Bluey star Melanie Zanetti shares her travel highlights

She's best known for her role as Chilli - Bluey's mum - but Melanie Zanetti's film work has taken her around the world. Here, she shares her memorable travel experiences from Brisbane to Belize.

The actor is best known as Bluey’s mum, Chilli, in the beloved animation series, but it’s her film work that has given her the best travel experiences.

I got my first passport...

When I was seven years old. When I was eight my parents took their five young children around the world for a year and, yes, it was as wild as that sounds. We went to the US, France, Italy, England, Malta and Africa. We missed a year of school but the education we got travelling was much more useful and expanded my understanding of the world and my confidence an indescribable amount.

My first holiday memory is...

Going to Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast. We would head there every summer holidays. The scents of sunscreen and salty ocean air are still some of my favourites.

I’ve been to 17 countries...

And I don’t take it for granted, especially being able to see new cities and countries travelling for my acting work. I have shot films in the US, England, Italy, Belize, Latvia and Malaysia and met the most amazing people along the way, some of whom have become lifelong friends.

Springbrook National Park is one of Melanie Zanetti's favourite Australian locations.

One of my favourite places in Australia is...

Springbrook National Park. It’s in the Gold Coast hinterland and it’s just stunning. I walked the 17km loop with my best friend a few years ago after a season of heavy rainfall and all the waterfalls (some of which you can walk behind) were rushing and the wildlife was out in full force – birds, huge goannas and butterflies everywhere. Springbrook feels like some of the best of what tropical Queensland has to offer.

The place I’d love to visit in Australia is...

The Whitsundays. I have never been and every time I see a picture of those striking blue waters against that white sand, I mentally circle it on my bucket-list.

Melanie Zanetti at the launch of Bluey's World in Brisbane.

The place I’ve visited most often is...

Los Angeles, which has really become my second home. I have been back and forth for a decade now. The city has this hum – so many people working hard, being creative and striving to achieve their dreams. LA has a never-ending array of exciting things to do and see and places to dine.

My most memorable travel experience...

Happened in Italy 2021. I was shooting a film in Florence and everything was closed due to Covid, which also meant there were no tourists whatsoever. At lunch when all the Italians were at home I would walk the Florentine streets completely alone. It was eerie and magical and a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have this insanely beautiful city all to myself. We also shot in the Uffizi gallery while it was closed. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life. At one point I was in a room by myself with Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus thinking “This will never happen again”.

The Daintree Discovery Centre in Tropical North Queensland.

The travel destination on my bucket-list...

The Daintree rainforest. In pictures it looks so lush and Jurassic.

The place that most surprised me was...

Latvia. I was there shooting a film and I went in knowing very little about the country and left feeling like I had been let into this enchanting secret. Old Town Riga where I was staying is incredibly beautiful, all the buildings have stunning Art Nouveau façades painted in pastels. It’s incredibly clean, and with flowers planted everywhere and cobblestone streets, it does feel a bit like a fairytale place. Latvia was one of the last pagan countries in Europe so there is a lot of animal and nature iconography in their buildings and artwork. I would love to go back during their Summer Solstice when people leave the city and celebrate in the woods.

Melanie Zanetti during Pride celebrations in London.

Flights missed?

One. A missed connection. For the most part the flight gods have smiled on me.

Passports/visas/wallets/luggage lost?

I once left my passport on a plane in Portugal and I was getting a tight connecting flight to Rome. Miraculously the airport staff were able to get it off the plane and get it to me in time for my connecting flight. See flight gods above.

Melanie Zanetti flying over Brisbane as part of the launch of Bluey's World.

Favourite travel companion?

I love solo travel but I took a flight with a romantic partner for the first time in my life this year and that was excellent. Highly recommend.

Flight, cruise, car or train?

I’m a good flyer but once I took the train from England to Scotland along the coast and that was a real treat.

Check-in or carry-on?

Check-in. I need all the things.

Melanie Zanetti is an avid traveller.

I manage jet lag by...

For someone who travels as much as I do I would say I still manage it badly.

The most valuable thing travel has taught me is...

To stay in the moment. When you are travelling and everything is new and exciting it’s easy to stay in a state of wonder and curiosity, which is my favourite place to be. It teaches you to be agile if the weather or circumstances shift or if the path takes an unexpected turn. I am always trying to convert travel me into regular me, to look up, to find joy, wonder, curiosity and flexibility in the way I approach my everyday life.

Bluey’s World is on at Brisbane’s Northshore Pavilion until September 14. Visit queensland.com to plan a holiday to Bluey’s home state.

Originally published as Bluey star Melanie Zanetti shares her travel highlights