The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust
Where does your wanderlust lead you?
To Melbourne’s cafes or the vast deserts of the Empty Quarter, a New Zealand vineyard or the pavements of New York… what’s your neighbourhood?
Join travel journalists and editors Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson for stories and inside information from across the world.
Hosts Belinda Jackson & Kirstie Bedford
Website <a href="https://theworldawaits.au "> </a>
Instagram @theworldawaitspodcast
Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)
Episodes
90 episodes
EP 85 Celebrating Ireland, a trip back in time in Melbourne & the exhibitions you can't miss
Discover what fills your heart with Ireland, be it the rich culture, the legendary Irish hospitality, the stunning scenery, ancient cities or world-class food. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Tourism Ireland. Learn more...
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Episode 85
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38:45
Ep 84 The Australian woman walking the length of the Earth; the best food cities & how to avoid jet lag
“I don’t see a town any sooner than five days and now 10 to 20 days … so it’s remote, it’s very cold …and there are grizzly bears, and wolves and they travel in packs… so I start at daylight and I’ve always got a podcast playing because of pred...
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Episode 84
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37:32
Ep 83 An insiders' guide to Vienna, cherry blossoms without the crowds & everyone must go to NZ
Ice skating, Christmas markets, imperial palaces and eating sausages in your opera gown – welcome to Vienna. Co-host Belle Jackson gives us a rundown from her recent 'coolcation' to Austria's capital and why 2025 is the year to visit,
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Episode 83
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29:12
EP 82 New travel gear, world's most polite drivers & the UK's new visa
How do you get more real estate in an economy airline seat? Tech reviewer Alaisdair Leith rounds up some great new travel gear - with a seriously unexpected find... His new travel gear recommendations are:Ninja
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Episode 82
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43:17
EP 81 Walk Peru's high trails & the latest from Qld's Sunny Coast
It's one of the world's greatest tourist destinations, and Machu Picchu totally lives up to the hype! Our guest this week is Sol Campos de Parry, Peru trade commissioner to Australia, who talks about the joy of hiking to the Inca Ci...
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Episode 81
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29:21
EP 80 Finding the best keepsakes in Greece, new flight routes & staying safe when drinking overseas
"I always say 'collect, don’t shop'… so when you're purchasing something that’s a tangible representation of a destination you’re making a contribution not only financially, but also to that cultural preservation of a destination, and that’s so...
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Episode 80
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31:44
Ep 79 The natural beauty of Costa Rica, world's safest airlines & what currency to use when paying bills overseas
“Costa Rica has something that’s very special… we have the second best place in the world for diving … and now the Government is thinking in blue, and you’ll hear that soon about the Costa Rica preservation, the idea is to make the coastline a ...
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38:07
EP 78 A chef's tips to eating Tokyo & world's best beaches
There are 26,000 ramen bars in Tokyo – how do you choose the best one? Chef Luke Burgess talks about finding your way in the megalopolis that is Tokyo.Luke, who co-authored the book '
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Episode 78
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37:49
Ep 77 Meet the creator of Sri Lanka's first long-distance hike, the must-do summer events & travels with dogs
Sri Lanka now has its first long-distance hiking route and we’re talking to the man who created it. The 300-kilometre The Pekoe Trail is the brainchild of adventurer Miguel Cuna...
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Episode 77
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40:16
EP 76 Amalfi Coast, top travel trends for 2025 & a world of wellness
Dream of days wandering Italy’s Amalfi Coast? In our first episode of 2025, we are taking you there with Australian-Italian author Maria Pasquale.Maria’s new book, Mangia: How to eat your...
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35:28
EP 75 Summer Series #4: How to fly first class & best airfares to Europe & US
This is our last Summer Series before we return to normal programming! Tune in for a masterclass on how to fly first class with Chris Chamberlin of Points Hacks. Chris has travelled more than two million kilometres in first or business ...
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Episode 75
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52:36
EP 74 Summer Series #3: What is slow travel & the best train journeys you need to take
Do you go on holiday, only to come back feeling like you need ...another holiday? How do we come back rested from a getaway? Journalist, author and co-founder of Life Unhurried Celeste Mitchell talks about how to slow down when you travel, and ...
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Episode 74
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45:41
EP 73 Summer Series #2: Off the beaten track, Saudi to Antarctica and the Arctic
Let's take you completely off the beaten track and to the ends of the Earth.Jenny Gray is the force behind Intrepid Travel’s women-only expeditions, which it runs in seven countries including Saudi Arabia. Jenny chats about trave...
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Episode 73
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57:06
EP 72 Summer Series #1: The islands episode, Sumba & Sardinia
Welcome to our Summer Series for 24/25. We're kicking off with our islands edition, and we're taking you to Indonesia and Italy!Let's go to a remote tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago, where young Aussie couple, Jess a...
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Episode 72
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40:46
EP 71 Get on the pointy end of the plane, holiday scams & best Xmas travel gifts
Fly up the pointy end of the plane with air mile loyalty specialist, Adele Eliseo of The Champagne Mile. “Points collection is less about flying and more about where you can maximise your points on the ground," says Ad...
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Episode 71
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44:03
EP 70 Musical roadtripping in the USA, get Wicked, world's best bars & unspent holiday cash
Southern USA rings with the sweet sounds of blues, soul and R&B – this week, we’re designing the perfect musical roadtrip through the southern states with iconic rock journalist Glenn A Baker.“Memphis really is the centre of t...
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Episode 70
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47:47
EP 69 The best of Bali, life at sea & the world’s top vineyards
“The thing I like most about Bali is [it’s] like one big resort, and when you go on holiday you leave all your baggage behind… so everyone is enjoying themselves, it’s very optimistic,” says esteemed Australian designer, artist and owner of Pin...
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Episode 69
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30:19
EP 68 Sailing solo around Antarctic, safest countries to travel & Bali bargains
Solo sailor Lisa Blair has sailed around Antarctica not once, but twice, and her book Facing Fear records that first, near-fatal expedition. Lisa has a rack of world records under her belt – just this year alone, she set the faste...
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Episode 68
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45:52
EP 67 New Zealand's sacred north, Hunter Valley getaway & how to get more holidays
Is the 'Land of the Long White Cloud’ on your travel to-do list? This week, our resident Kiwi, co-host Kirstie Bedford chats about all the reasons you should head to New Zealand’s far north.From a moving cultural experience to be...
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Episode 67
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38:53
EP 66 Cruise the high seas, top travel destinations for 2025 & holidays for the heartbroken
Love a cruise but just can’t choose? Cruise expert Honida Beram has sailed the seven seas on more than 50 cruises; she explains the best cruise for you to choose.Also, Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel list – the breakdow...
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Episode 66
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41:20
EP 65 Savouring Peru, the best airline food & scariest Halloween spots
“Food is our love language,” says Lima-born chef Alejandro Saravia, who takes us on a culinary adventure through Latin America.The chef, who recently opened Morena, two Latin American restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, admits he didn’...
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47:55
EP 64 Australia's best islands, Brisbane booms and bypassing Bali belly
Love islands? Australia has thousands of them to choose from, and Emma Shaw, author of
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Episode 64
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34:10
EP 63 Greece & Bulgaria by train, tracing your Italian roots & world's best sunsets
Co-host Belle takes us to Greece and Bulgaria, travelling by rail on a slow food, slow travel journey of these neighbouring countries, eurail.com She travelled on a Eurail pass, which criss-crosses 33...
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Episode 63
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37:37
EP 62 Living a nomadic life; Intrepid's ‘not-hot’ list & get to the airport on time
Living a nomadic life; the ‘not-hot’ list and airport departure timesHave you ever dreamt of packing it all in and travelling the world? That’s what Tim and Sharyn Nilsen have done and the only retirement plans they have are to keep tick...
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Episode 62
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43:29
EP 61 Stargazing around the world; best Aussie towns & making travel memories
When was the last time you really soaked up the night sky? Spotted a full moon? Admired the Milky Way? Saw an aurora?Marnie Ogg joins us to talk about astrotourism. Marnie designs and leads stargazing tours, and she is also the f...
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36:15