Skip to content
Artwork for Wander Woman: A Travel Podcast
Wander Woman: A Travel Podcast · Feb 26, 2025 · 53 min

Whales, Wallabies, and Re-Wilding

In the land Down Under one island in Western Australia is in the midst of a bold project to return it to a pre-European state. The Dirk Hartog Island National Park: Return to 1616 initiative has seen sheep farming (the mainstay for the single resident family for over 100 years) be replaced by eco-tourism. All cattle has been removed, invasive species have been culled and slowly, the vegetation and biodiversity is bouncing back. Given that the Wardle family used to earn around AUS$2.5million from their merino wool enterprise adventurer Phoebe Smith decided to pay them a visit to see how the less lucrative tourism industry was being embraced by them and undertake their inspiring hiking trail - Walking with Whales. Come wander with her... Also coming up: An interview with cookbook and travel author Caroline Eden Travel Hack: Survive a long haul flight in economy class Top 10 European Islands to visit Meet Mariko Wallen a sustainable seaweed farmer in Belize Discover the value of a good pair of multi-activity socks Learn all about our Wander Woman of the Month - Truganini - often thought (incorrectly) to be the last Aboriginal Tasmanian woman Contact Wander Woman www.Phoebe-Smith.com; @PhoebeRSmith

0:00-53:43

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

In the land Down Under one island in Western Australia is in the midst of a bold project to return it to a pre-European state. The Dirk Hartog Island National Park: Return to 1616 initiative has seen sheep farming (the mainstay for the single resident family for over 100 years) be replaced by eco-tourism. All cattle has been removed, invasive species have been culled and slowly, the vegetation and biodiversity is bouncing back. Given that the Wardle family used to earn around AUS$2.5million from their merino wool enterprise adventurer Phoebe Smith decided to pay them a visit to see how the less lucrative tourism industry was being embraced by them and undertake their inspiring hiking trail - Walking with Whales. Come wander with her...

Also coming up:

  • An interview with cookbook and travel author Caroline Eden
  • Travel Hack: Survive a long haul flight in economy class
  • Top 10 European Islands to visit
  • Meet Mariko Wallen a sustainable seaweed farmer in Belize
  • Discover the value of a good pair of multi-activity socks
  • Learn all about our Wander Woman of the Month - Truganini - often thought (incorrectly) to be the last Aboriginal Tasmanian woman

Contact Wander Woman

www.Phoebe-Smith.com; @PhoebeRSmith

links1

more episodes

All episodes