With the gentle waters of the inlet to Merimbula Lake at its doorstep, Tidal Restaurant and Wine Bar on the Sapphire Coast is the perfect spot to enjoy some of the finest seafood in the country. Close to New South Wales’ southern border, Merimbula and the beautiful Sapphire Coast is home to some of the best seafood in the country. Long famous for its Sydney rock oysters and seafood, the region has also developed a strong culinary reputation. Restaurants on the Sapphire Coast all seem to be able to turn the incredible local produce into unique, masterful dishes packed with flavour and creativi ..read more

Both close to the city centre and yet its own little world, the Balmain Peninsula is a truly unique side to Sydney. And its restaurants, cafes, shops and historic pubs make this waterfront suburb the perfect spot for a bit of romance. Brought to you by Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce A travel photographer friend of ours, who had never been to Balmain before, once commented that it feels like someone’s plucked a well-to-do county town from regional NSW and dropped it in the middle of Sydney. And I can see his point. From its narrow streets and sandstone cottages to legendary pubs and cosy ..read more

Home to over 290 species of birds—that’s over a third of Australia’s species, Kakadu National Park is a birdwatcher’s dream. But when you’re here with Luke Paterson, renowned ‘hawkeye’ of the nature tourism industry, the dial turns up to max. The big Land Cruiser rolls down the hotel driveway. The sun isn’t up yet, and as the car’s headlights flicker through the bushes, catching the early birds in its spotlight. For a moment, it highlights the singers of a noisy dawn chorus that’s barely past its first verse. Even here, outside the unusual frontage of the Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru, the area i ..read more

As the summer comes to its end, we usually expect things to quieten down in Sydney. But if anything, things have become even busier in the city. Huge art exhibitions like the Biennale are in town, new bars, new restaurants and even a dance-off comp (have you ever heard of ‘waacking’?) have kept us very busy. And in between all of this, there’s been a trip down to the beautiful Southern Highlands—there’s nowhere better to see the autumn colours—and a judging panel for Australian whisky! We hope you enjoy this Edition. Cheers—Jim & Christina xx 2024 sees the 24th Biennale of Sydney. This b ..read more

A city steeped in history and cultural diversity, Hungary’s capital offers a tantalising array of culinary delights that reflect its heritage, from traditional ‘mom-and-pop’ cafes to restaurants with clear international influences, here’s where to eat in Budapest. From the hilly slopes and crenelations of Fisherman’s Bastion in Buda to the flat, bustling Pest side of the city, Hungary’s capital is a wonderful city to explore. We’ve always wanted to come here, to see the mighty Danube that cleaves this beautiful historic place in two. Monumental architecture, a complicated history, a busy cosm ..read more

We’ve always said we travel for food! Driving seven hours south, almost to the border of NSW and Victoria, we’re off to the beautiful Sapphire Coast. About the halfway mark between Sydney and Melbourne, this region is home to some of the best oysters in the world! But it’s not just the oysters we’re making the trip for; the region’s annual food festival, EAT is on. This four-day tribute to the Sapphire Coast’s providores and culminates in a food stall street party right on the water. We’re also checking out a local motel that’s been fixed up, plus an a glamping retreat some 45 minutes inland ..read more

As far from the straight-up-and-down tower of a regular hotel as you can get, the Mercure Crocodile Hotel in Kakadu is as unique as its ancient, stunning surroundings. Here’s what to expect from this kitschy crocodilian crib. One of the last few roads in Australia where you can legally drive over 110km/h, the Arnhem Highway zooms us east out of Darwin into Kakadu National Park, 250km to its very end. As we roll through the dusty streets of Jabiru, the only town within an Australian national park, we get an uneasy sense that we’re being watched. Through low trees and bushes, the head and body ..read more

Anyone who has asked for a restaurant recommendation in the Hunter Valley will have heard the same response: ‘Esca. You have to go to Esca.’ But does Bimbadgen’s awarded eatery deserve all this attention? Just past the stairs down to the silver rows of Bimbadgen’s wine tanks and gantries, we’re welcomed at the door to Esca by a smiling maître d’. The restaurant’s busy tonight. From young, dressed-up couples on a date to old friends in flip-flops relaxing over a meal and a bottle from Bimbadgen’s cellar door, the spectrum of diners adds to the ambience. Light floods in through the windows lini ..read more

One of the smallest wineries in the Hunter Valley yet with a comfortable cellar door and excellent wines, Emma’s Cottage in Lovedale is a must-visit for any wine-lover. Surely, this road we’re on—the Wilderness Road—was named ironically. Cutting across Lovedale, the road shows us satisfyingly straight rows of vines, elegant wedding venues, health retreats, boutique hotels, even the grand black fences and corrals of a horse stud. But no wilderness. Close to the Pokolbin side of Lovedale, is Emma’s Cottage. This cellar door, set amongst its estate grapevines and tree-scattered lawns, is home to ..read more

With its iconic bell tower overlooking vines out to the Broken Back Range, Bimbadgen is a must-visit when you’re in the Hunter Valley. Check out all the things on offer at this award-winning winery in Pokolbin. I remember so clearly the first time we were introduced to Bimbadgen. We were on a drive with Hunter Valley legend Ian ‘Scarbie’ Scarborough of Scarborough Wines fame when we cheekily asked him for local tips for other wineries to visit in the Hunter. Scarbie came up with a magnificent list—humbly leaving his own off—that we published here. High on his list was Bimbadgen. He even took ..read more