Jen Mikkelsen | Personal Travel Manager - St Andrews Beach, VIC

Hi and welcome.

To say that travel is in my blood is an understatement and that is probably because I started from a very early age. My first international trip was at the age of 8 when my parents took me out of school for three months and we travelled by ocean liner (in those days) to Southhampton via Suez Canal one way and the Panama Canal the other visiting lots of interesting places along the way. Denmark was our destination where I had the pleasure to meet all my relatives for the very first time and even come to speak Danish by the end of it. Before that, long camping trips in the wilderness of Australia primed me for my love of nature, adventure and a world of travel.

Later in my professional career I was blessed to tour guide overseas which progressed on to working within the retail, corporate leisure and wholesale sectors. I’ve been in and out of the industry for over thirty three years and explored somewhere in the region of over sixty countries, and this has rewarded me with many fulfilling and memorable experiences.

What fascinates me is the whole gamut of the sites and sounds, the locals you mix with, the delicacies you eat, the aromas, culture and architecture.

Some of my favourites include trekking the Himalayas and High Atlas mountains in Morocco, going on safari in Africa, Christmas markets in Germany, skiing in Switzerland, New Zealand and Canada and exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains in both Autumn and winter. Traversing the Tibetan plateau from Nepal through China and hitching a lift into Pakistan over the Khunjerab pass was amazing. The views of the Karakoram mountains were the best I’ve seen. Peru is another favourite from the wilds of the Amazon to the magnificent city of Arequipa and everything that lies in between.

Burma (called that when I went) was an intriguing surprise along with the magnificent desert valley of Wadi Rum in Jordan. Yukon’s Dawson city, the culture and elegance of Europe and travelling the length and breadth of Scandinavia to culminate in the magnificent midnight sun in Norway was stunning. Hip Berlin, vibrant New York, watching polar bears and sitting literally one metre away from walrus in the Arctic whilst on a circumnavigation of Spitzbergen was an experience never to forget.

And a special place in my heart is India from the exotic Keralan backwaters to the northern delights of Rajasthan. Being mesmerised by the Taj Mahal to the rugged and beautiful landscapes of Afghanistan and Iran, the opera in Verona and the soul of Bhutan and all its wonder, hiking/cycling anywhere and our very own spectacular country that we live in.

So about me. I have a Diploma in Veterinary nursing and have had many rewarding years working in that field. After a long stint working and travelling overseas I returned to graduate in Environmental and Outdoor education. And with bits and pieces in between have added a Certificate 4 in Travel & Tourism to my initial qualifications in travel.

And why book with me? Well I’ll always strive to make your dreams happen for you within your budget with easy going professional personal service. I’m there for you whatever happens throughout your entire journey. So should you need extra help I’m in there to bat for you until the cows come home. And whether its lower range to decadent luxury, a full on tailor made extravaganza or a short sojourn, I’ll aim to make your whole experience a complete stress free pleasure. And if I haven’t been to where you want to go I certainly know where to find the information from the experts.

So with our gradual emergence from COVID19, Australia is forefront to tantalize your taste buds. We have it all so why not book your own backyard until your country of choice is open for travel.

Create the journey.

Where I've Travelled

Australia

Road trip right around Australia visiting all States and Territories. including Cape York and Uluru area. Also lived in Perth for some years exploring this beautiful State. Hiking in Victoria’s Alpine regions and Southwest coastal, Wilsons Prom to name a few. In Tasmania, the Overland trek, Walls of Jeruselum, Mt Field NP, Maria Island walk, Freycinet NP and Mt Anne

New Zealand

North Island: Auckland, Napier and Hawkes Bay region, Greytown to Wellington. Taupo, Ruapehu region and Tongariro NP, Blue Duck Station and Bridge to Nowhere in the Whanganui and Retaruke River region, Forgotten World Rail car experience and New Plymouth

South Island: Christchurch, Canterbury region, Tekapo, Mt Hutt and Coronet peak ski fields and Queenstown

Canada

BC – Vancouver & Victoria Island, Rocky Mountaineer/ VIA Rail to Jasper, Banff. Yukon – Dawson city and road trip to Whitehorse

USA

San Francisco, New Orleans, Orlando and New York. Alaska from Anchorage to Denali and Top of the World highway into Canada’s Dawson city. Juneau and the Inside Passage & Glacier Bay NP small ship cruise

China

Three months independent land exploratory from Guangzhou to Kunming, Chengdu to Chongqing to Wuhan to Nanjing and Shanghai via Suzhou and Hangzhou to Bejing to Xian, Turpan and overland to Xinging with a sidetrip into Tibet by local bus. Return via Kashgar and over the Khunjerab Pass into Pakistan