'Truly magical': Tips and memories from one of Australia's most travelled families

The Advertiser

17-05-2025

Brought to you by Bunnik Tours.
In 1975, when brothers Sacha and Dennis Bunnik were just one and six, their parents bought an old van, renovated it, and then took the family on a five-month road trip across Europe.
"The extended family thought our parents were crazy, but it gave Sacha and me a lifelong sense of adventure," says Dennis. "It taught us that anything is possible, and we've all been travelling ever since."
That travel-loving mum was Marion Bunnik, founder of Australia's much-awarded Bunnik Tours, the business she launched 30 years ago.
Today, Sacha and Dennis are joint CEOs, working alongside her and sharing their travel passion with customers on small group tours to the world's most magical destinations. Combined, the trio has travelled to more than 320 countries.
As they celebrate this year's milestone anniversary, we asked these globetrotters to share some of the wisdom gleaned from lifetimes of exploring the world, their most memorable journeys and their favourite places in the world.
Marion Bunnik: Travel as young as you can - it helps open your mind, builds empathy for other cultures, and even helps you better understand your own.
Carry small amounts of US or Euro cash - around $200 in smaller notes. It's useful for short stays and gives you more bargaining power in markets. Always bargain with kindness - paying a bit extra can mean a lot to a local seller, and the return smile is priceless.
Travel outside peak seasons. In Europe and North America, spring, autumn or even winter offer fewer crowds and better prices. You can dress for cold, but there's only so much you can take off in a heatwave.
Sacha Bunnik: Learning a few words or phrases in the local language - even just hello or thank you - goes a long way. I usually mess it up, but people love the effort and it often brings a smile.
Dennis Bunnik: Embrace the unexpected. Some of the best stories come from moments that don't go to plan. Explore on foot. Wander beyond the tourist hotspots and see what's around the corner. That's where you'll meet locals and find the real heart of a place. Always carry multiple forms of payment. And don't rely on phone-based payments. Say yes to experiences - even the messy or unplanned ones. They're often the most memorable.
MB: I absolutely love South America - especially Peru and Brazil. Turkey is another one of my favourites. I remember staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia with Dennis, and overnight, snow transformed the landscape into a fairytale scene. The beauty of that moment will stay with me forever.
SB: I'm a big fan of the American National Parks, especially in Utah - places like Canyonlands, Arches, Zion and Bryce Canyon. It's Mother Nature at her best. The contrast of the red earth against the bright blue sky is breathtaking. We visited once in winter when there was a light dusting of snow and it was truly magical. I recommend going in the off-season because the parks can be packed in summer.
DB: I don't have one favourite place, I have many. You can't possibly compare the plains of the Serengeti with the back streets of Lisbon or the feeling of standing in front of the Treasury in Petra. Every destination has its own magic and I love it all.
MB: One of my most special travel moments was sitting on the balcony of the Steigenberger Hotel in Luxor at sunset, overlooking the Nile. As birds flew in patterns across the sky, the sound of the call to prayer echoed from every direction. It was a truly beautiful, peaceful experience.
SB: When I was 18, I went on a nine-month camping trip through Europe with my then-girlfriend, Inger (now my wife). We travelled from Poland to Spain. It was the best experience and really cemented my passion for adventure and travel.
DB: My most memorable trip is a tie between two. The first is flying into Egypt as the Arab Spring Revolution broke out in January 2011. I was the only Australian travel manager in Egypt at the time and helped get all our clients out two full days before the Australian Government evacuation flights arrived. That trip was the start of my love affair with Egypt and its people. I've been back more than 20 times since.
The second is taking my own family on a big three-month trip through Europe in 2009. The boys were nine and six and they loved it. They'd been lucky to travel a lot previously but this long trip really instilled in them their own sense of adventure and exploration. Much the same as the trip our parents took us on in 1975.
MB: Right now, I'm travelling with a Bunnik Tours' small group through the five Stans - and it's been one beautiful surprise after another. We've seen and experienced so much across these incredible Central Asian countries. It's been a real eye-opener, and the group has been one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of travelling with.
SB: Later this year, my wife and I are heading off on a cruise to Norway with Holland America Line, from Amsterdam all the way to the top of Europe. I'm especially excited to experience the midnight sun in summer!
DB: My next trip is on Bunnik Tours' brand-new Iceland tour. It's been on my bucket list for 35 years, and I can't believe it's finally happening. I can't wait!
To find out more about Bunnik Tours and its wide range of small group tours visit bunniktours.com.au or call 1800 286 645.
Brought to you by Bunnik Tours.
In 1975, when brothers Sacha and Dennis Bunnik were just one and six, their parents bought an old van, renovated it, and then took the family on a five-month road trip across Europe.
"The extended family thought our parents were crazy, but it gave Sacha and me a lifelong sense of adventure," says Dennis. "It taught us that anything is possible, and we've all been travelling ever since."
That travel-loving mum was Marion Bunnik, founder of Australia's much-awarded Bunnik Tours, the business she launched 30 years ago.
Today, Sacha and Dennis are joint CEOs, working alongside her and sharing their travel passion with customers on small group tours to the world's most magical destinations. Combined, the trio has travelled to more than 320 countries.
As they celebrate this year's milestone anniversary, we asked these globetrotters to share some of the wisdom gleaned from lifetimes of exploring the world, their most memorable journeys and their favourite places in the world.
Marion Bunnik: Travel as young as you can - it helps open your mind, builds empathy for other cultures, and even helps you better understand your own.
Carry small amounts of US or Euro cash - around $200 in smaller notes. It's useful for short stays and gives you more bargaining power in markets. Always bargain with kindness - paying a bit extra can mean a lot to a local seller, and the return smile is priceless.
Travel outside peak seasons. In Europe and North America, spring, autumn or even winter offer fewer crowds and better prices. You can dress for cold, but there's only so much you can take off in a heatwave.
Sacha Bunnik: Learning a few words or phrases in the local language - even just hello or thank you - goes a long way. I usually mess it up, but people love the effort and it often brings a smile.
Dennis Bunnik: Embrace the unexpected. Some of the best stories come from moments that don't go to plan. Explore on foot. Wander beyond the tourist hotspots and see what's around the corner. That's where you'll meet locals and find the real heart of a place. Always carry multiple forms of payment. And don't rely on phone-based payments. Say yes to experiences - even the messy or unplanned ones. They're often the most memorable.
MB: I absolutely love South America - especially Peru and Brazil. Turkey is another one of my favourites. I remember staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia with Dennis, and overnight, snow transformed the landscape into a fairytale scene. The beauty of that moment will stay with me forever.
SB: I'm a big fan of the American National Parks, especially in Utah - places like Canyonlands, Arches, Zion and Bryce Canyon. It's Mother Nature at her best. The contrast of the red earth against the bright blue sky is breathtaking. We visited once in winter when there was a light dusting of snow and it was truly magical. I recommend going in the off-season because the parks can be packed in summer.
DB: I don't have one favourite place, I have many. You can't possibly compare the plains of the Serengeti with the back streets of Lisbon or the feeling of standing in front of the Treasury in Petra. Every destination has its own magic and I love it all.
MB: One of my most special travel moments was sitting on the balcony of the Steigenberger Hotel in Luxor at sunset, overlooking the Nile. As birds flew in patterns across the sky, the sound of the call to prayer echoed from every direction. It was a truly beautiful, peaceful experience.
SB: When I was 18, I went on a nine-month camping trip through Europe with my then-girlfriend, Inger (now my wife). We travelled from Poland to Spain. It was the best experience and really cemented my passion for adventure and travel.
DB: My most memorable trip is a tie between two. The first is flying into Egypt as the Arab Spring Revolution broke out in January 2011. I was the only Australian travel manager in Egypt at the time and helped get all our clients out two full days before the Australian Government evacuation flights arrived. That trip was the start of my love affair with Egypt and its people. I've been back more than 20 times since.
The second is taking my own family on a big three-month trip through Europe in 2009. The boys were nine and six and they loved it. They'd been lucky to travel a lot previously but this long trip really instilled in them their own sense of adventure and exploration. Much the same as the trip our parents took us on in 1975.
MB: Right now, I'm travelling with a Bunnik Tours' small group through the five Stans - and it's been one beautiful surprise after another. We've seen and experienced so much across these incredible Central Asian countries. It's been a real eye-opener, and the group has been one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of travelling with.
SB: Later this year, my wife and I are heading off on a cruise to Norway with Holland America Line, from Amsterdam all the way to the top of Europe. I'm especially excited to experience the midnight sun in summer!
DB: My next trip is on Bunnik Tours' brand-new Iceland tour. It's been on my bucket list for 35 years, and I can't believe it's finally happening. I can't wait!
To find out more about Bunnik Tours and its wide range of small group tours visit bunniktours.com.au or call 1800 286 645.
Brought to you by Bunnik Tours.
In 1975, when brothers Sacha and Dennis Bunnik were just one and six, their parents bought an old van, renovated it, and then took the family on a five-month road trip across Europe.
"The extended family thought our parents were crazy, but it gave Sacha and me a lifelong sense of adventure," says Dennis. "It taught us that anything is possible, and we've all been travelling ever since."
That travel-loving mum was Marion Bunnik, founder of Australia's much-awarded Bunnik Tours, the business she launched 30 years ago.
Today, Sacha and Dennis are joint CEOs, working alongside her and sharing their travel passion with customers on small group tours to the world's most magical destinations. Combined, the trio has travelled to more than 320 countries.
As they celebrate this year's milestone anniversary, we asked these globetrotters to share some of the wisdom gleaned from lifetimes of exploring the world, their most memorable journeys and their favourite places in the world.
Marion Bunnik: Travel as young as you can - it helps open your mind, builds empathy for other cultures, and even helps you better understand your own.
Carry small amounts of US or Euro cash - around $200 in smaller notes. It's useful for short stays and gives you more bargaining power in markets. Always bargain with kindness - paying a bit extra can mean a lot to a local seller, and the return smile is priceless.
Travel outside peak seasons. In Europe and North America, spring, autumn or even winter offer fewer crowds and better prices. You can dress for cold, but there's only so much you can take off in a heatwave.
Sacha Bunnik: Learning a few words or phrases in the local language - even just hello or thank you - goes a long way. I usually mess it up, but people love the effort and it often brings a smile.
Dennis Bunnik: Embrace the unexpected. Some of the best stories come from moments that don't go to plan. Explore on foot. Wander beyond the tourist hotspots and see what's around the corner. That's where you'll meet locals and find the real heart of a place. Always carry multiple forms of payment. And don't rely on phone-based payments. Say yes to experiences - even the messy or unplanned ones. They're often the most memorable.
MB: I absolutely love South America - especially Peru and Brazil. Turkey is another one of my favourites. I remember staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia with Dennis, and overnight, snow transformed the landscape into a fairytale scene. The beauty of that moment will stay with me forever.
SB: I'm a big fan of the American National Parks, especially in Utah - places like Canyonlands, Arches, Zion and Bryce Canyon. It's Mother Nature at her best. The contrast of the red earth against the bright blue sky is breathtaking. We visited once in winter when there was a light dusting of snow and it was truly magical. I recommend going in the off-season because the parks can be packed in summer.
DB: I don't have one favourite place, I have many. You can't possibly compare the plains of the Serengeti with the back streets of Lisbon or the feeling of standing in front of the Treasury in Petra. Every destination has its own magic and I love it all.
MB: One of my most special travel moments was sitting on the balcony of the Steigenberger Hotel in Luxor at sunset, overlooking the Nile. As birds flew in patterns across the sky, the sound of the call to prayer echoed from every direction. It was a truly beautiful, peaceful experience.
SB: When I was 18, I went on a nine-month camping trip through Europe with my then-girlfriend, Inger (now my wife). We travelled from Poland to Spain. It was the best experience and really cemented my passion for adventure and travel.
DB: My most memorable trip is a tie between two. The first is flying into Egypt as the Arab Spring Revolution broke out in January 2011. I was the only Australian travel manager in Egypt at the time and helped get all our clients out two full days before the Australian Government evacuation flights arrived. That trip was the start of my love affair with Egypt and its people. I've been back more than 20 times since.
The second is taking my own family on a big three-month trip through Europe in 2009. The boys were nine and six and they loved it. They'd been lucky to travel a lot previously but this long trip really instilled in them their own sense of adventure and exploration. Much the same as the trip our parents took us on in 1975.
MB: Right now, I'm travelling with a Bunnik Tours' small group through the five Stans - and it's been one beautiful surprise after another. We've seen and experienced so much across these incredible Central Asian countries. It's been a real eye-opener, and the group has been one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of travelling with.
SB: Later this year, my wife and I are heading off on a cruise to Norway with Holland America Line, from Amsterdam all the way to the top of Europe. I'm especially excited to experience the midnight sun in summer!
DB: My next trip is on Bunnik Tours' brand-new Iceland tour. It's been on my bucket list for 35 years, and I can't believe it's finally happening. I can't wait!
To find out more about Bunnik Tours and its wide range of small group tours visit bunniktours.com.au or call 1800 286 645.