If there’s one destination you must visit at least once in your life, it’s the @cocoskeelingislands 🌴
It’s worthy of every tropical paradise superlative thrown its way!
A wildly beautiful, wonderfully incongruous place that had me feeling like I had landed somewhere far beyond Australia, while somehow feeling like one of the most generously welcoming, laidback Aussie towns, this seventies kid grew up in.
My latest for @escape.com.au , which ran on the weekend, is a taste of how to spend your time — beyond plopping under the endless coconut palms with their drooping fronds tickling the impossibly blue water. Sigh.
Big thanks again to @kelli_birdie ✨
And now it’s even easier to get there, with @qantas announcing direct flights from Perth this month.
@cocosday.au@cocos_blue_charters@bigbargeartcentre@cocoscastaway
#travel #journalist #travelwriter #freelancejournalist #cocoskeelingislands
Penning this piece for @internationaltraveller was a dream come true for this lifelong horse-mad girl. 😌
As far back as I can remember, every year has felt like my own personal Year of the Horse. Seeing the rest of the world finally catch on almost makes my obsession (weirdness 🫣) feel cool.
If you’d told uni-me — deep in a journalism degree — that one day I’d get to combine my three greatest loves (travel, writing and horses) and land a five-page spread in one of my favourite publications, I would’ve dropped my cheap beer. 🍺
Thank you @imogeneveson for trusting my ideas and giving them room to run. 🤍
Gratitude to those that supported this story:
Kate @globetrotting.co I’m sure we could have talked horses and destinations for weeks!
@birdtravelpr 🙌🏼🙌🏼
@reschio@nihi@equoresort I cannot wait to be back in August 🐴
📸 @philipvile , @nihi , @globetrotting.co , @ritacsjfernandes , @josiekleinitz
#travel #journalism #traveljournalist #horses #yearofthehorse
Salina, Sicily seduces slowly: sapphire seas, Sicilian charm and shimmering sunshine.
But it was the island’s famous capers that stole my heart — tiny salty bursts of joy I wanted to eat on everything.
Discover the story behind Salina’s prized capers and why this Aeolian island serves up laid-back, local la dolce vita in spades in my latest for @escape.com.au .
Grazie @kelli_birdie for indulging my obsession with local culinary treasures.
📣 Offering…
BLUEFIELDS DANKESHÖEN x DON DUCHOVNY
3 YO FILLY
🌟PAPERBARK LODGE DISCO DOLL🌟
This sweet, intelligent filly is professionally raised, well handled and ready to be started under saddle. She is kind, friendly and a joy to work with, learning quickly and sensibly.
Disco always meets you at the gate and follows you around the paddock. She is a smaller package so would suit a lady rider or a confident young rider who has a skill set with young horses.
Raised with love and care, correct nutrition, plus a regular worming and a farrier program.
• EMH: 15:2 (currently just over 15hh)
• ACE Passport & Registration
• Awarded ACE State Champion Filly as a foal.
• Assessed ACE Elite foal. Conformation 84.0%. Movement 85.5%
• Vaccinated & Microchipped
• DOB: 20th December 2022
Her pedigree suggests a dressage future and with her beautiful looks she would also make a perfect show horse. Disco will also make a fabulous breeding asset.
We had originally planned to keep her but we have her full sister who was the ACE National Champion Filly this year. I just can’t keep them all!
📞 Katrina +61409461660
📍Western Australia — transport can be arranged.
💰POA
#warmbloodforsale #dressagehorse #filly #equineofinstagram #horse
⭐️ PAPERBARK LODGE EVERMORE ⭐️
—— ESCANENO x DON DUCHOVNY ——
What an exquisite foal you are. So elegant and expressive already. 🤗
Your name is your talisman — may you be adored for all of your days. 🙌🏼
Your swift arrival at 10pm on the 20th December means you share your birthday with both your brother and your sister. What are the chances?
What an incredible way to finish foaling season with such a superb filly. 💖
@lucielodge Fez has outdone herself again!
#warmblood #filly #foal #dressagefoal #equinelove
🌟PAPERBARK LODGE IRON-AWE🌟
••——— IRON x SECRET ———••
Arriving in the pre-dawn stillness, just before a molten-orange sunrise set the horizon alight, you were up and running before we got out the door.
The bold morning cast confident light and your coat glowed pindan ochre. You stood with epic legs already strong and powerful and nickered.
Your name pays homage to your exceptional sire and reflects the emotion you evoke in me for our first successful ET. Also, a pun for the rust-red iron-ore that is extracted from WA’s rich soils to make something so strong and valued — just like you.
Welcoming new life on spectacular mornings like this is a panacea for sleep deprivation. I’m so grateful for healthy arrivals. 🙌🏼
Ness really had to pull out all the stops to breed this exceptional colt. Thank-you. It was beyond any reasonable expectation that you persevered! Hats off and deep gratitude to a very determined vet! 👏🏼
What an exceptional type he is. Perhaps, one of the best I have bred.
Running on empty, later that morning, I rode his mother, PL Saffron, the first of my breeding, on my incredible new arena and looked over at him in the maternity paddock. He was stretched out languidly, content with a full belly of rich milk, as his wonderful surrogate mother stood over him proudly. I thought, this right here is the realization of many of my dreams. 🥰
And I got the foals bread this time. 🍀
Born: 19th December 2025
#warmblood #foal #colt #dressage #horsebreeding
I wish I could freeze her here. One of the special sides of breeding. 🫶🏼
💓Paperbark Lodge Showgirl 💓
—— So Perfect x Bellario ——
#foal #foalsofinstagram #horse #horsebreeding #equinelove #equinelife #filly #horselovers #babyanimals #farm #farmlife #babyhorses
Paddock moments with my girls, poignantly captured by @joshball_images when he popped in to say hi. 🤍
Josh is a lifestyle and brand photographer so horses are not his usual subject. Safe to say, the guy has a natural talent. He just spontaneously clicked these in less than five minutes. Legend.🫶🏼
#horses #horsephotography #equinephotography #equinelove #equinelifestyle #dressagefoal #foal #equineofinstagram #warmblood
🌟PAPERBARK LODGE SHOWGIRL
by SO PERFECT x BELLARIO
She certainly lives up to her father’s name. 24 hours old and she is perfect. I think she may be one of the easiest foalings we have had. A bloody blessing not to be taken for granted!🙏
Born 21st November 1:15am
The wind dropped to nothing and the night-sky was an onyx blanket smattered with stars. She came out sleeping. We tore her sack and rubbed her pretty little face to wake her. Grunting at finding herself outside her serene bubble, she was alert and calm. She’s like her beautiful mother, that way. 🤍
She was created on Christmas Day so maybe that explains her magic? Thanks always to my clever vets, Ness & Nic, @bunbury_equine_hospital for making the miracles for us. 🫶🏼
Of course @lodgie1968 you are THE best equine midwife. 🙌🏼
And yes, her stable name is Kitty. 😉
#warmblood #foal #dressagehorse #horseoftheday #equinelove #filly #farmlife #horsebreeding
Oh, how this is more than a beautiful beach shot. This is a big moment. My baby @lucielodge with her baby @paperbark_lodge New Order, whom I bred.
Lucie rode his Mum and now she gets to back Mavi. Both seahorses, this is his first time at the beach. You are doing a fab job with this fella Lucie. 💙
It may look like a romantic, bucket list adventure but its not as easy as the images depict. 🫣 Broken bridle ✅ Lucie dunked ✅
The horse journey (especially youngsters) takes a little village. Thank you so much @taniaettridge for being the taxi and the other mum when I wasn’t there. 🙌
Brandon Ivic what a wingman! The calm way you and mighty Mick shadowed Mavi and Lucie bought tears to my eyes. 🫶
You too Teagan Ettridge and Bianca Ettridge - thank you. 🥰
Mavi (Paperbark Lodge New Order) is by @dynamikstallions Numerus Clausus. He was the Champion Westphalian Colt for his foal assessment. He was designed to be a dressage star but he is still going to do all the things! ✌️
Thanks to @vicki.tapper for the beautiful images. 🙏
