Articles
Listed below are pages which I've categorised as "articles". This includes things I've written which are hopefully informative, and relate to travel in Australian and New Zealand, but are not about any particular place.
Click on the titles (or the "read more" links) to go to that page.
Ten reasons to think twice about frequent flyer credit cards
Many people sing the praises of credit cards which earn frequent flyer points. It sounds great on the surface - use a frequent-flyer credit card to pay bills and living expenses, and earn points towards your frequent flyer membership. Get free flights just by spending money that you would have spent anyway ... how can you lose? While some people do well from these schemes, others don't. I am one of those others. Based on my own experiences with Australian credit cards and airlines, here are some reasons why frequent-flyer credit cards may be a waste of time. Read more ...
Five strategies for travelling light
Carrying a lighter load makes travelling better for many reasons, including comfort, mobility, flexibility, security and economy. But how can the average over-packer reduce the burden? Here are the five strategies which best sum up how I've put my own luggage on a successful diet, and made my travels more enjoyable. Read more ...
Winter travel in Australia and New Zealand
Many people find it strange that I prefer to travel, hike and camp in winter, especially when I seek out places colder than where I live, not warmer. Partly it's because I prefer cooler weather, but there are many other clear advantages of travelling down under in the winter off-season. On this page I list some of them. Read more ...
Australia's unappreciated wonders
There's a lot to like about Australia. One aspect which endears me to this land down under is the overlooked and understated nature of so many of its great wonders. You can stumble across features which are worthy of world acclaim, yet remain unknown to most of the world. Read more ...
Reasons to avoid January travel in Australia
If you're thinking of visiting Australia from the northern hemisphere, it might be tempting to visit in January - swapping the cold dark northern winter for the warmth and sunshine of summer down under. While not wanting to discourage anyone, it's only fair to mention some of the downsides of January travel in Australia. Read more ...
Travel tip - seek out the least promoted areas
Being less popular and less advertised doesn't necessarily mean there is nothing to offer the visitor. On the contrary .... Read more ...
