Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Flight of Fancy

Sadly, this will be the final episode of Flight of Fancy. However, we're going out with a bang, bringing back some of your favourite guests - including Rob McFarland, Ute Junker and Flip Byrnes, along with host Ben Groundwater - to reveal the journey, destination or experience that has changed their lives in the most significant way. You won't believe some of their stories.

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This area of northern Spain might just be the greatest food destination on the planet, with its mix of pintxos culture and Michelin-starred brilliance. However, there's a lot more to the Basque Country than meets the eye, and on this episode we're taking a deep-dive into the region with two absolute experts.

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International travel is back, but everything has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic: how you plan your trips, what you pack, what you do at the airport, what you do at your destination, even how you get home. On this episode, we're guiding you through the process of international travel now, with advice on how to follow your passion in a way that's as safe and reliable as possible.

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South Korea is having a moment. Not only is this the country responsible for the "K Wave", the cultural juggernaut that is sweeping the globe, but this is also the latest country to open to international tourism after closing its doors at the beginning of the pandemic. So, what awaits travellers in South Korea? What is there to see and do, to eat and drink, to enjoy and experience? We're about to tell you. 

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Let us take you on a journey today to a place you may never have visited, to an ancient place, a historic place, a place of amazing cultures and traditions, a place of artists and poets, of foodies and coffee fiends, of inventors and adventurers. Let us take you to the Middle East, a maligned and sometimes controversial destination, to tell you everything you need to know about travel in some of the most amazing places in the world.

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If you're only exploring the world above ground level, you're missing out. You're missing out on wildlife, on scenery, on history, on wonder. This episode is dedicated to exploration of the underwater world, and how it can change your travelling life. We're talking scuba-diving, free-diving and snorkelling with people who live for this stuff: where to do it, why to do it, and how pretty much anyone can get involved.

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With almost all state borders now open and the Omicron wave passing, 2022 might just be the perfect time to travel in Australia. On this episode we're hitting you with 40 minutes of solid Oz travel inspiration, from the reef to the rainforest, from wineries to great walks: where to go this year, what to do, what to see and what to experience, even for those who feel like they might have done it all.

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So, you've chosen to stay in a home-share property. What should you bring with you: clothes? Food? How about your own bed linen, garbage bags, toilet paper and detergent? Do you have to clean at the end, or is that someone else's job? On this episode of Flight of Fancy we're looking into the world of Airbnb, figuring out what's fair and what's ridiculous, and how to make sure you're getting the perfect property.

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This is the big question: what will the next 12 months hold for Australian travellers? Will this be the snap-back we've been hoping for? Will domestic travel be key, or is now the time to plan an overseas trip? Is Omicron going to ruin everything? And what can you do if that happens? As Flight of Fancy returns for 2022, we seek to answer these key conundrums.

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To wrap up Flight of Fancy for 2021, we're taking a look back at the year that was for travellers, from vaccine "stroll-outs" to burst bubbles, from border restrictions to a very gradual and timid reopening - plus, you know, floods and earthquakes and mouse plagues and the like. Join host Ben Groundwater, Traveller's digital editor Craig Platt, and our own "stranded Aussie" Flip Byrnes to recount 2021.

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It’s impossible to be unaffected by Antarctica: there’s something mystical about this vast continent, something primal, something that taps you straight into the spirit of explorers and adventurers and seekers of the unique. And now, it's opening to travellers once again. But how will the experience of visiting Antarctica change in the post-COVID world? And how do you get the best out of your journey?

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Getaway host Catriona Rowntree and Antarctic explorer David McGonigal join us to share hard-won wisdom accumulated over two lifetimes of incredible travel experiences. From riding a motorbike around the world to navigating cultural norms to realising that we're all brought together by the music of Celine Dion, there's so much to learn from these absolute experts.

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Planning to travel with a partner or significant other? Hoping to survive the experience not just with your relationship intact, but also your sanity? Then you need to listen to this episode. Today, we're discussing the highs and lows, the good, the bad and the ugly of sharing the travel experience with a partner. What to do. What to avoid. And why camping might just be the least sexy travel experience around.

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For so many young travellers, a bus tour of Europe is a rite of passage, a formative and occasionally drunken escapade in which sights are seen, friends are made, and innocence is lost. But what happens behind the scenes on those tours? What are these trips really like? Today, we're joined by a host of former guides to find out.

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For Australians, travel is back on. However, there are still a lot of questions that need answering. What will the experience be like now? What do you need to take? What will you be covered for? What if borders close? What if you get COVID-19? In this episode, our panel of experts will tackle these questions and many more.

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Have you ever dreamed of riding the Trans-Siberian or the Trans-Mongolian? This is your ultimate guide to one of the world's truly great adventures: when to go, where to go, where to stop, what to eat, how to book, and how to survive life on board. We're chatting to a whole range of experts, including "The Man in Seat 61", Mark Smith, and UK-based author Monisha Rajesh, to discover everything there is to know about this truly bucket-list experience.

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On this special bonus episode, brought to you by Celebrity Cruises, we're taking a look at the future of cruising. How is one of the most popular forms of travel bouncing back? Where are passengers going to be heading next? What will the experience be like in the post-pandemic world? And how long until we can actually do this again? 

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It shoudn't make a difference, of course, to your travel experience. How you identify, whether you're part of the LGBTQI+ community or not, shouldn't alter the way you see the world. The trouble, however, is that it does. It can determine where you choose to go, and what you choose to do. On today's episode, we're chatting to three travellers who know a thing or two about travel for the LGBTQI+ community to find out how to do it best.

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Where do you draw the line on travel? Which countries or regions would you refuse to visit as a form of protest? Which experiences would you turn down because they're just plain wrong? On this episode we're delving into the politics of travel, finding out where our guests draw the line, and why you should too. With: Ben Groundwater, Craig Platt and Ute Junker.

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Long-haul in economy? Airport coffee? Hotel mini-bars? Dodgy cab drivers? There are some things we really miss about travel in this COVID-enforced down time - and some things we really, really don't. In this episode we're taking a long, hard look at the travel experience and deciding what is great, and what is definitely not. 

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Ever wondered how the pros take such amazing travel photos? Ever wanted to transform your own holiday snaps into Instagram-friendly, wall-worthy masterpieces? Then this is the episode for you, as we chat to two professional photographers to get their tips on lifting your travel photography game. There's advice here for all levels of photographers, on everything from gear, to composition, to editing and even selling images. Happy snapping!

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It's not always easy to get into WA right now, but this is one huge state that is certainly worth the effort, with incredible beaches, iconic wilderness areas, great food and wine, and so much more. Join the Flight of Fancy team to find out where to go and what to do on your next West Australian adventure.

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With the Olympic Games upon us, Ben Groundwater presents an unashamed love letter to one of the world's truly great travel destinations: Tokyo. Ben is joined by a host of Japanophiles, including TV host Adam Liaw and author Jane Lawson, to try to explain this huge and nebulous city, to pass on all of their knowledge and share the love for Japan's incredible capital.

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Is cash king when you're travelling? Or should you always use cards? And if so, debit cards, or credit? And how do you avoid all those overseas transaction fees? What's a dynamic conversion? And what about travel money cards? If you're confused about how best to manage and access your money while overseas, this episode is for you.

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Here's the question so many of us ask ourselves: can you still be a hardcore traveller once you have kids? The answer, as we discover on this episode, is yes, and no. It's all about how you approach your holiday. Join Ben Groundwater, Flip Byrnes and Sheriden Rhodes to find out how to pursue your travel dreams, even with kids in tow.

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Have you ever dreamed of going on a serious adventure, of veering way outside your comfort zone and throwing all caution to the wind? Travel writers Flip Byrnes and David McGonigal live for these experiences, and on this episode they explain how to make your big dreams a reality. Plus: how to get out when it all goes wrong.

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Travel in Europe is on. For international visitors and domestic guests. It's happening right now, and one of Flight of Fancy's favourites, Germany-based travel writer Flip Byrnes, is calling in from the cobbled streets of Rome to tell us what travel is like in a post-vaccine world. 

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Now more than ever, it's so nice to feel like you're in another country, even if you aren't. And the great news for Australians is we can do just that through the humble meal, through local restaurants, cafes and markets that will take you instantly to another culture, to another country, to another world. Join Ben Groundwater, Sofia Levin and Ute Junker to find out where to go.

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Now is the perfect time to book a trip to the Northern Territory, but the big question is, what do you do once you get there? In this episode we look at everything from Kakadu to Uluru, from Litchfield to Larapinta, plus get a special insight into the NT's Indigenous tourism scene from local guide Trent Lee.

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Whether you want to hit the snow for some ski action, curl up by a fire with a glass of red, or head north for some sunshine, winter is almost upon us in Australia, and now is the time to book that getaway. On this episode we cover all of the best winter experiences, and reveal how to get the most out of them.

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As the last-ever A380 takes off from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, we're taking a special deep-dive into every traveller's favourite aircraft: what's it like to pilot an A380, what's it like to work on one, and why has this amazing plane already reached the end of its shelf-life?

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As the trans-Tasman bubble opens and overseas travel resumes, we welcome a very special guest - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - to hear about her favourite destinations in her homeland, as well as her take on how the bubble will work, and what to expect if things go wrong.

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Have you ever dreamed of moving overseas? Have you fantasised about picking up your life and shifting it to a foreign country, immersing yourself long-term in a completely different world? These two travellers have done it - albeit in vastly different ways - and they're here to share their stories.

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International travel is back! Following the announcement of the New Zealand travel bubble with Australia, this bonus episode examines what the bubble is, what it means, how it will work, and which countries could be opening up next. 

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It's one of our favourite destinations on the planet, Ireland, and yet for so long we haven't been able to visit. On this episode we're taking a deep dive into the Emerald Isle, looking at all of the latest developments since the pandemic, the newest attractions, as well as rediscovering the timeless appeal of this land of music, literature, green hills and good times - and so much Guinness.

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How do you capture the overseas travel experience right here in Australia? How do you have the same excitement, the same bewilderment, the same cultural clashes and wild experiences? Host Ben Groundwater is joined by Rob McFarland and Sue Williams to find out. 

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Imagine visiting every country on Earth. Every single nation. It's only been done by a few hundred people in human history; and only by a handful of women. On today's episode we're meeting Marty and Rach, who have almost achieved that amazing feat, to find out what they've learned about travel, about the world, and about themselves.

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Who knew that the daggy holidays of our childhoods would suddenly be dominating our social media feeds in the 2020s? That caravans and campervans would become THE travel accessory of the COVID age? Join Ben Groundwater, Kerry van der Jagt and Jarryd Salem to talk all things "van life". 

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You might think you know what to expect in Australia. You might think this country is maybe a little predictable. But there are some wild, wild experiences to be had here, some fantastic experiences, some outrageous experiences, and some experiences that will make you question if you’re still in your home country at all.

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Last year was a rough one for Victoria, but this great state is once again open for business, and its residents are ready to welcome visitors. Now is the time for tourists to head back to Victoria, to experience everything that makes it wonderful, that makes it beautiful, that makes it unique.

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Instead of looking at where to travel this year, we're going to take a look at how to travel this year. How to travel safely and affordably, how to plan ahead and how to help build a better world of tourism and travel.

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They’re long-time favourites of Australian travellers, and they’re sure to be just as popular when we can pack our passports and head overseas once again. The question is, where to first? And what are you going to do when you get there?

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There comes a time in every traveller’s life when we have to admit that we're a bit of a plane nerd - we all have our favourite aircraft, secret or not. So what's with our weird obsession for this airborne mode of transport - why do we love planes so much?

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Australians haven’t always looked at NSW as a holiday spot but it's actually one of the world’s premier tourist destinations - and it’s ours for the taking. From white-sand beaches to lush green valleys and ruggedly beautiful ranges, these are the best thing to do in NSW. Hosted by Ben Groundwater with Sue Williams and Rob McFarland.

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What is New Zealand food all about? Join Ben Groundwater and Angela Clifford, chef executive of Eat New Zealand, as they navigate the big questions - who invented the flat white and pavlova, and the influence of Maori cuisine on modern New Zealand dishes.

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You've heard of the Slow Food movement, but how about Slow Travel? This is the ultimate way to see the world, allowing full cultural immersion and eliminating many of travel's stresses. Today, our expert panel talks you through how to make your next journey a slow one - and why you will love it.  

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Ben Groundwater talks to food writer Sofia Levin and tour guide Juan Walker about all things "Australian food" - what our cuisine really is, where it came from, what it stands for, and how you can best enjoy it. This episode was recorded in October while Victoria was still in lockdown.

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Are you dreaming of your next great travel adventure, somewhere a big, ambitious, and completely different? The Camino de Santiago, the Trans-Mongolian, hiking the Himalayas, road-tripping through Iceland and sailing the Pacific Islands; these are the best adventures for any time, especially in post-COVID times.

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Summer is coming, and with reduced capacity in Australia and more people than ever looking to holiday at home, we ask: what do you need to know to start planning that ultimate summer getaway. Join host Ben Groundwater and travel writers Michael Gebicki and Sheriden Rhodes as they talk about the destination they think you’ll love and what you should do when you're there.

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If you're yearning to say goodbye to the bright lights of the big city and get back to nature, here are Australia’s best spots for fresh air and open spaces as well as some of the best of the world has to offer once it’s available. Join host Ben Groundwater and travel writers and outdoor enthusiasts, Andrew Bain and Nina Karnikowski.

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