Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 - July 2019 i Australian Traveller

YOU ARE ABOUT to delve into a magazine that has been debated, researched and pored over for some weeks; such is the process of constructing our annual 100 issue, which this year clocks in at a hefty 180 pages. The size is as much a reflection of the diversity of offering in our country as the popularity of the issue itself with you, our readers. The starting point for every 100 issue is the theme; this year it is a call to arms to get off the couch (or lounge if you prefer, another hotly debated topic) and explore your own country, which the majority of us fail to fully appreciate as we go about our daily routines. With this seed of an idea in place, we set about constructing…

ZAGAME’S HOUSE The Zagame family, famed in the Victorian hospitality industry, has added to its portfolio with the opening of its first boutique design hotel, Zagame’s House. The $ 18 -million transformation of their former hotel on Lygon Street, Carlton, has resulted in 97 contemporary rooms filled with luxe custom furnishings, locally produced linens, acoustically panelled walls and sexy, generous bathrooms. A Feng Shui master has ensured the correct flow of Qi throughout the hotel, and sustainable initiatives such as the use of eWater, composting systems and reducing its carbon footprint are an integral part of the hotel’s DNA. Commissioned artworks completed on site add to the bespoke feel. zagameshouse.com.au INTERCONTINENTAL HAYMAN ISLAND RESORT The wait is finally over! Australia’s premier island resort, Hayman Island, is back in business from…

Keep an eagle eye on the horizon as a whole host of new ships are making their way to Australian waters for the 2020 cruising season. That includes oceangoing gems such as the Carnival Splendor – a beautiful 14-decker that carries 3700 passengers and will become the largest ship home-ported in Australia year-round; the Royal-class Regal Princess and Gem-class Sapphire Princess , both luxurious vessels built by Princess Cruises; the Solstice-class Celebrity Eclipse ; as well as the newest and largest ship from the P&O Cruises fleet, the 10-deck, 2600-capacity Pacific Adventure . With the brand new Brisbane Cruise Terminal set to open in October 2020, there will be even more opportunities for cruise enthusiasts to set sail. So where would you like to go? BEST OF THE BEST Great…

BANNISTERS PORT STEPHENS, NSW CHANNELLING THE SAME DESIGNER STYLINGS AS ITS MOLLYMOOK COUSINS, BANNISTERS PORT STEPHENS OPENED LAST YEAR: A RETRO BEACH MOTEL TRANSFORMED INTO BOUTIQUE DIGS WITH 78 ROOMS, FOUR LUXURY SUITES, A PENTHOUSE AND AN INFINITY POOL. THERE’S A RICK STEIN RESTAURANT TOO, OF COURSE. BANNISTERS.COM.AU SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE, SA For luxury in the wilderness, Kangaroo Island’s Southern Ocean Lodge has long led the charge: a sensitively designed retreat suspended lightly in its rugged coastal surrounds. Think designer furnishings and artwork by locals, recycled spotted-gum feature walls, sand-blasted limestone floors and breathtaking ocean views at every turn. southernoceanlodge.com.au qualia, Qld IT’S ALL HAPPENING IN THE WHITSUNDAYS RIGHT NOW,WITH HAYMAN ISLAND’S REOPENING AND DAYDREAM ISLAND’S BIG REVAMP. BUT LET’S NOT FORGET A PERENNIAL FAVOURITE: QUALIA. ON THE SECLUDED NORTHERNMOST…

IF YOU’VE HEARD OF THE ISOLATED, iconic, historic outback township of Birdsville in Queensland’s remote Diamantina region, then you’ve probably heard of the famous Birdsville Races, the vast Simpson Desert and its Big Red Sand Dune, and the circa 1884 Birdsville Hotel – where you simply must drop in for a beer. But what else can you expect from this bucket-list outback destination? For starters, you can expect outstanding country hospitality, year-round, from some of the warmest and friendliest locals you could ever hope to meet. You can expect authentic outback ›lavours; in fact, once you’ve sampled a camel pie from the Birdsville Bakery, you’ll have a new appreciation for what authentic outback ›lavour really is. In this case, it’s got a lamb-like texture with a hint of curry and…

MY FRIEND IS GIVING ME A LOOK that says: not happy. I’ve added burnt cabbage to our order while she was off powdering her nose and apparently, peasant-level leafy veg is not on her favourites list. But I’ve heard it should be. The chef cooking it, Aaron Carr, spent 21 years at Vasse Felix, the lauded winery owned by the Holmes à Court family. He’s switched the grand estate where he’d earned chef hats and built a reputation for showy, technique-driven, sometimes experimental fare for a bolthole in the nearby beach town of Dunsborough. In opening his own restaurant with the team behind nearby winery Snake + Herring, he’s changed tack, opting for a more mindful way forward. His food is still mightily polished but it’s much more approachable than…

THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY LOVES a portmanteau. Think staycation, voluntourism, babymoon. Glamping has done arguably the best job of infiltrating the lexicon; it was even added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016. And, rumour has it, the ‘glamorous camping’ amalgam originated on the outskirts of Huskisson. “We think that word was coined here by a Sunday Times [UK] travel writer,” says Irena Hutchings, referring to Paperbark Camp, the luxury tented accommodation she opened with her husband in 1998. “I am sure he was the guy who first wrote the word ‘glamping’. We’d never seen it before and we thought ‘what a great word!’” There is a consensus the word was first used by a British journalist in 2005 so the maths pans out. Regardless, Paperbark Camp was a pioneer of…

1 GETTING COOL ON THE COAST It’s just over a year since Queensland hosted Australia’s biggest event this decade. The 2018 Commonwealth Games delivered a compelling cauldron of drama, desperation, tears and triumph. But, more importantly, it introduced a global audience of 1.5 billion people to a little slice of sunshiney paradise we call the Gold Coast. For Australian viewers, it was a reminder of the region’s natural spoils – 57 kilometres of soft sand beaches, 300 days of sunshine a year and an often-overlooked hinterland with 100,000 hectares of UNESCO World Heritage-protected rainforest. But it also hinted at a newfound sophistication – a cosmopolitan food, arts and culture scene at odds with the age-old stereotype of high rises, fast food and questionable fashion choices. It’s tempting to credit the…

11 LISTEN TO THE TREES When tree hugging was a thing, I gave it a good nudge. I’d wrap my arms around those solid, dependable trunks, sending warm fuzzies deep into their growth rings. In all the times I did it, I never expected to be hugged back. Then one day, a 75-metre-tall beauty returns the love. Named the Walk-Through tree, I find her at the end of a leaf-strewn bush trail flanked by trees that are among the tallest in the world. Believed to be 400 years old, her gnarled base has formed into an arch, and a ladder grants entrance to her open-sided cavern. I step in and am gently cuddled by impenetrably dense, living wood. Its age and strength emanates contentment, calm and, remarkably, zero claustrophobia. As…

44 LORD HOWE ISLAND IS ON EVERYONE'S LIPS RIGHT NOW Paradise is a much overused word these days, but we are not exaggerating when we say that Lord Howe Island is just that, paradise. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed island is just 700 kilometres north-west of Sydney, but a world away from the everyday. Its staggeringly blue waters lap wide beaches; fish crowd around your feet when you step into the water; turtles frolic in the shallows; and the lush, hulking mass of Mount Gower dominates the horizon, its peak often shrouded in a crown of wispy white cloud. Like we say, paradise. And everyone on island is determined to keep it that way; only 400 visitors are allowed at any one time, cars play second fiddle to bikes (riders wave…

ROADSIDE WONDERS If you know what to look for, you’ll find them on a bend that looks like a million others, on a river that often struggles to flow, behind a tiny town that’s had its problems, on a road that beelines for the back of Bourke. Many people in this north-western New South Wales town, and plenty of others besides, sincerely believe that the Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps are among the oldest, if not the oldest, human-made structures on Earth. So far, science is yet to categorically agree or disagree that this half-kilometre network of stone walls and holding ponds across the Barwon River has been in use for 40,000 years: roughly eight-times-and-change older than Stonehenge. Ngunnhu, as the Ngemba people named them, are not grand Stonehenge-style structures, nor…

THROUGH THE HEART of WA, there’s a self-drive adventure like few others in the world. Wind your way 1,000 kilometres north of Perth and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with Mount Augustus, the world’s biggest rock. An epic road trip best done over at least nine days to give you maximum enjoyment of the amazing sights along the way, it begins as you strike out from Perth toward Mount Magnet, via rolling canola fields, tiny outback towns and heaps of Aussie charisma. Next you’ll hit Cue and its surrounding natural attractions like The Granites – a striking set of rocky outcrops reaching 15 metres high that are home to Aboriginal rock art dating back 9,000 years. A site of great cultural significance to the Badimia people, it’s especially beautiful at sunrise,…

VIVA TAS VEGAS: 5 THINGS EVERY VISITOR MUST DO IN LAUNCESTON Get a glimpse of the beauty of Tasmania’s northern riverside town. SEE ‘DESTINATIONS’ FOR OUR LAUNCESTON GUIDE THE ULTIMATE BRISBANE TO SYDNEY ROAD TRIP ITINERARY How to do the coastal road trip that has become a rite of passage in Australia... SEE ‘DESTINATIONS’ FOR OUR BRISBANE GUIDE YOUR GUIDE TO ACCOMMODATION FOR EVERY BUDGET IN BYRON BAY Soak up some seriously serene Byron Bay bliss with our top pick of hotels, resorts and caravan parks in this classic coastal getaway. SEE ‘DESTINATIONS’ FOR OUR BYRON BAY GUIDE NO-FRILLS LIST OF MELBOURNE’S BEST RESTAURANTS Don’t be overwhelmed by the options. Here’s a local guide to Victoria’s proud culinary capital. SEE ‘DESTINATIONS’ FOR OUR NORTH COAST GUIDE LET’S GET DIGITAL Receive…

Populating the rooftop of Westfield’s flagship Sydney property, a formerly underutilised space with impressive inner-city skyline views, modern Middle East diner BABYLON takes up more than half of the rooftop, with a 216-seat restaurant, two bars, a kitchen with wood-fire oven and an expansive outdoor terrace.The menu is inspired by the Levantine cuisine of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, with lots of share plates. Also occupying an enviable rooftop position at Westfield Sydney, the menu at the 400-seat DUCK&RICE features modern Cantonese cuisine, from dim sum and noodles to fresh seafood, overseen by head chef Kenny Kong (ex-China Doll). Down the road in the gracious Queen Victoria Building, the luxe Champagne parlour and bar, REIGN AT THE QVB, treats its late-night guests to the best bubbles from around the…

HALFWAY BETWEEN THE BUSTLING hubs of Sydney and Brisbane you’ll find Coffs Harbour, the heart of the beautiful Coffs Coast. This tranquil seaside city is a nature lovers’ paradise, nestled at a picturesque junction where the ancient Gondwana rainforests of the highlands cascade down to meet more than 70 kilometres of pristine coastline. Within little more than half an hour’s drive of the city there are 11 national parks to discover, while the Solitary Islands Marine Park is a natural wonderland on the city’s doorstep where you can walk, swim, surf, dive, bike or even horse ride to your heart’s content. Punctuating the rolling blue waves along the beaches are a series of spectacular headlands, extensions of the Great Dividing Range. Here you’ll become immersed in the cultural history of…

NESTLED AT THE CONCLUDING point of the Tamar Valley estuary and a 2.5-hour drive north of Hobart, Launceston is fast erasing its somewhat dead-end reputation, thanks in no small part to a host of locals who are giving the working-class Tasmanian city a new lease of life. Its inner-city architecture is largely colonial and dotted with petite, pruned gardens that contrast the wild beauty of nearby Cataract Gorge. The wealth of incredible, locally grown produce makes for buzzing farmers’ markets that are brimming with smallgoods, breads, preserves, cheese and more, outshining – I’ll wager – anything you can find on the mainland. In January, Hobart art institution Mona relocated its summer festival Mona Foma to Launceston, and the destination hosts its own arts, music and food festivals throughout the year;…

THE WARM CLIMATE, rich soil and abundant oceans ensure the Sunshine Coast is ideal for creating exceptional food products. With more than 900 innovative farmers and producers, paddock-to-plate experiences abound with farm gates, food and wine tours and behind-the-scenes factory tours for you to pick, smell, sample and savour authentic food. Looking for quality seafood? Mooloolaba is the biggest swordfish port in Australia and one of the busiest seafood ports on the eastern seaboard. The wharf is a hive of daily activity, with trawlers bringing in boatloads of world-renowned Mooloolaba prawns, swordfish, lobsters and spanner crabs. From Land & Sea in Noosa to Brouhaha in Maleny, the Sunshine Coast punches well above its weight for dynamic, award-winning craft breweries. Moffat Beach Brewing Co won the 2018 Champion Small Brewer of…

1. INDIJUP NATURAL SPA Drive straight from Perth to Margaret River, famous for its premium wines and world-class surf. It’s also the home of beaches, plenty of restaurants and this secret spot: Indijup Natural Spa. Simply sit in the water and relax as waves rhythmically fill the pool with a gentle fizz. 2. A NATURAL, BRIGHT GREEN POOL Greens Pool is framed by huge boulders, which act as a protective shore break; the naturally occurring, almost perfectly circular pool of peppermint-tinged water attracts locals from the nearby town of Denmark for their morning laps. 3. GREAT OCEAN DRIVE As you drive into Esperance, you’ll come across the Great Ocean Drive – get your camera ready! Passing along 20km of stunning coastline, it’s been dubbed Australia’s most beautiful stretch of road,…

91 DOWNSIZING When buying our first home, with two new infants to house, my wife and I didn’t look for the smallest one we could find (which, perversely, is perhaps the best approach when it comes to purchasing property in Sydney). So why on Earth did we think it was a good idea to look for a ‘tiny house’ to stay in with our babies on a precious weekend away from the city? Perhaps we’d been lulled by the idyllic imagery of the tiny house movement, its lumberjack-, beanie-wearing individuals gazing up at snow-capped peaks outside diminutive weatherboard-clad homes that can fit on a trailer. Being able to tow away your home at a moment’s notice means avoiding planning laws so you can pretty much stick one where you want…

FAMILY HOLIDAY TIME is a precious resource. We can’t afford to fritter it away on disappointing experiences, underwhelming facilities and – worst of all – location letdowns. That’s why Discovery Holiday Parks offers locations as diverse and accessible as the wide-open country we’re proud to call home. As the largest holiday park owner in the country, we help visitors enjoy more of the places and spaces that make these parks so special. With parks located throughout the outback, along incredible coastlines and iconic Australian touring routes, Discovery Holiday Parks provide the perfect opportunity to connect with the real Australia in all types of accommodation. Families know they can rely on us for affordable, incredible value for money; whether you’re in a luxury safari tent, caravan, cabin or swag, the entire…

NAME: LIVING EDGE SHOWROOM LIVING EDGE, purveyor of relentlessly sharp, modern designs in furniture and lighting, recently installed its Perth showroom into a grand heritage building in the CBD, working with international design practice Hassell to tease out the beauty of the old merchant building that dates back to the early 1900s. They started by stripping the structure back to its bare bones and then gently LOCATION: PERTH, WA  enhancing the space through the use of refined materials and insertions that add interesting layers throughout. “As with all our showrooms, we try to find a heritage property, something with history, and yet something that is still very relevant today,” explains Aidan Mawhinney, CEO of Living Edge. “We believe in longevity, simplicity and sustainability. This building DESIGNER: HASSELL  reflects [the] attributes…

JESSICA ZIMMERMAN is the venue manager of Renmark’s Twenty Third Street Distillery, a sleek modern offering housed in a century-old landmark that has been named Vintage Cellars’ Distillery of the Year for 2019. Using vintage copper stills and traditional craftsmanship it produces a range of spirits with interesting and innovative flavours, such as a signature gin with local mandarin and lime, and brandy with dried apricots and raisins. Each spirit is beautifully bottled with labels designed by mostly local artists. Here, Jessica shares her tips on the best things to do when in Renmark, SA. THE NITTY GRITTY: WHERE EXACTLY: Some 260 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, Renmark is located on the banks of the Murray River. POPULATION: Approximately 4634. WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Renmark is the closest river town to…

BEN LOMOND NP TASMANIA In the biblical Book of Genesis, Jacob’s Ladder was a pathway to heaven appearing in a dream. The Tasmanian version is a rather more earthly affair, being one of the most spectacular roads in Australia. Its layered, ultra-curved hairpins absolutely make it the stuff of dreams for roadsters and motorbikes, but being above the snowline in the island state’s main snowsports area, the drive becomes rather more epic in winter. The once-oceanic dolerite rock columns that overlook the steep climb to the plateau make for fantastic advanced climbing, while summer brings an entirely different look from the rest of the state, and the wildflower displays of your dreams, too. We can see why the nearest town is named Blessington.…

CULINARY WONDER WA’s Voyager Estate has introduced The Culinary Project, a series of five-course dinners for just 10 guests each held in the estate’s private residence, pairing the cuisine in its recently named Regional Restaurant of the Year with the wines that inspired it. Head chef Santi Fernandez tells us what to expect. TELL US ABOUT THE DINNERS. The Culinary Project is a chance for me to offer guests an exclusive preview of my new dishes; to get immediate feedback on new ideas is quite exciting. It’s also a chance for me to explain my dishes in context, and how the food is influenced by the complexity of our wines. HOW DO YOU PLAN EACH MENU? The creative process is happening right now in our vines.The grapes are in constant…

NEWCASTLE IS A THRIVING CITY by the sea – flanked by eight golden beaches waiting for surfers, sandcastles, sunrise snaps and sunset picnics. An unforgettable experience is walking the city’s iconic coastal walk, Bathers Way, which stretches six kilometres of coastline and offers stunning views of the sea, historic ocean baths and beach pavilions. One of Newcastle’s most spectacular vantage points, Fort Scratchley, is a unique, nationally significant heritage site. Standing sentinel above Nobbys Beach, you can explore the barracks, ponder the sight of canons standing guard over the sea and take a guided tour of the Fort’s fascinating wartime tunnels. If you’re an art and culture enthusiast, history buff or theatre lover, Australia’s seventh largest city has got you covered. Newcastle offers a range of unforgettable experiences, most within…

DR MICHAEL BREIN HAS ‘visited’ more than 100 countries. He’s a box ticker, to be sure. He popped into Belize for just 45 minutes so he could add to his list, and once took an all-day train journey from Italy and back again simply to stop in Liechtenstein. He also won a competition in the 1980s after travelling to 50 American states in 50 days. Brein has coined a term for this kind of traveller: The Collector. In fact, this US-based gatherer has created 14 separate travel archetypes; all in a day’s work for the world’s first travel psychologist. Given Brein harnessed his passion for travel to pioneer a new field of psychology, you won’t be surprised to learn he’s not exclusively a numbers man. He would go back to…

CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS Experience the untouched beauty of the Whitsundays with Cruise Whitsundays, the region’s largest and most experienced marine operator. Offering a range of superb day cruises, overnight experiences, transfer services between islands and the mainland plus connections to Hamilton Island airport, Cruise Whitsundays helps you get the most out of this essential Australian destination. Whether it’s an unforgettable underwater encounter with the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, a sailing adventure to remote spots and secret beaches, wining and dining at an island resort or grabbing some precious beach time on a famous stretch of sand, these 74 lush tropical islands off the central Queensland coast are paradise found. Welcome to the Whitsundays – your journey with Cruise Whitsundays is just beginning. VISIT cruisewhitsundays.com or call 07 4846 7000 to…

A RAINBOW BLAZES over the Story Bridge as our Uber pulls up to the geometric facade of The Fantauzzo, sitting snug underneath Brisbane’s metal coat hanger. A reprieve, after a day of deluge. Around us, families, well-heeled wedding guests and revellers coming two-by-two descend on the city’s hottest new address – Howard Smith Wharves – to kick off their Saturday night. If atmosphere could be bottled, it would be eau de electric. Inside, Asher Keddie steals the show. Her larger-than-life portrait hangs beside a great hulk of angular stone doubling as reception desk – mirroring the chiselled cliff face behind the hotel, showcased through oversized windows. It’s a dramatic welcome to the second Art Series hotel for Brisbane – one conceived in homage to Keddie’s artist husband, Vincent Fantauzzo. Young…

You and a friend could win a Life’s An Adventure Three Capes Pack Free walk, where you’ll go hiking without the burden of a heavy pack and experience the renowned Three Capes in Tasmania. Stay in a deluxe spa chalet at Stewart Bay Lodge, indulge in local produce with selected wines, and to make your journey truly inspirational you’ll experience a helicopter flight or cruise around Cape Pillar – an amazing way to finish your journey. lifesanadventure.com.au…

YOU’VE PROBABLY heard the rumblings about Brisbane. The river city has been energised by a raft of glittering new hotels, restaurants and events. But it’s Brisbane’s way of life that makes it so special. An urbane metropolis set to the pace of the tropics, this is a city where there’s time to drink your latte from a glass, and the climate to dine under the stars. Of all the new developments, Howard Smith Wharves is the most talked about – and rightly so. Tucked beneath The Story Bridge, a series of disused storage sheds have been given a new lease on life, transformed into a boardwalk of restaurants, a brewery and a hotel that hugs the contours of the cliffs. And it all integrates seamlessly with leafy New Farm Park,…

EXPLORING THE NATION’S must-see highlights, as well as the unforgettable hidden gems, Inspiring Journeys brings Australia to life through their uniquely immersive experiences. Allowing guests a more intimate exploration of Australia’s varied and breathtaking locations, Inspiring Journeys takes small groups of no more than 20. Guided by a dedicated and experienced Journey Director, you’ll discover local insights, fascinating facts and have the exclusive opportunity to discover incredible places that can’t be reached by larger groups and without a guiding hand. 1 WUKALINA WALK, TASMANIA Take in the magnificent natural landscapes of the Bay of Fires and Mount William on this two-night walk. Aboriginal-owned and operated, this guided tour uncovers the cultural homeland of the Palawa people. 2 CORROBOREE BILLABONG, TOP END Wake up with the wildlife and head to Corroboree…

31 WE MIGHT JUST HAVE THE BEST BEACH HOUSES IN THE WORLD As a country of coast-huggers, Australia knows a thing or two about great beach houses. Whether that’s the rustic-chic Little Black Shack perched on the water’s edge at Pittwater in Sydney or a private retreat in the shape of Tasmania’s Satellite Island, the tropical mansion of Queensland’s Airlie Beach Villa, or one of our perennial favourites, the slick and sexy Roozen Residence in Margaret River (pictured) – the five-star property of local surfer and artist Ron Roozen that dishes up 180-degree ocean views from every room – there’s a property to suit every mood and season. Check out listings on Airbnb, HomeAway and Contemporary Hotels to see the whole gamut of options. 32 A SECRET ISLAND PARADISE Kimberley…

51 BALLARAT REINVENTED I’m in the basement bar of a contemporary art gallery that used to be a masonic temple. It serves cocktails made with pine foraged from a nearby forest and is styled with eclectic furnishings foraged from Gumtree. On another evening I might have caught a film screening, a ‘Draw the Nude Man’ life drawing class or a gin-blending workshop with local distillers, but tonight I’m just hanging out with the resident cat Pye and enjoying the atmosphere. Four years ago, Tara Poole fell in love with this building when it was an empty shell full of little more than history and potential. She had no precedent for taking on such a task, but through passion, hard work and learning how to angle grind, she transformed it into…

61 FIND YOUR INNER ARTIST Artists are credited with being solitary creatures, lost in their own artistic vision. But for those needing a little help finding their inner Monet, an artists’ retreat in a suitably inspiring location is just the ticket. Artworkshops Australia conducts weekend workshops in its Byron hinterland studio, or you can indulge in one of its art retreats, painting in the likes of the Flinders Ranges, the Blue Mountains, Kakadu, the Pilbara, Fowlers Gap and Tasmania. Art Travel Adventures’ art expeditions also allow you to immerse yourself in amazing locations – the remote East Kimberley, Lord Howe Island, the East MacDonnell Ranges and Arnhem Land – while learning from celebrated Australian artists. 62 WALK THE WALK If you are looking to clear your head and get away…

81 CELEBRATE OUR OFF-ROAD OBSESSION A fully equipped 4WD is like a sturdy ship able to cover every stretch of this wide, brown land of ours. And the off-roading capital of Australia, if not the entire world, is Alice Springs. It’s a national love affair celebrated every year at the Tatts Finke Desert Race, from 7 to 10 June. Over 600 competitors in everything from dune buggies, rally cars, 4WDs and dirt bikes head out from Alice Springs, taking two days to blast through 460 kilometres of red desert to the Finke River (thought to be the oldest in the world), in the Indigenous community Aputula. If you’re not taking part, you can camp along the route; there’s something uniquely Australian about seeing Mad Max made real as hundreds of…

UNTIL OCTOBER 9 NASA – A HUMAN ADVENTURE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, BRISBANE, QLD Don’t miss your chance to see the most comprehensive and extensive touring space flight exhibition on the planet right now. qm.qld.gov.au 5–16 JUNE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES, SYDNEY, NSW Premieres, red-carpet openings, in-depth discussions and more take place across Sydney over 12 days and nights. sff.org.au 17–26 MAY ORD VALLEY MUSTER KUNUNURRA, WA Fine dining under the stars, rodeo, comedy and Indigenous culture, plus musical acts like Amy Shark, pictured, are all part of this unique East Kimberley festival. ordvalleymuster.com.au UNTIL JUNE 2 QUILTY ART GALLERY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, ADELAIDE, SA Famous for his thick, expressive brushstrokes and social commentary, Ben Quilty is one of the country’s most acclaimed artists. This exhibition is the first major survey…