Australian Traveller

WHAT MAKES A JOURNEY AMAZING? While the answer is subjective, it’s undeniable that Australia has more amazing journeys than we could ever hope to squeeze into the pages of our first issue of 2023 – aimed squarely at inspiring your travels for the year ahead. But we’ve tried. We’ve hit the red dirt of the Gibb River Road to explore El Questro, tackled the Top End with family in tow and gone off-grid deep in the wilds of Tasmania. We’ve rounded up epic hiking trails and outback adventures that capture the essence of Australia and taken a trip around the world through food and music from Brisbane to Adelaide. And no one could deny the amazingness of a transcontinental rail journey. Writer Alexis Buxton-Collins jumps onboard the iconic Indian Pacific, named for…

INCREDIBLE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK EXPERIENCES It may be vast, but it’s jam-packed with things to do; these 24 incredible Australian outback experiences will have you trekking through national parks one moment and whale-watching the next. DAYLESFORD DIGS Find tranquillity at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in Daylesford with its dreamy cottage stays, lake house retreats and minimalist villas with gum-surrounded pools. TOP DAINTREE RIVER CRUISES Discover the World Heritage-listed Daintree from the winding waters via a river cruise. It’s the ultimate way to experience the rainforest up-close and personal, even coming face-to-face with wild crocs. THE ULTIMATE DARWIN TO BROOME ROAD TRIP From the frontier outpost turned Top End city of Darwin to the dazzling colours of Broome’s coastline, via ranges and escarpments galore, this is the ultimate Australian coast-to-coast road trip. LET’S GET DIGITAL Receive travel inspiration…

THE WATER LAPS SOFTLY against your legs just off the quiet shores of the Hawkesbury River, tree-studded ridges dancing at its edges. The sun is warm on your back, yet the cool breeze coming off the river makes you shiver with delight. Decked out in a pair of rubber waders, you’ve just learnt how to shuck a locally grown Broken Bay oyster and now you get to experience its slippery explosion of oceanic flavours in the same waters it was sourced. Sydney Oyster Farm Tours is a recent addition to the Central Coast Makers Trail. This self-drive food, drink, agritourism and aquaculture journey an hour north of Sydney takes in local producers trading in everything from pearls and spices to beer and botanical wines to cheese and chocolate. A blossoming gourmet…

SA RISING Could it be the great wine? The unparalleled festival scene? The exquisite natural beauty of the landscape? Whatever it is, Aussies are finally beginning to catch on to the fact that South Australia has been hip all along. The piqued interest is reflected in four brand-new tours launched by AAT Kings for its 2023/2024 season that take in the Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the outback with stops including the Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy and the salt flats of Lake Hart. The surge in interest illustrates that old clichés hold true – what you’re looking for is sometimes right in front of you. aatkings.com AT loves.... Hagon Workroom Souvenir tea towels are a classic travel memento, but sometimes they’re just too pretty to use. What about to wear? Edwina Hagon’s eponymous…

EQUINOX – AUTUMN CELEBRATION OF THE SENSES Blue Mountains, NSW 10 MARCH – 2 APRIL There’s nothing like the magical glow of autumn in the Blue Mountains. To ring in the season, restaurants across the region will be offering up sumptuous autumn-inspired menus as part of the Equinox celebration. visit bluemountains.com.au/equinox-taste-2023 MANDURAH CRAB FEST Mandurah, WA 18–19 MARCH Mandurah Crab Fest celebrates the crux of blue swimmer crab season with an abundance of tasty ocean fare accompanied by local music and entertainment. crabfest.com.au ORANGE F.O.O.D WEEK Orange, NSW 24 MARCH – 2 APRIL Central West NSW is known for its wine, fertile farmlands and fresh produce, and Orange F.O.O.D Week pulls it all together over 10 days. Joining the best local talent, guests can sample some of the region’s finest flavours with foraging excursions, night markets and dining events. orangefoodweek.com.au MELBOURNE FOOD…

Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, Vic Discover the regenerative forces of nature at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa in the Mornington Peninsula, where more than 30 natural pools, from geothermal hot springs to herbal-infused botanical pools, are surrounded by coastal Moonah woodland. Opt for a night pass to soak up the tranquillity of the sunset or starry sky. albathermalsprings.com.au Aurora Spa & Bathhouse, Vic This European-inspired bathhouse (pictured left) in Sorrento will take you on a wellness journey with luxurious treatments and year-round mineral bathing. An understated yet decadent interior is inspired by the soothing palette of the surrounding Mornington Peninsula, a slice of serenity just an hour outside of Melbourne. auroraspa.com.au BODHI Yallingup, WA The Margaret River region is renowned for its pristine, unspoilt beauty. BODHI Yallingup spa continues this legacy with sustainable practices…