The One Where I Talk To Travel Writer & Author, Laura Waters

Send us Fan MailSupport the showIn this week's episode, I’m talking to the inspirational Laura Waters. Laura is a travel writer, speaker, author and presenter who lives near Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of ‘Bewildered’, a book about her solo journey hiking New Zealand’s Te Araroa trail, 3000 kilometres of raw, wild, mountainous trail winding from the top of the North Island to the tip of the South Island. Originally, Laura was meant to walk the 5 month trail with her friend, but when the friend decided to drop out on day two, Laura made the decision to continue on alone.Laura is single, childfree, and is a member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers and the Adventure Travel Trade Association. She has written for numerous publications including Escape (Newscorp), NZ Herald, Australian Traveller, Geographical UK, RAC, Jetstar, Virgin, Outdoor, Wild, Great Walks, Action Diver, Active Retirees and many more. Topics that Laura & I cover are:the story of what prompted her to walk the Te Araroa trail;her decision to continue alone when her friend dropped out on Day 2;how the trek involved hiking thick forests, volcanic terrain, mountains, as well as rafting down rivers;how Laura loved the simplicity of ‘no makeup, no mirrors, no media’;how although she was alone, Laura would sometimes walk with other people on the trail;how getting caught in a snow storm taught Laura that she was capable of doing it on her own;how Laura found the physical strength required for the trip more difficult than the mental strength;how the anxiety and depression that Laura was suffering from before she left, completely lifted within a couple of weeks on the trail;the transformative power of nature, and how Laura felt totally connected to the nature around her;how the trip freed up her mind and she felt a lightness of being;how her trip gave her the courage to go after her dreams of being a writer;how passion is a great compass to tell you if you’re on the right track in life;Laura’s book, BeWILDered, and how it was even harder than her 5 month hike;how Laura would love a partner to share her life’s journey with.Check out Laura’s website:https://soultrekkers.com.au/ Buy Laura’s book, Bewildered:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bewildered-Laura-Waters/dp/0369334442 Follow Laura on Instagram:@laurawaters_writerSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: [email protected] And thank you so much for listening!