The travel for work trap

There is a particular kind of trap that many of us who travel for work fall into.

You know the one: the “work-hotel-pub-work” cycle. You fly into a new city, spend all day in meetings, grab a quick bite at a local bar, and then head straight back to your hotel room to open the laptop and keep going until your eyes blur.

I’ve been a hard worker my entire career, but this week in Darwin, I decided to break the cycle. I made a firm resolution: the laptop stays at work.

I first came to Darwin in the late 90s, and I’ve been lucky enough to return many times since—including a stint in management at the ABC.

When the offer came up to head back north to help bed in a new team, I didn’t hesitate.

Even with a cyclone looming and heavy rain forecast, the lure of the Territory was too strong.

As it turns out, the weather has been spectacular. We’re in that magical window where the humidity is present but the sky is clear, with temperatures sitting comfortably in the mid to late 20s.

After a full-on day at the office, I realised that if I spent my evening staring at a spreadsheet in a hotel room, I’d be missing the very essence of why this place is so special.

One of my main apprehensions about this trip was the logistics of bringing my mobility scooter. I knew it would be essential for getting around in the heat, but the “white-knuckle” paperwork involved—securing approvals and lithium battery clearances—had me worried. I shouldn’t have been. The process was seamless.

From the security checks in Sydney to the flight itself (where I ended up with three seats to myself), it was one of the most pleasant transcontinental trips I’ve had. Having that independence to zip around has changed the entire experience of being here.

Following my “no laptop” rule, I finished work and headed straight to Shenanigans for a glass of wine—a nostalgic stop for anyone who knows Darwin’s CBD. From there, I took the scooter for a long run along the Esplanade.

There is something grounding about sitting by the water here. When you look out past the nearby islands, you realise just how close Darwin is to Indonesia and East Timor. It feels less like the “edge” of Australia and more like a gateway to the rest of the world.

The CBD has changed—a few more empty shopfronts than my last visit three or four years ago—but the adventure remains.

I’m finding the best local coffee spots, meeting the new team, and ensuring that this trip is about more than just the “grind.”

It’s a reminder that no matter how hard we work, we have to leave space for the “magical” moments. For me, tonight, that meant a sunset, a scooter, and a closed laptop.