Down Under Dreams: Australia & New Zealand, Here We Come!

Some trips are vacations. Others are bucket list moments—the kind you’ve dreamed about for as long as you can remember. This one is definitely the latter.

My husband John and I are officially headed down under to Australia and New Zealand, and I can hardly believe I’m typing those words. ✨

Where the Dream Began

My love for Australia started when I was very young, with my very first stuffed animal: Koalwalie (pretty original, right?). What began as a childhood favorite grew into a lifelong fascination.

School only fueled that curiosity. We learned songs like Waltzing Matilda—and surprise! Matilda is not a backpack 😄—and Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to see a real kookaburra (with a name that fun, the bird has to be amazing) and, of course, a real gum tree. How cool is that?

So Many Firsts

Before we even reach Australia, this trip is already packed with firsts.

First up: hopping on the smallest plane I’ve ever been on, complete with propeller blades—and there will be several more of those flights along the way. Then comes our shortest flight yet: a whopping 27 minutes. I couldn’t help but think it might have been just as easy to drive to Vancouver, but we’ll let that thought go and keep the adventure rolling.

A Lovely Start in Vancouver

Speaking of Vancouver—its international terminal truly deserves a moment. It’s beautiful, spacious, and thoughtfully designed, paying homage to Indigenous cultures throughout. When we flew through, it didn’t feel crowded at all, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Hello, Dreamliner

Then came the big one: boarding the Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner for our journey to Australia.

After John and I clinked glasses with a celebratory champagne toast, we settled into our pods—our home for the next 18 hours. We were both genuinely surprised by how comfortable they were. Between the cozy setup and the quiet hum of the plane, we managed to get several solid stretches of sleep.

I do owe a small apology to the cabin crew though. 😅 As they kindly tried to conserve energy by turning off my screen while I was dozing, I startled awake more than once. (I startle easily—no harm intended!)

The Adventure Is Just Beginning

And this is only the beginning.

From childhood dreams sparked by songs and stuffed animals to champagne at 35,000 feet, this journey already feels surreal. Australia and New Zealand have been on my heart for decades, and now we’re finally on our way.

Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it all with you. 🌏✈️