My holidays: Julia Croft

Julia Croft (right), with her sister Stephanie. Photo / Supplied

What was your greatest holiday?

Israel 2013. Three glorious weeks. It was the first time I had travelled with my sister and she is the best travel companion I could ever wish for. Seriously, I recommend her to anyone. We had the perfect mix of exploring, relaxing, being spontaneous and being thoughtful. Definitely the best trip of my life.

And the worst?

A holiday in Spain many years ago. It was meant to be a whole group of friends until one by one everyone dropped out and it was just me and a couple - they broke up as soon as we got back to London. They were fighting the whole time and I was the silent third wheel. I think I spent a lot of the holiday pretending to be asleep. And to make matters worse at the start of the holiday we were meant to be flying into Genova, Spain, but my friend has accidentally booked us onto a flight to Genoa, Italy. We didn't realise till we got to the airport so the first 24 hours of the trip (which was meant to be all beach and relaxing) turned into a plane, a bus, another bus, a train, then another bus. It was grim.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

Probably too full of plans, saying yes to too many things, trying to see everything at once, eating too much and taking photos which will stay on my memory card for at least the next two years because I like how I look walking around with a flash Canon camera more than I like photography.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?

Fiordland. For sure. I have never been and am dying to go. And maybe Stewart Island too.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?

Too many places to choose from: Mexico, Africa or the Middle East. Changes depending on the day. The problem with travel is the more you do, the more you want to do. It is like an itch you can never really scratch. But today, I think if I had to choose, I would say Jordan.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

So many things to choose from. But probably, eating that salad for lunch in Morocco. Such a rookie mistake. Don't eat salad! What followed was the worst 24 hours of my life. I am sure you can imagine.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?

My friend Kenese gave me the best travel advice ever and I think about it often: "Nothing ever goes wrong when you are travelling, ever. Sometimes you just have black comedy moments." Pure gold. Has saved me from tears on many occasions.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

A shack on the side of the road in Vietnam on the road from Hue to Hoi An on the back of a motorcycle. We stopped at this nothing looking place and had one of the best meals of my life, a whole fish cooked with chilli, lime and coriander with rice on the side. So simple, but so delicious.

What's the next trip you've got planned?

I am currently living in NYC so the next trip I have planned is heading back home to Auckland after nine months living here. Which is a funny thing. The idea of being home. I forget that the returning is sometimes as hard, if not harder than leaving.
And after that maybe somewhere in Asia, somewhere hot (because I have done too many winters back to back) - hopefully with my sister.

Julia Croft stars in Indian Ink's production of Kiss The Fish which tours to six centres in June and July, playing Auckland at Q Theatre from June 9.