Prague’s classical comeback

  Mozart loved Prague and used to visit for months at a time. Beethoven and Vivaldi also loved Prague. The Czech Republic’s premier composers, Dvorak and Smetlana were both proud Praghistas. But when you think of European classical music capitals, Vienna springs first to mind. However, I was surprised to learn that Prague has an...

The Bella Black Sea

The road to Constanta is unlike most other Romanian roads: smooth with no potholes. It’s the first indication that Constanta is different. Owing to its Black Sea position, it’s more multicultural –  a mélange of Turks, Greeks, Ukrainians, Russians – and the dialect too is a little different – they say merci for thank you...

Cruising Eastern Europe

“Two weeks on a river cruise?” Vikki, our local Budapest guide, shook her head in dismay. She should know – she used to be a river cruise director so she’s seen a cruise buffet or two in her time. We are half way through our Danube cruise on the Avalon Luminary. We started in a...

Hike Taronga to Balmoral

Sydney is known for its spectacular coastal walks but this is one of the best. All the icons are there (bridge, harbour, Opera House), as well as heritage buildings and lovely coastal forest with wildflowers in season and the odd bit of wildlife. This one is my personal fave - for me it is the...

Here’s Prost to Drunk Hiking

Walking while tipsy is generally not recommended. But in Austria it feels just right. The series of mountain huts dotted liberally in the alps is just what you need while hiking. And hiking is a good way to work up an appetite for Apfelstrudel served with lashings of cream and a schnapps. Don’t mind if...

Byabarra Cafe Bakehouse Bar

Straight out of a coming-of-age story, the Byabarra Café Bakehouse Bar is set in rolling green hills at the foot of the Comboyne Plateau, around a forty minute drive west of Port Macquarie. Byabarra itself is a dot on the map, nothing more than a clutch of houses, an historic church and acres of prime...

How to eat a granita

Granita is one of the best things about living in a hot climate. I don't know why in Australia it isn't more readily available. On a stifling summer's day we could really use a hit of ice cold sweet'n'sour, semi-frozen goodness. And it's not too calorific either. Granita comes from Sicily and is more or less the...

Walking in Bobbin Head

Bobbin Head in Kuringai Chase National Park is my backyard. In the cooler months I go bushwalking and in summer I go kayaking. (Of course, anytime of year is good for a coffee and chocolate brownie from one of the two cafes.) I've done many of the walks countless times, but I've never completed the...

Hawkesbury Harvest

On the map the Hawkesbury Harvest Trail could seem like a wild goose chase. On the ground, it suddenly makes sense The Hawkesbury Harvest is a food trail that brings together food producers in the Hawkesbury area, which is the huge swathe of land stretching from the edge of the Blue Mountains to Brooklyn in Sydney's...

Sydney’s Classic Coast Walk: Manly to The Spit

Beaches, check; ferry ride, check; coffee, check; wildflowers, check; wildlife (sorry - mostly big lizards), check and magnificent ocean and harbour views at nearly every turn - massive check. But Manly to The Spit is more than a checklist of Sydney icons: it has soul. For a start, it's not necessarily an easy walk. It's 10km one...