Last weekend, I visited The Grampians for the first time with two girlfriends, Olivia and Marlo. The Grampians National Park is one of the most beloved regions of Victoria, around four hours’ drive west of Melbourne. The park is enormous, and best explored in sections. We stayed in Hall’s Gap, which is close to more lookouts, mountains and hiking trails than we could possibly do in … Continue reading Highlights from a weekend in the Grampians
One of my favourite parts of living in Melbourne is the proximity to excellent wine regions all over Victoria. The Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula are the first wine regions that come to mind, but one of my favourite finds has been the wines from Heathcote, known for its shiraz and alternative red varieties, which have a distinctive flavour thanks to the basalt and … Continue reading A Day in the Goldfields for Heathcote on Show
Last year I went on a road trip with my family through Waterfall Way, the most beautiful drive in New South Wales. I have been in awe of the beauty of Queensland for years, but before this trip I’d never given regional New South Wales too much thought. I’ve done a few posts about the highlights of the trip, the Queensland section of the trip … Continue reading Celebrating the in-betweeners on Waterfall Way
Despite being a stone’s throw from the Queensland border, and miles from Sydney, Tenterfield immediately struck me as a town belonging to New South Wales. The wide thoroughfares, palm trees and occasional sandstone building of Warwick was swapped for narrow streets lined with a charming collection of colourful, beautifully-preserved buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century. Read more: The Most Charming Country Towns in Australia … Continue reading Visiting Tenterfield, NSW
It’s that time of year when a weekend escape calls for swapping beach trips for crisp days and cool nights rugged up in the mountains. Apart from the spectacular scenery, one of the best things about cool-weather hinterland holidays is the abundance of delicious food & wine at your fingertips. One of my favourite winter breaks in Queensland is in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, in the mountains behind … Continue reading Where to eat in Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Sometimes you just need the wide open spaces. Endless blue skies, rolling green and gold hills, plunging waterfalls, good ol’ country hospitality and roadside pumpkin stands. Wineries, distilleries, orchards & dairies with cheese-so-good-you-could-eat-it-with-a-spoon certainly don’t hurt either. Southern Queensland Country is at its most beautiful in Autumn when the crisp country air gets a little chilly and the trees erupt in flaming golden foliage. A … Continue reading One perfect day in Southern QLD Country
As regular readers of this blog will know, it’s my mission to have the most beautiful travel experiences I can afford without breaking the bank (or roughing it). Villa Clelia is the epitome of this philosophy and I wish I had stayed here longer – I will definitely be back. It really makes such a difference to your holiday when you feel welcome at your accommodation and Villa … Continue reading Stay in Levanto: Villa Clelia B&B
The Italian Riviera was good for my feet. In Sorrento I bought custom made sandals and on the Amalfi beach I enjoyed a foot massage, which I purchased before remembering that I have insanely ticklish feet. I managed not to kick the masseuse, but I gave my stomach muscles a work out as I tried not to giggle. Like Positano, the small town of Amalfi is … Continue reading Treating my feet on an Amalfi beach
Monterosso al Mare is one of my favourite Cinque Terre villages, for having the best beach. We had lunch on the deck of Nuovo Bar Eden, overlooking one of the private beaches. The fact that you can charge people for a beach seems so strange to me – I know that wouldn’t go down well in Australia. How can anyone set up shop and own the … Continue reading Monterosso: The best beach in Cinque Terre
Charming Reims is a breath of fresh air after the hustle and bustle of Paris. I felt myself relax and loosen my tight grip on my handbag as I slowed down to a leisurely stroll along wide, cobbled streets. Despite being the capital of the beautiful Champagne region, the streets were quiet and the town was cloaked in a soft silence that encouraged a slower … Continue reading Classic cars & Relaxing in Reims