Senior travellers enjoying the views after hiking Kings Canyon Rim trail, Red Centre – Australia
The Independent Senior Travellers
Our Story
Welcome to The Independent Senior Travellers.
For more than sixty years, we have explored the world as independent travellers, creating unforgettable memories through road trips, hiking adventures, and authentic travel experiences. This website shares our favourite destinations, practical travel tips, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
The first fifty years of our lives were spent in Germany, where we developed a lifelong love of nature, wildlife, wildflowers, and mushroom foraging. Although we have slowed down a little over the years, our curiosity and passion for discovering new places remain as strong as ever.
Our early travels took us throughout Europe, from Denmark in the north to the former Yugoslavia in the south. Flying was uncommon in those days, so most journeys were made in our trusty Volkswagen Beetle. Travelling by car gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace and discover places beyond the usual tourist routes.
At the age of fifty, we migrated to Australia and began exploring this remarkable country. Retirement opened even more opportunities to travel, taking us throughout Australia and on to New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and North America. Wherever we travelled, we sought beautiful landscapes, memorable hiking trails, fascinating wildlife, and genuine encounters with local people and cultures.
Why We Choose Independent Travel
Independent travel has always given us the freedom to create journeys that reflect our own interests and pace.
Planning a trip is part of the adventure. Long before we leave home, we enjoy researching destinations, studying maps, reading about local history and culture, and discovering scenic walks and hiking trails. Arriving well prepared allows us to experience far more than simply visiting the major tourist attractions.
Travelling independently also gives us complete flexibility. We can change our plans whenever we choose, spend extra time in places we love, and avoid rushing from one destination to the next.
Rather than staying exclusively in hotels, we often choose holiday homes, cabins, caravan parks, and motorhomes. Preparing our own meals, enjoying a barbecue, or sharing a camp kitchen with fellow travellers often becomes just as memorable as the destinations themselves.
Over the years, we have travelled by car, rental car, motorhome, ferry, train, and plane. While independent travel remains our preferred style, we occasionally join local day tours or hire expert guides to gain a deeper understanding of a destination’s history, culture, and hidden gems.
Above all, independent travel gives us something we value most—the freedom to explore, the flexibility to follow our curiosity, and the opportunity to create lasting travel memories.
