Ever wondered who’s behind the original Australian voice of Siri? It’s singer-songwriter and voice-over artist Karen Jacobsen. Last year, she returned home from the US, resettling in Queensland. Here, she tells Explore the places she cherishes most.
“Being born in Mackay, I had visited the Whitsundays many times in my childhood. But after 20 years in New York, returning here was beyond unexpected. My favourite place in the Whitsundays is a tie between Hayman Island and Whitehaven.
“In July 2020, having craved nature during lockdown, I took a boat to Whitehaven Beach. My first experience there took my breath away. The colours of the water defy description – an astounding variety of shades of turquoise and white create visual magic. It is one of few places in the world I feel serene and in complete awe of the pristine beauty of nature.
“Thankfully, the entire area is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and protected, as it is one of the jewels of the Whitsundays and the world. I would lobby for a name change to White-Heaven beach.”
