CRAIG MAKEPEACE - FOUNDER
Craig Makepeace is a dynamic blogger, photographer, content creator, and entrepreneur, who is the co- founder of two online brands: This is Raleigh, a platform for anyone looking to explore the best of Wake County, and YTravelBlog, one of the world’s most influential travel blogs.
Craig has worked with the biggest brands in the world and has been featured by notable sites such as the Today Show, Conde Nast, and FOX Business, USA Today, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, National Geographic online and My Carolina CBS17. In addition, Y Travel Blog has received a Modern Ontrapreneuer award from Ontraport for “Best Online Publisher” and has been recognized by the White House… twice!
Craig was invited to the White House in 2014 as a top global travel influencer to attend the first travel summit. And he received a green card in 2020 for yTravel’s extraordinary ability in the art of travel blogging and for his contributions to the growth of tourism in the USA.
Before becoming an online entrepreneur, Craig played Professional Rugby League for six years in Sydney with the North Sydney Bears. Originally from Australia, Craig and his wife Caroline have been exploring the world together ever since they met in 2000. Together, they have visited over 56 countries and have lived in five countries.
They traveled full time with their daughters for seven years, which included an 18-month road trip around Australia and 11 months across the USA. He is an expert in family travel and running an online business from the road.
As a full time professional travel blogger since 2010, Craig has successfully worked with some of the biggest brands in the world including Lonely Planet, Airbnb, Canon, Amex, Ford, Nissan, Qantas, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Globus Tours, Allianz Travel Insurance.
Locally in Raleigh, he has worked with big brands and small businesses such as RDU- International Airport, Nextdoor, Kane Realty, Outer Banks Tourism, Blue Water Spa, and Harris Teeter.
Craig is also a fully licensed drone operator and, aside from shooting images for This is Raleigh blog and social channels, he has captured images for the Carolina Hurricanes, Ocracoke Island and Outer Bank Tourism, North Hills (Kane Realty) and more.
Craig’s passion for travel, combined with his expertise in digital marketing, has enabled him to create a successful online business that provides travel advice, inspiration, and resources to thousands of people worldwide.
Craig has presented at the Raleigh Rotary Club, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and keynoted at the NC Public Relations Society of America Conference.
In addition to running his blog and social brand, Craig calls his work a personal mission to inspire and empower others to travel more and create a life they love. He’s proof that travel can be a lifestyle, and he’s passionate about helping others achieve the same level of freedom and fulfillment.
Craig first moved to Raleigh in 2004 and fell in love with the City of Oaks. He’s a travel addict, sports fanatic, beach lover, and passionate craft beer drinker.
ALL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY Craig Makepeace
15 Amazing Beaches in Tasmania You Must Set Foot On
For a small state, Tasmania has a lot going for it, especially when it comes to nature. Some of the most amazing nature sites I’ve seen, have been on one of the best beaches in […]
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Guide to Visiting The Bay of Fires, Tasmania
The Bay of Fires is one of Tasmania’s biggest attractions and needs only a few words to explain how magnificent they are. Situated on the northeast coast of Tasmania, the Bay of Fires is a region […]
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How to Walk The Dove Lake Walk Beneath Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
Tasmania has a list called “60 Great Short Walks,” and one of the top walks on that list is the walk around Dove Lake beneath Cradle Mountain. We love to walk and hike but our […]
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Guide To The Famous Wineglass Bay Walk, Tasmania
You’ve probably seen a photo of Wineglass Bay in a tourism advertisement for Tasmania, it’s one of the most photographed beaches in all of Tas. The shimmering crescent of white sand meeting the turquoise water […]
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15 Best Things To Do In Brisbane, Queensland
Planning a trip to Australia and not sure what to do in Brisbane? Despite being a stopping point for exploring other parts of Queensland, there is actually a lot of things to do in Brisbane. […]
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8 Exciting Things to do in Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
When it comes to finding unspoiled and breathtaking nature in Tasmania, you won’t find anywhere more beautiful than Freycinet National Park. Despite being a national park, there are plenty of things to do in Freycinet […]
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15 Best Places to Visit in New South Wales, Australia
Growing up outside Sydney, I thought I had seen all the best places to visit in NSW. But that was a bit premature because we’d only ever really visited Sydney and the North Coast. After […]
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2 Day Sydney Itinerary: What To Do In 48 Hours
Are you wondering what to do in Sydney in only 48 hours? Great question! It’s not easy to pack all the amazing sites into a 2 day Sydney itinerary. And to be honest, I wish […]
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Subterranean London: The unmissable Underground Tours
Are you looking for a slightly different view of London? Although many of the city’s most notable sites are above ground, you will find that there is a lot of history, remarkable works of engineering, […]
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10 Beautiful Walks on the Gold Coast not to miss
Ask me what my favourite way to explore a destination is and I always say it’s walking. Especially in Goldie, as there are so many beautiful walks on the Gold Coast that allow you to […]
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15 Best Things to Do in Coffs Harbour NSW
If you’re planning a visit to Coffs Harbour, you’re probably heading there to visit the beaches and grab a selfie with the Big Banana monument. But there are plenty more things to do in Coffs […]
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The Ultimate 2 Week South Coast NSW Road Trip Itinerary
Arguably the best way to explore New South Wale’s South Coast is by car. A South Coast NSW road trip takes you past some of the best beaches, national parks, rainforests and quiet small towns. […]
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