AUSTRALIA: Detoxing in the Hunter Valley. Really.
In the heart of The Hunter Valley, just up the road from Pokolbin village centre and some of the larger cellar doors, is getaway of a different ilk to the wine-drinking, cheese tasting norm.
Bacar at the Pullman: Lunch fit for a Goddess in Sydney’s west.
If, like me, you’re always on the look out for somewhere new to hold the next girly lunch, here’s a Goddess recommendation. Bacar, at the Pullman in Sydney Olympic Park is far enough outside the city to feel a little like an escape, but with plenty of city-slick style. The décor is elegant, the lighting […]
Berowra Waters Inn: a weekend away in a day.
Lunch at Berowra waters inn is a bit like a weekend away condensed into a leisurely afternoon. It starts with a lovely drive through Sydney’s northern beaches to the restaurant’s beautiful waterfront spot on the Hawkesbury – or, if you’re lucky, a seaplane trip from the Eastern Suburbs. Either way, you’ll end up crossing the […]
Canberra’s new East Hotel
Looking for a family suite suitable for a junior Goddess? Canberra’s East Hotel fits the description perfectly. As we enter the 2-bedroom suite, the kids are greeted with board games (about a dozen), books, Lego, Xbox and popcorn as they run into their “cubby house” to stake their claim on the bunk beds. Spacious family […]
Hotel review: Shangri-La Cairns
If you’re planning a bit of Great Barrier Reef exploration, I can think of no better base camp than the Shangri La. It’s within walking distance to all of the cruise operators, situated directly opposite the jetty. The hotel forms a circle around a beautiful swimming pool big enough to accommodate large quantities of guests without […]
Coffs Coast foodie gems
Coffs Harbour, on the NSW North Coast, used to be famous for such culinary delights as frozen chocolate-coated bananas (my kids still ask for them) but on our recent trip north we gorged ourselves on gourmet fare that was rather more sophisticated. Where to eat on the Coffs Coast One thing that all the restaurants […]
Alto Tango at Zeta Bar, Sydney
If you’re closer to Sydney than Buenos Aires this winter and in need of a hit of Porteño culture, hit up Zeta Bar, Friday nights at the Hilton. Between July 12 and September 6 Zeta Bar transforms into an experiential venue reminiscent of the glamour of 1930s Buenos Aires every Friday night. Watch sensual Tango performances […]
Coffs Harbour: Family Road Trip
When I was a kid, Coffs’ most exciting feature was the Big Banana – but these days there’s a whole lot more to the Coffs Coast region.
Lord Howe Island
It is the ideal place to unwind, relax and appreciate the surrounding natural environment, and really, it is what you make of it: a virtual Choose Your Own Adventure destination.
Queenstown, New Zealand
The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that Australians made a record 7.8 million short-stay trips overseas last year. New Zealand was our favourite destination. (1.1 million trips). If it’s luxury you’re after, Holiday Goddess editor Deborah Dickson-Smith thinks Queenstown is the place to head… My flight to New Zealand on Air New Zealand is an […]
Townsville: The Great Green Way
The Great Green Way stretches from Townsville to Cairns in Queensland’s Tropical North, an area I’ve usually flown over in the past without thought.
Christmas Island’s red sea
Christmas Island is home to one of the world’s wonders: the red crab migration. Add this to your bucket list.