Innholdsfortegnelse for May/Jun/Jul 2018 i Australian Traveller

FIVE DESIGN CUES TO TAKE FROM OVOLO INCHCOLM The distinctive Ovolo hotel brand has expanded with the launch of its fifth property, Ovolo Inchcolm in Brisbane ( ovolohotels.com ). Having acquired the boutique New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites, housed in a 1930s former doctor’s surgery on the edge of the CBD at Spring Hill, the Ovolo design team kicked into action to give it the ‘Ovolo treatment’. Here are a few design cues to take away from the new look . 1. Old and new is a killer design combination - “Given the interesting history of the building, it was important that we brought the vision for Ovolo Inchcolm to life in a way that played on its existing charm and heritage,” said design lead Shelley Gabriel of Hassell…

Abode Murrumbateman Located in the ACT’s cool-climate wine region,Abode Murrumbateman’s 50 light-filled studio rooms offer city style in bucolic rural surrounds.The property has a guest lounge, the Abode Pantry, stocked with food, snacks, a selection of Canberra region wines, and a kitchen where guests can use local produce they’ve bought while out and about (and there are bikes available for exploring). abodehotels.com.au UNITED PLACES BOTANIC GARDENS Pioneering a new level of luxury in a city that prides itself on its luxe levels is a big ask , but United Places Botanic Gardens, situated in South Yarra, opposite Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, might just pull it off. Combining a hotel/home vibe, the 12 suites are spacious and opulent, and there’s a personalised butler service too. Downstairs, award-winning…

I’VE JUST COME OFF THE BEACH at Burleigh Heads and walked through a park where families barbecue sausages under enormous pines and rosellas screech loudly. And now… I enter Japan. Iku Yakitori is so much like a backstreet eatery in Tokyo that I actually walk past it several times before I realise I’m in front of it. You don’t enter from the front – on the Gold Coast Highway – you’ve got to find the back lane to it, then enter through an unmarked recycled timber door. It’s part of the surprise because inside that door, deepest, darkest Japan awaits. It’s so dark inside that the waiter catches me by surprise when I walk into him. I pass a whisky bar where two surfer-types sit, and step through curtains into…

WITH A PERFECTLY functioning toaster in the cupboard and avocado prices back down to levels where the green fruit once again costs less than AMP stocks, it has become almost criminal to eat breakfast out these days – ever since some demographer opined that our collective love of smashed avo on boutique bread with a soy latte chaser was robbing many of us of the chance to own property (like record soaring price increases and lax government regulation had nothing at all to do with it). So, I almost felt guilty as I approached Acre Eatery, the former bowling club in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Camperdown, on a sunny Sunday morning. The space, part of the community-based Camperdown Commons, has been transformed into a multi-faceted farm-to-table eatery, including the…

LUSH GREEN FIELDS, meandering brooks and cattle grazing roadside. You’d think you were in the English countryside if not for the golden wattle wafting gently in the breeze, the skittish willie wagtails and the marri trees that line the winding roads of Ferguson Valley. Originally used to graze dairy cattle, the focus in these parts changed forever when a handful of families started planting grapevines in the 1980s, and lo, a foodie destination was born. As more locals saw value in the prospect, vineyards and cellar doors slowly bloomed over the course of the ’90s and noughties. The Valley now encompasses more than 20 venues spanning wineries, cafes, restaurants, breweries, accommodation and more, catering for an ever increasing stream of curious visitors. While fellow Western Australia gourmet destinations such as…

IF THE ALLURE OF an endless summer makes your soul sing, it might just be the time to pack your bags and head off to Queensland’s stunning Sunshine Coast. Flying direct from Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide means that in just a couple of hours you’ll be relaxing with your toes in the sand, a cocktail in your hand or the fresh scent of the rainforest surrounding you. Unwinding on the Sunshine Coast is an essential part of your holiday experience. From the iconic Glass House Mountains, peaceful Caloundra and Kawana’s sweeping views, to Mooloolaba’s famous beach, laid-back Alexandra Headland and Cotton Tree, the stunning Hinterland to collective bitumen 4WD the Great Beach drive from Noosa to Rainbow Beach taking in the most stunning coastline of the remarkable colour sands and…

21 THE NULLARBOR, SA It’s a plain; a whole lot of nothing (Nullarbor means ‘no trees’ in Latin after all), the presence of absence as it were. Or is it? Drive along one of the longest sections of straight road in the world (about 146 kilometres of bitumen without a turn), and you should spot the country’s biggest (feral) land mammal, the camel; desert flowers stretching off for infinity that bloom into colourful life with the seasons; and magnificent sunsets setting it all off with low desert light come evening. A drive here is time enough for endless contemplation, but don’t simply set your cruise control and fall asleep at the wheel. Take one of the tracks that stab off the Eyre Highway to see what the Nullarbor and its…

51 BATTERY POINT, TAS With a fascinating history and picturesque streetscape, this inner-city Hobart neighbourhood is best discovered by foot. Start at Salamanca Place, heading up Kelly’s Steps and along to Hampden Road to the Narryna Heritage Museum, which is well worth a look. On the corner of De Witt Street, Invercoe is a sandstone home built in 1883, and around the corner on Cromwell Street, St George’s Anglican Church, built in 1838, marks the highest spot in Battery Point. Along nearby Waterloo Street historic houses like Harriet House and Fusilier’s Cottage are easy to find, before heading back to Hampden Road and onto Arthur Circus, the circle of pretty cottages that is a hallmark of the neighbourhood. 52 FORTITUDE VALLEY, QLD “There is so much to love about the…

ROTTNEST ISLAND may be best known for its famous marsupial resident, the quokka, largely thanks to the worldwide quokka selfie craze. Dubbed the happiest animal on Earth, the island’s bright-eyed quokkas have been snapped with some famous faces including Hugh Jackman, Roger Federer, Terri Hatcher and, most recently, Margot Robbie. While this has put Rottnest in the international spotlight, there’s so much more to discover once you arrive on this stunning island. Rottnest Island is the largest island in a chain of limestone isles and reefs on the continental shelf, near Perth. With a Mediterranean-style climate, 63 beautiful beaches and 23 glorious bays, Rottnest is the perfect short getaway or day trip, and just a short ferry trip from mainland Perth. About 650,000 visitors head to Rottnest each year to…

A HOLIDAY TO HELP SAVE THE REEF? The Great Barrier Reef is a living structure under pressure, but a diving holiday to Lady Elliot Island on its southernmost coral cay may yet help breathe life back into it. Find out not just how, but why you should travel to the reef if you love this national treasure as much as we do. Head to australiantraveller.com/island-holidays for a guide to all the pro-active ways you can help. CAN THEY OUT-BYRON BYRON BAY? Young foodies are setting up shop on the NSW Central Coast, turning the region into a growing Byron Bay-style culinary hub. And we’ve taken notice. See australian traveller.com/nsw/north-coast 9 STAYS TO INDULGE BOTH YOU AND THE KIDS Whether you’re after ski-field access for pocket change or private island luxury,…

AUSTRALIA’S WAR MEMORIAL movement saw everything from cenotaphs, obelisks and statues to pillars, parks and gates erected by committees across the country to honour those who served. Or, in the case of the Australian War Memorial, a two-storey building laid out like a Byzantine cross. But one of the most unusual war memorials is located in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, north of Sydney. Found among the scrub and gum trees is a scale model of Egypt’s Great Sphinx of Giza and two pyramids. This incongruous landmark was created in the 1920s by a returned First World War soldier, William Shirley. A patient at the nearby convalescent hospital Lady Davidson, he was a stonemason by trade and began his project at the encouragement of doctors: setting to work carving an…

Getting the girls together always spells a good time, but it takes a top location to make it into a true occasion. Whether you’re preparing for something special, like a wedding, or just want some sisterly retail therapy time, Swissôtel Sydney is ready to spoil you. MODERN, CHIC AND SWISS-INSPIRED Checking in to one of Swissôtel’s 369 contemporary rooms sets the scene for a chic weekend. Each room breathes Swiss finesse and style, with a separate bath and shower, and Purovel shower amenities that feature natural ingredients grown in a Swiss Alpine garden. And if the essential oils from Swiss flowers and trees don’t have you refreshed and rejuvenated, then fluffy slippers, bathrobes and Lindt chocolates left at each turndown service will probably do the trick. The hotel’s location is…

IN ADELAIDE’S HISTORIC EAST END, cosmopolitan Rundle Street darts off into concealed laneways that are emerging as hotbeds of urban life. One trio, Vardon Avenue, Ebenezer Place and Vaughan Place, are art-splashed alleys where numerous bars, boutiques and cafes are finding their slots among heritage façades. “The biggest turning point was the granting of the small bar licence in 2013,” says Oliver Brown of whiskey bar, Nola. “The first few started up in 2014. My first venue was through one of those affordable licences. I had a pop-up bar and fell in love with the East End.” It’s a common story. Serial hospitality operator, Jordan Jeavons has been reinventing multiple East End venues for the past five years – his latest project is moody late-night pasta den, Midnight Spaghetti. He…

11 MARGARET RIVER, WA When it comes to food regions they don’t come much more fabled than the Margaret River, three hours from Perth.With delightful towns like Dunsborough, Busselton andYallingup to recommend it, the area could easily rest on its laurels as a sun-drenched summer holiday Mecca. But the stunning coastal scenery plays second fiddle to the food, wine, and boutique brews. With so much on offer, we ask a WA native, our art director Anita Jokovich, for some help: DO Check out an exhibition at Yallingup’s The Studio Gallery and then enjoy a rosé in the accompanying bistro. thestudiogallery.com.au SEE Swim in the lagoon at Yallingup Beach, or go for a surf at Smiths Beach; you can’t go wrong along this stunning coastline. EAT The recently opened Yarri Restaurant…

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY is the original land of contrasts, from the Red Centre’s ancient secrets and majestic natural wonders to the Top End’s vibrant floodplains and hidden waterfalls, all waiting to be explored – for those who know where to look. For travellers wanting to dive beneath the surface, the boutique Inspiring Journeys offering delivers an enriching and immersive experience. The new ‘Ultimate Territory Adventure in Style’ journey sees you travelling with a group of no more than twenty like-minded passengers, as you visit the heartland of Australia and experience its most sacred landscapes, taking the time to discover, explore, and relax. View beautiful rock art dating back thousands of years at both Ubirr and Uluru, sample delicious and authentic bush tucker and hear stories of the land and the…

41 BOREANG CAMPGROUND, GRAMPIANS NATIONAL PARK, VIC It’s Melbourne’s big weekend playground: 1672 square kilometres of stringybark forests, red gum woodland and heather-covered plateaus run through with vast ribbons of sandstone, with all the bizarre, camera-worthy rocky outcrops and mountain peaks that brings. One of these is known as the Fortress, an imposing buttress rising abruptly out of the surrounding bush. If you’re an experienced walker not afraid to get really remote, and want to do some real camping, you can take three days to hike here; a journey that affords sweeping views of the ranges. Take a path off the Harrop Track and on the first night pitch your tent, or just a swag, under a sweeping overhang on the way up to the massif, and light a fire…

IF BLISSFULLY UNTOUCHED landscapes in abundance are what you’re craving from an escape, Kununurra is the perfect proposition. To the south there’s the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and the Argyle diamond mine. Lake Argyle and the Keep River National Park are to the east. Out west you’ll find El Questro and the Gibb River Road. And Wyndham and the Kimberley Coast round things out to the north. ‘Kununurra’ means ‘water’ in the Miriwoong language, and there is plenty to be had, along with Indigenous history, hiking and endless sights. Kununurra Visitor Centre has tours, activities and award-winning accommodation options to start your Kimberley adventure. For more, go to visitkununurra.com EL QUESTRO One of Australia’s last true frontiers, El Questro is more than 283,000 hectares of vast, lush…

NAME: THE KITCHEN AT SBCC DRAWING INSPIRATION from the heyday of Australian beach culture has resulted in a design that is incredibly of the moment at The Kitchen at Shoal Bay Country Club, on the New South Wales mid-north coast. The iconic 1930s hotel has benefitted from a $6 million renovation that has paid deference to its storied past, and assured its future as a stylish gathering place. LOCATION: SHOAL BAY, NSW Sydney design studio Luchetti Krelle maxed out on nostalgia, producing a delightfully relaxed space, with a kitsch colour palette and lots of whimsy. “Through nostalgia we were able to recapture the hearts of the locals whilst appealing to holidaymakers once again,” the studio explains. “The Kitchen and The Patio are inspired by the idea of a house from…

It’s sundown in Port Douglas and the Coral Sea is glowing. With water as inviting as this, how can you resist it? As stinger season abates (subject to seasonal variability), April marks the start of prime swimming season (but take the usual safety precautions of staying in patrolled and netted areas). In Tropical North Queensland, water temperatures don’t dip below the low-20s all year round. May sees the official onset of the dry season, and while the thermometer creeps towards zero in parts of the country – the lowest recorded temperature in Australia was at the Charlotte Pass ski resort in New South Wales’ Kosciuszko National Park in June 1994, where it reached -23°c – here it’s never not t-shirt weather.…

Dr Colin Limpus is in the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science. He has been studying marine turtles at Bundaberg’s Mon Repos since the 1960s and is a leading global expert. Q: You have a long history with Lady Musgrave Island.Why should visitors to the reef consider visiting? A: I was going out to Lady Musgrave long before anyone would dream of camping there [note: up to 40 people can camp on the island now] but it’s always been a beautiful place.The reason we have a monitoring program there is because it has a significant population of turtles.Add to that, its proximity to the mainland – there are islands that have just as many turtles between Mackay and Rockhampton but they are three times further out to sea. Q:…

DESPITE ITS OBVIOUS NAME, while on a recent holiday to The Byron at Byron in Byron Bay, I wake in the middle of the night and forget where I am. Not unusual for someone who travels a lot, but this fleeting moment of amnesia occurs more than once. We visit Byron Bay regularly so it’s not completely foreign ground, but on this trip we experience this free-spirited beach town from a different perspective. Located just south of town, The Byron at Byron is described as the perfect place to get away from it all, set on 18 hectares of rainforest with the Tallow Creek running through it. I immediately note a feeling of calm when we arrive. The receptionist, wearing a colourful and relaxed ensemble by Australian designer Mister Zimi,…

IPSWICH, YOU MIGHT THINK, is Queensland’s coulda-been, almost-was, maybe-one-day town. It coulda-been the capital in 1859, but Brisbane got the nod. It almost-was the state’s country music capital in the 1970s, with high-profile festivals and awards, but the impetus stalled by the mid-’80s and Gympie grabbed the reputation. Well, it’s time to rethink Ipswich. Maybe with your stomach. Maybe-one-day is today, maybe, with the relaxed provincial city emerging as a coffee-foodie getaway from Brisbane, poised on the edge of the Scenic Rim region and its blossoming agri-tourism scene. Ipswich is the fastest-growing city in Queensland, both in people and – if a stroll down Brisbane Street is any clue – cafes. The last time Ipswich was this happening, men with bushranger beards were sometimes actually bushrangers. Heritage-listed Victorian piles signpost…

1 BYRON BAY, NSW This famous east coast town has long been adored for its incredible beaches and epic surf breaks, but this is no ordinary seaside holiday. With an eclectic culture unlike any other, Byron Bay is the destination where alternative new agers merge with the uber-stylish, and bronzed backpackers mingle with local hipsters.And while we will always love the iconic lighthouse walk, pandanus palm-lined Wategos and epic surf breaks at The Pass and Tallows, it’s all the happenings in town that excite us.With a recent surge in cool new places to try, our Byron Bay insider, Lara Picone, shares her top five new places to check out. 1. BARRIO Located at Habitat, a live/work/play development in Byron’s industrial estate, is this casual but sophisticated Argentinian-inspired eatery with a…

ONE OF THE WORLD’S greatest gold rushes attracted fortune-seekers from across the globe to Bendigo, in the heart of Central Victoria. Now, the city’s vibrant arts, culture and heritage streetscapes are renowned, but its flourishing food and wine scene looks to be the new gold. Bendigo’s rich concentration of boutique produce is evidenced in its grocers and butchers. Cute cafes in old milk bars and restaurants tucked in eclectic laneways and gold-rush-era buildings are renowned for sourcing quality regional products including local craft beer and coffee blends. Bendigo and Heathcote wine regions produce award-winning reds, while a new breed of winemakers are evolving red varietals. In addition to 60 cellar doors, the region has five craft breweries and cideries in Harcourt, which also make for a fabulously tasty visit. DELICIOUS…

31 BENDIGO, VIC The Bendigo Art Gallery sits at the heart of this Victorian city, regularly presenting such dynamic exhibitions as Marimekko: Design Icon 1951 – 2018, which runs until 11 June.We caught up with the gallery’s director, Karen Quinlan. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BENDIGO’S CREATIVE SCENE TODAY? Bendigo has developed and grown over the last few decades and is a thriving creative city, with a rich cafe, dining and fashion culture and a full calendar of events and festivals. All of this blends with the rich gold-rush heritage buildings to add much to the overall feel of the city. AND WHAT ROLE DOES THE BENDIGO ART GALLERY PLAY IN THAT? We are one of the largest regional galleries in Australia, and the support we have from the local community…

FROM EPIC BEACHES to incredible upriver landscapes, the Clarence Coast is a true camping and campervanning wonderland on the NSW North Coast. With some of Australia’s most spectacular and unspoilt locations, and less developed than nearby Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Gold Coast, the Clarence Coast offers a medley of experiences that you can enjoy beachside, riverside, mountainside and villageside. Five relaxing coastal parks will help you make the most of this vast region, and a lifetime of memories to boot. Each of the Clarence Coast Holiday Parks has a casual and low-key village vibe and their own distinctive style and character. A range of accommodation options include clean, fresh villas and cabins, amazing beach and riverfront sites and lots of secluded bush camps so you’re all set for an…

61 HOUTMAN ABROLHOS, WA Consisting of 122 islands stretching across 100 kilometres of Indian Ocean off the coast of WA, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands are clustered into three main groups: the Wallabi Group, Easter Group and Pelsaert Group. The reefs that proliferate here are rich with sealife, while the islands harbour large breeding colonies of seabirds and sea lions. But while their remote location encourages life, it also takes it away: many ships have been wrecked on the reefs here over the centuries, the most notable being the Batavia in 1629. The ship came to a tragic end on Morning Reef in the Wallabi group, and the story of the survivors making it to land only to turn on each other is famous. It is possible to dive the wreck…

MY CAREER TOOK OFF BECAUSE OF A FAILURE. When I was a teenager, I was very much interested in projections and film. I studied animation and design, and found myself drawn towards the cinematography aspects of the course. I tried as hard as I could to pursue cinematography, but I couldn’t pass the exam. I fell back into what I thought I knew better, which was set and costume design. MOVING TO AUSTRALIA WAS THE TURNING POINT IN MY CAREER. I grew up in Romania, but for some reason I always wanted to be in Australia. I decided to trust in fate and, in the mid-’80s, I transported myself to where I really wanted to be. I went through NIDA and it rejuvenated me. The European system is very conservative…

JUNE 8–23 ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES, ADELAIDE, SA Adelaide’s festival season continues in style with an eclectic showcase of all things classic and contemporary in the world of cabaret. adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au 15–24 JUNE DARK MOFO HOBART, TAS Cult acts Laurie Anderson, St. Vincent and Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq are among the musical highlights of this year’s Dark Mofo; Mona’s winter solstice festival. darkmofo.net.au JULY 2029 NOOSA ALIVE! NOOSA HEADS, QLD Highlights include a Queensland Ballet world premiere and a ‘dinner and show’ with Priscilla inspiration, Carlotta. noosaalive.com.au 6–17 JUNE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES, SYDNEY, NSW From a fascinating Vivienne Westwood doco to an Aussie film about Afghanistan’s first metal band, Sydney Film Festival is full of gems. sff.org.au UNTIL 20 MAY SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES, SYDNEY,…