Meet Tammy
Austria Travel Expert Behind Austria Wanderlust

About Wanderlustria

Helping travellers plan more meaningful trips to Austria with local insight, practical advice, and real experience living here. Hi, I’m Tammy, an Austria travel expert and the founder of the Austria Wanderlust website, Wanderlustria eU (my registered Austrian business), and the popular Austria Travel Planning Facebook group and the Chief Austria Wanderlust’er. I created the Austria Wanderlust website to help English-speaking travellers experience Austria beyond the guidebooks and generic package tours. This website is for travellers who want clear, practical advice, authentic experiences, and the confidence to plan an unforgettable Austrian holiday in their own way.
Tammy Ellis, founder of Wanderlustria, on Schlossberg in Graz with the Uhrturm clock tower behind her.

Originally from Canada, I first came to Austria as a PhD student in Vienna. After that, I spent many years living in Australia, but my love for Austria called me back.
Today, I live in the heart of the Austrian Alps with my family and our very enthusiastic Golden Retriever, Aussie.

Life here is a mix of mountain views, small village adventures, alpine landscapes, lakes, cultural traditions, and constantly discovering new corners of the country I thought I already knew.

Having lived internationally, relocated countries, and planned countless trips across Austria, I understand how overwhelming travel planning can feel, especially when you are dealing with a different language, unfamiliar transport systems, and too much conflicting information online.
That is exactly why Austria Wanderlust exists.
My goal is simple. I want to make planning a trip to Austria easier, more inspiring, and far less stressful.

Through detailed travel guides, practical planning advice, local recommendations, and personalised Austria trip planning services, I help travellers experience Austria with more confidence, curiosity, and connection to the country itself. As an Austria travel expert, my focus is on making Austria feel easier to navigate, more meaningful to explore, and more connected to the way you want to travel.

How I Fell in Love with Austria

My connection with Austria began many years ago while living in Vienna as a university student.  I was initially drawn in by the city’s famous landmarks, elegant architecture, alpine scenery, and rich cultural history.
It did not take long for me to realise there was something deeper that kept pulling me back.  There was a feeling I could never quite shake.

It was the rhythm of everyday life in Austria, the mountain villages that looked like they belonged in a storybook, long afternoons spent in traditional cafés, scenic train journeys through the Alps, the depth of history and culture woven into everyday surroundings, and the way each season transforms the landscape completely.

Over time, Austria became a place I genuinely connected with and eventually a place I was lucky enough to call home.
Living in Austria has allowed me to experience Austria beyond the typical tourist highlights. From hidden alpine valleys and lesser-known lakes to local traditions, seasonal festivals, hiking trails, regional food, and everyday Austrian life, I have developed a much deeper understanding of what makes Austria so special.

That is what inspired Austria Wanderlust and to share my skills as an Austria travel expert. I wanted to help other travellers move beyond rushed itineraries and crowded tourist checklists and instead experience Austria in a more meaningful, authentic, and memorable way.

Why I Call It Wanderlustria

I suffer from Wanderlust and have a serious case of Fernweh …“far-sickness” or a desire to travel, a longing for far-off places. I also have a fondness for great German words.

Wanderlust [won-der-lust]  (n.)

A Strong longing for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world

The wish to travel far away and to many different places

Wanderlust + Austria = Wanderlustria

I found my cure for these ‘ailments’ in establishing Wanderlustria. It combines both my passion for travel with my deep love of Austria and Austrian culture, and it is also the foundation of my work as an Austria travel expert. Through Austria Wanderlust and my business Wanderlustria, I share Austria’s beautiful places, unforgettable experiences, local traditions, and hidden gems with travellers who are dreaming of discovering this incredible country for themselves.

My Background and Journey to Austria

My background is actually in academia and scientific research. I hold a PhD from the University of Vienna, and I spent over 20 years working as a cancer researcher and in research administration while living between Austria and Australia. During that time, Austria was always part of my life in some way, whether through study, travel, or personal connections. It remained a place I continually returned to, even while building a career abroad.

Eventually, our family decided to move back to Austria.
Today, I live in the Austrian Alps in a popular ski resort south of Salzburg, where daily life combines both my professional background and my personal love of travel and the mountains.
This move marked a turning point. After returning to Austria, I founded Wanderlustria, a business that brings together my passion for Austria, travel writing, and practical trip planning.
Today, as an Austria travel expert and Austria travel planner, I use this combination of academic training, international experience, and real life in Austria to provide practical Austria travel advice that is both inspiring and grounded in reality. My focus is always on helping travellers plan Austrian holidays that feel achievable, meaningful, and tailored to the way they want to travel.
It allows me to bring together analytical skills from my research career with creativity and storytelling, helping travellers plan Austria holidays that feel stress-free, confident, and like they are experiencing Austria as a local.

Tammy founder of Wanderlustria and the Austria Wanderlust Website sitting in the Admont Abbey Library

Why You Can Trust My Austria Advice

Austria Wanderlust is built on lived experience rather than second-hand information, which is what sets my approach apart as an Austria travel expert.

I have spent years exploring Austria, first as a student living in Vienna, and now as someone who lives here and experiences everyday life across the country.
This gives me a practical understanding of how Austria really works, beyond what you typically find in an Austria travel guide online, or from overseas travel agents and influencers.

Over time, I have travelled extensively across Austria, from well-known cities like Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck to smaller alpine villages, quiet lakes, and lesser-known regions that many travellers often miss. This blend of travel and real-life experience in Austria helps me offer realistic Austria travel advice that reflects both the highlights and the hidden details of the country.

I also understand the challenges that come with planning a trip from abroad.
Transport connections, regional differences, language barriers, seasonal changes, and figuring out what is actually worth your time can quickly become overwhelming when you are trying to piece everything together.

Tammy the founder of Austria Wanderlust and Wanderlustria at the famous photo spot showing Hallstatt village and Hallstättersee

As an Austria travel planner, my approach is simple. I focus on clear, honest, and practical guidance that helps you plan with confidence.

I do not believe in overcomplicated itineraries or unrealistic expectations. Instead, I aim to share authentic Austria travel advice so you can make informed decisions and experience Austria in a way that feels both enjoyable and achievable.

Everything I share is based on personal experience, ongoing exploration, and a genuine love for helping travellers discover Austria in a more meaningful way

A Little More About Me- Your Austria Travel Expert

I love living in the Austrian Alps.
My happy place is at the top of an Austrian mountain, where everything feels a little simpler, and the views are epic. In summer, I am constantly in awe of the wide-open panoramas, and in winter I love watching the sun shine across the slopes as the landscape changes from day to day.

In winter, I am proudly the slowest skier in my family – even our dog is faster! But I genuinely love the time just spent enjoying nature.

I am currently working on improving my German grammar and pronunciation, and also learning Pinzgauerisch, the local dialect from the Alpine region south of Salzburg. It is not always easy, but it definitely keeps life interesting.

Our very demanding Office Manager and Chief Eating Officer is our golden retriever, Aussie. You can usually find me out walking with him every morning, no matter the weather, even in rain or the occasional blinding snowstorm. At least the views make up for it.

View of the mountains and Kitzsteinhorn from the Maiskogel
Aussie the golden retriever - the office manager of Austria Wanderlust and Wanderlustria

Let Me Help You Plan Your Austria Trip

If Austria is on your bucket list, I would love to help you experience it properly.

Whether you are dreaming of exploring alpine villages, wandering through historic cities, relaxing by crystal-clear lakes, or planning a winter escape to the mountains, there is so much more to Austria than what you will find in a typical guidebook.

Here you will find detailed destination guides covering Austria’s most beautiful cities, alpine regions, lakes, and villages, along with practical advice on how to get around and make the most of your time.

You will also find guides to inspire you and help you understand what Austria is like throughout the year, from summer hikes and lake days to Christmas markets and winter skiing.

Alongside inspiration, I share practical planning tips, including transport guidance, itinerary ideas, and honest advice to help you avoid common travel mistakes and plan with confidence.

You can also explore downloadable travel guides and planning resources designed to give you even more in-depth support as you plan your trip.

If you would like extra help, you can explore my Austria trip planning services, designed to take the stress out of organising your itinerary and help you build a journey that genuinely fits your travel style.

However you choose to plan your trip, I hope this site helps you feel more confident, inspired, and excited to experience Austria in a way that feels right for you.

People planning a trip over a map with laptop, cameras and notebook for Austria Travel Planning
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