The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust
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 stories from across the world.
Hosts Belinda Jackson & Kirstie Bedford
Website <a href="https://theworldawaits.au "> </a>
Instagram @theworldawaitspodcast
Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)
Episodes
73 episodes
Antarctic solo sailor Lisa Blair, safest countries to travel & Bali bargains
Solo sailor Lisa Blair has sailed around Antarctica not once, but twice, and her book Facing Fear records that first, near-fatal expedition. Lisa has a rack of world records under her belt – just this year alone, she set the faste...
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Episode 68
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45:52
EP 67 New Zealand's sacred north, Hunter Valley getaway & how to get more holidays
Is the 'Land of the Long White Cloud’ on your travel to-do list? This week, our resident Kiwi, co-host Kirstie Bedford chats about all the reasons you should head to New Zealand’s far north.From a moving cultural experience to be...
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Episode 67
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38:53
EP 66 Cruise the high seas, top travel destinations for 2025 & holidays for the heartbroken
Love a cruise but just can’t choose? Cruise expert Honida Beram has sailed the seven seas on more than 50 cruises; she explains the best cruise for you to choose.Also, Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel list – the breakdow...
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Episode 66
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41:20
EP 65 Savouring Peru, the best airline food & scariest Halloween spots
“Food is our love language,” says Lima-born chef Alejandro Saravia, who takes us on a culinary adventure through Latin America.The chef, who recently opened Morena, two Latin American restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, admits he didn’...
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47:55
EP 64 Australia's best islands, Brisbane booms and bypassing Bali belly
Love islands? Australia has thousands of them to choose from, and Emma Shaw, author of
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Episode 64
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34:10
EP 63 Greece & Bulgaria by train, tracing your Italian roots & world's best sunsets
Co-host Belle takes us to Greece and Bulgaria, travelling by rail on a slow food, slow travel journey of these neighbouring countries, eurail.com She travelled on a Eurail pass, which criss-crosses 33...
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Episode 63
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37:37
EP 62 Living a nomadic life; Intrepid's ‘not-hot’ list & get to the airport on time
Living a nomadic life; the ‘not-hot’ list and airport departure timesHave you ever dreamt of packing it all in and travelling the world? That’s what Tim and Sharyn Nilsen have done and the only retirement plans they have are to keep tick...
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Episode 62
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43:29
EP 61 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?Marnie Ogg joins us to talk about astrotourism. Marnie designs and leads stargazing tours, and she is also the f...
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36:15
EP 60 Deserted island escapes, new flight routes from Oz, self-care on the road
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 fak...
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Episode 60
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48:49
EP 59 The waterways of Vietnam, tourist taxes & safety for adventure 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 ...
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Episode 59
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40:11
EP 58 Best airfares to Europe & the US, top Aussie tiny towns & pre-travel checklists
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...
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Episode 58
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37:38
EP 57 Secrets of the Blue Zones, where Aussies are travelling & quirky honeymoon stays
This week we reveal the secrets of the Blue Zones – where people live the longest and healthiest lives. Blue Zone Vice President Nick Buettner explains how they discovered Blue Zones, the habits of those living there, and lessons you can learn ...
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Episode 57
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40:03
EP 56: Unlocking India, travelling with jewellery & ski prep tips
Rajasthan is the India of the imagination – fortresses and palaces, the grand desert, bustling bazaars and incredible colour... men in fabulous turbans and elephants and camels everywhere. But there are so many places to love in India, says ...
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Episode 56
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49:27
EP 55 : Norway beyond the fjords, world's most liveable cities, best language apps
Dramatic fjords, snowy mountains, midnight sun… Norway’s natural beauty is legendary. But wait, there’s more! Torunn Tronsvang is the founder of UpNorway and says there’s so much more to Norway than the stunning scenery. She leads y...
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Episode 55
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45:13
EP 54: Why accessible travel matters & newest World Heritage sites
One in five Australians lives with a disability, and yet on hotel websites, the facilities listed to cater for these travellers are often as far down the list with the dog's water bowl. Julie Jones, creator of Have Wheelchair Will Trave...
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Episode 54
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41:37
EP 53: Safari in South Africa, best budget destinations & travel versus health
Spot the Big Five on a South African safari…and then really start seeing what the Greater Kruger National Park has to offer. Jacques Smit takes us on a tour of Sabi Sabi, a private, fence-free reserve within the Greater Kruger area. Take...
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Episode 53
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45:41
EP 52: Cycling in Sardinia & best countries for solo traveller
Would you cycle for more than 210 kilometres in 30+ degree heat around southern Sardinia? For host Kirstie Bedford it was a dream come true.Kirstie just spent a week biking the hills of the Italian island, all in the name of fun. Sh...
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Season 2
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Episode 52
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34:05
Winter Series #4: Mindful Hiking in New Zealand & Nepal
This week, we go to the high mountains and quiet forests with two mindful hikers, in Nepal and New Zealand.Ever think about quitting your corporate job and following a life-long dream? Laura Waters did, and she’s now an award-winning au...
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37:39
Winter Series #3: The Travel Entrepreneurs – Bruce Poon Tip & Tony Wheeler
This week, two of the world's biggest travel entrepreneurs speak to The World Awaits.Social entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author and G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip talks about his decision to take his company into...
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Episode 42
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55:15
Winter Series #2: Talking travel gear, whale swims, a Victorian love letter
Need some travel tech or gear inspo? We’ve got you covered this week, with Belle and our producer Alaisdair Leith back behind the mic. We’ve also teamed up with Gypsea Loop to give away a gorgeous Hair Tie Bangle, talk whale swims and Rick Stei...
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35:20
Winter Series #1: The Big Guns - the TV star & the animal welfare defender
Welcome to the winter series, where we talk to two of the biggest influences in the travel industry. He’s eaten tarantulas, jumped out of planes, dropped his kilt while Highland dancing and even…gone camping *quelle horreur!* Kevin ...
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51:40
EP 47: Luke Mangan, kid-free hotels & becoming a digital nomad
Chef, restaurateur, author and all-round nice guy Luke Mangan has restaurants in hotels, cruise ships, airports and even in a pylon in the Sydney Harbour Bridge He has an OAM for his services to hospitality and has just launched hi...
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Episode 47
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42:38
EP 46: Custodians of wonder, World martini day & it's our birthday!
It's our birthday! The World Awaits turns one, and to celebrate, we're talking the world's oldest and rarest cultural traditions, where to drink martinis and we even have a great giveaway!Author Eliot Stein talks about how he travelled ...
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Episode 46
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38:07
EP 45: Women-only travel in Saudi, Round-the-world cruising & Languages of Kakadu
Jenny Gray is the force behind Intrepid Travel’s incredibly successful women-only expeditions, which it runs in seven countries including Saudi Arabia. Jenny and Belle travelled together recently in the kingdom, exploring its deserts and meetin...
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Episode 45
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42:00
EP 44 Shikoku Island in Japan, Accessible travel & Eating Hong Kong
‘It’s already authentic, it’s not made for the tourist, everything is there like it has been for hundreds of years, Sanjib Raj Khanal, CEO of Explore Japan.Sanjib is a leading tour operator in West Japan, and talks about why Shi...
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Episode 44
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38:04