora?Marnie Ogg joins us to talk about astrotourism . Marnie designs and leads stargazing tours, and she is also the founder of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, which educates people about light pollution. So stay with us to learn the best places on Earth to go stargazing, aurora hunting and spotting all sorts of celestial bodies. See darkskytraveller.com .au We also reveal the best little town in Australia: it's official, with the winner of the Top Tourism Town Awards, and we've got some tips about how to make the best memories when you travel. See toptourismtowns.com .au Finally, it's giveaway time, thanks to Lonely Planet - win a guidebook to Vietnam, or their new book, Stargazing Around the World: A Tour of the Night Sky . To be in the running, email us at hello@theworldawaits.au Support the show Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au Power in Numbers Programs Locations Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back Secrets of the Blue Zones, where Aussies are travelling & quirky honeymoon stays Do you want to know the secrets to living a long, healthy life? Blue Zone Vice President Nick Buettner reveals secrets from the Blue Zones, the places around the world where you can find people living the longest and healthiest lives, including Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan and Ikaria, Greece (pictured). And the show Nick mentions is Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones see netflix.com/title/81214929 Do you want to know the secrets to living a long, healthy life? Blue Zone Vice President Nick Buettner reveals secrets from the Blue Zones , the places around the world where you can find people living the longest and healthiest lives, including Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan and Ikaria, Greece (pictured). And the show Nick mentions is Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones see netflix.com/title/81214929 Also, new research from Emirates shows where Aussies are travelling overseas, and quirky honeymoon hotels with luxury hotel travel booker Mr & Mrs Smith . Click to listen now Power in Numbers 30 Programs 50 Locations 200 Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back Unlocking India, travelling with jewellery & ski prep tips India specialist Fiona Caulfield swapped a high-profile career as a futurist and branding consultant in New York for Bangalore in southern India, where she created the Love Travel brand. She shares the key to exploring India, lovetravelguides.com India specialist Fiona Caulfield swapped a high-profile career as a futurist and branding consultant in New York for Bangalore in southern India, where she created the Love Travel brand. She shares the key to exploring India, lovetravelguides.com Also, the winner of our giveaway, the Gypsea Loop Hair Tie Bangle, see gypsealoop.com and do you travel with faux jewellery? Blake Asaad of GOODSTONE says you should duplicate your rings so you don’t lose them. And tips for snow holiday, with nib Travel . Belle’s Victorian High Country wellness weekend was at The Barn at Freeburg and Haut Hutt sauna on the Ovens River. Click to listen now Power in Numbers Programs Locations Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back Deserted island escapes, new flight routes, inflight self-care Would you let yourself be dropped on a remote island, for total solitude? That’s explorer and entrepreneur Alvaro Cerezo’s job – he drops willing travellers on deserted islands in the most remote corners of the globe. Would you let yourself be dropped on a remote island, for total solitude? That’s explorer and entrepreneur Alvaro Cerezo’s job – he drops willing travellers on deserted islands in the most remote corners of the globe. “We give fake names to protect our islands so they are secret to protect them from mass tourism.. [otherwise] we will destroy the feeling of isolation for the client… so that’s important to us to keep them secret,” he says. We also cover off the top new international airline routes from Australia, and we have some tips about how to best take care of yourself while you travel; from Andrea Powis of travellingdivas.com Power in Numbers 30 Programs 50 Locations 200 Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back Norway beyond the fjords & world’s most liveable cities Dramatic fjords, snowy mountains, midnight sun… Norway’s natural beauty is legendary. But Torunn Tronsvang, founder of UpNorway, says there’s so much more to Norway than the stunning scenery. Torunn leads you through Norway’s world-leading food and wine scene, shares cultural experiences with the Indigenous people, as well as its impressive architecture, upnorway.com Dramatic fjords, snowy mountains, midnight sun… Norway’s natural beauty is legendary. But Torunn Tronsvang , founder of UpNorway , says there’s so much more to Norway than the stunning scenery. Torunn leads you through Norway’s world-leading food and wine scene, shares cultural experiences with the Indigenous people, as well as its impressive architecture, upnorway.com Also, the most liveable cities in 2024 – and best language apps , economistgroup.com And Cunard’s Great Australian Culinary Voyage in 2025 will feature Big Esso indigenous chef Nornie Bero and others, see cunard.com , mabumabu.com.au Click to listen now Power in Numbers Programs Locations Volunteers Project Gallery Previous Next

Episodes Stargazing around the world; best Aussie towns & making travel memories When was the last time you really soaked up the night sky? Spotted a full moon? Admired the Milky Way? Saw an aurora? Read More Norway beyond the fjords & world’s most liveable cities Dramatic fjords, snowy mountains, midnight sun… Norway’s natural beauty is legendary. But Torunn Tronsvang, founder of UpNorway, says there’s so much more to Norway than the stunning scenery. Torunn leads you through Norway’s world-leading food and wine scene, shares cultural experiences with the Indigenous people, as well as its impressive architecture, upnorway.com Read More Unlocking India, travelling with jewellery & ski prep tips India specialist Fiona Caulfield swapped a high-profile career as a futurist and branding consultant in New York for Bangalore in southern India, where she created the Love Travel brand. She shares the key to exploring India, lovetravelguides.com Read More The waterways of Vietnam, tourist taxes & safe sports Done Saigon and Hanoi, ready to explore more of Vietnam? Co-host Belle Jackson talks about why you should have the water cities of Hue (on the Perfume River), Kê Gà (on Kê Gà Bay) and Can Tho (on the Mekong Delta), on your must-visit list. She also shares the cultural tourism of the Azerai hotel group, and new flights from Melbourne into Hanoi with Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet, azerai.com, vietjetair.com Read More Deserted island escapes, new flight routes, inflight self-care Would you let yourself be dropped on a remote island, for total solitude? That’s explorer and entrepreneur Alvaro Cerezo’s job – he drops willing travellers on deserted islands in the most remote corners of the globe. Read More Best fares to Europe & the US, top tiny towns & pre-travel checklist Want to get the best airfare to Europe or the US? We’re going full #avgeek, as flight booking expert Mark Trim shares insider secrets on airlines to watch, alternative routes and the best time to buy. He also shares tips on booking in shoulder seasons and the Asian gateways offering great lie-flat deals. The co-founder of the Complex Travel Group, which specialises in round-the-world fares Read More Secrets of the Blue Zones, where Aussies are travelling & quirky honeymoon stays Do you want to know the secrets to living a long, healthy life? Blue Zone Vice President Nick Buettner reveals secrets from the Blue Zones, the places around the world where you can find people living the longest and healthiest lives, including Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan and Ikaria, Greece (pictured). And the show Nick mentions is Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones see netflix.com/title/81214929 Read More