From the vineyards of the Barossa Valley to the cobbled paths of Tuscany, Carolyn Travers has walked thousands of kilometres, one step at a time creating one story at a time.
The Tanunda-based founder of Walk Local is one of South Australia’s quiet legends, inspiring locals and travellers alike to embrace a slower, more meaningful way to experience the world.
She launched Walk Local Barossa that offers curated small group walking tours through some of the region’s most iconic and hidden pockets. These aren’t your average strolls, as Carolyn weaves in local tastings, history, intimate vineyard visits, and conversations with growers, winemakers, and artisans.
Carolyn’s journey into the world of curated walking tours began with a personal pilgrimage in 2015 when she walked from Lucca to Rome along the historic Via Francigena with her 14-year-old son. The transformative journey sparked an idea: what if more people could experience this simple but profound way of travelling in their own state.
Her motto is simple yet profound Walk Local. Eat Local. Sleep Local and it is a concept she has taken around the world.
It is a philosophy that celebrates place, people, and pace and is a refreshing antidote to fast-paced tourism. However, for Carolyn, it’s also deeply personal.
“I wanted people to explore the Barossa the way they would the Tuscan hills, on foot, unhurried, soaking up the stories, flavours, and beauty of the place.
“There’s magic in walking and something powerful happens when you slow down. You see things differently. You connect more deeply. I see it on every tour. People come for the scenery, but they leave with so much more.
“I find it is a great privilege to be able to walk to explore the world and it is wonderful that I have been able to do this with WEA, encouraging other individuals to clock kilometres while seeing things that are truly wonderful. I have been to locations around the world like Japan, Malta and Italy as a tour leader and have seen incredible natural beauty, fabulous food and wine,” Ms Travers said.
Carolyn divides her time between the Barossa and Tuscany, embodying the spirit of global connection grounded in local experience.
She’s not just guiding walks, she’s guiding people back to the essence of travel itself: presence, curiosity, and connection, standing quietly as one of South Australia’s great regional changemakers, reminding the community that the most meaningful journeys are the ones taken slowly.
Her journeys are championed by the Workers’ Educational Association of South Australia Incorporated (WEA) CEO Lesley Venning that supports the education and experiences of the South Australian community, for all ages.
“While WEA offers nearly 1,000 short courses each year, to more than 10,000 students across locations in metropolitan Adelaide, we are also incredibly proud that we have a variety of accessible and inclusive courses that have individuals like Carolyn guiding and leading their experiences.
“The concept of slow travel is something our participants are embracing as a way to really appreciate our state and the possibilities beyond. ” Mrs Venning said.
