What 6 Visits to Phi Phi Taught Us About The Island
The island of Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful place. It is easy to see why so many travellers flock to this small striking pair of islands with their steep rocky crags and…
Our Marrakech Adventure: Tips For First-Time Travellers
Our first time in Marrakech was epic, expecting to be taken back in time is exactly what we experienced. Known as the “Red City” due to its terracotta-hued buildings and ancient walls, is…
Comparing Koh Samui and Phuket: What We Learned
This beautiful island off the coast of Thailand is a honeymooners paradise. With its palm lined beaches, sandy coastlines and beautiful sunsets it is easy to see why people are so drawn to…
Bondi Through Our Eyes: 16 Years Living Locally
Welcome to Bondi, which happens to be my backyard. This photo is taken from the southern end of the beach next to the famous Bondi Icebergs. So what to know about this iconic…
Koh Yao Yai: Our Go-To Quiet Getaway
We go here every year as a part of our Thailand trip. These somewhat lesser known fairly large islands are located between Phuket and Krabi just south of Phang Nga Bay. They are…
Cinque Terre vs Amalfi: Why We Prefer Cinque Terre
We’ve been here multiple times and keep coming back here’s why. Cinque Terre or 5 earths are 5 coastal fishing villages that line the rocky cliffs and coast of north-western Italy. Each village…
Why We Chose Boracay Over Bali
Boracay Philippines is a beautiful place and not quite what you might expect. You may have heard that this little island has reopened after a government enforced clean up. Well it was stunning…
Exploring Mexico’s East Coast: What We Loved Outside Cancun
MEXICO – CANCUN – PLAYA DEL CARMEN – TULUM – MERIDA Mexico is a diverse place with so much to offer, crystal blue oceans and white sandy beaches, vibrant cities with exciting eating…
Our South Island Adventure: A Road Trip Through New Zealand
The best way to see New Zealand is to drive, you can hire a car or Campervan and drive on many of the amazing scenic roads. Where to start? We have driven from…
Why We Keep Coming Back to Florence
The birthplace of the renaissance, there is no place on earth like Florence. This romantic city is a UNESCO heritage site, the capitol of Tuscany and haven for art and architecture. Many of…
Welcome to Barefaced Travel –We’re a couple of lifelong adventurers who believe that travel should be felt, not just photographed. At the heart of Barefaced Travel is a simple but powerful idea: show the world exactly as it is...

This is us – In Ibiza loving the vibes.
This passion runs deep for us. It started back in childhood. I was raised in Australia by parents both from Eastern Europe my mum migrated from Poland in her twenties with a dream: to one day take her kids to see her homeland. She worked three jobs, scraped together what she could, and eventually, in the 1990s, made that dream come true. My two brothers and I boarded a Continental Airlines flight with her first stop Disneyland in LA, then New York City, and finally three months on a farm in rural Poland.
That trip left a lasting impression on me. It showed me how travel could shape your identity, your worldview, and your memories forever. It also opened a window into my parents’ own adventures they road-tripped around Europe in a VW Kombi van in the 1970s, camping under the stars in the most pristine corners of the continent. They were doing "van life" before it was cool.
My husband shares this same adventurous spirit. His parents were missionaries based in Tahiti in the 1950s and '60s, and he grew up hearing stories about their travels through the Pacific. So when we got together, it was inevitable that our love of exploration would continue and grow stronger.
While dating, we trekked the Annapurna Ranges in Nepal to base camp and through the High Pass. We’ve camped in India’s Thar Desert, slept on mats with camels nearby, and gazed at the Milky Way overhead. We’ve lived in the Philippines, helping build translation offices. We've done volunteer work in Mexico and worked on post-earthquake construction projects in New Zealand. For us, travel isn’t just a holiday it’s a way of life.
We believe in freedom through movement. In keeping life fluid. We pack light (yes, carry-ons only my husband refuses to carry my bag!), and yet I still insist on staying clean and organised. Every item gets washed before going back in the bag I’m a clean freak like that. But that’s what Barefaced means to us: travelling simply, freely, and honestly, while still feeling beautiful, polished, and present.
I studied architecture and art at university. My husband graduated from a sports excellence program, is a DJ and film editor. Together, we combine our love of creativity, movement, culture, history, food, and storytelling to share what we find in every place we visit from the best local bites to stunning old buildings tucked away in side streets, to how it really feels to walk through a place with no filters.
Our blog reflects this:
– Every photo you see here is taken by us — often on our phones, often spontaneously.
– Every recommendation is personal — we only write about places and experiences we’d share with our closest friends.
– Every story is honest the good, the hard, the funny, and the unforgettable.
We don’t believe in overly curated travel content. We don’t edit our images. What you see is what we lived. This is travel that breathes.
We’ve spent years based in Bondi, Sydney a hub of energy, creativity, and contrast and now we’re carving out a digital space that brings our unique take on travel to the world. Travel media and social platforms can feel oversaturated these days. But what we offer here is our own lens. Our own stories. Our own approach.
And truthfully? I almost gave up on this blog. I’ve asked myself more than once is it really worth it? But every time someone asks me for a custom itinerary, or messages to say a post helped them, or tells me they found the best little café because of something I shared — I remember why we started.
We’ve got lots more coming real packing tips, beauty advice for travelling light and feeling fresh, and posts on how to let go of perfectionism while still loving the way you look and feel on the road. The name Barefaced was also inspired by my mum, who has the most radiant skin and doesn’t put a thing on it. I’m still working through my own insecurities and masks, but this blog is part of that journey learning to be free, to be light, to be whole.
So if you’re someone who craves real travel over polished reels someone who wants substance and soul then you’re in the right place.
Welcome to Barefaced Travel. We’re so glad you’re here.
Now let’s go find the magic — together. READ MORE









