Best of Both Worlds – Wharf Restaurant and Merimbula Aquarium on the NSW Sapphire Coast

Where to eat in Merimbula NSW - The Wharf seafood restaurant and aquarium

With its elevated view out over the jetty to the sparkling ocean, The Wharf Restaurant in Merimbula, NSW is the obvious choice for seafood lovers. But does its adjoining aquarium create a conflict of interest? How would you feel about eating seafood in a restaurant that’s also an aquarium? Is it the perfect storm of … Read more

3 regions to visit in Japan recommended by a top wagyu chef

Mashi no Mashi of Wagyumafia Hisato Hamada's travel tips of Japan

Wagyu expert and avid traveller, Chef Hisato Hamada, lets us in on his top places to visit in Japan beyond Tokyo. Chef Hisato spent his childhood years in Sydney, from ages six to 10, so sees the harbour city as the perfect place to bring his ramen restaurant, Mashi No Mashi. Best known for his … Read more

What happens to Shiraz as it ages? Vertical tasting with Lisa McGuigan Maximus Shiraz

Lisa McGuigan Tasting Guide - Shiraz vertical tasting

Big and bold, Shiraz is a superb wine to put away and drink years and years later, but what happens to Shiraz when it gets older? We put the Maximus Shiraz from Lisa McGuigan Wines to the test with a vertical tasting. Synonymous with Australia, Shiraz is really our national wine variety. It’s the most … Read more

Follow the New South Wales Oyster Trail—Valentina Restaurant, Merimbula

Valentina Restaurant Merimbula Eau de Terroir oyster degustation

Serving Sydney rock oysters, freshly plucked and shucked from the lapping waters of Merimbula Lake less than a stone’s throw from its floor-to-ceiling windows, Valentina Restaurant embodies the Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail with a degustation to showcase the region’s five estuaries. You’d expect a restaurant with views over one of the figureheads of the Australian … Read more

Spirit of Father’s Day–booze-based gift ideas for Dad

Gift ideas for Father's Day

What to get Dad for Father’s Day doesn’t have to be a hard (or cliche-heavy) task. Sometimes it’s just working on a theme. Here are nine alternative spirit-based gift ideas for the drinking dad you probably haven’t heard of. Thinking of gifts for Father’s Day is a tricky job. There’s always push-back against playing into … Read more

Pinot Noir—why it’s so misunderstood + 9 of our favourites

International Pinot Noir Day - Pinot Noir Wine

From bright ruby with glittering red berry flavours to deep crimson glowering with savoury and spice, Pinot Noir is an amazingly diverse wine. Here are nine across the spectrum well worth exploring. Probably one of the most misunderstood wine varieties, Pinot Noir loves to run its own race. Even to the point where drinking it … Read more

Can’t choose between beer, wine or whiskey? You should head Westward

Westward Whiskey - Pinot Noir Cask single malt American Whiskey

From the craft beer capital of the USA, this distillery combines the best of beer-making as well as using local Pinot Noir casks to bring a wealth of flavours to their award-winning American single malt whiskey. When you hear the words American whiskey, you usually think of Bourbon or perhaps Rye. But recent years have … Read more

5 winter wines to get you through to cold months

Winter wine

Sometimes, when the chills of winter creep into your bones, the only thing that can rescue you is a glass of beautiful, full-bodied wine. Here are 5 wines to beat the winter. Galileo knew what he was talking about when he once said: “Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” I’m assuming one of history’s … Read more

Where to eat in the Sunshine Coast’s new tech town—Market Bistro, Maroochydore

Where to eat in the Sunshine Coast - Market Bistro, Maroochydore

The bright button on Maroochydore’s new keyboard, Market Bistro with its electric atmosphere and big-city vibe heralds a whole new look to what once was a quiet beachside town on the Sunshine Coast. Promising to be the high-tech heartbeat, financial hub and CBD of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore is developing into a fascinating destination. It’s … Read more