The 2017 Travel Goals List
Back in January, I came up with a list of dream destinations to visit in 2017. Some plans are still in the works and others have fallen through. So what’s still on my travel list for this year?
The capital cities of Australia
With trips to Sydney and Melbourne planned in September, dropping in to Hobart to visit relatives as part of the Great Tasmanian Odyssey in October, and spending my weekends venturing around my home town of Adelaide, by the end of the year I would have visited four out of the eight capital cities (the others being Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and the capital of Australia: Canberra). Half of them isn’t that bad, right?
Eastern Europe and Eastern Canada
My plans to visit Croatia, Slovenia and Romania fell through due to scheduling issues. Hopefully early next year I’ll be able to get to Vlad’s Transylvanian castle, the lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes and the picturesque towns of Slovenia.
The Eastern Canada trip will have to be moved back, too.
Tasmania
Tasmania is definitely happening, and I’ll be waking up on my birthday on the Spirit of Tasmania, the ferry that makes the crossing over Bass Strait between Melbourne and Devonport. From there, the plan is to go hiking around Cradle Mountain, spend some time exploring the north-western coastline of Tasmania, venture down to Hobart to visit relatives, learn more about Australia’s convict past by visiting Port Arthur, get my fill of the heritage homes that are around Evandale and take in the spectacular scenery that Tasmania is famous for.
Local day trips
Staying so close to home during the first half of the year has meant that I’ve been able to take advantage of what my local region has to offer. However, there’s still so much more I’d like to explore this year!
During the next six months, I would love to:
- Take a day trip out to the Naracoorte Caves, the only UNESCO heritage site in South Australia
- Return to Moonta, a mining town originally settled by the Cornish, where I grew up
- Learn more about my family history by visiting the Barossa Valley towns of Tanunda and Nuriootpa, where both my mum’s and dad’s fathers settled when they migrated to Australia from Germany in the 1880s
- Explore Kangaroo Island
- Visit one of the major salt lakes
- Visit Martindale Hall, where Picnic at Hanging Rock was filmed
- Do the Adelaide Oval Roof Climb
- Face my fear of ghosts at the Adelaide Gaol
- Explore the Tunnels that are underneath Adelaide (already signed up to do this in August – can’t wait!)
There’s so much to look forward to!
What are your travel plans for the next half of the year?