Australian Traveller
February - April 2025Packed with honest reviews and inspiring travel stories, Australian Traveller is the most authoritative and trusted guide to travelling this great country. It's no wonder that it's Australia's best-selling travel magazine.
Editor’s letter
I HOPE YOU ARE feeling rested and ready for 2025 after the summer holiday period. I spent my break lying low around Sydney/Warrane, appreciating what my hometown has to offer and taking day trips within a two-hour radius. These mini adventures gave me the change of pace and perspective I needed to reset. The downtime also let me reflect on last year’s travels. A highlight for me was a trip to Bullo River Station in the north-west corner of the Northern Territory on the cusp of Western Australia. At the time of my visit, the working cattle station had just been announced as the latest member of Luxury Lodges of Australia for its harmonious balance of authentic experiences and elevated outback hospitality. For me, this was the ultimate inspiring adventure,…
ONLINE
WHERE TO SEE THE MILKY WAY Australia is one of the best countries from which to observe the Milky Way. With our expansive outback boasting big sky views and little to no light pollution, we’re spoilt for prime stargazing spots. From Charleville in Queensland to the NT’s East MacDonnell Ranges/Tjoritja – take your pick and dive in! The ultimate autumn road trips Welcome autumn the right way – by winding along a tourist route, windows down and Spotify playlist blasting, to some of the country’s cutest towns. Of course, we’re talking about a road trip. Here are 12 of the best, perfectly suited to the upcoming change of season. EXPERIENCE ULURU AFRESH ON THIS NEW MULTI-DAY HIKE Grab your hiking boots. Tasmanian Walking Company’s new 54-kilometre Ulur−u-Kata Tjut−a Signature Walk,…
WISH YOU WERE HERE
FROM ABOVE, THE TARKINE/TAKAYNA is revealed in stages as the morning mist is slowly drawn away, like a veil of gauze. Here, the outside world is mostly muted, save for the birds that flutter and screech all around. The breathtaking landscape has clearly left an indelible impression on Tasmanian wilderness photographer Matthew Newton, who helped curate the images for the new hardcover book by Australian Geographic, takayna/Tarkine: One of the Last Wild Places on Earth (RRP $74.99), a moving celebration of north-west Tasmania/Lutruwita. “The aim of this book is to illustrate the scale of takayna and how amazing it is by using a number of different styles of photography,” says Newton. “Takayna is almost half a million hectares in size so we needed to use drones to illustrate how vast…
TRAVEL BUZZ
A pub revival So long tacky beer-stained carpets and smoke-enveloped pokie rooms. Hello sleek interiors and seasonally driven menus. Many of our favourite watering holes have undergone multimillion-dollar makeovers of late, elevating our Aussie pub scene in both style and substance. The Denmark Hotel, WA This classic coastal pub has been a main character in Denmark’s story for almost a century, and its latest chapter has begun after an extensive makeover restored it to the glory of its heyday. The renos have exposed charming original green brick, heritage fireplaces, and included a complete overhaul of its Bar & Bistro (pictured right) and 24-room lodge. A boutique cellar-slash-bottle-o, Denmark Drops, completes the picture. Hotel Sorrento, Vic The iconic 1872-built Hotel Sorrento (left and below) on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has reopened after…
PILLOW TALK
ART AND SOUL Melbourne/Naarm’s acclaimed Flack Studio is behind the inspired interiors of Ammamead House in Byron Bay. Lovers of 20th-century design will covet the curated collection of furniture and art that includes iconic pieces by Space Furniture and works by artists such as Lindy Lee. Expect pops of colour around the four-bedroom, three-bathroom holiday home, which has a pool, day beds, chef’s kitchen and concierge service, and is just steps from the beach. byronbayluxuryhomes.com THE CALILE CALLING The Calile Hotel is so cool it is set to be cloned in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. The integrated new urban resort will be designed by architects Richards & Spence, the firm responsible for the original Brisbane/Meanjin iteration of the home-grown Queensland brand. The resort will sit lightly in its grey-green…
WINE & DINE
Brighton trend Take a moment when you arrive at Malèna Cucina & Bar to admire the sumptuous interiors inspired by Monica Bellucci. The restaurant in Brighton, Melbourne/Naarm, is run by Michelintrained Domenico Fazzari and is a celebration of southern Italy. Don’t miss the cremoso al fieno (white chocolate dessert topped with caramelised hazelnut crunch, pictured above). malena.au Thrill of the grill The Grill is one of the most coveted spots at multi-dimensional venue The International, which rises above Harry Seidler’s modernist mushroom in the civic heart of Sydney/Warrane. Book ahead as the tables on the terrace are as popular as the dishes on culinary director Joel Bickford’s menu. The raw scallop with cultured cream, white radish and chardonnay (pictured right) is a highlight. internationalsydney.com SWEET SPOT Benny’s is the new…
