Set Sail with Gina Chick: Discover the Joy of Traveling with a Parrot for a Pirate-Inspired Adventure!

Gina Chick has a refreshing view on travel. She says, “Things happen on holiday – stuff gets stolen, cars break down, you miss flights. But those are the moments that bring us together. They become the stories we share forever. I love holidays that turn into adventures.”

Gina knows all about adventures. She gained fame as the winner of the first season of Alone Australia, living 67 days alone in the Tasmanian wilderness. This experience was the culmination of a lifetime of preparation. Before reality TV, she spent part of each year leading dance meditation retreats abroad and another part running wilderness programs in the Australian outback. She even lives in a seven-meter Toyota bus, growing accustomed to a nomadic lifestyle despite winning $250,000 on Alone.

Currently, Gina is back in Tasmania by the ocean, working on her next book after publishing her first memoir, We Are the Stars, last year. She shared with us some memorable moments from her unconventional life on the road.

Who makes a good travel companion?

“Usually, they’re not human,” she laughs. “When I travel around Australia, I like having a parrot with me. It’s like being a pirate! It’s a great icebreaker, and they’re always excited to see me. For international trips, I bring along a guitar. I’m not a great guitarist, but playing in an airport often attracts fellow musicians, and suddenly, there are 20 of us jamming together. It becomes a spontaneous party!”

What’s your earliest memory of a holiday?