In Episode 24 of The Travel Date, Angelica-Hazel Toutounji is joined by multiple award-winning children’s author Beverley McWilliams for a beautiful conversation about travel, wildlife, family, grief and the places that continue to feel like home.

Beverley takes us from the rugged coastline and historic villages of Yorkshire to a remote community in northern Thailand, where she stayed with a local family and observed elephants living naturally in the forest.

She also shares how research for her books has taken her aboard the Pichi Richi Railway, through the historic towns of the Yorke Peninsula and into tropical North Queensland in search of a wild cassowary.

Along the way, Beverley reflects on becoming a children’s author, travelling with four children, finding inspiration in unexpected places and living with her heart divided between England and Australia.

If you love travel stories, animals, books, history and discovering places beyond the usual tourist trail, this episode is for you.

You can find out more about Beveley here:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/beverley_mcwilliams_author/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BeverleyMcwilliamsAuthor/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Website:

https://www.beverleymcwilliams.com

Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_

🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au

📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling.

Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.

This week on The Travel Date, Angelica-Hazel Toutounji sits down with travel content creator Katy from What Katy Did Next for a relaxed conversation about travel, Fiji, social media and discovering the experiences that exist beyond the glossy tourism brochure.

Katy shares how travel has been part of her life since childhood. Born and raised in Tasmania with family connections to both Australia and New Zealand, she remembers flying between the two countries from a young age – including the almost unimaginable experience of visiting the cockpit while her father chatted and smoked at the back of the aeroplane! As an adult, travel became something she could choose for herself, leading to adventures through Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and beyond.

But one destination has captured Katy's heart more than anywhere else: Fiji. After visiting around 15 times in four years and experiencing approximately 80 different accommodation properties, she has developed an incredible knowledge of the islands. Yet for Katy, Fiji isn't simply about beautiful resorts and tropical beaches. It's the people, hospitality, culture and feeling of genuinely being welcomed that keep drawing her back.

Destinations Mentioned:

• Fiji (Nadi, Coral Coast, Yasawa Islands, Coconut Beach Resort, Plantation Island, Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island & Kokomo Private Island)
• New Zealand (Wellington, Auckland, Bay of Islands & Queenstown)
• Tasmania
• Bali
• Phu Quoc, Vietnam
• Greek Islands
• Philippines

You can find out more about Katy here:

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whatkatydidnext

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatkatydidnext.co.nz/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatkatydidnext-nz?si=TRXsuo2i3zFtl2Ki⊂_confirmation=1

Website: https://whatkatydidnext.co.nz

Girls Trip Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/girlstripwithkaty/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_

🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au

📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling.

Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji sits down with the remarkable Dr Nora Amath for a conversation about travel, identity, survival, belonging and healing.

Dr Nora Amath is an academic, sociologist, community leader, researcher, author and advocate whose work has spanned community development, multiculturalism, social inclusion, domestic and family violence, human rights and Islam-West relations.

Born in Vietnam and belonging to the Indigenous Cham community, Nora came to the United States as a refugee after her family fled conflict in Southeast Asia. She later studied at the International Islamic University Malaysia before building her life in Australia.

Nora's relationship with travel began under extraordinary circumstances. As a young Cham Indigenous girl born in Vietnam, she lived in five countries before the age of five as her family searched for safety.

Years later, an intended six-month university experience in Malaysia would change everything. 🇲🇾

She stayed for years.

She discovered independence.

She found purpose.

And she met the Australian man who would become her husband.

Their journey eventually brought Nora to Australia, where she built a family, an academic career and decades of community leadership.

In this episode, Nora also shares another important part of her story: being a mother, grandmother and breast cancer survivor who is entering a new chapter centred increasingly on wellness, nature, connection and supporting other women.

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that some journeys take us across countries, while others take us back to ourselves.

Destinations Mentioned:

• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Thailand
• Philippines
• California
• Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands & Kuching)
• Singapore
• Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland)
• Melbourne
• Sydney
• Darwin
• Rome, Italy
• Tasmania
• New Zealand
• Iceland
• Esperance
• South Australia

You can find out more about Dr Nora here:

Social Media : @nora.wild.wandeer

LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/dr-nora-amath-71308317

Sisters in Colour

Nora discusses her emerging wellness work in the episode. Sisters in Colour currently promotes RESTORE, a three-day wellness retreat for women navigating early-stage breast cancer and beyond, taking place 9–11 October 2026 at Kondalilla Eco Resort in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. (LinkedIn)

Explore Sisters in Colour and RESTORE

Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_

🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au

📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling.

Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.

On this week's episode of The Travel Date, Angelica-Hazel Toutounji welcomes Isabelle Prestia, a marketing professional and personal branding coach. Isabelle is an Adelaide-born entrepreneur who made the bold decision to relocate to the Gold Coast in search of a different lifestyle, stronger business opportunities and a community of like-minded people. She now works with Elizabeth Anne Walker, an Australian master trainer and founder of a neurolinguistic programming course.

The conversation covers unexpected flights, solo adventures, European cities, Moroccan discoveries, Italian family connections, Gold Coast recommendations and a dream journey to Egypt. Along the way, Isabelle shares why some of the best travel experiences happen when we step outside our comfort zones and embrace the unexpected.

Destinations mentioned:

• Hamilton Island
• Brisbane
• Byron Bay
• Gold Coast
• Burleigh Heads
• Currumbin
• Florence
• Cambodia
• Vietnam
• Spain
• Portugal
• Cyprus
• Morocco
• Seville
• Bali
• Japan
• Egypt
• Flinders Island
• South Australia- Fleurieu Peninsula, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor, Horseshoe Bay, McLaren Vale, Aldinga Beach
• Perth
• Switzerland
• Prague
• South of France, Monaco, Monte Carlo & Nice

You can find out more about Isabelle here:

Isabelle Prestia - https://www.isabelleprestia.com.au

Social Media : https://www.instagram.com/isabelle.startsomewhere/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@isabelle.startsomewhere

LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/isabelleprestia

Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_

🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au

📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling.

Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.

This week on the travel date, we have a bonus episode coming to you all about host, Angelica-Hazel's recent trip to Bali, specifically time spent in the seaside area of Sanur.

This episode discusses her stay at the Prime Plaza Suites Sanur and visits to a few local gem restaurants including Massimo's, the Chowk Indian and Sumak Turkish Cuisine.

We also wanted to give a special shout out to Jetstar Holidays for the deal of the century (more details in the episode), Plaza Premium Lounge, Atura Adelaide Airport and My Big Adventure.

Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_

🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au

📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling.

Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji is joined by Stephanie Myers, an award-winning travel industry mentor, speaker, travel business owner and creator of the Travel Trend Summit. Stephanie shares how an unconventional first experience on a plane — jumping out of one for her 21st birthday — helped spark a travel career that has now spanned more than 18 years.

Stephanie takes listeners behind the scenes of her journey from backpacker travel and retail travel agencies to launching her own mobile travel business. When COVID brought the travel industry to a standstill, she recognised that the people seeking her help had changed. Instead of travellers looking for holidays, other travel advisers were turning to her for guidance. That realisation led her into mentoring, marketing, personal branding, content creation and helping independent travel business owners become more visible.

The conversation then becomes a wonderfully relaxed travel date filled with local recommendations and personal stories. Stephanie shares some of her favourite experiences around Northern New South Wales, the Gold Coast hinterland, Currumbin Valley, Fingal Head, Brunswick Heads and Queensland’s Granite Belt. She also talks about her love of cruising and the realities — and hilarious moments — of taking her son aboard cruise ships from the age of two.

Finally, Angelica-Hazel and Stephanie turn towards the future. From a Nile cruise through Egypt to Norway, Japan with Stephanie’s son, Christmas Island, the Cocos Keeling Islands and a spontaneous South Coast road trip, this episode is a reminder that travel can take many forms. You don’t always have to cross the world to experience adventure, sometimes an unforgettable travel date may be only half an hour from home.

Destinations Mentioned in this episode:

• Northern New South Wales
• Gold Coast
• Coolangata
• Currumbin Valley
• Tropical Fruit World
• Pasture & Co
• Fingal Head
• Dreamtime Beach
• Brunswick Heads
• Byron Bay
• Stanthorpe
• Queensland Granite Belt
• Girraween National Park
• Hamilton Island
• South Pacific
• Egypt
• Norway
• Japan - Yokohama & Tokyo Disney Resort
• Christmas Island
• Cocos Keeling Islands

Guest Bio - Stephanie Myers

Stephanie Myers is an award-winning Australian travel industry mentor, speaker, travel business owner and creator of the Travel Trend Summit.

You can find out more about Stephanie here:

Stephanie Myers – https://stephaniemyers.com.au

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6SrpAxpzgqI-1CLYqOMnPA

Stephanie Myers – LinkedIn

Social Media: @stephaniemyers.academy

Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_

🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au

📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling.

Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.