8 Movies That Inspire Travel

Summer is in full swing and another public holiday (score!) is fast approaching, which can only mean one thing. Laying out the roundies at the beach? Think again! It’s all about cranking the air-con and engaging in some quality couch time.
 

With Netflix and genuine chill on the horizon, here are eight movies that inspire travel and are guaranteed to ignite your sense of wanderlust in 2016.

Midnight in Paris

There’s no shortage of films about the City of Lights, but Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris captures the French capital’s every beautiful side: when it rains, when it sizzles, this century and the last. In what is easily one of the best travel movies from recent years, Midnight In Paris follows struggling writer Gil Pender, whose passion for both writing and romance is rekindled when the clock strikes 12. Oo la la!

Lost in Translation

Bill Murray. Scarlett Johansson. Sofia Coppola. You just know this is a recipe for a pretty great movie. Set in Tokyo, Lost in Translation perfectly encapsulates that feeling of being a little out of sorts when you’re in a foreign land, and finding a connection in the most unlikely of places. 


 

The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson classic The Darjeeling Limited is a story of sibling rivalry, exquisite luggage and self discovery. Starring Jason Schwartzman, Adrian Brody and Owen Wilson as three troubled brothers, this is a film full of whimsy which will have you yearning to ride the rails (or find spiritual enlightenment) in India.

Memoirs of a Geisha

This novel-turned-award-winning-film mixes fact with fiction and a sprinkling of fairytale. It’s a Cinderalla story with a twist, following the journey of a young geisha from a humble fishing village to the teahouses of Gion. Memoirs of a Geisha is visually stunning and will have you booking flights to Kyoto faster than you can say “shinkansen”.

Roman Holiday

What’s black and white and will make you dream of riding a Vespa down cobbled Italian streets in search of gelato? Roman Holiday! Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck star in this most classic of travel movies and while it’s hard to outshine Ms Hepburn, the Italian capital manages to do just that. This is definitely one for the romantics.

Wild

Bio-drama Wild isn’t an easy watch, but it’s almost impossible to tear your gaze away from the stunning scenery of the Pacific Crest Trail. After going through some pretty tough times, Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon) hiked the 4,200-kilometre route spanning California, Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia Canada. Solo.

Eat, Pray, Love

Take this movie for what it is: a little self-indulgent but nevertheless beautiful. Julia Roberts plays Elizabeth Gilbert in this true story about one woman’s pilgrimage to Italy, India and Bali in search of inner happiness. Before you know it, you’ll be convincing yourself that you, too, need a holiday in an exotic ashram!

The Lord of the Rings

Before Game of Thrones, there was The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. They may be set in J.R.R Tolkein’s fantasy world, but those spectacular landscapes are all too real in New Zealand! From The Shire to Mount Doom and Chetwood Forest, every captivating scene sells New Zealand as the real Middle-earth.