Meet the winners from the 2019 Illustration Challenge and find out their thoughts on their illustrations and travelling ideas. Each contributed to the collection for Around Australia in 30 Places.

Anna Rose

1. Tell us about your image from Around Australia in 30 Places.

With my image I wanted to be a little creative and out of the ordinary by using animals as the tourists/visitors to the Flinders Ranges. I enjoyed illustrating the camel race and even added in an emu for a bit of fun. I used bright and dusty colours with water colour paints to create what I believe the Flinders Ranges would look like. I also included some native Australian plants such as the Sturt Desert Pea. I hope that the readers of the book enjoy my colourful and fun artwork.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia where would it be?

I love going to Queensland or New South Wales. I love swimming in the ocean at both of these destinations. I enjoy relaxing in the warm weather in Queensland and seeing my Aunty and cousins in Sydney.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

My number one travel tip would be to always have a notebook and pen or pencil with you wherever you go. Then you can record your ideas, thoughts and experiences to remember in the future. You can create drawings if you have nothing else to do.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

I can't live with out my special dog puppet soft toy that travels with my whenever I go on holiday!

Daisy

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

My illustration is a water colour painting of the Australian Nullarbor. I love the orange toned colours of the Nullarbor as well as all the lines that draw the viewers eye to the amazing landscape.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

If I could travel anywhere in Australia, I would have to choose Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The clear blue water, white sands and getting close to kangaroos on the beach would be amazing!

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

My number one travel tip is to never under pack. It sounds obvious but so many times I have packed everything for a warm weather trip and then for one of the days, the weather turns cold and I wish I had packed just one jacket in case.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

I cannot live without my sketchbook and pencils in my suitcase because it helps time pass by on the plane or relax in the hotel room. Also, there is always a ton of inspiration from the surroundings.

Kai

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

My illustration in Around Australia in 30 Places depicts the Bungle Bungles – 350 million year old lime stone formations in Purnululu National Park in WA. I drew this picture in kind of indigenous style using with fine liners (markers) on paper.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

If I could travel anywhere in Australia, I would go to the Great Barrier Reef so that I would be able to see all the fascinating flora and fauna.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

My number one travel tip is: don’t get stuck with your original plan when travelling. If you come across some interesting place along your journey, go there, whether you planned it or not.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

Something I can’t live without in my suitcase is a book. After a long day hike, the best thing to do in the evening is to relax in your sleeping bag and read an interesting novel.

Layla

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

I decided to do Solomon Island because I love islands, flowers and the things they wear.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

Tasmania, because my best friend lives there, it's a beautiful place and I want to see the northern lights.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

Roll all your clothes that you would wear for the day together so that you save time and explore more. You just have to pick a pack and you’re ready to go out.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

My camera and toy dog.

Rebecca

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

My illustration was Coffs Harbour (with the Big Banana). I chose this place as I have been here many times and it has the best dessert ever. I thought that I could connect the most with this place so I knew that I had to draw it. I was just doing this competition for fun and I was not thinking about winning, so when I received the news, I was so surprised and ecstatic at the same time.

2. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

I would love to travel to New York because there are so many beautiful places to visit and the views are always so amazing. However, I would also want to travel to France because then I would be able to go to Paris and visit the Eiffel Tower. There are too many amazing places to choose from!

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

Always make a checklist of what you need to bring on that trip. This tip will always be handy because everyone has had that feeling, when you walk out your front door and you feel like you are forgetting something but you can’t remember what it is. Then by the time you arrive at your destination you remember that thing that you forgot at home. Therefore, it is always handy to have a checklist when you pack your bag to and from your destination, so that you can make sure that you are not forgetting anything.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

Sunscreen. I can’t live without sunscreen because when you stay in a hotel, most of the time there is going to be a pool and you don’t want to get sunburnt so I always bring sunscreen. This is the thing that I cannot forget during a trip.

Rory

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

In my illustration for “Around Australia in 30 Places” I aimed to incorporate as much of the natural beauty found in the Australian landscape as I possibly could. The natural environment in itself is such a precious and beautiful thing and portraying this accurately in my illustration proved to be a challenge. I tried to capture the landscape in a unique way that portrayed the way I perceive it and its wonders. This experience has helped me to develop new skills with my art and has helped me gain insights and new perspectives on the Australian environment that I am lucky enough to live in.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

If I could travel anywhere in Australia I would love to visit the end of the world in Tasmania. It is such a beautiful and peaceful spot that looks so inviting. Being able to experience the beauty of the natural environment with the fresh, crisp air would be a dream come true. I think it would be quite an inspiration for many artworks seeing as the great expanse of ocean is just a glance away. At the end of the world Tasmania, there is so much open space surrounded by natural vegetation which would be a lovely way to escape the bustling cities of the mainland.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

I think my number one travel tip would be to live in the moment and take it all in while you can. Take a step away from your device and any distractions and just take the opportunity to appreciate where you are and all you have to be grateful for. I find that when you just focus on where you are now, the experience is so pure and eye opening that nothing could make you forget how you feel in that moment. When you just take the time to be in immersed in the moment, you are able to fully appreciate where you are and what you are doing, which I think is ideal when you are travelling.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

I think the one thing I couldn’t live without in my suitcase would be my camera. When going on a holiday I find so much inspiration in the places I go. The atmosphere is always different, there’s always new things to discover and explore. Having my camera allows me to capture the memories I make and the atmosphere I never want to forget. Also, seeing as photography is such a passion of mine, I feel that practicing in a new environment is very good to help develop my skills and make the trip even more enjoyable.

Ruby

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

I chose the Great Barrier Reef because the ocean is a colourful place and I love colour. There are so many pretty things in the ocean. I also love swimming in the ocean at summertime, so this was the perfect picture for me to draw!

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

The Great Barrier Reef.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

Always take lots of pictures so if you don’t ever go back to the place you are visiting you will always have lots of memories to look back on.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

My family! I love travelling with them!

Sonya

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

I have heard people say that Wagga Wagga is the 'City of Good Sports'. Many of Australia's sporting heroes say that their home town is Wagga Wagga. So, I wanted to illustrate something that was ‘sporty’.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

Uluru. It is so unique. The rock looks incredible to visit. Have you seen the one in Around Australia in 30 Places? You can learn more about the Aboriginal people because the site is of great cultural and spiritual significance to them. They have lots of great walks, bike rides and tours to go on. I would like to go on one at night.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

Get excited. Before any holiday my family talk about the distance and the destination for months beforehand. My sister and I will go on the internet and have a look at what we are going to see.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

Always pack kid-sized headphones in your luggage. I have trouble using the headphones the aircraft give me. If we are travelling in a car, I try not to get stuck with my parents’ headphones which are way too big. Always have volume child-safe headphones that can fit in your ear properly. If you're travelling by airplane you also need a headphone socket ‘thingy’ so it can be used…. I’ve been caught without it!

Zach

1. Tell us about your illustration for Around Australia in 30 Places.

I’ve done an illustration of the Penguin Parade in Phillip Island. It’s a very popular tourist attraction where people can watch penguins waddle their way from the sea to their burrows. I thought it would be fun to illustrate a parade of penguins getting tickets at a booth to visit the beach, with the tourists looking on, so I made the picture look comical.

2. If you could travel anywhere in Australia, where would it be?

I would love to visit northern Queensland and see the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests.

3. What would be your No.1 travel tip?

Bring a notebook and keep a journal of your trip, so that you can record your favourite memories of your trip.

4. What’s something you can’t live without in your suitcase?

I love reading, so I can’t live without books, especially when there’s a long journey in the car.