Laurie on the Move

Oceania

Beautiful tropical beach in Tuvalu with clear turquoise waters and palm trees.

Is Tuvalu worth visiting? An honest answer for the curious

The world's least visited country isn't worth visiting for the sights. It's worth visiting for everything else - the runway at sunset, the community, and the specific feeling of watching your only ...
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Nauru rock formation with the national flag, located near the beach on a sunny day.

Nauru – walking around an entire country in a day

Nauru, the world’s third smallest country consisting of just one single island. Very unique, compared to its archipelago Pacific neighbours! Previously, Nauru was one of the richest countries in the world in ...
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Traditional Tiki statue at Vanuatu port with vibrant blue sky background.

Rating internet connectivity in the Pacific – everything you need to know

Having traveled to all of the countries in Oceania, one of the main things people ask is how the internet connectivity worked. This could be because they're planning to travel there and ...
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Clear turquoise lagoon surrounded by lush green tropical trees under a blue sky.

How to visit Vanuatu and Solomon Islands – for a long weekend (or longer!)

That’s right, I’m back again with tips and tricks on squeezing in some pretty remote Pacific islands into a short trip. This time Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Because it wouldn’t be me ...
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Beautiful tropical island with lush greenery and clear blue waters.

Hot takes on visiting every country in the Pacific

In three separate trips, I hopped around all of the islands in the Pacific. It was expensive, chaotic, and mostly a lot of fun. Here’s my hot take on each country, in ...
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Aerial view of tropical islands and ocean seen from an airplane window during flight.

An ultimate rating of the Pacific airlines

Over the last nine months, I’ve forayed into island-hopping trips through the Pacific. It took me three shots, but I *finally* completed the Oceania region! And with such a journey came a ...
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Colorful Papua New Guinea tribal festival face paint and headdress showcasing cultural heritage.

The best things about Papua New Guinea’s tribal festivals

It’s that time of year again. You’ll soon start seeing opportunities to book the Mt Hagen Festival (August) or Goroka Show (September) in Papua New Guinea. And you absolutely should! I attended ...
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Beautiful mountain lake in New Zealand with towering peaks and lush greenery.

New Zealand for Non-Hikers

When I told people I was visiting New Zealand, 99% of them commented on the joy of hiking. Nightmare - I hate hiking and had absolutely no plans of doing any in ...
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Hidden Lagoon in Tonga with lush greenery and clear waters.

How to visit Tonga and Samoa – The perfect long weekend trip

… with a bonus stop in Fiji! Ok, I get that most people don’t go island hopping in the Pacific for a long weekend, but on the off chance that you’re considering ...
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Meditating woman sitting cross-legged on an empty runway in Tuvalu, a remote island nation.

How to visit Tuvalu: A practical guide to the world’s least visited country

Getting to Tuvalu takes planning, a Fiji connection, food planning, and a very clear understanding of what doesn't run on Sundays. Here's everything I learned from 48 hours on the world's least ...
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Recent Posts

Local women walking on a stone path on Amantani island with trees and a brick building.

The Lake Titicaca Two-Day Tour: Uros, Amantani, and Taquile – An Honest Guide

The two-day Lake Titicaca tour is longer, colder, and more complicated than the one-day version. It’s also significantly better. Here’s exactly what to expect across two days on the water - and why the overnight on Amantani Island makes all the difference.
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Beautiful lake landscape with rolling hills and a small village in the foreground, under a colorful.

Visiting Puno and Lake Titicaca: What to do, where to go, and why the altitude will humble you

Puno sits at 3,800 metres and it will let you know. But Lake Titicaca one of the most genuinely extraordinary places in Peru. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
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Beautiful tropical beach in Tuvalu with clear turquoise waters and palm trees.

Is Tuvalu worth visiting? An honest answer for the curious

The world's least visited country isn't worth visiting for the sights. It's worth visiting for everything else - the runway at sunset, the community, and the specific feeling of watching your only way home disappear into the Pacific.
Read more
Unique treehouse with multiple levels and a spiral staircase in a lush, mountainous setting.

Oxapampa, Peru: The best weekend trip from Lima you’re probably not doing

A German-influenced town somehow stuck between the Andes and the Amazon, a 12-hour overnight bus from Lima, and the best breakfast that might kill you. Oxapampa is weird and brilliant and you should go.
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Vibrant street view of Paramaribo with colorful buildings and clear sky.

What is Paramaribo really like? Five things I wasn’t expecting

Paramaribo surprised me. Not always in the ways I was expecting. Here's the honest version of what it's actually like.
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Museum of Eastern History, Yopal Colombia, cultural site, regional museum.

Yopal, Colombia: An honest guide to a day trip from Bogotá and how to spend seven hours there

Yopal isn't on anyone's Colombia itinerary. Here's why you should probably add it anyway, and how to make the most of a day in Casanare's overlooked capital.
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