Australian Traveller

AS WE WEAVE OUR WAY through life so many things along the way evolve and change, so why would the way we travel and the things we want to see be any different? Like so many before me, I did the rite of passage journey to live and work on the other si

CHRISTMAS ISLAND IS A UNIQUE PROPOSITION: A PART OF AUSTRALIA THAT MOST AUSTRALIANS COMPLETELY FORGET IS OUT THERE (IT IS 1550 KILOMETRES NORTHWEST OF THE MAINLAND, CLOSER IN PROXIMITY TO INDONESIA) AND WOULD NEVER THINK THEY COULD VISIT. BUT WITH TH

It’s off the beaten track and atypical to a region best known for its beaches and casual coastal towns, but that’s the beauty of the Central Coast’s latest dining destination, Saddles. Set on an 11-hectare property in Mount White, a quiet rural hint

The famous ombre hues of Lake McKenzie are a must on every envy-inducing Instagram itinerary. Strike a pose on the silica white sands, dive into water so clear you can’t see it, and float your cares away in this picture-perfect, perched dune lake. Th

IN ONE YEAR’S TIME, as the sun dips onto the Western Desert horizon, a single tourist will scamper down the ‘Scar of Uluru’, the small valley worn into the red rock of this country’s most recognisable natural landmark by the sports shoes of oblivious

EAT, DRINK, RELAX. REPEAT. This seems to be the mantra on Kangaroo Island and one that feels wholly appropriate, as I embark on a three-day food and wine tour with Kangaroo Island Odysseys. KI (as the locals affectionately call it) is Australia’s thi

LOCATED IN THE FORMERLY INDUSTRIAL SUBURB OF PYRMONT,THIS OLD PUB LAY DORMANT FOR OVER THREE DECADES BEFORE BEING RESTORED AND REOPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR. TODAY IT OFFERS CRAFT BEER AND COCKTAILS, A CASUAL DINING MENU DESIGNED BY COLIN FASSNIDGE AND

Immerse yourself in the aquatic acrobatics of the Humpback Whales as they travel through Sunshine Coast waters each year from July through to November. Head out on the water and get close to these spectacular animals with a whale watching tour or swi

THE OLDEST NATIONAL PARK in Tasmania doubles as the place where, in the 1920s, winter sports were first popularised in the state. An intrepid bunch of ski pioneers would set out into the highland snow of Mount Field National Park with skis that were

Situated at the secluded northernmost tip of Hamilton Island, surrounded by the unsurpassed beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, qualia is a unique expression of world-class luxury. Immerse yourself in a relaxed atmosphere, where everything has been met

EXPECTATIONS. WHETHER IT’S a breakout band putting out a follow-up album, a bestselling author releasing a new book or a standout chef opening a lo-fi version of their lauded restaurant, hype always ups the ante. I know this, yet I can’t help feeling

ANYONE WHO HAS BOOKED a hotel room in a regional location in Australia will know that the remove in distance from, well, anything, can sometimes result in a remove in style and service. I’m not talking about resorts or lodges, of which there are some

IT’S TRUE THAT THERE’S nowhere else like the NT. It’s a vast land of contrasting landscapes: wide, red and barren; lush, leafy and green; ancient, rocky and imposing. Throw in a host of eclectic towns, a cosmopolitan city, sacred lands, and unique ch

WHEN I WAS A KID, my parents used to enjoy nothing more than hustling me and my sisters into the Volvo and setting course to some obscure garden show or centre. The days would be spent traipsing around, invariably under a punishing sun, while Dad ent

SORRY TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE if you’ve only just discovered this beautiful neck of the Gold Coast hood: the secret’s been out for a while. Holidaymakers have been flocking to Burleigh Heads for more than a century to embrace its sun, sand and sea. Earl

WITHOUT A DOUBT, anyone visiting the Kimberley needs to put the Bungle Bungle Range on the top of their must-do list. Located in the World Heritage Purnululu National Park, the 350-million-year-old Bungle Bungle Range is home to iconic and fascinatin

A HOT AIR BALLOON DRIFTS in the early morning breeze, moving gracefully over the Clarence River. The water shimmers below like a mirror to the clouded sky. From my view on the Grafton Bridge I watch as the balloon travels slowly, past the lush green

The best way to explore what’s fast becoming the food capital of Australia, WA’s Margaret River region, isn’t by hire car, 4WD or bus. As we’ve discovered (and as you will over the page) horseback is now la mode du jour , enabling you to take in

DAKOTA AND I ARE GOING TO BE GREAT FRIENDS, I can just tell. After all, we are going to be spending the best part of a week together at close quarters, relying on each other to navigate our way through the contrasting landscape of Western Australia’s

Officially known as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, no matter how you address it, this usually dry lake bed (it fills roughly every eight years but has only been at capacity three times in the past 150 years) is vast, its catchment area covering three sta

MY PHONE BUZZES with a notification. It’s surprising that a squirt of data has managed to find its way to my device on a remote sand cay in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, but nonetheless I take a look to see who’s decided to pester me all the wa

As an Australian, there's nothing quite so life-affirming as seeing over 20 Indigenous communities come from far and wide to the remote outback town of Laura in the CapeYork Peninsula to take part in this biannual, three-day, dance festival. Pitch a

THE DAY I HEAD TO HOSPITAL for major knee surgery, I set myself a challenge: to hike the Larapinta Trail within six months of being stitched up. Trekking is one of my greatest pleasures – reconnecting with nature, feeling the full force of the weathe

MOST PEOPLE WHO VISIT Birdsville have come a long way. But visitors are not made to feel like strangers; Birdsville is very inclusive. In fact, they are included on the town limits sign: ‘Welcome to Birdsville, population 115 (plus or minus 7000)’. T

Seeing the country by private jet is the ultimate indulgence, flouting check-in desks and boarding queues in favour of exclusive access. Captain’s Choice offers private jet journeys that take in some of the country’s most evocative landscapes, from t

“YA PULINGINA. WELCOME TO COUNTRY,” Ben Lord says with quiet reverence, his eyes filled with emotion. “My ancestors have walked here over thousands of years.” Ben’s words hang on every delicate, laced frond of bracken, whisper through the gnarled tru

TASMANIA IS RENOWNED for its natural wonders, but the reality still comes as a beautiful shock to many travellers. This is particularly true of Southwest National Park. Stretching over 4500 square kilometres, the park forms part of the internationall

IN THE RUGGEDLY spectacular northern Flinders Ranges, 600 kilometres north of Adelaide, sits a 610-square-kilometre multi award-winning wilderness sanctuary. Arkaroola is entirely family operated and contains some of Australia’s most spectacular moun

PERFECTLY PLACED halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne, Mount Gambier is a regional city that is fast gaining a permanent place on Australia’s must-see list. Basing yourself in Mount Gambier to explore the natural wonders and prehistoric lands of th

WE ONLY GET ONE CHANCE to try everything, one moment in time to explore what we like, love and want more of. Travelling gives us the opportunity to observe, experience and make choices to find ourselves without judgement or concern. As we grow up we

AUSTRALIA’S BEAUTY is vast and its landmarks are many, but standing among it all is one infamous monolith that captures the very essence of this great southern land. Uluru, a true icon that captures both the culture and spirit of the land, stands pro

region is a special part of the world. With its year-round warm weather, blue skies and turquoise waters, it is an untouched wilderness brimming with stunning natural wonders. It is home to one of the world’s best dolphin encounters, but that is just

BRIDESTOWE LAVENDER ESTATE is one of Tasmania’s signature destinations, recognised for the spectacular view of its seemingly endless fields of lavender flowers in bloom during December and January. The farm is an iconic piece of Tassie’s pioneering h

1. Discover convict history The convict settlement site located at Kingston is World Heritage listed and the oldest of Australia’s 11 convict sites. There are four museums depicting the four layers of the island’s history. 2. Hire a Mini-Moke Have fu

IT’S THE LITTLE things and the unexpected extra touches that turn a simple hotel stay into an unforgettable experience. A handwritten note, an included spa treatment or degustation dinner – the best experiences are made when these kinds of gestures f

West Hotel is positioned on the western side of Sydney’s CBD beside iconic Darling Harbour, lively King Street Wharf, and up-and-coming cultural hub Barangaroo, and is an invigorating walk to the Opera House, the Rocks and the Harbour Bridge. Baranga

INITIALLY I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED IN PLANTS. I had a wholesale nursery for about 20 years called Renaissance Herbs, and after 20 years I decided I wanted a bit of a change, so instead of putting herbs in pots I decided I’d put them in bottles – and t

1. AS A CHILD, OUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS WERE ALWAYS TO... Byron Bay. It just has this magic energy and I always remember a sense of calm coming across the whole family as soon as we arrived in town. 2. NOW IF I HAVE TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK, I HEAD STRAIG

Melbourne’s major international arts festival returns. festival. melbourne En Masse, a world premiere from leading contemporary circus troupe Circa, presents circus to a soundtrack of Stravinsky and more; a highlight of this year’s arts festival. br