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The Black Forest for 2 nights

Reading Time: 16 minutes

Freiburg im Breisgau, 7-9 January 2026

When our daughter was finishing her last year of High School and we were planning an end of year celebratory trip to the UK and Europe, we asked if there was somewhere she would particularly like to visit. She said “The Black Forest!” Why? I have no idea. Having never been there myself, I set about researching.

After some googling and new experimentation with ChatGPT, I chose Freiburg im Breisgau as our destination. It was described as the gateway to the Black Forest, a vibrant city on the edge of the Forest, with an old medieval town and gothic cathedral.

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Top 5 places to visit in Barossa

Reading Time: 6 minutes
My top 5 favourite places to visit in the Barossa Valley

There is more to the Barossa Valley than booze, but it’s fair to say, it’s the main reason people visit. So for that reason, my top 5 favourite places to visit all involve alcohol.

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9 Day NZ South Island Road Trip

Reading Time: 14 minutes
An unforgettable journey through New Zealand’s stunning landscapes (Dec 2024)

For several years I had been dreaming of taking a trip to New Zealand’s South Island to enjoy winding roads, breathtaking coastlines, and world-class food and wine. Ten years earlier, we’d taken our children on a 9 day tour of the North Island, but I’d never visited the South Island before.

So in early December 2024, hubby and I embarked on a 9 day/ 8 night self-drive adventure filled with natural wonders and culinary delights. When planning our trip, I soon realised 9 days would not be nearly enough time to see all the South Island has to offer and we’d have to effectively cut the island in half, and plan a return for another time to do the other part. So many places to see, such little time!

Here’s how our South Island road trip unfolded.

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Mixing Mudgee with classic scooters

Reading Time: 14 minutes

ANCSR 2025 in Mudgee – Classic Scooters, Friends, and One Very Tired Liver

The October long weekend had been circled on our calendar for months — the Australian National Classic Scooter Rally (ANCSR) in Mudgee. Every year, the rally draws a devoted mix of riders from all over the country, descending on a new town to celebrate our shared obsession with vintage scooters. This would be the first national Steve and I had decided to join in quite a few years. Mudgee, with its vineyards, country pubs, and rolling hills, and only 272 kms from Sydney, promised the perfect setting for a long weekend of riding, laughter, and maybe a few too many drinks.

But of course, getting there was always half the adventure.

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