Escape travel section, Australia – Aug 21, 2011 I’m 2m away from a man with one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. A day in the office for 24-year-old J.B. Mauney involves hopping on the back of one tonne of muscle, hoofs and horns and trying his hardest to stay there for eight seconds.Continue reading “Calgary Stampede”
Author Archives: Rob McFarland
Marataba Lodge, South Africa
The Sun-Herald, Australia – Aug 21, 2011 “GO, GO, GO!” screams the man sitting behind me in the jeep. I look over my shoulder to see a three-tonne bull elephant approaching the back of our open-top jeep, trunk held up defiantly, ears flapping and head bobbing up and down. I brace myself, expecting Philip, ourContinue reading “Marataba Lodge, South Africa”
Chile’s Atacama desert
Escape travel section, Australia – July 31, 2011 “Go up like an old man, come down like a teenager,” advises Pablo. I’ll second that. I’m 200 metres from the summit of 5600-metre-high Toco Volcano in the Chilean Andes and I feel 108. At this altitude, every step is a breath-sapping test of physical andContinue reading “Chile’s Atacama desert”
Santiago city guide
Escape travel section, Australia – July 17, 2011 Chile’s capital tends to get a bad rap when compared with other South American cities. It might not have Rio’s party atmosphere or the style of Buenos Aires but it certainly has enough sights and attractions to justify hanging around for a few days. It’s alsoContinue reading “Santiago city guide”
Las Vegas Update
KiaOra (Air New Zealand’s inflight magazine), NZ – July 2011 Las Vegas offers much more than blackjack tables, roulette wheels and slot machines. Visitors can also enjoy wonderful restaurants, shopping and shows or even hiking and biking amid stunning desert scenery. If you’re planning a visit to the city that bills itself The Entertainment CapitalContinue reading “Las Vegas Update”
Magical Muscat
Escape travel section, Australia – June 25, 2011 When you walk through the streets of Oman’s vibrant capital, Muscat, it’s hard to believe that the country’s Ministry of Tourism was only established in 2004. Even more difficult to comprehend is that 34 years before that, the nation had only three schools, two hospitals andContinue reading “Magical Muscat”
The wonders of Washington DC
Escape travel section, Australia – June 5, 2011 For the next two hours I will be Colin Walker, an 18-year-old British art student visiting Turkey on holiday. My assignment is to meet another undercover agent in Ankara and exchange classified information. Unfortunately, I’m rumbled at immigration. When the officer asks me where I was born,Continue reading “The wonders of Washington DC”
Amazing Aspen
Escape travel section, Australia – May 22, 2011 There are two versions of how I strained my back in Aspen. The one I told friends involved a pregnant mother in the path of a runaway snowmobile with me as the heroic saviour who selflessly dived to her rescue. The other, more accurate, version wasContinue reading “Amazing Aspen”
Pod Hotel, New York
The Sun-Herald, Australia – May 22, 2011 Could I swing a cat? Probably not. Maybe a kitten. But I don’t care. I’m staying in a room that costs a fraction of what most New York hotels charge and I’ve got Manhattan on my doorstep. The Pod Hotel is one of a growing number of NewContinue reading “Pod Hotel, New York”
Grand dames of the South
The Sun-Herald, Australia – May 1, 2011 America’s south – loosely defined as the eastern states below Pennsylvania – is often overlooked by visitors in favour of the sun-kissed beaches of California or the urban excitement of cities such as Las Vegas and New York. But this is where many of the country’s most pivotalContinue reading “Grand dames of the South”
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
The Sun-Herald, Australia – Apr 17, 2011 It’s not often you feel like an eco-warrior when you check in to a resort but since arriving at Post Ranch Inn, I’ve been feeling positively virtuous. After a welcoming glass of Taittinger, my car is whisked away and I’m ferried to my room in an eerily quietContinue reading “Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California”
Savannah, Georgia
Escape travel section, Australia – Apr 10, 2011 Of all Savannah’s 22 elegant, park-like squares, there is one in particular tourists make a beeline for. It’s called Chippewa Square and the reason is because it’s where Forrest Gump sat on a bench and famously declared that, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You neverContinue reading “Savannah, Georgia”
Adventures in Tahiti
KiaOra (Air New Zealand’s inflight magazine), NZ – April 2011 Just the word “Tahiti” conjures up an intoxicating mental image of aquamarine lagoons punctuated by idyllic sandy atolls. A land of brochure-blue skies, bath-warm water and lazy days filled with massages and cocktails at sunset. But what if you don’t want to lounge around allContinue reading “Adventures in Tahiti”
24 Hours in Toronto
GQ Australia – April 2011 Ask most Australians what they know about Toronto and they’ll likely answer “not much”, which is surprising given it’s the fifth-largest city in North America. While it might not have the profile of LA or New York, it’s not short on charm. The world’s most multicultural city, Toronto boasts 200 differentContinue reading “24 Hours in Toronto”
Driving Highway 1
Luxury Travel Magazine – Autumn 2011 As I lower the roof on our convertible Ford Mustang, I feel that tell-tale rush of excitement that accompanies the start of something memorable. I’m about to tick off an entry on my all-time travel wish-list: driving Highway 1, the spectacular coastal route that winds its way fromContinue reading “Driving Highway 1”
24 Hours in Miami
A contender for sexiest city in the US, Miami is a product of its location. As an American city with close ties to Central and South America, it is a melting pot for Latin-infused culture. You’ll find Cuban, Mexican and even Brazilian influences in everything from the music to the food and fashion. The locationContinue reading “24 Hours in Miami”
Amish tour in Pennsylvania
Before visiting Pennsylvania, my limited knowledge of the Amish was based on a single viewing of Witness, the movie where Harrison Ford goes into hiding in an Amish community to protect a young murder witness. I knew they dressed in quaint, old-fashioned clothes and used horse-drawn buggies to get around but I assumed they wereContinue reading “Amish tour in Pennsylvania”
Arctic adventure
An announcement comes over the public address system that there are two polar bears off the starboard bow. It’s 7am. I stumble out of bed, bleary-eyed, and throw on some warm clothes. Up on deck, it’s a clear, crisp day and everyone is peering intently over the side, cameras and binoculars at the ready. Suddenly,Continue reading “Arctic adventure”
King of the road
As I inched our new home out of El Monte’s hire depot in Orlando, I felt that tingle of expectation that signifies the start of something special. We were about to embark on the quintessential American holiday: an RV trip. We had two weeks to get from Florida to New York a journey that wouldContinue reading “King of the road”
Venetian High Notes
Venice’s premier concert venue is the Teatro La Fenice, a spectacular theatre whose interior is a decadent ensemble of frescoed ceilings, plush red velvet and gilded artwork. Over its tumultuous 218-year history, it’s been the site of many famous operatic premieres as well as twice being burnt to the ground and completely rebuilt. Unfortunately, evenContinue reading “Venetian High Notes”
Rob McFarland 