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The Hilli Goat Tour

Sitting on a cliff overlooking the spectacularly azure waters of Norfolk Island’s Anson Bay, is a paddock-to-plate experience that’ll leave your taste buds salivating for more, long after you’ve left the tiny Pacific Ocean island.

When the Ryves family moved to Norfolk Island three generations ago, they wouldn’t have imagined their farm property would turn into one of the must-do experiences atop the basaltic, nutrient rich soils. The Hilli Goat Farm Tour, led by Emily Ryves and her family, is one lunch-time feed you just can’t miss.

The tour starts with Emily and Steve (Emily’s dad) offering a history lesson in how the farm came to be one of Norfolk Island’s most delicious experiences, with the hairy VIP’s crying for attention (and food) in the background.

Originally settled as a cattle farm, it wasn’t until Emily saw a documentary of two ladies making goats cheese that she decided to transition from her role as a flight attendant and to farming and cheese making. Born and raised on Norfolk, Emily has always lived on the family’s property, where to this day, she lives with her husband Zach Sanders and their son, Charlie.

Watching the goats eagerly line up at the shed as the milking process is explained and demonstrated is fascinating. When you arrive at a small shed-like structure on the property, a few metres away from the milking shed, Emily will emerge with a cheese mould and explains the cheese-making process, from thickening of the milk to pressing and moulding curds. Alongside her thriving cheese produce business, she also stocks a growing organic goat’s milk skincare range but it’s the smell of the lunch being prepared in Emily and Zach’s home, situated just at the end of the property, that will really grab your attention.

A large Norfolk Pine table is set up just beyond the doors and is quickly covered with wholesome dishes prepared by Emily and her mother, Alison. Warm bread sits alongside an array of vegetable dishes sourced straight from the Hilli Goat Farm property and cooked in a variety of different ways. From roasted carrots and squashes potatoes, to salads, and traditionally fried fish, and of course, more goat’s cheese than you’d find in your local farmer’s markets.

The dishes are everchanging, seasonal and delicious, with a lot of traditional style dishes thrown in the mix. And while Emily and Zach are centre stage, it’s a true family affair. Emily makes the goats cheese, Steve provides the fruit and veggies, and Jamie catches the fish.

This is life on Norfolk at its finest – the people are inviting, the produce is locally-grown, full of colour and flavourful, and the atmosphere is relaxing. It’s a belly-filling learning experience that should be at the top of everyone’s to-do list to Norfolk Island.

Malaysian picnic with the Penan

In Sarawak’s jungle, learning to live and survive as the indigenous Penan is a journey back to basics. Taking visitors deep into the heart of the jungle, exploring the national parks and trekking beneath a tangled rainforest canopy to the traditional homes of the Penan tribe, Adventure Alternative offer travellers the opportunity to learn from the indigenous people about their way of life.

You’ll learn to identify medicinal and edible plants, undertake jungle survival skills and craft traditional gifts as well as shower in waterfalls, lighting fires and sleeping in a hammock – you’ll become an expert on how they live and work. Once you’ve completed your time with the Penan, you’ll be expertly equipped to embark on a wetland river safari, take a visit to an orangutan rehabilitation centre or search for the native proboscis monkey and Irrawaddy dolphin.

Catching up with the Kanak

New Caledonia culture is alive in this corner of the South Pacific with an estimated 40 per cent of the archipelago’s total population still made up of the Kanak people. Dedicated to Kanak culture is the architecturally spectacular Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa. Nestled between Magenta and Tina bays in the Tina Peninsula, the curved wooden structures rise above surrounding woodland and mangroves in this preserved natural site. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the Cultural Centre was designed to replicate the island’s traditional architecture and houses a museum, performance spaces, a library and an art centre.

Inside the monument, which is named after Kanak leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, visitors will find sculptures, paintings, photographs and regular dance performances that represent Kanak and Pacific culture. Outside the hut-like buildings are a botanical garden and the winding Kanak path, which outlines the importance of nature to the Kanak people and the myth of the creation of man.

Get the timing right and you’ll even be treated to a performance by the We Ce Ca group, proving the Tjibaou Cultural Centre is a totally immersive Kanak cultural experience.

Sleep over with the penguins in Antarctica

The thought of extreme camping in Antarctica’s sub-zero temperatures might send shivers down the spine of some, but for the more adventurous it’s the trip of a lifetime. Add a shot of adrenaline to your expedition with an overnight stay on the ice, sans tent and surrounded by penguins.

With its glistening inlets, rocky cliffs, pebbled beaches and floating ice sculptures, the Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost stretch of land on the seventh continent and a location to which few gain access. So what can you expect when you camp out on the ice?

The extremes will undoubtedly be your main concern, but, according to Quark, they’ll cause you little grief. It is, after all, all part of the mindset anyway. All equipment, including a parka that folds into its hood to create a pillow, is provided and guides will accompany you. It’s all safe as houses, with campers participating in a mandatory safety briefing prior to disembarking.

The most surprising revelation during the briefing is that there is no tent involved – everyone sleeps out under the sky in a super-warm sleeping bag that goes inside a waterproof bivvy (bivouac) bag.

Once on land, each camper stomps out a spot on the ice then puts down a foam mattress for protection against the chill of the snow. Then it’s simply a matter of getting into the sleeping and bivvy bags to settle in beneath the midnight sun. If you can – the penguins like the sound of their own squawks.

Snowmobile into Polar Bear Country

Some adventures are tours with a mere flavouring of what an authentic experience would really be like. Others, like Hurtigruten’s multi-day snowmobile expeditions, are most certainly the real deal. Think hundreds of kilometres on a high-powered snowmobile covering mountains, glaciers, moraines and ice fjords. Add to this the variability of weather and wildlife and you have yourself the perfect mix of action and adventure.

Although not essential, previous snowmobile experience is recommended. Moments after leaving Svalbard’s largest town of Longyearbyen, it’s throttles open for a high-speed introduction to Svalbard exploration. This is an open ride into polar bear country, so pack binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens.

An attitude of flexibility is essential in the Arctic, since itineraries can change with the conditions, but opportunities exist to cross sea ice and visit impossibly blue glacial ice walls that present like a scene from Game of Thrones. Overnight stays at remote lodges far from any possible light pollution increase your chance to experience a dramatic northern lights show.

Although there are never any wildlife guarantees, polar bear sightings are common enough for safety to remain paramount. Should you come across one of these white giants on the move, know, with certainty, that as it fixes you within its gaze it genuinely sees an opportunity for a meal.

Pro tip: when your guide tells you to stop taking pictures and fire up your snowmobile as the bears lope towards you, just do it.

Ski Sky High in Russia

Some may call a heli-skiing expedition through volcanoes an epic experience, others may call it bonkers. Home to the greatest concentration of active volcanoes in the world, Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has remained relatively untouched by humans. In keeping with this, the guided expedition chartered by private helicopter is limited to just six avid skiers.

Take flight to the summits of blazing volcanoes, drinking in unencumbered vistas puckered by jagged peaks blanketed in undisturbed powder and the glowing red eyes of molten lava, and fang down up to 3000 vertical metres of staggering virgin slopes to beaches and hot springs at the base. If you’re lucky, you might find yourself racing down the mountain beside one of the local brown bears. Only the adventurous need apply.

Hanging with the Hadzabe in Tanzania

As you traverse the plains near Lake Eyasi in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, you can almost hear the rhythmic footfalls and pulsating chanting of the Hadzabe people.

One of the last ancient tribes of hunter-gatherers on the planet, whose way of life has remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years, the Hadzabe live in harmony with nature, finding everything that they need to survive within the arresting landscapes they call home.

A stay at andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania offers the opportunity to meet the Hadzabe and immerse yourself in their way of life. Here, you’ll learn about their hunting methods and how to forage for tubers, honey and berries in the surrounding shrubbery. After a day of dancing, learning the intricacies of beadwork and listening to stories, you can unwind in your banana leaf-domed stilted suite, inspired by the Masai mud and stick manyatta and decorated with rich fabrics and African antiquities, reminiscing about your experience.

Witness the wonder of flamenco in Madrid

While it’s the south of Spain that is best known for flamenco, there is one institution in Madrid that does it in spectacular fashion. Corral de la Moreria is home to the most talented, authentic and powerful dancers the world has to offer, and their epic shows change every eight days (just in case you’re going to be in Madrid for a while).

Here, the dancers perform the flamenco of the streets accompanied by musicians who are at the top of their game. There are two shows each night, and you can either book to have dinner before it starts or simply just grab a ticket to watch the exquisite performance.

Dubai 4WD Desert Explorer

This adventure with Biosphere Expeditions will shine a whole new
light on the wildlife in this desert destination. This immersive,
hands-on experience is dedicated to ensuring the survival of the
rare and fascinating species that live in the Dubai Desert
Conservation Reserve.

Traversing dunes by 4WD and on foot with scientists, you’ll focus on the Arabian oryx, the largest antelope in the region, observing them through the use of cameras and radio, and examining herd behaviours, habitats and food sources. You’ll also collect data for other animals that call the Arabian Peninsula home, such as the Gordon’s wildcat, the sand fox, and sand and mountain gazelles.

Make Like A Mayan in Belize

The Caribbean may be a modern-day playground for sun seekers, but for those prepared to explore beyond the powder white beaches, there is a treasure trove of history deep within its forested heart.

No trip to Belize is complete without a speedboat ride through steamy jungle waterways to explore ancient ruins of Mayan cities. It’s a good hour-long bus ride to the launch site on the Rio Nuevo then a 90-minute speedboat ride that only slows to pause for photo opportunities with bird life, howler monkeys, three-toed sloths or crocodiles. Finally the river opens and the boat arrives at the Mayan city of Lamanai – the name means ‘submerged crocodile’ – which was occupied for more than 3000 years.

The further you venture into the jungle, the heavier the humidity feels, but exploring the ancient city is worth any discomfort. The scale is incredible and only matched by the precision architecture and stonework. You’ll likely want to linger and capture incredible images, as expert guides provide in-depth information that helps you to imagine the bloody history of this complex and long-lived civilisation.

Unless the stones have been made slippery by rain, it is possible to climb the largest pyramid, known as the High Temple, to take in the commanding views over the jungle. Venture deeper into the site to see the Jaguar Temple with amazing carved stone heads depicting the big cat. With much of this site still yet to be excavated and documented, so many more discoveries are yet to be made.

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