How Do You Even Begin to Plan a Trip Like This?

The short answer? A lot of research—and a healthy partnership between one person who dreams big and another who grounds those dreams into a workable itinerary. I bet you can guess which one of us is which! I’m definitely the ideas person, and Gary is all about logistics. Together, we’ve planned this seven-month adventure using a mix of old-school spreadsheets, an app we now can’t live without, and the incredible experiences shared by other travellers online.

The App That Changed the Way We Travel Plan

Yes, we still love a good Excel spreadsheet, but for a trip with so many moving parts—especially one involving road trips, flights, trains, and cruises—we needed something smarter. Enter Wanderlog. It’s a paid app, but worth every cent. It helped us map distances in places like Iceland (a country that looks small until you realise how long it takes to drive around it!), identify must-see attractions, and book accommodation along the route. Iceland’s rugged beauty really called to us, and we wanted to make the most of it without spending half the time in the car trying to figure out where we were going to sleep next.

Planes, Trains, Automobiles… and a Cruise!

One of our musts was cruising the Norwegian coast. After loving our Alaska cruise a few years back, we were keen to experience the Arctic Circle from the water—especially after catching the Northern Lights in Sweden in 2023. This time, we’ll follow the midnight sun north before catching the train south through Norway and into continental Europe.

We also grabbed a Eurail Global Pass during a rare 25% off sale. It gave us six weeks of first-class rail travel, perfect for our plan to cross Northern Europe by train. After Bergen, we head to Copenhagen, then zigzag through the region, avoiding the peak of European summer holidays by timing our visits to England, Scotland, and Ireland during August.

The 90-Day Rule & A Surprise EU Passport

There was a bit of a hiccup early on: between us we’re Australian and British citizens, which means we’re subject to the 90 days in 180 days Schengen rule. We thought my Italian heritage might help, but Italy had changed its citizenship laws, which closed that door. Fortunately, Gary ended up securing an Irish EU passport, which gave us the freedom to stay longer—and that changed everything. It also meant we could postpone the second half of our Europe itinerary until we had confirmation of that passport.

But what if we couldn’t stay in Europe? We needed a Plan B.

From Europe to South America: A Bold Detour

If this really is our trip of a lifetime, we didn’t want to play it safe. We decided that if we had to leave Europe after 90 days, we’d make it count. South America had always been high on our bucket list, especially Machu Picchu and Chile, so we began researching tours. Safety was a top priority, and since we’re unfamiliar with the region, a small group tour felt right. We settled on a 25-day Inspiring Vacations tour that hits all the major spots except Chile, which we’ll explore on our own in December before flying back to Australia.

We haven’t locked everything in yet—some train seat reservations and accommodations are still pending. And figuring out how to coordinate arrival and departure times with Airbnbs (that often don’t store luggage) has made us grateful for another travel lifesaver: LuggageHero, an app that helps you find short-term luggage storage around the world.

Learning from Others & Letting the Journey Evolve

So much of this journey was shaped by listening to other people’s stories—Utube videos, Facebook travel groups, blog posts. One post about the wine regions of France totally changed our timeline. What started as a two-week plan in France grew into four weeks, thanks in large part to a utuber named Vince (and his passion for vino). We’ll be following several wine trails, mostly based in smaller towns rather than big cities, and can’t wait to explore these lesser-known gems.

Packing for a Trip Like This: Not for the Faint of Heart

Packing has been one of the hardest parts—trying to fit for both hot and cold climates, stay under airline luggage limits, and be nimble enough for train travel and cobblestones. After three different bags (including a hybrid backpack from Eagle Creek and a lightweight North Face duffle), I finally settled on the Patagonia Rolling Duffel 100L. It’s spacious, durable, and just light enough. Gary went for the North Face Rolling Thunder 95L—a beast of a bag at 5kg empty but incredibly tough.

I had to make a few sacrifices: one less dress, no denim jeans (still mourning those), and sadly, no daypack. My packing strategy focused on neutral tones—creams, browns, greens, black—with four pairs of shoes: white sneakers, hiking boots, sandals, ballet flats, plus a pair of slip-ons for around the pool.

Gary packed for 10 days, with gear for both hot and cold weather. He’s the practical one—shocking, I know.

We also had to think about tech and toiletries—my tripod alone weighs 1.35kg! I packed my old GHD instead of the newer (bulkier) hair tools, and contact lenses, which I’ll probably lose at some point. It’s all part of the adventure.

Up Next: Sharing Our Itineraries by Country

I plan to share each leg of the journey in more detail soon. After all, we learned so much from others—what worked for them, what didn’t, where they stayed, what they loved. But everyone’s trip is personal, and what suits one couple might not suit another. Your sense of adventure, budget, and travel style will shape your route.

But if you’re dreaming of your own pause—a proper break from work, routine, and “someday” plans—maybe some of our choices will help spark your own.

Stay tuned.

Every big journey starts with a spark—sometimes unexpected, sometimes uncomfortable. For us, it began with a crazy conversation and a life-changing diagnosis. What started as a “what if” moment slowly turned into a real plan.

We were chatting one evening about how amazing it would be to take time out, travel, do something different. At first, it felt like wishful thinking. But then Gary was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Thankfully, it was caught early and treated successfully. But that moment shook us—it made us realise how fragile life is, and how quickly things can change.

We thought, Why are we waiting?

With our kids grown up and out of the house, a rare window opened. We were financially secure, had long service leave saved up, and our workplaces offered career breaks. So we figured—what’s the worst that could happen if we asked?

We gathered the courage, spoke to our employers, and were both granted extended leave. Suddenly, the dream had legs.

And that’s when the real question hit us:

What’s the plan?

What We Wanted From This Journey

We knew we wanted to travel—but not in a rushed, “see-it-all” kind of way. We wanted to slow down, immerse ourselves in the places we visited, and experience different cultures more deeply. Less tourist checklists. More connection.

We also wanted to be closer to the UK to reconnect with family and explore Europe more easily. The idea of slow, intentional travel really appealed to us.

Where to Start?

Norway had always been high on our list. The dramatic fjords, rugged nature, and northern adventure vibe felt like a perfect launch point. We had seen the Northern lights in Sweden a few years ago and wanted to now experience the mid-night sun.

Then we started looking at Iceland. It’s not about big cities—it’s about landscapes and the raw power of nature. As I dive deeper into photography, it seemed like an inspiring place to start. Stark, beautiful, and completely different from anywhere we’ve been. A real adventure with loads to do once we started our research. Maybe we start there?

Turning Ideas Into Itinerary

Once we had a rough direction, we needed a way to make sense of it all—where to go, how long to stay, what made sense logistically.

We discovered an app called Wanderlog, and it became a game-changer. It let us map out our route, keep notes, track bookings, and play around with the flow. It made a daunting plan feel manageable.

A Different Kind of Journey

This isn’t just a holiday. It’s a pause. A chance to reset, reconnect, and live differently for a while.

We’re not trying to see everything. We’re trying to feel the places we visit. To live in them, not just pass through. To explore not only the world—but also ourselves.

A Final Thought: Just Start

If you’re holding onto a dream that feels too big or too far away, this is your reminder: it starts with one brave conversation.

For us, it was a mix of courage, timing, and the realisation that life’s too short to wait for the “perfect time.”

Now that we’re in the middle of it, we’re so glad we said yes.

Next up: We’ll share how we narrowed down our route and started packing for seven months on the road—with just one checked bag and a carry-on each.

#ThePauseProject #SlowTravel #TravelPlanning #LongServiceLeave #LifeAfter50 #LiveFully

Can We Really Do This?

After the excitement of saying yes to the dream, reality set in.

Could we actually afford to take extended time off? How long should we go for? What would we do with the house, the car, our stuff? It was time for a serious look at the logistics—and a big dose of practical thinking.

How Long Could We Take Off?

Originally, we thought we might take a three- or four-month break. Just enough to reset and travel without completely upending our lives.

But the more we planned, the more we realised: this might be a once-in-a-lifetime window. The kids are independent, we’re still healthy, and our careers are in a place where stepping away felt possible.

So… we extended it to almost eight months.

It felt bold, but right. And once we gave ourselves permission to really go for it, everything else started falling into place.

Making the Finances Work

We weren’t looking to live in luxury, but we needed to be realistic. Could we travel for eight months and still be financially secure?

Here’s what we looked at:

• Long Service Leave: We both had it, and it became the backbone of our financial plan as we would be paid for part of the leave. .
• Unpaid Leave: After the paid leave ran out, we planned to dip into savings.
• Renting out our house: This was a game-changer. Listing our home for rent gave us the ability to generate income while we’re away—and gave us peace of mind it wouldn’t sit empty.
• Selling the car: We wouldn’t need it while we were away, so selling it helped free up extra funds and simplify life.

Packing Up Life at Home

Once we had the finances sorted, we had to start preparing for life on the road—and life not at home.

• Packing up the house: We decided to store our personal items and rent the house out mostly furnished. That meant sorting, storing, and letting go of a lot.
• Finding a local manager: A trusted neighbour offered to manage the Airbnb for us. That helped us feel more comfortable leaving everything behind.
• Cancelling and redirecting: Utilities, mail, subscriptions… there were more details than we expected, but one spreadsheet kept it all manageable.

The Logistics of Leaving

Beyond the house, there were all the things we needed to travel safely and smartly:

• Travel insurance: This was non-negotiable. We needed coverage for health, cancellations, gear, and more. As it was a longer period , we didn’t expect it to be cheap. Shop around for what you need this to protect. Along the way we will be travelling manly by train but also renting vehicles along the way as well as travelling with computers and cameras so we needed additional cover.
• Banking and access to money: We made sure we had travel-friendly accounts, multiple cards, and backups.
• Health: Making sure we had all medical check-ups and prescriptions sorted before we left.
• Packing: How do you pack for eight months across multiple climates with a 20kg luggage limit? (That’s a whole episode of its own—coming soon!)

Reality Bites… and Then It Lifts

There were definitely moments when it all felt overwhelming. The planning, the financial decisions, the logistics of stepping away from work and routine.

But every time doubt crept in, we reminded ourselves why we were doing this.

Life is short. The time is now. And we’d done the work to make it possible.

Next up: We’re getting into the good stuff—how we planned our route, chose our starting point, and figured out how to travel slow, not rushed. Plus, what it’s really like to pack up your life into a suitcase.

#ThePauseProject #ExtendedTravel #TravelPlanning #SlowTravel #TakingABreak #LifeReset #LongServiceLeave

Welcome to The Pause Project! This is all about taking a step back, embracing life’s unexpected turns, and finding meaning in the spaces we create when we pause. I’m Angela Wolstencroft, and I’m diving into a journey that my husband Gary and I decided to embark on—one that’s part break, part exploration, and part leap of faith. 

For us, this all started with a wake-up call. Gary was diagnosed with prostate cancer—not the news we ever expected. Thankfully, he caught it early, and his prognosis is good, but it was a moment that stopped us in our tracks. It made us both realise that life doesn’t wait. Time keeps moving, and someday can quickly turn into never if we don’t make a choice to live now.

We’ve spent so much of our lives focused on work, raising our children, planning for a future that always seemed a bit further away. But with our kids grown and living their own lives, we saw this as a unique opportunity—a chance to take a break from our usual routines and really ask ourselves, ‘What do we want out of this life?’

So, we worked with a financial advisor, did some soul-searching, and made the decision to hit pause—not just on work, but on the endless chase of ‘what’s next.’ We’re stepping away from the hustle to discover what it feels like to live fully, in the moment, without waiting for retirement or the perfect time. We’re trading our to-do lists for new experiences, our emails for open horizons, and our routines for adventure.

This isn’t just our story—it’s a conversation about choosing to live for today, taking a leap of faith, and exploring the world with fresh eyes. And hopefully, it’s an invitation for you to think about what pausing could mean in your own life.

Whether you’re just curious about taking a break, or you’re ready to embrace change, I hope our journey will inspire you to live a little more intentionally, with an open heart and mind.

Here’s to the first step—and to seeing where it takes us.