It’s a dream for many travellers to travel Australia. With ancient landscapes, pristine national parks, lively cities, charming beach towns and dozens of spectacular wine regions, there is so much to love about visiting the land “down under.”
Whether you’re all about enjoyed the greater outdoors or indulging in world class restaurants and cultural experiences, you won’t forget your first visit to this beautiful country.
The long travel time for most international travellers means you’ll want to spend at least two weeks here, but three or four weeks would be even better. It’s important to remember that it’s a big country, and to factor in travel times. To really cover some ground, plan to fly rather than drive or train (our train system is nowhere near as useful for travellers as those in Europe or the US).
From coast to coast, there are countless destinations to choose from. Whether you’re looking to beach-hop down the east coast, stopping at major cities like Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne on the way, or you’re looking to experience charming country towns or the Red Centre, the hardest part will be narrowing down your itinerary!
It is shaping up to be a summer spent on the water. Well, at bars on the water, anyway. A few weeks ago I was tucking into fresh oysters and lobster rolls in Hell’s Kitchen on NYC’s Floating Lobster Shack, and back in Melbourne last weekend I was sipping on sparkling and rose on Melbourne’s first floating bar. Melbournians love a good trend, love a pop-up … Continue reading Blink & You’ll Miss It: Melbourne’s pop up floating bar
Spring Racing Carnival has arrived! Melbourne’s biggest event of the year consists of several horse racing events where the fashion is easily more important than the races themselves. Derby Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day all have different dress codes, but the real showstopper is Melbourne Cup – AKA “the race that stops the nation.” Across Australia on Tuesday, office lunchrooms and school auditoriums will … Continue reading Sunday Stories 01.11.15
Queensland has more than its fair share of natural beauty. It’s famous for UNESCO World Heritage List heavyweights like the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest but it doesn’t stop there. There are scores of lesser-known islands and beaches just as worthy of your time. There are endless options for driving and hiking trails through rainforests and up mountains. The stark beauty of the … Continue reading 37 Photos that will inspire you to explore Queensland
I didn’t realise how useful this series was until I arrived home in Melbourne this week and had a complete mental blank about my favourite restaurants, bars and cafes. I browsed through some old Sunday Stories posts while making a mental note to eat more omega-3s, and not only was I pleasantly surprised by the yummy, lovely places I used to love, but by the … Continue reading Sunday Stories 25.10.15
I’ve been living in Melbourne for just over six months now! Yesterday, Melbourne was named the world’s most liveable city for the fifth year in a row, and it’s easy to see why. I’ve rounded up the best things about living in Melbourne so far, of which there are many. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing though, so I’ve rounded up some of the worst … Continue reading The Best & Worst of 6 Months of Living in Melbourne
It’s not just Melbourne‘s city that’s bursting at the seams with interesting architecture. On the weekend, I went for lunch at Nyshry, a Japanese-inspired cafe overlooking the water on South Melbourne Beach. Afterwards, I went for a walk through the leafy, pastel-hued streets of Albert Park. Albert Park is a wealthy residential neighbourhood with a handful of cute cafes, eclectic homewares stores and boutiques. There are … Continue reading Postcards from Albert Park, Melbourne
Last week, I got coffee with my little sister and her boyfriend’s family from Norway. They were only in Melbourne for a few days and were eager to tick off all the “must-do” sights. “What is the #1 thing you must do in Melbourne?” they asked. I came up blank. Where do you start? Melbourne is not a city with a few “must see” sights … Continue reading One Perfect Weekend in Melbourne
Parking at Melbourne Airport, or any airport for that matter, can be a total pain – not to mention, expensive! If you’re lucky enough, you can ask a friend or a relative to drop you off at the airport, but for everyone else there are few options – and they’re often expensive or inconvenient. Driving and parking at the airport in the short or long … Continue reading 4 Tips for Stress-Free Parking at Melbourne Airport
My little sister was in Melbourne on the weekend (yay!), so we met our uncles for lunch on South Melbourne Beach. After a bitterly cold week, including the coldest morning in Melbourne in eighteen years, I was excited to be able to show my sister how beautiful Melbourne can be under blue skies – even if it’s while braving icy winds. Opposite the beach, the street … Continue reading Lunch at South Melbourne Beach
Chinese New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Melbourne, even by those without a drop of Chinese blood. It’s one of the many events on the Melbourne social calendar that celebrates other cultures and how they are an integral part of modern Australian life. Dad was visiting from Brisbane, so we decided to check out the Chinese New Year Markets in Southbank. It was … Continue reading Chinese New Year Markets in Melbourne