As Australia's most eastern winery, Raleigh Winery is an unlikely foodie hub. Perched on the Bellinger River, around fifteen minutes south of Coffs Harbour, Raleigh Winery produces small batch wines and has a superb on-site restaurant and newly opened accommodation. The verandah restaurant has given Raleigh Winery a big local following, making it one of... Continue Reading →
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 →
If you fancy an escape from the increasingly maddening world, Round & Round vintage coffee van is just about as chill as it gets. Set in the vast picnic grounds of the world’s only Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, it’s fair to say their social isolation picnic game is on point. “Roscoe”, their retro black... Continue Reading →
The famous Pumpkin installation greets us wharfside (that's the pumpkin themed ferry in the background) Take a nondescript fishing island in Japan's inland Seto Sea, build two world-class art galleries and a sleek art-themed ferry and commission a renowned Japanese artist to create outdoor sculptures. Build it and they will come is the ethos of... Continue Reading →
Italy's once beautiful Cinque Terre has been ruined by mass tourism. The buses and trains are bursting, pickpockets roam the trains, walking tracks are closed due to landslides that haven't been repaired and the charming towns are overrun with tourists. Locals look either bored or grim, tourists look harried and gelato costs a bomb. It's... Continue Reading →
Everything good in Central Australia happens at dawn. Whether it be walking, hot air ballooning, photography or just admiring the views, dawn in the desert is outstanding. Getting up is hard but once you are up it's worth it. For us it was tackling Kings Canyon, the set piece walk of the vast ochre wonderland... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
“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... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
bike walk eat 