TIM TALKS TRAVEL

Driving 14,000km across Russia in a Toyota Prius, I traversed 27 cities and towns—from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg. This unforgettable road trip inspired a feature story in the Sunday Star Times and an inclusion in the 2018 Russian Lonely Planet.

Extensive travel through Southeast Asia in 2023-2024, leading delegations of graduate students and SMEs for the Southeast Asia Centre for Asia-Pacific Excellence. We visited Singapore, Johor Bahru, Bangkok, Kuching, and Kuala Lumpur, gaining valuable insights into the region’s dynamic markets, innovation hubs, and growing opportunities for New Zealand businesses.

A journey through Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Romania introduced me to unusual border crossings and stunning, unexpected natural beauty in regions I knew little about beforehand. I wrote about it in the New Zealand Herald.

Speaking at the 2012 APEC Summit in Russia and hearing from Hillary Clinton, President Putin (among others), and meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key just prior to his meeting with the Russian President. I was approached Russia’s bodyguard-surrounded Minister of Energy – where I spoke about New Zealand and exchanged gifts with him. In exchange, he gave me a gold coin, commemorating the new gas pipeline to Vladivostok.

Making an earth sandwich by travelling as far away as possible from my home in Auckland by driving to the exact GPS coordinates of the antipode (the opposite point on earth), and having a friend place a slice of bread on the ground at the same time as I did. The location turned out to be a driveway close to Ronda, a city halfway between Seville and Málaga in Spain.

Visiting Myanmar in 2016 and witnessing its development during a business leaders’ visit was eye-opening. I saw first-hand the significant strides that, at the time, were being made in infrastructure, tourism, and industry.

Being invited by the Japanese government to tour Japan, learning about trade, business, and the country’s agricultural industry – and being taught by a top sushi chef in Tokyo how to prepare Japanese food.

Flying with the Government Flying Service as a guest of the Hong Kong government, I experienced unparalleled aerial views of Hong Kong and the Chinese border—an unforgettable perspective of a vibrant city.

While living in London, visiting all stations on the Underground and making a video about it, which was picked up by the BBC and the Evening Standard and used to recognise the 150th anniversary of the Tube in 2012.

While living in London, visiting all stations on the Underground and making a video about it, which was picked up by the BBC and the Evening Standard and used to recognise the 150th anniversary of the Tube in 2012.

Having discovered that I’d never driven in the United States after several work visits, my San Francisco-based friend pick me up in the most American car he could get his hands on – a 1971 Buick Convertible – and made me drive it over the Golden Gate Bridge, and further north along Marin County’s beaches.

From time to time I review airlines and airports along the way… read my head-to-head review of Air New Zealand vs. Cathay Pacific business class, a Lufthansa premium economy flight review, and a review of three premium lounges in Hong Kong airport.