For professional surfer Lakey Peterson, a life spent chasing waves and adventure around the world has brought her back to Oceania and the South Pacific throughout nearly every chapter of her life. From learning to surf in Australia, to finding direction among surfing legends in Fiji, and slowing down among the rolling hills of New Zealand, each return has become a marker of who she was, who she’s becoming, and just how far she’s come…with her favorite airline, Fiji Airways, helping carry her, and her surfboards, along the way.

From surfing legendary waves like Cloudbreak, to exploring the rugged coastline and wine country of Western Australia, to road-tripping through New Zealand, Lakey shares the people, places, and waves behind some of her most memorable travel stories, and why returning to a familiar destination can reveal just how much we’ve changed.

Follow Lakey Peterson on Instagram and TikTok @lakeypeterson

To learn more about Fiji Airways, visit: FijiAirways.com

Travel Tips: Oceania (from the episode)

• Explore Western Australia by car: Head beyond the cities and road trip the coast around Margaret River, where Lakey recommends exploring the region’s beaches, surf spots, and wineries. Some of her favorite days involve following a local’s “dropped pin,” pulling over and grabbing a board, near a less-crowded stretch of coastline. 
• Leave room to wander in New Zealand: Lakey recommends getting in the car without too much of an agenda. Around Raglan, some of her favorite days were spent driving slowly through the rolling hills, stopping at waterfalls, and checking out waves.
• Get out on the water in Fiji: Don’t limit a Fiji trip to the resort. Lakey recommends exploring the islands and ocean surrounding it. Take a boat to neighboring islands; go snorkeling, surfing, spearfishing; or head out for a hike in the luscious scenery. 

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.