Celebrity travel: Q&A with Kate Ritchie

Tell us about an average day in the life of Kate Ritchie?
No such thing as an average day for me but what I can say is that it’s never quite as glamorous as it might seem… Not that I’d trade it for anything!It was great seeing you back on Home and Away this year! What was it like returning to Summer Bay?
On one hand, strange, returning to something I knew so well and found so hard to give up and on the other hand, wonderful, spending time with old friends and doing a job I continue to adore. There is nothing like it.How much travel is involved with your work? What destinations has your career taken you to over the years?
The car trip from Campbelltown to Palm Beach for many years felt like a lot of travel but as far as actual trips go I have usually been close to home. I’ve managed to see all the capital cities of Australia and loads in between too. I did pantomime in the UK at Christmas for many years too which was loads of fun and a trip to ‘LA with Home and Away’ which included Disneyland. I must admit, I have been spoilt but travelling with work is never the same as doing it in your own time and with someone you love.

Who of your co-stars was the most fun to travel with?
Isla Fisher and Emily Symons. Girly weekends away doing naughty things (that really aren’t that naughty on reflection) and laughing lots late at night.
You recently visited Adelaide and the Barossa. Tell us about that trip?
This kind of trip had been on my ‘to do’ list for a while but it’s always a matter of trying find the time. What I loved is that we only had a few days up our sleeve and we were able to make the most it in a place like that. It included all the things I love… A fun road trip. Beautiful scenery and plenty of delicious food and amazing wine.

What was so refreshing was that in a world that can often have a little sense of snobbery attached to it, there was none of that. It didn’t matter how much or how little we knew about winemaking and fresh produce we didn’t feel uneducated! That’s what the adventure was all about, discovering it for ourselves with a few proud locals helping us do just that!
What are your must-have items for any overseas trip?
Comfortable travel clothes for the long plane trip which basically translates as a tracksuit-in-disguise! A hard-copy map because you can never rely on internet coverage and it’s fun to mark the journey on. Definitely a moisturiser and a fun travel companion. (Although I am a big fan of solo holidays too!)

Tell us about your favourite holiday?
My favourite holiday to date would have to have been in Italy. Driving around the countryside, diving off the back of boats and getting engaged! My heart also warms when I think of my childhood holidays in Port Macquarie. Nothing flashy but the most wonderful times with my family. The best kind of holiday, really.

Paris, London or New York for shopping up a storm?
Ooh. I would have to say NYC. Paris is for pastry and London is for beer!

Packing: do you roll, fold or shove it all in there?
I am extremely lucky that I married a very good ‘packer’ so all I have to do is lay it all out on the bed and my husband does the rest. He also hassles me about packing way too much but I can live with that! Unfortunately though, he is not very good at the unpacking!
Where is next on your travel wish list?
Like everyone else I have a very long one. I have never been to Portugal and would love to do that but I would also like to head back to Africa one day. I have a feeling that trip is a while away yet.

Closer to home (and really, we have so much here to cover off first) I’d have to say Uluru and Broome are high on that list as I haven’t done either yet. And I wouldn’t say no to a week in the Whitsundays. But, who would? All that white sand, champagne and swimming with turtles, absolute heaven!

Read all about Kate’s Barossa adventure here.