In the 15+ years I’ve been living in Port Douglas (intermittently), I’ve never seen a big cyclone. With Cyclone Jasper heading our way in December 2023, in a few days, I thought I’d share what it’s like living with tropical storms and cyclones in tropical north Queensland. Extreme weather events are an interesting aspect of … Read more
Our kids were exclusively worldschooled (homeschooled or unschooled) from junior school to the teenage years. It worked out well for all of us and we want to help you find your own paths in alternative education. Every now and then I create a blog post on how worldschooling changes with time and age. 15 years … Read more
We’ve fed our travelling children in some incredible travel destinations, in over 50 countries now. They’re still alive, still healthy and one, at 12, is now dwarfing his mum. We’re doing OK. Do you want to know a few tricks and tips for finding food for kids while travelling? You need food they will eat … Read more
A few days ago I woke up with feet so itchy I just couldn’t stand still. A Romanian road trip, a voyage of discovery, was on my mind and I knew just the place. The amusement park in a salt mine that I’d seen pictures of online, an amazing James-Bondesque underground cavern turned tourist attraction, … Read more
This post is about the experience of getting a traditional Thai tattoo in Bangkok. We also suggest other places in Thailand to get a traditional sak yant. These are “bamboo tattoos” done with a long bamboo pole tipped with a spike. This is how I was able to book a Thai tattoo in Bangkok with … Read more
Trekking in Nepal is the ultimate trekking experience but there’s more to trekking in Nepal than the famous Everest Base Camp (EBC) and Annapurna Circuit treks. This post tells you about the many hikes you can take in Nepal, helps you choose the right trek for you, and explains how to organise a trek. We … Read more
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an area dedicated to the Harry Potter books and movies, within some Universal Studios theme parks. In this post, we share photos of the Wizarding World and give you tips on how and where to see some Harry Potter-themed buildings, shops, rides, and characters.. We recently visited the … Read more
Arashiyama (home to the famous bamboo forest or bamboo grove in Japan) is northwest of the city of Kyoto and some 10 km away. To reach Arashiyama from Kyoto, you can take a train, taxi (Uber will get you a taxi), tour, or bus. You could even walk to Arashiyama if you had 2 hours … Read more
To make your trip to Japan easier, here are some essential things to know before visiting Japan. I should probably rename this, “Things I wish I’d known before visiting Japan”, I found Japan a very challenging country to visit. And I’ve visited almost 60 countries now, it was one of the hardest. Here are some … Read more
Port Douglas is a lovely holiday town in Far North Queensland Australia. It’s the perfect place to stay for visiting the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It really is a great holiday destination. Are you planning a trip to Port Douglas? Here’s what you should look out for when planning a trip or … Read more
The Atherton Tablelands, known locally as “The Tablelands” covers a huge area in Far North Queensland, close to top holiday hotspots, Cairns and Port Douglas. There is a vast amount to see and do on the Tablelands and your average visitor probably won’t be able to do it all. So once you’ve been to the … Read more
The Dead Sea occupies the lowest position on Earth in the Middle East. Its shores are in the countries of Jordan and Israel in Asia, and yes, you can swim in the Dead Sea from either Israel or Jordan. Swimming in the Dead Sea is on a lot of travellers’ bucket lists. This is how … Read more
Heathrow Airport is to the west of Central London, About 16 miles (26 km) from the centre. It is easy to travel between London Heathrow and your destination in London, by train, bus, taxi, or Uber. Transport connections are very good. We tell you how to travel between terminals, how to get into Central London, … Read more
UAE stands for United Arab Emirates, a country in Asia, and in the region of The Middle East . The Middle East extends into Africa (it is a transcontinental region) but the UAE is fully in the continent of Asia. Dubai is in the UAE, as is Abu Dhabi. This post is about the UAE … Read more
Bali is an island. It is just one of the islands which make up the country Indonesia in Southeast Asia. Bali is famous for being a very beautiful place with a stunning culture quite different from that found elsewhere in Indonesia. This island is also a very popular holiday destination, particularly for Australians as this … Read more
The only way to get from Palm Cove to Port Douglas is by road along the Captain Cook Highway. There is no real public transport between Palm Cove and Port Douglas but there are shuttle buses and some free options. The drive between Palm Cove and Port Douglas is officially one of the most beautiful … Read more
Regular readers will know that we just spent almost a month in Egypt. Why? For fun, obviously and to please our kids who are fascinated by learning about Egypt. Suggested topics and interesting facts for kids to learn about Ancient Egypt include Ancient Egypt, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid (allegedly the last of the … Read more
In January 2024 the Daintree Rainforest, north of the Daintree River, is closed to tourists because of damage caused by tropical storm/cyclone Jasper. You can drive to Port Douglas and Mossman via Mareeba, Atherton, Kuranda and the Tablelands, or you can take a ferry to Port Douglas. We’ll update again as soon as we know … Read more
Yes, you can walk the Daintree Rainforest by yourself at several designated boardwalks. We explain where these rainforest walks are, the dangers you need to know about, and which walks are free. There are also tour options and ways of accessing the Daintree Rainforest in this post. Please find what walking or entry information you … Read more
There is not a place called “Daintree Town” in the Daintree National Park or Daintree Rainforest areas of Far North Queensland. This post explains a little more about where “Daintree” is, which towns are in the Daintre and those nearby. Daintree Town simply doesn’t exist according to my extensive research. Daintree The Daintree statistical area … Read more
There is no entry fee for the Daintree National Park, it is free to enter other than the privatised sections like the Mossman Gorge. There are two main parts of the Daintree National Park, Mossman Gorge is south of the Daintree River, the Daintree Rainforest extends north of the river through Cape Tribulation. In early … Read more
No, it is not safe to swim in the Daintree River. The Daintree River in Far North Queensland is in tropical northern Australia and is inhabited by a lot of large saltwater or estuarine crocodiles which are very dangerous to humans and large mammals. The Daintree River is a very popular place to take a … Read more
The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world at over 135 million years old, possibly older. It is located in tropical Far North Queensland Australia and is a popular tourist attraction for visitors to Port Douglas, Palm Cove, and Cairns. To book a Daintree tour, fast, click here to see your choices. Otherwise, … Read more
The Khao San Road is an icon of Bangkok and of Thailand. It’s where travellers have gathered for decades to find lodging, food, and souvenirs. This part of Bangkok is perfectly located near many of Bangkok’s major cultural attractions which made it a great neighbourhood to stay in Bangkok. This post is about the Khao … Read more
There are many options for Great Barrier Reef tours from Port Douglas Australia. Some trips are full day and a few are half day. The question I’m most asked about snorkelling on the reef, by readers, is this one. February 2024 Update. At the time of writing Cyclone Jasper is still causing a few problems … Read more
Dubai is actually a very safe place to travel as a woman, with strict codes of conduct and relatively low crime. There are a few rules and safety precautions to follow, plus some perks of travel in Dubai that are just for women. Travel To Dubai, For Women I’ve travelled to Dubai as a solo … Read more
The Hoi An Pottery Village is a stand-alone attraction just outside the town of Hoi An, but within easy reach by push bike, scooter or taxi. The villagers have been traditionally involved in pottery for centuries and the craft continues today. The Thanh Ha village has been turned into a tourist attraction but in a … Read more
Port Douglas is a pretty resort town in Far North Queensland Australia, roughly an hour north of Cairns, a much larger city. Cairns has the nearest international airport to Port Douglas and most visitors will arrive here for their Port Douglas stay. From the airport, either book the shuttle to Port or pick up a … Read more
Which things do you really need to homeschool on the road? (Some call this form of homeschooling travel schooling, road schooling, or worldschooling) What books, supplies, materials, equipment and resources do you need to carry with you? It’s not much. I’m not going to write a list. I’m not going to make you buy things so … Read more
The Golden Jubilee Monument featuring a four-headed (not the typical 3-headed) elephant statue is to be found in the middle of a pedestrian crossing island on Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok, Thailand. This statue marks the Golden Jubilee of King Rama IX of Thailand. If you are taking a self-directed walking tour of Bangkok, this beautiful gleaming … Read more
A nomadic family is a family that can spend their whole lives, or a certain portion of their lives, moving from place to place with no restrictions or ties to hold them in a particular location. Nomadic families have existed throughout history, and you will still find old-style nomadic families in countries such as Mongolia … Read more
Most hostels, in Asia, Europe, the US or Australia, do provide towels for guests, however, some don’t, and some require a deposit for a towel, or charge you to use a towel. For this reason if you plan to travel extensively or travel around the world using hostels, it’s wise to pack a travel towel. … Read more
Yes, families can stay in hostels, but not in every hostel. Plenty of hostels today have private family rooms, often with their own private bathrooms that are perfect for families of 3, 4, and more. Smaller dorm rooms can also be booked out for a family in some instances. However, a few hostels are designated … Read more
The Middle East is a region, not a continent, not a subcontinent, and not a country. The region is located at the junction of Africa, Asia, and Europe and parts of the Middle East are in all three continents. Find out more about the Middle East, the countries that make up the Middle East and … Read more
A list of the best places to visit in Bangkok complete with highlights for shopping, sightseeing, fun things to do for kids, cultural and historic places to see, food experiences and some off-the-beaten-track places to visit. There is a huge amount to see and do in Bangkok that is family-friendly and suitable for people of … Read more
A family gap year is a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids to bond, experience the world together, learn so much, and have fun. In this post, we help you with planning a family gap year, where to go, destinations, costs, ideas, itinerary, saving for travel, budgets, and our experiences of being on a family … Read more
Thailand is a beautiful country with much to offer holidaymakers, travellers and tourists. Thailand has stunning beaches, ancient temples, delicious food, and a fascinating rich culture. You can take a trip to Thailand to relax on a beach from the comfort of a beautiful resort or tour the sites of Thailand. This page will tell … Read more
This post is about Vietnam travel tips for the seasoned traveller, first-timers or 2-week holiday-makers. Vietnam is a very popular travel destination in Southeast Asia, for tourists, and rightly so, it’s a great destination and very affordable, even for families with kids. Whether you’ll be travelling the full length of Vietnam, or spending 2 weeks … Read more
Dal bhat is the national food of Nepal, fueling hungry trekkers and local people in the lowlands and high in the Himalayas. It is a simple dish, dal refers to lentils, cooked in a thin soup or stew, bhat is rice, but various accompaniments are served along with dal bhat, making it a delicious and … Read more
Jordan is an amazing destination for a family holiday, vacation, or trip, with so many interesting things to see and do, plus opportunity to taste local foods and experience a different way of life. This post covers some of the things to see and do in Jordan, to plan a family itinerary, plus some of … Read more
Where to stay in Flores, Guatemala, a family and child-friendly guide. There aren’t too many hotels, guest houses and hostels of Flores Island and they’re all well located, so choosing should be easy! There are multiple price points and styles of accommodation in Flores, you should find your best place to stay in our post. … Read more
Phu Quoc is tipped to become one of Vietnam’s major drawcards in the future and is already well established as a tourist destination amongst well-travelled people. Getting from Saigon to Phu Quoc isn’t as straightforward as travel to parts of Vietnam from Saigon, mainly because Phu Quoc is an island off the south coast. In … Read more