Camping and road trips were where it was at, finding hidden gems on a map and touring for a weekend with Dad while Mum was working at the local hospital, or a bigger family vacation cross country to outback locations through red dirt and sand dunes.

Here’s a list of some medical items you may need depending on where and how you’re travelling. Thanks to the Emirates website for this great travel advice. Your regular medications (don’t forget to check if they’re allowed in your destination & bring a covering letter from your doctor) Vaccination certificate Travel Insurance with medical cover Digital thermometer Analgesics (paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen) Antacids for indigestion, heartburn or an upset stomach Topical antiseptic/antibiotic Antihistamines for allergies Dressings and adhesive bandages Mosquito repellent Malaria tablets, if your doctor has prescribed them Sunscreen Oral rehydration preparation

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and feel it's time to start thinking of trips ahead.  1. Can you free camp anywhere in Australia? NO, you can’t just park anywhere & camp overnight, however several locations across Australia do allow free or low cost camping. Generally these have sign posts advising it's ok to camp. 2. Take it with you. Penalties for littering offences range from $5,000 to $10,000. 3. Campfires. If in doubt do NOT light a fire, check your states fire restrictions & regulations before camping. Refer to: 1. Motor home republic 2. Keep Australia Beautiful 3. VIC Fire restrictions & regulations  

"Pilgrimage is a powerful metaphor for any journey with the purpose of finding something that matters deeply to the traveller" ~Phil Cousineau Let me share a little of my pilgrimage. Born from a sense adventure, of humour at my own travel (mis)adventures, the need for a little comfort, an endeavour to 'green up my act' and of course fun along the way. Pilgrim Packs products are inspired by travel amenity packs of old, updated for today with an eco-conscious and community approach, designed for all types of travel and everyday use. With ever changing safety, health and flight restrictions, airport security, road trips and adventures a little closer to home in mind, Pilgrim Packs products ensure you relax, refresh and...

“Bein’ Green” – Originally a popular song written by Joe Raposo in 1970 for the children’s television program Sesame Street, performed by Kermit the Frog (voiced by Jim Henson). Ahhhh… childhood memories, well for those of my era at least. The “being green” movement today has taken on a whole new meaning, noticeably across the retail and travel sectors, and rightfully so. I’m sure we have all seen various articles, social media posts and documentaries on the topic. In the age of “fake news”, trying to understand a threat, its severity, and placing it in context, can be confusing. Stories and advertising are frequently misleading, with a multitude of terminology to get familiar with. A few standard terms I have...

As an Ecopreneur (“Ecopreneurs are entrepreneurs whose business efforts are not only drive by profit, but also by a concern for the environment.” Ecopreneurship – Wikipedia) working with other brands and working towards common eco-friendly, community-based and cause-oriented goals is fulfilling. But ensuring that you are, in fact, aligned on these goals can be challenging. Great quality and functional products are no longer the only consideration. Ethical and sustainable production, product disposal and distribution all now enter the equation. At Pilgrim Packs we are working hard to ensure that all the brands we work with and all the products we stock align with at least one of our core beliefs. 1. Sustainability – this means no single-use plastics unless they...

Part of my daily routine is to review articles and videos from around the world with a focus on small business, the environment, and travel. I keep my searches broad and read varying opinions. (This unfortunately does take quite some effort as many of online news sites use algorithms to only share “similar” stories or those I’ve ”liked”, which can distort what information and discussions come up in search results.) Understanding varying opinions and hearing both sides of a story is something I suggest we all practice (I’m still learning myself). This usually provides a more complete view of the truth, and is often somewhere between two points, not just one or the other. My exploration into the going green...

I’m a pretty organised person. When it comes to my work life anyway. I join calls on time. I arrive for meetings early. I prepare well in advance, and don’t like leaving things to chance. Flying then, is not the most enjoyable of experiences for me. But working for a European company based out of Melbourne means long haul flights are part of the job. I travel to Europe for work 4 times a year. And despite all the stories of delays, cancellations, emergency landings and what have you, I haven’t so much as lost a single piece of luggage yet. Maybe because I’m organised, or perhaps I’ve just been lucky. I did have a close call recently. I had...

I discovered I had enough frequent flyer points to travel to Europe return in business class via Qantas with Emirates. I was so excited as I had only flown business internationally once before and loved it. So, 3 months prior to departure I hopped online to book. This began what I can only describe as a rollercoaster of emotions. My initial excitement of having the points evaporated as I saw all seats were booked out! However, this quickly escalated to incredulity, disbelief, and elation as I located first-class seats for the same number of points! After triple checking, the flights were booked. 5 legs in total, 4 in first and 1 in business, costing 280,000 points (Blog on collecting points...

Your next holiday is but a budget away... 1. Make a budget 2. Buy in bulk 3. Stay motivated 4. Cut out convenience 5. Netflix & save Read the full article