From The Heart: Nina Travels Mindfully

Life is full of pivotal moments, for travel writer Nina Karnikowski, it was a realisation that there must be a better way to travel and experience this planet.

Nina Karnikowski has always had a desire to experience the world. “I was always drawn to the intersection of storytelling and culture, which is why I decided to study journalism and international studies at university.” Landing a highly-coveted position early in her career as an in-house travel writer, Nina travelled to the far flung corners of the world to experience people and landscapes from cultures vastly different to her own. “I began taking more assignments in places where traditions remained intact – with the highland communities of Papua New Guinea, or the tribes of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia – where I witnessed a kind of wealth not measured in material terms but in connection: to land, to community, to an unbroken thread of ancestry and meaning.”



A quiet moment with Nina: ceremonial tea and golden offerings.

“Perhaps, I realised then, that we have it backwards. What if true abundance lies not in relentless growth, but in belonging, in slowness, in knowing we are part of something far greater than ourselves? Answering that question has become the focus of most of my storytelling..”

Later in 2019, Nina travelled to the arctic circle where she was confronted with the real effects that climate change was already having on that region. “There’s nothing like looking directly into the eyes of a hungry polar bear to make you become acutely aware of how much our fast-paced modern lives are contributing to global harm. I returned home from that trip to the Arctic with the realisation that I couldn’t continue to travel with the speed and frequency I had been.” Nina released her book Go Lightly, a travel guide on travelling sustainably and with reciprocity for local communities. In her third and latest book, The Mindful Traveller, Nina puts her values on the page and openheartedly explores her wrestle with her career, her values, and how to be in this world in a time of climate crisis. “The Mindful Traveller was an attempt to understand and share how we can travel more mindfully, with greater respect for the land, and all living beings.”

Brushstrokes and conversation, Danielle painting Nina’s nails before sitting down to talk.

“It demanded a deeper level of honesty and self-examination than my previous work. While I’ve always written first-person narrative travel pieces, the memoir required much more vulnerability and a deeper dive into my internal world. Truth is layered, and we must shed our masks and set aside shame to tell a story that is both true and beautiful.”

Nina and her husband Peter Windrim recently returned to the Northern Rivers from an eight month sabbatical in Nepal. Nina was leading two retreats in the himalayan country six months apart, and despite all logic saying it was crazy, they decided to take the leap and live there in the months between. “We realised the most ridiculous idea of all would be not to pull the ripcord on a life that was starting to become just a little too comfortable. The journey became an opportunity to explore new ideas, let go of routine, and embrace the freedom that came with stepping outside of our comfort zones.” The plunge was partly inspired by Nina’s first book Make A Living Living where she interviewed creatives on how they make a living through their creativity”

A portrait of Nina’s world: pen to paper and her words in print.

“Through speaking with 26 creatives from around the world who had all forged their own unconventional paths, I learned that the most fulfilling lives are often built on risk-taking, deep self-trust, and a willingness to challenge conventional ideas of success.”

There is wisdom to be gained in the unknown, in experiences completely different to our usual lives, and Nina has spent her life accessing this knowledge. As she continues to reshape how she uses her storytelling to shift travel and consumption, she hopes that people can start to slow down and feel the ground beneath our feet.

Nina sitting in quiet reflection by the dunes at New Brighton.

“I hope we put down our phones a bit more, and instead pick up the gardening gloves and resurrect our roles as custodians of the land. I hope we all find ways of silencing our inner critics, so we can make things in an alive, embodied way that nourishes our souls. I hope that no matter how mad the world gets, that we can all find the time and space to follow our spiritual yearnings, that can lead us to a deeper sense of belonging in the world”

You can find Nina on Instagram, and explore her books, retreats and mentoring on her website.