Karen McMichael Cross

I've spent my life working in tourism and hospitality, marketing and sales, and business management, and I've been fortunate to live and travel extensively throughout the world.

I grew up in Mexico, Scotland, the United States and Australia, so a love of other places was in my heart from the very beginning. I have worked and wandered through the USA, the UK and Scotland, Ireland, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, collecting memories everywhere I go. I hold an MBA in Marketing, a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences and an Associate degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, but the lessons that mean the most to me come from my amazing parents and family, and from the people I meet along the way.

For me, travel has always been about experiencing a place: its people, culture, sounds, flavours and everyday rhythms. Often, it’s those unexpected little moments, when you stop and simply enjoy being there, that become your most treasured memories.

A hot chocolate in a corner café in Paris on a crisp winter morning, watching the city come to life as the aroma of buttery croissants fills the air. Or a glass of bubbles on a Greek island, watching the sun slip below the horizon as laughter and music drift from a nearby restaurant.

And sometimes, those moments are much closer to home.

Together with my husband Michael, I own and operate Montville Country Cabins in Australia’s beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland. I’d love to tell you I spend my days gazing serenely at the rainforest, but there’s usually a to-do list involved. Still, every now and then I steal a quiet moment to listen to the birds, the bubbling creek and the gentle chorus of frogs and crickets, and to watch the mist swirl amongst the trees, gently kissing the leaves. Those moments are precious, and it’s a joy to offer our guests the calm and the setting to enjoy them too.

These days, I love sharing the stories, hidden corners and little discoveries of the Hinterland, and beyond, in my writing. I hope they bring you a smile, and maybe a few ideas of your own.

And in those little pauses, I find myself wondering where the next adventure might take me. Until then, I hope my stories take you somewhere lovely too.