Going Places – Slow and Sustainable Travel Ideas

Shared by participants at the Geography Victoria Going Places event – 18 May 2026

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The following suggestions and travel ideas were generously shared by participants during group discussions at our first Going Places event. They reflect personal experiences and interests and have not been formally reviewed or endorsed by Geography Victoria.

General Ideas for Slow and Sustainable Travel

  • Take a good quality camera - not just a mobile phone — to help capture and reflect on your journey.
  • Remember that one of the most sustainable forms of travel is by sail. The Whitsundays were suggested as a wonderful option.
  • Consider slower forms of travel such as cycling, walking, kayaking and barge trips.
  • Travel to a destination by train, then use a bicycle or e-bike to explore locally.
  • If travelling overseas with bikes, specialised bike travel bags can help protect and secure them in transit.
  • Kayaking along the Glenelg River near Nelson was highly recommended.
  • Joining a vintage car club can encourage a slower and more social style of travel.

Helpful Travel Apps

  • TripIt – A travel itinerary and trip-planning app that organises bookings and travel plans automatically. Participants particularly recommended TripIt Pro.
  • Splitwise – A useful app for tracking shared travel expenses and group costs.
  • Google Translate – Helpful for communication and navigation while travelling internationally.

Image_by_CleanerShrimp_from_Pixabay.pngBeyond Australia

Japan

  • Walking the Nakasendo Trail in autumn through rural villages and mountain landscapes.

England

  • Coast-to-coast walk from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay. Participants recommended allowing rest days to explore towns such as Richmond along the way.
  • Hire a canal boat (narrowboat) – England, Wales, Scotland. No prior experience or licences required, they are fully equipped with beds, kitchen, bathroom, very reasonably priced and just pull up and moor the boat for free along the way.

Switzerland

  • Staying in the car-free town of Zermatt and exploring the surrounding alpine walks.

South Korea

  • Excellent mountain walking opportunities, although weather conditions can be an important consideration.

Austria and Germany

  • Walking through the Lech Valley region.

Germany

  • The Rhine Steig and Moselle Steig walks, travelling from village to village along the rivers and enjoying local food and wine.

Cycling_no_attribution_needed.pngChina

  • Cycling trips were highly recommended, although participants noted the significant difference between local and tourist prices in some regions. In western China, bike repair facilities and spare parts may be limited.

Taiwan

  • Great for cycling, easy to do by yourself without official tour guides, etc.

Europe

  • Travelling from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea by rail was described as memorable, although sometimes slow, unreliable and very warm.
  • Canal tours in Europe and the UK were also suggested as a slower and more immersive travel experience.

United States

  • Exploring the west coast of the USA using public transport, with trains between major cities and buses within cities.
  • Amtrak

New Zealand

  • Great walks including the Routeburn, Milford, Kepler, Queen Charlotte, Abel Tasman and Coromandel Peninsula tracks, as well as Cape Brett in the Bay of Islands.

Spain

  • Walking or cycling the Camino.

Australia

Zermatt_Image_by_Christophe_Schindler_from_Pixabay.pngVictoria

  • The Great Ocean Walk from Port Campbell to Torquay.
  • The Great Victorian Bike Ride (annually)

New South Wales

  • The Spit Bridge to Bondi walk (approximately 80 km in total), combining beaches, national parks and forest environments.
  • The shorter Manly to Spit Bridge section (approximately 12 km return).
  • The Rose Bay to The Gap walk.
  • The Great Southern Walk (67 km), connecting Kamay Botany Bay National Park, the Royal National Park and the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area.

Tasmania

  • The Three Capes Walk

Northern Territory / Western Australia

  • The Tanami Track: a remote, mostly unsealed route of more than 1,000 km connecting Alice Springs and Halls Creek. Participants noted that this challenging journey requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and extensive preparation.