People asked us once we were back "so what was the favorite part of your trip?"

Its a question that I found almost impossible to answer. Places were special for different reasons, some like Red Bluff were memorable for their raw, unspoilt beauty. I will never forget the gift of wild swimming with Manta Rays- arranged only by Mother Nature. Others, like Karijini and Warrora station were special for the timeless peacefulness that restored parts of our souls that we didn't realise were bruised by the relentless busy grind of the "real world", until that real world was silenced by the epic distance and vast emptiness of the North West Coast.

Some places remain dear to us for the people we met there- Derby was the unlovely cousin of Broome, but we made connections with Aboriginal families and culture there that would have been impossible elsewhere.

Overall though, the places that still resonate with me today, 4 years on, were the ones were I felt the greatest connection to the land and to the natural world. These were in all areas of Australia,both iconic and unknown and they have provided, like a deepwater pool in my psyche, moments of balm and bliss whenever I recall our times there.

The final and most important aspect of this trip was the opportunity it provided to exist as a family and connect with our children. I will always treasure these two years spent without television, minimal internet and lots of outdoor adventure. Evenings spent playing cards, guitar, or just talking around the fire. I got to know my children better than i think would have been possible in the modern world life of school, work and busy drudgery and for that, I am forever grateful. It has motivated us to find similar times and pockets of retreat as a family and understand that these moments create the memories that support a well lived life.