Beach Travel Wine Podcast

DO YOU DREAM OF TRAVELLING ALL OVER THE WORLD – BUT THEN REALISE WHERE YOU LIVE IS THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR EXPLORING? In today’s episode Lyle and I take you on a walking tour – literally – of our home beach which is the perfect destination for exploring. We are at King's Beach which is part of Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. We have our microphones on our T-shirts as we wander along the most popular beach in the area – which happens to be across the road from our home. We stroll through the parklands, playgrounds, past restaurants and cafes, the ocean pool and fountain and we describe them all as we go. Many people visit here each year – especially families in the school holidays and it is so beautiful, that we felt we should go out and about to share it with you. Make sure you stay listening to the end where we fill you in on all the activities and places that you can do and visit, all within a 30-minute drive or walk.  We are talking water activities like surfing, jet skiing and sunset cruises as well as visiting world famous tourist attractions like Australia Zoo– Crikey – We tell you where you can go hiking up ancient volcanoes, as well as some secret places away from the crowds with fantastic views. There is so much to do here, and we are so excited to share our little piece of the paradise with you today. If you would like to see all the pictures and maps and show notes then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/86/caloundra For all our Australian podcast click here www.beachtravelwine.com/australia Please enjoy episode 86.

We travelled to six countries in three continents around the world this year, which gave us heaps of content for our podcast. Thank you for listening and supporting us- it is a true labour of love, and we plan to keep bringing you great travel information and inspiration through our travel adventures from all over the world. Here’s to the next 52 weekly travel episodes, but first let’s give you a quick, fun overview of our favourite places and experiences we had this year, including Mexico, Italy and New Zealand. Stay listening to the end to hear what travel plans we have for 2024, which includes at least five more countries. We also share some of the ways we are going to experiment with the podcast so please enjoy episode 85 all about the best of our 2023 world travels. Find all the information and pictures about Mexico here: www.beachtravelwine.com/mexico Find all the information and pictures about Italy here: www.beachtravelwine.com/italy Find all the information and pictures about New Zealand here: www.beachtravelwine.com/newzealand

We have been interviewed on many podcasts throughout the year, but this one stands out as a favourite.  We spoke to Regan and Allie from the Wanderlusting Wives podcast and we had so much fun. Lyle of course likes to tell all the horror stories and I like to share the nice ones. We talk about man-eating giant jumping crocodiles, becoming an honorary Tuna band member in Spain to the most romantic and idyllic wine drinking spot in Tuscany as well as our run in with a Sniper in Florence, plus heaps more. We had the girls gaping at our stories, laughing at some of our tales and just being blown away by the places we share and things we have done. I’m not sure we gave them much time to ask questions – but in the end it was a great interview full of great travel stories. So please enjoy our fun chat with the Wanderlusting Wives and if you enjoy this podcast you can find more of the girls on all the podcast platforms  or their website www.wanderlustingwives.com or click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/84/wives

We have had so many people join our Beach Travel Wine community this year – especially podcast listeners. With the end of year statistics all out for us podcasters to analyse, it didn’t take much for Lyle and I to realise that our most popular podcast – by far – this year is our episode on Barcelona Spain, although there are a few Italian cities quickly catching up. We decided we are going to re-release it in this episode for those of you who haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet. It was the first city we visited in Spain, and then subsequently went on to explore over 50 more cities and villages throughout this amazing country. In this episode we take you all over Barcelona, from La Rambla, Plaza Real, Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Park Guell, the Picaso Museum, the Maritime museum plus heaps more.  We met some great people in this city and share some fun stories as well.  If you would like to see all the pictures of Barcelona, then click on the link below www.beachtravelwine.com/leannes-blog/29/barcelona So please enjoy hearing all about the fabulous city that is Barcelona.

HOW TO BECOME AN IN-DEMAND HOUSE SITTER. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOUSESITTING AS A WAY TO TRAVEL TO PLACES, STAY A BIT LONGER AND CONNECT WITH A LOCAL COMMUNITY? Well I certainly have, but I also had a lot of questions like: What website should I join or do I need to join one? What is the best way to apply for sits? What can I do to give me a better chance of being chosen? What if I don’t have any reviews because I  haven’t started yet? – the questions go on and on and even though house sitting seems like a good idea – it is hard to know where to start. This week’s episode is going to give you all the answers and what next steps you can take if you are seriously considering housesitting. Because this week I am joined on the podcast by Brittnay from the travelling house sitters .com (and don’t worry the links to all the information Brittnay shares will be in the show notes) Brittnay has been house sitting for many years all over the world and she has a great website with lots of information and for those who are really keen a course that has absolutely everything you need to get started today.  Just a heads up – I have done Brittnay’s course and after completing it – I reached out to see if she would come on our show and answer some questions that I know many people have about house sitting. I ask Brittnay some tough questions that I see people talking about online and some of my own reservations and she gives her honest and experienced feedback. For those who are interested in doing her course (which I highly recommend – I learnt so many things I didn’t even consider were important) then there will be a discount code in the show notes. Click on the show notes link below to access Brittnay's excellent housesitting masterclass/course and discount code as well as her website and also find out Britt's top 6 recommended housesitting sites and her contact details here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/82/housesit

Unfortunately, it took us four trips to New Zealand before we discovered Arrowtown. We had been recommended by friends and family many times to go.  They all said – you have to go to Arrowtown – it is so beautiful, but we just hadn’t found the time. This trip though we did – and we were not disappointed.  What a gorgeous, quaint little village.  It has a population of just over 3,000 people and is right on the edge of the picturesque Arrow River. Many people come here to explore the varied hikes or bike trails and it is also the starting point for popular wine tours, both guided and bike tours. The main street, Buckingham Street, is like out of a time capsule and is full of fabulous shops and even more fabulous cafes and restaurants, some with fascinating histories. You can wander around town and see all the centuries old miners' huts or walk through the Chinese settlement that still has houses and shops in the original condition from the gold rush days. If you are feeling lucky you can even try your hand at gold panning. The local museum is renowned as being one of the best in New Zealand and is the local tourist information centre as well. If you want to see the pictures or the interactive map as well as the links to the places, we mention then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/81/arrowtown You can see all our New Zealand series here www.beachtravelwine.com/newzealand or check us out on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/beachtravelwine/ Please enjoy episode 81 all about Arrowtown in New Zealand.

Do you have a bucket list – have you been ticking things off it – well in this episode I get to drag Lyle along – literally-  to another one of my bucket list items that I know is on many other peoples to do before I kick the bucket list as well.  We start our day in the icy, frosty, freezing, pre-sunrise morning and end up floating 7,000 feet over the most spectacular scenery watching the sunrise over snowcapped mountain ranges.  Trust me if hot air ballooning isn’t something you have thought about doing – then you will after this episode. Next activity we share with you probably wouldn’t be classed as a bucket list item – but should definitely be on your to do list if you are in Queenstown and I believe that the end product of this afternoon class, that I once again dragged Lyle along, to is definitely a world first – I can guarantee that no other travel podcast in the world can say they have this. Here’s a hint – it smells good – and no it’s not wine. One of the most popular activities, and for good reason, and another one I had to convince Lyle to do (there’s a theme here) is the famous Shotover jet boat.  Actually, I had to be persuaded into doing this as well – by my grandsons, but it was so worth it. It is a spectacular, exhilarating, fun, entertaining, educational, visually magnificent and another life long memory activity to do in Queenstown. Stay listening to the end to hear the about the activity that I absolutely refuse to do, Lyle too.  No grandchild could persuade me to do this, but if you are braver than me you will want to hear all the details of this death defying activity that was invented in New Zealand. But you can – like we did, sit and sip fabulous Central Otago wine and watch the crazy, I mean brave, people take the plunge. Hope you enjoy Episode 80 all about some fabulous, fun, exhilarating and downright crazy activities that you can do if you are visiting New Zealand. Don’t forget if you would like to see the fabulous pictures I took of all the activities we did (especially the hot air ballooning) then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/80/bucketlist You can see all our New Zealand podcast, show notes, maps and links here www.beachtravelwine.com/newzealand

Want to know about the best wineries to visit in Central Otago and the best ways to get there? Well then keep listening as we take you on a wine hopper experience through this picturesque wine region of New Zealand. There are many ways to explore the region, including the wine hopper tour, private tours and of course bike and e-bike tours.  We share the details on all of these different ways to get around the region. Come with us as we visit one tavern, and seven very different vineyards and cellar doors which all have a unique way of sharing their wines with visitors. One of the cellar doors asks you to take a Flight of Fancy Quiz to see which one of five different wine tastings is perfect for you. That was so much fun. Other vineyards we visited were in rustic horse stables, one is featured in a famous TV show, another is a converted church. We had a wine tasting in the largest wine cave in New Zealand, enjoyed a prize-winning glamorous cellar door with the cutest little outdoor wine tasting cubby houses. We even tasted wine from the most southern cellar door in the world with a connection to Captain Cook and we marveled at the stunning views at each venue.  The places we visited may have very different cellar doors and vineyards, but the one thing they have in common is their fabulous wine.  Stay listening to the end where we tell you how you can visit two of the most well-known and prize winning wineries in Central Otago without driving, being on a tour or riding a bike and it only costs $2. So grab a glass, sit back and enjoy Episode 79 all about the stunning Central Otago Wine Region of New Zealand. If you want to see all the pictures of these vineyards and cellar doors, plus links to their websites and tours then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/79/winetour If you would like your business or region featured on our podcast then email leanne@beachtravelwine.com or message us on Instagram www.instagram.com/beachtravelwine/ You can visit our website at www.beachtravelwine.com

If you love nature, conservation, stunning wildnerness, spectacular landscapes, oh and fabulous wine – then this is the episode for you. Today we are talking all about the most southern wine tasting and wine cellar door in the world.  It is owned by Greg Hay and these are his words. "Why on earth would you name a wine brand after one of the most remotest, wettest, farthrest from an actual vineyard place in New Zealand?" That place is called Wet Jacket Arm and the wine brand is Wet Jacket Wine We share the fascinating history of the name, why Greg loves it so much and how he has come to build one of the most popular wine brands from Central Otago, New Zealand. Of course Lyle geeks out on why the wine tastes so good, and we share all about Wet Jackets very unique way of sharing those wines with people who can’t get to visit the tasting rooms, oh and I almost forgot to tell you we also divulge where you can taste the wines if you are in this part of New Zealand and it is another venue with a spectacular view that only this area of New Zealand can deliver. Stay listening to the end to hear where Greg recommended a brand new restaurant to have dinner (nothing like a local to give you the best info) and of course the wine and views that we enjoyed on the waterfront in Queenstown. To sum up this episode – pristine nature, delicious wine, charismatic locals and dramatic awe-inspiring views. Click here for the show notes with all the relevant links and pictures www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/78/wetjacket Send us an email here www.beachtravelwine.com/contactus or send us a DM on instagram here www.instagram.com/beachtravelwine/ Please enjoy episode 78.

Have you heard of the eighth natural wonder of the world? This week’s episode is all about this magical stunning part of New Zealand – Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park. This was one of those experiences that was so incredible that it will definitely be a lifelong memory.  We talk about it all the time and tell everyone we can to go a visit – and now you get to hear about it too. Not only are we going to take you cruising on the 16 kilometre long,  290 metre deep sound with 1600 metre sheer cliffs and 1000 metre waterfalls we also take you hiking in the lush rainforest. Come with us as we tell you about the underwater observatory where you can see rare black coral. We also tell you about and the gorgeous little town with a massive lake that is a bit of a secret and is the best place to stay if you want to have a few days in the area. Stay listening to the end to hear about our helicopter flight where we land on a glacier – yes we actually landed on the top of an actual glacier – it was freakin incredible it was like walking on top of the world. We give you all the options of how to explore this spectacular area, where to stay and what we would do different if we went back again – spoiler alert – stay longer in the only luxury accommodation at Milford sound.  Remember if you want to see all the pictures and check out the map and the links to the tours, accommodation and helicopter flights then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/77/milfordsound If you want to get in contact and give us some suggestions for our next destination for a podcast series then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/contactus Visit our website at www.beachtravelwine.com Please enjoy this week’s episode all about Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand.