A Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority officer travelled Down Under recently to find out how interpretation is used to bring tourists' experiences to life.

The Churchill Travel Fellowship enabled interpretation officer Elaine Jones to study heritage interpretation in Australia and New Zealand.

She has recently returned from her trip, in which her particular area of interest was the role that interpretation can play in providing a positive tourism experience for visitors.

On her travels, Elaine visited a number of national parks and heritage sites to meet staff involved in planning and implementing the interpretation.

Elaine said: "Interpretation is about communicating and telling a story.

"It is part of a visitor's experience and at the National Park Authority, it is something we are developing all the time.

"The communication skills of a guide are crucial in bringing a place to life and turning a visit into a memorable experience."

Elaine applied for the fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust last year and took the ten-week trip from October to December.

She said: "I found the experience of enormous benefit to my personal and professional development and I would encourage other people to apply for the fellowship."

For more details about the Churchill travel fellowship, including how to apply for the 2009 awards, visit www.wcmt.org.uk