Bluewater Walkabout: Into Africa

Finding Healing Through Travel

By: Tina Dreffin

Narrated by: Karen Commins

Bluewater Walkabout: Into Africa is a memoir about an adventure in the wild bush of Africa and a family sailing journey. But when her sons bring along two friends who upset the family balance, rogue waves and great white sharks threaten the family's safety. Tina begins to deal with a mysterious health problem, and the perils of life at sea become very real.

The book begins with an outlandish safari through Africa, during which Tina reflects on the challenges that a life lived differently can bring. Half running from an early adulthood fraught with sexual trauma, and half running towards a dream, Tina met her husband and the two of them decided to live a life at sea.

This story is candid, moving, heartfelt, and beautifully written. What sets it aside from other sailing memoirs is that it is about so much more than the journey. Tina writes about topics such as mental illness, sexual assault, the loss of a child, and the challenges of motherhood. These are naturally woven into the narrative, creating a layer of complexity and strength, making it enjoyable to those who have been to sea and those who have not.

©2016 Tina Dreffin (P)2016 Tina Dreffin

why did it end?like that?

The voice of the narrator was perfect for this book, sad end though. shocked me

"My Grand Review of Bluewater Walkabout".

This book was extremely fascinating with many twists, and turns that made it a great read, and listen. However, it was not without some minor flaws that made me rate this a 4 out of 5 star book. I feel that this book shows the author Tina Dreffin as a woman who had to overcome so much in her youth to come out on top and really become a good mother and wife as she guides us through the journey that her family goes on in this book. I applaud her for being very vulnerable when it comes to her health struggles, assault, feminism, and motherhood that she goes through to be the woman that she became today. I really enjoyed the stories she shared of the travels that the family goes on, the countries they visit, the animals they encounter on the way, sites, food, and so much more as they travel the world. I think the story told shows how she faces struggles and continues to never give up after they happen to her. I do feel though that this story has a few minor setbacks despite having a great storyline of Tina's perseverance, and family adventure. I feel some of the information in the beginning she shares is a little bit redundant because of the timing while recalling her story. I also feel that some of the stories just seem to go on a little bit too long before getting her final points across, so I redacted a few points. However, I think it excels as a story of triumph that she can conquer anything she puts her heart in, paints a great picture of a family coming together on the high seas to discover new lands, and that it shows that she seems to be such a lovely person that is the glue that holds everyone on the journey together. I overall had a good time reading this story, and would recommend it to anyone who loves adventure, finding out secrets, triumph, and finding hope from dark times.

I love this book

Tina Dreffin’s story of personal healing, family adventure, and emotional resilience is powerful on its own—but the narration brings an added layer of intimacy that makes it feel even more authentic. The narrator’s tone captures the emotional weight of Tina’s past traumas while still conveying the wonder and beauty of her oceanic journey. Every moment—whether quiet and reflective or filled with high-seas tension—felt genuine and vivid.

The pacing of the narration is spot-on, allowing listeners to absorb the depth of Tina’s experiences without ever feeling rushed. The voice acting, especially during family dialogues and humorous exchanges between the kids, brings warmth and character to the story. It truly feels like being invited into the Dreffin family's world. The narrator handles emotional moments with care and subtlety, which makes the hopeful, adventurous tone of the book stand out even more. If you're looking for a heartfelt memoir that translates beautifully to audio, this one is an excellent pick.

love it... never a dull moment..

love it never a dull moment and makes you want pack your bags and take off for your own adventure