Packed with honest reviews and inspiring travel stories, Australian Traveller is the most authoritative and trusted guide to travelling this great country. It's no wonder that it's Australia's best-selling travel magazine.
SOMEONE RECENTLY ASKED ME IF it was hard to find things to keep writing about as editor of Australian Traveller – the country’s only publication dedicated to travelling on home soil. My answer was an immediate no. Quite the opposite: it’s almost impossible to keep up with all the incredible ways to explore Australia. As I write this, I’m holed up in a holiday home on the Hawkesbury River as darkness falls on the ridges and an orchestra of cicadas and lapping water surpasses any personalised Spotify playlist. I’m only just over an hour from home in Sydney and have long loved this river, but today was the first time I’ve navigated it myself at the helm of my own private tinnie. Australia’s always-evolving tourism offering is what has inspired…
ULTIMATE BRUNY ISLAND EXPERIENCES Whether you’re looking for a new foodie experience, charming eco stay amid ancient trees or heritage trail hike across the landscape, you’ll leave Bruny Island feeling sated thanks to these amazing experiences. DISCOVER MOUNT GAMBIER Nestled in the south-eastern pocket of South Australia, Mount Gambier is brimming with wonders. There’s so much to find in Mount Gambier, from the volcanic crater of Blue Lake to the dripping greenery of Umpherston Sinkhole. VICTORIA’S SECRET ROAD TRIPS Victoria is packed with hot-shot road trips (hello, Great Ocean Road) but what about the roads less travelled? Pack the car and pound the pavement on these little-known road trips. LEGENDARY AUSSIE PUBS From a local’s haven in the heritage-steeped Hawkesbury to a red-dirt outback hangout in kooky Kookynie in WA,…
HUG THE EAST COAST of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula until you reach the coastal town of Port Lincoln, located on the largest natural harbour in Australia and drawing travellers from far and wide for its seafood and pristine beaches. Eat your fill and sink your toes in the sand. Then drive on towards the shores of Sleaford Bay to check into Yambara: a private oasis that nods to a Barngarla word aptly meaning ‘away’. Out of sight. No doubt this architecturally designed and off-grid tiny abode from Eyre.Way is luxurious, but the true luxury here is the panoramic views it presents – including of the seemingly endless sand dunes that indicate the start of Port Lincoln National Park to the north-east – and the company you’ll keep among the kangaroos,…
PUTTING ON THE RITZ The scene is set the minute you step out of the lift on level 80 and into the soaring lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne. The landmark building is part of the new West Side Place precinct. The luxury hotel has 257 rooms and suites fitted out with custom leather and velvet furniture plus bespoke light fixtures that are as marvellously theatrical as the ground-level entrance on Lonsdale Street. In addition to a spa on level 64 and a radical infinity pool that overlooks the city, there will be signature bar and restaurant experiences led by culinary advisor Mark Best. ritzcarlton.com NOD TO NOSTALGIA A new one-of-a-kind retro motel has us feeling all sentimental about road trips. Well, pack your jumpsuit and set your GPS for tranquil…
HEPBURN RETREAT, ILFORD, NSW If you’re looking for greener pastures, you will find them at this working farm some 40 minutes outside Mudgee. The three off-grid cabins at Hepburn Retreat are spaced apart to maximise the bucolic views while also maintaining the privacy of guests. Stroll around the pretty property to find cows, chickens and ponies. Each pet-friendly cabin sleeps two to four guests comfortably. hepburnretreat.com STARGAZER, BENDIGO, VIC There’s not a lot of light pollution above this aptly named Tiny Away home located outside the small rural community of Axedale in the Bendigo region of Victoria. Download an astronomy app before arriving in Bendigo so you can better sort the diamonds scattered across the velvety night sky. Stargazer is located on a 53-hectare farm. tinyaway.com/listing/stargazer Sixty6 Acres, Woombye, Qld…
ON THE PROMENADE Promenade Bondi Beach is sitting pretty, just metres from the sand in a fetching corner of Sydney’s newly reimagined Bondi Pavilion. And it’s now the place to take your Bondi bae to people-watch over plates of fresh-made pasta or chilled seafood. Bondi is famous for its bronzed surfers and beautiful beach and the menu at this new House Made Hospitality venue reflects influences from coastal regions around the globe. promenadebondibeach.com Hot to trot in Lorne Merivale’s much-loved Totti’s has landed at the Lorne Hotel in Victoria. It’s the fifth outpost of the popular Italian eatery and well worth a stop on your next road trip along the Great Ocean Road. Executive chef Matt Germanchis is a Surf Coast local who aims to celebrate the very best local…
