THE SOLO TRAVELLER
Your world. Your way.
Four Legs First – A ‘Plus One …’ Series
From left: Summer, Keiko and Kerry at Dinner Plain, Victoria, Australia. Image © Puppy Tales Photography.
A weekend for two … or more
A Q&A with Kerry Martin from Puppy Tales Photography
For Kerry Martin, the idea of a solo weekend away comes with a quiet adjustment. It is not entirely solo – it simply does not involve another human. As a dog photographer travelling around Australia with her dog, her version of escape is shaped less by distance or indulgence and more by something simpler: space, nature, and the kind of companionship that does not compete for attention.
Her weekends are not about ticking off destinations or maximising time away. They are about arriving – properly arriving – somewhere close enough to feel accessible, yet far enough to shift the rhythm of the day. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere beautiful. Somewhere that invites her, and her dog, to step outside and stay there.
What emerges from Kerry’s approach is a different way of thinking about time away – one where presence matters more than pace, and where the experience is shared, even in solitude. We asked Kerry how she shapes a weekend that feels like a genuine reset, and why travelling with her dog changes not just where she goes, but how she experiences it.
When you think about your ‘perfect solo weekend away’, what matters most?
My perfect solo getaway isn’t entirely solo, it just doesn’t involve another human! I’m a dog photographer, and I travel around Australia with my dog, so for me the perfect weekend away is somewhere quiet, somewhere beautiful, and somewhere I can just be with them.
Beyond that, what matters most is a combination of distance and how it makes me feel while I'm away. I don’t want to spend the whole weekend in the car, so the destination has to be close enough that I’m actually there, not commuting to it. And once I’m there, I want to feel inspired, invigorated, and at one with nature. Somewhere that encourages me to get out and explore rather than sit inside and scroll.
How do you design a weekend away that feels like a genuine reset, rather than just time off in a different place?
I’d head somewhere with average internet! I like to keep enough signal for safety, but not enough to tempt me back into work or social media. Before I leave, I make a conscious decision: no laptop, minimal time online, this is a proper break. Taking my dog helps enormously with that. They need walks, they love exploring, they need me present with them, and that pulls me out of the house and away from a screen. It becomes their holiday as much as mine, and that shared purpose is what makes it feel like a true reset rather than just a change of scenery.
“It becomes their holiday as much as mine, and that shared purpose is what makes it feel like a true reset rather than just a change of scenery.”
What are your strategies for keeping a solo weekend affordable without compromising the experience?
Honestly, affordability isn’t my main filter. I tend to choose based on what I feel like doing, what excites me, and what’s new. Sometimes that works out to be affordable, sometimes it doesn’t, but the experience is what I’m looking for most.
How do you decide where to go and what to prioritise over two or perhaps three days?
I have a ‘running list’ of places and experiences I want to do/try, so when a window opens up, there’s usually already something waiting for me. The other big filter for me is whether my dog is genuinely welcome – not merely tolerated and not to be left on a balcony or shut in a laundry but warmly welcomed as part of the experience. We have to be able to share it together.
For someone feeling stuck, tired, or in need of a circuit-breaker, what kind of solo weekend would you recommend, and why?
Something you’ve never done before. If you’ve never been glamping, book a glamping spot. If you’ve never stayed in a luxurious city hotel, treat yourself to one. If you’ve never done an overnight hike, give it a go. Stepping outside your comfort zone stretches you in ways a familiar weekend can’t, and you come back feeling different, not just rested.
Do you have a go-to destination for a solo weekend reset, or do you prefer discovering somewhere new each time?
Generally, I’m much more drawn to somewhere new than somewhere I’ve been before. The seasons play a big part in where I land. In Summer, when the popular coastal spots are packed, I’ll head inland or into a city while everyone else is leaving it. Autumn pulls me toward forests and Autumn colour. In Winter, I go one of two ways: straight into it, chasing snow and fog and that mysterious wintry feeling, or somewhere slightly warmer for a break from the cold.
How important is familiarity in a short solo break? Do you lean towards places you already know, or take the risk on somewhere new?
Most of the time it’s somewhere new. I love finding things I haven’t seen before. I do have favourite spots I return to, but even then I’ll try different accommodation or find a new way of experiencing the place, so it feels an equally special trip as on the previous occasion(s).
Do you have any personal rituals that signal you’ve properly stepped out of everyday life on a solo weekend away?
Leaving the laptop at home is the biggest one. It’s a small physical act that signals to my brain that work isn’t coming with me. The other is that first proper walk with my dog once we’ve arrived – letting them sniff and explore a new place, watching them come alive in it, is the moment I know I’ve actually arrived too.
“… letting them sniff and explore a new place, watching them come alive in it, is the moment I know I’ve actually arrived too.”
What small moments that define your perfect solo weekend are the ones you look forward to most?
The one-on-one time with my dog. Seeing the world through their eyes. Hiking together, then chilling afterwards, snuggled up to read or watch the sunset. Being in their quiet companionship. I love trying to give them a good time, and the by-product is that I always end up having a good time too. I get back to nature, I see and do more, and it all happens because I’m travelling with them.
Have you ever had an amazing epiphany while you were on your solo weekend away? If so, what can you share with out about what it was and what you did about it?
I can’t point to one specific lightning-bolt moment, but I’ve noticed that the break from routine and the space away from daily noise often leaves room for ideas to land. I come back with more mental clarity, and that’s usually when the good decisions and the creative ideas for my business show up. Sometimes during the weekend itself, sometimes after it, but always because of the time away.
Do you intentionally leave space in your plans for spontaneity, or do you prefer to structure your time?
I’d love to say I leave space for spontaneity, but FOMO is real for me! I tend to plan and cram as much as I can into the time I’ve got. Making the most of being there, for me, usually means planning what I want to do before I arrive.
You have one weekend …
Where? A glamping spot somewhere quiet and beautiful, ideally with water nearby and bush to explore.
For how long? As long as I can possibly stretch it.
A must-do? A proper hike with my dog, long enough that we both come back tired and happy.
The perfect detour? Stopping at a river or creek along the way, or heading to a beautiful quiet beach, so we can have a paddle.
Your top tip for making it count? Take your dog. They’ll get you outside, they’ll keep you present, and they’ll make sure you actually experience the place rather than just stay in it.
You can connect with Kerry via the Puppy Tales Photography website here https://puppytales.com.au/about-puppy-tales/ and on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/puppytalesphotography