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 inspiring stories and inside information from across the world.
Website https://theworldawaits.au
Instagram @theworldawaitspodcast
Support us https://ko-fi.com/theworldawaits (thank you!)
Episodes
147 episodes
Ep 142 Japan's lesser-known regions, flights and fuel surcharges & Australia's prettiest national parks
Rob Goss is a UK-born, Tokyo-based writer who has lived in Japan for almost two decades and authored more than a dozen books about the popular island nation. His latest book, Another Japan (Gestalten, Sep 2026), with photogra...
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Episode 142
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41:06
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EP 141 Travelling in Afghanistan, keeping your eyes healthy on the road & why cash is still king
Come to Central Asia's forgotten country, Afghanistan. This episode, we are joined by Afghanistan’s first female tour guide, Fatima Haidari, and adventure travel company Untamed Borders' founder James ...
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Episode 141
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57:21
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EP 140 Hot Take: Navigating the unknown – travel during the Middle East crisis & Australia's best airport hotels with a runway view
Travel has taken a huge hit with the Middle East crisis now entering its fifth week, and it can be challenging to keep up with what you should and shouldn't do with travel plans during these significant and devastating world events.This ...
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Episode 140
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36:44
EP 139 Fly flat-bed to Europe with Toby Venus of Point Hacks; biggest hotel rooms & how new EU border rules will hit travellers
Toby Venus of the Point Hacks podcast joins us this episode to demystify frequent flyer points – how to earn, how to burn and creating a checklist to keep your points in good shape and worki...
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Episode 139
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48:56
EP 138 Hiking and biking NZ's Queen Charlotte Track; the world's 50 top cities & the best places to travel with your pooch
New Zealand is renowned for its spectacular scenery, and the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island will not disappoint.Come with host Kirstie Bedford as she hikes and bikes the Queen Charlotte Track, and kayaks in th...
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Episode 138
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29:43
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EP 137 Europe by motorbike with the Pillion Princess; getting home from the Middle East & should you cancel your Euro-trip?
She's the queen of the roadtrip, and bestselling author and travel writer Lee Atkinson joins us to talk about her latest adventure, motorbiking across the European Alps. A self-described 'pillion princess', Lee and husband Bill ship...
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Episode 137
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43:23
Ep 136 Sordid and scandalous histories of famous hotels; how we're using frequent flyer points & the shocking cost of insurance claims
This week, we are taking you through the colourful, decadent, sordid, and scandalous histories of famous hotels with D'Etta and Yael, hosts of the Hotel History podcast.They launched the podcast to explore the history of hotels an...
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Episode 136
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38:18
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EP 135 The Hot Take: climbing the Pyramids and smoking on planes, we chat lost travel experiences & keeping e-docs safe on the road
This week, we’re launching our new segment, Hot Take! Kirstie and Belle are hacking out lost travel experiences - things you may have done in a former travelling life but are now no longer possible. Let’s wallow in the nostalgia!Think cl...
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Episode 135
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26:26
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EP 134 The author who bases her books on her expat life, the new cheap trip planner & avoiding disease when you travel
Andrea Barton started her career as an electrical engineer, but when her husband was offered a job overseas, it changed the entire course of her career.Now award-winning author of the Jade Riley Mysteries, owner of a book editing company...
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Episode 134
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48:59
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EP 133 Hot springs bathing around the world, UK visa changes and inflight skincare tips
Support the pod on Ko-Fi, click hereBefore he founded the Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, 21 years ago, Charles Davidson began exploring thermal springs sites around the w...
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Episode 133
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43:28
EP 132 Hiking the French Camino, Europe’s lesser-known regions you need to know about & what’s hot on the Sunshine Coast
This week, we're chatting with UTracks hiking guide Jaclyn Beagley, who leads guests along the Le Puy Camino, also known as the French Camino.&n...
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Episode 132
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38:29
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EP 131 The Art of Navigation with wilderness advocate Caro Ryan OAM; travel trends for 2026 & Victoria's hottest new opens
Bushwalker. Author. Advocate. Rescuer. Our guest this week is Caro Ryan, who has just been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for 14 years of service in bushwalking safety and community support in the Australia Day H...
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Episode 131
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1:01:07
EP 130 Adventurer Tim Jarvis AM journeys to the ends of the Earth; the Aus Open & gut health when you travel
Adventurer, environmental scientist, author, filmmaker, philanthropist, speaker, and Australian of the Year Tim Jarvis AM... is there anything this man can't do?You'll think not after heari...
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Episode 130
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38:46
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EP 129 Summer Series staycation: Adventure in Noosa and Tassie's Central Highlands
For many, Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast is all about the surf, sun and stunning boutiques, but on this week’s episode we take you on a deeper dive into this pretty coastal region.Co-host Kirstie Bedford loves nothing more than an ...
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39:02
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EP 128 Summer Series: The Islands Episode, Cambodia & the Maldives
This week is all about islands, as we take you to a Cambodian conservation-based private island resort and to the island nation of the Maldives.First up, Kirstie takes us to the stunning island resort of
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Episode 128
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44:54
EP 127 Summer Series: Fancy a move to Italy? We have top tips from digital nomads about how to do it
Many people dream of being a digital nomad. Is 2026 your year to do it?This week, we’re giving you an insight into what life is really like living on the road, starting with authors, digital creators and husbands Brent Hartinger and Mich...
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Episode 127
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52:30
EP 126 Summer Series: The Tropics Episode from finding your Zen in Tahiti to PNG with musician David Bridie
Merry Christmas to you all and welcome back to our Summer Series!This week, we're talking tropics, taking you to Tahiti and Papua New Guinea. Co-host Kirstie Bedford talks about attending Tahiti's first annual
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Episode 126
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59:54
EP 125 Summer Series: The Africa Episode from museums in Cairo to seeking out the Big Five
Welcome to the first of our Summer Series!This week, we’re taking you to Africa, a bucket list destination for those who want to see the Big Five or wander the pyramids of Giza.First up, co-host
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Episode 125
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53:24
EP 124 Last-minute travel Christmas gifts & how to max your holidays in 2026
Shopping for the traveller in your life this Christmas? Tune in as our tech hound and sound producer Alaisdair Leith teams up with host Belle Jackson to bring you our best last-minute gifts. Also, get planning for your 2026 travels ...
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Episode 124
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42:21
EP 123 How to be a digital nomad in Sicily; the best airline seat for your health & the most affordable five-star stays
Are you sick of the day-to-day grind and dream of becoming a digital nomad in Italy?This week's pod is for you! We are chatting to editor and travel writer Carrie Hutch...
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44:29
EP 122 Are the Maldives worth the hype? Tips for Travel Tuesday & would you go broke for a break?
Are the Maldives worth the hype? This episode, co-host Belle Jackson talks about her most recent visit to the island nation.We're talking about the food, the different types of resorts, their sustainability and, of course, whale sharks.&...
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Episode 122
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37:03
EP 121 Walking, wine and wombats: the Tasmanian lake lodge you need to visit; Australia's best cellar doors & save on Swiss rail passes
We're celebrating this week as co-host Belle Jackson is once again named Travel Writer of the Year by the Australian Society of Travel Writers! See https://globalsalsa.comBelle takes us to Tasmania's...
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Episode 121
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30:36
EP 120 Cambodia's private island leading conservation; Sweden prescribes a stay & the airline charging you to recline
If you love a tropical, private island escape and want to do right by the environment, this is the episode for you.Co-host Kirstie Bedford takes us to the stunning island resort of Song Sa...
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Episode 120
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28:54
EP 119 Finding your Zen in Tahiti; why we're telling fibs about the cost of holidays & top shorter walks on the Camino
Wellness, walking, and why we lie about the cost of our holidays are all the hot topics this week.Kicking things off is co-host Kirstie Bedford talking about her recent trip to Tahiti, where she attended Tahiti's first annual
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Episode 119
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41:51
EP 118 Papua New Guinea with musician David Bridie; Lonely Planet's 2026 hotlist & safe wifi connections
Four kilometres from Australia, Papua New Guinea is our closest, and also our least explored neighbour. As PNG celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence from Australia, Australian musician and composer David Bridie talks about his connect...
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Episode 118
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48:47
