Why I Wish I Was in the Northern Territory…

I have travelled all around the world with Places We Go as a producer. I’ve had a front row seat for wild grizzly bears in Canada, stood on the roof of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna and filmed from the back of a motorbike in crazy Saigon. I KNOW first hand how much fun travelling with Jen, Clint and the other PWG crew can be.

Which is why I sit at home today, sad that there are around 28 lucky people currently in the air heading towards Alice Springs, and I am not one of them.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not hard done by. I have a 13-month-old daughter who needs me at home at the moment and of course, someone has to hold the fort at PWG HQ while everyone else is away, but I still feel that tinge of jealousy! (I am sure I am not alone).

We filmed in the Northern Territory (aka the Red Centre) during Series 3 and again in Alice Springs for series 6. It is always a special, magical place that captures your spirit and soul. You feel awakened, you feel refreshed and you are constantly mesmerised. It reminds you of how big, rich, historical and incredible Australia is. When home in Melbourne, you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life and forget about the true origins and culture of our land. Out in the Red Centre, you remember. You learn, you understand and you are enlightened.

Travelling with Jen, Clint and little Charli is also tons of fun. Even on a serious shoot for the show, we always find time to have a laugh, switch off and appreciate where we are. Our show is unscripted, which means that the every day perils of travel get us as much as they get any other traveller. Sickness, forgetfulness, and bizarre encounters. And of course the beauty of the unexpected, which often makes our show what it is – completely authentic.

So whilst the inaugural Signature Tour in the Northern Territory has an itinerary, a guide, planned accommodation and excursions, it will be the organic moments in between that everyone will love the most. Laughs on the bus. Camaraderie. The feeling you get when you witness something truly special with a group of others – it will forever bind you together. And all with the unescapable beauty of the Northern Territory as the backdrop.

So like many others, I will be patiently waiting for updates from the Alice Springs trip every day, social media posts and the blogs to follow so I can share in the magic that the tour will undoubtedly experience.