Hi, I’m Meriel…

I'm happiest when planning my next adventure, discovering exceptional food and finding beautifully designed places to stay.

 

I grew up in a family that did travel differently.

My parents took us on road trips across Europe in our silver Renault Scenic, moving from cities to coastlines and small towns with my two sisters in the back seat. Those journeys shaped the way I travel today: curious, independent and always looking beyond the obvious.

With an architect for a father, an interior designer for a mother and a grandmother who believes in the power of a good meal, I've always been drawn to thoughtful design, authentic food and places with a real sense of character.

I’m not interested in simply ticking destinations off a list. I’d rather take the scenic route, find the little guesthouse, cook in a campervan or linger over a meal somewhere I almost didn't find.

Running with Woolf is where I share those journeys — and hopefully inspire you to travel with intention, stay curious and find your own way.

At a glance…

Countries explored
47

Current home
Sydney, Australia

Favourite type of trip
Road trips with plenty of hiking, great food and beautiful stays

Longest road trip
4 Weeks Canada

Favourite sunrise
Bondi Beach, Australia

Next Destination
Tropical North Queensland 2026

Travel essential
A battery pack and an offline Google Map.

Current career
Interior Designer specialising in commerical design

Travel companion
My husband, Dale

2005 - 3 in a Bed

My two sisters and I grew up measuring summer in locations rather than days, squeezed into the back of our family's silver Renault Scenic as we road-tripped across Europe. It turns out curiosity doesn't need much legroom.

Family surfing and beach adventures in Cornwall that inspired a love of travel and the outdoors.

2006 - Adventure First

Some families booked resorts. Mine packed wetsuits, fleces and enough snacks to last a full day. Looking back, I realise how lucky I was to grow up believing weekends were meant for exploring.

Childhood photo of Meriel learning to scuba dive, inspiring a lifelong love of adventure travel.

2008 - The First Dive

Three sets of braces later, I'm grateful travel taught me that the best memories have very little to do with perfect photos.

My Travel Wardrobe…

A carefully curated collection of the pieces I genuinely travel with. From safari adventures in East Africa to tropical adventures in North Queensland.

Meriel on her first solo backpacking trip through Thailand in 2013.

2013 - The first solo adventure

Thailand was the first place I travelled completely on my own. It taught me independence, confidence and that the unfamiliar is often where the best stories begin. I returned home with a passport full of memories—and unexpectedly met Dale just a few weeks later.

Meriel and Dale travelling through Sri Lanka on their first international adventure together.

2014 - The trip that changed everything

Our first adventure together took us to Sri Lanka. I was studying fashion design, Dale was working in London's nightlife, and we spent almost everything we had on that trip. Looking back, it wasn't the luxury that made it unforgettable—it was discovering that we shared the same curiosity for exploring the world.

Meriel and Dale exploring New South Wales after moving to Sydney, Australia.

2019 - Building a life around adventure

Australia gave us the opportunity to stop saving travel for annual holidays and start weaving it into everyday life. From weekend escapes to bucket-list road trips, it became the beginning of the lifestyle we'd always imagined.

If you ask me where to go...

For unforgettable road trips
Australia • Iceland • Canada

For boutique hotels & hospitality
Uganda • Morocco • USA

For incredible food
Mexico • Italy • Japan

For beautiful beaches
Australia • Croatia • Montenegro

For architecture & design
Italy • Finland • Spain

For a girls' getaway
Greece • Singapore • Spain

What You'll Find Here

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What You'll Find Here 〰️

Travel has a way of changing the way we see the world—and ourselves.

My goal is to help you discover destinations that are worth slowing down for, from unforgettable road trips and hidden hiking trails to beautifully designed stays and incredible local food.

Every guide, itinerary and recommendation is created to help you experience a destination more deeply, travel more intentionally and return home with stories you'll be telling for years.

If Running With Woolf inspires you to book the trip you've been putting off, take the scenic route or simply look at a place a little differently, then it's doing exactly what it was created to do.