Written by

Neil McLean

Living like a local: Indulge in the cultural heritage of South Australia’s Barossa Valley

Neil McLean

Neil McLean is a media professional with 40 years experience as television presenter, journalist, producer. He and partner Gai Reid own and operate a television production company. Neil and Gai are also global pet and house sitters with almost 30 assignments in four countries under their belts. Neil is a published author, writer public speaker and media trainer. He is also an accomplished musician who has written several dozen songs and guitar pieces.

Autumn vines in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Source: Getty Images

Living like a local: The magic of the Adelaide Hills

Living like a local: The magic of the Adelaide Hills

"Towns such as Aldgate, Oakbank, Birdwood, Crafers, Mount Barker and Hahndorf can be explored easily as we wind our way up and down steep hills and through the sweeping roads."

Gold Coast, Australia at sunset. Source: Getty Images

Living like a local: There’s more to the Gold Coast than theme parks and surfing

Living like a local: There’s more to the Gold Coast than theme parks and surfing

"Perhaps best of all is that this is a free attraction on the Gold Coast, popular among all ages."

Sunset at Tomaree lookout in Port Stephens, NSW, Australia. Source: Getty Images

How to test the over-50s resort lifestyle for yourself – and get paid to do so

How to test the over-50s resort lifestyle for yourself – and get paid to do so

There are now about 5,000 over-50s resorts around Australia.

Before setting off on their European house and pet sitting adventure, Neil and Gai had a test run closer to home. Source: Getty Images

Living like a local: How we prepared for 300 days of house and pet sitting in Europe

Living like a local: How we prepared for 300 days of house and pet sitting in Europe

"Before Gai and I flew off to the other side of the world to start our 300-day European leg of our year-long adventure, we decided to cut our teeth with a few ‘warm up sits’ close to home."

One of the main buildings at Santa Giuliana, Umbertide, Italy. Source: Village to Villa

Living like a local: Behind the walls of a 13th century Italian fortress

Living like a local: Behind the walls of a 13th century Italian fortress

"Santa Giuliana was originally built in the 13th century as a look out across the Tiber Valley’s main route north."

Alessio and his truffle hunting dog Maggie. Source: Village to Villa

Living like a local: On the hunt for truffles in Italy’s Tuscan hills

Living like a local: On the hunt for truffles in Italy’s Tuscan hills

The thrill of joining a truffle hunter and his dog on their daily truffle hunt before settling down for homemade pasta!

The afternoon sun streaming across the mountains at La Fontanella in the Umbrian mountains of Italy. Source: Village to Villa

Travel bloggers

Living like a local: The spectacular mountain retreat in Umbria

Living like a local: The spectacular mountain retreat in Umbria

"The property was spectacular. Sweeping vistas as far as the eye could see, with peak after peak and a overlooking a huge valley."

Neil and Gai's hotel room in Annecy, France overlooked the famous lake. Source: Village to Villa

Travel bloggers

Living like a local: The epic road trip from France to Central Italy

Living like a local: The epic road trip from France to Central Italy

"That is one of the pure joys of driving in Europe."

Orador-sur-Glane, France. Only metal objects and brick walls survived the destruction. Source: Village to Villa

Travel bloggers

Living like a local: One cruel day frozen in time at Oradour-sur-Glane

Living like a local: One cruel day frozen in time at Oradour-sur-Glane

"Oradour-sur-Glane was the site of a particularly brutal atrocity during World War II. The entire village was destroyed and its inhabitants killed by German troops."

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