Director and actor Jackie van Beek shares her travel secrets and worst trip
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAMY & SUPPLIED.
Travelling around Scotland in a campervan with toddlers couldn't dampen Jackie van Beek's sense of adventure. She shares all her travel tips in this Q&A.
First trip I remember:
Travelling from Wellington to Auckland on the overnight train to go roller skating with family friends.
Last trip I remember:
A whirlwind tour of Aotearoa for our “Do Something New, New Zealand” campaign with Tourism New Zealand.
Best trip:
Exploring Croatia with my husband, comedian Jesse Griffin.
Worst trip:
A tour around the Scottish Highlands in torrential rain, with two toddlers in a campervan.
Place that surprised me most:
Edinburgh. The weather, the castles, the vomit on buses.
Biggest womp womp:
What does that even mean?!
Favourite holiday outfit:
Bikini and jandals.
Regrettable holiday outfit:
A brand new see-through bikini.
Person I most like travelling with:
Jesse and the kids.
Person I would jump off a moving train to avoid travelling with:
Weinstein.
Cheese scone, meat pie or sausage roll?
Cheese scone, these days.
Backpack, wheelie bag or suitcase?
Backpack for camping.
Wheelie bag for city trips. Bikini, one-piece or muumuu?
Bikini for outdoor swimming. One-piece for indoors.
Stilettos, sneakers or jandals?
Sneakers.
Favourite holiday read:
The Luminaries – it took me an entire summer!
Best-kept secret in New Zealand (that I’m willing to share):
A tiny cove in Kororareka at the base of Flagstaff Hill.
Most Instagrammable vista:
The swimming holes found outside of Alice Springs.
Kororareka, Bay of Islands. IMAGE SUPPLIED
No-holds-barred dream holiday:
Eight weeks in Europe with the family – when it’s safe to travel again!
Back-to-real-life next holiday:
I’m guessing Waiheke.
Holiday when you’re not having a holiday:
A walk up Maungawhau (Mt Eden), a beer in the backyard, then marshmallows roasted over a steel drum.
IMAGE SUPPLIED
Tips for travelling with a toddler:
Remember you will be more exhausted – not less exhausted – after your holiday. But it can still be fun!
Don’t let me leave the house without:
Sunglasses.
My wish for all Kiwis this summer:
Celebrate the good things.