Joined the Locals:
2024
Why you became a Tour Guide?
I was doing Food Walking Tours on weekends when I was working in radio during the week. It was my fun bit of downtime. When the radio gig fell over I thought why not do something I enjoy? Coupled with the fact I had a lot of knowledge of Melbourne from being a podcast producer for audio travel guides, I thus had transferable skills to share. Plus, I like talking to people and hearing their stories.
What were you doing before this?
Radio Producer
Audio Producer and Journalist for audio travel guides
ESL Teacher
Travel Writer
What you enjoy most about Guiding?
Mixture of meeting new people and sharing stories of Melbourne/Victoria.
I actually do like driving. Overall, it’s a fun job and I look forward to coming to work. Better than sitting in an office! Also, like the camaraderie of the other guides.
Your favourite Melbourne Day Tour?
Mmm. Hard to say. They all have their positives…I do like GOR. Beautiful views and also the staff at GOR Wildlife Tours are really friendly. You get more bang for buck with Local Way as opposed to the private tours that I do, surprisingly.
Everyone loves the dingoes and now the Koala experience.
Your favourite restaurant/bar/place in Melbourne?
Lucy Lui, Pastuso, Gemma’s, Movida.
Your favourite travel memory (in general)?
On the tours – the guests. Sometimes you just meet a bunch of people that you really click with. Feels more like a family holiday outing than being the tour guide. Had a great bunch, a mixture of German, Irish, English, Australian and during the Summerlands drive on PI, I got them all to sing along to their perceived national song (which I cued up on Spotify). Very funny!
Outside of touring – Backpacking through Africa for 8 months: sitting with the gorillas in The Congo. Yes, right next to them in the wild.Breathtaking.
