Jon Baines Tours

18/06/2024

An amazing tour led by Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe, combined with the fascinating Orkney International Science Festival! A match made in the heavens. 🪐

Exciting News Alert!
We're thrilled to announce a fantastic collaboration! From 1st to 9th September, embark on a mesmerizing journey to and with Jon Baines Tours, followed by an immersive experience at the Orkney International Science Festival from 5th to 11th September.
Want a sneak peek of what awaits you? Check out the video of our Festival Director: https://youtu.be/LrGdmeE-_-o?si=OVR-eWD0KvvsNGJW sharing his enthusiasm for the incredible experiences that lie ahead.
Plus, don't miss the enlightening insights from knowledgeable tour leader, Durrant’s Beautiful Universe
https://youtu.be/GFZWixdQx60?si=P84ztmdKFaFW66tr.
Join us for an immersive experience filled with wonder and discovery and reserve your tickets today!

05/06/2024

What a fantastic collaboration!

ALL bookers on our Shetland and Orkney tour, led by Jo Durrant of Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe, get free passes to the superb Orkney International Science Festival, thanks to their support and generosity.

You can see our tour here - https://www.jonbainestours.com/tours/shetland-and-orkney-the-northern-isles

Exciting News Alert!
We're thrilled to announce a fantastic collaboration! From 1st to 9th September, embark on a mesmerizing journey to and with Jon Baines Tours, followed by an immersive experience at the Orkney International Science Festival from 5th to 11th September.
Want a sneak peek of what awaits you? Check out the video of our Festival Director: https://youtu.be/LrGdmeE-_-o?si=OVR-eWD0KvvsNGJW sharing his enthusiasm for the incredible experiences that lie ahead.
Plus, don't miss the enlightening insights from knowledgeable tour leader, Durrant’s Beautiful Universe
https://youtu.be/GFZWixdQx60?si=P84ztmdKFaFW66tr.
Join us for an immersive experience filled with wonder and discovery and reserve your tickets today!

05/06/2024

Hello, fellow travellers.

Our tour leaders are treasures, as our regular travellers will attest – and we have two golden events for you to enjoy in the very near future!

Join bestselling author Katie Hickman for a fascinating talk on ‘She-Merchants, Buccaneers and Gentlewomen: 17th and 18th Century British Women in India’ with light refreshments at The Bharvan in West Kensington, London on Monday 17 June 2024.

AND

Join Jason James OBE, Director General of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, for a talk on Japan’s history and culture with sake and light refreshments on Wednesday 3 July 2024.

‍Places are strictly limited for both events. To reserve your free place, please confirm attendance by emailing [email protected] by 9 June 2024.

You can see details for both events on our website at the link below. We can't wait to see you there!

Jon Baines Tours is a specialist travel company curating medical, professional non-medical, and cultural study tours and cruises to destinations around the world. Browse through our collection of articles, news items, blog posts and zoom lectures.

07/03/2024

International Women’s Day has become an enormous global event that loudly celebrates women and their achievements. We enthusiastically join in this applause. Many of our tour leaders are incredible women who are leaders in their fields and we take women who are doctors, anaesthetists, midwive, physiotherapists, historians, botanists, academics, and more, all over the world.

This IWD, we also want to celebrate the women who are not blazing a public trail, but who hold together lives and homes. Who do the unpaid labour of caring. Who live difficult lives with resilience and even humour. These are the vast majority of women around the world and they hold together entire communities.

This IWD, we particularly want to acknowledge the terrible suffering of women and children in Gaza, in the Congo, in Sudan, and other areas of conflict around the world. We must not forget women experiencing adversity, who are just as clever and talented as their trailblazing sisters, but without the chance to realise their potential, and shine.

02/10/2023

Beautiful Corfu! Doing research for some upcoming tours has been a pleasure - history and stunning architecture on an island quite unlike anywhere else. It looks very Venetian, including its mighty fortresses, and its delicious cuisine also reflects this connection with Italy - the Greek island that makes its own pasta! We were assiduous in our research of its cuisine and culture, you will be pleased to hear.

The old town has so much charm - it’s easy to spend days wandering around its laneways, shops, museums and churches, pausing frequently to join the locals having a coffee, drink or snack on one of the many cafes on the cobbled streets.

It’s so much more than the Durrells, much as we love them (as does Corfu, of course). Wish we had longer…but Albania beckons!

21/06/2023

Very happy to be working with the wonderful Friends of Kings Park!

Our newest corporate sponsor is Jon Baines Tours, who run tours all over the world, including some fascinating botanical study tours. The fully escorted tours are expert led and explore botany and botanical history in destinations including South Africa, Australia, south India and Crete.
Look out in our newsletter & magazine for more info about their upcoming tours and see more here: www.jonbainestours.com.au

05/05/2023

It’s International Day of the Midwife today and we just wanted to join in on the celebrations and give a big thanks to all the lovely midwives we’ve had the honour of hosting on our various midwifery study tours over the years! We celebrate and honour you! Pictured here is Sam, a wonderful midwife from Australia. Happy 📸 Sandor Weisz

16/03/2023

Obstetrics and Gynaecology Study Tour to Nepal and Bhutan. First day in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

12/03/2023

Obstetrics and Gynaecology Study Tour to Nepal and Bhutan. A few shots from day two in Kathmandu today.

25/02/2023

Just arrived in London and had my customary breakfast of coffee and crisps. Looking forward to a few weeks in the UK!

03/02/2023

In November 2022, we had the privilege of running this wonderful nursing tour to South Africa in partnership with the ACN, led by CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward.

We'll be running another nursing tour with the ACN in 2023 - this time to Vietnam! Watch this space and you could be looking back on wonderful pictures like these of your own!

More info here: https://www.jonbainestours.com.au/tours/medical-and-professional/nursing-in-vietnam-with-the-australian-college-of-nursing

For twelve days across November, tour leader Australian College of Nursing (ACN) CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN joined ACN Fellows and Members across South Africa as part of the inaugural ACN Study Tour.
Starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town, the Study Tour gave unique professional insights into the global challenges and advances in nursing and the profession.
Thanks to Jon Baines Tours for their support and keep an eye out for the 2023 ACN Study Tour, with the destination to be announced soon!

16/05/2022

Christopher Liu and Jon Baines looking rather like a portrait. It was a lovely lunch in Christopher's house (thank you Vivienne). Planning future ophthalmology tours to many places.

26/04/2022

Jon, Otto and Loren altogether for the first time in two years and on an inspection visit in Marseilles. We're planning visits and looking at hotels for our

11/04/2022

Sakuru is the Japanese name for cherry blossom trees and right now is cherry blossom season in Japan.

Tokyo has the most sakura trees in Japan. When they fall onto water they create hana-ikadas, which are rafts on the surface of water. Thank you Yuka Mizuno for the beautiful photograph.

We have two tours next year in which you can catch these fleeting cherry blossoms; the Optometry Study Tour In March and the Midwifery Study Tour in April 2023.

Join us for some hana-mi (or flower-watching)🌸🌸🌸

08/03/2022

Happy International Women’s Day! Today we acknowledge the amazing women throughout the world who have been changemakers in different ways, often against all the odds.

This International Women’s Day, the JBT team each chose a particular shero to celebrate. The result is a richly diverse and inspirational group of women from around the world who are also pioneers, leaders, changemakers and role models. Read on at the link below to be inspired by these extraordinary women!

https://cdn.jonbainestours.com.au/documents/articles/Happy-International-Women.pdf

26/02/2022

Copenhagen in the blazing sunshine today for the Heritage, Harbours and Hygge weekend

25/02/2022

The second day of the Heritage, Harbours and Hygge weekend in Copenhagen could have been renamed Castles, Candles, Coastlines - and Culinary Delights!

24/02/2022

NEW Midwifery Study Tour in the NT - 15–22 May 2022.

We’re delighted that our new Midwifery Study Tour to the Northern Territory will be led by Theresa Clasquin, Senior Maternity Advisor for the Northern Territory Health. Based in Darwin, Theresa’s strong public health background, experience and leadership roles across Nursing and Midwifery have contributed to significant reforms over maternal and neonatal services across the NT. Theresa is also one of the lead NT Health investigators supporting the Birthing on Country projects In both Galiwin’ku and Alice Springs.

This tour benefits from Theresa’s local knowledge and insights as you explore the spectacular Top End, from Darwin to Katherine and Kakadu. Learn about the history and practice of midwifery in the region and hear about traditional practices, the culture and customs of First Nations people and rural and remote midwifery.

The full tour brochure is here:https://cdn.jonbainestours.com.au/documents/brochures/Midwifery-in-the-Northern-Territory-May-22-8pp-WEB.pdf

To book your place or find out more, call on 03 9343 6367 or email [email protected].

This tour is supported by the Australian College of Midwifery. It is eligible for CPD and partners are very welcome. It takes a maximum of 20 participants, at which point the tour will close to further bookings - so don't delay to avoid disappointment!

24/02/2022

The Heritage, Harbours and Hygge weekend in Copenhagen has got off to a cracking start!

08/12/2021

Calling all occupational therapists who love to travel!

We have three wonderful OT study tours in 2022, carefully designed for your cultural enjoyment and professional enrichment:

🔹 Tasmania in February 2022 https://www.jonbainestours.com.au/tours/medical-and-professional/occupational-therapy-study-tour-in-tasmania

🔹 Northern Territory in May 2022 https://www.jonbainestours.com.au/tours/medical-and-professional/occupational-therapy-study-tour-in-the-northern-territory-1

AND!

🔹 A newly launched post-WFOT Congress tour to Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia in September 2022. https://www.jonbainestours.com.au/tours/medical-and-professional/occupational-therapy-in-slovenia-croatia-and-bosnia

Read all about our successful OT tour to the Northern Territory in May 2021 in this article by tour leader Marilyn Pattison and the President of Occupational Therapy Australia, Carol McKinstry, who also joined the tour: https://otaus.com.au/news/occupational-therapy-study-tour-success

In May 2021, Jon Baines Tours in association with Occupational Therapy Australia ran a tour to the Northern Territory that examined the practice of occupational therapy in remote and diverse communities.

04/11/2021

On our recent 'Gourmet London' tour the group had lunch at Randall and Aubin, an Anglo/French brasserie in Soho that specialises in the freshest seafood and a relaxed, fun and stylish atmosphere under its glittering disco ball.

The owner and chef Ed Baines talked about the culinary history of Soho and of the restaurant, which was once a Victorian butcher's shop and now a firm favourite of the Soho scene, and treated the group to a delicious lunch.

As well as being a gifted chef (and speaker), Ed is also Jon Baines's brother and has always been very supportive. A shout out to Randall and Aubin and a special thanks to Ed Baines!

28/10/2021

In a window of time between lockdowns in March 2020, a small group of midwives made their way on tour along the great Murray River from Albury-Wodonga to Swan Hill and back. Tour leader Professor Nicky Leap writes about the warm welcome and generous sharing of history, culture, knowledge and information about midwifery, women and birthing they received here: https://cdn.jonbainestours.com.au/documents/articles/Midwives-Along-the-Murray1.pdf

One of the highlights of the tour was learning about the innovative Birthing on Country cultural birthing kit in use at Wodonga Health Service. Shree Heland, Koori Maternity Support Worker and proud Yorta Yorta/Wiradjuri woman, gives fascinating insight into this groundbreaking project here.https://cdn.jonbainestours.com.au/documents/articles/Shree-Heland1.pdf

Many thanks to Nicky and Shree for sharing these fascinating articles.

Pictured: A traditional birthing tree in Albury and artworks and items included in the cultural birthing kit.

29/09/2021

On the final day of our 'Secret London' tour, our agents stroll through an unknown arcade to visit a shop frequented by James Bond.

This final mission is accomplished on the day of the Bond film premiere. James Bond is retiring...
..could this be a coincidence?

Another ‘Secret London’ mission is planned for 2022.

27/09/2021

Instructions to operatives on the Secret London Tour:

"Do not, I repeat, do NOT enter the pit of doom."

26/09/2021

The next mission on the Secret London tour involved infiltrating some sort of laboratory where they experienced (and perhaps enjoyed) the "London potion" produced.

26/09/2021

The Secret London tour has started with a briefing at an undisclosed location known only as 18. This location has been in use in an unspecified part of London for centuries.

Roger and out.

24/09/2021

Our first London tour starts today!

Those participating on our 'Secret London' tour from Friday to Monday have no idea where they are going, or what they will see.

We have presented them with an itinerary, in code. The tour leader, Agent 00Janice, will be running the operation. We will be revealing some clandestine information via bagmen, dead drops, Linkedin and Facebook.

Watch this space...

15/09/2021

Calling all midwives! We're returning to the beautiful Northern Territory and Tiwi Islands for a midwifery study tour from 10 - 17 October 2021. New spaces available!

Visit Darwin * Kakadu * Katherine * Darwin * Tiwi Islands * - see full itinerary at www.jonbainestours.com/mwnt

On a seven-night tour with tour leader Ruth King, learn about traditional practices, the culture and customs of First Nations people and rural and remote midwifery. CPD professional visits highlight some outstanding examples of remote midwifery practice, including the Tiwi Islands.

Testimonials from our last tour to the NT in May below:

‘Perfect visits….interesting and informative and engaging with inspiring professionals relating challenges and rewards in remote settings. Cannot speak highly enough of the program.’ Helen Moody, Occupational Therapy in the Northern Territory, May 2021

‘What a phenomenal tour. So well organised and led…All the health care visits were brilliant as were the cultural visits. My soul is so full and although I do not want this tour to end, I am excited to share my journey when I get home.' Jodie Watts, Occupational Therapy in the Northern Territory, May 2021

Call us now on 03 93436367 or email [email protected] to book your place, or find out more.

10/09/2021

Nursing in Crisis

Uncover the important role that nurses have played in times of national crisis, from the First World War to the Coronavirus pandemic. Enjoy this special panel discussion Nursing in Crisis at the Chelsea History Festival – Friday 17 September at 7pm.

The event will feature contributions from Professor of History Christine Hallett author of Veiled Warriors, advanced clinical practitioner in A&E Louise Curtis and Colonel (retd) Ashleigh Boreham who served with the British Army for 32 years and recently led a Mentoring and Advisory Team in support of the NHS, working to build the Nightingale Hospitals in London.

https://www.chelseahistoryfestival.com/event/nursing-crisis-panel/

Uncover the important role that nurses have played in times of national crisis, from the First World War to the Coronavirus pandemic, in this special panel discussion.

15/08/2021

How strange, our most booked tour recently is Secret London. A tour where you do not know what you are doing. The itinerary, visits and meals are secret. Well there are clues. See if you can work it out here. But if you do - keep it secret. https://www.jonbainestours.com.au/tours/cultural/the-festival-of-london-with-the-rsm-secret-london