Hi, I’m Debbi!

Explore the world through my eyes as I empower YOU to travel alone on a budget while hiking, eating, and more.

Whale Watching in Sydney: Kamay Botany Bay National Park

mydebstinations

July 3, 2020

Learn more about the trails in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, considered the top destination for whale watching in Sydney, Australia.

Continue Reading Whale Watching in Sydney: Kamay Botany Bay National Park

Why You Should Be a Bird Nerd

June 26, 2020

Learn more about artist, naturalist, and wildlife aficionado Celia Garland, her five favourite birds, and why you should be a bird nerd!

Continue Reading Why You Should Be a Bird Nerd

How to Pack Sparkly Outfits When Traveling

The Lord of the Rings Guide to New Zealand

The Ultimate Road Trip Guide for New Zealand: North & South Island

Read More Posts

mydebstinations

🌏: 75 countries
🐶 Debs | Empowering women to travel through hiking and enjoying wildlife
💌 hello@mydebstinations.me
⬇️ Get INSPIRED! ⬇️

🐋 I’m ‘whale’y this happy in the winterti

🐋 I’m ‘whale’y this happy in the wintertime!
.
😍 This was taken right after I saw several whales breaching off the coast of Kurnell. My jaw literally hit the FLOOR and I was absolutely mesmerised, since I’ve truthfully never seen whales jump out of the water before.
.
❄️ I’m planning on spending most of my winter going on hikes in whale watching spots throughout Sydney. If you have any recommendations, please let me know!
.
⬆️ To read more, click my bio link for the full article on tips for whale watching in Sydney.
.
📝 Save this post for your future Sydney trips if you ever visit in the winter!

These boots were made for hiking 🥾 . It’s of

These boots were made for hiking 🥾
.
It’s officially whale watching season in Sydney, and I couldn’t be more excited. Our “winter” has been pretty beautiful and ☀️ thus far, and the hundreds of hiking trails out here make me incredibly happy.
.
Kamay Botany Bay National Park is my new favourite place here, and it’s actually considered the TOP spot for whale watching.
.
I had the pleasure of seeing a whale breach several times, and I’ll get around to writing an article eventually. I’ve never felt MORE excited in my life than when I saw a giant whale jump out of the water (along with dolphins a bit later) - and all for FREE! 🐬
.
Where my fellow 🐳🐋 enthusiasts be at?!

“None of this should be a conversation. We shoul

“None of this should be a conversation. We should just accept people for who they are.” -@instadanjlevy 🌈
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
It’s the end of June, but our support for #pride shouldn’t end on a specific date.

The majority of my closest friends from all my jobs in the past nine years have been in the LGBTQIA+ community, and they’re the most free-spirited, loving people I’ve had the fortune to meet.

There is still so much work to do, but only WE have the power to enact change.

In the beautiful words of @sashigandarum: “This space welcomes and respects all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, and any other possible things that were created to divide.”

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Support some of these creative individuals in the community:
@peteyhana (the most TALENTED, colourful girl I’ve ever met❤️🌈)
@francisdominiic (AMAZING resources + links in his bio)
@pattiegonia (Freaking perfection. Everyone needs to follow)
@katie.and.liss (Kiwi travel bloggers who also HIKE)
@brianbakescakes (literally the most talented cake maker, cocktail mixer, floral arranger, event & wedding planner - omg, I’m his biggest fangirl💜)
@matthewthehype (Ain’t no one in the world who has a better sense of humour + unabashed confidence than Matt!)
@sashigandarum (Badass musician & singer)

This may sound cheesy, but I think @skudbucket is

This may sound cheesy, but I think @skudbucket is really ‘grate.’ 🧀
.
While I’m a huge advocate for solo travel, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to find a great partner along the way. I’ll always love traveling alone, but Eden is just an added bonus now. 💁🏻‍♂️
.
Like many, I was never looking for a relationship. We literally met/talked for just ONE night on a ship, messaged occasionally, lost touch, then began talking again a year later.

After a very important @apple care package was sent (thank you, @mynameispeterb) and I booked a ticket to @australia, things just fell into place.

We went from long distance to suddenly living together 24/7 this year, which could be disastrous for some couples. However, Eden is a solid 💎 and probably the most patient, supportive, and caring human being to EVER grace this planet, so he somehow puts up with me. 🙋🏻‍♂️
.
Here are a few of my favourite things about him:
🍛 Cooks wonderfully and ALWAYS ensures that I’m well-fed (the most important factor if you know me)
🔧 Fixes everything with such ease and never complains
📝 Writes beautifully and sounds more articulate than me
🚶🏻‍♂️Doesn’t judge me for not exercising daily
😂 Heaps funny & packed with dry jokes
📈 Effortlessly hosted my website & fixes it all the time
👨🏻‍💻Works incredibly hard
🐶 Puts up with my animal obsessions and willingly obliges a Corgi someday
🖥 Allows me to use his 2008 Mac Pro (part of his 17 computer collection) since my laptop is too slow
🧼 Cleans, helps with the dishes, and makes sure everything is immaculate (how is he real?)
📲 Supports my work & decisions, even if I feel like I’m flailing my arms in my career next to him
🎧 Adept listener (far better than me, who needs things repeated 3xs)
🇯🇵 Loves Japan and traveling as much as I do
💫 LOVES @STARWARS and LORD OF THE RINGS!
💞 Has the most incredible family ever
🎒 Carries my backpack when granny here gets sore
.
Here’s to all the wonderful men in the world who MAKE US HAPPY and who treat women the way they should be! ❤️
.
Post inspired by @kellyprincewright, who makes the BEST @tiktok videos (find her + follow)! 🌈

There are lots of unglamorous sides to travel that

There are lots of unglamorous sides to travel that most don’t talk about.

Some of mine include the following:
.
👀 Saw a huntsman spider in my first night of isolation in Sydney 🤣
⛩ Almost fell off a cliff temple in Thailand
🏔 Almost drove off a cliff in Iceland
🇮🇹 Almost slipped off a mountain in Italy (is this a theme?)
🚈 Accidentally took a train in the wrong direction hundreds of times
🧳 Carried my suitcase on my head in Wales to get to an Airbnb that required trekking
🐀 Screamed after finding a rat in Melbourne and slammed the door, locking him in the same room as me 🤦🏻‍♀️
⛰ Dislocated my shoulder after slipping in New Zealand
🚠 Missed the last cablecar up to my MOUNTAIN hostel in Switzerland
🏃🏻‍♀️Ran across a few highways just to enter a trail
☹️Battled depression and cried in showers
.
Don’t judge a book by its cover; you never know what someone is going through on the inside.
.
Remember that being authentic and true to yourself is part of what makes you uniquely YOU. Don’t ever be afraid to be vulnerable, weird, and open about your struggles (when you’re ready). It’s the heart of life 💜

One of my best friends is an ‘owl’some, totall

One of my best friends is an ‘owl’some, totally ‘emu’sing naturalist, artist, and world traveler, so I was SO ‘eggs’ited to feature her as a guest post on my site!
.
@celiagarland is possibly THE most intellectual and inspiring person that I’ve been fortunate to meet on cruise ships. In the article, she writes about why she thinks everyone should be a birder, her top five birds, and some of her (vast) experience that led her to be such a bird enthusiast.
.
Her photos are jaw-droppingly incredible, so definitely check it out if you want to see more of her photographs of birds from around the world!
.
Here’s to hoping that Celia inspires YOU to go out and do some birdwatching - after all, it’s FREE entertainment!
.
⬆️ READ THE FULL ARTICLE (Link in bio) for more birdy goodness! Remember to follow @celiagarland, where she is also painting a bird a day 😍⬆️
.
**All photos property & courtesy of @celiagarland ❤️**

Not a ‘Dagobah’ where I don’t think of @star

Not a ‘Dagobah’ where I don’t think of @starwars.
.
⬆️ You’ll only understand the pun if you’re a diehard Star Wars fan. 😍
.
I bought a PVC pipe to practice freestyle staff spinning to be cool like @michelle.c.smith, even though I’ll probably never reach her badass level.
.
Aside from travel and dogs, I ❤️💙 Star Wars. I’m full-on obsessed; I bought $500 worth of @lucasfilm merch when @mor.a.got scored me a coveted tour, rewatch the films quite often, play @youtube behind-the-scenes features and interviews almost daily, and literally scream if I see ANYTHING Star Wars-related in a store.
.
I may have joined the fandom a bit late (when I was living in Thailand!), but my love for Star Wars is more than any other (sorry, LOTR).
.
Why? It’s one of the most successful franchises of all time, has the BEST battle scenes with TIE fighters/X-wings/lightsabers, and it incorporates deep themes of equality and hope throughout each film.
.
It’s just so easy to see why the Star Wars universe has had legions of dedicated fans worldwide since 1977.
.
My lofty (yet semi-serious) goal is to become a badass travel blogger who can twirl a lightsaber while hiking in the wilderness. 💪🏻
.
Who else is in my Star Wars crew?! ❤️
.
Note:
1) I’m not cool enough to understand how to use PhotoShop to make an item glow (yet).
2) Yes, those are Eden’s color-changing lights that haven’t been edited (they don’t spit fire, though).
3) I’m saving up for the PERFECT saber- I’m not just pretending this PVC pipe is a lightsaber! It’s mostly because I can’t twirl around a fancy, expensive saber and smash it to smithereens.

While this year definitely hasn’t gone as planne

While this year definitely hasn’t gone as planned for us, it’s actually exactly how I intended my career path to be.

I was intent on furthering my freelancing & writing career this year, so quarantine has merely emphasised my productivity.

Here are my 6️⃣ tips to ensure a healthier, happier rest of your year:

1️⃣ GET FRESH AIR: Going outside, whether for just a quick walk or a hike, is an absolute necessity for your mental health and overall wellbeing. I’ve been trying to go on at least one long hike per week, especially since every corner of this country is exceptionally beautiful. It’s also rejuvenating and calming!

2️⃣ FIND A NEW HOBBY: As cheesy as it sounds, you need to preoccupy your mind. I’ve recently gotten into birdwatching more and more, especially since Sydney is home to some of the most beautiful birds in the world. It brings me great joy to find a new type of bird species and then identify it through an app (thanks, @celiagarland!).
.
3️⃣ TAKE REGULAR BREAKS: Getting up to stretch and taking consistent breaks throughout your WFH routine is essential. I’m still learning how to master this one, but apps like @forest_app also help me focus and be more productive faster (thanks, @daretobeawildflower)!
.
4️⃣ MAKE 💰 ONLINE: The pressures of the year have put strain on a lot of us. It’s 100% possible to work remotely nowadays, though - use places like @fiverr @upworkinc @careercontessa @behance to get your income hustles flowing.

5️⃣ JOURNAL: Journaling has been proven to improve one’s mental health and overall wellbeing in countless studies. I’ve been more obsessed with #bulletjournaling lately, which is more visual and a bit of artistic therapy. Follow @bulletjournal.ideas for inspiration!

6️⃣ REMEMBER, IT’S OKAY TO HAVE AN “OFF” DAY: It’s not worth beating yourself up over a day lost in “unproductivity,” but it’s just as important to recognise that it’s NORMAL to be distracted or to not spit 🔥 productivity every waking second of the day. Allow yourself to have a day off every once in awhile! Follow @therichcoach for more daily inspiration like this. 😘

What are your top tips for staying happy and healthy? 💎
.
📸: @smontanezphoto ❤️

Load More... Follow on Instagram