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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Meet Solomon Wiseman, pioneer, inn keeper and ferry master, after which this tiny town on a bend in the Hawkesbury River is named. He is the inspiration and main character of Kate Grenville’s novel The Secret River. I loved learning more about him and the area in Grenville’s companion book, Searching for the Secret River, which describes her research. And the ferry service he started is still going! #wisemansferry #kategrenville #hawkesburyriver @visitnswWhat’s around the next corner? Kayaking up Webb’s Creek, off the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry I couldn’t help but think of Kate Greenville’s book The Secret River. How remote this must have felt for the early settlers. Thanks to @hawkesburyhouseboats, who also hire kayaks and runabouts, I was able to explore the creek for a couple of hours in the company of ducks and a white-faced heron. So what’s around the corner? More of the same! #hawkesburyriver #ilovesydney #kayaking #astw_incAlways love this view of the Hawkesbury River from Hawkins Lookout before the descent into Wisemans Ferry. Twisting and turning more than 120kms to Broken Bay, the river was known as Deerubbin by the local indigenous people, meaning wide, deep water. So close to Sydney it offers an ideal weekend getaway. #wisemansferry #deerubbinSay hi to Bib and Bub, gumnut babies, found in the garden at Nutcote, the #sydney harbourside home of Australian children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs, which I passed on my recent walk from Taronga to Kirribilli. Now a beautiful museum, the home sheds light on May’s life and work. The home was also used in the film Ladies in Black as Magda’s harbourside house. #nutcote #maygibbs #ilovesydney #astw_incThe views of Sydney Harbour on the Taronga to Kirribilli walk range from vignettes to vast vistas. Such an easy an interesting walk. @sydney #ilovesydney #sydneyharbourFantastic #harbourwalk from Taronga Zoo to Kirribilli along the waterfront. So many beautiful parks, like Anderson Park, with these majestic #palms. #ilovesydney #astw_inc- My Tweets
Category Archives: Travel Gifts
Pack It! Part 2 – Five tips for buying travel packing cells
So after reading Part 1 Five reasons to use packing cells you’ve finally seen the light and decided to purchase some packing cells? Congratulations! But how do you choose the ideal packing cells (or packing cubes)? We all travel with different gear, … Continue reading
10 Travel-themed homewares
Just because you are stuck at home, doesn’t mean you can’t dream about travelling. Part of the joy of travel is reminiscing about past adventures and planning new exploits. So surround yourself with travel memorabilia as a reminder of holidays past … Continue reading
10 World Map themed travel accessories
Getting stressed at work? Rather be travelling the globe than stuck in the office? Then you could do with an Earth Stressball. Simply squeeze and relax says the tagline, but you could also just fondle it and dream of where … Continue reading
Product Review: hipS-sister waistband for travel
Sometimes it is the simplest designs that are the most versatile and stylish, like the hipS-sister waistband. Awkward name, awesome product. Looking for somewhere to put your hotel room key when you go out for a morning jog? Want to take … Continue reading
Christmas gifts for a cause – it’s like giving twice
I often pick up small items when travelling to put aside for Christmas gifts, and always look to support local crafts people, whether it’s from a roadside stall or dedicated artisans’ market. But this year, while purchasing some stunning carvings … Continue reading
Posted in Travel, Travel Accessories & Gadgets, Travel Gifts
Tagged Books, care gifts, handmade gifts, homewares
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Product Review: Lightweight seat pad for hiking (no more wet bum)
It’s no fun hiking with a wet butt, and while my bum might look big from behind, the padding is in all the wrong places when it comes to perching on a rocky ledge, which is why I’m in love … Continue reading
10 Inexpensive Travel Gifts
Travel accessories make excellent gifts, whether for a work colleague, family member or friend (even yourself!) and sometimes it’s the small, inexpensive items that make a huge difference to life on the road. Here are 10 of my favourites, some … Continue reading
