Chasing Dreams Travel NZ/AUS

17/09/2026

But why book with an agent when you can DIY?

2min read.

https://www.chasingdreamstravel.org/why-booking-with-a-real-travel-agent-still-matters-in-2026/

Tag someone who just needs less travel stress in thier life.

In a world where everything is bookable with a click, why are more travellers turning back to real, human travel agents in 2026? Because travel isn’t just about booking — it’s about being looked after. I’ll never forget the time I booked flights through an online platform, back before I bec...

16/09/2026

That feeling when you’ve just booked a holiday.

There really is nothing quite like it, is there?

One minute you’re going about your ordinary life, and the next… everything feels a little bit better.

You walk a little taller.
You smile a little more.
You suddenly feel ridiculously optimistic about life.

You’ve spent weeks considering costs, weighing things up and convincing yourself it’s all sensible…

But the second you've confirmed your holiday?

You realise there wasn't anything to worry about.

Because now you’ve got something brilliant waiting for you.

Something to look forward to.
Something on the horizon.
Something that makes Monday feel a little less Monday.

I’m calling it Travel-smug.

That smug little glow of knowing you’ve got a holiday booked.

Honestly… who doesn’t love a bit of Travel-smug? ✈️

14/09/2026

Imagine finally living a lifelong dream.

Walking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Watching the wildlife of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara unfold in front of you. Having every piece of the journey seamlessly connected, so you can forget the logistics and simply experience Africa — truly experience it.

Seeing a silverback gorilla charge through the forest just metres in front of you, pulling branches and trees aside as he moves.

Watching tiny cubs being nurtured by their mothers.

Meeting local tribes, sharing stories and gaining an insight into a completely different way of life.

And then, after all of that, slowing right down in Zanzibar. Beachside. Time to breathe, reflect and take in everything you’ve just experienced. 🌴

The kind of journey that doesn’t just give you incredible memories — it changes you.

And these aren’t photos from a brochure.

These are photos from the personal album of one of our clients, who returned from his incredible African adventure just last week. 📸🌍

A lifelong dream, brought to life.

13/09/2026

Ski lovers + Marriott Bonvoy fans, listen up! 🎿

The newest ski-in/ski-out hotel in Niseko Village has just opened — and it’s a Moxy by Marriott Bonvoy.

So, why do we love Moxy?

It’s got all the fun, funk and fabulous vibes you want from a social, design-led hotel, paired with the service, experience and global standards you expect from a world-class hotel brand.

And now, you’ve got a seriously fab new option for your next Niseko ski getaway.

Even better? You don’t have to lift a finger (except to pack your suitcase!).

At Chasing Dreams Travel, we take care of your entire ski trip end-to-end — from flights and accommodation to transfers, lift passes and all the details in between.

So, are you ready for your next Japan ski adventure?

Let’s make it happen:
[email protected]

Pssst.. tag your ski mate!

10/09/2026

Behind the Scenes Friday 🎬

Last weekend we took the Minis down to Byron Bay for a couple of nights, and it got me thinking about something that seems to rotate like a cinema wheel in my brain — semi-permanently stuck in holiday-dreaming mode. 😂

Now, let me pre-frame this…

I’m incredibly fortunate to have built up quite a catalogue of travel. From luxury resorts to Vietnamese homestays, tents on the side of the Andes and plenty in between. And these days, I’m also lucky to call home a place that others travel to for their holidays.

As a family, we love taking the Minis a short drive down the coast and staying at a local campground for a night or two. It’s easy, breaks up the household rhythm, and most importantly, brings us together.

And it’s through these little getaways, between the bigger international trips, that I’ve realised something about myself as a traveller.

I am very, very bad at understanding my own holiday maths. 😂

I look at the cost of some of the bigger caravans, and then the price of holiday parks during peak season, and my travel-agent brain immediately starts doing what it does best…

"Hang on… what else could we do for that?"

Because when I see a week at a holiday park approaching the same price as a lovely international resort — with breakfast included, multiple pools, beautiful facilities, great bedding and absolutely no dishes or cleaning waiting for me — I start mentally packing my passport. 😂✈️

But I know this is completely personal.

For some people, the caravan is the holiday. The freedom, familiar rituals, camp chair, BBQ, kids running around and knowing exactly what you're getting. I completely understand the appeal.

For me? Give me the passport.

Give me somewhere I've never been. A beautiful resort, a different culture, food I've never tried and the feeling of waking up somewhere completely different.

Maybe I've just been spoiled by seeing what's out there.

Either way, I know which side of the holiday fence I'm sitting on. 😂

So, are you Team Caravan & Camping or Team Passport & Resort?

(I suspect my expression in this photo speaks volumes 🤣)

10/09/2026

I was incredibly lucky to put together a bucket-list adventure for a client who had dreamed of seeing silverback gorillas in the wild. 🦍

This wasn’t just any holiday — it was a 40th birthday adventure of a lifetime, and I absolutely didn’t take that responsibility lightly.

Working alongside some of my very best Africa specialists, I created an incredible itinerary that ticked every box on the wish list, including time spent with the gorillas, two very different safari experiences, and a few blissful days relaxing beachside in Zanzibar. 🌴

So when I opened my inbox around the time he was making the long journey home and found this personal message ... It genuinely made me so happy.

"Just wanted to give a massive thank you for planning this trip for me. I'll be landed back in Perth in a few hours and I've absolutely had the time of my life. So many incredible and life changing memories that I won't ever forget. The whole trip went down flawlessly, I could not recommend it enough."

There is something pretty special about being trusted to turn someone’s lifelong travel dream into a reality — and even more special when they come home feeling like it was everything they hoped for, and more.

This is exactly why I love what I do.

Psssttt.. watch this space for some incredible photos to come...

09/09/2026

This is the 7-bedroom luxury villa your next group holiday needs.

And we know… because we’ve stayed there. 😉

Think space. So much space. An open-plan design made for bringing everyone together, lazy afternoons and making the most of that incredible Indonesian warmth.

📍 Set on Gili T, you can swim straight off the beach with turtles, explore the island by bike, settle in for seriously good Indonesian food and soak up the social buzz of this unique little island.

Want to venture further? Hop on a boat for a day of snorkelling with tropical fish, island hopping or exploring some of the region’s world-class surf breaks.

This is the kind of place where your group will make memories you’ll still be talking about years from now.

And the best part? You enjoy the holiday. We’ll make the rest seamless. ✨

Tag the person in your group who needs to see this 👇

08/09/2026

🎿 Calling all Aussie ski & snowboard enthusiasts!

More time on the mountain? Absolutely.

Cardrona has announced an extension to its 2026 ski season, and will now be operating until 18 October!

One of New Zealand’s top ski resorts, set in the spectacular Otago region of the South Island, Cardrona is the perfect place to experience the best of Kiwi ski culture — from epic mountain days to that laid-back après-ski vibe.

Want to make a trip of it? We can tailor a package to suit, including return airfares, accommodation, lift passes and equipment hire.

[email protected]

Tag someone who dreams of a New Zealand ski escape! 🏔️🎿

07/09/2026

5 Bali Holiday Styles – Packed with Savings

What's your style? A luxurious villa escape, a fun-filled family break or a relaxing resort stay? We've got you...

🌴 The Villa Stay
7 nights at Tony’s Villas & Resort

Daily breakfast
Unlimited refreshments in the lobby
2 complimentary bottles of water in your room
30-minute massage for 2 people
15% off spa treatments
10% off Balinese cooking classes
10% off romantic dinners
Private return airport transfers
1 night free
Complimentary 3-course lunch for 2
Complimentary 60-minute massage for 2
From NZD $586pp twin share | From AUD$472pp twin share

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Cheap & Cheerful Family Holiday
7 nights at Bali Dynasty Resort

A fantastic-value family escape with plenty to keep everyone entertained.

Full daily breakfast
Kids eat free*
Complimentary kids' club*
Free use of bikes
50% off Happy Hour
Private return airport transfers
Save up to NZD $325 per room
Bonus Bali Value Booklet with 15 discount vouchers
From NZD $511pp family share | From AUD$411pp family share

🌺 The Seminyak Resort Stay
7 nights at Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa
Garden Cottage accommodation

Daily breakfast
Private return airport transfers
Save up to NZD $774 per room
Complimentary 2-course lunch
Complimentary Happy Hour
10% off food & beverage
From NZD $1,532pp | From AUD$1,235pp

✨ The Luxury Resort Stay You’ll Talk About for Years
3 nights at RIMBA by AYANA Bali or AYANA Resort Bali

For those looking to experience Bali in true luxury, this one is hard to beat.

Daily breakfast
Private return airport transfers
Complimentary SAKA Museum access
Rock Bar reservation with a complimentary drink
From NZD $541pp | From AUD$435pp

🌴 Paradisus by Meliá
7 nights in a Premium Garden Room

A beautifully indulgent stay with plenty of extras included from the moment you arrive.

Daily buffet breakfast
Welcome drink
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Access to the arrival/departure lounge
Complimentary Kids' Club and Teen Kingdom
Private return airport transfers
Save up to NZD $605 per room
From NZD $1,274pp | From AUD$1,025pp

Deserve to have something on your horizon?
[email protected]