Mr Romance 
Brainchild of Nicky and Paul Thomas, HOLA is more than just a hotel; it’s a celebration of Sunshine Coast artists and is a masterclass in attention to detail. Welcome to HOLA Eumundi—Hotel Of Local Art. Best known for its long-standing twice-weekly craft markets, Eumundi in Queensland is also home to one of the most creative … Read more
Couched in a looping oxbow of Obi Obi Creek and surrounded by lush subtropical rainforest, Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Maleny Qld is the luxury escape for the nature-lover who also enjoys their creature comforts. Set amidst the verdant tropical landscape of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Spicers Tamarind is a getaway in every sense. It’s an … Read more
A stylish island in the midst of the swirl and turbulence of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, the Calile Hotel is that enigmatic sweet spot between Gatsby Art Deco and Rat Pack Palm Springs. Easily one of the coolest hotels we’ve stayed in, the Calile has nailed its styling. Travertine, duck-egg blue and accents of copper, and … Read more
Time of year has so much to do with what’s good to eat and drink. The wine you want in spring and summer is different to winter. With that in mind, here are 9 perfect Autumn wines from Australia. Autumn has to be my favourite season. The colours as the leaves change, the calm after … Read more
Hiding the quiet hills of Queensland’s beautiful Hinterland, Spicers Clovelly Estate and its incredible hatted restaurant Long Apron offer a notion of French elegance in the lush sub-tropical countryside. You might not think a five-star French-inspired luxury retreat would fit with the dense evergreen jungle and rugged terrain of southeastern Queensland. But after visiting Spicers … Read more
Probably as much of an understatement as it is banal, but the last couple of years have been tough. For the travel industry, we’ve had to come to almost a complete stop. But a bit like buses, all kinds of things have come together at once. Christina and I have now found ourselves living from … Read more
From the rugged vineyards of Western Australia’s Great Southern Wine Region comes Howard Park’s latest release: a wine quartet aptly named the Flint Rock Range. Here’s what to expect. The first wine region I ever visited was in WA. Granted it wasn’t the huge sprawling region of Great Southern—the biggest in Australia, but my daytrip … Read more
On the doorstep of some of Australia’s oldest wineries and vines, the Chateau Elan has everything you want for a romantic stay in the Hunter Valley. Just a five-minute drive from the winery-rich towns of Pokolbin and Lovedale, Chateau Elan at the Vintage is perfectly positioned for a romantic break in wine country. But its … Read more
It’s been a terrifying couple of weeks for lots of people on Australia’s east coast recently, with so much rain and wind hitting areas. I saw a stat that said the Brisbane River received three Sydney Harbours worth of water in just a few days! But hopefully the worst of it is behind us and … Read more
Black walls, hard steel, crystals, candles and real wrought chainmail curtains, Vamp by Lisa McGuigan is all about the detail, all about the experience and, of course, all about great wine. What do you usually expect when you go to a winery cellar door? Light timber? White walls? A few wine barrels dotted about and … Read more