I started travel writing in 1998 when a Japanese/English travel website advertised for writers for a Central/Eastern European guide. I was a month away from completing a Bachelor of Arts degree, so knew something had to be done or else a lifetime as a bank teller beckoned (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Thinking I would be up against thousands of other people, I said I would do it for free, so funnily enough they gave me a go!

Finding out that I had a talent for getting into all sorts of situations, I was then offered a paid position travelling extensively through South East Asia, before moving to Edinburgh to work at the Scotsman Newspaper. A need for sun eventually led me to backpack and ride through South America for six months from Sao Paulo to Bogota (before it was made popular by that Spanish film with the guy my girlfriend loves).

Returning to Melbourne to complete a Grad Dip in Creative Writing in 2001, I wrote and directed the play Couch, before traveling around Australia for three months. I then embarked for a year through Eastern Europe, writing various articles along the way.

In 2002 I returned to Melbourne to complete a Masters in Tourism, focusing on the backpacker market and publishing. A year later I moved to Tallinn (Estonia) for six months to work with the Estonian Tourism Board, writing a number of publications and brochures about a country which was just finding its feet, after years of foreign control.

In 2003 I returned to Australia to lecture in "Travel Writing and New Technologies" & "Media Studies" at Monash University, where I created the website www.thehappiesthour.com, as a voice for tightarse students. It has since spread throughout Australia, gaining a cult like status with those that do not want to pay full price for food and drinks.

In 2004 I moved to Hanoi (Vietnam) for two years, where I was Editor of Pathfinder Magazine (a monthly magazine targeted at international tourists and expats) and Vietnam Golf (Vietnam's first golf magazine). I also wrote articles for a number of Australian newspapers and Asian magazines. During this time I was approached to co-author The Rough Guide to Vietnam, one of the world's most popular guidebooks. I returned to Australia in 2006 to co-author The Rough Guide to Australia (Melbourne, Victoria and Western Australian chapters).

Presently I am based in Melbourne where I teach Journalism at Monash University, while also freelancing for a variety of newspapers and magazines, focusing on lifestyle, sport (mainly golf), nightlife and travel (see "articles" for examples).

I also write content for web pages, focusing on small businesses in the hospitality sector. Contact me for rates and portfolio.