Indholdsfortegnelse for August - October 2025 i Australian Traveller

WITH MORE THAN 817,000 kilometres of sealed, gravel and dirt roads to explore across the country, it’s little wonder that road tripping is deeply ingrained in the national psyche: we have perfected the art of the driving holiday. In this issue, we take to the highways and backroads to showcase Australia from coast to country to outback – and invite you to do the same as we shake off our winter hibernation. With wildflower season in bloom, springtime presents an opportunity to embrace one of Australia’s most unique road trip propositions. On page 32, Charlotte and James Maddock, seasoned road trippers in Western Australia, share their top tips for chasing carpets of colour across the state. Elsewhere, Kristie Lau-Adams uncovers highlights and hidden gems along Queensland’s coast (page 114) while,…

A star is reborn Hand-tossed pizzas, house-made pasta, a salumi station and free-flowing aperitivo are all stellar examples of the change in direction at Soluna on Sydney/Warrane’s Lower North Shore. The menu now reads as a heart-on-the-sleeve love song to the Mediterranean. Inspired by the all-day diners of LA, Soluna has evolved to include an open kitchen, intimate chef ’s table, lively lounge bar and sunlit outdoor terrace. A woodfired pizza oven takes pride of place, led by master pizzaiolo and Italian native Alberto Cacciatore, who has recently returned from stints in New York and Italy. soluna.sydney REVEL IN ROVOLLO There is an Italian renaissance unfolding across Sydney/ Warrane thanks to restaurants like the beautifully realised Rovollo, which continues to fuel our yearning for Italian hospitality. Expect a bit of…

EVERY SPRING, WESTERN AUSTRALIA erupts with colour, fragrance and, of course, adventure. Wildflowers bloom in the thousands and a good old-fashioned road trip beckons. We’re no stranger to a road trip, having explored all corners of our great state by road over the last decade – from crossing the never-ending Nullarbor in the south to traversing the iconic Gibb River Road in the north. But wildflowers offer something different, something unique: unexpected joy in the most unsuspecting of places. We’ve always found ‘the journey is the destination’ to be somewhat of a cliché – quietly wondering where these people are travelling to if it’s not the ultimate highlight of the trip. But a wildflower road trip opened our eyes, and not just figuratively. Everywhere you look is like a painting,…

IN THE COOL BLUE light of the early morning, we prepare for the quick barge trip from the most westerly point of mainland Australia, Steep Point, to the rugged and remote World Heritage-listed Dirk Hartog Island/Wirruwana. We left the Overlander Roadhouse on Highway 1 fully prepared with fuel, food, water and fishing tackle. Useless Loop Road out to Steep Point is also not inconsequential, with two huge dunes to derail anyone ill-prepared. Fixing our sand flag to the bull bar, we share a cuppa with the others waiting on the beach for the barge, including a Dirk veteran who tells us with a smile: “You’re on Dirk time now,” and we make a loose plan to catch up with him at Homestead Campgrounds at the end of our adventure.…

THE ULTIMATE SPRING ROAD TRIP As the days get longer, there’s no better time to explore our own backyard. And what better way to farewell winter than on a spring road trip? Whether you cruise the coast of Tasmania/ Lutruwita to spot migrating humpbacks or opt to go inland along the Northern Territory’s Red Centre Way, lifelong memories are guaranteed. Pet-friendly towns across Australia Having to leave your furry friend at home can take a bit of the shine off your holiday. Save yourself the suffering and book your next trip to one of these pet-friendly towns across the country. From award-winning wine regions like Mudgee in NSW to beachside gems like Dunsborough in WA, there’s a destination for all types of travellers – the fluffy and four-legged kind included.…

GOURMET MEETS GRIT IN WA Matters of Taste has crafted an immersive culinary adventure on cattle stations in the Pilbara from 9-13 August. Expect helicopter musters, behind-the-scenes access to world-class wagyu operations, and unforgettable fireside feasts during The Epic Pilbara: Swags, Wagyu and the Wild Outback Food Journey within this remarkable region of WA. The interactive experience connects food lovers to the heart of the state’s outback and the people behind its exceptional produce. A rare foodie affair not to be missed. mattersoftaste.com.au LEADING THE RENAISSANCE Opera, Music, Theatre & Ballet in Melbourne is one of the new expert-led Australian itineraries on offer from Renaissance Tours during the remainder of 2025. Art aficionados might also appreciate Treasures of the National Capital, presented by journalist and author Helen Pitt in Canberra…

IN THE GRAND SCHEME of Australia’s motoring history, the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has happened surprisingly fast. There are now around 300,000 EVs on our roads and they make up 9.5 per cent of all new car sales, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. Head out on the highway and you’ll notice Teslas and BYDs are seemingly as common as Toyotas, with a reported 90 per cent increase in high-power charging locations in Australia over the past year helping to ease long-held range anxiety. With EVs now a regular sight in suburban driveways and supermarket car parks, I’ve started to wonder when it’ll be time for our family to trade in our beloved Volkswagen van for something that runs on battery power. The much-anticipated Volkswagen ID. Buzz finally arrived…

The revival of Australia’s retro motels continues with the newly reimagined Kar-Rama, originally opened in 1962. The makeover reflects the hotel’s mid-century charm, replete with a sunken light-filled conversation pit. Kar-Rama channels a Palm Springs-meets-Mildura vibe with its butterfly-shaped pool, the ultimate oasis for road-trippers chasing the sun in regional Victoria. Turn to page 56 for more.…

WHEN IT COMES TO accessibility, South Australia’s wine regions can’t be beaten. Only 40 or so minutes from Adelaide Airport, the Barossa Valley is not only a convenient drive, but far away enough to feel like you’re on a proper break. There are wheat fields and gum trees, vineyards and magpies sitting on rusty farm gates, and you can see a blanket of stars on a clear night. Best of all, you can easily lower your environmental impact by travelling in an all-electric vehicle. Road-tripping in an electric vehicle once seemed dicey, but now it’s become mainstream. For this trip I’m behind the wheel of the new Volvo EX90, which has a range of up to 570 kilometres. According to SA Power Networks, there are 3000 public EV charging points…

I’VE BEEN TOLD MORE than once, by people who know a lot more about it than me, that if you just listen, Country will speak to you. Floating on this large tinnie with the engine cut on a ‘side street’ of the Arafura Swamp near Murwangi, I can finally hear it – even if I don’t yet understand the language. It’s too hot for cicadas, but the waterbirds of Arafura are providing the soundtrack to this experience. The mad cackle of blue-winged kookaburras. The high-pitched calls of plumed whistling ducks. The majestic cries of various kite species as they circle overhead. And the resonant honks of magpie geese, totems of the local Ganalbingu People and allegedly very good walle (eating), although you’ll need to go through the correct ceremonies to…

THE MELBOURNE Winter Masterpieces series has returned with French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston at the NGV, showcasing some of the masters of the genre such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Think you’ve seen it all before? “You haven’t seen it like this,” promises Dr Ted Gott, the NGV’s senior curator of international art. It’s true that most Australians are no strangers to the galleries of Europe – many of us have likely marvelled at Monet in Paris’s Musée d’Orsay, the epicentre of all Impressionist art. The difference here, says Gott, is that while the paintings at Europe’s major art galleries are impressive, “you’ve got to sort of figure out the story yourself ”. However, at the NGV, “it’s all beautifully orchestrated, themed and…

FIRST MEMORY OF TRAVELLING IN AUSTRALIA? Driving with my family from Kalgoorlie to Melbourne. We stopped at a motel on the Nullarbor Plain (1) and I remember opening the door to our room and seeing a jug of water on a table with a rotating fan. It had all the cool menace of an Edward Hopper painting. MOST MEMORABLE PLACE YOUR MUSIC CAREER HAS TAKEN YOU? Growing up, I was enthralled with American culture so it was definitely those long drives in the US, particularly in the southern states. Stopping at desolate bars with real jukeboxes and even gas stations was the stuff of dreams for me. Tennessee (2), Louisiana, Mississippi… I drank it all up. It’s three decades since You Am I (3) launched its much-loved album Hi Fi…

A riot of colour is revealed each year when Western Australia’s wildflower season is in full bloom. The pretty pops of colour confetti the red dirt and grassy plains in pinks, purples, yellows and blues that resemble a colourful textile. From everlastings to delicate orchids, the floral landscape unfurls across the earth from late July to early October. Turn to page 32 for more.…

King Island calls Kittawa Lodge has unveiled a new architecturally designed two-bedroom hideaway just in time for spring. Panoramic coastal views are always in the periphery at Kittawa Retreat, which has been designed to encourage an appreciation of King Island and the coastal environment off the coast of Tassie in the Bass Strait. While the retreat has a fully equipped kitchen, you can time your visit to coincide with the Guest Chef Series in August if you’d rather chef Rosheen Kaul did the cooking. The retreat provides immersion in nature with an outdoor hot tub and breathtaking wilderness views. kittawalodge.com RESPITE IN THE ROCKS The Russell Boutique Hotel offers the perfect respite for weary travellers. The storied 19th-century building has been embedded into The Rocks since the 1800s, when it…

Freewheeling Australians love a road trip. Our roads are full of endless promises that rarely disappoint, leading us to the gorgeous pockets of nature scattered across the country. But perhaps one of the best things about a road trip is the way it elevates everyday rituals. A glass of wine or a cold beer from the esky just tastes better by a river or in the bush. A chair feels like a luxury when you can angle it right in front of a sunset. And time spent with friends, family or yourself is richer when you’re out exploring with the whole world at your fingertips.…

MOTELS BOOMED IN 1960s Mildura. The regional Victorian city on the banks of the Murray River flourished as a road trip destination for Melburnians and Adelaideans chasing the sun. And with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, its pleasant climes continue to lure travellers. The site of Australia’s first large-scale irrigation scheme, Mildura is also a major food bowl: ripe with oranges, grapes, almonds, avocados and more, it’s a fertile oasis on the edge of the outback where dusty plains give way to palm-lined streets. The region was accordingly dubbed Tropical North Victoria in a tourism campaign launched last year with a cheeky wink. Kar-Rama Motor Inn opened in 1962 during Mildura’s holiday heyday. Its name, chosen via a public competition and derived from a word meaning ‘resting…

Light-Towers by internationally renowned artist Bruce Munro transforms Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon into a field of colour and sound come nightfall. As the desert moon rises, each structure comes to life, pulsing neon in response to an immersive soundscape by composer Orlando Gough. The large-scale installation, created using 69 towers built from recycled water bottles, is just one of many reasons to road trip Australia’s Red Centre. Turn to page 122 for more.…

Yol u Power: The Art of Yirrkala is a celebration of one of Australia’s most internationally acclaimed arts communities, Yirrkala, in north-east Arnhem Land. The exhibition, now showing at the Art Gallery of NSW until 6 October, spans more than eight decades of Yol u creativity by 98 artists in collaboration with the Buku-Larr gay Mulka Centre in the Northern Territory. Turn to page 140 for more.…

WE ARE TURNING the spotlight on you, our readers, in the next issue of Australian Traveller. Have your say in our Readers’ Choice Awards survey (page 42) and you could win one of our amazing travel prizes up for grabs. We will be highlighting your favourite Aussie places, as well as the experiences and adventures that have truly moved you. All will be revealed, from under-the-radar regions to timeless favourites like the Bay of Fires in Tasmania/Lutruwita (pictured), one of the winners in our last Readers’ Choice Awards. See you in November!…