All Aboard, Travel Is Back!
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
IMAGES : CHYKA & TOURISMNT.COM.AU
Let the fun begin!
I am so excited that after all this time interstate travel is back! One of my favourite things to do is discover new places, eat new foods and meet new people and this week I have been so lucky to explore the beautiful Northern territory with my daughter Chessie. Travelling through the heart of Australia has always been on my to-do list, and if you have been following my Instagram posts and stories this week you will have seen that our adventure ‘up top’ has begun! The first stop was Darwin, the absolute top end of our beautiful country to jump on the spectacular Ghan Train to Alice Springs. This part of the journey was just beautiful, waking up to an everchanging moving view, staring out the window and watching the earth change in colour and environment was truly spectacular and a perfect way to start our explorations of Alice Springs.
We spent an incredible day yesterday was exploring the Nitmuluk National Park and the amazing Nitmuluk (Katherine) Gorge and I’m honestly blown away with how beautiful and incredible this area is and why have I not explored it earlier? We had an amazing tour on the river with an Indigenous Australian park ranger who shared so many wonderful stories that I could have listened to all day.
After an amazing day exploring Katherine, we headed back into Alice Springs where I had the absolute honour of meeting Warlimpiringa Tjapaltjarri. A well known indigenous artist with an amazing story who completed his first painting in 1987 then went on to exhibit his first eleven paintings at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi in 1988 which were acquired as a lot by the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2015, Warlimpirrnga had his first solo exhibition in the United States, when 'Maparntjarra' opened at Salon 94 In New York City. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal both wrote articles about the ground-breaking show. The show represented a critical first step in the re-emergence of Australian Aboriginal art in the American market. It also marked the start of the second phase of growth of Warlimpirrnga’s reputation as a leading Aboriginal artist.
Serendipitous things happen when travelling, the people you meet and the things you see by chance are often the best part of the adventure and I love the fact we randomly met a taxi driver whose friend owned a gallery and artist space called Walawuru Art Centre. This centre acts as a place for indigenous artists to come and paint in for a week at a time before going back out to the bush to their home and family. Watching these artists in their element was so very special. To watch and learn, to meet the artists and hear their stories has left me with a greater understanding and appreciation of this incredible art form. I am so glad that because of the chance meeting with a taxi driver, I was able to experience the beauty of this wonderful centre and the art that is created within its walls.
TIPS TO GET BACK INTO TRAVELLING
The idea of packing my bag for a new adventure felt a little daunting at first with so many things to think about and consider - so like everything we do - we plan and make a list! Start by asking yourself these questions…
Is it safe to travel? Read the travel advice for your destination and all your potential transit locations. Make sure you understand the risks for every place you're planning to visit. Check the entry and exit requirements. It’s important you understand the risks of contracting COVID-19 in your destination and what to do if you test positive while travelling, and also beneficial to have contingencies in place in the event your travel is impacted by border closures, curfews or movement restrictions.
How are you feeling? Get comprehensive travel insurance to cover you, your expenses and your belongings, consider your physical and mental health and make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Travelling after a break can be nerve-wracking so the more you know the less anxious you may feel.
What are your plans? Let’s not leave anything to chance! Let’s book everything in advance from daily excursions to hotel rooms, from dinners to tours. Everything is so much easier when you have a plan, it takes the stress out of what is meant to be a relaxing holiday! Restrictions vary from state to state - so stay informed.
Before you pack those bags there is one website you must visit - it is Smart traveller. We all know Health advice is continually changing as we live through and learn more about COVID. Rules and restrictions to prevent outbreaks can change quickly and it’s best to be connected to pages and websites that can update you honestly with the local goings-on. It’s important to regularly check the rules in the destinations you’re travelling to, as well as the requirements at the Australian border. These may differ between state and territory jurisdictions.