Australian Traveller July – October 2020 Collector’s edition

THERE’S NO POINT in sugar coating it: the last 12 months have been tough for Australia. While we have shouldered the burden of the current COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of the world, we were already reeling as a nation from our summer of devastating – and heartbreaking – bushfires. Plans to aid the recovery of fire-affected towns and regions – and our national tourism industry which was hit so badly during what should have been its busiest time of year – were just ramping up, with all of us filling empty Eskies and booking local holidays and weekends away, when the lockdown started. Then, nothing. As we go to print, however, things are finally starting to look up, with day-to-day restrictions being lifted and our flame-scarred landscape sprouting back to…

10 OF THE MOST MAGICAL FRASER ISLAND EXPERIENCES Discover Fraser Island’s rainbow-coloured cliffs, astonishing turquoise waters and more. SEARCH ‘FRASER ISLAND’ IN OUR DESTINATIONS TAB THE BEST WINERIES AND RESTAURANTS IN MARGARET RIVER If your idea of a holiday includes fine wine, sunshine and pure indulgence, this guide to the Margaret River region will have you packing your bags sooner rather than later. SEARCH ‘MARGARET RIVER’ IN OUR DESTINATIONS TAB THE TOP 10 TOWNS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS You’ll need more than one weekend to uncover the natural beauty, culture and culinary delights that await you in each of these Blue Mountains towns. SEARCH ‘BLUE MOUNTAINS’ IN OUR DESTINATIONS TAB 6 OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST COASTAL WALKING TRACKS Explore the country’s diverse coastline of white sand, rugged cliffs, dense bush and lush rainforest by foot with these excellent coastal walking tracks. SEARCH…

WE ARE PROUD to have partnered with Tourism Australia to produce this special edition of Australian Traveller, aimed squarely at helping get the country’s tourism industry back on the road to recovery and you, our readers, back out on the road doing what you do best. Here, Tourism Australia’s managing director Phillipa Harrison talks us through the Holiday Here This Year campaign that we’ve all so passionately got behind and shares her outlook for domestic travel in the months ahead. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND AS TO HOW TOURISM AUSTRALIA GOT ‘HOLIDAY HERE THIS YEAR’ UP AND RUNNING SO QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO THE BUSHFIRES? The impact of the summer bushfires was immediate and devastating for the affected communities, and then there were other tourism destinations that were not directly impacted…

FAR FLUNG and exclusive, yet teeming with creature comforts, Sal Salis is a well-kept, off-grid secret in the Western Australian coastal wilderness. Follow our itinerary to meet the largest fish in the world, while luxuriating in this true eco retreat. DAY ONE Board a two-hour Qantas flight from Perth to Learmonth Airport (Ed’s note: it’s the only carrier), ideally arriving early afternoon. The tarmac lies just out of Exmouth, the town at the tip of the peninsula that points to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast. Within its streets, emus have right of way, an indicator of both the eco-friendliness and character in these parts. You could hire a car, but trust us, once you arrive at Sal Salis, you won’t want to go anywhere. Instead, allow the team to whisk you from…

BIRDSVILLE, QUEENSLAND TOWNS DON’T come much more iconic than Birdsville, located at the end of the 517 kilometre Birdsville Track in the sparse Queensland outback. Each year the population of roughly 115 swells to thousands with the staging of the Big Red Bash in July, the most remote music festival in the world, and the legendary Birdsville Races in September. While both events have been cancelled this year, we all know that you can’t keep a good Aussie town down (as you will see throughout this whole issue); dates are already confirmed for the 2021 events. In the meantime, the Birdsville Hotel – the most famous pub in Australia – is ready to welcome anyone who decides to holiday here this year.…

DO THE RIGHT THING With each state and territory in the country overseeing its own social distancing policy, there can be variations in what you can and can’t do depending on your location. The best rule of thumb is to follow the Australian Government’s recommendations as a minimum. • Keep 1.5 metres away from others wherever possible • Avoid physical greetings such as handshaking, hugs and kisses • Use tap and go instead of cash where possible • Practise extra care if you are using public transport • Avoid crowds – if you see a crowded space do not enter • Avoid large public gatherings • Practise good hygiene • Stay at home if you have any cold or flu symptoms, seek medical advice and get tested for COVID-19 OFFSET YOUR TRAVEL The global lockdown and restricted air travel during the…