I have been fascinated to read everyone’s Review of 2025 and Travel Plans for 2026 posts. We certainly are a mobile bunch, as well as being incredibly lucky and privileged to travel as we do.
Yes, there are no doubt many sacrifices and readjustment-of-priorities we make so we can travel and, for me, that is all so worthwhile. Travel fills my cup, gets the blood pumping (literally, in many cases) and makes my brain go “what the…?” I love that combination.
So, here are my travel plans for 2026. Like last year, I suspect they may not all happen, but they have a much better chance of coming to fruition if they are penned into my calendar.
How cool would it be if they all came off?
So, here’s what is going to float my boat throughout 2026…
1. Lachlan Valley Cycle Trail, NSW (carried over from 2025 and may move to later in 2026)
- What: Another back-roads cycling trail taking in the best of rural NSW. It is a rough figure-8 and, while not as well set-up infrastructure-wise as the Central West Cycle Trail, it will pop into and out of a wonderful variety of small towns and villages. We will stay in a mix of country pubs and motels.
- Where: It covers approximately 345km and includes the towns and villages of Cowra, Gooloogong, Eugowra, Forbes, Parkes, Eugowra again, Canowindra and back to Cowra.
- When: We will head off for approximately 7days/6nights in latish March. Hopefully the weather will have cooled down a whole lot by then. This adventure may be pushed back until Spring. We’ll see how the next couple of months go.
- How: Pedal power averaging 50km per day.
Find out more HERE.
2. Great North Walk, NSW (carried over from 2025)
- What: The Great North Walk is a hiking trail that connects Sydney and Newcastle, and Yes, it has become a bit of a nemesis for me. I have been trying to complete this trail since 2022 and I have been either beaten by the weather, lack of fitness or just plain chickening out! 2026 is the year to finally knock it over. I will be doing this independently, carrying a tent, all my food etc.
- Where: I have already completed the Sydney to Patonga stages and have about 191km to go.
- When: early April for about 11 days/stages.
- How: On foot.
Find out more HERE.
3. Hume & Hovell Track, NSW (carried over from 2025)
- What: This trail looks fascinating as it roughly follows the trail blazed by early colonial explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in 1824-25. They were commissioned to find a way to connect Sydney (NSW) to the Victorian coastline. I will be doing this independently, carrying a tent, all my food etc.
- Where: It sets out from Yass in southern NSW, specifically Hamilton Hume’s cottage on the outskirts of Yass, and finishes on the Murray River at Albury on the NSW/Victorian border. It covers approximately 426km.
- When: Early May for around 19 days, plus rest days in Tumut and Tumbarumba.
- How: On foot.
Find out more HERE.
4. Coast to Coast Walk, UK
- What: The Coast to Coast Walk was developed by Alfred Wainwright in the early 1970s. It passes through three national parks – Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North York Moors National Park – as the trail crosses the breadth of England. I will reunite with my Partner in Crime (PiC) from previous Larapinta and Everest Base Camp adventures to undertake this scenic adventure. Please wish us blue skies and fair winds. We will be doing this hike supported by RAW Travel.
- Where: The path covers approximately 305km, starting from St Bees on the West Coast of England and ending at Robin Hood’s Bay on the East Coast.
- When: We will take 17 days to stroll across ol’ Blighty, plus one rest day.
- How: bus, foot, plane, foot, foot, foot, foot, bus, foot.
Find out more HERE.
5. Hadrian’s Wall Path, UK
- What: Hadrian’s Wall was a wall built by Roman Emperor Hadrian Aelius to separate the border between England and Scotland in AD122. He had a distinct dislike of the warring Pictish tribes who called Scotland home, and did his best to keep them at bay. These days, only very small sections of the Wall remain and there are many fascinating forts, museums, and excavations to communicate the immenseness and impressiveness of the original Wall. By this stage, I will have said adieu to my PiC and will be walking this one on my own although I suspect it will be a very busy and popular trail.
- Where: The path covers approximately 135km, starting from Wallsend (a suburb of Newcastle on Tyne) on the East Coast of England and ending at Bownes-on-Solway (near Carlisle) on the West Coast.
- When: I will take eight leisurely days to stroll back across ol’ Blighty.
- How: foot, foot, foot, foot, train, train, plane, foot, bus, foot.
Find out more HERE.
6. 25th Wedding Anniversary Adventure
- What: Destination unknown at this stage and most likely to be somewhere warm to avoid the dregs of the Aussie Winter.
- Where: A mystery to us all.
- When: Just a short break – maybe seven days.
- How: Car, foot, plane, foot, car.
7. Yuragir Coastal Walk, NSW
- What: A coastal trail through the Yuragir National Park. This one requires more research to see if it can be done tentless and yet, still independently.
- Where: The trail covers 65km, from Angourie just South of Yamba on the NSW Far North Coast to Red Rock, just above Coffs Harbour.
- When: I expect to take 4 days/3 nights. There is yet more planning to be done.
- How: On foot.
Find out more HERE.
8. Solitary Islands Coastal Walk
- What: Following on and connecting to the Yuragir Walk, the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk hugs the coast heading further South and visiting numerous villages and suburbs along this popular holiday coast. The aim will be to stay in caravan parks, cabins etc as I will lead this walk for my Bushwalking Club.
- Where: The trail covers 60km, from Red Rock (just North of Coffs Harbour) to Sawtell, South of Coffs Harbour.
- When: I expect to take 4 days and 3 nights.
- How: On foot.
Find out more HERE.
Other Walks/Mini-Adventures?
- There is a good chance that some of the above may not happen and/or will be replaced with other short walks or alternate adventures.
- Last year was my Year of Flexibility, ensuring I could chop and change my plans as required.
- This year is my Year of Fitness and I will need every skerrick of that as I plan to cover around 1,500km on foot and by bike.
Now, that sounds like fun!
What is your idea of fun in 2026?
#travelinspo #globetrotter #bucketlist #adventurebeforedementia #walkingadventures #cyclingadventures #England #EpicAdventures #CoasttoCoast #longdistancewalks #TheGreatOutdoors #humeandhovelltrack #hadrianswall #greatnorthwalk #lachlanvalleycycletrail #goodfriends #goodtimes #AdelaideWritersWeek #authors #allthingsbooks #minibreaks #literature #shortbreaks #YuragirNationalPark #SolitaryIslandsWalk #NorthCoastNSW #NationalParks #winterescape #ruralNSW #exploreyourbackyard #travelplanning #exploreonfoot #bushwalks #travelplans #fortheloveoftravel #luckyducks #lifeisgood
Life...one big adventure 
Great to see so many plans Mel… you’re truly an inspiration.
Where will you stay on the Hume+Hovel? Will you need a tent and all the paraphernalia?
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Thanks, Kay. You’re not too dusty yourself! 🙂 Yes, tent and all the palaver for the Hume and Hovell. Maybe it will be my fully-independent swan song?? Who knows??
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Excellent plans. Have fun!
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I will do my very best to have fun! 🙂
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Sounds adventurous, can’t wait to read about them! Maggie
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It will be an amazing year if they all come off. No doubt your calendar is full of adventure too. Have a good day, Maggie.
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Love it! Looks an exciting year ahead.
We touched Hadrian’s Wall many moons ago – your walk along the wall sounds like good fun! Wishing you a year of safe and enjoyable travel!
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Many thanks and the same to you. Hard to believe it is February already!
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I know, right? Too quickly time is zipping by
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Ok, seriously impressed with the 2026 plans and that’s not easily achieved 😉 Coast to Coast UK would be a favourite contender, actually, all of them that don’t require a tent got me excited. Awesome, Mel x
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Thanks, Suz. Yes, maybe my tent days are too drawing to a close….we’ll see. 🙂 x
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Oh my gosh, you have so many miles planned! I can’t wait to follow along with each and every one of them. Good luck with all that walking!
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Thanks Diana. Wishing you lots of handstands this year in exotic locations!
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You are insatiable, Mel, and I can feel you champing at the bit to get going. Your long hot Australian summers seriously cramp your style. When will you do the UK bits, if they happen? I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the weather for you. There’s been so much already that you have to think it’ll dry up soon, but water and lakes are synonymous, aren’t they? Wedding anniversary October/November time? A nice rest somewhere warm might be called for. I hope you have a wonderful year, darlin xx
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Thanks, Jo. I am really excited about the year ahead. The UK bits will be in July and they are booked and will happen regardless of the weather! 🙂 Send me blue sky thoughts then. 🙂 Melx
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It’s a fabulous list of adventures. Thanks, we’ll likely be researching some of them now.
Enjoy!
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That’s my pleasure. I am envious of your adventures too. Can’t wait to read more of your German/Italian wander.
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Hi !!! wow so many plans. that is great . My husband and I are going to take the hospitalero training in March in order to go back next year ( or in the fall) to manage a Donativo albergue We have plans to walk the Camino Primitivo and again the Camino Fisterra-Muxia ( in June). A trip back east was possible for the fall but not decided yet. I haven’t visit my sibling since 2018 ( in Quebec) and some good friends. This week, one of my sister is visiting with her husband. She is exactly 9 years older than me. What else? We always spend time in Whistler where we hike and cycle. And I am very happy I have published my story about the Camino Portuguese (in English and in French). More books ahead ? Maybe but I do not want to say Yes too fast. Writing is taking so much time AND I WOULD PREFER TO JUST ENJOY MY LIFE AND TRAVELS Thanks for sharing your plans. I will be excited to read about the coast to coast walk in UK. Take care.
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I hope you write some blogs about your hospitalero training. I will be very interested to see what that involves…and then managing an albergue!! No doubt there will be a book in that on its own! 🙂 Have a great 2026. Mel
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….and happy 25th anniversary. For us it will be 34 in July and we might be in Germany at that time.
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and happy anniversary to you too! Enjoy a German beer and wurst! 🙂
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That’s a very full year of adventures. Look forward to reading about them. Enjoy! Cheers, Mark
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Thanks, Mark. No doubt you guys have some fabulous road trips planned too! Stay safe out on the road. Mel
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Oh wow, that’s an incredible set of adventures! Good luck with them all. Hope you have a wonderful year 🙂
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Wishing you a great year ahead too! I look forward to following your adventures too.
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That’s a busy dance schedule! Looking forward to reading about it all, especially the England stuff!
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That’s me, boogieing across the World!! 🙂 Wishing you an adventure-filled year ahead. x
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You are a planner Mel! I didn’t see when you’re doing the CtoC? but hoping you get good weather for it, it’s a great walk. Apart from the bit where the Pennine way follows it I’ve not done Hadrians wall. Unfortunately you won’t get a picture of the Sycamore gap tree anymore as it was chopped down in the middle of the night a couple of years back but it will great following in roman footsteps. Did they make it to Australia? 😉
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Hi Jim, I have enjoyed reading your C2C blog and it is really whetted my appetite. Setting off from St Bees on Mon 6 July and if you could organise some perfect weather, it would be much appreciated!! Yes, such a tragedy about the Sycamore tree. I saw a Robson Green TV programme the other day and he showed that the stump is shooting again. Yay for resilience.
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I certainly hope the weather is kind to you as you are walking through some of the best countryside in England. My CtoC blog is quite dated, I walked it in 2013, obviously the route and scenery is the same but I think you will find many more facilities along the way, cafes, fridges in fields! and visitor centres seem to have popped up especially since it is about to be designated a National Trail.
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Ah, that’s good to know. I was thinking we would take a little thermos etc to have a cuppa on the way, but maybe it won’t be necessary now. Ta
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I don’t think you’ll be short of places to have a cuppa!
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Excellent…now, if you can do something about the exchange rate, we would be very grateful! 🙂
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😂
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Yeyyyyy for C2C and HW in England. Let me know when you’re over and if there’s anything you need while you’re here. My Dad did the C2C a few years ago and I’ve walked HW a couple of times – I’m so sad you won’t see Sycamore Gap now 😦
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Thanks so much. It would be great to meet up if the stars align. Yep, a bloody tragedy about the tree. Hundreds of years of growth and beauty, decimated in one night! Senseless.
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Some people’s plans for the new year is that they want to read a lot of books or watch movies, but it seems like you’re planning how much exercise you can fit into a year 😁. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you will complete the Great North Walk this year, and the Coast to Coast hiking trail looks pretty amazing. Your 25th wedding anniversary definitely deserves something special (we’re celebrating our 30th this year). Happy foot, bus, plane, etc. – looking forward to all your travel stories!
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