Rochelle Baker

Travel has always been in my blood. My grandad was an aircraft engineer, my mum worked for Air New Zealand, and my stepdad did too — and, being from Fiji, he brought a vibrant culture and perspective that enriched our everyday lives. Blending his Fijian culture into our home opened my eyes from a young age to the beauty of different traditions, languages, and ways of life.

We were probably a bit different from most families: dinner-table conversations often revolved around airport codes, we collected travel brochures and read them front to back, and thanks to staff travel, it often made more sense to explore the world than our own backyard. For me, travel wasn’t just a hobby — it was part of who we were.

My very first love of travel started with a Mickey Mouse money box and a childhood dream of one day making it to Disneyland. That little dream sparked a curiosity that never left me. I was fortunate to travel extensively with my parents growing up, but I always felt an urge to see more. Many people around me didn’t have the same opportunities, so once I could, I started travelling solo — driven by a mission to explore as much of the world as I could.

Working in the travel industry has allowed me to truly lean into my passion — because the best way to sell the world is to experience it. Along the way, I’ve hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail, hot air ballooned over the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, chartered a plane over Belize’s Blue Hole, danced with locals in Jamaica, given back to communities in Laos, and walked in the footsteps of history through European concentration camps.

While my travel adventures were paused for a time as I focused on raising my son, it also gave me a new perspective and a deeper purpose — to one day show him the world and let him experience its wonders up close, from feeling the wind on his face to seeing wildlife in its natural habitat, not from behind glass.

Travel, for me, isn’t about ticking destinations off a list — it’s about connection, perspective, and stories that stay with you forever. Now, as a Viva Expeditions Destination Specialist, I bring that experience and passion into every itinerary, creating journeys that are seamless, memorable, and full of authentic adventure.