Travel guide

Spring is a spectacular time to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and especially during the Wildflower Festival, when the bush land and the Australian Garden are carpeted with beautiful flowers This year’s Wildflower Festival is filled with opportunities to explore the bushland, learn how to create a native garden, uncover the secrets of orchids and spend time with the kids. An extensive school holiday program will run. Read more

The 27th edition of one of the world’s great bike rides features a diverse combination of lakes, rivers, scenic roads and stunning mountain ranges. Organised by Bicycle Victoria, the 590 kilometre cycling holiday will have people from under two years of age to over 80 – there is no excuse! With up to 5,000 people, the event is as social as you want to make it. From the communal meal times to enjoying a drink and entertainment in Café de Canvas, there are plenty of opportunities to catch up with new an Read more

We all love the romance and pampering that comes with a luxury holiday and a high standard of service, facilities and attention to detail is the very least we expect. No wonder then that Sunset Waters won the luxury accommodation category in the 2009 TakeABreak Awards.   It boasts a superlative location on tranquil Macleay Island, which lies half way between the Gold Coast and Brisbane and the views across Moreton Bay to the hinterland beyond are breathtaking.   This luxurious waterfront home features a stylish and thoughtful design, which makes the most of the location, and the vast expanse of floor to ceiling glass is a welcome feature that brings the outside in. The land runs down to the high water mark, so it is waterfront in the true sense of the word and it is easy to s... Read more

68 Fletcher Road Mt Barker SA   The house looks new, is divided into two apartments, and sits within landscaped gardens. There is a lovely sense of light and space within.   Overall rating? Great, with excellent ambience What makes Suite 68 different? The apartment was immaculately clean, comfortable and welcoming and we felt very much at home during our stay here. The house is in a residential housing estate, so it is quiet and peaceful.   Accommodation overview We stayed in ‘Apartment A’, which has one bedroom with a queen-size bed and an ensuite. The lounge room has a sofa bed, making room for an extra person. The bed is made up with quality linen and towels are provided.   Facilities overview Our suite had a small kitchenette/laundry w... Read more

TakeABreak Awards 2009 Winner: Gay & Lesbian-friendly – Karrak Reach   Denmark is in the south of Western Australia and is just 50 km west of Albany, a town that lies on the edge of the Southern Ocean and has amazing views of the coastline. Karrak Reach, national winner of the Gay and Lesbian-friendly accommodation category in the 2009 Best Places to Stay Awards, is nestled into the glorious Scotsdale Valley near Denmark and is a wonderful place to stay.   This is not the place for you if you need to stay connected… mobile reception is patchy (although improving!) and the roads can be steep, but the rewards are endless for those who want to experience a region where vineyards, farms and forest combine to offer amazing scenery and wonderful experiences. &nbs... Read more

Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Vineyard is held annually on the last Sunday in May and is one of the premier annual music events on the Granite Belt events calendar. Read more

The picturesque and historic township of Mossman is the stepping off point to the many delights of the Daintree rainforest. It is the sugar capital of tropical North Queensland and the discovery of gold at nearby Charters Towers in 1872, along with the establishment of the first sugar plantation some twenty years later, really opened the doors to the development of the region.  However, it is the location of Mossman at the gateway to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation National Park – along with its proximity to the more cosmopolitan Cairns and Port Douglas – that is the real attraction. There are many hidden gems to be found nearby and Bali Hai Rainforest Retreat is definitely the jewel in the crown.   This wonderful property is so protective of its location that al... Read more

The glorious south coast of NSW is a treasure trove of things to see and do, with a sparkling array of white beaches, the emerald green hinterland and myriad small towns and villages full of great shops, restaurants and links to our rural past.   What is the best way to see it all?  How about staying in a wonderful place like Thirroul and using it as your base to explore all that the region offers. Thirroul derives from the Aboriginal name ‘Thurrural’; meaning place of cabbage tree palms, and it is blessed with history, incredible beaches and things to do.   Seabreeze Thirroul is the perfect base for your exploration of the south coast. This modern, clean and fresh two-bedroom apartment is ideally located between the beach and the town and has everything you ... Read more

This colourful event offers something for everyone, whatever age and interest, including free music, garden tours and displays and of course the ever-popular Begonia display in the Robert Clark Conservatory. The theme for 2010 is ‘The Secret Garden’, enticing visitors to step out and beyond the conservatory into the Botanical Gardens with its many avenues, historic trees and hideaway spots. Read more

TakeABreak Best Places to Stay Awards 2009 National Winner Pet-friendly Accommodation: Pobblebonk B&B   The first thing you think of when you hear the name ‘Pobblebonk’ is probably frogs, not dogs – and the property is named after the Eastern Banjo Frog and the distinctive ‘bonking’ call it makes. However, it is four legged creatures of the furry persuasion who are the real winners at Pobblebonk – oh, and their owners, of course! This delightful B&B is the winner of the Pet-friendly category in the 2009 TakeABreak Best Places to Stay Awards for its outstanding dedication to ‘fur children’.   Pobblebonk B&B is a truly pet-friendly property… one that doesn’t just allow dogs, but welcomes them and caters t... Read more