Brian Johnston

Sydney

Freelance Travel and Cruise Writer at Freelance

Irish-Swiss-Australian; freelance travel and cruise writer for leading Australian newspapers and magazines; sinophile, apostrophe pest and chocolate fiend.

Articles

Auckland, New Zealand cruise port guide

Aug 27, 2024 | theage.com.au | Brian Johnston

, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for laterAdd articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. This article is part of Traveller’s ultimate guide to cruise ports. The cruise terminal could hardly be better located to explore New Zealand’s breezy, sea-gazing capital, so get walking. Who goes thereYou aren’t short of choice.
10 things we'll never understand about France

Nov 16, 2023 | smh.com.au | Brian Johnston

We're all seduced by French style and culture, but are things always as they seem? Some aspects of France will always remain a puzzle to the traveller. You arrive in France expecting dapper men, and women wearing fitted skirts and Chanel perfume. But the heyday of French fashion is long gone, and probably never applied to the majority anyway. Your average French person is as casual, crumpled, tangle-haired and tattooed as the rest of us.
Does the Eiffel Tower really change size? 10 surprising travel facts

Nov 2, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Brian Johnston

Impress (or annoy) your travel mates with these curious titbits from the world of travel. Zoom in on Google Maps and you’d assume there isn’t a square centimetre of Earth that hasn’t been mapped and labelled with hotels and fast-food outlets. But 71% of our planet is covered in water, and we have a limited idea of the topography beneath. Some 80% of the seabed remains unmapped, which means over half of the Earth’s surface is unknown. In fact, we’ve mapped more of Mars.
Does the Eiffel Tower really change size? 10 surprising travel facts

Nov 2, 2023 | smh.com.au | Brian Johnston

A handful of countries are undecided about capital cities, designating different places according to various functions. In Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is the executive capital and seat of parliament, but Putrajaya the administrative capital. Bolivia, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Sri Lanka also have dual capitals. But South Africa goes one step further, designating Pretoria as its executive and administrative capital, Cape Town as its legislative capital, and Bloemfontein as its judicial capital.
I'd almost given up on an outstanding Asian meal at sea. Then I hit the jackpot

Oct 22, 2023 | smh.com.au | Brian Johnston

Maybe it's the Tibetan prayer wheels at the entrance to Pacific Rim restaurant on Seven Seas Explorer that bring good fortune. On the way in I give two of them a spin and, as they clank around, offer up the wish that I'll finally get an outstanding Asian meal at sea. I don't have great expectations. Alarm bells ring at any restaurant that describes its cuisine as "Asian".
Europe has more ocean and river cruise variety than any other continent

Oct 21, 2023 | brisbanetimes.com.au | Brian Johnston

, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. This story is part of the October 22 Europe edition of Sunday Life.See all 17 stories. You cruise through time as well as space in Europe, from Bronze Age ruins to medieval castles, baroque palaces to uber-modern architecture. You can get your fix of cream cakes and pastries, cathedrals or boutiques, or be entertained by stories of kings and courtesans while on shore excursions.
Europe has more ocean and river cruise variety than any other continent

Oct 21, 2023 | smh.com.au | Brian Johnston

You cruise through time as well as space in Europe, from Bronze Age ruins to medieval castles, baroque palaces to uber-modern architecture. You can get your fix of cream cakes and pastries, cathedrals or boutiques, or be entertained by stories of kings and courtesans while on shore excursions. Just as satisfying is the landscape, best viewed from the water: crumbling Mediterranean islands, vineyard terraces and waterfalls gushing from fjords.
10 things we'll never understand about England

Oct 19, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Brian Johnston

England has long been a top destination for travellers but, despite the familiarity with its culture and traditions, some of its habits remain utterly bemusing. Oh, how we love those archaic, entertaining and sometimes risqué medieval place names – though why they’re left to linger on is a great mystery. Minge Lane in Worcestershire was voted the UK’s most embarrassing place name in 2014, but remains unchanged.
10 things we'll never understand about England

Oct 19, 2023 | smh.com.au | Brian Johnston

England has long been a top destination for Australian travellers but, despite our familiarity with its culture and traditions, some of its habits remain utterly bemusing. Oh, how we love those archaic, entertaining and sometimes risqué medieval place names - though why they're left to linger on is a great mystery. Minge Lane in Worcestershire was voted the UK's most embarrassing place name in 2014, but remains unchanged.
How to eat cheaply in Europe

Oct 9, 2023 | smh.com.au | Brian Johnston

This article is part of Traveller's Holiday Guide to Affordable Travel. See all stories. If you really want to rein in spending, then supermarkets, street markets, bakeries and delis in Europe will supply quality goodies for a budget-priced picnic or hotel-room meal. Sit-down meals will always cost more but you can save if you make smart choices. All you have to do is shift your main meal to lunchtime and you'll save 30 per cent or more. How?