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 inspiring stories and inside information from across the world.
Website https://theworldawaits.au
Instagram @theworldawaitspodcast
Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)
Episodes
137 episodes
Ep 132 Hiking the French Camino, Europe’s lesser-known regions you need to know about & what’s hot on the Sunshine Coast
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.&n...
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38:29
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EP 131 The Art of Navigation with wilderness advocate Caro Ryan OAM; travel trends for 2026 & Victoria's hottest new opens
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 H...
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Episode 131
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1:01:07
EP 130 Adventurer Tim Jarvis AM on his journey to the ends of the Earth, plus tennis and travel budgets
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 heari...
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38:46
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EP 129 Summer Series staycation: Adventure in Noosa and Tassie's Central Highlands
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 ...
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39:02
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Ep 128 Summer Series: The Islands Episode, Cambodia & the Maldives
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
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Episode 128
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44:54
EP 127 Summer Series: Fancy a move to Italy? We have top tips from digital nomads about how to do it
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 Mich...
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52:30
EP 126 Summer Series: The Tropics Episode from finding your Zen in Tahiti to PNG with musician David Bridie
Merry Christmas to you all and welcome back to our Summer Series!This week, we're talking tropics, taking you to Tahiti and Papua New Guinea. Co-host Kirstie Bedford talks about attending Tahiti's first annual
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Episode 126
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59:54
Ep 125 Summer Series: The Africa Episode from museums in Cairo to seeking out the Big Five
Welcome to the first of our Summer Series!This week, we’re taking you to Africa, a bucket list destination for those who want to see the Big Five or wander the pyramids of Giza.First up, co-host
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53:24
EP 124 Last-minute travel Christmas gifts & how to max your holidays in 2026
Shopping for the traveller in your life this Christmas? Tune in as our tech hound and sound producer Alaisdair Leith teams up with host Belle Jackson to bring you our best last-minute gifts. Also, get planning for your 2026 travels ...
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Episode 124
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42:21
EP 123 How to be a digital nomad in Sicily; the best airline seat for your health & the most affordable five-star stays
Are you sick of the day-to-day grind and dream of becoming a digital nomad in Italy?This week's pod is for you! We are chatting to editor and travel writer Carrie Hutch...
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44:29
EP 122 Are the Maldives worth the hype? Tips for Travel Tuesday & would you go broke for a break?
Are the Maldives worth the hype? This episode, co-host Belle Jackson talks about her most recent visit to the island nation.We're talking about the food, the different types of resorts, their sustainability and, of course, whale sharks.&...
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Episode 122
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37:03
EP 121 Walking, wine and wombats: the Tasmanian lake lodge you need to visit; Australia's best cellar doors & save on Swiss rail passes
We're celebrating this week as co-host Belle Jackson is once again named Travel Writer of the Year by the Australian Society of Travel Writers! See https://globalsalsa.comBelle takes us to Tasmania's...
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Episode 121
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30:36
EP 120 Cambodia's private island leading conservation; Sweden prescribes a stay & the airline charging you to recline
If you love a tropical, private island escape and want to do right by the environment, this is the episode for you.Co-host Kirstie Bedford takes us to the stunning island resort of Song Sa...
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Episode 120
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28:54
EP 119 Finding your Zen in Tahiti; why we're telling fibs about the cost of holidays & top shorter walks on the Camino
Wellness, walking, and why we lie about the cost of our holidays are all the hot topics this week.Kicking things off is co-host Kirstie Bedford talking about her recent trip to Tahiti, where she attended Tahiti's first annual
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41:51
EP 118 Papua New Guinea with musician David Bridie; Lonely Planet's 2026 hotlist & safe wifi connections
Four kilometres from Australia, Papua New Guinea is our closest, and also our least explored neighbour. As PNG celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence from Australia, Australian musician and composer David Bridie talks about his connect...
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Episode 118
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48:47
EP 117 Roadtrip through Australia's Red Centre, Michelin Keys now rate world's best hotels & dogs on planes
As Australia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Uluru Handback, host Belle Jackson shares how you can take a bite of the red dust on a drive holiday around the Red Centre W...
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Episode 117
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37:34
EP 116 Why Siem Reap should top your travel list with teens; maximise your frequent flyer points & the lowdown on Kyoto's new tourism tax
Bursting with culture, balmy nights, bustling streets and flavoursome food make Siem Reap a must-do for any family holiday, especially when it could be the last trip you do with your teens.This week, host Kirstie Bedford explains why Sie...
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Episode 116
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33:30
EP 115 Africa through the eyes of an expert; biggest travel icks & the best pies in Australia
Ivona Siniarska has been to Africa 40 times and the founder and managing director of travel booker Take Off Go says it's more than a destination, "it's a deep-seated emotion".From Ke...
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Episode 115
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49:11
EP 114 Rome to Nairobi connecting through classical music; US visitors love Australia & do you need domestic travel insurance?
“Opera and classical music shouldn’t be just for the elite,” says Australian-born soprano Breana Stillman. The opera singer leads a double life; based in Rome and singing throughout Europe, she’s also on a mission to bring classical music and o...
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Episode 114
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33:33
Ep 113 Melissa Hoyer on travelling the celeb circuit; Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List & making your data last when you travel
Melissa Hoyer is one of Australia’s most respected lifestyle commentators, journalists and editors, who has worked in the travel and lifestyle sector of the media industry for more than three decad...
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Episode 113
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42:16
EP 112 Explore Malta with chef Shane Delia; payouts for flight delays & hire car accident hotspots
There's great nightlife, it's summer all year round, and really, really hospitable people. Add to that fabulous architecture and a blossoming food scene, and what's not to love about Malta? In Australia, he's Mr Malta - Malte...
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Episode 112
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42:45
EP 111 Noosa for the adventurer; insights into the travelling habits of Gen Z & top places to stare at the stars
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 ...
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30:46
EP 110 The view from a neurodivergent traveller; world's most crowded hotspots & duty-free shopping tips
Airports are one of the most stressful places we'll find ourselves, and this week, we're looking at travel from the viewpoint of a neurodivergent traveller. Sarah Maree Cameron is a radio and TV presenter, writer and comedian. She ...
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Episode 110
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44:07
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 y...
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Episode 109
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43:19
EP 108 World's best dive sites; top cities for a workcation & 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, Ultim...
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Episode 108
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49:53
