Australian Traveller

The Zagame family, famed in the Victorian hospitality industry, has added to its portfolio with the opening of its first boutique design hotel, Zagame’s House. The $ 18 -million transformation of their former hotel on Lygon Street, Carlton, has resul

WA’s Voyager Estate has introduced The Culinary Project, a series of five-course dinners for just 10 guests each held in the estate’s private residence, pairing the cuisine in its recently named Regional Restaurant of the Year with the wines that ins

Populating the rooftop of Westfield’s flagship Sydney property, a formerly underutilised space with impressive inner-city skyline views, modern Middle East diner BABYLON takes up more than half of the rooftop, with a 216-seat restaurant, two bars, a

NEWCASTLE IS A THRIVING CITY by the sea – flanked by eight golden beaches waiting for surfers, sandcastles, sunrise snaps and sunset picnics. An unforgettable experience is walking the city’s iconic coastal walk, Bathers Way, which stretches six kilo

FAR REMOVED FROM the world’s cultural metropolises, the tranquil Noosa Hinterland is not the first place you’d expect to meet one of the forefathers of Pop Art. But for British artist Peter Phillips, who rose to fame in the 1960s alongside Royal Coll

DR MICHAEL BREIN HAS ‘visited’ more than 100 countries. He’s a box ticker, to be sure. He popped into Belize for just 45 minutes so he could add to his list, and once took an all-day train journey from Italy and back again simply to stop in Liechtens

Keep an eagle eye on the horizon as a whole host of new ships are making their way to Australian waters for the 2020 cruising season. That includes oceangoing gems such as the Carnival Splendor – a beautiful 14-decker that carries 3700 passengers and

HALFWAY BETWEEN THE BUSTLING hubs of Sydney and Brisbane you’ll find Coffs Harbour, the heart of the beautiful Coffs Coast. This tranquil seaside city is a nature lovers’ paradise, nestled at a picturesque junction where the ancient Gondwana rainfore

CHANNELLING THE SAME DESIGNER STYLINGS AS ITS MOLLYMOOK COUSINS, BANNISTERS PORT STEPHENS OPENED LAST YEAR: A RETRO BEACH MOTEL TRANSFORMED INTO BOUTIQUE DIGS WITH 78 ROOMS, FOUR LUXURY SUITES, A PENTHOUSE AND AN INFINITY POOL. THERE’S A RICK STEIN R

IF YOU’VE HEARD OF THE ISOLATED, iconic, historic outback township of Birdsville in Queensland’s remote Diamantina region, then you’ve probably heard of the famous Birdsville Races, the vast Simpson Desert and its Big Red Sand Dune, and the circa 188

YOU MIGHT THINK that the likes of Hawthorn or anywhere in Adelaide might have the highest concentration of Aussie Rules obsessives, but on a per capita basis you’d have to head to the other extreme of Australia, in the far north, to find the real bea

Experience the untouched beauty of the Whitsundays with Cruise Whitsundays, the region’s largest and most experienced marine operator. Offering a range of superb day cruises, overnight experiences, transfer services between islands and the mainland p

A RAINBOW BLAZES over the Story Bridge as our Uber pulls up to the geometric facade of The Fantauzzo, sitting snug underneath Brisbane’s metal coat hanger. A reprieve, after a day of deluge. Around us, families, well-heeled wedding guests and revelle

ENCOMPASSING the Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions, this pristine stretch of the New South Wales coast has been flying under the radar as a lesser-known winter playground for years. Characterised by dramatic scenery, untouched nature and som

NESTLED AT THE CONCLUDING point of the Tamar Valley estuary and a 2.5-hour drive north of Hobart, Launceston is fast erasing its somewhat dead-end reputation, thanks in no small part to a host of locals who are giving the working-class Tasmanian city

It’s just over a year since Queensland hosted Australia’s biggest event this decade. The 2018 Commonwealth Games delivered a compelling cauldron of drama, desperation, tears and triumph. But, more importantly, it introduced a global audience of 1.5 b

YOU’VE PROBABLY heard the rumblings about Brisbane. The river city has been energised by a raft of glittering new hotels, restaurants and events. But it’s Brisbane’s way of life that makes it so special. An urbane metropolis set to the pace of the tr

When tree hugging was a thing, I gave it a good nudge. I’d wrap my arms around those solid, dependable trunks, sending warm fuzzies deep into their growth rings. In all the times I did it, I never expected to be hugged back. Then one day, a 75-metre-

EXPLORING THE NATION’S must-see highlights, as well as the unforgettable hidden gems, Inspiring Journeys brings Australia to life through their uniquely immersive experiences. Allowing guests a more intimate exploration of Australia’s varied and brea

THE WARM CLIMATE, rich soil and abundant oceans ensure the Sunshine Coast is ideal for creating exceptional food products. With more than 900 innovative farmers and producers, paddock-to-plate experiences abound with farm gates, food and wine tours a

As a country of coast-huggers, Australia knows a thing or two about great beach houses. Whether that’s the rustic-chic Little Black Shack perched on the water’s edge at Pittwater in Sydney or a private retreat in the shape of Tasmania’s Satellite Isl

Paradise is a much overused word these days, but we are not exaggerating when we say that Lord Howe Island is just that, paradise. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed island is just 700 kilometres north-west of Sydney, but a world away from the everyday

I’m in the basement bar of a contemporary art gallery that used to be a masonic temple. It serves cocktails made with pine foraged from a nearby forest and is styled with eclectic furnishings foraged from Gumtree. On another evening I might have caug

EVERY NOW AND THEN, you just have to stock up on the feelings that remind you that life – and the world – is beautiful. Grafton’s Jacaranda season is a way to plug into that sense of wonder, as Grafton’s streets and parks are transformed into somethi

Artists are credited with being solitary creatures, lost in their own artistic vision. But for those needing a little help finding their inner Monet, an artists’ retreat in a suitably inspiring location is just the ticket. Artworkshops Australia cond

Drive straight from Perth to Margaret River, famous for its premium wines and world-class surf. It’s also the home of beaches, plenty of restaurants and this secret spot: Indijup Natural Spa. Simply sit in the water and relax as waves rhythmically fi

A fully equipped 4WD is like a sturdy ship able to cover every stretch of this wide, brown land of ours. And the off-roading capital of Australia, if not the entire world, is Alice Springs. It’s a national love affair celebrated every year at the Tat

THROUGH THE HEART of WA, there’s a self-drive adventure like few others in the world. Wind your way 1,000 kilometres north of Perth and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with Mount Augustus, the world’s biggest rock. An epic road trip best done over

When buying our first home, with two new infants to house, my wife and I didn’t look for the smallest one we could find (which, perversely, is perhaps the best approach when it comes to purchasing property in Sydney). So why on Earth did we think it

FAMILY HOLIDAY TIME is a precious resource. We can’t afford to fritter it away on disappointing experiences, underwhelming facilities and – worst of all – location letdowns. That’s why Discovery Holiday Parks offers locations as diverse and accessibl

JESSICA ZIMMERMAN is the venue manager of Renmark’s Twenty Third Street Distillery, a sleek modern offering housed in a century-old landmark that has been named Vintage Cellars’ Distillery of the Year for 2019. Using vintage copper stills and traditi

Don’t miss your chance to see the most comprehensive and extensive touring space flight exhibition on the planet right now. qm.qld.gov.au Premieres, red-carpet openings, in-depth discussions and more take place across Sydney over 12 days and nights.