The Southern Hemisphere Sojourn
This trip started the way so many of the best ones do—with one quiet little dream.
The youngest traveler in the family had one wish: to meet a koala. Not from behind a fence. Not from a distance. A real, one-on-one moment with one of Australia’s most iconic creatures. That wish became the seed for a two-week journey that stretched across Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand, and offered the entire family a chance to experience something bigger than a checklist.
We started in Fiji, where the pace is slow, the water is impossibly blue, and the air feels a little softer. It gave them space to shake off the jet lag, snorkel in crystal-clear reefs, and ease into vacation mode without a rush. It was the perfect warm-up. Salt in the hair, sand underfoot, and zero to-do lists in sight.
From there, they flew to Cairns and Sydney. In Cairns, it was all about wild nature. Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, hiking to see wild platypus in their natural habitat, and—of course—the moment that started it all: a private one-on-one koala experience. It wasn’t a tourist trap. It was intentional, quiet, and incredibly special. That moment was the heart of the trip, and everything else beat around it.
Sydney added contrast. Bustling city streets, the perfect flat whites, ferry rides, and family-friendly neighborhoods full of personality. The family had time to wander, explore, and just be—no one buried in Google Maps, no one stuck trying to figure out where to go next.
We ended in Queenstown, New Zealand, where the landscapes take your breath away and the energy shifts into something a little more awe-inspired. They explored the Sounds, hiked through misty valleys, and reconnected with nature in a completely different way. Quiet mornings, fresh air, and views that don’t seem real until you’re standing in front of them.
What made this trip different? It was crafted around one wish, but planned in a way that honored everyone’s interests. It gave each family member something to get excited about, while making space for true rest, joy, and presence. No scrambling to research the next activity. No stress over logistics. No one stuck being the “planner.” I took care of all that, so they could just be together.
And that’s what real travel looks like to me. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or overstuffed. It just has to be honest, thoughtful, and built around the people who are going. Whether it’s sparked by a dream to meet a koala or something else entirely, that’s what I do. I listen to the little spark, and I build from there.
