Chapter: 2026

Happy New Year, happy January, happy 2026! 

Welcome back to my blog! 

It’s been quite a few months since I last posted. I had a goal last year to write one blogpost every month, but that goal fell a bit off the bandwagon. I felt like I was experiencing a major lack of motivation, inspiration and commitment when it came to writing the second half of last year. So I allowed myself time away from and ended up having a lot of social media breaks. 

As I am sat here writing this now, I still feel that lacking but a small spark coming back. I’ve missed writing about my travels and adventures and even though I have a few drafts sitting waiting to be posted, I thought I’d give a little IRL update.

Moving from the Gold Coast to Perth has been tough in some ways, as like moving anywhere new it comes with its own challenges. Being new to a place, finding accommodation, a car, having a new job, settling in, meeting new people and making new friends… it’s so much fun and this is where I thrive but it still takes a while to set up your space and a little comfort zone. 

So far though we have truly had a brilliant time becoming Perth locals, we’ve reunited with some friends that we knew in Banff and have met some awesome new people. It’s been incredible exploring Western Australia so far, from four wheel driving around sand dunes and dirt roads, buying our first swag and pitching up it up in some gorgeous spots, swimming and snorkelling as much as we can, yabby hunting, watching our friends go crayfishing and biking around Rottnest, we’ve been so lucky at what we’ve been able to see in a short amount of time! 

 

We still have some time here until we start our travels for 2026. I can’t wait to continue our adventures and enjoy what WA has to offer, it’s a special place. 

In the spirit of the new year and a new chapter, I want to dive into some lessons from my travels I’m bringing into 2026: 

1. Less is more when it comes to clothing/ belongings: living minimally is the way to go, having multipurpose items/ clothing/ shoes, buying things that will last me years (instead of months), I’ve come to learn that I work best when I can pack all of my things up in one suitcase. 

2. You, your health and other people matter more than the plans you make: we’ve only got one life, look after yourself and your travel buddies/ family and friends, prioritise your health in all aspects, take rest days, lift your weights, sleep well, you know the drill. 

3. You either take off and miss your hometown, or stay in your hometown and miss your future: don’t be scared to book that flight, don’t wait for others, go alone, don’t stay and wonder what could have been. 

4. Continue your hobbies on your travels: read, go to the gym, hike, write, swim etc!! I think your hobbies make your travel more meaningful and memorable, they can create safe spaces and your hobbies are opportunities to have alone time or make new friends! 

5. Feel the fear and do it anyway. 

2026, here’s to new places, brave choices and unforgettable moments! 

Talk soon, 

The Runaway Redhead 

I’m back in Banff baby!

I got the job! 

After all the uncertainty, I was ecstatic to move back to Banff, working in a job that I really enjoyed. 

The people I worked with had become my best friends, like family, and I was happy to go to work every day, I felt like I had a sense of belonging and direction in life again and of course, the pay was very relieving to have. Besides actually working- our hours were filled with chatting, laughing and joking around, which I always look back on (to this day) with fondness. It was coming into full blown winter by November 2018, even though the snow had been falling since I first got to Banff in September, it hadn’t stopped and the weather was slowly getting colder AND colder! It was weather I’d never experienced before and had many doubts about… yet, I thrived in it. I also couldn’t wait for my first Christmas in Banff, which was just around the corner! 

I was in staff accommodation on the corner of Beaver Street in downtown Banff and shared with three great guys, Blair, James and Courtney, two of them from Australia and one from England. Courtney eventually moved out, with Jack moving in to work up with us on Tunnel Mountain. Anyone knows with housemates, sometimes initially it’s challenging to find your flow, but we were all very lucky and grateful in the fact that we got along so well and had an excellent sense of community between us. 

When I wasn’t working, I was either hiking or sightseeing around Banff, I loved hiking up Tunnel Mountain or Sulphur Mountain, walking up to Bow Falls to the Fairmont, through the Hoodoo Trail and Surprise Corner. In the mornings I made it my little routine to visit my favourite cafe Wildflower by myself or with my housemates for a coffee. In the evenings and at night, I usually went out my friends, either to play pool or party. Banff is known for the nightlife, with events going on every night of the week in different pubs or clubs along the downtown strip; the normal was Wild Bill’s on a Tuesday, Wine Wednesday at the Rose and Crown, pub crawl with the HI Hostel on Friday or Saturday and all clubs were open such as The Gap, Sasquatch and High Rollers for the entire week. It was an epic place to be at twenty years old. 

Sunshine Village opened in early November, and I was so excited to start snowboarding. I got most of my gear from Dylan and a few items of clothing off Banff Buy and Sell and I went up for my first time with Ellen and Lily. I didn’t have a helmet and had never done snowboarding in my life so my first day I spent on the bunny hill practicing and getting used to my boots and board. It was the most surreal experience going up on the Gondola and seeing that much snow. I’d only ever been skiing once during high school so being at one of the best ski villages in Canada, I was blown away. Once I got a helmet, I moved onto the green runs, then blue runs and it took me about four weeks to feel somewhat confident. I loved being  beginner, no matter how many times I fell over or got stuck in the snow, I laughed my way through it because I just thought it was the best thing ever, I was too busy having so much fun. 

I met more friends who loved to snowboard and I was fortunate to have been able to snowboard with multiple friends throughout my first winter, some were better and had been snowboarding a longer than me and some were new like me. I felt like I always learnt something from the run and the people I was with, which I loved and after every day on the mountain, I was so keen to go again. The feeling of being on the mountain, cruising with my headphones in, being on the chairlift or gondola chatting and laughing with my friends, being in nature, learning something new and challenging myself everyday, made me feel so at home and so at peace. 

I reflected often and came to realise I had found the best work, life balance in Banff my first winter. Taking myself for coffee before snowboarding every morning, going to work in the afternoons and either chilling or playing pool with friends at night, hiking and exploring on my days off. I’d never had a lifestyle or routine like that before and I enjoyed every single moment, I remember thinking multiple times “I’ve made it.” My lifestyle was my version of success. 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed as always. Stay tuned for more posts about my travel story. If you did like this and want to reach out or ask any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or message me on my instagram the_runawayredhead. 

Talk soon, 

The Runaway Redhead

One backpack, Five Unforgettable Journeys

Hey everyone! 

Happy Winter or Summer, wherever you are in the world. Welcome back to my blog and thank you for taking the time to read! 

Waaay back in 2015 and 2016 when I already knew I wanted to spend my Australian winter in American summer at a summer camp, I was wondering about other countries to visit as a young solo traveller. It is daunting knowing there’s a whole massive world out there for you to explore, but you don’t know where to go… or where to start. As some of you may know, I was hoping to visit the Philippines and take a trip to the famous Boracay Island, but the Island actually closed for a few years and I ended up visiting Lisbon in Portugal in 2017. It was one of the best experiences and I always recommend Europe to a lot of solo travellers (it’s also an incredibly popular destination for Aussies) but in this post, I wanted to discuss some other places and countries that you may not have thought of for your travels. Now don’t get me wrong, you don’t HAVE to be a solo traveller, you can travel to any of these places with friends and family. I’m writing this as a guide for ideas and inspiration for younger me and hopefully to help someone on their own journey, as I would have been so grateful if someone had given me these recommendations when I was thinking of places to go. 

1. Madeira, Portugal 

I’ve got to start off with somewhere that is slowly becoming more well known in Europe, but I think it’s still such an underrated place that is perfect for a laid back, island life vibe or exhilarating solo adventure. Flying from England was so simple- direct and affordable flights- but you can also fly pretty easily from anywhere, especially if you’re already in Europe or United Kingdom. Madeira can be a trip in its own or slotted into your other travel plans. Funchal is the capital of Madeira and it’s great as a “base,” you’ve got a mix of city vibes, right on the beach, with the backdrop of the mountains. The weather is warm year round and there are plenty of things to see and do in Funchal, from a variety of food markets, city night life, swimming at the local beaches, botanic gardens, historical buildings and landmarks as well as the Funchal cable car up to Monte. You can also get public transport up to one of my favourite viewpoints Eira do Serrado. There are multiple and spectacular hikes to do around Madeira, as well as day trips, diving, tobogganing and more viewpoints to marvel at which is great for depending on how you want your itinerary to look and how long you want to stay. 

2. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala 

I speak about Lake Atitlan in Guatemala A LOT, as it was a place (and country) that always left me in absolute awe. It’s one of my favourite countries I’ve ever visited and what I loved about Lake Atitlan, besides how beautiful it is, was actually how easy it is to travel to and around. We crossed the border on land from Mexico and got a shuttle bus to Panajachel, but you can simply fly into Guatemala City and get a shuttle bus to Lake Atitlan. Panajachel is known as the “gateway” to Lake Atitlan and is the transport hub. You can get boats to the different towns of Lake Atitlan and each town on the Lake has a range of activities and spots to explore with so much rich culture and history to learn about, with incredibly welcoming and friendly communities. You can either choose to stay in Pana and do day trips to other parts of Lake Atitlan or you can stay in another town such as San Pedro, San Marcos, San Juan, Santa Cruz or Solola to name a few. There’s everything from paragliding, hiking mountains and volcanoes, learning Spanish at a local school, food markets, textile shops, viewpoints, swimming spots, water activities and even hot thermal pools! I found Lake Atitlan an ideal spot for slow travel and Guatemala's remaining regions are incredibly breathtaking, so I must add Antigua, Flores and Tikal as must-see destinations for future travels. Alternatively, you can even border hop into Mexico or fly to another country in Central America. 

3. Puerto Escondido, Mexico 

Puerto Escondido was such an interesting and unique place that I’m so glad I got to visit on my travels, and somewhere I’d recommend to everyone. Mexico in general is another country that holds a special place in my heart. I loved travelling around the diverse and breathtaking cities and towns of Mexico. Puerto Escondido is a picturesque beach town on the coast of Oaxaca. Besides the centre of Puerto, some other popular spots include Zicatela, known for its famous pipeline surf, Carrizalillo beach which is set in a cove backed by steep cliffs and La Punta, located at the southern end of Zicatela with smaller waves. There are plenty of food and clothing markets to visit, beaches to swim in and nightlife to enjoy. You can also learn Spanish at one of the local schools,  take day trips to different areas of Puerto, learn to surf, hike around the rocks at some of the beaches and catch colectivos (which was my favourite part!) a pickup truck that you can flag down on the side of the road. The weather is lovely and warm year round and accommodation is affordable for any type of traveller. Puerto Escondido was another place I found great for slow travel, unless you’re on a time schedule, you can continue your travels either down the coast to another stunning beach town called Mazunte or even further into San Cristobal de las Casas. Otherwise, you can travel back up into the mainland of Oaxaca, Puebla and even Mexico City. 

4. Tokyo, Japan 

Tokyo is one of the most brilliant cities I’ve ever been too and Japan is a country I’d highly recommend for first time travellers. It is such a vibrant and unique city, so accessible and simple to get about on public transport and there is a variety of accommodation that are all very reasonably priced, from capsule inns, hostels and hotels. The food scene in Tokyo is phenomenal and the shopping is unmatched. As well as learning Japanese, there is also a ton of things to see and do in Tokyo. From popular landmarks such as Shibuya Crossing and the famous giant 3D cat in Shinjuku, shrines and temples, museums and art galleries, historical buildings and cozy parks, Tokyo nightlife and even Disneyland to name a few. It is possible to even get a bus up to the fifth station of Mount Fuji to either sight see or hike it, depending on the time of year! The historic legacies and deep rooted traditions are such an integral part of Japan, mixed with the futuristic and bustling vibes from the fashion to the technology the atmosphere will blow your mind. You can continue your travels to anywhere in Japan, popular places south of Tokyo such as Kamakura, Kyoto and Osaka are perfect to get to by train or bullet train. 

5. Bangkok, Thailand

Last but not least. Bangkok Thailand. Up there with Tokyo in my favourite cities category. A city of contrasts where traditional Thai life coexists with modern urban development, creating such an incomparable and noteworthy atmosphere. Accommodation is affordable for both short or longer stays (as this was another city I felt was perfect for slow travel), the public transport throughout Bangkok is some of the best in my opinion with a massive range of buses, trains and canal boats to get around. Not to mention, the famous grab app that is a must during your stay. From the remarkable Buddhist temples and shrines that shower the city and show so much important history and culture, there’s also places like Chinatown, Lumpinee Stadium and Park, Chatuchak weekend market and park and Rajadamnern Stadium that hold a lot of legacy. Furthermore, the shopping in Bangkok is truly out of this world from places like the MBK centre, Icon Siam, Central World and Siam Paragon. Thailand is the home of Muay Thai, one of my favourite sports and activities that I got to do in Bangkok, it was an epic experience. For future travel plans, I’d suggest anywhere in Thailand or obviously other countries in Asia, leading one awesome trip. 

Happy travels everyone!If you like this sort of blog post, or have more recommendations for readers, feel free to comment below! Otherwise DM me on my instagram: the_runawayredhead. 

Talk Soon, 

The Runaway Redhead

Big and Bold, Bangkok is Gold

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! It’s been a while. 

Back in February this year, Deejay and I got on a one way flight to Thailand and spent just under two months exploring different parts of Thailand, training Muay Thai, riding about on mopeds and eating delicious food. I had no expectations going to Thailand, besides that fact I was so excited to be travelling around somewhere new. I’ve heard nothing but good things, it’s definitely a country that gets a lot of hype and as it’s a popular place for Aussies to travel to, so naturally, Thailand has always sparked my curiosity. I was also pumped to get stuck into some Muay Thai after training at Boonch Gym on the Gold Coast with the legends John Wayne Parr, his wife Angie and their three kids Jazzy, Jesse and Jemma. 

I can one hundred percent say I get the hype around Thailand. It was truly extraordinary and has left a special place in my heart. Also known as “the land of smiles” everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, kind and generous. The scenery and landscapes around Thailand were so diverse and impressive, the food was unique and delicious every time. It’s a place that I’d highly recommend travelling to. 

Bangkok, the vibrant and fascinating metropolis that was our first and last destination, is undoubtedly one of my favourite cities I have ever visited. Bangkok captivated me with its bustling streets, vibrant marketplaces, and tall skyscrapers contrasted with magnificent temples, rich cultural history, and historic customs and architecture. So, without further ado, here are…

Five things to see and do in Bangkok:

Chatuchak Market and Park: 

The world’s largest weekend market, with over two hundred, thousand people visiting Chatuchak Market every weekend! It’s a fun and energetic atmosphere, a little overwhelming but so worth a visit. It’s open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm and home to fifteen thousand different stalls ranging from food, art, antiques, fashion, souvenirs and more.

Chatuchak Park is just opposite the market and a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s green, serene and free to walk around. You get these beautiful views of the expansive lawns of nature or tree lined canals with the city in the background. 

Chinatown: 

The world’s largest Chinatown and my favourite part of Bangkok! You can visit any time of the day, but I highly recommend visiting in the evening when a lot of the food vendors and family run restaurants come to life. The crispy gyozas, pork buns and spring rolls are to this day, the best I’ve EVER had. Yaowarat Road is a flurry of activity and liveliness, jam packed with neon lights, shops, restaurants, bars and live music, vendors and stalls offering an array of jewellery, trinkets, textiles, souvenirs, local foods and ingredients and fashion. You can also walk around the narrow alleyways and soak up the atmosphere. 

MBK Centre: 

The MBK centre is enormous and Bangkok’s most popular destination for shopping. It offers everything you could possible think of from supermarkets to clothing and shoes, bags and luggage, to a mobile and IT zone, entertainment zone as well as jewellery, cosmetics and beauty zones! There’s also a dining area that offers a wide variety of cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and food stalls. You can also go and watch open Muay Thai fights that happen every first and last Wednesday of the month which is free to attend. 

Wat Pho: 

The breathtaking temple known as the “Reclining Buddha” is a prominent Buddhist temple and among Bangkok’s biggest sights. The temple complex is remarkable to explore and walk around, the entire place is rich in history, culture and gives you an insight into the religion of Buddhism. Wat Pho is also renowned for its Thai massage school, preserving traditional Thai medicine and has historically served as a centre of learning for the general public. Open for, 8am- 6pm, the entry fee is 300 TBH per person and there is a dress code for everyone visiting, covering shoulders and knees as a sign of respect. 

Lumpinee Park: 

Lumpinee Park was one of my favourite parks in Bangkok, I love finding places of peace in busy cities. This park is a popular place for people doing outdoor leisure activities such as exercising, Thai Chi, playing games and music learning social dancing and reading books, furthermore, it serves as a place for having parties, ballroom dancing and concerts. Lumpinee Park is full of beautiful scenery and views of the gardens, the lake and the city in the background. Also home to Monitor Lizards which are seen either relaxing and basking on the banks, up in the trees or swimming in the Lake. 

I hope this guide can give you some inspiration or ideas for your own travels! I am beyond grateful for everything I got to see, do and experience whilst being in Bangkok. It’s a city I can’t wait to go back to, somewhere I highly recommend visiting and a true favourite of mine. If you like this sort of blog post, or have more recommendations for readers, feel free to comment below! Otherwise DM me on my instagram: the_runawayredhead. 

Talk Soon, 

The Runaway Redhead

DO go chasing waterfalls

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! 

From living on the Gold Coast, I have been able to continue my wild swimming and have found some magnificent waterfalls and hikes around the Gold Coast and Northern NSW areas. Wild swimming in Australia has been such a treat, as most of it has been done around Canada, England, Wales and Scotland where the ice cold water takes a while to get used to and hits differently. The water on the Gold Coast and NSW has been chilly but so refreshing and glorious. Wild swimming makes a perfect way to cool down and recover on a hot day, see some of Australia’s impressive and diverse pants, animals and wilderness and to relax on either a solo trip or with friends and family. The best time to visit any waterfall is after rainfall. So keep that in mind for your own waterfall hunting! I love swimming and being out in nature so naturally, wild swimming for me has always been a hobby that brings me so much joy- no matter how cold it is. There are also many positive benefits from wild / cold water swimming, hiking and spending a day outdoors and when there are some incredible national parks on your doorstep, it’s so important to take the opportunity to explore them. In saying that, when going out for an adventure, it is essential that you leave no trace. Take your rubbish with you and be respectful of your surroundings, environment, other people and to yourself. 

My favourite waterfalls: 

1. Minyon Falls

Situated in a remote area of Whian Whian, just an hour from Byron bay is Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park. Starting from the car park, there is a viewing platform which is accessible for everyone and lets you see the dramatic hundred metre drop with some brilliant views. Our ten kilometre circular hike consisted of dense rainforest, the towering falls and the pristine creeks that flow into the valley. We also passed Minyon Grass picnic area towards the end which is a lovely spot to relax and enjoy your surroundings. The falls itself is a spectacular spot for a dip and you can venture down the creek to dip in a more private place, which is what we did and it did not disappoint. As this waterfall and hike lies in a secluded part of Northern NSW, I highly recommend checking the weather before going and packing accordingly. 

2. Twin Falls

Twin Falls, an unforgettable spot in Springbrook National Park. You can start the walk down at either the Tallanbana picnic area or Canyon Lookout. It’s only a short and easy hike to the falls and back, taking about forty five minutes each way. Walking through the unique landscape, you’ll pass some massive rock formations, waterfalls and wildlife as well as get some amazing views of Surfer’s Paradise and the coast down to Coolangatta. Arriving at your destination, you’re rewarded with two heavenly waterfalls cascading into the pool which you can walk around and even end up behind the falls. A tranquil and peaceful place for a swim, it’s been one of my favourites so far! 

3. Cougal Cascades 

A classic and well known spot at the end of Currumbin Creek Road in Currumbin Valley. From the car park, it’s a one and a half return hike up to the old historical sawmill. Walking through the picturesque wilderness of subtropical rainforest and rock strewn creek beds, you’ll see Cougal Cascades about halfway in. There’s a viewing platform to get some beautiful views. You’ll also find more hidden swimming spots, which are worth checking out and taking a dip in. Cougal Cascades is so unique and swimming in there is an experience you’ll never forget.

4. Purling Brook Falls (and Warringa Pool) 

Also located in Springbrook National Park is the breathtaking Purling Brook Falls. You can start the hike from either the Main carpark or the Settlement day use area and is a four kilometre loop, with an added two kilometres to Warringa Pool and back. There are some gorgeous lookouts along the way as you hike through the thick rainforest and eucalyptus forest. There is a track that carries on to Warringa Pool which leads downstream from the base of Purling Brook Falls and is a spot I loved for wild swimming. Tucked away, Warringa Pool is a bit smaller but so soothing, serene and wonderful to enjoy. 

If you are living on the Gold Coast or are travelling through, hopefully some of these spots will inspire you to go out and have your own adventures. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. If you have read and enjoyed this one or any of my other posts, I’d appreciate it if you left a comment below! I’d love to make this a blog a place for like minded people to be able to relate and share travel stories, thoughts and experiences with each other. If you have any other questions, feel free to check out my instagram, the_runawayredhead and send me a DM! 

Talk soon, 

The Runaway Redhead 

Budget vs Money: Things to do on The Gold Coast

Happy New Year everyone! It’s officially January 2025 and my first blog post of the year! Welcome back. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season, wherever you were in the world and whatever you chose to get up to! 

Last year was the first year of consistent writing for my blog, after releasing my first post back in April, 2023. At first, I was hesitant with how much I wanted to post as I spent a lot of that year overthinking my writing- and myself. Setting a goal in the new year of 2024, did me a world of good. I aimed to create one post per month to encourage myself with my writing… and towards the end of last year, I was able to smash out two posts per month. I had so much fun as the planning, writing and editing became a habit I really looked forward to, since I could once again, delve back into my travels, bringing all of my experiences and thoughts together and to life. I hope to continue this journey on, sharing my stories and guides in hope to inspire others with their own travels. 

Starting off 2025 strong, I’ve been eager to start writing about some of my adventures around Australia since returning home in July last year. Currently settled on the Gold Coast (for now) I’ve had the time of my life being back in hot weather, lounging in the sun and being back on the beach, all of which have always been a source of happiness and solace for me. It’s been a blast exploring the Gold Coast and everything this magnificent place has to offer. As you may know already, I’ve always travelled on a budget and I often find free or low budget ‘things to do’ wherever I go, even though it’s so much fun to spend money on activities when travelling… balance is key! I could write pages about how many things there are to do on the Gold Coast, but I thought I’d start with some of my personal favourites. So here is a mixture of ten things that you can do on the Gold Coast… 

Five low budget activities: 

Currumbin Rock Pools

Alongside Currumbin Creek Road, is a wild swimming gem. Currumbin Rock Pools is a truly spectacular swimming hole to cool down and relax in. It’s a beautiful spot to visit by yourself or with family and friends. There are grassy banks around the pools with picnic tables and barbecues for the public to use at any time of day. 

Cougal Cascades

Nestled at the very end of Currumbin Creek Road in Springbrook National Park is a 1.6 kilometre return walking track around Cougal Cascades, you can venture up towards the historic sawmill and enjoy a swim in several beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes. Surrounded by rainforest and a great amount of wildlife, it’s a perfect slice of paradise. 

Burleigh Heads National Park

Situated on Tallebudgera Creek, spanning over to Burleigh is the stunning Burleigh Heads National Park. The ultimate spot for walking, running, finding swimming spots and soaking up some of the most glorious views of the Gold Coast. The oceanview walk leads around the headland at sea level whilst the rainforest circuit scales to the summit 88m above sea level at my favourite lookout, Tumgun Lookout. Expect to spot a lot of wildlife around the National Park, and most especially spotting humpback whales up at Tumgun in the winter and spring times. 

Gold Coast Oceanway

A 36 kilometre shared path for the public that runs across the Gold Coast coastline. The Jubilee Walkway is one of my favourite ocean side walks starting at Currumbin Beach, you can walk, run or cycle all the way up to Tugun, Kirra and into Coolangatta. There are plenty of cafes to stop at on the way, water fountains to take a drink from and iconic locations such as Currumbin Rock, Elephant Rock as well as, of course, the incredible coastal views. 

Tallebudgera Creek

Framed by Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach, lies the gorgeous Tallebudgera Creek. It's a fantastic place to swim, snorkel, fish and try out different water sports. There are plenty of amenities around to keep everyone entertained, including a kids playground, cafes, toilets, drinking fountains and showers, picnic shelters, tables and even barbecues. You can explore other beach entrances around Talle Creek from Burleigh Heads National Park and Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park. You can also visit Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the local Indigenous history and culture of the Gold Coast. 

Five money activities: 

The Ground, Eco Village, Currumbin 

A dreamy and relaxing experience I’d recommend is visiting The Ground Bathhouse at The Eco Village in Currumbin Valley. Soak for one hour and unwind within the gorgeous scenery in a series of pools, which include spas, cold plunges and saunas. You can also unwind with different spa treatments, massages and sessions such as the bathe and bliss and stretch and soak. There’s also a cafe and grocery at the eco village and a serene grassy area where you’ll find kangaroos lounging around in the sun year round. 

Canvas, Nineteenth Avenue, Palm Beach

My number one cafe on the Gold Coast. Canvas on Nineteenth Avenue has the best coffee, sticky prana chai, breakfasts and sweet treats. The staff there are so lovely and welcoming. There’s a comforting and homely vibe, perfect to visit solo or with friends and family and just across the road from Palm Beach. 

Grab an Acai Bowl

The Gold Coast is one of the best places to enjoy the iconic Açai bowl. There are so many cafes that make the original açai and different delicious versions of an açai bowl. My two favourite cafes are Down 2 Earth and Niche & Co. 

Palm Beach Farmers Market

Every Saturday from 6:30-11:30am are the Palm Beach Farmers Markets at Palm Beach Currumbin High School. An awesome community atmosphere with a huge variety of food, drink, fruit and veg stalls to check out as well as live music. It’s a great market to visit to support local businesses- and an excellent way to start your weekend. 

Treetop Adventure, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, you can spend your day in a thrilling and adrenaline pumping adventure. The Treetop Challenge has seven courses high in the treetop canopy from beginner to extreme and over one hundred challenges, including fourteen awesome zip lines. It’s a fun way to get out of your comfort zone and have a laugh with friends and family! 

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. If you have read and enjoyed this one or any of my other posts, I’d appreciate it if you left a comment below! I’d love to make this a blog a place for like minded people to be able to relate and share travel stories, thoughts and experiences with each other. If you have any other questions, feel free to check out my instagram, the_runawayredhead and send me a DM! 

Talk soon, 

The Runaway Redhead 

The South Passage

 It’s officially come to the end of 2024. Happy December, happy New Year and welcome January 2025! 

My fifteenth blogpost and last one for the year, it’s difficult to describe how much I’ve truly enjoyed writing this year and banging out these blogposts. I’ve fallen in love with seeing my travel diary and notes come to life since originally documenting my travels in 2016 and even more so from 2018 when I left Australia indefinitely. It’s a great passion of mine and I’m so excited to continue my journey, share more travel stories and hopefully inspire others, I especially cannot wait to create more informative posts! 

If you’re following on from my last post “Best Life Adventures,” we had just set up camp at Amity Point in North Stradbroke Island. We made our way to Amity Point tavern for a well deserved feed and it was great getting to know everyone in the group more on dry land. When it got to seven thirty, we were all tired in the best way possible, ready for some sleep and the next day ahead. When I put my head down on my bed that night, my whole world was swaying and rocking, I still felt like I was on the ocean. 

Waking up the next morning, I could feel my muscles a bit stiff and sore from kayaking twenty- three kilometres the day before but after getting up, stretching and walking… I felt brand new. The camp site was incredibly gorgeous in the morning, the weather was nothing like we’d had the day before as the sky and water were beautiful and blue. Chilling about around camp, chatting, laughing with everyone, trying to dry our wet clothes as we ate a delicious breakfast, was the perfect morning. By the time we knew it, it was already time to pack up our tents, kayaks and get back out on the water. Today was the day we crossed the South Passage. This is a channel between North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island, leading out into the Coral and Tasman Sea. Roughly 230 people have kayaked across this passage so it was both exhilarating and a little nerve wracking to think we were about to do this. Piece of cake! How hard would it be? 

Getting back out on the water was glorious and I had to remind myself about the technique that Craig and Ben taught us when we first started to get my body back into the rhythm again. Activate and twist from my core, loose hands and fingers around our paddles, make sure to breathe, have fun! We kayaked along the shore of North Stradbroke Island and the views were simply gorgeous. Eventually coming into the start of the South Passage, our kayaks rolled over the forming waves, it was so fun to feel myself rock with up and down. Trying to stay away from the breaking waves, we got to a point where we had to face them and this was something I’d never done before, paddling became a little bit more challenging as our objective was not to catch a wave and it required a lot of concentration to follow Craig who was leading the pack.

Deejay, starting to become sea sick from the constant movement of the choppy waves, found it hard to continue paddling and as he was sick, we capsized right in the middle of the passage. The group split up as Ben took the rest and Craig stayed back to help us get back into the kayak. The waves constantly hitting us, it was difficult, after helping Craig flip the kayak and getting back in, Deejay was now at the point of severe sea sickness and struggled to function amongst all the chaos, how he stayed with it and powered on, was unreal. Craig and I were pumping water out of the kayak so that we could seal ourselves back in, wrestling with the breaking waves and white wash continually smashing into the sides of our kayaks. I got into the back of the kayak to steer using the rudder and peddles and slowly we made our way through the passage. We ended up catching a wave and capsized again, it couldn’t be helped. The swell and tide was the most craziest conditions I’d ever kayaked in. After flipping the kayak back over, pumping water out and getting back in a second time and rescuing our floating dry bag, we finally escaped the breaking waves and made it to the nearest beach about thirty minutes later- finally on Moreton Island. We did it. We never felt so happy to hit land and rest for a few minutes whilst we checked the kayak and got ready to go again. 

We got back in our kayak, made it to Gutter Bar on Moreton Island and met up with the other group an hour and a half later with sea sickness tablets and ginger ale ready for us. What an adventure that had been, sixteen kilometres kayaked that day. The second half of our trip to our second campsite was so calm in comparison, not a wave in sight as we calmly paddled along the water watching out for sting rays, turtles and a whole heap of fish. It was low tide by the time we got to our second campsite. We ditched our kayaks for the time being on the shore and indulged in a well needed and tasty lunch before setting up our tents for the second night. After a few hours, we’d walked all the kayaks up to our camp, set up our cute and comfy communal area for our camp, set up the tents and even got a great demonstration by Atlas showing us how to use the amazing throne of a toilet for the night. 

My mum, Deejay and I went for walk out to the beach for a quick swim which was so much fun, we spotted a whole heap of sting rays and ran back to camp in the rain feeling refreshed after such a crazy day. After playing around and laughing with Atlas, he showed me his secret hide out spot up one of the sand dunes on our camp site. It was stunning! After about ten minutes of exploring and realising there were more sand dunes, the rest of the group made their way up to meet us, Atlas taking the lead, sprinting up the steep slope to the top. We all made it to the top and witnessed the most extraordinary sunset and my favourite view of 2024. We saw Brisbane from the top of the sand dune and Ben pointed over the ocean to where we started in Cleveland, North Stradbroke Island, Fiona and Deejays “trenches” - the South Passage to where we stood at that very moment. 

The following day, we packed up our entire camp site and kayaks for the last time and hit the water. Staying close to the shore the entire way, we spotted more sting rays, turtles, fish and shovel-nose guitar fish. The wind was in our favour as we got closer to Tangalooma, we were able to lift our paddles up and use them as sails, getting pushed along the crystal blue water for a good majority of the way. Thirteen kilometres that day, we saw the beach of Tangalooma and the ending in sight. It was a bittersweet feeling, I could have kept kayaking and exploring with this brilliant group of people, but I was also so excited for a shower. Fifty two kilometres over three days, we had done it! What an achievement. 

I can’t thank the team enough for all the banter, laughs, knowledge and support over the three days. How lucky to have been on one of the coolest expeditions ever surrounded by some truly genuine and determined people. A special mention to Craig for his impeccable skill in the South Passage. Not to mention… the food on this trip was absolutely amazing, even luxurious I’d like to say! For a camping expedition and wilderness experience, we were very looked after when it came to meals, snacks, tea and coffee. It really was our best life adventure. 

I hope you enjoyed this read and my last post for 2024! See you in 2025. Take care. Happy New Year. 

Talk soon, 

The Runaway Redhead