I’ll admit I went to Goonoo Goonoo because of the name. Even by Australian standards it’s a strange one. Goonoo Goonoo (pronounced gunna g’noo), which means plenty of water in local Kamilaroi/Gomeroi language, is near the town of Tamworth, around four hours north-west of Sydney. Once a wealthy working merino property, rich in colonial history,... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Last week I made a summery pilgrimmage to Thredbo, and after a tip-off from a friend checked out the new Thredbo Valley Track. Running from Thredbo to Crackenback, this 18km graded gravel track is geared towards mountain bikers, walkers and, being Thredbo, superfit runners. There are a few campgrounds on the way so you can... Continue Reading →
I guess it's a sad indictment on modern life that picking your own strawberries is now a tourist attraction. And it's going gangbusters, if my visit to Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries at Port Macquarie on an ordinary Monday morning is anything to go by. Ricardoes is a ten minute drive out of town and is... Continue Reading →
The Lower Blue Mountains gets a bad rap from die-hard bushwalkers. It doesn't have the world-famous gorge views, the real mountains weather (read: freezing) and it's just a bit close the sprawling Sydney metropolis to be truly getting away from it all. All of that is true, and also none of it. The Knapsack Reserve in... Continue Reading →
Unless you bump into an in-the-know local, you probably won’t find out about Bundeena. Tucked on the edge of Sydney, 55km south of the big smoke, this beachy hamlet is perched next to Royal National Park. It's an hour's drive from the CBD, or else you can take the scenic route with a ferry from Cronulla, a suburb in... Continue Reading →
Recently I did a piece for Where Magazine on the Southern Highlands booktrail. As it is now published, here it is in its entirety. If you like nothing better than curling up with a good book, then why not explore the Southern Highlands Booktrail. Just a two hour drive south of Sydney, the Booktrail is... Continue Reading →
Hello 2015! Registrations for this year's annual Mudgee Bike Muster are now open. This fun event is held every Easter and it's never too early to register and book accommodation as Easter tends to go off in Mudgee town. With mostly flat roads and vineyards galore, Mudgee has positioned itself as a bike hub and the annual... Continue Reading →
So, to go to the South Coast or North Coast this summer? That is the question and here is my answer. Go south, of course! Here's why: You can still get an affordable apartment with a view and go to sleep to the sound of the surf, not traffic The Princes Highway is more manageable... Continue Reading →
I'm passionate about Mudgee in the central tablelands wine area, and a few months ago had a reunion with friends there. I was lucky enough to place the story in Go Camping's October edition. Enjoy! 52-55 Mudgee
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