You will always be my greatest adventure – Unknown

A Photo Collection

We love photos; planning them, taking them and flicking back through them. Our Photo Collections attempt to capture some of our favourite travel moments from across the globe, each with their own unique theme. For our final blog of 2018, we wanted to share with you our latest photo collection, capturing our year spent engaged.

Travel is wonderful with friends, life-changing when done alone but I also always harboured a belief that I would find the perfect romantic travel buddy too. It was of greatest importance to me that a partner for life shared my passion for discovering new places, living just outside of our comfort zones when away, whilst also being happy to explore locally when at home.

2018 has been an extremely exciting travel year for us as a couple. From our proposal that took place in the Whitsundays to our final wedding trip in a beautiful English heritage hotel in West Sussex, we’ve enjoyed a year full of adventures as fiancee and fiancé. Check out our Engagement Ring Travels photo collection and be inspired to turn any trip, no matter how small, into a romantic getaway.

1. Whitehaven Beach, The Whitsundays, Australia

The Photo: An hour alone on Whitehaven Beach after being proposed to in a helicopter over Heart Reef.

The Location: Whitehaven is famous the world over for its pure white silica sand that is reportedly used in the Hubble telescope. It’s the most incredible beach to visit whilst in Australia and hits the top 10 of almost all bucket list itineraries. It’s a great spot for shallow swimming, beach picnics and apparently, romantic proposals!

The Story: We had planned to spend our 5 year anniversary enjoying the breathtaking views of the Whitsundays from a helicopter which would then land us on Whitehaven. Luckily, no one else booked onto our flight that day as Matt decided to ask me to marry him during the journey. We then enjoyed an hour in solitude with a bottle of champagne, a shade umbrella and a couple of fetching stinger suits before heading back to the mainland. Read all about our Whitsundays by Helicopter Experience where you can also check out our proposal video too.

2. Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand

The Photo: Enjoying a good ‘tramp’ around Lake Tekapo on New Zealand’s stunning South Island.

The Location: Lake Tekapo is picture-perfect with a brilliant blue colour to the water here all year round. The best time of year to visit is Spring when the lupins are in full bloom but as you can see from this photo, any time of year is a great time to visit New Zealand. Even autumn and winter days like this one are often filled with sunshine making it an ideal location to enjoy walking all the time.

The Story: We previously lived in Christchurch, about 2-3 hours from Lake Tekapo. When we returned to New Zealand for a week’s visit this year to see family and friends, it was all too tempting to hire a car for a couple of days and hit the scenic roads this country is well known for. We stayed at Peppers Bluewater Resort with mountain views from our bedroom window and walking distance to the lake, local shops and the Church of the Good Shepherd.

3. Warren Lodges, Woodham Walter, England

The Photo: A sun-filled Summer afternoon in Essex on the decking of one of the Warren Lodges surrounded by birds and rabbits.

The Location: The Warren Lodges in Woodham Walter are a combination of privately owned and available to rent luxury lodges set in a peaceful rural setting not too far from Chelmsford city. There is an on-site swimming pool and fitness centre, and plenty of grounds to enjoy walks or a simply just a ‘feet up’ relaxing break.

The Story: I am fortunate enough to be able to borrow one of these beautiful holiday homes now and again and visit as often as I can to enjoy this area. No matter how much I love travelling with Matt, and seeing exciting places far away from home, it’s also super important to make time for both local travel and travel alone. Since getting engaged it was particularly important for me to still grab these short breaks in solitude in order to remain true to who I really am and work on my writing. There’s nothing like a short local break to re-spark your creative flames and re-charge worn out batteries.

4. Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania, Australia

The Photo: Taken in stunning Honeymoon Bay within Freycinet National Park, this photo is of us enjoying a glorious Tasmania sunset, something we fell in love with doing on our Australia travels.

The Location: Honeymoon Bay is just one of many idyllic bays to enjoy within Freycinet National Park. It’s a beautiful spot for a sunset with the colours reflecting off the tiny pools created by the bay. There is also ample space to position yourselves on the large rock formations so no matter how busy it is when you visit, you shouldn’t struggle to find a natural pew.

The Story: We visited Tasmania in April 2018 as part of an epic Australia road trip. We flew in and out of Tasmania, hiring a rented campervan at the airport and completing a large circle over 7 days of the island. Our highlights include Honeymoon Bay pictured above, Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay, amongst many other beautiful spots.

Tasmania Travel

We can’t wait to share our Tasmania Travel blogs! If you’re keen on Tasmania travel too, subscribe at the bottom of this page to receive our first Tasmania blog straight to your inbox.

If you can’t wait until then, check out our other amazing Australia blogs.

5. Bensfield Treehouse, East Sussex, England

The Photo: Relaxing on the back porch at Bensfield Treehouse in Wadhurst England, enjoying a birthday glass of bubbles as the evening sun starts to lower in the sky.

The Location: Bensfield Treehouse is a unique and rustic stay in East Sussex that is ideal for a couple celebrating a special occasion, looking to enjoy nature and the outdoors. No matter how adventurous a traveller you are, there is nothing quite like a treehouse getaway.

The Story: We visited Wadhurst in East Sussex in Summer 2017 for a weekend. You can read our Treetop Holiday For Two which focuses on this authentic British stay and be inspired to plan a romantic short break in the U.K. with your partner. Did you know that the summer sun in England sets as late as 10pm, making it possible to enjoy super long days outdoors and un-rushed evenings of dining al fresco.

6. Cairns, Queensland, Australia

The Photo: A rewarding coffee stop within Cairns Botanic Gardens before starting the Red Arrow Walk.

The Location: Cairns Botanic Gardens, approximately a half hour walk from Cairns centre, offers multiple beautiful walks within nature once you arrive. Therefore, a coffee stop in the onsite cafe is a great idea before starting one of the official hikes. Cairns is a coastal town in tropical North Queensland popular with holiday makers and backpackers, offering easy access to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Story: During the first 3 months of our engagement, we lived in Cairns during the rainy season in tropical North Queensland. Here we enjoyed walks like the Red Arrow track within Carins Botanic Gardens, lazy afternoons at the lagoon by the boardwalk and a 2 day livaboard experience involving snorkelling and diving adventures. Discover the best of Cairns or read our Vegan Cairns blog, designed to help anyone visiting the area enjoy the best vegan food.

Are you planning a trip to Australia? Compare the lowest cost airfares now.

7. Alexander House, West Sussex, England

The Photo: Taken the morning of our wedding at Alexander House in West Sussex on the balcony of our beautiful Garden Suite room as the sun rose behind the trees.

The Location: Alexander House is a 5 star property incorporating a beautiful old English house complete with a relaxing spa and a modern seperate wing of garden suites. Here they offer ‘on the quiet’ wedding packages for 2 for anyone looking to plan a runaway wedding in the U.K. The grounds are well kept, the decor is stunning and the service is impeccable.

The Story: In December 2018, we married at Alexander House in West Sussex choosing to enjoy a luxurious stay the night before too. We woke to the sound of the birds in the surrounding trees and enjoyed a crisp winter sunrise from the balcony wrapped in blankets. This was the last photo I took whilst engaged and what a beautiful setting it was to enjoy my last few hours as a Miss. Book your stay at Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa for your next special occasion.

We’ve spent 2018 engaged to be married and enjoy looking back on all the exciting places that have made up our engagement. We’ve experienced some of the best adventures of our life in the past year, from Australia’s red centre to the romantic shores of Tasmania, hidden treehouses in England to the magic of Ubud in Bali.

Get Involved!

Our year engaged is over but we would love to see your engagement ring travel photos. Join the Photo Collection by adding your own engagement ring photos from around the globe and tagging Transform Me Travel on Instagram. Did you enjoy a romantic destination proposal or have you travelled to some epic places since being engaged? We can’t wait to see your engagement ring travel photos.

Use the hashtag engagementringtravels for the chance to have your photo featured in our latest Photo Collection.

Happy Travels!

Do you know someone who has an amazing engagement ring travel photo? Share Engagement Ring Travels with them today.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Check out our other Photo Collections now.