Discovering the World, One Step at a Time

My name is Andrew Matthews, and I am a 72-year-old pensioner from Tauranga, New Zealand.
I was born in England and lived there for around 35 years before making New Zealand my home. I have always had a desire to see what lies beyond the horizon, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I really began to turn that dream into reality.
That year, I walked the Camino de Santiago, covering around 1,500 kilometres over four months. It was a journey that changed the way I looked at travel. I discovered that the adventure wasn’t simply about reaching a destination. It was about everything that happened along the way — the people I met, the places I walked through, the unexpected moments and the challenges.
After returning home, I started thinking about how I could travel further and experience more of the world.
In November 2024, that dream finally became reality. I left New Zealand with a backpack and set off on a journey that would take me through 41 countries over 366 days.
I travelled almost 60,000 kilometres, mostly by train and bus, but also by boat, ferry, tram and scooter. Whenever possible, I walked. I stayed in hostels and guesthouses, travelled on a budget and tried to experience each country from the ground rather than simply flying over it.
For me, travel is about seeing how people really live. I want to walk the streets, use local transport, eat local food, see the history and buildings, meet people and discover the places that don’t always appear in a tourist brochure.
It isn’t always easy. There are delays, long journeys, wrong turns, bad weather, tired legs and the occasional uncomfortable bed. But those things are part of the story too. Some of the experiences that were hardest at the time have become the ones I remember most.
One of the greatest things I have discovered during my travels is the kindness of people. Strangers have helped me find my way, hostel owners have gone out of their way to help, and fellow travellers have shared meals, conversations and plenty of laughs.
I believe getting older shouldn’t mean that the world becomes smaller.
My first journey ended after 366 days, but it wasn’t the end of my travelling. It was simply a pause. I came home, recovered, made new plans and prepared to step out on the road again.
The journey continues.
I don’t know exactly where every road will take me, who I will meet or what challenges will be waiting around the next corner. And that’s part of the excitement.
If my travels encourage even one other person to step outside their comfort zone and discover a little more of the world, then sharing the journey is worthwhile.
Stepping out of fear, one step at a time, into the unknown.
Welcome to Inspire Seniors Travel. I hope you’ll come along for the journey.