Hi, we’re Kerryn and Phil, an over-50s Australian couple choosing to travel brilliantly together in this season of life.
At Sapphire Blue Travel, we share honest travel stories, practical insights, and real-world lessons from van trips around Australia, European trips, cruises and seasonal adventures that fit around working life.
We’re not full-time nomads. We’re building meaningful escapes into real life, whether that’s a weekend caravan getaway, a multi-week road trip, or a long-planned overseas journey.
We talk about:
Practical campsite reviews and caravan upgrades
Planning tips for cruises and European travel
Making the most of short escapes
Strengthening connection and faith through travel
We’re returning to caravanning after 20 years, learning, sharing what works, what doesn’t, and how we’re making Connie our home away from home.
If you believe travel isn’t just about distance but about doing life well together, subscribe and travel brilliantly with us.
Kerryn & Phil
Sapphire Blue Travel
☕ A little extra around the campfire...
My monthly newsletter has just gone out!
It's where I share a little more than I do on YouTube, from behind-the-scenes stories to our travels, travel updates, blogs you may have missed, and a few reflections on life, marriage and the journey we're on together.
This month's edition includes our latest adventures through the New England region of NSW, along with another Campfire Conversation.
If you'd like a friendly email each month (and no, I won't fill your inbox every week!), I'd love to have you around the campfire.
👉 Sign up here: zcu.nz/1Svb
Have you ever subscribed to a creator's newsletter? I'd love to know what makes you actually enjoy reading one.
1 day ago | [YT] | 3
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Sapphire Blue Travel
Thinking about visiting Armidale?
If a friend told us they were heading there tomorrow, this would be our advice...
Slow down and use Armidale as your base.
We found Armidale to be an excellent base for exploring the region. With supermarkets, Bunnings and other essential shops close by, it was easy to stock up on those much-needed supplies. There were also plenty of takeaway options for the days when cooking just wasn't on the agenda.
We stayed at the Armidale Showground, which offered spacious, level powered sites with water, along with a laundry and camp kitchen. Set among beautiful heritage buildings, it had plenty of character and was a relaxing place to return to after a day of exploring.
Within an easy drive, you'll find waterfalls, wineries, scenic walks and charming country villages. We only scratched the surface and could easily spend another week exploring the area.
Sometimes the best destinations aren't the ones with the biggest attractions—they're the ones that give you the freedom to slow down and discover more.
💬 Have you ever stayed somewhere that turned out to be the perfect base for exploring? We'd love to hear where.
1 day ago | [YT] | 4
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Sapphire Blue Travel
Some towns surprise you. Others become the perfect base for exploring everything around them.
For us, Armidale was the latter.
We were surprised by just how much there was to see within an easy drive. Waterfalls, wineries, scenic walks and charming little villages meant we were never short of places to explore—and we still left with more on our list for next time.
🎥 If you'd like to join us as we explore Armidale, you can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/iBAARBLzOAw?si=MGhzA...
One thing that really paid off? Stopping at the Visitor Information Centre before we left home. Their local knowledge pointed us towards places we might otherwise have missed.
💬 Have you ever visited a place that turned out to be far more than just a stopover? We'd love to hear where it was.
3 days ago | [YT] | 4
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Sapphire Blue Travel
🚐 Looking for a great base to explore the Armidale region?
In this week's adventure, we discover why Armidale makes a fantastic base for exploring the New England region and begin our journey along the spectacular Waterfall Way.
From a peaceful winery and the iconic Gostwyck Chapel to breathtaking waterfalls, scenic walks and incredible lookouts, this first episode is packed with places we'd happily recommend to anyone planning a New South Wales road trip.
We also share our honest thoughts on staying at the Armidale Showground with our caravan and whether we'd stay there again.
Whether you're planning a weekend away or a longer caravan adventure, we hope this episode helps you decide if Armidale should be your base for exploring the region.
📍 Highlights include:
🍷 Peterson's Winery
⛪ Gostwyck Chapel
🥾 Gara Gorge
💦 Wollomombi Falls
🌄 Point Lookout
🌿 Ebor Falls
🖤 Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre & Keeping Place
🚐 Armidale Showground
☕ Fusspots, Ebor
💬 We'd love to hear from you...
When you're travelling, do you prefer to stay in one place and explore the surrounding region, or do you like moving somewhere new every day?
Thanks for joining us. Travel brilliantly. 💙
https://youtu.be/iBAARBLzOAw
#Armidale #WaterfallWay #NewSouthWales #RoadTripAustralia #CaravanTravel #TravelAustralia #VanLifeAustralia #SapphireBlueTravel
1 week ago | [YT] | 1
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Sapphire Blue Travel
We actually went to Deepwater to visit family.
What surprised us was the town itself.
Most travellers know it as a good free camping stop or a place to restock before continuing their journey. We did too.
But after spending a little time there, we discovered a welcoming little community with a few surprises we weren't expecting.
It was a lovely reminder that sometimes the places we almost overlook become some of the most enjoyable stops on the trip.
Our latest video is now live if you'd like to come along with us. 💙
🎥https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwwjR...
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 4
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Sapphire Blue Travel
The First Video of our current NSW Roadtrip is now live. Looking forward to sharing with you.
1 month ago | [YT] | 1
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Sapphire Blue Travel
Keep Dating Each Other
Don’t stop dating each other just because you’ve been married a long time.
Long-term love still needs: time, attention, a little fun, simple conversation and shared experiences.
Sometimes the strongest marriages are simply two people who never completely stopped pursuing each other.
Where are you going to take your spouse this week?
💙
1 month ago | [YT] | 3
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Sapphire Blue Travel
Slow Down Together
Travel has taught us something important:
Slowing down together is healthy.
Not every trip needs a packed itinerary.
Sometimes connections grow best in slower spaces:
a quiet morning
a shared meal
a scenic drive
a camp chair beside each other
Simple moments matter.
What is your favourite way to slow down together?
💙
1 month ago | [YT] | 3
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Sapphire Blue Travel
Maybe getting started a week late, Praising God that I was able to deal with my Gallbladder and be able to still get away with Phil.
Big drive today by my knight in shinning armour stopping at two pieces of Silo art before arriving at our first camp in Bingara, riverfront, wild horses and fire… this is camping off to a great start.
What sort of roadtrip content do you want to see?
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 5
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Sapphire Blue Travel
Faith + Marriage
“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” — Ecclesiastes 4:12
Marriage becomes stronger when God stays at the centre.
Not because life suddenly becomes easy.
But because grace, forgiveness, patience, and humility grow deeper there.
Strong marriages aren’t built on perfection.
They’re built on two imperfect people continuing to choose each other.
💙
1 month ago | [YT] | 6
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