There’s something quietly powerful about stepping away from the noise of everyday life and into the stillness of nature.
In this episode of Travel With Us A While, I had the pleasure of chatting with photographer Kristie Brennan — a woman who has not only embraced the outdoors but made it her sanctuary, her classroom, and her creative spark.
Kristie’s story begins, as many do, with a love of camping instilled during childhood. But what makes her journey so inspiring is the path she chose later in life — packing up, heading into the bush alone, and taking her young children along for the adventure.
Not everyone understood it.
“You’re going to do what?” was a common response.
But she went anyway.
And in doing so, she discovered something many of us are searching for — a sense of peace, confidence, and connection that only nature seems to offer.
Kristie speaks of the bush not just as a destination, but as a place of healing.
After life shifts and challenges, it became her reset button — somewhere she could breathe again, think clearly, and simply be.
And it wasn’t just about escape. It was about sharing.
Her children grew up exploring waterfalls, hiking trails, and learning that adventure doesn’t require plane tickets or luxury — sometimes it’s just a short drive away. Some of their greatest memories, she says, come from those simple camping trips.
That word — adventure — became part of their family language.
As a photographer, Kristie sees the world through a lens, but she offers a gentle reminder many of us need to hear:
Take the photo… then put the camera down.
Because the feeling of a place — the sound of waves, the quiet of the bush, the vastness of a night sky — can never be fully captured in an image.
It has to be experienced.
And what experiences she has had.
Standing alone on a beach at night, watching the Milky Way stretch across the sky.
Photographing in the middle of nowhere, perched on the roof of her car — only to have a mysterious vehicle approach in the darkness, pause in silence, and then disappear just as strangely.
Moments of beauty… and moments that test your courage.
But she continues.
Kristie also shares her love of uncovering hidden gems — those places known mostly to locals, rich with stories and character. It’s this passion that is now shaping her next chapter: creating a travel guide filled with day trips, weekend escapes, and lesser-known destinations across Victoria and beyond.
Places like Portland, where a simple caravan park becomes a community, and strangers gather around a nightly fire like old friends.
Places where connection matters just as much as the scenery.
What I loved most about this conversation was Kristie’s reminder that travel doesn’t have to be grand or expensive.
You don’t need months or a full tank of savings.
You just need the willingness to go.
An hour. A day. A weekend.
That’s enough to begin.
Because life isn’t something to wait for.
It’s something to step into — one small adventure at a time.
So perhaps this is your gentle nudge.
Close the laptop.
Step outside.
And take a moment to look up at the sky.
You never know what you might find.
Come – travel with us a while…
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