Modern Māori Indigenous Tourism: An Aotearoa Awakening
∞ Originally published on Whywanderlust.ca on February, 6, 2021. ∞ Joe Waide emerges from the forest onto the Lake Wanaka beach, bare chested, pale fall New Zealand sun glinting off of his ceremonial wood taiaha staff, his features ringed in intricate ta moko...
Bali bliss: Enjoy wellness, ritual and ethical travel on this exotic Indonesian Island
∞ Originally published in the Vancouver Sun, September 18, 2019. ∞ In Bali beauty and blessings are an industry. Hotels advertise “meditation area” on road signs, shoppers visit Reborn Gifts, graffiti is simply “KARMA” spray-painted in capitals. Its allure is obvious...
In search of the sublime on New Zealand’s South Island
∞ Originally published in the Vancouver Sun November 30, 2019. ∞ “This is the oldest thing your eyes will ever see.” I squint into a telescope at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Observatory on New Zealand’s South Island and my mind bends around the sight of a 13...
Tea and Trumpets: Elephant sightings and tea plantations in surprising Sri Lanka
∞ Originally published in the Vancouver Sun May 28, 2018 ∞ Wandering down a red-dirt road lined with emerald palms in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura district, I look in vain for a promised transportation hub to lead us further into the heart of village life. Our guide,...
The Natural Wonders of the Riviera Nayarit: Eco-adventures on Mexico’s Pacific Coast
∞Originally published in the Vancouver Sun April 27, 2018∞ High in the hills of Punta de Mita on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit coast, I’m sitting on the patio of a bougainvillea-draped hacienda, pondering a local dining dilemma. What pairs best with my pre-dinner drink:...
About me
Elaine O'Connor
I’m a different kind of travel writer. I craft long-form, cover-worthy feature-length travel articles with style and substance. I tell travellers not just what to do, but why. Find out how to work with me.