Australian Traveller

WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA NOW. We are hoping you will indulge us a little with this issue, as we go beyond travel for a time to do a deep dive into who we are as a nation. It’s a big subject matter and one that has taken us a year of planning and ruminati

The flat, arid Nullarbor Plain might be famous among road-trippers, but there is still plenty to surprise travellers embarking on the journey. Fall asleep under a blanket of stars and wake to some of the best views in the country at these picturesq

Editorial director LEIGH-ANN POW Deputy editor IMOGEN EVESON Art director ANITA JOKOVICH Sub-editing CARLA GROSSETTI Digital editor-in-chief KATIE CARLIN Digital deputy editor ELIZA SHOLLY Digital campaign assistant IRISH VILLACORTA Sal

This 110-apartment hotel (above) will be retrofitted into the former Division B section of the notorious Pentridge Prison, first established in 1851 and officially closed as a correctional facility in 1997. During its life span the prison housed some

Chef Luke Mangan is taking his celebrated culinary approach a few blocks down the road from his glass brasserie at Hilton Sydney to oversee another hotel restaurant when Luke’s Kitchen opens in Kimpton Sydney early 2022.The hotel, the first for the l

Gelato doesn’t get much better than oceanside at one of Perth’s most iconic beaches, as the lines out the door of Gelato Bar Cottesloe confirm. This sweet little joint – with its distinctive pastel-pink facade – fronts straight onto Cottesloe Beach a

TO CREATE a lasting and meaningful connection, you must first start with the simplest of acts: listening. It’s a lesson that Adam Zammit has learned first-hand living on the Country of the Anangu people. The AAT Kings Yulara operations manager coordi

Lake Mungo is one of 17 dried lake beds within the World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes Region. About 50,000 years ago, it held a vast amount of water but has long since fossilised, leaving eroding sand dunes to reveal evidence of an area once thriv

Head to the Meeting Place at Mungo Visitor Centre to learn about Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. While the remains are kept private for cultural reasons, the lunette-shaped viewpoint here symbolises and commemorates their ancient resting place and that of

Mungo’s many colourful parrots cut a vibrant contrast against the outback landscape. Spot the mulga parrot, otherwise known as the many-coloured parrot, in all its primary shades; the aptly named rainbow lorikeet; and the mallee ringneck, pictured –

EAST ARNHEM LAND’S landscape towers with escarpments clad in monsoon rainforests, exquisitely outlined by the Arafura Sea’s turtle- and dugong-rich aquamarine waters. To appreciate its complexity and nuances, see it through the knowing eyes of its Tr

The largest survey of the work of one of Australia’s foremost fashion and social photographers, Robert Rosen: Glitterati (until 19 June 2022) is one of five new exhibitions being presented at the Powerhouse and forms part of the Sydney museum’s renew

AS A CHILD, OUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS WERE TO… We didn’t really do big family holidays. Having parents that owned their own businesses and didn’t have the luxury of taking weeks off at a time, we were definitely more of a road trip kinda family. Probably e

Given cruising is all about the experience of being on or near the water, it makes sense for the industry to want to safeguard and protect the medium that sustains it.A number of cruise operators have formed meaningful partnerships with the likes of

Explore Western Australia’s world-famous forest along the VALLEY OF THE GIANTS TREETOP WALK, which stretches through the canopy of ›››-year-old tingle trees. Feel as if you are flying as you step along the suspended bridges, which bounce and sway in

A LEISURELY boat ride from Brisbane’s Cleveland, on Queensland’s south-east coastline, sees day-trippers, holidaymakers and returning locals pull in to the sandy shores of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) on Quandamooka Country. Across Minjerrib

STEVE [PHILPOTT, CEO BOND-EYE], HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE AESTHETIC OF BOND-EYE PIECES? Bond-eye swim encapsulates the modern and uniquely Australian spirit. Dynamic silhouettes, precise shaping, bold colour and artisanal hand-dyeing techniques are

Enjoy Christmas with A CONSCIENCE by supporting SUSTAINABLE Australian businesses that give back and waste less. From candles to HAND-CR AFTED tote bags, here’s our guide to buying gifts from VISIONARY brands that think global and ACT LOCAL. ■

BRIGID MCLAUGHLIN Forget fast fashion; slow clothing is the new luxury. Get behind the concept of clothing made with care and social responsibility in mind. ‘Maira’ maxi, $379; brigidmclaughlin.com OZEANO VISION A vision for the future: 12kg of oce

FRESSKO These BPA-free insulated flasks designed in Melbourne are simple and stylish, featuring stainless-steel inners that are perfect for brewing tea or accommodating your morning smoothie. ‘Denim’ infuser flask, $49.95; au.madebyfressko.com SHIB

AUSTRALIAN DISTILLING CO. Soft notes of lychee and lime lead the flavour profile of this award-winning Australian Distilling Co. gin. ‘Gold Coast Gin’, $75; australiandistillingco. com.au KOKO BLACK Enjoy some hand-crafted happiness in a collectabl

GEORGIA, ALIA AND MIA, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO LAUNCH NECTAR COFFEE ROASTERS? We wanted everyone to experience a new sense of freshness and excitement to get through the day, so what better way than good-quality coffee? WHAT MAKES YOUR APPROACH TO COF

OFFSET EMISSIONS Take practical action on climate change and offset your carbon footprint at Christmas by partnering with Greenfleet Australia. The company plants enough native trees to offset emissions from your car, domestic flights or household em

Holidays should be effortless from the start. So, when it comes to your precious holidays, we’ve made your experience more convenient and relaxing by always including our most popular amenities. Now, every Celebrity cruise always includes drinks, Wi-

1. A modern take on the traditional Turkish bath, the mosaic-tiled HAMMAM promises to leave you glowing. 2. Harness the healing power of amethyst in CRYSTALARIUM, a stunning stone refuge designed to emanate a luminous vibrancy. 3. A stimulated salt

IN AUSTRALIA, we’ve long held the view that the future of travel would focus on sustainability, connection and, almost certainly, a star-spangled passage to Mars, or at the very least, the moon. It appears we were shortsighted; not only is our vessel

PASSION FOR fine dining is taken to mouthwatering new heights at LUMINAE, the elegant private dining experience reserved exclusively for guests of THE RETREAT. Combining the genius of Celebrity Cruises’ Global Culinary Brand Ambassador with Michelin-

SOME CALL CAIRNS the gateway to the GREAT BARRIER REEF, but a more accurate description might be, ‘a destination where spectacular reefs, ancient rainforests, Indigenous culture and a laid-back village lifestyle merge to create a multitude of magical

Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide, SA; restaurantbotanic.com.au Verdict: A stunning dining experience that brings the Botanic Garden inside. Score: We rated: Inventive use of produce from the surrounding gardens, elegant plating and exceptional service.

TAKING PLACE annually on Larrakia Country, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) has become a headlining celebration of First Nations art and culture not only here in Australia but, increasingly, around the world (thanks largely to its pivot to an on

9 Electric Lane, Leederville, WA; servoleederville.com.au Verdict: A people-pleaser of sexy interiors and kid-friendly exteriors with an adult menu that, surprisingly, suits everyone. Score: We rated: Being able to eat sophisticated ‘adult food’

Tippett made a tree change from the northern Perth suburbs with their two young kids. Settling in Dwellingup in the Darling Ranges to train as fine furniture designers/makers, they never looked back. Fast forward to 2017, when they bought a rundown c

WHEN LOCKDOWNS GROUNDED Global Ballooning Australia’s Melbourne and Yarra Valley flights, Georgia Croft saw an opportunity to establish a brand-new location for the company. Today, one of only five hot-air balloon pilots in Australia, the 24-year-old

YOU CAN TRACE THE HISTORY of Melbourne’s oldest suburb through the story of Gertrude Street, which stretches through Fitzroy for one kilometre. Today it is a microcosm of all that is exciting about this inner-north enclave, with its kaleidoscope of b

MUDGEE’S new visitor centre has set a new standard for the welcome experience: maintaining the authentic country hospitality the Mudgee Region is known for, while capturing the contemporary appeal of this regional NSW gem, recently recognised as Aust

Steve Madgwick was hosted by FRANKLIN RIVER RAFTING, which offers eight-day ($3690) and 10-day* ($4400) expeditions (*optional Frenchman’s Cap hike, weather permitting). Prices for the ’22–23 season exit Hobart, and include food, gear and guides with

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was created during the First Nations National Constitutional Convention and released on 26 May 2017.The document represents a historic consensus of First Nations leaders in seeking constitutional change to recognise

Researching and buying Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander art is a joy, whether you are a serious collector or a complete novice. The colours, patterns and cultural significance contained in everything from bark panels to large-format canvases to w

As both a farmer and restaurateur, Palisa Anderson is acutely aware of the cost of producing food and sourcing ingredients. She says we are incredibly fortunate to be in a country where we can grow just about anything, and yet there are much fewer fa