Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 - January 2025 i Australian Traveller

Sundae sessions Messina has launched its new Snackbar at its flagship store and factory in Sydney/Warrane’s Marrickville. While sliding a spoon through scoops of gelato is a given at Messina Creative HQ, you can now enjoy natural wines and nibbles such as the ‘glizzy’ pork roll squiggled with sauce and mustard. The Snackbar, open 4pm till late on Sundays, is for those who don’t want to commit to the six-course weekly gelato-centric degustation. Audiophiles will also appreciate the lo-fi vibes through the Pitt & Giblin sound system. gelatomessina.com RAISE A GLASS The 2024 collection from Riddoch Coonawarra’s Author and Vocation ranges deserves a spot on your Christmas dinner table. The premium reds celebrate the region’s history while paying tribute to pioneering vigneron John Riddoch. riddochcoonawarra.com.au Korea calling Allta is a…

IT’S A CRISP TASMANIAN morning. The sun is shining bright, completely unobstructed in a cloudless cerulean sky. Yet there’s an unrelenting wind that has already managed to crawl under every layer I packed on before leaving The Ark, my cosy bed and breakfast stay in town. I’m standing in the shadow of The Nut/ Munatrik, thought to be an ancient volcanic plug that holds cultural significance among local Palawa. The colossal rocky bluff is now classified as a State Geological Monument by the Geological Society of Australia, looming over the sleepy seaside village of Stanley near the Takayna/Tarkine region of north-west Tasmania/Lutruwita on a poky peninsula in Bass Strait. Home to its own microcosm of flora and fauna that has adapted to survive its unique climate, The Nut is a…

NALDHAM HOUSE CUTS a striking figure in Brisbane/Meanjin’s CBD. The 19th-century icon is a sight in stark white, with three classic facades that speak to an era of elegance. A vision it may be. But the building had been dormant for almost a decade. It was most recently home to the members-only Brisbane Polo & Equestrian Club, which shut up shop in 2015. With thanks to hospitality group DAP & Co. (Walter’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Popolo, The Gresham Bar), the heritage-listed beauty has been revived. Even better, this incarnation is open to the public. Naldham House comprises three distinct yet complementary venues: a European-style brasserie and sun-dappled terrace on the ground floor and the luxe Club Felix on level one. Tonight, we’re dining in the 95-seat brasserie, although not…

Hip hood TAKE A GOOD LOOK NOW because the next time you visit Caloundra, you may not recognise the place. A direct Sunshine Coast rail line has been approved, set to transform the oft-clogged artery of the Bruce Highway and transport travellers from Brisbane/Meanjin to the beach 45 minutes quicker than by car. A new state-of-the-art library and regional gallery are also set to be unveiled in the heart of Caloundra CBD, among the low-rise boutiques and cafes. Meanwhile, the Holiday Inn & Suites Caloundra is slated to open in 2028, the first proper hotel for the town. And the Comiskey Group – responsible for Bribie Island’s Sandstone Point Hotel and The Doonan in Noosa among others – is gearing up to begin construction of the coast’s largest music venue,…

Cocos Keeling Islands TEARS FILL MY EYES as the plane descends towards the Cocos Keeling Islands. Never has a destination stirred such a profound reaction in me. From above, the islands seem to float in the water like green jewels, surrounded by an ocean so blue it looks surreal. Even before we land, this small but glorious archipelago has already taken my breath away. The palm-fringed atolls are mere specks in the middle of the Indian Ocean that, as well as being incredibly far-flung, feel like an untouched paradise. Sitting almost perfectly halfway between mainland Australia and Sri Lanka, and just south of Indonesia, getting here is where the adventure begins. Reaching the islands, which are an Australian territory, requires a flight from Perth/ Boorloo’s International Airport, stopping en route…

UNTIL 9 FEBRUARY 2025 Magritte SYDNEY, NSW For the first time ever, more than 100 highly lauded works by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte will be showcased in Australia at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney/Warrane. The exhibition, aptly titled Magritte, explores everything from his commercial works from the 1920s to the poignant final pieces before his 1967 death and the artist’s profound impact on contemporary visual arts and culture. artgallery.nsw.gov.au 7 DECEMBER – 2 FEBRUARY 2025 LINDEN POSTCARD SHOW ST KILDA, VIC Housed in a renovated 1871 Victorian mansion in St Kilda, the Linden New Art gallery will again adorn its walls with small-scale artworks and sculptural art for the annual Linden Postcard Show. The local event provides a platform for a diverse community of both emerging and well-known…

AUSTRALIA’S BEST COASTAL WALKS With that winter chill finally gone, it’s time to get some fresh air into your lungs, minus the brain freeze. Tie your laces and take a hike along these incredible coastal walking tracks around Australia, and you’ll not only be treated to some stunning sights, but a refreshing dip at the end, too. SUMMER TIPS IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE BEACH Sandy hair? Sunburn? Saltwater in the eyes? For some, the beach is a bit of a nightmare. But the warmer months can still be a lot of fun. From gorgeous waterholes in the Northern Territory to an outdoor cinema in Melbourne/Naarm, here’s how to have a successful sand-free summer. A seasonal guide to fruit picking Strawberries, cherries and peaches. Oh my! Fruit picking is the…

COASTAL COOL The razzle-dazzle of Byron Bay feels a long way away at Il Delfino, in Yamba, one of the jewels of the Northern Rivers area of NSW. The new seaside inn was restored by Australian creative Sheree Commerford and will appeal to surfers who can check the swell direction from their stylish suite. Il Delfino sits directly above the Pacific Ocean and, with just four elegant suites and a stand-alone bungalow, has all the feels of an elegant sanctuary. ildelfino.com.au SEA AND BE SEEN Designer George Gorrow and his wife Cisco Tschurtschenthaler are set to open the doors of their 1970s-inspired hotel. And it’s looking groovy, baby. Sea Sea Hotel is classic Crescent Head; more akin to a surf club, but with a design edge. The 25-room boutique lifestyle…

Rewind IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE to imagine Canberra without its aquatic centrepiece, Lake Burley Griffin. Set within an amphitheatre of hills, this oft-sparkling waterway is where residents and visitors alike gather to exercise, play and celebrate. With more than 40 kilometres of shoreline and covering an area equivalent to around 1200 football fields, it’s such an intrinsic part of the city it’s hard to believe this man-made masterpiece has only been in place for 60 years. It was first imagined by its namesake, Canberra’s designer Walter Burley Griffin, and ably illustrated by his wife Marion – the shining jewel of their grand master plan for a new capital as part of an international design competition in 1912. While the lake’s original plan was modified, it was always envisioned to be central…

Reviews THERE’S AN AIR of excitement as I enter the city’s newest affordable luxury digs. The StandardX, Melbourne – the first in the world for the brand, a spin-off of Standard Hotels – has only been open in Fitzroy for a few days and staff members seem to be having fun. They’re certainly in an environment that would make me want to come to work. Upon entering the lobby, there’s something for your eye to settle on everywhere you look: a curved, licorice allsorts-striped seat, a shelf lined with art books, clusters of lush plants, a mega macramé by artist Sarah Parkes covering a cement pylon. After the formalities, and with no-one else waiting to check in, the smiling receptionist takes me on a tour. Thankfully, because I may have…

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT Hanging Rock. The fractured and eroded remains of a volcano that erupted about 7 million years ago aren’t big, rising a modest 105 metres above surrounding plains. But there’s an energy here. A stillness. The Wurundjeri people have revered it for 40,000 years, but it was Peter Weir’s iconic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock that put this little corner of the Macedon Ranges, one hour north-west of Melbourne/Naarm, in the spotlight. Whether the story of Miranda and her pals disappearing amid Hanging Rock’s maze of trachyte pillars and boulders during a school excursion in 1900 is fictional or not remains a mystery, but its impact has endured. Many who visit find it hard to resist channelling the characters as they explore. At the very least, they’ll…

Hawkesbury River IT’S LATE IN THE AFTERNOON on a Sunday and I’ve got a bend of the Hawkesbury River all to myself. Just about. Darkening water curves around banks dense with vegetation and, from my vantage point on the terrace, I nurse a glass of wine and watch as the sandstone rock faces glow orange with the last of the day’s sun. The stillness of the moment is interrupted only by the occasional tinnie that motors in and out of my periphery, leaving a rippling trail in its wake. It’s hard to reconcile the fact this spot is less than an hour north of central Sydney/Warrane. My friends and I had arrived at Calabash Bay Lodge two days earlier on a day that a month’s worth of rain fell in…

HEAD DOWN TO THE beach at daybreak, anywhere the swell is permitted to reach the shore, and you’ll see them. The wetsuit-clad meditators, the board shorts and bikini brigade, the groms and the silver-haired sea dogs with boards under arm, all gathered in their sandy place of worship. Peeling towards rocky points, butting up against sandbars or curling around artificial reefs, waves break rhythmically on Australia’s coastline in all kinds of conditions. The surf calls to the soul of those who find solace duck-diving into its salty embrace. Those hooked on the indescribable feeling of riding a wave. When it comes to the quality of surf breaks, and the sheer number of them that ring the continent, Australia is indeed the lucky country. Surfing took off in Australia after being…

AS A CHILD, MY FAMILY HOLIDAYS WERE ALWAYS TO… The Gold Coast to visit the theme parks (1), where I have the fondest memories. IF I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA OTHER THAN GEELONG… I would live in the Otways, Victoria (2). My plan is to buy a block of land and turn it into an animal sanctuary. The Otways is the perfect mix of coast, farmland and hinterland, making it an ideal location for purposeful living. My vision is for a place where rescued animals can roam freely. MY DREAM DESTINATION IN AUSTRALIA IS… Lady Elliot Island. I also want to dive with great white sharks (3) off the Neptune Islands (4) in South Australia. MY LAST HOLIDAY READ WAS… A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (5).…

NAME: LULU’S LOCATION: JAMBEROO, NSW DESIGN FIRM: STUDIO PULP LULU’S HAS LANDED at The Lodge Jamberoo in the hinterland of NSW’s South Coast. And the vibrant restaurant, designed by Sydney-based architecture firm Studio PULP, is a destination in its own right. “When we first encountered the space, it was a forgotten, isolated restaurant in need of a transformation,” says Benjamin Selke, co-director of Studio PULP. “We utilised a variety of materials and design forms, including unique and custom furniture and lighting, to create a vibrant, chaotic harmony that masks the original structure and transforms the atmosphere into something captivating,” he adds. Completed in 2023 and shortlisted for the Eat Drink Design Award for Best Restaurant Design the same year, the bold space draws people in with its distinctive charm and immersive environment, according…

MARLEE’S BATH is set like an emerald gemstone amid the rusted red ridges at Bullo River Station. A swim in the pristine waterhole followed by a barbecue lunch is one of the many beautiful experiences to be had at Bullo. It’s also one of the many inspiring adventures we’ve mapped out for the next issue of Australian Traveller. From a First Nations-focused itinerary in the Red Centre to a foodie journey through the Kimberley and from a new multi-day hike in the Blue Mountains to a ride through Victoria’s High Country, we’ve got your autumn escapes sorted. See you in February!…

Pillow talk FLASHBACK TO 2019, and the biggest hotel news in the country was the opening of the Ritz-Carlton in Perth/Boorloo, a re-entry into Australia for the luxury brand after 25 years. In the five years since, even a global pandemic couldn’t stop the tide of international hotel brands also making their Aussie debuts, including Hotel Indigo, Ace Hotel, Kimpton and Capella. Handwritten Collection, which launched globally in 2023, has made its mark in Australia with Hotel Morris Sydney, Wonil Hotel Perth and Hotel Woolstore 1888 Sydney. This year, design-led Le Méridien and StandardX, the first Aussie outpost of the Standard Hotel group, opened in Melbourne/Naarm. So too, Lanson Place Parliament Gardens – which saw the Hong Kong brand transform East Melbourne’s historic former Salvation Army Printing Works. In a…

Bright and breezy Australia’s fashion scene is a patchwork of global influences. The laid-back coastal culture of our cities blends with a heritage of British tailoring and light, breezy fabrics inspired by our proximity to Asia. The result of this fusion is an effortless silhouette that epitomises Aussie style, a look that’s equal parts polished and vacation-ready. In the 1960s, the hot summers and the increasingly outdoor lifestyle necessitated a pull away from the heavy, structured garments of the European tradition, carving out a new sartorial identity in the process. The Australian fashion aesthetic was honed through the ’70s and ’80s, thanks to trailblazing designers like Carla Zampatti and Jenny Kee, who helped put Australia on the map. Today, the rest of the world looks to us to set the…

THE RECEPTION DESK AT W Sydney’s AWAY Spa is decidedly different to most day spas. Marble-topped and shaped like a horseshoe with blue velvet stools, it invites you to sit and unwind. This ‘Beauty Bar’ is a metaphor for what wellness is in 2024. It’s about treating your temple inside as well as out while providing a platform for connection – much missed during the pandemic years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, in the 2023 Global Wellness Trends Report: The Future of Wellness, social wellness was the leading trend, with a focus on nixing loneliness and offering experiences that serve as social icebreakers. With a menu of tipples and light bites, at AWAY Spa you can mix manis with martinis, sitting in one of the curvaceous relaxation booths, or retire to the bar…

WA crayfish A MESSY QUEUE of people squiggle along a jetty, bags of ice in hand and eskies under backsides in Fremantle. At their feet, a fisherman with deep-rut smile lines cut into a weathered face pulls scarlet crayfish – also known as western rock lobster or crays – from yellow plastic crates. Their antennae and tails snap as the spiny specimens are packed and passed over the fibreglass edge of his commercial fishing boat. A giant, Western Australian sky beams blue overhead, as bright as the smiles of those scoring the seafood that’ll soon be dripping in butter and sprinkled with chilli. It’s a scene happening along 650 kilometres of WA’s coastline, if you know where to look. “The world has changed and these sorts of experiences are becoming…