About me

🌍Travelling the world to explore the history, cultures and flavors is the ultimate classroom for anyone privileged to experience it.

As a child living in coastal Sydney, I can vividly remember sitting on the clifftops looking out to sea thinking ‘If only I was on the top floor of an apartment, I would be able to see the tips of the palm trees swaying in Fiji’. True!

The idea of resting in a deck chair cruising one of the world’s rivers or oceans is living the dream. To see pristine beaches on a tropical islands and hearing the sound of the sea gently lapping onto a white sandy shoreline encourages a state of relaxation. 

OR… Fulfilling dreams of visiting mediaevil villages or ancient civilizations; running my hands along the stone walls and imagining what it was like for those who lived there hundreds of years before me.  ‘I wonder what is was like to be a Princess staring out across the countryside?’

Have you ever wondered if one day, you will be one of the few people who has taken a ride in a dog sled after a fresh Arctic blast and where all you could see beyond your fur fringed hood was a white vastness? I do.  (still on my list but certainly not forgotten)

Is it obsessive to think, eat and dream about travel? I don’t think so.

Chaperoned and nurtured

I’ve been chaperoned via cruising around the eclectic Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean towns steeped in history and tasted Asian cruising when not exploring the continent by land. Crossing and cruising the idyllic South Pacific Ocean is unique with a plethora of ports of call.

Isn’t it wonderful that technology can have us on the opposite side of the world the next day? Travelling further afield as a solo woman or with others, I’ve felt nurtured while cocooned and snoozing at 33,000 feet heading towards continents and multiple countries that were once simple brochure photos that I would paw over with my mouth agape.  

But it isn’t over yet!

Bespoke itineraries

As a seasoned traveller, you’re ready for different destinations where you are personally drawn, to experience unknown and ‘insignificant’ corners of the world. Whatever your reason, you can go there. The choice is yours.

Ancestor travels

Now; patriarchs and matriarchs of generations past have enticed me with hints of genealogical history that simply cannot be found online, so I’ve compiled my family tree memoir through exploring the living and tangible history. Merging the skills and fervour of researching ancestors ‘on location’ with my passionate travel consultancy (combining 18 years), I create bespoke itineraries that only you will experience as you are an individual.

No two trips are alike!

If you would like assistance with creating an itinerary that suits you; one that includes your ancestor’s home or you want to simply satisfying the curious tourist side of your nature to explore veiled points on the map, call me!

BONUS: You may remember when the world of service was different and easily accessible. As a 50 ‘plus-er’ I miss it dearly. For you, it’s your time as you’ve worked hard and now you can again enjoy this service. You can talk with me about your interests and queries. Isn’t it an entitlement? 

✨ My focus? Genuine, person-to-person service. Whether we meet face-to-face, hop on a Zoom call, or chat by phone, I’m here to bring your travel dreams to life with expert care and attention. I believe answers to any questions should be immediate and convenient as much as practicable. You can then walk away feeling generally satisfied by having a picture in your mind.

Travelling as a Solo middle age woman-so many of you believe your travelling days are over. But they are not! As a middle aged woman, I conquered my fear of solo travelling by spending 2 weeks completely alone in an unknown region in the mountains of Northern Italy. It was exhilarating! (BTW: staying in moderate accommodation – not ‘roughing it’). So if you have more destinations to see and do, let’s chat.

Are you ready to see what awaits you? Whether you’re craving a bespoke itinerary, longing to cruise the seven seas, or eager to walk in your ancestors’ footsteps, I’ll help you turn your travel dreams and desires into reality.

📞 Let’s start planning your next great adventure.

The Story Hunter is a product of Donna Arnold, personal travel manager of TravelManagers Australia. Part of the House of Travel Group, TravelManagers Australia Pty Ltd is a network of home-based mobile personal travel managers who have on average over 20 years’ travel industry experience. Since opening in New Zealand in 1986 and its arrival into Australia in 2007, House of Travel has grown into the largest independent travel company in Australasia. This means that by being a personal travel manager, not only do I have access to amazing travel deals that I can provide you, but you have the security that your money is secure during the booking process. Under no circumstances will TravelManagers accept cash payments, nor should payments be made to any other bank account, other than the TravelManagers client trust account (ANZ BSB: 012 172 | Account: 4967-59407). For details, please visit travelmanagers.com.au/peaceofmind.

Where I've Travelled

Loving the freedom that travel and exploring new destinations over a ‘few’ decades my mission is to assist and support others of a similar persona to experience a variety of destinations mainly United Kingdom and Europe.

Now, I create specialty BESPOKE itineraries for those who have an adventurous nature and want to expand to go beyond the brochures for whatever the reason. The next step is to be among one of a few as opposed to one of a few thousand and visit secluded corners of the world.

For those who have a keen interest in researching ancestors ‘on location’ and want to go deeper to explore living history, to add some character to the familial lines or create a memoir, unique itineraries that focus specifically on your needs are a must as no two journeys are alike.

The online knowledge gained about your lineage is a mere first step as it can be the catalyst to revealing so much more. But to ensure the adventure is a success, your itinerary is a priority. With my personal knowledge and  experience of researching ancestors ‘on location’, we can come together so I can assist you with your individual travel components to create a complete itinerary while you focus on your family tree.

GENTLE WANDERINGS exploring quiet pockets of the world

Do you love the idea of a relaxing wander in the foothills of Europe to explore old railway huts and bridges that  cross fast flowing creeks through lush green valleys but only for a few hours a day as opposed to hiking/trekking rocky mountain peaks? All at a leisurely pace where the morning tea and lunch breaks are just as important as the exploration.

From my own wanderings in the European Mountains, I create itineraries where as independent travellers, you will experience secluded places that only the locals know.

Want to know more, call me.

Destinations I'm Passionate About

Being intrigued by Ancient Civilisations of any culture has developed a focus which is so to my delight, world wide.

Central America is home to the Mayans so with most of the northern part from Mexico to Guatemala dotted with incredible ruins, I’ve experienced but a few sites-in Belize and the Yucatan Peninsular, Mexico.

BTW: Machu Picchu Peru? Still to be done.

It’s time to explore Ephesus, Turkey and Pompeii, Italy again as so much more has been uncovered. Plus, the mediaeval towns and castles of Europe hold me spellbound.

I was blown away by the Terracotta Soldiers but the size of The Great Wall of China still clings to my curiosity with the logic behind it’s construction centuries earlier. Another: Angkor Wat, Cambodia is incredible too!

Ancestor Travels

Now that I am deeply immersed in researching my ancestors ‘on location’ I am drawn to the UK like a magnet with their own unique history – castles, abbeys, and Roman influence but knowing more of what the Celts have left behind with upright stones dotted across the country.

I love how my passions are intertwined to create themes for BESPOKE itineraries to continue travelling the world.  (Was I Sir Francis Drake in a previous life? 😉)