Clubmates Travel
How One Trip Reconnected Lolita with Her Roots
Posted on August 10, 2025 by Matilda Negri
Reading time about 7 minutes
Lolita lives in Supported Independent Living (SIL) in Geelong. After losing both her parents, she relied on her church and community for connection. But deep down, Lolita wanted more—something beyond her daily routine. She dreamed of travel, new experiences, and rediscovering herself.
The Goal
Lolita is mobile and verbal but benefits from calm, structured support when out in the community. Group tours, with their fast pace and busy crowds, weren’t the right fit for her. Lolita prefers quiet, meaningful experiences and time to move at her own rhythm.
Why ClubMates?
Her support team chose ClubMates for a customised, individual trip—knowing our team could design something that matched her needs and personality. This wasn’t about simply booking a holiday. It was about building confidence, capacity, and connection in a safe, supported way.
The Match
As part of all ClubMates individual tours, Lolita had a pre-trip video call with her matched support guide. That’s when the magic began.
Her guide, Alicia—a Gold Coast local and fluent Spanish speaker—discovered that Lolita had Spanish heritage through her late father. When Alicia began speaking to her in Spanish, the nurse present said Lolita’s face lit up with joy. A cultural connection had been rekindled.
The Trip
Over the week, Alicia and Lolita explored a different side of the Gold Coast—far from the theme parks and tourist spots. They visited waterfalls, drove through the hinterland, explored local markets, and shared quiet moments along scenic lookouts.
- Spanish music filled the car.
- Conversations flowed in Spanish.
- On the final day, Alicia surprised Lolita with a tapas dinner, honouring her heritage and reconnecting her to memories of her father. It was a beautiful reminder of how disabled group holidays can be just as rich in culture, connection, and personal meaning as any mainstream travel experience.
The Outcome
Lolita returned home feeling confident, proud, and more connected to her identity. She experienced meaningful social participation, re-engaged with her culture, and embraced new experiences at her own pace.
Her story didn’t end there. She recently returned from another solo ClubMates trip—this time to Brisbane—where her new guide, Marlene, supported her through another joyful, independent cultural experience. Now enjoying pampering, high tea and a trip to the ballet, Lolita still had fond memories of her previous visit to sunny Queensland, and her adventurous, salsa-dancing Spanish-speaking guide.
What This Shows
When travel is designed by people who understand disability and connection, the impact goes far beyond sightseeing. Our team doesn’t just organise travel—we bring out the best in people by creating space for them to shine.
Ready to start your journey?
Design a personalised trip with our specialist team and see what’s possible.
Explore Individual Supported Trips
China is one of those countries that keeps surprising people—especially when you see the landscapes that don’t even look real. Towering rainbow mountains, glass walkways over steep cliffs, mist-covered peaks that inspired movies like Avatar—China’s natural wonders feel like stepping into another world.
And guess what? With the right support and planning, these mind-blowing places can be explored by people of all abilities. At ClubMates Travel, we believe that accessible travel should be more than just getting from A to B—it should be about awe, wonder, and saying “I can’t believe I’m actually here.”
Here are a few incredible spots in China that look out of this world—and why they might just end up on your travel wishlist.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – The Real-Life Pandora
Ever seen floating mountains? Well, you’re about to. Zhangjiajie is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the inspiration behind the flying mountains in Avatar. Giant stone pillars rise up through misty clouds—it’s so surreal it feels like CGI.
There are cable cars and glass elevators that take you up into the peaks, and accessible walkways in many areas, making this a great option for travel for people with disabilities when paired with the right support crew.
The Rainbow Mountains – Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Imagine layers of red, orange, gold, and green rock stretched across rolling hills. These colourful formations look like someone took a paintbrush to the land. They’re even more breathtaking in person.
The Rainbow Mountains are best explored in daylight hours when the colours shine brightest. Some viewing platforms and paths are paved and can be navigated with mobility assistance. Like all our accessible holidays, having specialist travel support makes a huge difference in comfort and safety.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces – A Living Mirror
At sunrise or sunset, the rice terraces of Yuanyang reflect the sky like an enormous mirror. It’s peaceful, dreamlike, and incredibly calming—perfect for travellers who want to slow down, connect with nature, and just take it all in.
This spot is especially powerful for people who are working toward NDIS goals like mindfulness, emotional regulation, or confidence in new environments. With supported travel, it’s more than sightseeing—it becomes a sensory and emotional experience.
The Glass Bridge – Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
If you’re feeling brave, there’s a 430-metre-long glass bridge suspended over the canyon. Yes—it’s see-through. But it’s also safe, sturdy, and absolutely unforgettable. For those not afraid of heights, this is an epic moment that will stick with you for life.
We understand that thrill-seeking looks different for everyone. At ClubMates, our support crew are trained to encourage, not push—so passengers can take part in activities at their own comfort level.
Jiuzhaigou Valley – China’s Fairytale Water World
Think turquoise lakes, sparkling waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks. Jiuzhaigou is a dreamscape—peaceful, scenic, and full of charm. It’s also one of the more accessible nature parks in China, with eco buses and walkways that help make the journey smoother.
This kind of environment is great for building confidence, promoting social participation, and feeling part of something beautiful.
Why China? Why ClubMates?
Travelling to a country as big and bold as China might feel impossible—but that’s where we come in. As one of Australia’s most experienced NDIS holiday providers, we specialise in international supported travel that opens up the world for people with disabilities. We design every itinerary to work toward common NDIS goals—things like independence, community access, resilience, and joy.
Our team handles everything: accessible hotels, ground transport, daily activities, and of course, personal support workers who are trained specifically for disability travel.
If you’ve ever dreamt of seeing the Great Wall, watching lanterns float across the sky, or standing in a place that feels like another planet—then maybe it’s time to get curious.
ClubMates makes accessible travel across the globe achievable, enjoyable, and unforgettable.
Talk to our team about our upcoming tours to China or ask about designing your own supported adventure. We’ll help you figure out how your supports work with your NDIS funding and what out-of-pocket costs you can expect.
Because no one should miss out on the wonders of the world—especially you.
