Maddison Clarey

Freelance travel and lifestyle journalist. Currently writing for House of Coco Magazine. 

House of Coco •

Destination Inspiration: New Caledonia

A little sunnier, sandier and saltier than its Motherland, this little slice of la France comes with a side of tropical paradise. Here at House of Coco we’re big fans of a quick French weekend getaway. But for those of us a little further afield (read: on the other side of the world) those luxurious French flights of fancy require a little more plane time than we’d like. Enter New Caledonia. A French territory in the South Pacific, roughly 2.5 hours flight from Sydney and 2 hours from Brisbane,
House of Coco •

Destination Inspiration: Discovering Bali, Indonesia

Floating to the north-west of Australia, surrounded by the Javanese, Sunda and Gili Islands, is the island of Bali. Made pop-culturally famous by the book and subsequent moving Eat, Pray, Love and the Instagram feeds of thousands of influencers, Bali is known as one of the quintessential South East Asian backpacker stops, offering everything from vibrant nightlife, to world class surf and exclusive yoga retreats. Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, particularly fo
House of Coco •

The Importance of Showing Respect for Other Cultures

A few years ago I was living and working in the small island nation of Samoa. The Independent State of Samoa, or Western Samoa, to distinguish it from it’s American cousin. I was living with a local family, the Malakis, working as a journalist for the Samoa Observer and trying very hard to learn the fa’a Samoa – the Samoan way of life. And I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. It’s definitely tough learning how to tie your beautifully handcrafted lavalava and how to husk a coconut, not
House of Coco •

Destination Inspiration: Brisbane Festival

As the Edinburgh Fringe Festival winds to close, you might be wondering where on Earth you can get your arts and culture festival fix next. Thankfully, as well travelled girls and guys here at House of Coco, we’ve got your back. Because just as the Edinburgh Fringe closes its doors, their cousins down south (way south) open theirs. I’m talking the Brisbane Festival, and its the answer to all your festival quandaries, and the current answer to the age old question, ‘what is there to do in Brisban
House of Coco •

The Best Luxury Camping Retreats in Australia

If I say camping in the Australian wilderness you’d be forgiven for being a little skeptical. From unfriendly wildlife to just plain uncomfortable temperatures, the Australian outback is not for the faint of heart. That is unless you’re safely tucked away in a 5 star luxury camping experience that combines all of the most beautiful elements of Australia’s rugged outdoors with all of the creature comforts, but none of the uncomfortable creatures. Australia as a whole is a fairly undeveloped coun
House of Coco •

Is Travel Selfish?

Recently, a work friend of mine quit his job, packed his 23kg and flew across the world from Brisbane to Italy to have the time of his life on the quintessential Australian Eurotrip. Mostly we were happy for him. There were some tears in the bar where he held his going away party, and some laments over his departure whilst training new staff; but his Instastories of his Akubra hat next to his authentic Italian pizza, replete with his new tan and impossible to fake smile made it difficult to deny
Canstar •

36 Popular Things to Do in Bali in 2018 - Activities & Attractions

An iconic Aussie holiday destination for many years, the Indonesian island of Bali doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down in popularity. And while there’s nothing wrong with lying on a beach drinking out of a coconut, there’s plenty more this tropical destination has to offer. Here we have rounded up 36 popular things to do in Bali to help you soak up that Indonesian culture and natural beauty.
Canstar •

Common Travel Scams & How to Avoid Them

Travelling is all about venturing out of your comfort zone to meet new people and experience new things. However, some of those new people and experiences can be less than desirable. Unfortunately, travel scams can be an undesirable aspect of travelling. But this doesn’t mean you have to fall victim to them. Here are some of the most common travel scams I’ve come across in my travels, and how you can do your best to avoid them.
Load More Articles