My Best Advice for Solo Travel ... Just Do It! Part 1:

Don't be afraid to follow your own guidance, at times enjoy your own company and also, mix with others .. there are plenty who want to play and have fun!

What is solo travel about and really, why bother going?

There is something magical about setting out into the world on your own. No schedules dictated by others, no compromises on where to eat or what to see, no needing to please others over pleasing self, or feeling guilty for following your own desires; just you, your curiosity, your dreams and an open mind, leading to an open itinerary, with exponential results.

Solo travel is not only about freedom, it is also about growth, resilience, and learning how to be comfortable in your own company, plus learning how to be comfortable as yourself in the company of others. It's about following your inner guidance, responding to inspirations, travelling the path least travelled and phenomenal experiences. It's all about choosing to live your best life and from that good feeling place, uplifting everyone else that you meet along the way to their best life. In short ... FUN!

After a few years of travelling solo, here is my best advice to make the journey safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable.

1. Start Small and Build Your Confidence

If you are new to solo travel, begin with a short trip to a destination that feels exciting but not overwhelming. This might be a long weekend in a nearby city or a few days somewhere with a familiar culture and language. Use this trip to practise navigating transport, booking accommodation, fitness and managing your own schedule.

Consider how you will do your bookings; will you do it yourself or go through a travel consultant? Have a list in your mind of reservation options; some of my go-tos are: Expedia, Webjet, Booking.com, Trip Advisor, Get Your Guide, Life Journeys or going directly to a tour company itself, like I did with Intrepid Travel and when cruising. It is helpful to have quick and easy options to follow through with, and being able to book it online, wherever you are, makes for an easy transition from place to place.

I started out with a few trips in New Zealand, plus Australia. First I did the Otago Rail Trail, an amazing 150km cycle trail in the South Island of New Zealand. I flew down from Auckland and did the cycling part over two and a bit days with an organised tour operator who arranged the transport, bike gear, accommodation and food, plus anything else I needed on the cycling part of the trip. It was a great success and an amazing experience. I added a few extra days in Queenstown on my own and stayed at the Hostel JUCY Snooze Queenstown, in a pod! My own little pod space with shared bathroom facilities. It was super cool and a great price, with a perfect location to boot. Thoroughly recommended. All booked online.

Next up, I felt called to do one of New Zealand's best hikes, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It's a 20.2km hike across an active volcano landscape with unbelievable scenery. A challenging hike through some pretty spectacular terrain; at times it feels like you are on another planet. There are amazing views, lava flows, the beautiful Emerald Lakes, some steep climbs on volcanic rock and, although the weather can be changeable and challenging, it is worth every step and all of the effort expended. As always happens when you make a decision, the universe lines you up with others who are keen .. My sister and niece heard that I was going and jumped onboard with this trip, so my solo travel expanded to being the three of us for a couple of days and then two of us staying on to do the Old Coach Road Bike Trail. Another amazing experience; starting from Ohakune it is a 30km return ride to Horopito and back, through the Tongariro National Park, farm land, bush, old railway tunnels and viaducts. We decided to take our first try on e-bikes and had so much fun with them that we had basically run our batteries down before we were even halfway on the trail .. but the laughs we had were unforgettable. The beauty of lying under one of New Zealand's oldest and longest railway viaducts, the Hāpuawhenua viaduct, watching trillions of 'fairies' flying through the air above, left us speechless .. as did the scenery, the landscape and the views of Mt Ruapehu. This solo-turned-group trip highlights how you attract to you all that you need along the way and in ways that enhance the experience, so be open to plans changing.

These trips also gave me a great opportunity to make sure that my health and fitness levels were at a good place before heading away overseas.

A few days in Melbourne, Australia, to spend time with family is a treat that I treasure quite regularly and I get to enjoy the city with all its delights, the NGV Art Gallery and good food, wine and company. It's as simple as booking my flight online, getting the SkyBus from the airport, if needed, and the rest all falls into place. Webjet and Expedia are always good options for me when it comes to booking flights. Sometimes I arrange my accommodation through Worldmark and stay at the Wyndham Resorts.

Back from Melbourne and I got the inspiration to do a one-way motorhome delivery from Auckland to Queenstown, with JUCY Rentals. I hired a 4-berth condo, at a great price because I delivered it for them to Queenstown from Auckland Airport. Generally, these relocation vehicles include the price of the ferry crossing, for vehicle and driver, across Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton and some also include free petrol or $1 per day rental fee. It's a cheap and fun way to move between the North and South Islands and works well if you are a bit flexible with your dates. You can also find fellow solo travellers who are looking for someone to travel with and share costs so check out sites like coseats.co.nz or transfercar.co.nz. Be aware of unique and cheaper options for travelling, like vehicle relocations.

Stepping up my game ...

After plenty of pre-solo-world-travel training, I was ready to head out onto the world stage and after booking through Intrepid Travel in Parnell, Auckland, I set off to South America to do a few Intrepid Travel tours through Peru, Bolivia and Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), before travelling further afield, to Europe and then Africa. Pre-booking with Intrepid Travel made my life so much easier for this initial part of my journey and hassle free when I was in South America and Africa. The tour groups were small and the itineraries were very well organised, with plenty of variety and fun.

Summary

You may have thought that you were on a solo travel journey, but I guarantee that it will be anything but that. You may have left home by yourself, but I guarantee that you will mix and mingle with more people than you generally would have if travelling with a partner, family or group. From the time you check in at the airport or hotel the universe surrounds you with as much or as little companionship that you desire; it can be as simple as a smile, a kind word or some helpful advice, what ever it shows itself to you. Of this you can be sure, your Universal travelling companion is always at your side and offering you that inner guidance...

Under the disguise of 'Sierra,' fun with Jo, Costa Rica.

... plus those new friends that you make along the way! Enjoy, and I'll see you in Part 2 and 3.

• My Best Advice for Solo Travel ... Just Do It! Part 2:

• My Best Advice for Solo Travel ... Just Do It! Part 3: