The people of Australia are the real highlight

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about Australia isn't Sydney Opera House or even the extraordinary barramundi — it's the people. In Brisbane and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine.

One local family essentially adopted me for an afternoon after I got lost trying to find Sydney Opera House. world-class coffee became a shared experience I couldn't have planned. That human connection is something travel can give you and Australia delivers it more than most places.