About Briar
Briar Jensen is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer. Her blog covers travel tips, reviews, insights and inspiration, travel accessories and gadgets.
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Category Archives: Travel
Quarantini Cocktails – using rum from New South Wales distillers
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
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
Give A Crap on World Toilet Day 2019
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
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
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
So you want to be a travel writer?
I love serendipity. As I was updating my talk ‘Introduction to Travel Writing’, which I give from time to time at libraries and writers’ groups, a blog post popped up in my emails from my colleague Lindy Alexander, at The … Continue reading
Wonderful Western Sydney
Lately I’ve been touring Western Sydney, gathering stories for articles, and I’ve been blown away by the diversity of experiences and attractions available for every age group and type of visitor, from thrill seekers, to nature lovers and history buffs. … Continue reading
Sydney’s QVB turns 120 – share your story to win
Since moving to Sydney 20-odd years ago I’ve come to love the elegant Queen Victoria Building, which occupies and entire city block. But like many of the shoppers and commuters that pass through her colonnaded walkways and underground passageways, I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Attractions, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel
Tagged Architecture tours, Queen Victoria Building, QVB, QVB History Tour, QVB120, sydney, Sydney architecture, Sydney tours
2 Comments
Whale of a tale – on Australia’s Gold Coast
Sometimes the tale behind an image is as breathtaking as the image itself – this time literally so. I was enthralled by the image on the cover of the latest issue of Where* Gold Coast magazine this month. The juxtaposition of … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Australia, Photography, Travel
Tagged Blue Dog Photography, Gold Coast, humpback whales, photography courses, whales
2 Comments