Aussie expats reveal why you should visit their adopted homes in 2024
Living overseas lets you really get under the skin of a destination; a privilege typically reserved for locals – off limits to the casual tourist. This puts expats in a unique position to offer travel insights. In that spirit, Traveller has rallied five adventure-loving Aussie expatriates living in Bali, Tokyo, Monaco and more to see what big plans they have in store in their adopted countries for 2024 – and why you should add it to your list, too.
US Park City, Utah: Ian Pope, cafe owner
From Campbelltown, NSW
Bison crossing the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park.Credit: iStock
Last season’s record-breaking winter left an indelible mark, and I’m gearing up for another epic snow season, plus some “bunny hill” beginner sessions with my toddler. There is always an event happening in Park City – from the Sundance Film Festival in winter, Savor the Summit in spring, leaf peeping in fall. I’m excited about spending another year in this picturesque town. We’re slowly ticking off the US National Parks – we’ve got five here in Utah – and I’m planning to hit the road to Yellowstone to see the grizzly bears come out of hibernation. Hoping to tick off a few new states too – there are so many unique places to visit in this part of the world.
Tokyo, Japan: Paul Summers, tourism marketer
From Cairns, Queensland
Sado Island, Sadogashima, Japan.
To mark my 20th year of living in Japan, I finally want to drive around Sadogashima, the flash-shaped island off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. To get there, I’ll take a two-hour Shinkansen from Tokyo, then a ferry from Niigata. Once a thriving centre for gold mining, Sado retains pockets of its past life, like Shukunegi, a village with maze-like alleys of wooden houses, and sado kinzan (the gold mines scattered around the island). The rice is said to be the best in Japan, so I am looking forward to tasting Hokusetsu and other local sakes.
Monaco: Bruce Hutchison, chartered accountant
From Lindfield, NSW
Porto, Corsica.Credit: iStock
After living here many years, I will finally head over the water to visit Corsica, a seven-hour ferry ride from the port of Nice. My friends all tell me about the beautiful beaches and the great food. As for Monaco, there will be the usual excitement of the F-1 Grand Prix at the end of May and before that the E-Prix at the end of April, and the biennial Historic Grand Prix in late May, which is my favourite. Amazónico Monte-Carlo will open at the rebuilt and soon-to-be-reopened Cafe de Paris on Casino Square, and late September sees the annual Monaco Yacht Show, which never disappoints.
Bali, Indonesia: Louise Millroy, creative director, bar owner
From Cairns, Queensland
Rainforest retreat Senanga Cabin.
After a bustling year, I am looking forward to a peaceful interlude in my rainforest retreat in the foothills of Mount Batukaru. Here, the air is pure, the water crystal clear and a profound sense of relaxation washes over me. My love for this region deepened during the pandemic, leading me to recently building Senanga Cabin with a close friend. The lush environs of Mount Batukaru are renowned for luxuriant rainforests, indigenous flora and fauna, thriving organic farms and even natural hot springs. It is the quintessential nature escape for those seeking refuge from the clamour of Bali’s southern coasts.
London: SJ Fallick, marketing specialist
From Malvern, Victoria
The gardens of Sissinghurst Castle.Credit: iStock
Top of my UK bucket list for 2024 is a visit to Monk’s House, Virginia and Leonard Woolf’s 16th-century country retreat in East Sussex. I’m most excited about the writing lodge where Woolf wrote many of her major works. I also plan to visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent, Britain’s most famous and arguably most beautiful garden, with summer the best time to witness the Rose and White Gardens. And no year would be complete without a trip to the Cotswolds. Famed for their honey-coloured stone, there have been countless new openings in the area. I’m keen to stay at Cowley Manor Experimental, eat at The Bull and visit Daylesford Farm.
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