As we start another year with big travel plans, and after just returning from our Christmas pilgrimage to Eastern Australia, it is time to reflect back on 2016 and what we achieved at home and abroad.

It has been a fabulous year of holidays for us (again!). It started in January when we ventured back to Bali exactly a year after returning from our ex-pat adventure. We holidayed, caught up with old friends, and reminded the kids of their time spent living there.

Family Cycle

Easter was celebrated in Melbourne with the extended Wood family, and a special visit from Rob’s US-based sister, and while we were there we also enjoyed a side trip to Bendigo this time.

In the July break, we visited friends on a farm for some rural fun and action, stopping for a couple of nights in bush cottages at Dryandra. We also camped for a weekend in Margaret River in June with some school families.

Dryandra Hiking
Talking a bushwalk in Dryandra Woodlands

During the September holidays, we had a fabulous experience in South Africa, travelling overseas for a month. We started with an amazing safari in the Kruger, then travelling along the coast to vibrant Cape Town. This holiday was fabulous, especially with the kids at this age, loving the abundance of wildlife.

safari photo
Kruger safari was the highlight of our trip to South Africa

For Christmas we headed to Melbourne again, though this time we drove up to Stanwell Park and Sydney for the New Year week, visiting Rob’s brother and family, and Clare’s auntie.

This year was a big year on the birthday front… with Rob turning 50!! A year of ongoing celebrations, or mostly exciting adventure-type things. Starting with The Big Swing jumping off a gorge in South Africa, hang-gliding off the Stanwell Tops in NSW, and climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge! See the theme…some might call this a mid-life crisis? He also ventured to Melbourne with his siblings to celebrate his dad turning 80! Plus squeezing in an enjoyable boys’ weekend away in Adelaide.

Hang Gliding Stanwell Park
Rob taking in the great views of the NSW south coast and Stanwell Park.

Clare’s job at WAIS also included some travel, a trip to Melbourne with the WA Gymnastics team, which was a really rewarding experience. Also by serving on the SDA board this year she attended a planning meeting in Melbourne in February but has given away this commitment for next year.  In November, Clare competed in a team event at the Augusta Adventure race, signing up and training for the bike leg, which was challenging but awesome fun.

Family with Sydney harbour
Enjoying the sights of Sydney

More adventures are just around the corner for us, with a trip to Europe booked for 2017!! We will be travelling for three months from April to July. As part of our tour of ten countries, was will be visiting some family, and friends we have met in Bali and beyond.

We wish you all a fabulous 2017, hoping luck and good times come your way!

Love the Travelling Woods (Rob, Clare, Olive, Jetson, and Casper)

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