Global Travel Writers: Articles

Australia's best beach houses

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:14:00 -0500

Around this time of year, something akin to an internal alarm clock sounds within almost every Australian who grew up within cooee of the coast. As the temperature slowly nudges north and we tumble head first into the pre-Christmas rush, a voice somewhere inside tells us it�s time for a beach holiday. Any sensible person has booked long before now. But if not, never fear. We�ve scoured the coastline, finding that cute retro shack with the sandy path leading to the beach, through to the new wave beach houses in a class all of their own. If they�re booked out, pencil yourself in for next year, or scour our other options for your place in the sun this summer break, or to escape winter if you happen to be in the southern states.

Rising Star

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:32:00 -0400

Ballarat�s transformation from nineteenth century gold rush town to bustling cosmopolitan city has given it an urbane yet laid-back feel. Grab a seat at one of the lively sidewalk cafes, admire the artwork at one of the city galleries, or drop in for lunch at a number of eateries featuring local produce and cool climate wines to see the change for yourself.

Wine makers, chefs, restauranteurs, microbrewers, cafe owners, produce growers and others are revolutionising the city�s food and wine scene, which was rather lacklustre for some time.

With a rich and at times turbulent history, Ballarat is best known as the site of the Eureka Stockade and for the discovery of the world�s largest deposit of alluvial gold. The city that flies the blue and white Eureka flag with pride boasts a rich history, wealth and grace.

However, today the grand old city is playing catch up � and fast � giving visitors more reason to stay and explore after experiencing popular local attractions, including Sovereign Hill and The Eureka Centre. Yep, change is certainly in the air.

Misty mountains gourmet

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:12:00 -0400

While almost every Australian has at least heard of the Great Ocean Road, just inland lies the heart of Victoria�s prosperous grazing and dairying country. Here, in the fertile volcanic plains, innovative locals, many of them dairy farmers, ex dairy farmers and children of dairy farmers, have turned their hand to producing some of Australia�s best fruit, meat and dairy products, including top quality cheeses, gourmet ice cream, chocolate, wine, boutique beer, luscious strawberries and smoked eel. In the process, the little known townships of Camperdown and Timboon are fast gaining a reputation for their gourmet fare.

This article runs to approximately 1200 words but can be tailored to individual editorial requirements. Images available.

Dog Gone

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:03:00 -0400

Planning a holiday, but don�t know what to do with the furry family member? For many, dogs (and cats for that matter) are part of the family and more and more owners are including pets in their holiday plans. �In fact many people plan their holidays around their pets,� says Lisa Goldsmith, marketing manager with online booking engine Pet Stayz. Not to mention the high cost of kennels, pet stitters, and the distress of leaving your best canine buddy behind. Thankfully, growing numbers of accommodation providers have heeded the call, offering animal friendly stays at hotels, motels, B&Bs and self contained holiday homes throughout Australia.

Land of the Flat White Crowd

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:43:00 -0400

YES we all know Lord of the Rings put Wellington on the world map. You would have to have been hiding deep in the bowels of Isengard to have missed it. While the legacy of the Peter Jackson trilogy remains, it would almost be insulting to suggest that Wellington became cool overnight just because the cast of famous actors hit town during the two years of filming. The truth is the rest of us have been slow to cotton on. Sure, Wellington had a rather stuffy reputation, not unlike the way Canberra has been perceived. But behind its formal veneer, lay a classy little city. Although barely a third the size of Auckland, it has made the most of its compact dimensions - offering all the urbanity of big city living combined with the charms of village life. While Wellington is sister city to Sydney, parallels are more closely drawn between the cities of Melbourne and San Francisco. Like San Francisco, Wellington is perched on the edge of a picturesque harbour with colourful Victorian and Edwardian-style cottages dotting the hills that overlook Cook Strait.

This article runs to approximately 1800 words but can be tailored to suit individual editorial requirements. Images available.

Stop the World I want to Get On

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:40:00 -0400

IF the idea of travelling the globe without leaving home appeals - avoiding jet lag, queues at the airport and the hassle of packing and unpacking - then an apartment onboard the world�s first ever residential ship may just be the ticket.The Norwegian ship, the 40,000 ton, 12 deck World of Residensea, is the brainchild of Knut Kloster, former chairman of Royal Viking Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines and a member of the renowned Kloster family that pioneered the modern cruise industry in the early 1960s. While cutting of the steel for the World took place in March 2000 at the Fosen Mek. Verksteder (FMV) shipyard in Norway, rumours of Kloster�s radical vision had been circulating in cruise industry circles since the early 1990s. Kloster�s dream was to build a ship where residents could live and sail the world year round in pursuit of fair weather, natural attractions and ring side seats at some of the world�s most glamorous and prestigious events - the US Open, Americas Cup and the Cannes Film Festival to name a few. Today his dream has become reality.

This article runs to approximately 1000 words but can be tailored to individual editorial requirements. Images available.

Adelaide Reveals its Hip Side

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:12:00 -0400

�Hip� and �Adelaide� aren�t two words you typically see in the same sentence. But the joke�s on the rest of us � Adelaidians have long known what a treasure their city is, with its clean air, laid-back lifestyle, beautiful beaches and great food and wine. It has a sophisticated side too: stylish bars and restaurants, groovy caf�s and plenty of boutique shopping. Here�s the lowdown.

This article runs to approximately 1200 words but can be tailored to individual editorial requirements. Images available.

Eternal Sunshine in Noosa

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:05:00 -0400

There�s something magic about Queensland's Noosa in winter. While southerners wrap pale, sun starved bodies beneath layers of jumpers, coats and scarves, on the Sunshine Coast always summertime. The humidity that hampens the height of summer is gone. The air's fresh, the beaches sparkling, and the sand soft and inviting. And like flocks of migratory birds, many Sydneysiders and Melburnites head north to take advantage of the sunny weather (the average May temperature is 23 degrees), uncrowded attractions and bath-warm sea. With the town's frenetic summer pace slowed to an unhurried meander, any local will tell you that winter is Noosa�s best kept secret.

Monsoon Magic

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:20:00 -0400

Hot, sticky, wet - there's no escaping the tropical heat that pervades Australia�s northern-most city during the tropical summer that lasts from December to early March. Thankfully, the wet season also brings with it spectacular daily thunderstorms which offer relief from the steamy weather. Lightning lights up the sky and the heavens open in a deafening torrent of refreshing, tropical rain. The upside of visiting in the wet season is everything springs to life, revealing the Territory's staggering natural beauty at its best.

This article runs to approximately 1200 words but can be tailored to suit individual editorial requirements. Images available.

Sand-sational

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:36:00 -0400

Plenty of beaches are contenders for having an amorous allure, but Whitehaven Beach has something special. Located on the uninhabited Whitsunday Island in far north Queensland, Australia, Whitehaven beach is recognised as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Featured in the famous Qantas advertisement with the children�s choir, it has talcum-like sand (certified as 98 per cent silica) which squelches between the toes and true romantic seclusion.

This article runs to approximately 2000 words but can be tailored to suit individual editorial requirements. It also features Nha Trang, Vietnam, Bondi, Sydney, Wollongong, NSW, Patong, Phuket and Broome, WA.