Disability advocate Shane Hryhorec reveals best travel spots for wheelchair users
A spinal cord injury set Shane Hryhorec on a mission to make travel more accessible. From visiting the Mont Blanc massif to horse riding and touring Taiwan, he shows anything is possible.
Shane Hryhorec travels with a clear purpose: to make the world more accessible. The Australian entrepreneur and disability advocate has ventured across the globe, navigating tough terrain and breaking down barriers – not just for himself, but to challenge perceptions about what people with disabilities can achieve.
Growing up with a passion for sports and the beach, Hryhorec had a life-changing accident in 2007 that left him a C5 incomplete quadriplegic. What could have been the end of one chapter became the start of another. Within six years, he launched Push Mobility, now one of Australia’s leading providers of manual wheelchairs, which are built not just for practicality but for independence and freedom. Soon after, Hryhorec set his sights on the outdoors, recognising the lack of access at some of the country’s most iconic coastal spots. Leaning into a childhood love of the beach, Hryhorec worked with dozens of councils, surf lifesaving clubs and community groups, ultimately making more than 110 beaches across Australia wheelchair-accessible.
Although hesitant at first, he knew he had to take his mission to the global stage. He launched TikTok and YouTube channels and began documenting his travels. To date he’s garnered tens of millions of views on his platform WheelAroundTheWorld as he chronicles the highs, hurdles and humour of accessible travel. He admits getting around remains “physically and emotionally exhausting”, with innumerable difficulties faced on aircraft and in hotel accommodation. “But I’ve learnt to embrace them – they’re part of the journey. If you don’t, you risk being stuck at home.”
Hryhorec’s story is one of resilience and purpose. His latest series, Wheel Around the World: Taiwan, takes audiences on a funny and eye-opening ride through one of Asia’s most mountainous countries, complete with quad biking, accessibility fails and those all-too-familiar bathroom hunts. Next on Hryhorec’s agenda is to bring dated aircraft design into the 21st century, making accessibility a central concern. In the meantime he’s determined to continue advocating for the one in five Australians who lives with disability, bringing the issues they face into the public domain with “raw, un-sugarcoated, real-life takes”.
pushmobility.com.au
Most accessible city in the world
Grenoble in France – I was blown away. I visited in August 2024, and all the policies they put in place to make life easier for those with disabilities really stood out. People love to live in a place where they are considered and cared about. They had provisions in place, from public transport to the footpaths to entrances to shops, all of which made moving around the city seamless. I was supposed to be there for one night and I stayed seven days.
Horse riding for wheelchair users
Last year I went to Mount Fuji. When I arrived, a man told me that horse riding was an activity on offer. I tried to explain to him that it was possibly something I couldn’t do. It was very funny. We had a bit of a language barrier, but the next thing I know I’m being lifted up on to a horse and trotting on a trail to the top. It was unreal.
“Accessible” boat tours
I was recently in Cairns and had a great experience, but it had its moments. I booked a boat tour to Green Island (pictured) to go scuba diving, and it turns out the bathroom was on another level of the boat, despite being advertised as “fully accessible”. Australia has made some giant strides, but we’ve got a long way to go. Challenges aside, the far north coastline is amazing.
Mont Blanc massif a must-visit
Aiguille du Midi in the Mont Blanc massif is one of the most accessible places I’ve visited, despite the height (3842m). I was driven to the first base, went up the mountain in a gondola and then was able to wheel around and check everything out, just like everybody else. They had a glass cube I could roll out on and see an entire panoramic view of the landscape. It just shows there are some amazing activities you can do and they can be inclusive.
Taiwan travel tips
Taiwan is absolutely beautiful, but my goal was to get a car. When I first arrived, I started in Taipei and travelled around the east coast on the high-speed rail. Getting the car meant I could get around the entire mountainous landscape. It’s such a small island, but there are no rail lines to make the more remote parts reachable.
The best thing in Taiwan
People end up sticking to the city heart, but I try to explore further out because that’s what I get really excited about. The Shilin district is my favourite. On arrival, you can buy little lanterns, and paint them with your dreams and aspirations. Locals light them up, and then they float upwards and disappear into the sky – it’s a really wonderful experience.
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