Author Archives: Briar's Travel Beat

About Briar's Travel Beat

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.

Evocative Eucalypts

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Briar's Travel Beat

Did you know March 23 is National Eucalypt Day? I found out about it on Sunday, thanks to Helen Young’s Gardens column in The Weekend Australian Magazine. I was pretty excited, as I have come to love eucalypts, and have … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Australia, Flora, National Parks, Travel | Tagged Corner Country, eucalypts, gum trees, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, River red gum, Scribbly gum, Sydney red gum, Tasmanian snow gum, trees, Wipena Pound | Leave a comment

Street Art with Heart on Bruny Island, Tasmania

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Briar's Travel Beat

I love solo road trips, because I can jump on the brakes whenever I see something of interest to photograph, assuming there’s not somebody right behind me of course. (Ask my hubby to pull over while he’s driving and by … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Australia, Road Trips, Tasmania, Travel | Tagged art, Beyond Blue, Bruny Island, garden art, sculpture, street art, Tasmania | 2 Comments

Quarantini Cocktails – using rum from New South Wales distillers

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Briar's Travel Beat

Quarantini – I love this term, meaning a martini drunk in isolation, or more generally any cocktail enjoyed during quarantine at home during Covid-19. I think most of us who imbibe have been drinking more during ISO, especially initially, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Attractions, Australia, Food & Wine, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel | Tagged Brix Distillers, cocktails, daiquiri, distillers, mojito, NSW Distillers, NSW rum, passionfruit daiquiri, rum, rum cocktails | 2 Comments

Drive-through gourmet feasts supporting local producers in the Hawkesbury

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Briar's Travel Beat

Drive through gourmet feasts – didn’t think I’d hear that, but these strange (Covid) times have brought about some wonderful initiatives as businesses strive to stay afloat. Here in Sydney food venues are offering takeaway meals while farmers and producers … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Hawkesbury, Road Trips, Sydney, Travel | Tagged Castle Hill Farmers Market, Covid outing, Hawkesbury, local produce, Sackville, shopsmall, supportlocal, takeaway meals, The Cooks Co-Op, Tractor 828, Willowbrae Chevre Cheeses | 2 Comments

Tragic White Island Eruption

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

It’s tragic to hear that New Zealand’s White Island, an active marine volcano, has erupted with little warning, killing at least five tourists, with more still missing. It’s devastating news and my heart goes out to all those involved. White … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, adventure travel, New Zealand | Tagged Guided tours, Volcano, White Island | 2 Comments

WOW List 2020 – Flight Centre’s Top 50 Travel Experiences

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

People love lists. I certainly do. I’m a serial list-writer, from daily ‘to do’ lists to a travel packing master list years in the making. The travel community loves lists too. Just look at rise of the ‘listicle’ or list … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, Travel Lists | Tagged Cruise in France, Flight Centre, Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island, northern lights, Switzerland by rail, travel, Travel Lists, WOW 2020, Yukon | Leave a comment

Give A Crap on World Toilet Day 2019

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

As some of you know, I enjoy funny dunny signs. And as today is United Nations World Toilet Day I thought I’d share a few more. I recently came across these in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. I’m not sure if … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethical travel, Travel | Tagged Australia, funny signs, hygiene, sanitation, toilet paper, toilet signs, Who gives a crap toilet paper, World Toilet Day | 2 Comments

Graffiato – Taupo’s Street Art Festival 26-28 Oct 2019

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

Eleven artists, ten walls, three days. This is the formula for Graffiato, the Taupo Street Art Festival held over New Zealand’s long weekend from 26-28 October 2019. The festival has been running for nine years with 125 murals created … Continue reading →

Posted in festivals, New Zealand, Taupo, Tourism, Travel | Tagged family fun, Graffiato, Graffiato festival, Graffiti, graffiti artists, murals, NZ Street Art, street art, street art festival | 2 Comments

Ethical and sustainable travel – let go of the guilt

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

Learning more about ethical and sustainable travel brings on bouts of guilt about past indiscretions, however unintentional. Riding in a timber seat on an elephant’s back in Thailand years ago springs to mind first. It was part of a hosted … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Ethical travel, Sustainability, Tourism, Travel | Tagged Animal protection | 4 Comments

Kakadu Bird Week 2019

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

Like me, most visitors to Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory probably don’t come purely for the bird life. But it’s impossible not to be awed by the park’s proliferation of feathered friends, from a tiny, brightly-plumed azure kingfisher … Continue reading →