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PODCAST

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust

Belinda Jackson & Kirstie Bedford

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 @theworldawaitspodcastSupport us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

44:32

EP 146 Island girl to airline pilot: the first Tongan...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/05/20

You might need the tissues for this one. This is the heartfelt story of Silva McLeod, the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot, who wrote about her incredible journey from 'Island Girl to Airline Pilot' in a memoir of that name. Silva always dreamed of becoming a pilot, but never imagined it'd come true until she met Ken, who she eventually married, but it wasn't until a near-death experience that she pursued her lifelong passion. As well as telling us about her remarkable sto...

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39:05

EP 145 Hot Take: Travel fashion - from fabulous to...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/05/13

White ski gear? Wearing pink on safari? Are shoes optional on flights? This week, hosts Kirstie and Belle ask the big questions about what to wear when you travel. We're talking dress codes on cruises, debate the merits of zip-off trousers and share a couple of our favourite savvy travel clothing buys. Should we make more of an effort to dress nicely for flights? Pyjamas in public? When are too many sequins never enough? Strong opinions, we've got 'em, from activewear on planes an...

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40:58

EP 144 Barefoot hiking; the most instagrammable...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/05/06

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 ...

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35:37

EP 143 South African safari by e-bike, car & in...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/04/22

EHow 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 Trav...

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41:06

Ep 142 Japan's lesser-known regions, flights and fuel...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/04/15

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.tokyofreel...

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57:21

EP 141 Travelling in Afghanistan, keeping your eyes...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/04/08

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 natura...

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36:44

EP 140 Hot Take: Navigating the unknown – travel...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/04/01

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 this week is for the aviation geeks among us. We...

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48:56

EP 139 Fly flat-bed to Europe with Toby Venus of...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/03/25

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. We also have a giveaway for a night's stay an...

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29:43

EP 138 Hiking and biking NZ's Queen Charlotte Track;...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/03/18

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,...

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43:23

EP 137 Europe by motorbike with the Pillion Princess;...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/03/11

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 ...

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38:18

Ep 136 Sordid and scandalous histories of famous...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/03/04

This week, we are taking you through the colourful, decadent, sordid, and scandalous histories of famous hotels with D'Etta and Yael, hosts of the Hotel History podcast. They launched the podcast to explore the history of hotels and their interplay with culture, society and politics. We talk about some of the most interesting hotels they have covered, from the haunted to the downright bizarre. Find the Hotel History podcast here: www.hotelhistorypodcast.com Also, Money.com research has ...

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26:26

EP 135 The Hot Take: lost travel experiences &...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/02/25

This week, we’re launching our new segment, Hot Take! Kirstie and Belle are hacking out lost travel experiences - things you may have done in a former travelling life but are now no longer possible. Let’s wallow in the nostalgia! Think climbing the Pyramids, or smoking on planes; just how golden was the Golden Age of Travel? What about animal interactions such as elephant rides, or scrambling up the metal poles that led to the top of Uluru. Some travel experiences are lost because they were s...

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48:59

EP 134 The author who bases her books on her expat...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/02/18

Andrea Barton started her career as an electrical engineer, but when her husband was offered a job overseas, it changed the entire course of her career. Now award-winning author of the Jade Riley Mysteries, owner of a book editing company called Brightside Story Studio, and Vice President of the Mansfield Readers & Writers festival, Andrea bases all her books on the places she has lived around the world. From Nigeria, the US and Qatar to Melbourne, we chat about why these destinatio...

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43:28

EP 133 Hot springs bathing around the world, UK visa...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/02/11

Support the pod on Ko-Fi, click here Before he founded the Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, 21 years ago, Charles Davidson began exploring thermal springs sites around the world. His quest has now taken him to 57 countries to explore their bathing cultures, from Iran to Japan, Tanzania to Yemen. "I really wanted to understand that hot springs had nothing to do with money or wealth, it was all to do with nature and human connection," says Charles of his experiences in Yemen, ...

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38:29

Ep 132 Hiking the French Camino, Europe’s...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/02/04

This week, we're chatting with UTracks hiking guide Jaclyn Beagley, who leads guests along the Le Puy Camino, also known as the French Camino. Jaclyn chats with us about why you should consider the French section of the Camino, and what it offers that differs from other hikes in the network of ancient pilgrimage routes across Europe. She also talks about the historic house she bought in Umbria, and she has some top tips for those considering a European holiday home. Also, we cover the l...

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61:07

EP 131 The Art of Navigation with wilderness advocate...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/01/28

Bushwalker. Author. Advocate. Rescuer. Our guest this week is Caro Ryan, who has just been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for 14 years of service in bushwalking safety and community support in the Australia Day Honours 2026. Caro leads a 60-person strong specialist Bush Search and Rescue team for the NSW SES in the Blue Mountains, where she lives. And her book, How to Navigate teaches people just that - the art of navigation and map reading, which she says is essential ...

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38:46

EP 130 Adventurer Tim Jarvis AM on his journey to the...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/01/21

Adventurer, environmental scientist, author, filmmaker, philanthropist, speaker, and Australian of the Year Tim Jarvis AM... is there anything this man can't do? You'll think not after hearing about his adventures including undertaking two of the harshest and most extreme Antarctic expeditions – Douglas Mawson and Ernest Shackleton's survival journeys, and he did them in the original clothing, with the same gear used a century ago. Jarvis talks about his journeys, his latest expedition, and h...

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39:02

EP 129 Summer Series staycation: Adventure in Noosa...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/01/14

For many, Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast is all about the surf, sun and stunning boutiques, but on this week’s episode we take you on a deeper dive into this pretty coastal region. Co-host Kirstie Bedford loves nothing more than an active getaway, and so a chance to hike, bike and kayak in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was her idea of a dream weekend – throw in whale watching, and it was a match made in heaven. Take a listen to her recommendations of how to explore a different side of N...

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44:54

Ep 128 Summer Series: The Islands Episode, Cambodia &...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2026/01/07

This week is all about islands, as we take you to a Cambodian conservation-based private island resort and to the island nation of the Maldives. First up, Kirstie takes us to the stunning island resort of Song Saa in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago. Bought by Australian Melita Koulmandas for US$15,000, she has transformed it from knee-deep in rubbish to a luxury retreat with Cambodia’s first protected marine park. Hear from the island’s marine biologist, Anna Sabrina Petry about how it not on...

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52:30

EP 127 Summer Series: lessons from those living as...

The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your... ·

2025/12/31

Many people dream of being a digital nomad. Is 2026 your year to do it? This week, we’re giving you an insight into what life is really like living on the road, starting with authors, digital creators and husbands Brent Hartinger and Michael Jensen, who have lived in more than 30 countries and travelled to more than 60. The long-time digital nomads originally from the United States share their insights into what it’s like living a nomadic life, with top tips on how you can do it too. Fo...

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171 results

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