What does it feel like to plan your first solo vegan trip across the world?
In this episode of The World Vegan Travel Podcast, Brighde chats with Kiara Sylvie Durbin, an artist, adventurer, content creator, and proud vegan from Ohio. Kiara is getting ready for her first big solo international trip to Australia and New Zealand.
This is a special “before the trip” episode. Kiara will also be coming back for a part two after her travels, so we can hear what really happened, what she learned, and how the trip changed her.
Meet Kiara: Artist, Adventurer & First-Time Solo Traveler
Kiara describes herself as an artist, adventurer, and human. She is also a multi-hyphenate creative with a background in theatre, acting, singing, dancing, poetry, and content creation.
She has been vegan for almost six years and first started sharing vegan content through Trader Joe’s hauls and everyday vegan tips. Over time, that grew into a love of sharing her vegan lifestyle and travel dreams online.
For Kiara, this trip is not just a holiday. It is a big step into trust, courage, and self-discovery.
Grief as a Catalyst: How Loss Inspired the Leap
Kiara shares that she returned home after college because her mother was sick, and her mother later passed away. Her mom was also a big traveler, and Kiara feels deeply inspired by the way her parents explored the world.
This conversation gently explores travel after grief and how getting out into the world can sometimes help people move through difficult seasons.
Brighde also reflects on how travel has helped her and Seb process grief in their own lives. While travel does not erase loss, it can create space, movement, and new perspective.
The Itinerary: Melbourne, Brisbane, Tangalooma & New Zealand
Kiara’s rough plan includes both Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia, she plans to spend time in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Tangalooma Island. Melbourne feels especially exciting because of its strong vegan food scene, including many Melbourne vegan restaurants.
Her trip also includes Brisbane vegan travel experiences, as she will be staying near friends and exploring the area.
After Australia, Kiara plans to fly into Auckland, travel by bus from Auckland to Wellington, road trip around the South Island, and then return to Auckland. This makes the episode helpful for anyone curious about New Zealand vegan travel too.
Facing Fears: Leaving Stability & Embracing Uncertainty
Kiara is honest about the fears that come with a first-time solo trip.
She talks about leaving her job, stepping away from a familiar routine, and facing the unknown. She also shares how supportive her partner has been, encouraging her to go and follow this dream.
This part of the conversation is especially useful for anyone who feels nervous about solo vegan travel or a first time solo trip.
Kiara’s message is simple and encouraging: if an anxious vegan from Ohio suburbia can travel across the world, maybe you can take your own next step too.
Tech Hacks: Organizing Vegan Travel with Apple Guides
One of Kiara’s favorite Apple Maps travel tips is using Apple Maps Guides to organize places before a trip.
Instead of planning every moment, she saves interesting places into a guide. This can include vegan restaurants, sightseeing spots, and places she may want to visit later.
Custom Lists for Sightseeing & Vegan Eats
Kiara likes to research vegan food options and attractions before she goes. Then she saves them into Apple Maps Guides.
This means that when she arrives in a new place, she can open her guide and see what is nearby.
Location-Based Navigation Without Over-Planning
This system helps Kiara feel prepared without making the trip too rigid.
For anxious travelers, this can be a helpful balance. You have options ready, but you still have space to explore and make decisions in the moment.
“Another Life Is Waiting”: Travel as Expansion
Kiara shares a quote that deeply resonated with her: travel can break the illusion that your current life is the only possible one.
For her, travel is a way to expand your mind, build trust in yourself, and remember that there are many ways to live.
This theme runs through the whole episode. Sometimes, booking the trip is not just about seeing new places. It is about seeing yourself in a new way.
“Another Life Is Waiting”- Kiara Sylvie Durbin
Vegan Realities: Confidence in Australia’s Scene
A common fear for vegan travelers is food. Will there be enough options? Will it be hard to explain what you need?
Kiara feels fairly confident about vegan travel in Australia, especially in Melbourne. Brighde also shares that, after many years of vegan travel, she has never truly gone hungry while traveling.
They mention useful tools like HappyCow, Facebook groups, and doing research before you arrive.
The episode is a good reminder that vegan travel Australia planning does not have to be perfect. A little preparation can make a big difference.
Dreaming Beyond the Trip: Group Travel & Women’s Retreats
Kiara is also thinking about what might come after this adventure.
She loves community, creativity, and sharing her story online. In the future, she dreams of leading group trips, especially to Ireland, and maybe even creating vegan women’s retreats.
This part of the conversation is a lovely reminder that you do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes the first step is simply to start.
Final Thoughts: Just Book the Trip
This episode is for new travelers, overwhelmed travelers, “maybe next year” travelers, and anyone who keeps waiting until they feel completely ready.
Kiara’s story is a reminder that courage does not always feel calm. Sometimes courage looks like feeling nervous and booking the trip anyway.
And remember, this is only part one. Kiara will be back after her Australia and New Zealand adventure to share how her first solo vegan trip really unfolded.
Learn More About What is Discussed on the Podcast
- Find vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants while traveling with HappyCow, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant guide.
- Learn how to organize saved places with Apple Maps Guides, the travel planning tool
- Kiara talks about using. Explore New Zealand travel ideas with Kiwi Experience, the bus travel company
- Kiara mentions for her Auckland-to-Wellington plans.
- Tangalooma Island Resort in Queensland, Australia.
- Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand.
Other World Vegan Travel Content Connected With This Episode
- Vegan Canyoning in Australia | Adventure in Karijini | Sven Borg
- Vegan Travel in Australia | Melbourne’s Coffee & Culture
- Vegan Solo Travel | Seeking Peace Across 11 Countries
- Albania Van Life | A Vegan Traveler’s Hidden Gem | Ellie Larkins
