After a week of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, we were excited to spend a day on land at the Cairns Botanic Gardens. We took a self-guided stroll along several of the walking paths, and appreciated the easy-to-follow map and plant markers. We weren’t surprised that our trip didn’t coincide with the rare blooming of the garden’s giant Corpse Flower, but would have loved to catch that! In all, the gardens are meticulously maintained, full of beautiful and rare tropical plants and flowers, and definitely worth a visit.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in 4K
Kuranda’s Butterfly Sanctuary is the largest butterfly exhibit in Australia, and a wonderful spot for nature-loving kids and adults alike. You’ll find 2,000 butterflies (give or take) in the sanctuary, including the iridescent blue Ulysses and the brightly colored Cairns Birdwing. The butterflies and moths in the main aviary seemed to be most attracted to guests wearing white, so if you hope to have any land on you, white clothes seem like the way to go!
One week in Iceland
Iceland is a gorgeous place with remarkable landscapes in every direction: from icebergs in the water, to geysers, waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes on land, to the night lights in the sky. We hope you enjoy this 4K highlights video from our one week trip there!
Whale watching on a zodiac boat
We’ve been whale watching before, but our tour in Sydney with Ocean Extreme was an entirely different experience. Ocean Extreme’s zodiac boat sits low in the water and provides an unobstructed view of the whales from every angle, which brings you much closer to the action than a traditional whale watching vessel. We were even lucky enough to get some underwater footage on our GoPro!
We would recommend this tour to any animal lover who doesn’t mind a bumpy (but exhilarating!) ride.
Jellyfish meditation
Any time we visit an aquarium we linger at the jelly tanks. There is something so peaceful about jellyfish and their gentle, effortless movements. We filmed these beautiful jellies at some of our favorite aquariums across the world.
Beginners on Blackcomb
As beginner skiiers who had never been to a major ski resort (what do you mean, you have to take a gondola for 25 minutes just to get to the trails?!), we were definitely nervous about our Whistler vacation. After a fantastic MAX4 lesson—which we absolutely recommend—and a full day on Whistler, we decided to take the Peak to Peak and give Blackcomb a try. We found the tree-lined trails on Blackcomb to be a bit more intimidating than the open runs on Whistler, but after a few passes, we came to prefer the atmosphere and natural beauty of Blackcomb. We’re definitely happy we got to experience both mountains, and can’t wait to go back!
Tranquil moments in Iceland
Our trips are almost always active and jam-packed with excursions, so sometimes we forget to simply sit and take in the natural beauty of the places we’re visiting. In Iceland though, you can’t help but stop to marvel at the country’s unbelievable landscapes and epic vistas. This video we took of Fjadrargljufur Canyon brings us back to that feeling of awe, and also reminds us to pause, take a deep breath, and relax.
Tour of the Four Seasons Sydney
We loved our stay at the elegant Four Seasons in Sydney, Australia. Our guest room was lovely and the housekeeping staff was especially wonderful; we loved the turndown service, complimentary water bottles, and organic toiletries. We didn’t think a room with a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House was worth the price to upgrade, although we imagine it would have been the icing on the cake!
Tour of the Pullman Reef Hotel Cairns
The 5-star Pullman Reef Hotel in Cairns, Australia is a beautiful hotel with a luxurious, tropical style. Our spacious guest room had a king bed, couch, and writing desk, and the surprisingly large bathroom featured a double vanity, spa bathtub, marble shower, and separate powder room. We loved the perks at the Pullman Reef like the complimentary mini bar, pillow menu, free drink each night in the trendy BAR36, and complimentary daily breakfast in the Thai-inspired Tamarind restaurant.
Tour of the Hilton Cairns
We enjoyed a one night stay at the Hilton Cairns in Queensland, Australia during our trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Our King Deluxe room was clean, the bed was super comfy, and our balcony overlooked the stunning waterfront. The hotel staff was extremely friendly and accommodating of our early check-in and late check-out request, which we greatly appreciated after our (very!) long flight to Australia.
Overall, we found the Hilton Cairns to be a great value for the price, and would definitely consider staying there again.
Tour of the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa
The Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa is a comfortable, well-appointed hotel that’s perfect for quick access to the slopes. We enjoyed the Hilton’s many amenities (like the heated outdoor pool and on-site ski and snowboard rentals), and were glad to be so close to the shops and restaurants in Whistler Village.
Adventures for two 