Innholdsfortegnelse for May - July 2025 i Australian Traveller

RIVERFRONT ROMANCE The weathered convict-brick walls and original timber beams of the 1842-built Post House still contain whispers of its storied heritage. The one-bedroom colonial cottage sits on a crook of the Carlton River, just 40 minutes from Hobart/Nipaluna. Immerse yourself in river life from the comfort of the old postmaster’s house, which has been lovingly reimagined with modern comforts as an ideal spot for an elopement or luxury escape. posthouse.com.au Downtown digs Adina Town Hall has reopened in Sydney/Warrane’s CBD. The apartment-style rooms have soaring ceilings that are evocative of downtown NYC lofts, with kitchens and lounge-style settings designed to be comfortable for an extended stay. The reimagined 144-room Adina apartment hotel is also moments from landmark attractions, making it well placed for business and leisure travellers. tfehotels.com HOWE…

WITH ITS ROOTS IN timber and dairy farming, the small coastal town of Denmark on Noongar Boodja (Country) in Western Australia didn’t always have a place on a traveller’s hit list. Over time though, the town’s juxtaposed natural beauty – from pristine beaches to lush verdant forests – began to attract tourists. This, along with the more recent rise of its acclaimed viticulture and the allure of a tranquil tree-change lifestyle, has transformed Denmark into the vibrant and sought-after destination it is today, balancing its historical roots with modern appeal. With a hip bohemian vibe, the main town of Denmark oozes laid-back likability contrasted with cool self-assurance. On one hand you’ll find wholesome health food shops such as The Green Pantry, quirky retailers like crystal shop The Sacred Tree and…

HEARING CHEF KONSTANTIN Putkin talk about Ballarat, you’d swear he was an official tourism ambassador, such is his genuine appreciation for the regional city in central western Victoria he now calls home. “I call Ballarat ‘the Little Big Town’ because it’s a regional area, but it’s only an hour and 15 from Melbourne. You’ve got everything you could possibly want from a cuisine perspective here,” says the chef, who has helped breathe new life into Ballarat’s hospitality scene. THE WORLD ON A PLATE Born in St Petersburg, the executive chef of The Goods Shed spent much of his childhood living in Canada. He has since worked all over the globe, including stints in Nova Scotia, London and Tasmania/Lutruwita. “I sank my teeth into the kind of food that I do…

*Turn to page 121 for this epic Murray River escape and more... WEEKEND getaways FIVE MINUTES IN MOUNT GAMBIER and mermaids are everywhere, the dazzling blue waters of Kilsby Sinkhole awash with social media types clad in satin scales and baubled headdresses. It wouldn’t be unusual to see swimmers, snorkellers or even South Australian police divers, who have been using the celebrated sinkhole as a training site since the 1980s, but… mermaids? Fifth generation owner Graham Kilsby laughs as he shrugs and shows me around his ever-growing facilities, explaining that the recent diversity – not to mention the jump in bookings (there’s now a waitlist for many of his tours) – is a result of the tourism boom now being felt across all corners of the Limestone Coast. Perhaps…

WINDOWS DOWN, music blasting, servo snacks within arm’s reach. What’s not to love about an Aussie road trip? From the coast to the outback, including the legendary Great Ocean Road and epic adventures along the 3700-kilometre Savannah Way, there’s a road trip for everyone in this inspiring issue. Whether by 4WD, EV, campervan or even a coach tour, a road trip ensures you don’t miss a thing along the way. Call dibs on the front seat, buckle up and hit the road with us. See you in August!…

AN INSIDER GUIDE TO WHALE-WATCHING SEASON From May to November each year, more than 40,000 whales slowly migrate along Aussie coastlines to reach warmer waters. Choosing a prime position to spot these magnificent creatures of the deep can be difficult, but our inclusive guide to the best whale-watching locations around the country is your best bet. The best bathhouse is in Byron Bay With wellness-based travel on the rise, steamy spas and heavenly hot springs have surged in popularity. But if you’re seeking more than just a soothing soak, book into The Byron Bathhouse nestled on the NSW North Coast. As the country’s first medical-grade bathhouse, it’s inducing some serious zen. AUSTRALIA’S TOP 10 TOWNS OF 2025 From a dreamy destination in south-west WA to a charming pocket of Victoria’s…

Mildura magic Following on from his landmark Field of Light installation at Uluru and Light-Towers at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon, British-Australian artist Bruce Munro has launched Trail of Lights in Mildura. The installation on Lock Island on the Murray River is made up of two components – Fireflies, featuring 12,500 ‘fireflies’ planted in the earth, and Gone Fishing – both of which invite visitors to immerse themselves in the magical environment. “Like with all natural landscapes, you get this lovely opportunity to lose yourself and just unwind,” says Munro. The meditative installation is expected to attract streams of visitors to the regional Victorian city and will be complemented by a second work from Munro, Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, across the river in Wentworth later in the year. mildura.com Island…

THERE IS SOMETHING TO appreciate about the contradictions that grief offers. Quietly immersed in my thoughts, while witnessing the power of the Kiama Blowhole, I felt both the full force of my sadness for the loss of my dear mum and surprisingly liberated from the weight of that grief. While I was already a seasoned traveller, it was at this pivotal moment that I was reminded of the importance of venturing back out into the world. A world that is open to us all if we are willing to explore. It unlocks the door to unknown territory, new adventures and paths less travelled. Grief permeates through all facets of life. It can be a devastating, isolating and, at times, intense journey. It can touch our life at any moment, and…

25 JULY – 3 AUGUST THE CURATED PLATE SUNSHINE COAST, QLD Savour the bounty of Queensland’s food bowl at The Curated Plate, a series of 30 food-focused events designed to guide you through the paddock-to-plate journey. Over 10 delicious days, you’ll meet the makers at local markets, tour farms growing the state’s best produce and get hands-on at cooking classes. Exclusive dining experiences will also transform the region’s bounty into dishes that will linger on the palate long after your plate has been cleared. thecuratedplate.com.au 5–6 JULY National Indigenous Art Fair SYDNEY, NSW Launching at the start of NAIDOC Week 2025, the National Indigenous Art Fair will again take over Sydney/Warrane’s Overseas Passenger Terminal to platform Indigenous artists for its sixth year running. After browsing stalls touting everything from original…

A former postmaster’s house in south-east Tasmania/ Lutruwita built more than a century ago has been reimagined into a romantic escape for two. Past meets present at the colonial cottage, which sits on a crook of the Carlton River outside Hobart/ Nipaluna. The owners have put their own stamp on the lodging, which features the original convict-built walls and rustic timber beams, yet is a haven of contemporary design. Turn to page 34 for more.…

Myth maker The cowboy hat and Australian outback hat were invented at roughly the same time on opposite ends of the world. In America, John B. Stetson Company created the cowboy prototype, the ‘Boss of the Plains’ hat, in 1865. Down Under, Akubra pioneered the classic Aussie outback hat in 1876 from a small workshop in Tasmania/Lutruwita. Akubra designed practical and durable headpieces, similar in style to the cowboy hat, but distinguished by a straighter brim and flatter, lower crown. Whereas the Stetson cowboy hat went on to become a universal symbol, the less-mythologised outback hat endured quietly but just as strongly, becoming a fixture of drovers, workers and style-seekers throughout the ages. John B. Stetson Company ceased operations in the 1970s. But Akubra still lives on as one of…

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Plenty, especially for a new hospitality venture. My first question on entering the rammed-earth restaurant is “How do I say it?”. ‘Oirthir’ means coastline in Scottish Gaelic, and there’s little question why chefs and co-owners Bob Piechniczek and Jillian McInnes chose it. Every seat (all 22 of them) has a 360-degree view of rolling pastures stretching to the cliff-fringed Marion Bay coast in Tasmania/Lutruwita. The couple fell in love with the island on their honeymoon in 2019, and they jumped at an opportunity to take on the former Van Bone site. Each has clocked more than 20 years in the kitchen, including Michelin-starred gigs, yet this is their first independent venue. I visit on an autumn afternoon, where stylish and neutral, clean-lined interiors create hygge, with…

WITH THE PROLIFERATION of bathhouses now open across Australia, it can be hard to imagine a time when they weren’t a wellness staple of every city. But when it opened quietly in 2020, Tank Bathhouse & Day Spa’s first venue Tank Farm in Bli Bli – a ‘hinterland lite’ suburb 15 minutes north-west of Maroochydore – kicked off a day spa revolution on the Sunshine Coast. The collective of entrepreneurial owners behind the 16-hectare farm had been watching wellness trends with interest and, with the travel restrictions of Covid thrust upon the country, decided to embrace the concept of a ‘daycation’. “We wanted to really fuse that day spa concept with hospitality and entertainment and create a more holistic experience,” says shareholder and Sunshine Coast local, Naj Elsayed. “Something that’s…

IT’S DAWN ON MONDAY 28 February 2022. Heavy rain has lashed the Northern Rivers overnight – the ground swollen from weeks of unrelenting fall – and Lismore’s worst fear has just come to pass. The levee protecting it from Wilsons River has overtopped, with predictions the swiftly rising waters may soon peak far above the current record of 12.11 metres. Within the day, the city’s heart is swamped by more than 14 metres of flood water: a swirling, reddy-brown barrage blocking roads, stranding people in homes and spurring a ‘tinny army’ of boat owners to evacuate the young and old alongside emergency services. Lismore’s location at the junction of Leycester Creek and Wilsons River was chosen for ease of timber export in the 1840s. And though the town and its…

IF YOU HAPPEN UPON Elliott Routledge painting one of his large-scale, joy-inducing murals in your street, he’ll probably tell you he’s not the artist, just the guy installing it. This is partly because he wants to hear your honest critique – free from the filter usually deployed when people know they’re in conversation with the creator of the artwork. “It’s terrible, but I love it,” says Routledge. “Painting outside is so different to [encountering art] in a gallery, where you’re told what to think. On the streets everyone has an opinion and it’s an unashamed, unfiltered opinion. Often it’s good, often it’s bad, but it’s pretty fun.” Chances are you’ve had your own opinion about one of his bold, attention-snatching murals as you’ve carried on with your day. Perhaps while…

IT’S 1977 IN PARIS. French abstract artist Sonia Delaunay, aged 92, is at the end of an illustrious life and career. At the same time, two young Aussie designers – Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee – are attending a retrospective of Delaunay’s work at the Musée National d’Art Moderne, dressed head to toe in colourful garments inspired by the very art movement she pioneered (pictured top right). It’s a snapshot of creative lineage in motion – the passing of a visionary torch between generations. Though separated by continents and eras, Kee, Jackson and Delaunay are united as female rule-breakers in the art world – Delaunay, through her bold, abstract paintings; Kee and Jackson, through their avant-garde fashion collaborations that they sold out of Kee’s iconic Sydney/Warrane shop, Flamingo Park. The…

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF TRAVELLING IN AUSTRALIA? I arrived in Australia at a very young age and I didn’t really have the opportunity to travel at all until I was about 17. I was an amateur boxer, and I went to Tasmania to fight for an Australian title. WHAT’S IT LIKE HAVING A HOTEL (CRYSTALBROOK VINCENT IN BRISBANE/MEANJIN) BASED ON YOUR WORK? It’s very humbling to have the hotel (1) named after me, but also so fun. My partner [actor Asher Keddie] helped with the design. We went on the building site, helped design the rooms, the furniture, the lighting and all the artwork through the building. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA OTHER THAN MELBOURNE/NAARM, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? Definitely Sydney. I like that Sydney has…