Originally from Australia, I’ve had a lifelong obsession with Europe and am incredibly thankful to have turned that passion into my career, my home, and countless adventures all over the continent.

Photo: This little document has taken me many places

From memorizing all the European countries and capitals at the age of 10 to learning French and Italian in an effort to increase my chances of living there one day (Spoiler: it absolutely did!). Every spare moment of my teenage years was spent jotting down itineraries on scrap pieces of paper and reading every Rick Steve’s, DK Eyewitness and Lonely Planet guidebook at my local library. 

Then at the age of 16, I took my first trip to Europe and no exaggeration IT. CHANGED. EVERYTHING. I was incredibly fortunate to spend nine weeks living with a local family in French-speaking Switzerland. I’ll never forget the feeling of being picked up from the airport and driven the length of Lake Geneva, absolutely glued to the car window as the snow-capped Alps rose into view. It was love at first sight and sparked my desire to explore every corner of Europe and one day call this magical part of the world home.

Photo: First time seeing snow at 16 during my 9-week student trip to Switzerland

In the year that followed, I returned three more times to Europe and this time I fell hard for Italy. So upon my return to Australia, I enrolled in university and on the very first day marched into the Study Abroad office. If I was going to spend three years working towards a degree, you bet I’d make the most of any opportunity to live in Europe. So over the next 18-months, I worked multiple jobs and saved every dollar I had until… the world shut down and all travel came to a halt in 2020. Yeah that really sucked :(

But I was determined to still make it happen, so instead of giving up... I decided to change the timeline. Lots of people told me I was being naive and stupid to delay. I didn't listen. I waited it out, worked even harder to save and the moment the international borders opened, I booked a one-way ticket to Milan. No long-term plans, just a big dream and maybe a little delusion (sometimes It’s needed).

Photo: Finally living my dream life in Italy - one of the many day trips I took from Milan to Lake Como! 

That leap triggered my very own European Odyssey. What began as a six-month study abroad, turned into something so much more. For the next four years, I travelled full-time around Europe, volunteering, working remotely and ticking off 30 countries!

Somewhere in the middle of it all, I met my Danish-British husband in the mountains of Bulgaria, and we've been traveling together ever since. From Tokyo to Istanbul, Tuscany to Portugal, we’ve been able to live and work in some truly incredible places. But the exhaustion of fast-paced travel left us in need of a base and somewhere to slow down. So we decided to go back to the palace we first met - Bansko, Bulgaria - a magical alpine town where we've hosted a forest wedding, adopted a street dog called Poppy, and are currently renovating our dream home. 

Photo: Our magical forest wedding in our mountain home of Bansko, Bulgaria

And that brings me to the present-day and creating Travel with Tyla - a podcast, travel resource and trip-planning service, where I share all my adventures and hard-won knowledge with fellow Europe loving travellers. From navigating tricky logistics to avoiding tourist traps, and crafting bespoke once-in-a-lifetime itineraries.

I'm most passionate about taking the stress out of planning and inspiring listeners to explore more of Europe, the popular and off-the-beaten-path places. 

It’s a BIG continent and there are endless places to explore! 

Photo: Hiking the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast