Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 - January 2026 i Australian Traveller

THERE’S BEEN A LOT happening at Australian Traveller HQ lately. Before I dive in and tell you about this issue you’re holding right now, jump onto our website – AustralianTraveller.com – where things look a little bit different. We haven’t just given it a makeover, we’ve totally reinvented it; planning your next Aussie holiday has never been smoother. At the new site’s heart is Ask AT – an Australian-owned, human-powered AI travel tool that will help curate the perfect domestic trip for you, as well as a Watch AT player, home to more than 150 travel videos, plus new monthly columns and expanded coverage. Check it out now and I’ll meet you back here afterwards. Got your next getaway sorted? Great. Where were we? I’m excited to introduce Australian Traveller’s…

Summer icons In Australia during the 1990s and early noughties, surfwear was as ubiquitous on the street as it was on the sands of Bondi or Byron Bay. For decades, it was the ultimate marker of ‘cool,’ a signifier of the country’s laid-back culture, when the boundary between the city and the beach felt as porous as sea foam. The look, which combined the grooviness of shaka-throwing ’70s surfos with the urban-hip of the ’90s, was stewarded by Australia’s ‘big three’: Billabong, founded on the Gold Coast in 1973; Rip Curl, born in Torquay, Victoria in 1969; and Quiksilver, also created in Torquay that same year, later launching sister swimwear brand Roxy in 1990. The trio rode an international wave throughout the 2000s, but by the 2010s, the swell had…

ON THE BANKS of the Derwent, New Norfolk wears its history proudly: Georgian cottages, historic precincts and a trove of antiques hint at its early days. But this riverside town – just 30 minutes from the mad arty world of Hobart/Nipaluna’s Mona in one direction and the bountiful nature of Mount Field National Park in the other – isn’t content with nostalgia. With destination dining, a new wave of distillers and brewers, and creative energy reshaping its heritage buildings, New Norfolk is emerging as one of Tasmania/Lutruwita’s most compelling small-town stories. ECHOES OF THE PAST The town was established in 1807 on Leenowwenne Lands when military leaders and settlers abandoned the far-flung penal colony at Norfolk Island for then-called Van Dieman’s Land. Along with hops, salmon and timber, the town’s…

“I’VE GOT MY GRANDFATHER’S Super 8 footage of landing on the lagoon, with the water slapping up against the windows.” Timmy Maxwell’s parents visited Lord Howe as children, when flying boats serviced the island from Sydney/Warrane’s Rose Bay. Today, I skim over the same glassy lagoon to touch down beside it on the short airstrip built in 1974 – but the view must look unchanged: a crescent-shaped island of volcanic peaks fringed with golden sand and a shock of turquoise. Timmy himself began holidaying here in 2000, after his parents jumped at the chance to buy their own parcel of paradise 600 kilometres off Australia’s east coast. Fast-forward 25 years and we meet at Island House, the meticulous result of a five-year build he completed with his father, Michael Maxwell.…

A lot has changed in the intervening decades. And while these differences are palpable, the nostalgic pull remains. THE SOUND OF PALM TREES swaying in the breeze instantly relaxes me. I haven’t been to Hamilton Island, or ‘Hamo’ as regulars affectionately call it, since I was eight years old. It was the first tropical holiday my family took together and one I often look back on fondly. Twenty-four years later, I’m here again to stay at The Sundays, luxury accommodation designed with families in mind. A lot has changed in the intervening decades, from the arrival of high-end qualia to the building of the architecturally stunning Hamilton Island Yacht Club. And while these differences are palpable, the nostalgic pull remains. The Sundays is the first new hotel on the Whitsunday…

IN THE LARGEST cool-temperate rainforest in Australia, the term ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ doesn’t seem fitting. But that’s exactly what happens to me as I trudge along a damp, leaf-littered track in the heart of the Tarkine/Takayna. Lost in my own rhythm, it takes me a few moments to notice the sudden absence of footsteps behind me. I turn to find the rest of my group frozen in place, their gazes fixed on the ground. Our guide, Rob Saltmarsh of Tall Timbers Adventure Tours, is kneeling down beside them, pointing at the slick bark of a fallen branch. “This is a hygrocybe firma,” he says, gesturing to a tiny, cherry-red button sprouting from the splintered log. “A very common mushroom in these parts, but she’s rarely ever seen.” He…

20–23 NOVEMBER Pair’d MARGARET RIVER, WA Western Australia’s biggest celebration of food and wine, Pair’d brings together some of the state’s most acclaimed winemakers, chefs and local producers for four days of gourmet dining experiences across the famed Margaret River region. Expect everything from elegant long lunches and intimate tastings to exclusive masterclasses and walking winery tours, all spotlighting the finest varietals, produce and talent. It’s a true showcase of WA’s vibrant culinary landscape. pairdmargaretriver.com 16–25 JANUARY TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL TAMWORTH, NSW Each January, the NSW regional town of Tamworth transforms into the beating heart of Australian country music. In 2026, more than 700 artists will perform across town, from live outdoor concerts and intimate indoor gigs to the iconic Golden Guitar Awards. Considered Australia’s largest country music festival,…

ASK AT At the heart of the new user experience is Ask AT – an Australian-owned, human-powered AI travel tool that will tailor your ultimate domestic holiday to you. Now, with 20 years of travel expertise at your fingertips, you can search more than 150 detailed Australian destination guides to give you personalised recommendations in seconds. Scan the QR code to read more about Ask AT. All about the new AustralianTraveller.com Since the start of 2025, we’ve been quietly toiling away behind the scenes to bring you a brand-new website. But we haven’t just given it a facelift, we’ve completely reimagined the user experience to make planning your next Aussie holiday easier than ever. You – the reader – have always been the focus. We wanted to build you a…

Italian accents Neil and Samantha Perry are picking up speed in Sydney/Warrane, opening up another Italian-leaning venue in Double Bay. Enjoy dinner at Gran Torino upstairs before descending to Bar Torino, which fuses casual northern Italian plates with a selection of signature cocktails and negronis, plus a concise list of Australian, Italian and French wines by the glass. Designer Collette Dinnigan is behind the fit-out, which is a celebration of Italian indulgence. themargaretfamily.com SUNNY COAST SPICE The Tony Kelly Restaurant Group has gifted the Sunshine Coast with some of its most playful venues including Riceboi, Giddy Geisha and Bocca Italian. Playa Mexican is the new kid on the block at Bokarina Beach, and Sunny Coasters are smitten. The casual seaside eatery is loud and fun and already a beacon for…

BORN OUT OF ITS first inhabitants and subsequent maritime industry, Port Adelaide is an unpretentious blend of history, culture, buzzy watering holes and epicurean finds that locals are protective of, and many visitors are yet to discover. Settled by the Kaurna People tens of thousands of years ago, the suburb located on the Lefevre Peninsula has been a trade and commerce hub since Colonel William Light glided up the Port River in 1836. The area’s history is reflected in its heritage-listed buildings and cobbled streets. And with government and commercial investments breathing new life into the neighbourhood, the main strips of Commercial Road and St Vincent Street are attracting new venues to complement old favourites. Dylan Nettleton, co-owner of new venue 10 Gallon Hat, says he and partner Stacey Costopoulos…

BEST CITY TO VISIT MELBOURNE/NAARM, VIC Why you love it... Every inch of this city holds our interest, from its rooftop bars to its streets strewn with vibey cafes, its churches, graffiti and gargoyles, skyscrapers and spires. Victoria’s coastal capital also has a thriving arts scene, and shows off – in equal measure – an old-world elegance and contemporary edge. Turn to page 128 to read more. Hot tips: Feel the pulse of the city over cocktails at Death & Co, the much-loved New York institution that has made its international debut in Melbourne. We also suggest you slip downstairs to Curious (pictured left), the subterranean cocktail bar inside the W Melbourne. Also order a ‘magic’ coffee to enjoy at one of the city’s many ST. ALi outlets, a pioneer…

I WEAVE IN AND OUT of the giant yellow tentacles, craning my neck to see the spotted pumpkin they’re supporting metres above my head. Titled Dancing Pumpkin, the iconic work of Yayoi Kusama was originally part of the National Gallery of Victoria’s (NGV) 2025 retrospective featuring nearly 200 of the artist’s most celebrated works in one landmark exhibition; it’s now part of the gallery’s permanent collection. Early impressions of Laak Boorndap, an expansive 18,000 square-metre biodiverse public urban garden, indicate the sculpture will feature as the centrepiece of the new outdoor space, one of three major developments to be realised in the Melbourne Arts Precinct transformation that will unfold over the next three years. It’s Australia’s largest ever cultural infrastructure project, encompassing The Fox: NGV Contemporary, a landmark new gallery…

Ken Done’s Beach January II is emblematic of an Australian summer. Of sun-drenched days on the beach. Seagulls wheeling overhead. Sun poised high in the sky. It’s one of the paintings on show at Ken Done: No Rules, at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast – a retrospective exhibition that reveals how the 85-year-young artist shaped the ’80s and beyond. Turn the page for more.…

FIRST MEMORY OF TRAVELLING IN AUSTRALIA? Road trips up to the Gold Coast (1) and Cairns from Melbourne. We did that every couple of years. My dad taking one for the team and driving the whole way and my sister and I in the back listening to music and bickering. WHAT’S ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE GIGS YOU’VE PLAYED IN AUSTRALIA? I was lucky enough to perform three sold-out shows at the Forum for my 2023 Drummer tour. I even have the Forum logo tattooed right here on my wrist, which I got on stage while I was playing. The Espy in St Kilda was also cool. I played there when I was 14 and then went back to play the Gershwin Room as an adult. It was my first…

Picture this: you’re packed in tight with your friends on a turmeric-tinted lounge, sun on your neck , surveying Sydney/Warrane’s iconic skyline. Solaré comes from the Italian word for solar – and it’s both the name of the city’s first full-service restaurant on the water and a nod to the cheerful and radiant design-led superyacht. Its three decks are primed for indulgence: think spaghettini with spanner crab and limoncello spritzers all round. Turn to page 22 for more.…

LAYLA AND QUEENSLAND Ballet don’t have much in common, other than sharing a roof at the Thomas Dixon Centre. This isn’t dinner and a show, and the waitstaff aren’t pirouetting to your table (as entertaining as that would be). Instead, Layla embraces its dramatic setting beneath the 350-seat theatre: a former Second World War bunker that feels part club, part Bond lair. With exposed brick and low-lit allure, it’s easy to see why Shane Delia chose this as the home for his first restaurant outside of Melbourne/ Naarm. The celebrated chef and restaurateur – behind Maha, Maha East, Maha North and Jayda – is long associated with Middle Eastern dining. Here, though, he casts the net wider, embracing the Spice Route from Southeast Asia to India and the Middle East.…

I HAVEN’T BEEN TO Gladstone since I was about 11, one of four kids crammed in the back of a VW kombi van. My dad, an English subject master, encouraged us to make up a sing-song of the place names as we bounced along the Bruce Highway to Brisbane/Meanjin. It was both a game and geography lesson. Rockhampton, Marlborough, St Laurence too Carmila, Clairview, skies so blue Gladstone, Miram Vale, the sun breaks through Gin Gin and Bundaberg we’re coming for you The staccato tune has stayed with me ever since. And returning to Gladstone, Traditional Lands of the Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda peoples, after all these years made me nostalgic for those carefree east coast road trips of my childhood. Gladdie, as the town is affectionately…

Hamilton Island will always have a nostalgic hold over those who’ve holidayed on its sun-drenched shores. Perhaps it’s a childhood memory of building sandcastles with your siblings. Or sailing around its turquoise waters on a yacht. Maybe it’s just longing for those days spent lazing under a beach umbrella watching the sea waving in the wind. While we might always hark back to simpler times, the arrival of The Sundays – the first new hotel in 18 years – signals Hamo’s evolution from humble beginnings to world-class resort. Turn the page for more.…

IN THE 1980s and ’90s, you couldn’t swing a patterned tea towel around an Aussie household without landing on one of Ken Done’s ubiquitous prints, whether in the form of a mug, coaster, doona or jumper. In fact, the artist’s mark nearly made it all the way onto our national flag: in 1995, then-Prime Minister Paul Keating asked Done to submit options for a possible redesign. Done’s flag never did end up flying on the mast above Parliament House, but his art is nonetheless emblematic of Australia. In many ways, Done’s distinctive style typified the ’80s – bold colours, geometric shapes, gestural brush strokes. But it broke new ground in the way it captured feeling, depicting Australia’s coastal landscapes with charge and energy, helping form a blueprint of ‘Australiana’ design…

WE ARE STARTING the New Year as we mean to go on – with a dreamy issue that is dedicated to slow, immersive travel that bucks trends and sidesteps the mainstream. Picture lazy houseboat journeys, meandering walking holidays and classic destinations that we are revisiting in low season. There’s also an expedition cruise (pictured) along Western Australia’s wild coastline, which is rich in wildlife, ancient rock art, remote island communities and horizons for days. Consider this next issue to be your new anti-bucket list. See you in February!…