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Swain Travel Journal

Stories, field notes, and posts from the road.

A living archive of destination insight, first-person dispatches, and the details that shape thoughtful travel.

Read Latest PostsPlan With Swain
Saffire Freycinet

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Fresh from the journal

Wildlife on Kangaroo Island in South Australia

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South Australia

Direct Travel to South Australia: Nonstop From San Francisco

Australia has a seasonal gateway from the United States: South Australia. United's nonstop flight from San Francisco to Adelaide puts travelers directly into the wildlife, Outback and wine country for which the state is known.

Cycling New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds

Latest

New Zealand

New Zealand in Motion: A Guide to Active Travel

In New Zealand, being active isn't just about the activity. It's about where the activity takes you. The landscape is continually shifting, and so is the way you move through it.

Stargazing a Mount Cook Lakeside Retreat

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New Zealand

In New Zealand, Wellness Happens Naturally

In New Zealand, wellness does not have to mean spending every day at a spa. It can be built around the landscapes, experiences, and lodges you choose throughout the trip.

Recently Updated

Worth another look

Wildlife on Kangaroo Island in South Australia

Updated

South Australia

Direct Travel to South Australia: Nonstop From San Francisco

Australia has a seasonal gateway from the United States: South Australia. United's nonstop flight from San Francisco to Adelaide puts travelers directly into the wildlife, Outback and wine country for which the state is known.

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AfricaAustraliaCity & Destination GuidesCruisesCulture & HistoryDiving & SnorkelingFamily TravelFood & WineGolfHoneymoons & RomanceIslands & BeachesLuxury Lodges & Resorts

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Read the latest travel writing, destination notes, and first-person dispatches from the Swain team.

  1. Australia's Luxury Travel Who's Who: Award-Winning Lodges and What's on the HorizonFrom Swain Destinations Team · AustraliaFrom Michelin-recognized wilderness retreats to private villas and reimagined outback homesteads, here's what's making news in Australian luxury travel.Read the post
  2. Australia's Coasts, Reefs & Wildlife: Beyond the BeachFrom Swain Destinations Team · AustraliaFrom snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef to spotting koalas along the Great Ocean Road, here are some of our favorite ways to experience Australia's coastlines beyond the beach.Read the post
  3. Ancient Australia: Meet the Oldest Living Cultures on EarthFrom Swain Destinations Team · AustraliaAn everyday interaction with Australia’s First Peoples is not a given for most visitors. Entering their world, sharing their culture and seeing the land through their eyes is a rare privilege. Read the post
  4. Direct Travel to South Australia: Nonstop From San FranciscoFrom Swain Destinations Team · South AustraliaAustralia has a seasonal gateway from the United States: South Australia. United's nonstop flight from San Francisco to Adelaide puts travelers directly into the wildlife, Outback and wine country for which the state is known. Read the post
  5. New Zealand in Motion: A Guide to Active TravelFrom Swain Destinations Team · New ZealandIn New Zealand, being active isn't just about the activity. It's about where the activity takes you. The landscape is continually shifting, and so is the way you move through it. Read the post
  6. In New Zealand, Wellness Happens NaturallyFrom Swain Destinations Team · New ZealandIn New Zealand, wellness does not have to mean spending every day at a spa. It can be built around the landscapes, experiences, and lodges you choose throughout the trip.Read the post
  7. Destination Expert Spotlight: Cathi's South Africa SafariFrom Cathi Landowski · South AfricaAfrica Expert, Cathi, shares her experience in Cape Town and on safari in South Africa.Read the post
  8. Middle-earth: A New Zealand Travel Guide for Lord of the Rings FansFrom Swain Destinations Team · New ZealandNearly twenty-five years after The Fellowship of the Ring first appeared in theaters, you can still stand beneath the Party Tree, walk the forests of Rivendell, and follow the river that became the Anduin. Read the post
  9. Top Helicopter Tours Across Australia & New Zealand: Above the Reef & FjordsFrom Swain Destinations Team · Australia & New ZealandWhether it's a scenic flight, a remote landing, or an unforgettable arrival, these are some of our favorite helicopter tours across Australia and New Zealand. Read the post
  10. Five Days in South Australia: The Moments That Stayed With MeFrom Jaden Hardesty · South AustraliaSwain's field marketer, Jaden, visited Australia for the first time while leading an educational journey through South Australia. Read the post
  11. Our Favorite Helicopter Tours in Africa: Over the Delta, Falls & BushFrom Swain Destinations Team · South Africa, Zimbabwe, ZambiaFrom the Okavango Delta to Victoria Falls to a rhino sanctuary in South Africa, these are our favorite helicopter tours in Africa.Read the post
  12. One Journey, Two Countries: Planning an Australia & New Zealand VacationFrom Swain Destinations Team · Australia & New ZealandCombining Australia and New Zealand on one trip is the classic long-haul journey. Here is how to route it, how long it takes, and when to go.Read the post