Can two top WA Influencers survive a holiday without their phone? A new campaign tested this out, and with following a digital detox and immersion into the undeniable beauty of Esperance, our Influencers are now champions for a new disconnected travel approach.

Two of WA's leading influencers, Rahnee Bransby and Zak Hasleby, travelled in and around Esperance for a week…..and posted nothing!

Their mission was part of a new tourism campaign by Australia's Golden Outback (AGO), 303 MullenLowe and Mediahub Perth, to promote the region of Esperance, its beauty, and its ability to reconnect people with big nature, themselves and each other.

Instead of connecting with the phones and followers, the Influencers were under strict instructions not to post or use social media. They were to become Unfluencers.

And they had a lot of fun doing it. The two high profile WA Influencers enjoyed Esperance's many Instagram famous beaches, bush walks, 4x4 adventures, island cruises and local eats – without pulling out their phone once.

Rahnee Bransby, who boasts more than 250k followers on Instagram and TikTok, travelled with her friend Shani. She said for someone who's job is to post content online, keeping the phone packed away, particularly when surrounded by Esperance's Instagram worthy many great photo opportunities, was not easy.

“It was definitely hard. I've been in this industry for seven years of my life, so not having my phone there to shoot was interesting, and a little bit uncomfortable!

“I just had to reassure myself that all the precious memories that I made were going to be locked up (in my head) and not in my phone. And I think that's really beautiful because it's something special that Shani and I can hold on to, just for ourselves.”

Founder of Perth Influencers Zak Hasleby, who also has another 77k followers on his personal account, took the trip to Esperance with his Dad. He said the chance to disconnect was a revelation.

“I was able to show my Dad I could 'survive' without my phone and we were able to bond more just hanging with each other, doing activities. We really didn't stop. We explored all the beaches, driving up to 11 Mile and stopping in each bay and also a 4x4 to Lucky Bay.

“Dad also loves walking so we went for a few long walks and we were able to catch up and be more present to the surroundings.

“Now I'm home, it actually was a slow process getting my social channels redownloaded. I still haven't redownloaded Tiktok or Facebook App to my phone. And it's paying off as I admit that since then I've felt more present with partner and friends,” he says.

Australians currently spend an average of 150 minutes on their phone per day, with one in six admitting to staring at their device for more than five hours every day[1]

Australia's Golden Outback CEO Marcus Falconer said its time for people to look for new ways to unwind and disconnect, and he wants Esperance to be known as the place for doing just that.

“If we're constantly connected to our technology, we're not connected to the aspects of real life. And this is where Esperance comes in. It's the perfect place to disconnect in order reconnect with what's most important,” he said.

“Yes, it's a long way from Perth.  And yes, its internet is sometimes patchy. But it's also a place where people can go to breathe, and enjoy both an incredible region while connecting with loved ones and nature.”

While the Unfluencers were banned from social media while in Esperance, the campaign to get others to follow in their unconnected footsteps is not, with their adventures across the stunning region captured by 303 MullenLowe for the new tourism campaign.

“Everyone loves Esperance and its beauty. It was ranked 12th in the world for internet love recently. And that's brilliant, but Esperance also want visitors to come and have a wonderful, relaxed time' said 303 MullenLowe's Managing Director René Migliore.

“We wanted to surprise our audience and ask them to put down their smartphones down, look up and reconnect with big nature, and their loved ones.”

[ends]

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:

Rahnee Bransby

Zak Hasleby

Marcus Falconer

ASSETS AVAILABLE:

Images and video from Rahnee and Zak's Esperance travels

Campaign page: https://www.australiasgoldenoutback.com/esperance-so-far-so-good

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelly Leonard 0422 944 382

[1] Finder nationally representative survey of 1,058 Australians, August 2022