Author Archives: Briar Jensen

About Briar Jensen

Briar Jensen is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer. In her blog, Briar's Travel Beat, she shares her travel experiences to inform entertain and inspire.

Dashing Disneyland Fashions – at Tokyo Disney Resort

I wore Minnie Mouse ears in public. I can’t believe I’m saying that. I’m not into fancy dress costumes and despise those paper Christmas cracker hats. Yet I happily walked around Tokyo Disney Resort wearing fluffy pink ears and heart-shaped … Continue reading

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Posted in Japan, Tokyo, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aussie tavelling gadgets

I love a travel gadget and I found two great ones at the NSW Caravan, Camping, RV and Holiday Supershow on at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney (on until 28 April). The first one suits all travellers. Called Hipsta, it’s a nifty … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Travel | Tagged | 2 Comments

Dreaming of a health resort – or ‘wellness retreat’

In my younger corporate days I used to watch older associates heading off to health farms once or twice a year. Back then I thought ‘what a waste of a good holiday’. I got all the rest and relaxation I … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Thailand, Travel | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Easter chocolate game for grown ups

Got chocolate on your mind this Easter? Then I’ve got a hilarious game for you to try around the dinner table or campfire, thanks to Murray Langham of Schoc Chocolates, an artisan chocolate company in New Zealand. Langham established the … Continue reading

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Donning a dirndl – Austrian dress ups

I love fashion and dressing for the occasion, but I’m not into fancy dress, so popping on a national costume and waltzing around town while on holiday sounds downright cringe-worthy. But this week I’ve had reason to change my mind. At a … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Fashion, Travel | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Sandstorm of Fairytales & Fables in Windsor

The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Narcissus, Gollum, Icarus and other fabled creatures have come to life under the shady jacarandas, oaks and pepper trees on the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Windsor, in Sydney’s northwest, for the 2nd Hawkesbury … Continue reading

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Fashion Forward ‘Dunners’

Attention fashionistas – it’s time to secure tickets to the longest catwalk in the southern hemisphere. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, November 15,  for iD Dunedin Fashion Week, being held from 10-17 March 2013 in Dunedin, New Zealand. Now in … Continue reading

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Travel Writer Gets Lost

As a travel writer it’s a bit embarrassing to admit you’re lost, and sometimes it’s a little bit frightening - although, often the best experiences can come from losing yourself in a destination. I experienced this recently when, travelling alone, I got completely … Continue reading

Posted in Accommodation, Australia, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Talk to the animals these school holidays

Kids love getting up close and personal to animals and they can do just that at Mowbray Park Farmstay in Picton, just a 90-minute drive from Sydney. But this family owned farmstay in the lush Wollondilly Shire offers much more … Continue reading

Posted in Accommodation, Animals, Australia, NSW Southern Highlands | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Grafitti Grannies let loose

Trains seem to attract graffiti and now it’s happening right before my eyes – over carriages, engines, and platforms. And no one is doing a thing to stop it. In fact the culprits, looking suspiciously like cheeky nannas, are being … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Museums, NSW Southern Highlands, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment