Travel guide

 If you’ve ever watched the classic Aussie movie The Man From Snowy River, you may have found yourself longing to grab a horse and head out on an equine adventure.  When we dig deeper into Australia’s great movie vault, we discover many films featuring horse riding throughout the country. While for many films, this is logical given they are period pieces, the reality of our vast, ever-changing landscapes simply make horse riding a fun thing to do in this country. This is why, whether you are a complete novice or ride horses on a regular basis, you might want to consider including a ride into the sunset on your next holiday break.  New to horse riding? Before you book yourself on a week-long horse riding excursion in the Snowy Mountains, it’s importan... Read more

If the idea of running along the beach barefoot with your wedding gown streaming behind you sounds more tempting than walking down the aisle of a church or registry for your big day, you’re not alone. More and more couples are opting to seek out exciting destinations for their ceremonies rather than have their weddings closer to home. Australia is one of the most spectacular and diverse countries in the world to hold a destination wedding. You could choose to tie the knot on top of a hill in the Snowy Mountains. You might decide to say your vows on a sailboat while drifting around the Whitsunday Islands. Perhaps your dream wedding is out in the Red Desert on top of Kings Canyon or in a remote part of the Daintree Rainforest. There are countless breathtaking destinations in our vast ... Read more

The next time you’re tucking into a delicious meal of pasta, you might find yourself longing to spend time in a warm Mediterranean climate with beaches, fine wines, and friendly Italians. Clearly then, you should consider heading to Ingham, Queensland! With close to sixty percent of the residents being of Italian descent, there is a delightful blend of Italian customs and culture throughout the community. Many of the Italian settlers arrived back in the late 1800s to cut sugar cane. Today, sugar remains the dominant industry and the Italian Aussies celebrate their heritage through a rowdy, fun-filled festival each May. Here, the motto is “Mangiamo, Beviamo and Cantiamo" (Eat, Drink and Celebrate) and with spaghetti-eating competitions as well as their Great Italian Bakeoff... Read more

The Heritage listed country town of Adelong is nestled along the Adelong River to the northwest of the Snowy Mountains. This pretty 19th century town has an array of historic farmhouses, town buildings and plenty of trees, which change colour in a spectacular fashion in autumn. Ghosts of gold diggers long past would likely be thrilled to see how much of their history has been preserved, offering a mixture of charm and beauty to an area that is frequented by bushwalkers and skiers alike, staying in nearby tourist centres.   Things to do: Given Adelong is best known for its golden history, you may want to try your hand at fossicking for gold at Richies Gold Battery located at Adelong Falls Reserve.    Walking the streets of Adelong will provide a feel for the charm of the... Read more

When I was a little girl, say about forty years ago now (hmmm that makes me sound old) we went on a 'very special holiday' all the way to Queensland. It was a long, long drive. Fortunately Spotto was a great game to play! Although our trip was so long ago, I still have fond memories of buying the juiciest, sweetest pineapples you could ever imagine from little stalls on the side of the road. It was all an honesty system where you left your money in a tin on the wooden table. It was surrounded by long grass - acres and acres of it. My father would get a sharp knife and cut the pineapple as we stood by the car. We gobbled them down like there was no tomorrow. I would like my family to experience the joy of fresh pineapple, not from the can, but real pineapple, freshly cut, running down the... Read more

The next time you plan to take a break, bring your pets with you! There was once a time pet owners wanting to take a fun-filled holiday would need to arrange for someone to watch their animals or pay to send them to a kennel. Today, thanks to countless pet-friendly accommodation options, owners can share their holiday fun with their four-legged mates. This is the ultimate way to enjoy a break; save money you would otherwise spend on a boarding kennel, avoid the worry and/or guilt you might feel at leaving them behind, and instead experience the joy of sharing your special times with a loyal friend. The wagging of a dog’s tail can add to the enjoyment of any special break. The question then arises – what do you do with your pets while on holiday? Few pooches would appreciate th... Read more

Ride a ferry to a beautiful natural landscape populated by fairy penguins, koalas, echidnas, kangaroos, and wallabies. Penneshaw, known as the 'gateway to Kangaroo Island', is the place where you first disembark a ferry from the mainland and open your eyes to see a wonderland of beauty. Kangaroo Island is a magical place to holiday, offering stunning vistas, tranquil waters, friendly locals and a place to truly appreciate the uniqueness of Australia’s animals.    Things to do: Fairy Penguin tour: This is certainly a highlight of Penneshaw. The fairy penguin tour leaves from Penneshaw Penguin Centre, and allows visitors to see these adorable creatures waddle up to their burrows from the beach after sunset. Tours last around 45 minutes and include entry into the interpreti... Read more

Pregnant women frequently hear, “You should put your feet up while you can because once your baby is born, you’ll be too busy for ‘me’ time.”  While there is some truth to this, 'me' time can involve much more than sitting around waiting to pop. Instead, consider exploring the wonderful country you’re bringing your baby into, while crossing some items off your life’s 'to-do' list! Now may not be the best time to try out every wild attraction available in Australia but letting your baby have their first adventures in utero doesn’t need to involve skydiving. Maybe snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef is something you’ve always wanted to try. Or perhaps camel-riding through the vast red deserts of Central Australia, or cycling aro... Read more

Port Douglas, it seems, is everyone's dream where the sea and sun are so much fun... to join the team and Pacific movie theme, the jungle and the beach is all within reach. To see the marines in these incredible scenes, the cane standing tall as gorge rivers fall. In my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine these themes but on a starry night when the moon was right, I went back in time. This was a dream come true for the chosen few and I couldn’t believe my luck. I lie a while on the four mile and just watch the day go by, the palm trees sway as I end my day in that tropical sun. As I make my way to my villa retreat with lush tropical palms lining the street , I think of the ways I can spend a few days and Mossman comes to mind, the market is fun where musos strum and man... Read more

Our first family holiday to Queensland was a certainly a holiday to remember. Leaving home at 5 am to catch the train for a 3 hour journey to the airport, with 4 children, 5 suitcases, a stroller and numerous carry-on luggage bags in tow was always going to be an adventure (not blaming anyone for the stroller that nearly got left behind in 'bulky luggage'). The kids all enjoyed their first plane trip, especially the little one although the early start was too much for her, and she fell asleep standing up on the bus to the hotel! The room on the 9th floor had a balcony and even a glimpse of the ocean, which we almost forgot to visit in our excitement while visiting all of the theme parks. Our favourite was Dreamworld (the Wiggles' House was a hit with kids both big and small), although w... Read more