The five places that changed my life: TV presenter Natalie Gruzlewski

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This was published 5 years ago

The five places that changed my life: TV presenter Natalie Gruzlewski

By Julietta Jameson
Natalie Gruzlewski says 4WD escapades with her father laid the foundations for the adventurer she is today.

Natalie Gruzlewski says 4WD escapades with her father laid the foundations for the adventurer she is today.

ITALY

For me there are few countries in the world that can rival this one. Italy is a destination that has it all. From bustling, bucket-list cities to the most rural of villages. On a memorable trip a few years ago, we drove from the Amalfi Coast down to Sicily and managed to arrive in time for the famous Taormina Film Festival – catching a glimpse of Hollywood stars Richard Gere and George Clooney was a highlight. The Italian way of life is truly infectious and experiencing this culture certainly encouraged me to slow down and enjoy every movement. The Italians have La Dolce Vita down to a fine art.

VIETNAM

My first introduction to south-east Asia was a trip to Vietnam and I was hooked in a heartbeat. My experience of Vietnam seemed to centre around food, from a hands-on cooking class in the ancient riverside city of Hoi An, to the busy markets and street stalls where you can sample, pho, fresh spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee. My passion for good food and fresh ingredients was sparked in this incredible, diverse country.

QUEENSLAND

As a child, many school holidays were spent on tag-along 4WD tours with my dad in tropical North Queensland. As a professional tour guide and documentary filmmaker, my dad would lead a convoy of 4WDs off-the-beaten-track, exploring the far north. This was not your typical family holiday but for us kids it was one big adventure. We would start from the UNESCO World Heritage Daintree Rainforest, go along the corrugated roads of the old Telegraph track and up to the pristine wilderness of Cape York Peninsula. These escapades with my dad definitely laid the foundations for the adventurer I am today.

NEW YORK

Visiting New York had always been on my bucket list and getting to experience this incredible city as part of my job was a career highlight. My first solo trip to New York was a whirlwind visit, it saw me go behind the scenes for the Night at the Museum movie starring Ben Stiller. I had the opportunity to interview the legendary cast members and I had an "access all areas" pass to the set at the Museum of Natural History after dark.

I loved cycling around Central Park, window shopping on 5th Avenue and rooftop bar hopping overlooking the famous New York City skyline. Although my visit was short and sweet, it certainly made an impression. The diversity and opportunity I saw here was overwhelming and exciting. This trip definitely reinforced my love of travel.

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FIJI

There's something special about coming back to a place you know you'll love and for me that place is Fiji. Whatever you did on the last trip, you can explore something completely different on your next visit. For my first dive I was lucky enough to experience the crystal blue South Pacific waters of Fiji.

There's so many things about Fiji that draw me back again and again. It's so family friendly and, on a recent trip, we visited the Solevu Village where you experience the culture and are greeted with the warmest welcome from the locals. Even when life gets super hectic, knowing there's somewhere in the world so close to home that offers me peace and relaxation keeps me going until my next visit.

Natalie Gruzlewski is a Gold Coast-based TV presenter and a My Holiday Centre ambassador. See myholidaycentre.com.au

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