Lazy Lord Howe Island daze… 🌴🌴🌴 #fishersdolhi #fishersroadtrip #lordhoweisland #spell #spelltravel
Went on a long, beautiful hike to the Goat House today and was accompanied for over two hours by these charismatic currawongs. From the forest floor to the summit they flew alongside me, almost hitching a ride on my shoulders at times. Consulting the bird book upon my return I learn ‘The Lord Howe Island currawong (unique to the island) is a large inquisitive bird that often follows walkers along trails, watching with beady eyed curiosity…’ Yep. #fishersroadtrip #lordhoweisland #birder #lordhoweislandcurrawong #views #fishersdolhi
On Island Time until further notice… 🏝️🏝️ #fishersroadtrip #lordhoweisland #nedsbeach #fishersdolhi
Ok so after clearing out the van I will concede that maybe Josh was right, maybe I did pack too many books 🤭 But let’s also take a moment for the little Jayco Swan and it’s incredible storage capacity that allowed me to secretly stash over 60 novels in its various compartments for 35000kms! 😂😂 #bookclubwithali #lappingoz #fishersroadtrip #bookhoarder #storagespaces #travellingwithbooks #holidayreading
Being Tourists… 📷 Throughout our journey we have met some wonderful new friends who we’ll love forever 🩷 We’ve also come across a certain type of ‘traveler’. You know the ones who pull into a campground with big main character energy, Instagram handle emblazoned across the back of the van, drone buzzing overhead, loud opinions denouncing anything mainstream or ‘touristy.’ The guy with the RAM in an Anaconda fishing shirt, ‘Yeah, nah the Twelve Apostles too touristy for me…’ (mate I saw you taking a photo at Campbell’s Steps pretending to lick one of the formations as if that isn’t peak tourist behaviour 😂)The earthy vegan wanderer in the old bus, ‘eww don’t go to Victor Harbour, totally cringe, so touristy…’ A whole tribe of aspiring influencers trying to curate a travel experience cooler, more exciting & unique than anyone else…But here’s the reality: we’re all doing the same thing 🩵touring this spectacular, diverse country, living in our vans, literally being tourists! Besides, the ‘Touristy’ spots are popular for a reason; they’re beautiful & well maintained & great fun. So in celebration of being gloriously uncool, mainstream tourists & absolutely loving it, here are the top 5 tourist spots we were told to avoid that we thought were fab: 1. Sovereign Hill: an impeccably recreated gold rush town with so much to see, learn & explore. Sunny was obsessed with watching the blacksmith at work & panning for gold. Were we so touristy & uncool that we partook in the 1800s photo shoot?? Yes, yes we were! 2. The Twelve Apostles: yes this is a busy spot but the view is so iconic and magnificent I cried & if you arrive early enough you can still have the whole beach to yourself. Stunning. 3. Despite the tacky, bustling scene our vegan friend painted, the horse drawn tram of Victor Harbour (in operation since the 1800s) was quaint & historic & gorgeous. It crosses the causeway to breathtaking Granite Island & is a lovely way to spend an afternoon… (caption continued in comments…) #fishersroadtrip #beingtourists #lappingoz #vanlife #touristlife
Oh all the books I packed for this trip (and there are many, many books 🤭) this has been the one I have read the most! Highly recommended for anyone planning to travel, short or long term, this colourful, conversational guide offers clear, concise itineraries and information. We reached for it continuously for campsite suggestions, activities and hot tips. This was our go-to when the internet and the travel influencers became too overwhelming. Pop it in your van and happy adventures! 🚐 #bookclubwithali #fishersroadtrip #travellingaustralia #lappingoz #tripinavan #vanlife #travelguide #bundacliffs @tripinavan #bookstagrammer #bookstagram
The best of times… Just clicked over 7 months on the road and we wouldn’t change a thing!! #fishersroadtrip #elquestro #kimberysunsets #lappingoz #7months
From the desert to the snow…❄️ ❄️ Because we live in a town that doesn’t really experience drastic changes in temperature, we decided to visit beautiful Bright in both Summer and Winter to show Sunny the difference in seasons. ☀️❄️From our cosy log cabin(Josh’s dream house!) we explored the snow fields of Hotham, the fairytale village of Dinner Plain and the exquisitely wild Mt Buffalo, absolute winter wonderlands. We laughed our heads off on the toboggan runs (Sunny reaching’Mad Dog status’ for her fearless rides) built snowmen, hurled snowballs and snuggled around roaring fires. It was some of the best, numb-fingered fun we’ve had, a wonderful wintery adventure. #fishersroadtrip #travellingaustralia #lappingoz #snowday #bright #dinnerplain #mtbuffalo
High Country ❄️ ❄️ #fishersroadtrip #mthotham #dinnerplain #snowtrip #vanlife #lappingoz #vintagespell
Stepping into the film-set that is Silverton… We stayed two nights at the iconic Silverton Hotel soaking up the stillness of the outback, the cinematic history and the incredible art… #fishersroadtrip #silverton #silvertonhotel #prohartgallery #prohart #brokenhill #brokenhillart #thelivingdesert
We moved out of our Coober Pedy dugout and onto a houseboat and I’m sure the Jayco is starting to get jealous! Delighted to be joined by Poppy Tony, Captain Extraordinaire for a relaxing five days slowly cruising the Murray River. We ate good food (a joyful novelty to have an oven again!) soaked in the spa, basked in the sun and watched as the scenery changed from eucalyptus-lined banks brimming with bird life (emus and parrots, spoonbills and herons) to golden limestone cliffs that would turn to fire in the setting sun. Each night we found a secluded camp and sat around the fire until the stars came out before returning to our plush accommodation and comfy bed, rocked to sleep by the lullaby of the river. It was so peaceful and perfect I fear I may be ruined for regular camping and normal life in general forever… #fishersroadtrip #murrayriver #houseboatlife #murrayriverhouseboats #lappingoz #boatlife #renmark
Coober Pedy 💎⚒️ After six months of #vanlife we moved out of the Jayco and into a dugout. I thought I’d be severely claustrophobic living beneath the earth but it was calm and cosy and incredibly spacious. Coober Pedy is a wild place; an underground community honeycombed with mine shafts, pockmarks in an otherwise spare landscape. Wealth and beauty buried in the dirt. There’s a recklessness and optimism about the town and its people that I quite loved. Everyone we met were generational miners, always ready to share the stories with sepia-toned photo albums on hand, hardened, generous people with opal dust in their blood. We went down into a mine with a seventy nine year old miner who deserved her own documentary. Sunny caught Opal Fever and spent hours ‘noodling’ in the cuttings around town, unearthing fragments of gem stones in impossibly beautiful colours. I found my own treasure in a jewellery boutique, the ocean opal of my dreams. Thank you to my Husband of the Year for my long awaited opal ring 💍 and to Coober Pedy for being such sparkly, dusty fun. #fishersroadtrip #cooberpedy #dugout #earthwormhouse #lappingoz #opalfever
There is such a powerful energy surrounding Uluru and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried more than once standing in its shadow. The constantly changing colours, the strength and the stillness. The heartbeat of our nation, it’s all so incredibly beautiful. What an amazing chapter in our adventure. #fishersroadtrip #uluru #katatjuta #lappingoz #nt #seethent
My darling heart at our nation’s heart. ❤️❤️ #uluru #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #nt #travellingwithkids #sunnykathleen
Everyone kept telling us once we’d done the Gibb River Road we’d be ‘all gorged out’ …NEVER!!! With each of these ancient landscapes becoming progressively more impressive it’s going to take a while for the novelty to wear off. Beautiful Kings Canyon may just be the most majestic of them all. We loved our stay out here at Kings Creek station and reuniting with a favourite past student/MADD alumni was an extra special bonus. #fishersroadtrip #kingscanyon #nt #lappingoz #travellingaustralia
Outback Skies… #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #flindersranges #cooberpedy #outback #vanlife
Darwin to Alice Springs; a week of mini adventures… First stop was Mataranka, a tiny town with a hot springs heart. Both Bitter Springs and Mataranka Springs were absolutely beautiful, lush desert oasis with mermaid green waters and palm trees so shiny they looked Florida fake. The perfect place for a long relaxing soak. We stayed at Little Ropers Stockcamp where the lovely host makes Johnny Cakes on the fire each morning and passes around his collection of reptiles with no regard for OH&S rules!! (Sunny was the only one comfortable with hugging this enormous olive python! 😬) An unexpected highlight of Mataranka was the Nathan ‘Whippy’ Griggs show, my expectations were low, how good can an hour of whip cracking be?! But it was super fun, impressive and completely engaging. Top Territory entertainment. The Daly Waters Hotel was a fabulous stopover, a bougainvillea-crowned, bra-embellished, classic outback pub. Sunny found a donkey to follow around and Josh found his ultimate happy place. 🍻 Further along the Stuart, Karlu Karlu (the Devil’s Marbles) look like they’ve just tumbled from the sky, defying gravity and reason while the Anmatjere Hunters tower over the highway, regal and strong. Awesome. Despite the recent negative press, we had a great stay in Alice Springs which was buzzing with the excitement of the Finke desert race. We enjoyed the Finke both trackside and in the grandstands at the finish line. The roar of engines thundering through the desert contrasting with the peace and majesty of the Macdonnell Ranges, sums up our time in Alice. All boxes ticked… #fishersroadtrip #stuarthighway #karlukarlu #devilsmarbles #matarankahotsprings #littleroperstockcamp #dalywaterspub #lappingoz #alicesprings #finkedesertrace
Being here is a dream come true 🧡🧡 #fishersroadtrip #uluru #sacredground @seeuluru @spell #seeuluru @australia
Happy Reunions in Darwin ☀️ We were so excited to catch up with Aunty H as well as two of Josh’s best mates for a week of hot days, balmy nights and tropical magic in Darwin. We only had seven days in this palm tree-shaded, sweaty mini-city but we certainly packed a lot in!! Highlights included chasing waterfalls in Litchfield NP, soaks in Berry Springs, a wander through the excellent MAGNT museum and gallery, a Suns ALF game, croc spotting on the Adelaide River and sunsets at the Trailer Boat Club. Sunny couldn’t get enough of the wave pool and free water parks (‘I love Darwin’ she shrieked and shouted, spinning over the waves for hours in an inflatable ring) whilst the Mindil Beach Markets with their postcard perfect sunsets, vibrant street performers and decadent vanilla slice was my happy place. #fishersroadtrip #darwin #lappingoz #litchfieldnationalpark #wangifalls #buleyrockhole #mindilbeachmarkets
Kakadu National Park 🪨 🐊 ✨ From the ancient stone country and woodland savannah to the fluorescence of the swamps, Kakadu was spectacular from every angle. The sheer vastness and diversity of this landscape is best appreciated from the air while a wander through the gorges will immerse you in Aboriginal rock art galleries, calm and powerful. Kakadu is home to a third of Australia’s bird species, and my two bird enthusiasts were in absolute avian paradise in the flood plains and billabongs, spotting flocks of brolgas, stately jabirus and, our family favourite, black cockatoos. Enormous saltwater crocs sunbaked along the banks of the Alligator River and cruised Cahill’s Crossing, prehistoric and fearsome. Feeling small and humbled to spend time on this sacred land. #fishersroadtrip #kakadu #kakadunationalpark #kakaduair #lappingoz #nt #topend
We have crossed into the NT and everything is suddenly very Croc Dundee 🐊 Sunny is wrangling snakes and riding pigs (Katherine Farm Stay so good!) and there are salties in the rivers and buffalo in the pubs! In Katherine we were engrossed by a wonderful cultural experience with Aboriginal artist Manuel, an absolutely delightful, national-treasure- of-a-man from Arnhem Land who shared his fascinating stories and led us through art lessons and hunting workshops. We cruised Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) in the late afternoon, a beautiful, peaceful way to be fully immersed in the grandeur of the gorges and the deep spirituality of the land, aspecial place to listen and learn from the traditional owners. Further North the Adelaide River Inn is a quintessential outback pub, jammed with Paul Hogan movie memorabilia and Top End curios. The Adelaide River is home to over 10 000 crocs and seeing them up close in their natural habitat is truely awesome/fearsome. So excited to continue our journey through this wild, beautiful territory. #fishersroadtrip #nt #nitmiluknationalpark #topdidj #nttourism #adelaideriver #spectacularjumpingcrocodilecruise @topdidj @spectacularjumpingcrocodiles @katherinefarmstay #travellingaustralia #lappingoz
Exploring the Ord River 🛶 Our final WA adventure was a two day paddle down the beautiful Ord River. Loading up a 3 person canoe with all our food, bedding and a waterproof map, we set off from the Lake Argyle dam (the 3rd largest in the world…fun fact) into the serenity and majesty of the Ord. The first day we paddled almost 25kms through gorges and valleys spotting sunbathing crocs (the friendly type 🐊) and bountiful bird life. We arrived at our bush camp in the musky twilight and slept under the stars, snuggled together on one mattress. The second day we explored hidden creeks, tiny beaches and secret waterfalls before arriving at our final destination and falling asleep under the shade of a boab tree. (All that paddling was exhausting!) A great adventure and incredibly peaceful, fish-eye-view way to experience the Ord. #fishersroadtrip #ordriver #ecocanoeing #kunnanurra #lappingoz #travellingaustralia #gowildadventuretours
Infinity pool perfection. #fishersroadtrip #lakeargyle #travellingaus #ordriver #lappingoz
Always thought I was a pretty good teacher until I had to home school my own child 🤣🙃😬 Have decided to let the formal education slide a little and just let the journey do the teaching… #fishersroadtrip #galvinsgorge #gibbriverroad #gibbriverroadadventure #distanceed #travellingwithkids
ElQuestro Station, the jewel in the Kimberly Crown and the perfect place to finish our Gibb River Road adventure. This million acre station is absolutely stunning, an oasis where every waterfall, gorge and lookout is more beautiful than the one before. We began each day with an early morning soak in the Zebedee hot springs amongst palm trees and terracotta cliffs (seriously how is this place real??) before hiking for hours (our barefooted rock wallaby still leading the way) and chasing the sunset before settling in around the fire at the bar. Everyone we met was either just about to start the Gibb or, like us, just finishing, so the camaraderie was strong, the fine dining exceptional and the vibes high. Would happily and heartily recommend @elquestro We stayed 4 days but I could’ve moved in for a month! #fishersroadtrip #elquestro #elquestrostation #gibbriverroad #emmagorge #zebedeesprings #lappingoz #travellingaus
Kimberly Sunsets #elquestrostation #fishersroadtrip #spell #outbacksunsets
Enchanting Emma Gorge ✨🍄🧚🏻♀️ #fairieslivehere #fishersroadtrip #emmagorge #elquestro #gibbeiverroad #gibbriverroadadventure @elquestro
Snapshots of The Gibb River Road… 660kms of dirt track, the Gibb River Road is synonymous with high adventure, the untouched beauty of the Kimberly and some pretty heavy duty 4WDing. It’s a road trip most people don’t attempt while towing a Jayco Swan but we’re willing to give almost anything a go and spent 10 days exploring this incredible landscape. After a record wet season the creek and river crossings were pretty adventurous (Sunny tallied 108) but the waterfalls were roaring, the gorges teeming with life and the country lush and dressed in its finest. We hiked for days (Sunny now identifies as a rock wallaby doing every trek barefoot, the kid hasn’t worn shoes since Tassie 😂) swam with freshwater crocs in ancient pools, wondered at indigenous rock art galleries and camped under boab trees with infinite stars spreading across the deep Kimberly sky… Safe and sound back on the bitumen with only a screw loose (in the cupboard, not our mental state!) #fishersroadtrip #gibbriverroad #gibbriverroadadventure #lappingoz #vanlife #bellsgorge #galvinsgorge #thekimberleyaustralia
Broome~Dampier Peninsula🌴☀️🐠 🐫 🐚 With the rich red dirt of Karijini and the Pilbara still in the creases of our skin, we headed to Broome for five days of camels, cocktails and sunsets over beaches. 🌅 For a town so incredibly isolated, Broome has quite a cosmopolitan vibe; high end jewellery boutiques, breweries and galleries all squatting in the ochre dust on the edge of the turquoise ocean. A diamond in the rough. Highlights included cinema under the stars at the World’s oldest Picture House, Sunny catching some huge fish right off the jetty, the tiny, vibrant aquariums of Coconut Well and a sunset camel ride along Cable Beach because, of course we did! We then continued up the Dampier Peninsula to wild and rugged Cape Leveque, as far north as you can go. We stayed at the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm and I think I’ve found my favourite style of camping: remote, unpowered ‘lost-in-the-bush, just us and the finches’ campsites but with a pearlescent bar and wet edge pool just a kilometre down the dirt road 😉 #fishersroadtrip #broome #travellingaustralia #lappingoz #sunsetsoverbeaches #cablebeach
This special moment deserves a permanent spot on the grid… Away from the hustle of Cable Beach, Coconut Well is a moonscape of limestone rock pools that appear at low tide. Tiny aquariums bubbling with life and two green turtles chilling in the shallows, waiting for the tides to change… #fishersroadtrip #coconutwell #broome #sciencelessonscometolife
Karijini National Park ⛰ There’s a magical feeling in Karajini that is hard to articulate. Something in the stillness of being deep in the earth, the rich colours and textures. The grandeur of it all. For five days we camped amongst the dingoes and rock wallabies and explored the gorges and waterholes of this ancient landscape. We hiked Hancock Gorge, trekking through crevices and wading waist deep, spider-manning and rock-hopping along ledges and through cracks in the earth; it was so fun! Hammersley Gorge was another highlight (pic 3) We swam through the clear emerald water, the walls of the gorge rising on either side. At the end of each day we would swim in the Fern Pool, just the three of us and a shy Western Quoll (critically endangered, so elusive, so so special to see him each time) as the gorge glowed red in the twilight and the moon rose golden and full. Incredible country 🌕 #fishersroadtrip #karijininationalpark #karijini #pilbra #travellingaustralia #lappingoz #vanlife
Happy Friday Friends 🥂🥂 #fishersroadtrip #cablebeach #broome #lappingoz #travellingaustralia
Oh hi we live here now… A lush oasis in the middle of the Pilbara, @cheelaplainsstation was the perfect station stay. Set on an immense property with private gorges and swimming holes, this camp was a beautiful, tranquil place to relax and explore. The staffs were super friendly, the campfire vibes were high and the meals absolutely delicious (those cakes and desserts my goodness 🍮😋❤️) It was a cake-for-breakfast-everyday happy place. From now on I shall only stay at stations with resident pastry chefs 👩🏼🍳 😊 #fishersroadtrip #cheelaplains #pilbra #pilbrasunset #travellingaustralia #lappingoz #stationstay
Absolutely incredible day snorkeling Ningaloo Reef and swimming with the whale sharks. We were so lucky to have four dives together with these gentle giants of the ocean and forever grateful that @ningaloodiscovery captured these images of the three of us in this awe-inspiring, bucket-list moment. I cannot recommend this tour more highly; the crew were so passionate and gorgeous and the unbridled dancing-with-delight joy they all showed when we unexpectedly saw orcas as well was something I’ll never forget. What a birthday surprise for our Sunshine! Core memories made in Exmouth 💙💙 #fishersroadtrip #travelingaustralia #exmouth #ningalooreef #ningaloodiscovery #whalesharkswim
Happy 8th Birthday to the little love of my life Sunny Girl 🥳🥳 Kind, sassy and the best travel companion. Have a magical day my sweet adventurer ❤️❤️❤️ #sunnykathleen #birthdaygirl #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz
Celebrating 130 days on the road 🥳🥳🥳 And loving every minute. #fishersroadtrip #vanlife #lappingoz #travellingaustralia #shellbeach #denham #sunnykathleen
Sherbet sand and rich deep ochres. Satiny blue ocean and vast lakes bubble-gummingly pink, the colours of Kalbarri are the pallet of a masterpiece 🎨 🖼 #fishersroadtrip #huttlagoon #kalbarri #kalbarrinationalpark #natureswindow #naturesartwork
Margaret River to Perth 🏄♀️ ☀️ 🍷 😎 Although we’ve been to the most incredible places on this adventure, this was the first region that had us seriously googling realestate! We were swept up in the excitement of the Margaret River Pro, meandered along the Busselton Jetty (the longest in the Southern Hemisphere) visited wineries and chocolate factories and felt small in ancient Kari forests amongst emus and black cockatoos. We camped on a sweet little permaculture farm where Sunny tended to the horses and the nightly campfire with pride. Stopped in at Gnomesville on the way North and left our garden gnome with the 10000 others (people are cool and weird 🍄 ) and squeezed as much as we could into a 3 day city stay in Fremantle (which is a total vibe) Rottnest Island, King’s Park, city strolls and a night with the symphony orchestra filled up our cosmopolitan cups to overflowing. Thanks Freo for the vibrant sunsets and the rainbows. 🌈 💜 Up the north coast we go… #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #vanlife #travellingaustralia #margaretriver #bussletonjetty #containbow #fremantle #perthcity #kingspark #gnomesville
Such a joy to take Sunny to the Perth Symphony Orchestra last night. This special performance celebrated the music of Disney films from Snow White to Encanto and what a set list it was! There is something otherworldly about a full orchestra, not even embarrassed to admit I was moved to tears on more than one occasion (The Circle of Life 😭😭) Fun girls night out of the van and in the big city 🏙 💙 #fishersroadtrip #girlsnightout #disney100
I acknowledge quokka selfies from Rottnest are grossly unoriginal but oh my goodness how cute are these lil guys!! We had a beautiful day exploring this gorgeous island. A 12 km bike ride along sparkling turquoise coastline and watercolour-painting lakes, followed by lobster rolls and espresso martinis with friendly quokkas overlooking the bay. (And that’s and Yang right there friends 😉☯️🍸) ps. Like everyone else in WA today we squinted at the sun but saw nothing exciting 🌒 ps x2 quokka pics by Sunny 📷 #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #travellingaustralia #rottnestisland #quokkas #quokkaselfies
From the soft icing-sugar sands of Wharton Beach to the dramatic landscapes of the Stirling Ranges and the glacier blue waters of Esperance, Bremer Bay, Albany and Denmark, the South West of WA had us saying ‘amazing’ and ‘wow!’ a lot! A few more days in Margaret River and then onwards to Perth… #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #vanlife #bremerbay #stirlingranges #esperance #luckybay #thatbluetho #travellingoz #waterfallbeach
When friends you would travel to the ends of the Earth to visit happen to live in the ranger’s cottage of a majestic national park so you just set up camp in their backyard… What an absolute treat to spend the past week in the Stirling Ranges with our dear friends Alex and Teeges eating, drinking and laughing like we’re still in our 20s! With five years between catch ups it was the happiest reunion. Slumber parties are so much fun. Add the Stirling Range National Park to your list for epic hikes and beautiful sunsets. #fishersroadtrip #stirlingrangenp #aussieroadtrip #lappingoz #stirlingranges
And at the end of the long, dusty Nullarbor rainbow, is this sparkly pot of gold 🌊 ☀️ #fishersroadtrip #whartonbeach #travellingaustralia #vanlife #lappingoz #nullabor
Our final campsite in SA was epic! Just us and the cliffs in the middle of the Nullarbor on the edge of the country... #bundacliffs #fishersroadtrip #crossingthenullarbor #lappingoz #spell
The final leg of our SA adventure was the wild and beautiful Eyre Peninsular, a curious coast of contrasts; rugged cliffs the soft colours of sunsets, huge swell and glassy rock pools, isolated national parks and bustling small towns. Paprika earth and turquoise oceans. We swam with sea lions, snorkelled jewel-toned bays in search of sea dragons, camped in bush land and beach front, delighted in fresh oysters from the crystal waters of Coffin Bay and ate as many seafood platters as humanly possible 🐠 🦪 🦐 Tomorrow we hit the Nullarbor… 🚐 #fishersroadtrip #vanlife #coffinbay #lappingoz #portlincoln #streakybay #eyrepeninsula #murphyshaystacks
Happy Friday from Streaky Bay 🥂 #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #vanlife #thegranites #streakybay #thosecolourstho
Unexpected Magic on the Eyre Peninsula…✨✨ We camped at a farm stay in Port Lincoln that runs racehorses and the lovely trainer took Sunny under his wing. For four days she burned around on the quad bike, drove the tractor, herded the geese, collected the eggs and had an absolute ball living her best farm girl life. Each morning and afternoon she would dutifully report to the stables to feed the horses where she became very enamoured with a racehorse called Stevie (fancy racing name Aylla’s Pride) On Sunday, Stevie was racing at the Kimba Cup and even though I generally boycott the track, Sunny was so excited and invested we took her along and arrived just in time to place a $5 bet on Stevie. The race began with a thunder of hooves, Stevie was slow to start but at 100 to 1 that’s what we expected 😬But then, a miraculous mid race surge, she comes fast and wide up the outside and like a glorious equine Steven Bradbury, stormed home on the final straight, rocketing, unbelievably, from last to first!! 🏆🏆The entire crowd was speechless but Sunny was screaming with joy! Those magic carrots she was feeding him with her teeth rewarded us with a very generous payout and a very happy gal! 🐴🐴 #fishersroadtrip #kimbacup #portlinchon #lappingoz #farmstaylife #sunnykathleen
WOMAD Music Festival, Ed Sheeran, @newbloodthemusical , Adelaide Writers Week, Fringe Festival, Dali in the City…Adelaide has been a 2 week smorgasbord of creative delights 🤩 Plus we saw a panda at the zoo which is a hard act to follow 🐼 My arty heart is very full (so is the van’s wine cellar 🍷) as we continue on to new adventures. Next stop the Eyre Peninsula… #fishersroadtrip #adelaide #adelaidewritersweek #vanlife #lappingoz #bookclubwithali
Glorious sunsets on the Fleurieu. #fishersroadtrip #goldenhour #lappingoz #vanlife #spell #fleurieupeninsular @officialfleurieupeninsula @wanderingfolk @spell
When a gloomy, nondescript Tuesday turns into the happiest day of your life…🤩 I had big beach plans for yesterday (the coastlines of the Fleurieu Peninsula are stunning and I’ve been so excited to get the snorkels out) but the day dawned cold and grey so we decided to explore Mclaren Vale instead 🍇 🍇 After years of casual stalking @downtherabbitholewines on Instagram, it was such a thrill to finally visit their beautiful cellar door. We enjoyed the cosiest of wine tastings on their sweet double-decker bus followed by a delicious long lunch (and more wine!) The perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. Driving back to our camp in a rosy rose glow the radio announcers were hyping the Ed Sheeran concert to be played in Adelaide in a few hours time. I sighed wistfully. Then booked a ticket. When you happen to be in the same city as Ed you just gotta be spontaneous! What a show! They guy sure knows how to enthral an entire stadium. Incredible showmanship. It was the most glorious way to finish a very happy day. I’m still on a high 🤩🍷❤️ #downtherabbitholewines #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #edsheeran #mathematicstour2023 #dreamday
At the mouth of the Murray, where the river meets the sea, hidden amongst the reeds gently floats the PS Federal. This cute lil lady, built in 1902, is now a delightfully quirky Air BnB and was a peaceful and enchanting place for a night away from the van, just us and the swans. The lapping of the water at the doorstep, the purr of the ocean in the distance…My River Man and Fisher Girl were in their absolute element. And then, a few minutes walk away we came across this family of 6 leisurely, lazing seals. Oh how adorable. I never imagined I’d see seals frolicking in the Murray! 🦭🦭 #fishersroadtrip #murrayriver #lappingoz #psfederaladelaide #riverlife #goolwa
Robe SA ☀️☀️☀️ 38 degrees and the most luxurious toothpaste-turquoise coloured water I’ve ever seen 💙💙 #fishersroadtrip #robe #heatwave #lappingoz #nofiltersneeded #spell
Ok ok I promise this is the last of the Apostle spam, but this place is so magical it deserves an extra spot on the grid💎💎💎 #fishersroadtrip #gibsonsteps #twelveapostles #lappingoz #spell
☀️The Great Ocean Road☀️ We spent 6 days exploring this iconic stretch of coastline and it was truly stunning. 3 nights camping in the company of koalas (seriously they were everywhere!) metres from the beach in Kennett River was beautiful and relaxing, allowing time for my nature lovers to bird watch, koala hunt and creek frolic. We ventured into the Otway national park where the rainforests were lush and the waterfalls were magnificent. The sun shone all week and the ocean was as turquoise and diamond tipped as the brochures promised. We then headed to Port Campbell, a gorgeous seaside village in the shadow of the 12 Apostles and the most dramatic landscapes nature could conjure. I was teary finally seeing this mighty view in real life. It really is as incredible as I’d imagined and makes you feel like writing a poem or painting a watercolour or proposing to someone… Breathtaking. Next stop: SA! Mt Gambier and up the Limestone Coast… #fishersroadtrip #greatoceanroad #12apostles #portcampbell #kennettriver #lappingoz #vanlife
Just me and my bestie stepping into a postcard… #fishersroadtrip #12apostles #greatoceanroad #lappingoz
In keeping with my decree to read books set in the places we travel through, I delved into the back catalogue of my favourite Tasmanian author @heather_rose_writes and found this beautifully written gem. The Butterfly Man is inspired by the true story of Lord Lucan, a British aristocrat who infamously disappeared after the brutal murder of his children’s nanny. (Cue much Googling on my behalf…fascinating) In Rose’s gentle reimagining of this mystery, Lord Lucan has reinvented himself as Henry, a Scottish builder living a quiet life in the shadow of Mt Wellington. Henry slowly allows himself to love and live again (and each of the relationships portrayed are so warm and nuanced) but his carefully crafted lies begin to unravel when he’s diagnosed with brain cancer and his memories begin to betray him. This is a moving novel of love and death and second chances. Bittersweet. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #bookclubwithali #thebutterflyman #holidayreading #fishersroadtrip #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #lordlucan
All we seem to do these days is visit lavender farms and eat scones. Clearly I was more enamoured by my lavender champagne then Josh was with his ice cream. Happy Friday Friends 🥂 #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #spell
Big City Life 🤩 After a month in wild Tassie (unpowered and unshowered for days at a time) it was an absolute treat to spend a week out of the van binging on Melbourne’s galleries, theatres, book shops and food! The McQueen exhibition was my definite highlight; stunning curation and breathtaking designs. I adored it all. I took myself on a little outing to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child which was spellbinding and Sunny delighted in a day at the zoo with Aunty Hayley where they saw a baby zebra just hours old 😍 🦓 Throw in a couple of art classes, meanders around the city and family catch ups and it really was a perfect visit. Thank you so much for having us @hales_fisher x Next stop: Gold Fields Country… ⚒ #fishersroadtrip #melbournecity #citybinge #lappingoz
Ohhh Hell Yeah Tassie, you’ve been a dream!! On to new adventures… 🚐 #fishersroadtrip #tassie #lappingoz
East Coast Perfection 💙💙 #fishersroadtrip #tassie #lappingoz #bicheno
Although it’s only an hour from Hobart, Mt Field National Park feels like an enchanted lost world. 🌿 Lush, green rainforests ringing with waterfalls at the base and wild, alpine country above, these pics were all taken on the same mountain, so many landscapes to explore. We stayed at ‘Left of Field’ a quirky campground in the shadow of the mountains and it was our favourite of the trip so far! Platypus in the surrounding creeks, beautiful views and a bar housing the largest private whiskey collection in Tassie kept everyone happy 😃 🥂 Add this place to your list, it’s a gem. #fishersroadtrip #lappingoz #mtfieldnationalpark #leftoffield
Taking my literary nerdiness to the next level, I decided that while traveling I’ll focus on novels written and set in the places we visit. (and have been collecting a library of location-specific titles accordingly) For this reason I have been saving Gould’s Book of Fish (it’s been on my TBR pile for years!!) until our trip to Strahan and the infamous Sarah Island. Based on the historical figure William Gould, an ill-fated convict and artist who was sentenced to time on the brutal island prison and profusely painted the landscapes and marine life around him, including the ‘Book of Fish’ (which is on display in Hobart) I was completely enamoured by the concept of this novel and couldn’t wait to dive into Gould’s world. 🐠 🐠 But here’s the thing… It was a slog 😣 Flanagan is an exquisite writer and there are passages in this book that are absolutely dazzling but overall I felt the plot lacked pace and the language was tangled. The rich well of stories Sarah Island holds weren’t fully realised and the narrative was murky in places. I’ve really enjoyed Flanagan’s other works and had hoped to swept away but instead, possibly due to high expectations and too much enthusiasm, was left drowning. Anyone else struggle with this much-loved classic??🐟🐡🐠 #bookclubwithali #gouldsbookoffish #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #holidayreading #sarahisland #fishersroadtrip
Out of respect to my colleagues suffering through professional development I was going to refrain from any smug vaycay posts today but Sheffield, ‘The Town of Murals’ is so delightful I couldn’t resist. In order to breathe life back into this struggling town someone in the 80s instigated an ambitious art project and murals were painted on every available wall space. It’s an art explosion and today the town is thriving 🎨 Also, does anyone remember Ludo who used to sit in the streets of Byron with his alpaca? Well this beautiful man and his handsome long-lashed pal (whose name was so grand I can’t remember it!) are now in Sheffield, posing for murals and continuing to spread joy, poetry and conversation. *Busy googling ‘alpacas as pets’* #fishersroadtrip #sheffield #townofmurals #lappingoz
Cradle Mountain 🏔 What a place! A wild wonderland where nature has taken everything to the next level. We hiked with wombats and echidna, saw devils, went to an after-dark feeding at the conservation centre so Josh and Sunny could finally tick the spotted quoll off their wildlife bingo card and yesterday I set off for a ‘quick little stroll’ and spontaneously climbed to the peak of Cradle Mt which was an epic 5 hour challenge with sweeping, poetry-inspiring views. Three days in these magnificent mountains and we barely scratched the surface. Ps. Here’s a cute fun fact, Tasmanian echidna have less spikes and more fur than mainland ones (to stay warm in the alpine winters) Look at how fluffy this little guy is! The wombats are extra furry too. Adorable 🥰 #fishersroadtrip #cradlemountain #nofilterneeded #lappingoz 🪲🦘🦜🦔
Blending into the backdrop. #bayoffires #fishersroadtrip #lappingaus #spell
I rarely reread books (it makes me anxious to think about all the novels I won’t have time to finish before I die without going back to old favourites) but after a trip to the MONA it felt fitting to revisit @heather_rose_writes masterpiece, one of my Top Ten Novels of all time. The Museum of Modern Love tells the story of a New York film composer grappling with his wife’s terminal illness and his own personal expectations, and a recently-widowed art teacher bravely and tentatively trying to rebuild her life. Their paths cross in the atrium of the MoMA where Marina Abramovic is performing The Artist is Present, the perfect backdrop for this beautiful celebration of love, life and the nature of art. Narrated by a ‘house elf to the artists of paint, music, body, voice,form and word’, the lives and inner monologues of the protagonists, Abramovic herself (adore) and the peripheral characters are intricately woven together like a symphony. The writing is rich and the intertwining of fact and fiction is genius. Just as wonderful second time around, this is a special work of art. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #bookclubwithali #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #holidayreading #monamuseum #museumofmodernlove #fishersroadtrip
Hobart is a vibe 🛥 🏔 🤗 Absolutely loved our week in this vibrant arty, maritime-y city. There is such a great energy in the CBD, it’s light and clean and unhurried (totally free of wankers in suits!) Spent many happy hours wandering the shops (collecting books along the way) meandering through the grand old streets of Battery Point (I’d like to live there please) and exploring the galleries and museums. We enjoyed some sumptuous seafood lunches, over-spent on trinkets at the Salamanca markets and got all dressed up for some great nights out (a treat after being unshowered and unpowered for 5 days in our Freycinet beach camp) Stayed in an excellent bush camp just 10 minutes from the CBD and didn’t want to leave… #fishersroadtrip #hobart
Had the absolute best day with my favourite mini art critic at the MONA which is, quite literally the coolest place I’ve ever been to. Slick, cheeky, irreverent, fun and bursting with inspiration; I wanted to curl up in a corner and create. The space is an architectural astonishment and the collection is as eclectic as it is impressive; Picasso, Marina Ambramovic, Brett Whitely and Tracey Moffatt all mixed in with ancient Egyptian artefacts and mind-bending performance art. Filled to the brim with art and wonder. Hobart continues to exceed expectations. ❤️ #fishersroadtrip #museumofoldandnewart #mona #spell
Bruny: Wild, beautiful, gourmet. Happily eating our way around the island… 🧀 🦪 🍷 🍯 🍫 🐟 #fishersroadtrip #brunyisland #brunyfoodtrail #spell
Epic hike to the top of Mt Amos. The track was incredibly steep and not well marked (pretty gnarly in parts for a solo trekker) but the sensational views from the peak made the scramble worthwhile and there’s a life lesson or a Miley Cyrus song in there for all of us 😊 🏔 #fishersroadtrip #theclimb #mtamos
From Binalong Bay to the Freycinet, the East Coast of Tassie has taken our breath away. The waters are crystal, the landscape ever changing and every view looks photo-shopped. #fishersroadtrip
Hard to leave... #fishersdolhi #fishersroadtrip