Old Lauristonians' Association (OLA)

Nicola Billens is Sales & Marketing Manager for ultra-high-end Australian travel company Alquemie which counts billionaires, royalty and celebrities as its clients. Normally she spends her time showcasing Australia’s incredible experiences to international travel agents but now with COVID-19 shutting down Australia’s borders, she’s keen to help locals discover that Australia has as much to offer as any far-flung destination – we just need to change our mindset.

After finishing school at 16 Nicola's parents decided she was too young for university so they shipped her off to France for a year as an exchange student. The initial culture shock was huge but it’s what she thrives on now. She returned to Australia, studied and as soon as she completed her economics degree she headed back over to Europe where she spent two and a half years travelling and working. Returning again, Nicola tried to settle down but it only lasted a couple of years before she was off travelling again – this time through Africa and Asia for 11 months.

Returning once again, she thought it might be exciting to work for the United Nations or along those lines so she studied again, this time a post-grad in Diplomacy and Trade, all the while working in marketing. Nicola moved to Sydney thinking that this move might ease the travel bug but it wasn’t to be and so she spent six months in South America. It was during that trip that she decided she was destined for a career in travel and was fortunate enough to get a role marketing luxury travel as soon as she returned home.

Four years ago Nicola randomly fell into sales and marketing for Alquemie. Alquemie crafts the most extraordinary bespoke experiences for very wealthy international guests – it’s a level of travel Nicola didn’t even know existed and the creativity the organisation injects into itineraries, borders on event management. She's very lucky that one of the selling points is that she needs to experience everything before she will recommend it, so Nicola gets to travel across Australia to try things, and then travels overseas to talk about and promote Alquemie and its experiences. It also stimulates her intellectual curiosity as she needs to have a strong level of knowledge about all things Australian, from history to nature, fashion to food and anything in between, as well as a good understanding of the nuances of the global cultures that she sells in to. Nicola says that it's her perfect job.

Until she worked with Alquemie, she never gave Australia the credit it deserved, but the more she discovers about Australia, the more she's blown away by it.  "We have so many world-class experiences and stunning landscapes that rival anything you’ll find overseas. I can say this with experience because I’ve traveled so extensively. There are so many magical hidden places just waiting to be revealed to those who seek them", she says.

With COVID-19 shutting down our borders and preventing Australians from travelling internationally, it can be the perfect time for everyone to discover their own country.  Nicola wanted to share with you a few of her favourites…..

Arkaba Conservancy in the stunning Flinders Ranges, SA – this is a 60,000 acre private wildlife conservancy. It was originally a sheep station and the land was decimated from overstocking but the sheep are now gone, the vegetation is returning and with it, so are the native animals. It’s such a beautiful conservation story. You’ll be taken on Australian-style safaris with some great guides. Make sure you do a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound – absolutely spectacular.

Bamurru Plains, near Kakadau in the Top End, NT – A stay at Bamurru is likened to being in the Okavango Delta. It’s situated on a floodplain that attracts a myriad of wildlife including tens of thousands of birds called magpie geese. You’ll sleep in these fantastic safari bungalows that have mesh on three sides so you feel like you’re fully immersed in nature. During the day you head out across the floodplain on airboats exploring paperbark forests and looking for crocodiles.

Killer whale expedition in south west WA – As much as I loved Antarctica, there’s no need to go all the way there to get the feeling of it. Between about January and April you can head out on a day trip expedition to Bremer Canyon where they reliably see orcas on an almost daily basis. It really does feel like an expedition too, and you’ll be likely to see much more than the killer whales – pods of up to a hundred pilot whales, migratory birds diving for fish, seals, dolphins and if you’re lucky, maybe even a blue whale.

If you’re looking for inspiration for an Australian holiday visit the website, https://www.alquemie.com.au/ or contact Nicola at Nicola.billens@alquemie.com.au.