Jessica Wynne Lockhart

Sunshine Coast

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Destination Editor, Oceania at Lonely Planet

Canadian freelance journalist, editor (@LonelyPlanet) and guidebook writer based in Australia. Terrible at Twitter; better at Instagram.

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Articles

A first-time guide to Australia's Red Centre

2 months ago | lonelyplanet.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

Far from the white-sand beaches and sparkling cities of Australia’s East Coast is the country’s beating heart – the Red Centre – where tens of thousands of years of human history and stories are etched into the features of the surrounding landscape. For many, the remote and starkly beautiful region is considered a once-in-a-lifetime destination.
A first-time guide to Australia's Red Centre

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

4 days agoRising improbably and spectacularly from the desert, the glorious monolith of Uluru has a magical color palette and a gravitas that few other natural features possess. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time, looking up close at its strangely alluring textures, or just enjoying its presence, …
Experience one of Australia’s newest luxury lodges, Mt Mulligan Station

Jan 14, 2025 | nzherald.co.nz | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

Mt Mulligan Lodge offers adventure, history, and relaxation in Queensland’s rugged outback. Photo / Morris GroupOne of Australia’s newest luxury lodges, Mt Mulligan Station has mustered up the courage to stand out from the herd, writes Jessica Wynne Lockhart. The first sign that they’ve nearly arrived is the dust. It billows up between the straggly box eucalypts and termite mounds – a wave cresting towards us, warning of their approach.
Double Or Nothing: SUP Endurance Athlete Scott Johnson

Oct 29, 2024 | paddlingmag.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

An avid surfer from the age of 13, Scott Johnson thrived in the water. “I don’t remember a time of my life that the beach wasn’t there,” he says in the 2024 documentary, Double or Nothing. It was also prolonging his life; the ocean air helped loosen the mucus building up in his lungs, a symptom of cystic fibrosis (CF) that makes it difficult for patients to breathe. Racing 80 miles on borrowed lungsIt wasn’t until Johnson was 29 his health began to fail.
Wildfires tore through Jasper this summer. Is Canada’s iconic national park ready to welcome back tourists?

Oct 19, 2024 | thestar.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

On a crisp day in September, I wake early to walk down a path I’ve walked countless times before. In the east end of Jasper, Alta., the mountain town appears much the same as it ever was, just two months after the wildfires that devastated one of Canada’s most famous tourism destinations. Behind the Forest Park Hotel, a thick stand of trees — entirely escaping the fate of their southern neighbours — gives way to snow-dusted mountaintops, where clouds cling low in rocky crevices.
A Paddlers Guide To Whale Watching In Southern Baja California

Sep 3, 2024 | paddlingmag.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

Peter Grubb was kayaking between two islands in Loreto Bay National Marine Park—a protected area off the coast of Mexico—when he saw the first clue his group wasn’t alone. Ahead, a whale’s spout erupted above the water’s surface. But he was still in for a shock when he glanced back to check on his niece in the kayak behind him. Just then, a massive blue whale surfaced between the two kayaks, its dorsal fin just the tip of the iceberg for the full 80-foot giant under the water.
Cyril Derreumaux Prepares For Atlantic Kayak Crossing

Aug 22, 2024 | paddlingmag.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

In 2022, Cyril Derreumaux kayaked solo and unsupported from California to Hawaii, relying entirely on human power—a feat that came mere years after he’d sworn off long-distance ocean paddling. Cyril Derreumaux prepares for Atlantic kayak crossingPerhaps even more remarkable is the French-born adventurer didn’t start kayaking or canoeing until he was 32 when he moved to California and got hooked on outrigger canoeing.
8 of the best day hikes in Banff National Park

Jul 23, 2024 | lonelyplanet.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

With its reputation for delivering some of Canada’s most iconic scenes on a sweeping scale – think unbelievably blue lakes backed by majestic snow-capped peaks – it’s easy to see why Banff continues to reign as the country's most-visited national park. More than four million people visit the park annually, yet it’s surprisingly easy to get away from the throngs of tourists, thanks to an extensive maintained system of 1600km (1000 miles) of hiking trails.
From Prison To Eight-Time SUP World Record Holder

Jul 22, 2024 | paddlingmag.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

It only takes a quick glance at David Haze’s impressive—albeit grueling—schedule to know 2024 might just be his year. The first six months alone see him paddling the highest lake in England, circumnavigating Fiji’s two biggest islands, tracing the coast of Dorset, tandem paddling across the English Channel, and crossing the Adriatic Sea, which is a feat that will necessitate sleeping on his board. By the year’s end, he’ll have attempted 33 world records in 33 countries over a period of 66 days.
Where Lonely Planet staffers traveled in July

Jul 16, 2024 | lonelyplanet.com | Jessica Wynne Lockhart

I am desperate for a vacation. I spend my lunch break searching up last-minute sun holidays and immersing myself in Lonely Planet articles on dreamy beaches, cool city breaks, epic festival experiences and places that offer incredibly tasty things to eat. I'm more desperate than usual, mainly because summer has eluded me so far. I live in Ireland, and this part of Europe is enduring unseasonably dreary weather.