A LIFE IN TRAVEL Hayden Quinn

The Australian chef on his favourite travel memories

What do youmissmost about travel right now?

Fortunately, we are back on the road filming Season 3 of

Taste of Australia so I’m doing lots of domestic travel in Australia, which I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do.

Wherewas the first overseas trip you ever took, and what are your strongest memories fromit?

It was actually to NZ for a school rugby tour andmy memories were basically of us getting flogged by you Kiwis every game.

Whatwas a standard family holiday likewhen growing up?

Pile into the van, drive up the coast, surf, sun, all the fun stuff you love to do as an Aussie kid.

Who hasmost inspired your travels?

A lifeguard called Geoff Gutchigen — he was an American guy that worked on my local beach at Deewhy, New Southwales. He would do summer in Aus and then summer in the US, back and forth. Growing up watching him do that made me want to do the same thing. In the summer of 2005, I went to the US to work as a lifeguard.

What is the greatest trip you’ve ever been on?

A trip through Central America with one ofmy best mates. I lost my job on a Monday and was on a plane to Costa Rica on the Thursday and did a fewmonths exploring, surfing and having the best time.

And theworst?

I landed in Bangkok very late and jumped in a Tuktuk. I didn’t have any accommodation booked so was left to the whims of the Tuktuk driver. I found a room, peeled back the bedsheets and the whole bed was infested with black mould from water dripping out of the ceiling on to the bed.

Not good.

What’s your approach to packing for a big trip?

Always pack less than you think you need.

What is the destination thatmost surprised you — good or bad?

Taiwan — I love that place. It is an amazing mix of the chaos of China and the organisation of Japan. The food is incredible, the people are amazing and because the island is quite small you can get around and see a lot of the country in one hit. I actually cycled around the whole country in one ofmy trips there; it was amazing.

Wherewas yourmost memorable sunrise/sunset?

Cooking in front of Uluru for Taste of Australia late last year. It was magical and I really felt very lucky to have been able to have that experience withmy team.

What’s the first thing you dowhen you get home froma long trip?

Go for a massage.

What do youmissmost about homewhen you travel?

My girlfriend, friends and family; familiarity and routine. I am on the road a minimum of 6months per year, so being home is the best feeling in the world.

What’s your favourite thing about travel?

People, stories, food and never knowing what is going to happen next.