The urge to see the world was ingrained in me by my mom’s stories of studying abroad in Europe in the 80s to trips to the National Parks in the US with my dad. In 2022 I embarked on a 17 country ‘world tour’, including a month traveling solo around Australia, which cemented it as one of my favorite countries in the world. I got lost in the lanes of Melbourne searching for the city’s best flat white coffee, dove into the wonders of the underwater ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef and basked in the majesty of Uluru/Ayers Rock at sunset.
I call my world tour ‘the trip that kicked off a lifetime’ of making travel a priority and inspiring a desire for travel in others. I’m honored and thrilled to be a part of crafting your personal Australian experience that will stick with you forever.
Q&A with Connor
What’s the one thing you always pack?
A piece of advice I’ve received is, ‘don’t cheap out on things between you and the ground,’ and that specifically pertains to footwear. Check your itinerary and buy or pack the right shoes for your trip. You won’t be slowed down by pain and your feet will thank you.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
Camping in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan was like opening my eyes and discovering I was on Mars. The immense red walls carved out eons ago by a retreating ocean has left amazing rock formations and wide swaths of rich sand, now criss-crossed by the treads of pick-up trucks driven by the local Bedouin tribes who live there. My days were spent wandering the dunes, climbing the rock walls, drinking mint tea, and eating zarb (Bedouin barbeque of rice, vegetables and meat cooked underground), and basking in the utter silence under the desert stars.
Where would you love to travel next?
Katmai National Park in Alaska to see the brown bears bulk up for winter by feasting on salmon as they swim back to their spawning ponds. The ability to get so close to these majestic creatures and the remoteness of the park would make it feel truly wild.