When I first started sharing my adventures with the world some fifteen years ago, I can say with my whole heart that I never thought there would be an end in sight. Travel and me have had a special relationship since my first solo trip to Hong Kong (aged nineteen). I was young, impressionable and incredibly naive. I knew next to nothing about the world around me and the only way I was able to break out of my shell and figure out who I was, was to experience the world first hand.
Fast track to now and I am 33 years old, married, and recently welcomed my first daughter into the world. It feels like just yesterday I was everything opposite of that, but life really does have a way of accelerating once you allow love into your life.
The last trip I ever wanted to share on World of Wanderlust was this one — my honeymoon. For a girl who made solo travel her whole personality, I thought it would be such a great way to round out more than a decade of solo adventures, as I finally am at the time in my life where solo travel is behind me (at least for the foreseeable future!)
My husband and I took our vows almost a year ago at a tiny ceremony in the city we now call home. Brisbane has welcomed me with open arms and an abundance of sunshine, so we figured it was only natural to wed in our own backyard with a celebrant, immediate family, our sausage dog Frankie and our soon to be daughter there in spirit as I was six months pregnant at the time. To say we glossed over the wedding part would be an understatement, but we were more excited by the idea of a great big honeymoon together to celebrate this special time in our lives with each other.
Choosing a honeymoon destination
Choosing a honeymoon destination is no easy feat since there really are so many incredible destinations around the world to spend such a monumental occasion. I had always envisaged myself on safari for my honeymoon given it has always been one of my favourite travel experiences, so the next part was to convince my husband! His idea of a honeymoon was more tropical beach than bush safari, but once I shared with him some photos of my travels in the past he was totally on board. And so it was decided, we were off to South Africa!
We managed to sneak in a couple of extra days by planning our flights on Fridays, so we could take a total of 10 days off work (using the weekends to boost our time off work). However as fate would have it a once in a lifetime cyclone arrived in Brisbane the week of our departure, causing all flights to be grounded for a total of four days. By the time the new week rolled around we were weighing up our options of whether it was better to reschedule, however we ultimately decided based on non-refundable flights and accommodation to make a run for it, even if we would have just five days in South Africa total (your gentle reminder to book travel insurance when you book your trip!)
The itinerary
With the weather dampening our plans, we had very little time to spend on the ground in South Africa. Tempting as it was to postpone or even cancel the trip, we knew it would be a very long time before we could take the opportunity to travel again. Unfortunately missing the first few days of our honeymoon meant we would have to skip Cape Town entirely, but I was still excited to share the magic of the Cape Winelands with my husband, as this would be his first visit to South Africa.
Day one: Cape Winelands
Arriving late at night, we woke up on the first day of our honeymoon in the ethereal landscapes of the Cape Winelands. Basing ourselves in Franschhoek at Leeu House, we had just one day to eat, drink and drive our way around the many vineyards, restaurants, towns and landscapes that the area is so famous for. I was grateful we were located in such a central location, as we had a lot of touristing to squeeze into one day, and yet the beauty of the Cape Winelands is really in the art of slowing down.
The first stop of our day was to drive to nearby Babylonstoren, perhaps the most famous and iconic farm in the world. With sprawling gardens, vineyards and endless opportunities to eat farm to table produce, Babylonstoren is what both myself and my husband would consider our paradise. We excitedly made our way through the many farm shops and experiences on offer, daydreaming that a farm like this would a dream come true to call home.
Lunch at Delaire Graff
The first time I visited South Africa I had the pleasure of visiting Delaire Graff wine estate for lunch. And so, perhaps as a final nod to finalising this chapter of travel blogging the same way it began, we made our way up the steep hills to the restaurant for a fine dining experience.
Everything we ordered was top notch, featuring a wild mushroom risotto for me, their famous steak for my husband, and one of the most delicious deconstructed lime tarts I’ve ever seen, let alone tasted! The service is great and the views are exceptional, so if you ever find yourself in this part of the world be sure to add a long lunch at Delaire Graff to your itinerary.
Checking In: Phinda Vlei Lodge
And of course, the crowning jewel in our short but sweet honeymoon itinerary! Of all the places I have visited and experiences I have enjoyed, going on safari is hands down the most romantic experience on earth. This was the exact reason we chose to spend our honeymoon on the continent and even more exciting was the fact it would be my husband’s first time seeing animals in the wild on safari.
For our honeymoon we booked three nights at andBeyond Phinda Vlei Lodge in Phinda Private Game Reserve. Of all the safaris I have been on and all the camps I have visited in my career as a travel blogger, this reserve has had the highest dedication to conservation – of the land, people, communities, and animals.
Our stay at the lodge was short and sweet but it was also one of the highlights of my travel career to be able to share something as special as a safari with the person I chose to spend the rest of my life with. From the moment we arrived at the camp we were giddy with excitement, ready for the adventure ahead of 5:00am wake up calls, breezy morning game drives and of course, plenty of food to enjoy in the bush!
Sadly we lucked out with the weather (I know what you’re thinking – twice!) And even though most of our visit was spent inside during heavy rain, we were grateful for the chance to be in the middle of the bush, enjoying time away from our busy lives and reflecting on our journey so far.
The journey as World of Wanderlust has been one of the most rewarding and life changing experiences anyone could ever hope for in their lifetime. I’m so grateful to each and every one of you who has read my stories, travelled with me around the world, or booked a trip based off a recommendation I made.
Before starting this blog I was a shy and sheltered twenty year old who had barely left her postcode. I used World of Wanderlust as a way to connect with likeminded people who could share in this journey with me, as we explored the world together one trip at a time.
As this chapter closes another one is well underway. In 2022 I opened my bakery Brooki Bakehouse in Brisbane and have been busy building my business ever since. I’d love to see you there!
With endless gratitude,
Brooke (World of Wanderlust)
