Treat yourself to the gourmet delights of Adelaide.

When you think of all the countries that offer culinary delights, France and Italy probably feature highly in your mind. Both countries produce images of gourmet feasts that befit their reputations. Yet Australia, home of the BBQ, is fighting back and launching their own gourmet tours for the most fastidious of connoisseurs.

If you love food and wine then this is just up your street. Forget the historical tours of posing next to well known buildings or shopping for tacky souvenirs to take back home. Leave Adelaide with a lingering memory of the tastes and smells of the city. Set your creative juices flowing and be inspired by the top chefs in Adelaide who may let you in on one or two of their closely guarded secrets in these specially designed tours for the foodie in us all.

Four exclusive walking tours are being launched around Adelaide, seeking to capture the very essence of the city in its cuisine. Local guides will be hosting the walks which seek to inspire and delight as well as awaken your taste buds and leave your senses tingling.

Highlights include wine tastings (of course!), a visit to Adelaide’s colourful and lively market to witness the full range of produce available, gloriously delicious chocolate from iconic Haighs and a chance to explore the very famous gastronomical street that is Rundle Street.

The company leading the tours is the renowned ‘Taste of South Australia’ which specialises in wine and food tours catering for all needs and tastes, from traditional bush tucker grub to fine wining and dining. They are true professionals in their field, so all you have to do is to relax and let your senses to the hard work for you.

The four walking tours called ‘Insiders Adelaide’ are as follows:

Market Culture

This tour centres around the spectacular and vibrant Adelaide’s Central Market. The market was established in 1869 by a group of market gardeners who mAdelaide their way to the site to sell their produce. So quick was its popularity in those early days that all the stock was sold out by 6am! Today the market has over 8 stalls selling fresh produce and multicultural cuisine. It remains South Australia’s most visited tourist attraction and has been described as “the Heart of Adelaide.”

The vibrant central market in Adelaide.

In this tour you’ll get the opportunity to not only browse through the many varied and bustling stalls, but you’ll also visit local potters and perhaps come away with pots of your own to carry your produce away with you. Local cheeseries will also be on the itinerary, giving you the chance to learn how difference cheeses are produced and to sample some of the savoury offerings. A market tour wouldn’t be complete without some samples of local wine either and the chance to meet some of the local winemakers. This tour is a must for all market lovers out there who just love their food fresh, colourful and vibrant!

Classic Adelaide

Do you consider yourself cultured? Interested in history and art? Would your perfect tour combine art, culture and history with gourmet food? Well then welcome to heaven! For this classic tour visits the historical Art Gallery, one of Adelaide’s most beautiful buildings.

The classical beauty of the Art Gallery.

Founded in 1881 this superb building is located in the heart of Adelaide’s cultural boulevard, North Terrace and is home to some exceptional works of art by Australia’s finest artists as well as exquisite works of art from all over the world. You also get VIP entry to the Artlab to watch the team at work restoring historic paintings, books and fabrics. You’ll also get the chance to visit the cultural boulevard itself and explore more of the fabulous architecture such as the imposing Government and University Buildings, before heading back to the Art Gallery to dine in its excellent restaurant. Here you’ll get to choose from the mouth watering recipe of the month, which could be verrine of crab, quinoa, tomato and basil drizzled with just the merest hint of lemon juice, or how about cumin spiced Atlantic salmon and roast pumpkin with a delicious lemon yoghurt dressing? Hungry yet?

Oh but they’ve hardly started with you yet! For this tour also includes a tasting of some of Haighs finest chocolates. Haighs is situated in RundleMall, the foodies area of delight. Housed in one of Adelaide’s landmark buildings with the famous beehive corner tower. Their award winning chocolates are enough to melt the hardest of hearts. Once you’ve tasted one of Haighs chocolates, you’ll never look at another Cadbury bar again! Their handmade  selection is delectable beyond mere words, perhaps you’ll have a Cranberry and Pistachio Cluster, or a Sparkling Shiraz Truffle or how about a Milk Wattleseed Crunch? I guarantee that nobody will be leaving that store without a box that is intended to be a present for someone back home, but that will never make the return journey!

East End Pub Culture

Indulge in mouth-watering oysters.

One for all the Londoners at heart! The East End of Adelaide is one of the more quirkier areas of Adelaide. It starts at Rundle Mill, naturally, and is dotted with cafés, restaurants, wine bars, hotels and boutiques. It is here you will find the Botanical Gardens, The Wine Centre, Rymill Park and North Terrace. Meander through the streets and experience the many stalls selling fresh fruit and produce. Sample a fresh oyster from the Oyster Bar or a very indulgent, very moorish hot chocolate from Chocolat.

Your guide will take you on a bush food trail of the east end where you can sample the traditional native bush food and find out more about hunting techniques and food gathering practices. It might not be gourmet, but the food reflects the unique and unconventional atmosphere of this part of the city and it will tantalize your tastebuds just as well!

West End Art and Culture

Head off to the other side of the city now to experience the contemporary arts and culture of Adelaide. Modernity is the key word here as you enter the innovative and distinctive building that is the Samstag Museum of Art. The museum is home to many creative and modern works of art such as the fantastical Wonderful World exhibition, a collection of artwork by some of Australia’s most enterprising young artists. You’ll also be able to visit the Experimental Art Foundation as well as many other smaller art venues that are often hidden little treasure troves of art, searched out for you by your local guide.

Once you’ve walked the streets and taken your fill of art, you’ll be ready for dinner in Adelaide’s exclusive Apothecary Restaurant. The restaurant is housed in a heritage listed building in the heart of the West End and displays a unique set of 132 year old antique pharmacy cabinets discovered hidden in an Adelaide shop and now proudly on display.

The apothecary food is medicine for the soul.

You’ll be spoilt for choice by the menu which includes marinated octopus with a sprinkling of parsley and zesty lemon or succulent Barossa Valley kassler pork chops with beautifully roasted baby carrots on a bed of wilted cos and horseradish cream – how could you resist?

These gorgeous gastronomical delights come in a 2 hour or 4 hour package that includes an expert local guide, all entrance fees, a goodie bag and a light meal. They are promoted by tourism South Australia – A Brilliant Blend. Book yours now before all places are gobbled up, log onto Taste of South Australia.

There’s always something new going on in the Northern Territory, so we’ve teamed up with Tourism NT to provide you with this up-to-date guide of what’s happening and where.  Therefore pack your suitcases and leave the dog with the neighbours, because once you hear about these great deals, you’ll be wanting to leave straight away!

Photography Tour

Capture the spirit of the outback!

If you’ve an interest in photography then you’ll love this one!  Let’s face it, Australia has some of the most stunning scenery in the world, it’s a photographers dream!  However if you’re anything like me, that stunning shot you just took of Uluru (Ayres Rock) seems to contain a previously undiscovered, giant portion of thumb. Well now is your chance to embark on a photographic journey with a true professional.

Grenville Turner has more than 30 years of experience as a professional photographer and he’ll be heading a six day tour, including workshops with one-to-one instruction – what could be better? Well the locations, they are among the most picturesque on the planet! The tours depart from either Alice Spring or Ayres Rock. This tour will see you transformed from amateur photographer to true professional! And here’s a tip, those photographs you’ll be taking will make excellent Christmas presents, so you’ll be saving money in the process! 

This unique tour costs just £677 per person. Wayoutback.com

When you come back from the tour with your professional, high quality snaps, why not show them off to the public? A new site has been launched that showcases photographs taken of the Northern Territory by amateur enthusiasts. The site will also feature tops tips and hints from professionals as well as ideas and inspiration. Show the world your talent by visiting www.australiasoutback.com/photography

Aboriginal Art

Do you admire aboriginal artwork? Wished that you could produce a piece of work that had the same stunning impact? Well now you can! A new 4 day safari has been introduced that includes community led dot painting workshops and an interpretative rock art tour. 

Create your own artwork.

The Ultimate Red Centre Dreamtime Safari enables visitors to learn about Aboriginal art at Wallace Rockhole and enjoy a star gazing talk whilst tucking into a BBQ dinner at Kings Creek Station.  You’ll come away from this experience with a deeper understanding of the mysteries of Aboriginal art and how their natural environment not only influenced their art, but their very identities too. 

The tour costs from just £512 per person based on two sharing a twin room. www.connections.travel

Sightseeing from Above

Ever fancied seeing the outback from the air? It is often only from the skies that you can truly appreciate the breathtaking wonder of the landscape below, so stunning it’s as though you’re hovering above a grand work of art painted by one of the Masters!

See the stunning landscape from the skies!

A new tourism venture between Alice Springs Helicopters and Ampwerre (Black Tank) Community has been developed to allow visitors this unique cultural experience. Not only will you be able to gasp in wonder at the views from your exciting helicopter ride, but you can also have a private dot painting workshop at Ampwerre! There are a selection of tours to choose from so you get to say what you want to do. The helicopters can only seat four people, which means that you benefit from an intimacy with your hosts that allows a one-to-one insight into Aboriginal culture and way of life.

www.alicespringshelicopters.com.au

Hiking Adventures

Don’t follow the tourist trail! Experience the true originality of the outback with this guided walk through Kakadu National Park. Taking visitors from Koolpin George to Twin Falls this 5 day tour takes the less travelled paths to enable visitors to witness some of the park’s striking beauty and native wildlife that isn’t accessible by the usual tourist routes. Indeed there are no paths or markers and it’s highly unlikely you’ll come across other people on your hike. Your expert guide knows the route by heart, leaving you to appreciate and take in the unique environment and surroundings.

Explore the beauty of Kakadu on foot.

You will be provided with tasty, cooked meals and a comfy bed and tent. Participants should be fit and active and used to carrying a backpack. This will be one camping trip you won’t forget! www.ntimmersions.com.au

Indulge in a Little Luxury

If you want to experience the thrills of an outback adventure but you’re not into hiking for miles, then this tour is for you! A luxury air-conditioned 4×4 will transport up to 6 people for this 10 hour trip into the heart of the bushland.

Your guide is herself an indigenous Australian and a former Wildlife Territory Park Guide, so you’ll be in good hands. You can watch the native wildlife, view breathtaking scenery, sample gourmet bush-tucker and learn about bush medicine. It’s an amazing day out and all for only £120 per person!

www.ntindigenoustours.com

Recycled B&B

Looking for somewhere different to stay? Well you can’t get much different than a B&B made from recycled railway sleepers! Alice Station B&B has been built using Ghan railway sleepers, which gives it an unique feel as well as ticking all the right eco-friendly boxes. You can also watch the kangaroos from the back garden!  Facilities include WiFi and a saltwater pool.  Rooms start from £88 including breakfast. www.alicestation.com

If you want to find out more about what the Northern Territory has to offer, then visit www.australiasoutback.com which is full of useful information on where to stay, how to get there, when to go etc.

Australians love their wine. Though we have a reputation as a nation of beer lovers, wine has become an integral part of our relaxed social lifestyle.

We have a huge diversity of wine regions and wine types/styles - everything from beachside wineries to cool climate wines, and our glasses overflow with everything from the hearty Shiraz wines of the Barossa and Clare Valleys to the elegant dry whites of south west Western Australia, regarded as some of the best in the world. And, we’re winning awards and medals in droves at international wine competitions. Our winemakers produce everything from the ever popular Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, to the newer varieties such as Pinot Noir, Viognier, Merlot And Marsanne. You’ll find a huge selection on the wine list of most Australian restaurants.

Wineries are cropping up everywhere – in places as unlikely as the Granite Belt and coastal hinterland of Queensland to the New England Tablelands of NSW. It’s not unusual to find a working, productive vineyard almost anywhere in Australia. Even Alice Springs, in the dry red centre of the country, boasts a boutique vineyard. You can see snow covered vineyards in Orange and vineyards in the dry arid inland, in places such as Cowra and Gundagai. And, surprisingly, we even have a number of coastal wine destinations, such as the Limestone Coast of South Australia, the Mornington Peninsula, the Margaret River and the Shoalhaven coast of NSW.

Food and wine trails are a delicious way to enjoy the best of Australian food and wine. Australia’s wine regions have a laid back atmosphere with fresh produce and fine food. Here, whole afternoons can be spent
chatting over a bottle of wine and then meandering from cellar door to restaurant, then back again.

Apart from wine tastings and cellar door sales, many of our wineries offer food - everything from platters to full-blown gourmet feasts. And, being Australian, we like to offer you more than just wine. Many wineries can satisfy your hunger, put you up at night and even entertain you with music or other cultural events ranging from monthly jazz concerts to spectacular opera and musical events.

You can learn about wine through tasting, talking with the winemakers and touring the facility. Wander through vines, sample regional delicacies in the produce store, experiment with wine and food matching in the wine bar or restaurant, or sit in the sun or beside a river or lake and take in the views and vistas. Australia is full of small boutique wineries which you can find by exploring our wine regions by car or on an organised tour. Many of the owners are also the winemakers and they’ll be only too happy to show you around and talk about their wonderful wines and how they produced them.

Fleurieu Peninsular, South Australia

Be winemaker for a day – at some wineries you can make your own blend. Try your hand at winemaking, be shown around by the winemaker or, if it’s a small family operation, by someone from the family.

Stay overnight in a vineyard retreat or Tuscan-style lodge in the Hunter Valley, NSW’s premier wine region, with eighty wineries and cellar doors and the country’s oldest winery. Learn the secrets of local winemakers at a wine school or spend a weekend perfecting your pasta at a cooking school. Be up early for a hot-air balloon flight, play a round of golf at a five-star course or relax in a stylish day spa.

Cruise the Murray River, visit the Australian outback and learn about our Italian heritage all in one spot. Discover why Mildura is one of Australia’s up and coming wine regions while you immerse yourself in Italian culture, food and wine. Hear stories from winemakers of how many generations have toiled the soil. Find out for yourself why Italian culture in an outback location on a major river is a perfect recipe for great wine.

Sample Wetlands wine on a 1750 hectare property at Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre in South Australia’s Riverland, a unique wetland and wine ecotourism experience on the Murray River. Hike the 7 km environmental walking trail and the award winning boardwalk to learn about wetlands conservation Austraian style. Drink the wines and eat the fabulous food surrounded by vineyards, floodplains, wetlands and woodlands.

Hunter Valley Vineyards, New South Wales

Enjoy Opera amongst the vineyards or international concerts in a sensational bushland setting at the magnificent Leeuwin Estate on the Margaret River in Western Australia. The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa have all performed at the estate’s outdoor concerts. Or, head to the vineyards of the Hunter Valley for Opera on the Vines.

Participate in a Wine Festival. Almost every wine growing region has an annual wine festival where local wine, food and culture can be sampled - such as the Margaret River Wine Festival and the Barossa Vintage Festival. The largest is the biennial Tasting Australia, which showcases the very best the nation has to offer in food, wine and gastronomic hospitality.

Take a long lunch (a day of leisurely food and wine tasting as you crawl from winery to winery) at the Lovedale Long Lunch in the Hunter Valley or the Capes Long Lunch in the Northern Margaret River.

Follow the Great Grape Road touring route, a scenic circuit through the Pyrenees, Grampians and Ballarat wine regions of western Victoria.

Visit a beach winery. The Mornington Peninsula has more vineyards per kilometre than anywhere else in Australia, 174 at last count - and still planting. The region serves up sea views and great food to accompany the wines while you explore the stunning landscapes and rugged coastline. If you fancy an ocean view, organic salad, great olives, local seafood, singing waiters or lunch among the vines, head to where some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines are produced near the ocean and beach. Or, On the Gold Coast, spend a leisurely day exploring coastal wineries just half an hour from the Gold Coast’s world-class beaches. You may even get to try tropical fruit wine.

Take a self-drive winery tour of the nation’s capital. Explore the country roads that lead you to over 30 cellar doors. Taste the wines, enjoy a meal, take a gumboot winery tour and buy some wine as a reminder of your holiday. See for yourself why some of the world’s best restaurants include Canberra region wines on their wine lists.

Follow a food and wine trail of Western Australia’s main wine regions. Discover the Margaret River wine region’s mouth-watering local produce, from full-bodied wine and flavoursome olive oil to premium cheeses and delicious hand-made chocolates; this is a gourmet food lovers’ paradise, along with ancient limestone caves and magnificent surf breaks. Or, cruise up the Swan River from Perth on a wine cruise and pick up a coach or horse-drawn wagon for a leisurely meander through the vineyards of the Swan Valley.

Hunter Valley Vineyards, New South Wales

Stop for lunch or dinner in a winery. Select an award-winning pinot noir to match the freshest oysters, rock lobster and venison at one of Tasmania’s great winery restaurants such as Meadowbank in the Coal River Valley, Moorilla Estate, just outside Hobart, or Strathlynn in the Tamar Valley.

Explore bushranger territory in northern NSW. New England’s rich rural landscape varies from rolling pastureland to dry outback. The area is crammed with attractions, wineries and historic pioneering towns and plenty of country hospitality.

Travel in a vintage luxury car on a Luxury Liquid History Wine Tour through the Barossa Valley. A classic Daimler takes you on a personalised and exclusive wine tasting tour of five spectacular wineries in one day. Meet with viticulturists and wine educators and taste the red wine known as the best in the world, Penfold’s Grange.

Arrange a private wine tasting in De Bortoli’s Trophy Room at their renowned winery, or attend the monthly one day wine school. At Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove on the Victorian coast try the olives grown in their own olive grove.

The shrine of remembrance memorial in Brisbane

In 1914 Australia had been a Federal Commonwealth for just 14 years and the new government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world.  In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey to open the way to the Black Sea.

The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany.  They landed at Gallipoli on April 25th and met fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. Instead of finding the flat beach they expected, they faced steep cliffs and constant barrages of enemy fire and shelling.  What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate and the campaign dragged on for eight months. The ANZACs and the Turkish forces literally ‘dug in’, each side creating kilometres of trenches from where they could fire upon the enemy.

Thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers died in the hours and days that followed the landing. The stalemate ended in retreat with the evacuation of the ANZACs on 20 December 1915. Both sides suffered heavy casualties with more than 8,700 Australian soldiers killed and more than 25,000 wounded .

News of the landing at Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home.  April 25th quickly became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.  Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand troops’ actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of the Anzac legend became an important part of the national identity of both nations.

History of Anzac Day

Anzac Day was first officially held on 25 April 1916 with ceremonies and remembrance services.  In 1917, the word ANZAC meant someone who fought at Gallipoli, later it came to mean any Australian or New Zealander who fought or served in the First World War. By the 1920s, Anzac Day ceremonies were held throughout Australia. All States had designated Anzac Day as a public holiday.

Commemoration of Anzac Day continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s with World War II veterans joining parades around the country. ANZAC Day evolved to became a day on which the lives of all Australians lost in war time were remembered. In the ensuing decades returned servicemen and women from the conflicts in Malaya, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam, veterans from allied countries and peacekeepers joined the parades

Anzac Day Commemorations
Australia commemorates ANZAC Day with marches, dawn services and numerous social gatherings and traditions held in capital cities and towns nationwide.  The ANZAC Day parade from each state capital is televised live with commentary.  These events are followed generally by social gatherings of veterans, hosted either in a pub or in a Returned and Services League (RSL) Club.

Thousands of Australians now make the annual pilgrimage to ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli.  Until 1999 the Gallipoli dawn service was held at the Ari Burnu war cemetery, however, with growing numbers of people attending a new “Anzac Commemorative Site” was built on North Beach.

A piper at a service of remembrance

Although Australia’s official national day is “Australia Day”, many Australians have now come to regard ANZAC Day as the true national day of the country. The spirit of ANZAC recognises the qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice which were demonstrated at the Gallipoli landing.

ANZAC Day Events
On Anzac Day, Australians all over the world pause to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Anzac commemoration ceremonies are held across the country and include dawn services, marches, social gatherings and citizen services.

Dawn services are a solemn Australian and New Zealand tradition.  They are held at war memorials and public spaces and incorporate hymns, readings, the playing of the “The last post”, wreath laying, a minute of silence, “The rouse” or “The reveille”, and the National Anthem.

• The National Commemoration services take place in Canberra with the National Anzac Day Dawn Service taking place at 5:30am at the Parade Ground at the Australian War Memorial and the National Anzac Day Commemoration Ceremony taking place at 10:15am.
• All state and territory capital cities hold a dawn service and an ANZAC Day march.
• ‘Two Up’ is a traditional Australian gambling game that was an extremely popular pastime with Anzac soldiers. “Two-up” has become a regular feature of Anzac Day celebrations in pubs and in RSL clubs across Australia. The importance of this tradition is demonstrated that though most Australian states have laws forbidding gambling outside of designated licensed venues, on Anzac Day it is legal to play “two-up”.
• An Australian Rules football match is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between traditional Australian Football League rivals the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers on ANZAC day in celebration of the ANZAC spirit. The event has been a tradition since 1995.

Anzac Biscuits - A Sweet Tradition
Anzac biscuits were created during the early period of the First World War around 1914-15. They were made by the women on the “home front” in an endeavor to make a nutritious treat that did not readily spoil and would survive the long journey to the war front. The Anzac biscuit recipe was based on a Scottish recipe using rolled oats, sugar, plain flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup or treacle and bi-carb soda. To ensure the biscuits remained fresh, the women sent them in air-tight tins such as the Billy Tea tins.  Today Anzac biscuits are a family favourite and are often sold by veterans’ organisations in fundraising drives.

Useful Links
Department of Veterans’ Affairs – www.dva.gov.au
Australian War Memorial Website – www.awm.gov.au
Anzac Day – www.anzacday.org.au

Courtesy of Tourism Australia

Fine dining is all part of the Australian experience

Great food experiences are the measure of a great holiday for many people and the beginning of a new direction in life for those attuned to food’s transformative powers.

Just ask some of Australia’s food and wine specialists, who have settled and thrived in food-focussed destinations around Australia.

Chef Sue Pearson had stints at prestigious restaurants in London and Sydney before relocating to the wilderness of South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. She gave up the thrum of city life for an equally busy life immersed in the edible bounty of Australia’s third biggest island.

There’s not much that can’t be sourced locally in pursuit of meals for Sue’s catering company, Two Birds and a Squid. Part of the joy for self-drive visitors is this gradual reveal of Kangaroo Island’s culinary scope. There’s wineries, sheep’s cheese, olive oil, honey, lamb, chicken, beef, crayfish, marron (freshwater crayfish), abalone, oysters and fish caught fresh from the Southern Ocean.

Visitors preoccupied with sea lions, beaches, or searching the gum trees for koalas need not fret if they don’t get time to visit all these gourmet outlets in person. Sue brings them all together with a chef’s flair.

“We’re so lucky with the produce we have here,” she says. “I’d say at least 70 per cent of what I use for catering is sourced from the island. I use the sheep’s milk cheese in dressings and salads. There’s a new organic chicken producer here, and the South Rock lamb is beautiful. I never go elsewhere for seafood or marron. There’s no need to – it’s just so good.”

In 2005, Sue opened the gourmet fish and chip shop, Fish. It’s the go-to destination for people wanting an inexpensive seaside take-out or something with a touch of salt and pepper prawn or scallop about it. Once a month Sue hosts free cooking demonstrations at the shop. And when she cooks for a monthly degustation dinner at local winery Sunset Wines, she gets to fully flex her chef’s muscles.

There is an abundance of fresh fish to sample Down Under

The variety keeps Sue inspired. She works hard for eight months of the year (October to April), spending the remainder abroad. But she always comes back to Kangaroo Island. Home is a quirky timber house on a hill overlooking a bay, with access to a private beach. On summer evenings she sits on her deck and watches the kangaroos mowing the grass. Even the wildlife eats well around here.

While Kangaroo Island is a developing food and wine region, other Australian regions have matured nicely with the passing of time. Winemaker Bob Cartwright has watched it happen in Western Australia’s Margaret River. He moved there from South Australia in 1978 when wine was a fledgling industry. It soon became one of Australia’s premium wine growing regions. Now it’s booming.

“In 1978 most people had young vines. Now they’re very mature and people are getting the best out of them,” says Bob. “Along the way people have learned a lot. Overall, the top wines are now even better.”

Bob did 28 vintages as the winemaker for Leeuwin Estate, earning the moniker “Mister Chardonnay” for his classy rendering of one of the region’s strongest varietals.

With some of the world's finest vineyards, you won't be short of choice when it comes to a tipple!

“My philosophy has always been to let the fruit speak for itself,” says the champion of fruit-driven wines balanced with oak. When you’re blessed with a climate that’s made for growing grapes, relying on natural flavour is a no-brainer.

“Whether you’re growing grapes, wheat or pineapples, there’s always an ideal temperature. That’s what we’re seeing in Margaret River. We’re getting fruit that’s got beautiful depth of flavour. People are taking advantage of that and making some very flash wines.”

Short of retiring to enjoy the spoils, Bob has found a new incarnation as a consultant wine maker to a number of wineries in the region. He’s sharing the love around – and pausing longer to enjoy the region’s burgeoning food scene. He’s a particular fan of local marron, dhufish and “stunningly tender beef”. As a flavours man, he’s grateful for the slew of excellent winery restaurants, where wine and food unite for optimum pleasure.

In the region around Swansea in eastern Tasmania, the breadth of produce and quality of dining is so great that one café specialises solely in dessert. When you’ve had your fill of oysters, crayfish, fresh fish, mussels and cheese, Kate’s Berry Farm is place to head for the final delectation. The café does exemplary berry pies, home made ice cream and conversation-stopping scones, jam and cream.

No that's a table with a view…

Before she came to Tasmania from Victoria 21 years ago, Kate Bradley hadn’t grown anything edible. But she fell hard for Tasmania’s beauty and its bounty of cool climate produce. A long time businesswoman, she set about growing berries because nobody else was doing it. Value adding was her key to success. That and some natural blessings.

“Quality, quality, quality – that’s what makes Tasmania so special,” she says. “The berries are supreme quality. We pick them at the right time so they gush with juice and flavour. Everything we make is hand made.”

That includes the wine made from both berries and grapes, and the humbleberry pies that walk out the door. But Kate doesn’t rest on her reputation. She recently turned her hand to chocolates – cast ingots of the best Belgian chocolate and other creations using local walnuts and a generous approach to portion size.

“I try and reinvent this place every year,” she says. “You’ve got to stay fresh.”

She reworks all but the views. “We look down this valley of berries over Great Oyster Bay, and straight across to Freycinet National Park. It’s a very visual experience.” For visitors here, the taste of berry compote and hand-churned ice cream will always transport them back.

Dressing up is all part of the fun!

Last weekend saw the start of the 2009 Sydney Mardi Gras. A smorgasboard of flamboyance and excess that culminates in the Mardi Gras Parade, this is a festival not to be missed.

Running from the 14th February to the 7th March this is the largest gay and lesbian festival in the world, the event is a draw-droppingly colourful celebration of homosexuality.

The festival’s live entertainment includes cabarets, comedy, music and theatre. The Mardi Gras Film Festival showcases gay and lesbian films, and there are many literature and arts events, forums and conferences to attend between the many parties and parades, most notably the Sleaze Ball.

Key Dates

Festival                  14th Feb – March 7th 2009
Fair Day                 15th February 2009
Harbour ’09          1st March 2009
Parade & Party   7th March 2009

Countdown to Mardi Gras

1. Mardi Gras Parade

Always a memorable night and the jewel in the Sydney Mardi Gras crown: participate or watch as hundreds of thousands of people join in one of the world’s biggest street parties! Catch the hilarious and inspiring floats as we close down the city and flood the streets with our colourful “Nations United” Parade on 7th March.

Eccentricity is a must for Mardi Gras

2. Mardi Gras Party

The only place to experience the sheer thrill and extravagance of Mardi Gras after the parade. Get your ticket to the biggest gay dance party in the world as we descend on the Hordern Pavillion in Moore Park from 10pm. Watch the floats arrive, see spectacular shows and be blown away by international guests such as DJs Paul Oakenfold and The Freemasons, as well as special performances by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Alison Jiear and many more! It doesn’t get bigger than Mardi Gras Party 09!

3. Joan Rivers sharpens her claws at the Enmore.

The undisputed Queen of the Red Carpet and infamous comedienne Joan Rivers headlines this year’s Mardi Gras Festival. Get ready to laugh harder than you have before, and catch her razor-sharp tongue at the Enmore Theatre 3rd & 6th March.

4. Queer Screen Film Festival

One of the most prestigious queer film festivals returns to Sydney Mardi Gras with a higher calibre of films than ever before. A plethora of movies can be found in four unique themes this year: including works from around the world and from our own backyard. Screening around the city, be sure to experience the engaging, poignant and riotous program QueerScreen have organised for 2009.

The highlight of Mardi Gras is the street parade

5. Tina Arena performs live at the State Theatre

Don’t miss these performances, as one of Australia’s truly remarkable voices graces the State Theatre stages for two nights only. Internationally famous for her stunning songs such as “Chains” and “Sorrento Moon”, Tina Arena has also made a name for herself with Songs of Love and Loss; a captivating tribute to the moving classics of Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Blondie and many more. Performing a range of her work, this will be an unforgettable show.

6. The Studio: Mardi Gras Sessions at the Sydney Opera House

2009 has Mardi Gras Festival showcasing exciting and notorious international talent at the Sydney Opera House. See Tony Award winning film and cabaret star Alan Cumming in his show I Bought A New Car Today, catch Brechtian punk superstar Amanda Palmer with the Danger Ensemble for a twisted art and cabaret celebration, as well as Justin Bond’s exhilirating Carpenters’ tribute show and the sexy and hilarious musical “The Wet Spots: A Midsummer’s Wet Dream” from Canada.

7. Fair Day & Launch

Last year saw some 75,000 people turn up for a fun day in the sunshine, and as Fair Day marks it’s 30th birthday expect even more joining you in the warm community atmosphere of Victoria Park on 15th February. This year sees the event combined with the Mardi Gras Launch, and there’ll be the wonderful stalls, sports, live performances and everything else you love about Fair Day.

8. Ranters Theatre Production and Griffin Theatre Company present Holiday

Don’t miss this rollercoaster of a theatre experience. The Stables Theatre showcases this intimate and unpredictable show of what happens when two men unwittingly engage on a holiday.

9. Harbour Party

Sunshine. Sexy Sounds. Seduction. All with the incomparable backdrop of Sydney Harbour. There’s something going on in the garden.. and you’re invited to join in. Be there on the afternoon of 1st March, as Mardi Gras takes over the lush Botannical Gardens to give you our world-renowned party with Sydney’s best DJs and sexiest partygoers.

10. Bison/Natural Born Hooker – A Sexy Double Bill..

Four boys journey through the gay hunting grounds of Sydney in search of that illusive something.. One man travels across America, and through the beds of transvestites, film stars, New York socialites and all-American boys. This thilling and unexpected double bill explores the darker side of gay sexuality, with comedic, moving and altogether unpredictable results.

11. Hat’s Off! – A One-Night-Only Extravaganza!

Join Australia’s brightest stars of musical theatre, comedy, dance and cabaret as they join forces and donate their time  to raise funds for ACON in a gala night of international proportions! Travel the world in this one-night-only spectacular with your Captain, Lisa Freshwater, and hilarious flight attendants Jan van de Stool with Garry Scale and Claire de Lune. Returning for it’s 11th year, don’t miss this huge night!

Sydney druing Mardi Gras is celebrating its myriad of colourful countercultures, hedonism and joie de vivre

12. Roberta Flack & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra

The diva that defined the soul genre, Roberta Flack is one of the greatest and most influential singers of the past decade. This will undoubtedly be a very special night, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra joining her onstage with beautiful performances of “Killing Me Softly”, “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face”, “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and countless others.

13. Festival Bar at The Supper Club

Join in the festivities at The Supper Club throughout Mardi Gras Festival, as we showcase brilliant live performers and throw parties of outrageous camp fun. See the sublime acousitc skills of Kaki King or the underground debauchery of Berlin, enjoy pure retro indulgence with The Margaritas or Bob Downe’s Retro Gras, or be moved by outstanding live shows such as Girl, Corrupted or Jade Starr’s From Metal to Maternal. There’s so much to experience at the Festival Bar in 2009, and you shouldn’t miss a moment of it.

Courtsey of Sydney Mardi Gras

Whether it’s a lifestyle retreat where you can focus on getting the mind, body and spirit back into balance, or a luxury seaside spa offering the latest beauty treatments and therapies, you can experience indulgence or relaxation with an Australian edge Down Under.

While Asian and European destinations are well known for spa and wellness retreats, Australia also has its fair share of unique indulgence getaways.

Australia's stunning landscape makes for the perfect romantic getaway

Many hotels and resorts along our coastline have spas and there are any number of special lifestyle retreats offering special holistic and natural therapies with all manner of concoctions, including Aboriginal herbs and lotions.

Australia has everything from indulgence spas to simple holistic spas with a wellness focus. There are experiences that nourish the soul as well as the mind and body. Some are wellness retreats others are set in bushland overlooking the beach, so you can enjoy the soothing therapy of water and the ocean in a beautiful setting in nature.

Massage away your stress in one of our distinctive spas or nature retreats. You can indulge in a beachside spa at a hotel or resort, a day spa in a beachside location, or an island spa at one of our Great Barrier Reef islands.

Or you may just want to escape to a peaceful beach retreat in a remote or secluded location where you can take long walks along the beach, or in the surrounding bush. Nourish the soul, feed the spirit and reenergize and relax away from the cares and worries of the outside world.

So, slip into your sarong or robe and slippers…it’s time for your treatment.

Lifestyle Retreats

• Surfing and yoga usually aren’t associated together but they are at the Samudra surf yoga retreats, held in great surf spots such as Byron Bay and Margaret River.
• Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland is a health and holistic retreat offering all kinds of treatments, organic cuisine and natural environment.
• Also in the Gold Coast hinterland, Golden Door and Camp Eden health and lifestyle retreats place an emphasis on fitness, remedial treatments and healthy eating in beautiful environment.
  

  Get away from it all Down Under

• Moondance Lodge in the Margaret River region of Western Australia is a tranquil sanctuary set on 13 hectares of bushland where you’ll have precious time to yourself. This Wellness retreat combines inspiring teachers, soulful cuisine, healing and wellness treatments with unique experiences that will enrich and revive you, such as the energizing Digeridoo meditation and the Moondance Morning Zinger.
• At Lifetime Retreats on Kangaroo Island one of the most beautiful natural havens in the world, you can participate in activities such as yoga, kite flying, wildlife watching, walking, painting, or just enjoying a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner created by your own personal chef wherever you like.
• Authenticity, at Port Elliott along the coast on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, is set in botanic gardens, with a backdrop of rolling hills, oceans and vines.

The stunning sands of coconut beach

Nature Retreats

• At Coconut Beach Rainforest Lodge you’ll be holidaying in luxury. Unwind in the most exquisite of natural surroundings without sacrificing anything in the way of comfort and relish the private rainforest views with easy access to white-sand Coconut Beach.
• For an eco-friendly experience, take the 30 minute ferry ride from Hope Harbour to Couran Cove Island Resort on South Stradbroke Island, where the Day Spa overlooks the marina. It offers a range of treatments and special programs to promote health and wellbeing including stress management, yoga, Tai Chi, meditation and healthy eating.
• Kewarra Beach Resort is nestled amongst 78 acres of absolute private beach frontage, native forests and lush tropical gardens featuring two rock pools with spas and waterfalls. Just 20 minutes north of Cairns, this environmentally sensitive resort hosts an abundance of brightly coloured birds and butterflies.
• For a luxury nature retreat, try the Freycinet Experience. Based at Friendly Beaches Eco-Lodge, these four day guided walking trips discover the beaches and secluded bays of the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast.
  

  You and your loved one can choose from a range of treatments

• Bay of Fires Lodge on the Freycinet Peninsula is set on a hilltop overlooking Wineglass Bay, 40 metres above pounding sea and surrounded by national park: the only building on 20 km of wilderness coast. Experience true communion with nature in lodge type accommodation with a touch of luxury, delicious meals prepared withlocal produce and open fires.
• Enjoy the wildlife with kangaroos at your back door, sea lions and dolphins at your front door when you stay in the rammed earth ecolodges at Baird Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in South Austtralia.
• The Bush Camp at Faraway Bay is so remote, so incredibly secluded, that it doesn’t appear on any map and the only way to get there is to fly in by charter plane. Overlooking the Timor Sea on the far north western Kimberley Coast of Australia, it provides simple, yet sophisticated accommodation in a location a long way from the frenetic pace of everyday. Sit back and watch wildlife swim by.
• The Ningaloo Reef Retreat eco camp, is set among the dunes between the beautiful corals of Ningaloo Marine Park and the spectacular gorges of Cape Range National Park. Snorkel off deserted beaches where the coral reef is just metres from shore. Sea kayak the sheltered lagoons of Ningaloo, or take a romantic walk along your very own beach.
• Kooljaman at Cape Leveque is an Aboriginal owned wilderness camp offering a unique blend of culture, adventure and recreation. A quiet place to get away from the crowd, it’s an excellent spot to fish, swim, snorkel or just sit back and relax. Located 220km north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, access is by air or 4WD.

Spas and pampering

• Peninsula Hot Springs is Victoria’s first natural hot mineral spring and spa located an hour from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. Offering hot mineral springs pools and private baths (indoors and outdoors) and a Massage Spa Centre using Li’Tya spa dreaming products (massages, facials, mud and steam.
• The heritage Sea Bath buildings at St Kilda Baths in the Melbourne beachside suburb of St Kilda now houses a new Li’Tya Dreaming Spa.

There is no shortage of places to pamper yourself

Hotel Spas

• Pure indulgence awaits in Queensland’s “spa street” in tropical Palm Cove. At the Sebel Reef House & Spa or its sister property, Sea Temple Resort & Spa, unwind with a banana body wrap or warm mapi mud cocoon just metres from swaying palm trees, turquoise waters and stunning views of the Coral Sea.
• Bali Hai resort in Broome has a Li’Tya spa centre which even guests from other nearby resorts such as the Cable Beach Club, love to frequent.
• Camouflaged behind beach dunes in the Margaret River Region, Quay West Bunker Bay resort has a spectacular day spa, The Spa at Bunker Bay.
• For a Roman bath-house atmosphere, try the Aqua Day Spa at Sheraton Noosa Resort in Hastings Street. It has eight treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy bath, Vichy shower and steam room, and the Aqua Therapy Centre – a private courtyard of showers, pools and jets.
• On the Sunshine Coast, the Sun Spa at Hyatt Regency Coolum is a large complex with private “spa suites” for couples, a heated lap pool, aqua-aerobics pool, yoga rooms, and about 130 treatments on offer.
• On the Gold Coast, for ultimate opulence, head to PalazzoVersace’s Salus Per Aquum (Health through Water) Spa, the only Australian spa to be invited to join the Leading Spas of the World group.

Island Spas

• At Voyages Resorts & Hotels’ luxurious Lizard Island, the Great Barrier Reef’s most northerly resort, indulgence is almost a requirement. Drag yourself away from the 24 pristine beaches, the magnificent snorkelling and fine food and wine, and head for the Azure Spa, which offers treatments with names like Coral Sea Dreaming, Soul Aqua, and Mermaid’s Secret.
• Further south, the Whitsunday islands provide a myriad of choices for the spa-seeker. Exclusive Hayman is the setting for the Spa Chakra Hayman, which is part of the Guerlain-Spa Chakra Alliance global network and offers personally-tailored beauty and wellbeing programs. It has 13 treatment rooms, two relaxation lounges including a meditation suite, hydrotherapy area, saunas and steam rooms.
• On South Long Island, Peppers Palm Bay has a spa with the signature treatment an ‘endota rapt’ where guests are treated to full body exfoliation before being wrapped in West Australian clay.
  

  The heart-shaped reef at Hayman Island

• The Rejuvenation Spa on Daydream Island is one of Australia’s most advanced naturopathic testing and treatment clinics to balance your health, maximise energy and slow down the ageing process. Computerised iridology and a “vitality and longevity analysis” will reveal your body’s “real” age – be warned, it can be a shock. The spa also offers rejuvenation programs, as well as yoga and meditation, and a full array of pampering. Then there’s the view of the Whitsunday Passage from your treatment room.
• Brampton Island’s The Sea Spa offers – among other things – a “guilt-free” indulgence for chocoholics. Chocolate Obsession is a coffee latte body polish, followed by a chocolate mud cocoon and cocoa butter infusion, and finished by a massage with mango and coconut body lotion or Turkish delight body gel.
• Heron Island, off the Central Queensland coast, is so small you can walk around it in about half an hour, but there is an abundance of things to do, including indulging in the secluded Aqua Soul Spa, which has double treatment rooms and therapies designed for two.
• From Cairns or Mission Beach you can head to Voyages’ Dunk Island where The Spa of Peace and Plenty is two large tropical-style buildings linked by a floating boardwalk on a man-made lake. Most of the island is national park, renowned for its birdlife and Ulysses butterflies.

Next time you’re passing through a country town, head for the wide verandahs and cheery atmosphere of the local pub. Here you’ll discover the soul of a town; it’s where the beer is cold and the yarns are spun.

New South Wales

Apart from the legendary Pub With No Beer, NSW is dotted with quirky and colourful character pubs.

The Silverton Hotel is situated in a former mining ghost town, and is known for great hospitality and quirky locals

In the tiny township of Tilpa, 130km north of Wilcannia, in far west NSW, there’s a classic pub called the Tilpa Hotel. The interior of this old corrugated iron pub is plastered with graffiti from its many adorning fans. And, for a $2 donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, you too can leave your mark on the pub’s tin wall.

In nearby Broken Hill, call into the Palace Hotel, the historic, three-story pub with long verandas and elaborate cast-iron balustrades featured in the movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, or visit the Silverton Hotel in the former mining ghost town, known for great hospitality and quirky locals.

Then, hit the Pacific Highway and head north to possibly our most famous pub of all. As country singer Slim Dusty once lamented “There’s nothin’ so lonesome, so dull or so drear, than to stand in the bar of a pub with no beer”. But as legend has it that’s exactly what happened at this historic pub in Taylors Arm on the north coast of NSW. While the debate still rages as to whether this pub was in fact the inspiration for the song, one thing is for sure – with the addition of a new brewery the pub’s valuable liquid asset will never run dry again.

A little further north you’ll come across The Billi Pub in historic Billinudgel, the former home of Australia’s oldest publican, a woman by the name of Mar Ring.

Mar Ring was publican for 53 years until the age of 101. She taught former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke how to pull a beer, and was awarded an M.B.E. for community service. A painting of her still hangs over the public bar. This timber pub in the Brunswick Valley of Northern NSW, close to Byron Bay, is steeped in history, with many photos of the old township along with a good collection of memorabilia. The Billi is a good old country pub with tall stories and a friendly atmosphere, much the way it would have been in the early days.

Queensland

From Billinudgel you can head out west via Goondiwindi to Nindigully, just across the border into Queensland.

Walking into the rustic Nindigully Pub is like walking into the lounge room of the Outback. This quintessential Outback pub on the banks of the Moonie River has been the meeting point for locals for well over 100 years. It’s famous for the more than 140 Akubra hats from local farmers and stockmen which adorn the walls. Queensland’s oldest hotel, it was issued a license in 1864 after it had been shearers’ accommodation for Nindigully Station and is still in its original condition.

This famous pub has more than 140 hats hanging on the walls

From here you can head north to Roma where the historic 1863 Romavilla Winery is a rarity – an Outback winery. Sample the local wines in the rustic timber and corrugated iron building, and imagine the hardships establishing a winery here.

From Roma take the Matilda Highway north through historic Outback towns such as Blackall, Barcaldien and Longreach to Winton.

Legend has it that Australia’s best known and much loved national song and the nation’s unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, was sung for the very first time at the North Gregory Hotel in Outback Winton in north-west Queensland. The Tattersalls Hotel in Winton has also been serving up genuine Outback hospitality for 120 years and is a top spot to share an icy beer with locals including miners, station owners, ringers, truck drivers, cattle buyers and shearers.

A little further north along the Matilda Highway through Outback Queensland be sure to stop and drink a toast to Australia’s hardest working dog, the blue heeler, at the Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna, the 100-year-old hotel where Banjo Patterson observed champagne being handed through the window to end the angry shearers strike of the 1800s. The Combo Waterhole, the famed billabong featured in Waltzing Matilda, is 20km south of Kynuna.

On the same Outback highway headed north towards Mt Isa you’ll meet locals as colourful as Mick Dundee over an ice cold beer in the historic Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay in Outback Queensland. It’s famous as Crocodile Dundee’s regular drinking spot in the original movie of the same name. Known originally as the Federal McKinlay Hotel it was sold for $290,000 after the movie was made and is now the town’s one tourist attraction.

One of Australia’s most legendary watering holes is the Birdsville Hotel on the desolate Birdsville Track in Outback Queensland near the South Australian border. Built in 1884 it has been witness to history made, yarns spun and the survival of Australian mateship. It epitomises the essence of the Outback.

The legendary Birdsville Hotel

But even without heading so far Outback you can see some great Aussie pubs by sticking to the Pacific Highway. If you’re passing through Brisbane, stop off at the Story Bridge Hotel (formerly know as Kangaroo Point Inn), one of only a few hotels to feature architecture from the quintessential Queenslander period. Built in 1886, it’s famous for its Australia Day Cockroach Races.

Further north up the Pacific Highway on the Sunshine Coast is historic Eumundi. There is something special about a country Queensland pub with their wide balconies and timber lattice work shading dimly lit bars and swirling ceiling fans and Joe’s Waterhole (formerly The Commercial Hotel) in Eumundi is one of these treasures.

Rockhampton is Australia’s beef capital. The Great Western Hotel here is widely regarded as the home of great steak, beer and rodeos. This 116 year old pub plays host to major national rodeos and features a huge undercover rodeo arena for 1,000 people that attracts champion riders to the hotel, which also has a Saddler and Poker Saloon and Mavericks Western Wear Shop.

South Australia

The only stopover on the 528km Birdsville Track, the Mungerannie Hotel sits on the edge of the Sturt Stony, Simpson, Tirari and Strzelecki deserts and is nestled beside the Derwent River – an oasis in sharp contrast to its surrounds.

Right in the heart of Burke and Wills explorer country, the Innamincka Hotel at Cooper Creek in South Australia once played host to early drovers who brought cattle down the Strzelecki Track. The pub’s convivial Outamincka Bar has become the stuff of bush legends and is must stop for anyone travelling in these parts.

You can’t get more Outback than the famous Prairie Hotel at Parachilna in South Australia. Built in the 1890s, the pub attracts visitors from all over the world who come to try the renowned Australian native cuisine or bush tucker, otherwise known as ‘feral food’, while drinking in the view of the magnificent Flinders Ranges.

Aussie beer served at the Prairie Hotel on Flinders Ranges

The William Creek Pub is located smack bang in the middle of the world’s largest cattle property, Anna Creek Station which, at 23,800 sq kms is almost half the size of Tasmania. William Creek is South Australia’s smallest town. The William Creek Pub has an almost legendary status and is the only watering hole on the Oodnadatta Track between Marree and Oodnadatta.

On South Australia’s Darling River is the picturesque town of Pooncarie. With only 89 residents, a general store and a pub built in 1976, the town has a lovely old country town feel. But the first Saturday in October sees the town swell to around 1,500 people for the annual Pooncarie races. People come from all over the country, and of course they drink at the old Telegraph Hotel.

Tasmania

In a beautiful little valley called Pyengana you’ll come across a sign that says, “Pub in a Paddock 3km – Come and see our Beer Drinking Pig”.  The Pub in the Paddock is surely one of Australia’s quirkiest pubs. This 1880s watering hole sits in the middle of a paddock in Tasmania’s Pyengana Valley and is famous for its beer swilling pig, Priscilla, who can scull a watered-down stubby in seven seconds. In a pen out the back the sign says, “Hi, Geez I’m dry, I’d luv a beer”. The owner claims the pig has downed 76 stubbies in on session, “more than Boonie”. A Tasmanian institution since 1880, the pub offers hearty country meals and comfortable accommodation.

Northern Territory

The colourful Daly Waters Pub, clad in corrugated iron, is crammed with decades of Australian memorabilia. Once a popular drover’s rest, this quirky pub built in 1930, gained fame again as a stopover for pilots and passengers arriving on the new Qantas airline in 1934. Today, it is a pit-stop for thirsty tourists travelling the Explorer’s Way between Alice Springs and Darwin.

At The Mataranka Pub at Mataranka Springs just south of Katherine you can lean against the bar with its brightly coloured paintings then toddle off to see the nearby replica of the hut in which Jeannie Gunn lived at Elsey Station. Her story was captured in the book We of the Never Never.

The Humpty Doo Hotel in Arnhem Land is conveniently located for travellers heading to Kakadu. The hotel has many colourful local characters, so stop in at the famous Humpty Doo Hotel when next in this part of the world.

The famous Humpty Dumpty Doo hotel is home to many colourful characters

At the Barra Bar & Bistro on the Kakadu Highway at Jim Jim, you can cook your own local delicacies on a supplied barbecue with an accompanying buffet.

Just south of Darwin on the Darwin River Road at Berry Springs,  you’ll find the Lichfield Pub, home of the bull arena and shed, which has a 180ft long bar.

Western Australia

Over on our West Coast, The Roey, Broome’s oldest pub, lives by the saying “if it’s going to happen in Broome, it’s going to happen at the Roey”. If you stumble across a local character by the name of Swindle, pull up a chair and order a coldie because he has enough tales about pearling and gangsters to last a week.

While sunset camel rides on Broome’s Cable Beach are world famous, it’s the tales about beer drinking camels that draw attention at the Whim Creek Pub.  Half way between Karratha and Port Hedland, this pub has its own wildlife sanctuary and was once home to a camel with a penchant for beer. Don’t worry about missing the pub – it’s painted bright pink!

The biggest and best known pub in Kalgoorlie is The Exchange. It holds the record for the biggest volume of Jim Beam sold in regional WA. It was originally constructed as a shed in the late 1800s.

The population of the small goldmining town of Kookynie, 200km from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, is less than 10 people, but the town’s 1894 vintage Grand Hotel with its big verandahs and spacious rooms continues to survive. It was once the favourite watering hole for local prospectors.

True Australian country hospitality is alive and well in our great Aussie pubs. Whatever the style of accommodation or the location, the locals will greet you with a firm hand shake and a strong stare. Our great Aussie pubs are about the people and the places, and they’re the heart of our nation.

Sand sticks between your toes with each step you take towards the ocean. The waves tumble noisily and roll against the shore. Several surfers plough through the water tossing their boards over the heads of the breakers. Beside you a giggling teen slides ungraciously off his board then quickly launches himself back into the fray.

This may be the first time you have donned a wetsuit and tucked a short board under your arm, but it won’t be the last. And now that Australia has five gazetted National Surfing Reserves, visitors have even more reason to sample this quintessential Australian obsession.

There are plenty of places to catch some waves in Australia

Surfing in Australia is open to all. No one cares how well you paddle the board or how often you topple into the surf. The only rule, if there is one, is to wait your turn at the back of the break.

“If you don’t try surfing this year it will just be another year you wish you had,” says Brad Whittaker, beach operations manager for the recently gazetted Cronulla Beaches National Surfing Reserve, just south of Sydney.

“It’s not hard to get out there and have a go,” he says. “Sure there is a wide range of surfing breaks (at Cronulla) for the experienced surfer, but this coast has plenty of options for the new surfers, and you won’t believe the freedom you feel riding a wave.”

Former professional surfer Mark Aprilvic, who has been coaching new surfers for the past 30 years at his Cronulla Surf School, endorses this message.

“We’ve taught people from six to 70 to surf. Once you learn how to paddle and the standing technique, it’s not that hard. Anyway wiping out is part of the fun.”

Surf legend Mark (Occy) Occhilupo is a local Cronulla boy who has won 12 elite surfing tour victories and seven world specialty event titles, including the 1999 World Title.

According to Occy, the surfing reserves are “paramount to protecting the surfing environment and keep places like Cronulla the way it is – with so much variety for both pro and amateur surfers.”

“I remember thinking, ‘far out, I can’t believe this’, when I started riding waves,” says Occy. “This feeling stays with you.”

“I felt like that too,” says Mark Aprilvic. “Everyone does when they start to feel the water and enjoy this environment – it’s stress release. Like you are reconnecting with nature.”

"Anyone can be a surfer. It’s part of Aussie culture," says Brad Farmer, the National Surfing Reserves Chairman.

Getting to the Cronulla Beaches National Surfing Reserve is easy. Trains and buses service the area, and the beach is only a 40-minute drive from the centre of Sydney. Each of Australia’s existing surfing reserves are all a short drive from major arterial highways.

You do not have to be a professional surfer to enjoy these surfing reserves. They are open to anyone who feels the desire to dive into the sea or fling a beach towel across the sand. And you may pick up a few tips from the locals or learn new skills by joining a surfing class offered by one of the reserve’s accredited surfing schools.

There are 10,685 beaches along Australia’s 37,000-km coastline. It’s called the “ribbon of gold” for a good reason because some of the finest beaches in the world embrace this island nation.

It’s not surprising, then, that more than 80 per cent of the Australian population lives within 50 kilometres of the coast. International visitors are similarly attracted to Australia’s surfing breaks and an outdoor experience that is second to none.

“The beaches belong to everyone,” says Brad Farmer, the National Surfing Reserves Chairman.

“Anyone can be a surfer. It’s part of Aussie culture. We wanted to create National Surfing Reserves around the country for everyone to experience surfing. Cronulla is the fifth National Surfing Reserve in Australia and there are 24 more on the way.”

The first of Australia’s National Surfing Reserves was Bells Beach in Victoria. The reserve was established to protect the coastal environment and the beach culture that emerged along this coastal fringe in the 1960s and became so much a part of the Aussie way of life.

Bells Beach is the home to six lauded breaks, as well as the longest running surf contest in the world – The Rip Curl Easter Pro – and the birthplace of the iconic international surfing labels Rip Curl and Quicksilver. Many visitors say it is almost a religious experience to touch the sand or dip a toe in the water.

Surfing holidays are massively popular in Australia

Australia’s second surfing reserve was dedicated at Angourie in northern New South Wales in 2007. The surfing fraternity considers the right-hand point break at this north coast surfing village to be hallowed territory. On any given day you could be paddling at the back of the break alongside surf legends such as Nat Young and Mark Richards, or American champ Kelly Slater if he happens to be in town.

Lennox Head was the next to make the list. At the heart of the surfing hub of the far north coast of New South Wales, Lennox is renowned for its tough right-hand break off the point.

Crescent Head, also in New South Wales, became a surfing reserve in June 2008. This surfing hot spot was the breeding ground of the longboard surfing in the 1950s. Today Crescent Head attracts longboard riders from around the world.

National Surfing Reserves:

Bells Beach, Victoria -71 kilometres from Melbourne, off the Great Ocean Road. Visit during the Rip Curl Pro from 7 to 19 April 2009. Learn to surf with Southern Exposure Surf School. Ph: + 61 3 6261 9170. www.southernexposure.com.au

Angourie, New South Wales – Located less than 30 minutes south of Yamba, northern New South Wales. Enjoy year-round surfing with fewer surfers during the week. Yamba-Angourie Surf School will teach you the basics. Ph: +61 2 6646 1496. www.surfingaustralia.com

Lennox Head, New South Wales -15 minutes drive south of Byron Bay, northern New South Wales. Lennox Head hosts the annual Lennox Longboard Classic in August and Gromfest Junior Surfing Event in July. Best breaks are between May and August. Kool Katz Surf School provides instruction. Ph: + 61 2 6685 5169.
www.koolkatzsurf.com

Crescent Head, New South Wales – 19 kilometres southeast of Kempsey, on the mid north coast of New South Wales. Malibu board hot spot with the Malibu Classic in May each year. Get ready for the waves with Crescent Head Learn to Surf. Ph: +61 2 6566 6609.www.surfingaustralia.com

Cronulla Beaches, New South Wales – 40-minute drive from Sydney. After a five-year hiatus, Pro Surfing returns to North Cronulla Beach with the Australian Open surfing event in March 2009. Cronulla Surf School offers classes for beginners. Ph: + 61 2 411 544 146. www.cronullasurf.com.au

Did you know?

Americans played a key role in bringing surfing to Australia. It was Hawaiian Olympic swimming champion Duke Kahanamoko who introduced surfing with demonstrations of boardriding at Cronulla, Freshwater and Manly in 1914. He created a sensation, especially when he stood on his head on the board. In 1959 the Californians brought the short Mailbu boards to Cronulla Beach and started a surfing revolution.

We all know about the traditional and well-trodden routes in Australia, but if you’re looking for something a little more unique this year, then why not choose from some of these unusual experiences…

• Swim with whale sharks. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the World growing up to 14m long. You can snorkel with these gentle giants on Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia).
  

  Take a swim with these gentle giants

• How about a pub crawl with class? Take a helicopter around the Sydney surrounds to visit local pubs and enjoy local beers and wine as well as a gourmet lunch. (New South Wales)
• Take part in the bi-yearly Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive – the recreation of Australia cattle droving of yesteryear. 5 day/ 4 night packages are available for the visitor to take part in a section of this fantastic adventure (South Australia)
  

  Live like a jackaroo for a day!

• Want an alternative to the Barrier Reef? Head to the blue-green seas surrounding the Tasman Peninsula. Many experienced divers regard this area as the World’s best temperate-water dive site. Ethereal forests of kelp and clouds of colourful boxfish welcome you to an otherworldly realm. Dolphins, whales, seals and seahorses, attracted by the plankton-rich water, glide among spooky cathedral caves and the wooden skeletons of long-lost ships. (Tasmania)
  

  For an altogether different diving experience, try the Tasman Peninsula

• Relax in style at the ultra-sophisticated Palazzo Versace where the ‘I’m a celebrity’ contestants stayed to smooth away their aches and pains after being in the jungle. Everything in the hotel is Versace, from the bed sheets to the chandeliers and it is the only Versace hotel in the World! (Queensland)
• Forget relying on the National Lottery to get rich, how about mining for your very own gold! You can do this at Sovereign Hill where you step back in time to a goldfield township in the 1850s where real gold flows in the creek and history comes alive. (Victoria)
• At the Milky Way Café you can be served coffee and cake whilst viewing and discovering the night sky. You are taught to identify planets with the aid of powerful telescopes and binoculars. (Northern Territory)

Getting to Australia

There are a myriad of flights to choose from, and many different routes – via America, via the Far East and via the Middle East.

Lufthansa,British Airways, Quantas Airways, Air India, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, South African Airways, Air Canada, Gulf Air and American Airlines all offer flights at different prices.