The Australia Edition - Issue 3

ISSUE 3. 2021 Ingredients For A Beautiful Life!

Great Australian ROADTRIPS

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50

MUST-VISIT DESTINATIONS

Dishes To Eat Now

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Australian Fashion Labels

Ningaloo Reef King Island Mudgee Uluru Blue Mountains Palm Cove Esperance Cradle Mountain Melbourne Beechworth Jervis Bay Lord Howe Island The Whitsundays plus so much more..

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THE

Australia

EDITION

Longmeadow Estate+ Delicious New Recipes + The Healing Benefits of the Sea

$12.95 AUS (inc. GST)

travel . food . fashion . beauty . wellness . home

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AUSTRALIA - ‘a large country in the southwest Pacific Ocean.’

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Bush Medicine Plants, Pammy Kemarre Foster Pammy Kenmarre Foster is a young emerging artist from Tennant Creek who now lives and paints in Ampilatwatja. Her work shows a strong connection to Country through a thorough understanding of the bush medicine she paints. Painting bush medicine stories is important because it helps to maintain knowledge and a strong culture for the community. The Ampilatwatja community made a conscious decision not to paint 'altyerr' Dreaming stories.

Instead, artists paint the Country where these stories belong.

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What Im Reading

Though earth holds many splendours, Wherever I may die, I know to what brown country My homing thoughts will fly.

- Dorothea Mackellar, My Country Orpheus Island pg 83

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Image Courtesy: Tourism and Events Queensland

connect: Instagram @eat.live.escape | Twitter @eatliveescape | facebook.com/eatliveescape

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ike many young Australians, in my twenties my thoughts were constantly heading overseas, from my first trip to Asia when I finished school, a three year ‘right of passage’ stint in London, study in Spain and numerous trips throughout Europe, I gave little thought to travelling in my own country, reasoning that I could ‘do’ Australia when I was older.

Heading in to my thirties meant settling down a little more and beginning to truly appreciate the beauty, remoteness and freedom of our own backyard.

Fast forward to 2021 and travelling within Australia has never been more important (or necessary) as we support our local communities and remain grounded within the borders of our island home.

One of my favourites memories of living in Australia is laying in bed on a hot summer’s night as a child, curtains swaying in the breeze, cicadas chirping their nightly song, listening to my mum and dad chatting quietly on the verandah while they watched a summer storm roll in bringing the ‘cool change’.

Uniquely Australian experiences that

editor’s letter you take for granted as a child but truly begin to appreciate as you become older.

The smell of eucalyptus leaves after summer rain, the crashing waves of our pristine oceans, the dusty red earth of our centre and the mulitculturism of our cities, the beauty of Australia is that it is as diverse as it is expansive.

In this issue we explore 50 Must-Visit Aussie Destinations (pg 48), choosing this list was no easy feat with so many spots we love not making the final cut, but we wanted to bring you a mix of well known places and those a little more unexpected. We highlight 12 of the hottest dishes on the Australian food scene at the moment (pg 20) and celebrate the best of Australian made fashion, beauty and home.

To me, being Australian means freedom, possibility, opportunity and equality that’s the thing about being an Aussie, it’s a feeling not just a place, that every one of us can feel within us no matter where in the world we are.

Founder and Editor-in-Chie

MY AUSTRALIA * East Coast roadtrips eating Cherry Ripes & drinking Big M. * Eating pho and dumplings in Melbourne’s laneway restaurants. * Grilling Moreton Bay bugs and prawns on a hot summer day. * Stargazing at The Southern Cross and The Saucepan in the night sky. * Waking at dawn to the sound of a Kookaburra’s laugh.

50 Must-Visit Destinations pg 48

Rainbow Bright pg pg119 32

Mia Cowling

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Escape to the Country pg 95

Cherry Galette pg 10

Fashion pg 130

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CONTENTS

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escape

10 A Sweet Start - Cherry Galette

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Insta-fabulous

48

50 Must-Visit Australia Destinations

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4 Iconic Aussie Roadtrips

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Spanikopita with Warrigal Greens

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12 Dishes To Eat Now

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Smoko Time!

#loveele

On The Cover We headed out to a classic Australian farm on the southwest coast of Victoria to capture our cover image - space, light, freedom and nothing but golden countryside for miles.

Swaying dry summer grass, working kelpies barking in the background and endless fields of gold, for this issue’s cover we visited a private farm in Victoria to capture that classic Aussie countryside feel.

Model Georgia and photographer Jo, worked effortlessly to deliver a range of shots that celebrate the positivity and beauty of this diverse country.

We love seeing how you are enjoying reading ele Magazine!

Tag us @eat.live.escape or #loveele for a chance to be featured.

@longdogma

Cover Location: South-West Victoria Front Cover Image: Jo O’Keefe Back Cover Image: Jo O’Keefe Model: Georgia Murray Wearing (Front Cover): Seafolly Wearing (Back Cover): Once Was oncewas.com

@danamallet

@katiejneeson

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fashion 95

Escape to the Country

102

Ten Australia Labels To Love Now

health & beauty

home & garden

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114

The Beauty Edit

110 The Healing Benefits of the Sea

Longmeadow Estate

126 Spotlight: The Plant Runner 128

Spectacular Natives

Longmeadow Estate pg 114

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Credits Editor-in-Chief: Mia Cowling Travel: Mia Cowling Food: Ella Mitford Beauty: Alexandria Garlan Wellness: Katherine Pham Fashion: Shannon Meddings Home & Interiors Editor: Katie Skinner Our Contributors Jo O’Keefe, Melinda Healy, Julie Skinner, Corey Costelloe Social Instagram: @eat.live.escape Facebook: facebook.com/eatliveescape Twitter: @eatliveescape Web eatliveescape.com Subscribe eatliveescape.com.subscribe Advertise Want to advertise with us?

Email: hello@eatliveescape.com eat.live.escape is proudly published by MJC Digital Pty Ltd PO Box 91 Woodend Victoria 3442 Australia mjcpublishing.com ABN 19 630 569 989 National distribution by Integrated Publication Solutions (IPS) Views and opinions expressed by contributors and authors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

All rights reserved. eat.live.escape is committed to sustainable business practices and supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Issue 3, 2021 ISSN 2652 6638 Copyright eat.live.escape 2021

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CAROLINE DE LUCA Food Cherry Galette, pg 10

A Melbourne-based food photographer and writer, Caroline’s love of food started in childhood and continues to grow. She is from an Italian background, where food is at the heart of her family life.

ALEXANDRIA GARLAN Beauty

KATIE SKINNER Home & Interiors Editor

Alex has been obsessed with the latest in beauty and skincare since she first worked behind a makeup counter. She is passionate about sharing the best products and information available and is delighted to have an audience at ele that listens to her advice about wearing SPF 30+ every day.

Longmeadow Estate pg 114

Kate has a life-long love of interior design and her love of renovating means she lives in a building site for most of the year. She also loves the Australian coast, both to live and visit, with coastal style influencing many of her decor decisions.

MEET & GREET Say hello to some of the ele Team and featured contributors behind this issue.

SHANNON MEDDINGS Fashion

MELINDA HEALY TRAVEL

Shannon’s career in the fashion industry has spanned 15 years dressing and styling celebrities both in Australia and overseas. Her real passion is styling women and men in everyday wear and helping them navigate what works for their body shape, colour and style ID.

Mel is an Aussie-made global roamer with an unbridled passion for travel. More interested in passport stamps than possessions she has an inquisitive mind, adventurous spirit and a talent for storytelling. She is a keen photographer, loves searching out great coffee shops, and has her own company The Write Way To Travel.

Ten Labels We Love Now pg 102

4 Iconic Australian Roadtrips pg 88

KATY HOLLIDAY Lifestyle

Katy is an Australian writer based in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Once-upon-a-time, she worked as a journalist in Belgium and in publishing in Brisbane before giving up city life to raise her two children and write about property, lifestyle and travel.

Want to get in touch with one of the team? Email us at hello@eatliveescape.com

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A SWEET START

Cherry Galette

A delicious pastry treat that is perfect for the cooler months, this beautiful rustic galette is filled with sweet and tangy cherries to send your taste buds into a frenzy. RECIPE & IMAGE Caroline De Luca

Ingredients

Method

Short crust pastry 250g plain white flour 125g cold butter, cut into cubes 4 tbsp iced water 1 tsp salt

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Cherry Filling 500g cherries, rinsed and pitted 3 tbsp of caster sugar 1 tbsp corn-starch Zest and juice of 1 lemon

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For the crust

Add flour, salt and butter into a food processor and pulse until it resembles a fine crumb. Add ingredients to a bowl then add in iced water. Use your hands to gently combine ingredients until the dough comes together into the shape of a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and place into the fridge for 1 hour to chill.

For the filling: 2.

Preheat your oven to 180C (350F).

3.

Combine all filling ingredients into a bowl and toss well so all the cherries are coated in the sugar and lemon juice.

4.

Roll out the dough and shape into a rustic circle. Spoon cherries into the centre of the dough and carefully fold in the edges, shaping into a circle and overlapping the dough if needed.

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Brush a little egg wash over the crust and sprinkle raw sugar all over. Bake for 40-45 mins until the fruit is blistered and the edges are golden brown.

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Allow to rest for 15-20 mins to slightly cool before serving with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

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hen Mum and I first started researching for and developing Enbacci, we knew we wanted it to be Australian made. When we typically think of luxury skincare, our thoughts instinctively go towards France, Japan or the US. Rarely do we think of Australia.

We wanted to change that mentality. I have always said that Australia has amazing infrastructure and access to an abundance of resources that we can utilise to make some amazing products, so we wanted to create a brand that would celebrate this.

Representation is more important now than ever. Mum and I are first and second generation immigrants. Together, we represent a significant and diverse proportion of the Australian population.

It is this diversity that should be celebrated and shared with the world out there. We are sharing a message of “this is what Australia can look like and this is what we can do”.

In the personal care and beauty industry, being Australian made means we can ensure our products are manufactured to Australian standards. That doesn’t only mean ensuring a high-quality end product, but it also ensures the use of highquality raw materials and high standards in manufacturing. For us at Enbacci, it is important that we manufacture our products in facilities that are both Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) certified.

Most importantly, being Australian made means we are supporting the Australian economy. Manufacturing in Australia supports our local industry. It supports Australian jobs and helps foster the skills needed to grow the local industry and that’s very important. The more we support the local industry, the better Australian infrastructure becomes and that in turn, allows us to produce better products. enbacci.com @enbacci

Yong-Li Zhou Founder, Enbacci Skincare

What It Means To Me To Be Australian

We ask some inspiring individuals what it means to them to be Australian in 2021.

BY Mia Cowling

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o be Australian is to be generous. Generous with time, generous with resources. At least, this is my belief from what I’ve witnessed during the past 7 years since founding Eat Up, a non-profit organisation feeding hungry kids. I have seen Australians put their hands up to help out time and time again; I am continually impressed by the sheer kindness of the diverse range of people who call this country home. Connected through friends, family and community, to me Australia often feels more like a small town rather than one of the largest countries on Earth, six degrees of separation seems more like three degrees across this widely dispersed but connected nation.

In Australia we are typically known for certain quirks such as; we love a larrikin, always root for the underdog and are laid back to the point of ‘no worries’ practically being our national catchphrase. But underlying all these features and quirks, generosity is deeply woven into the fabric of our society. It is generosity that has enabled me to build an organisation I didn’t even know was possible 7 years ago. At Eat Up, growth will always be bittersweet, as the more we’re able to help, the more we see the real size of the issue. However, the way Australians have given generously and flexibly to support Eat Up during 2020 and the years prior, only gives us hope for the future that our efforts to combat food insecurity and to ensure kids aren’t going to school hungry will succeed. Australians across a range of backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities have helped to leverage our collective strengths and make this world a better place. We are increasingly mindful of the good fortune and safety that we are afforded here, whilst still aware of the challenges that lie ahead. As well as caring deeply about sport and whether tomato sauce should be stored in the fridge or the cupboard (always the cupboard for me), I believe, to be Australian is to be generous of spirit.

Lyndon Galea Founder, Eat Up

@pippahallas @ellabacheaus

Lyndon is the founder of Eat Up, a volunteer-run, not-for-profit that delivers school lunches to underprivileged local school children. Eat Up has delivered over 1 million sandwiches to hungry kids. See more at eatup.org.au. @eatupaustralia

Luke McLeod Founder, Soul Alive

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feel the older I get, the more my definitions as to who I am and the subcultures I am a part of evolve. This would include what it means to me to be Australian.If you were to ask me this five years ago I would have said something along the lines of “being Australian to me means that I am very lucky and fortunate.” To have grown up in a wealthy country where we have complete freedom of choice and expression is truly a gift.

And although these beliefs still remain true for me, I now feel a greater responsibility to not take this privileged, fortunate position I’m in (being Australian that is) for granted and to now proactively leverage this luxury to incite greater self-awareness and personal development.I also feel I have become less patriotic. Although let me be clear, this does not mean I’m not as grateful for being an Australian as I was, it’s just not as important to me. I would prefer to be known first as just another human being. I feel that acknowledging this fundamental truth first could really dissolve a lot of tension and segregation we are seeing more and more around the world today. Plus with social media now narrowing our interests and information, it is now even more easier to be judgemental and defensive than ever. To me, I would love to consider that being Australian is knowing that we are all first just human beings trying to do our best and those of us that are more fortunate should try to see how we can help those that aren’t. soulalive.com.au @luke.mcleod

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Mikhara Ramsing Founder, Miks Chai

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ide lanes in suburban streets and shopping isles, nicknames, freshly mown grass, accents and red frogs – these are earliest memories I have of Australia. I was 13 years old, an immigrant to this country, when my Indian family of six left the five generations of history we’d forged in Durban, South Africa for the dreams of a better life in the regional town of Albury, NSW. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Australian culture than the friends I made in High School – days spent along the Murray-Darling River, learning to drive on farms and spilling our first cans of VB all over our school jumpers.

It is only in hindsight that I realise what was painfully missing from my Australian adolescence - any interaction with Australia’s First Nations stories and people. In fact, exposure to any sort of difference to the Anglo-Australian middle-class lifestyle around me wasn’t really available. This had very real consequences for me as I began navigating my sexual identity as a queer woman, as well as my cultural identity as an Australian South African Indian woman. I felt I could not see myself; I could not read about, see on TV, or in the community spaces I occupied, another queer woman of colour. This made me feel invisible.

It was only through sharing my story that this began to change.

Through finding space for myself and others I was eventually able to bring the various identities of my life together, part of creating my own loving and accepting home. I’ve had the enormous privilege since of driving over 70,000km across this sunburnt country, talking to thousands of people living on this land. The one thing that always sticks with me is the willingness of each person to help a fellow mate out. To me this is what being Australian is, making space to hear each other’s stories, showing kindness through action and welcoming all parts of a person into your home for a cuppa.

Mikhara Ramsing is a social entrepreneur from Brisbane. She is the founder of Miks Chai, a tea social enterprise which funds suicide prevention, and Ethnic LGBT+, a national resource platform for culturally and linguistically diverse LGTBIQA+ communities. mikhararamsing.com @mikschai

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Food & Drink News Spanikopita with Warrigal Greens 12 Dishes to eat Now Smoko Time!

Cutler & Co Pg 25

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food news

We round up the latest food and restaurant news from Australia and across the globe.

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riscoll’s organic in-conversion blueberries allow consumers to purchase a product which has been grown by farmers who are in the process of converting their operation to organic, but haven’t yet been officially certified organic. The blueberries are free from pesticides or prohibited substances, additive free and non-GMO. They are also a high source of vitamin C, E, potassium and fibre.

These organic in-conversion blueberries are farmed with care at the main farm in Tumbarumba, a little town in the Snowy Mountains, NSW by farmer Nico Mulder. driscolls.com.au @driscollsberry

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SEASIDE TUNES

Veg Only

Harbord Hotel, Freshwater’s original shrine by the sea, is now open. Located moments from the beach, Harbord Hotel celebrates Freshwater’s surf culture and young spirit, with an expansive main bar, sun-soaked terrace, and new restaurant, Balsa. Here, Head Chef Adam Rust will be cooking up the best and most-ethical local produce he can find inspired by the spirit of the ocean, alongside classic pub fare with a coastal twist, cold beers and cracking tunes. harbordhotel.com.au @harbordhotel

Kate Kasbee, the co-creator of the popular blog Well Vegan, shows you how to create 50 stunning plant-based boards with step-bystep instructions and colour photographs.

All the boards are remarkably easy to prepare and most require no cooking at all. You’ll also find guidance on how to use equipment and utensils to make serving food on boards both beautiful and safe. There are plenty of kid-friendly boards, as ideas for weekday dining and special occasions. @katekasbee

OPENING

CHOCOLATE LOVERS

Koko Black’s new Easter 2021 collection features a range of delicious choclate products suitable for everyone on your life.

In addition to their usual chocolates there are vegan-friendly options and a sweet choice of eggs for kids. kokoblack.com.au @kokoblack

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Vesper is a new local gem opening on Toorak Rd, South Yarra in February. Inspired by the relaxed elegance and gentle warmth of the Mediterranean islands, the seafood-led bistro style menu has been developed by fine dining chef Francesco Castellana to take diners on a journey of regional flavours from the Cote D’Azur, to the Balearic and Greek Islands. Don’t miss their signature Vesper martini. vesperbistroandbar.com.au @vesper_bistro_bar

food & drink news TICKLED PINK Innocent Bystander has re-released their iconic pink Moscato. Sweet, juicy berries, generous bubbles and a fresh finish that is perfect for the warmer Autumn evenings. Plus, with a natural blush of pink, new bright pink label and Innocent Bystander’s distinctive logo, it looks the part too. innocentbystander.com.au @ibwine

BAKED GOODNESS PiOiK Bakery - a little family-run bakery tucked into a terrace house in Pyrmont, where head baker Shady Wasef draws on his Egyptian heritage to create a small selection of bread and pastries from scratch, by hand, using organic, market-fresh seasonal ingredients and no preservatives. They also supply some of Sydney’s best restaurants, with the latest additions of a’Mare and Woodcut at Crown Sydney. pioik.com.au @pioikbakery

Following a highly successful small taster run of 650 bottles in May 2020, Brookie’s Gin has launched their first official batch of Shirl The Pearl, after the first offering sold out within just one week. This new release of cumquat gin, inspired by a generational Brook family recipe, will now mark the start of an ongoing, annual seasonal release. Created by Co-Founder and Distiller of the highly-awarded, Cape Byron Distillery, Eddie Brook, this zesty little number is sure to be on high rotation in bars and restaurants, as well as being shaken up in the homes of gin enthusiasts. Bright and citrusy, ‘Shirl the Pearl’ pairs the natural acidity and mild bitterness of Australian cumquats with the unique flavour profile of Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin. With lively notes of orange blossom, mandarin and marmalade, this highly anticipated spirit makes for an uplifting tipple whether you’re shaking up a citrus-driven sour or leveraging the sweet acidity for a modern twist on a classic cocktail. capebyrondistillery.com @brookiesgin

@magnum

New

SHIRL THE PEARL

Ice-cream house Magnum, has done it again with their new LUXE Gold Caramelised Chocolate. The new flavour is available in a pint, sticks and multipacks and brings the Magnum True to Pleasure experience directly into home freezers magnum.com

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Spanakopita with Warrigal Greens RECIPE & WORDS Corey Costelloe

*Chef Tip* Warrigal reens can be found on the Australian eastern coastline, in estuaries and waterway parks. If you can’t forage for warrigal greens in your area you can substitute them in this recipe for silver beet or chard.

Caprese Salad, Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone 18

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eat Rockpool Bar and Grill Executive Chef, Corey Costelloe takes a Greek classic and gives it an Australian twist.

Tell us a little more about this dish and the inspiration behind it.

My kids and I collect warrigal greens from Long Reef Headland and use them in quite a few different recipes. This is the best one though. I use these greens as a substitute for spinach in a number of dishes, including palak paneer – an Indian curry of paneer in a spinach sauce. I also use them for braised greens, where you braise them down with onion, garlic and anchovy, and they’re great simply as a replacement for sautéed spinach as a side dish.The first time we collected warrigal greens was about six or seven years ago. We collected baskets of them and lugged them home, where I had to think of something to make with them. My homemade spanakopita recipe was born. It’s such a satisfying dish and really quite simple to make. I refined the recipe for Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney and it’s now available at our Melbourne and Perth restaurants too, where it’s a great vegetarian alternative, or a go-to dish for guests looking for a lighter meal.

What is the trick to achieving the Spanakopita’s perfectly crispy golden layers?The greens mixture has to be very dry after you’ve cooked it. English or baby spinach doesn’t really work as it always drops too much liquid after cooking.

Silver beet, or chard leaves are a great alternative if you are going to buy the greens.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to incorporate more native Australian ingredients into their home cooking? Don’t be afraid to just go out and start looking for them. Warrigal greens grow by saltwater, so around local beaches, waterways and headlands. It’s a great excuse to get out of the house and explore. A foraging expedition is free and kids love collecting ingredients this way. It’s a great experience for families, as kids learn a little about where food comes from and how to make simple dishes from ingredients they can find on their doorstep.

Spanakopita with Warrigal Greens Ingredients 2kg Warrigal greens, available from beach or waterway parks 60 ml olive oil 2 red onions, finely diced 8 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tbsp dried chilli flakes 200g feta 200g ricotta 100g finely grated parmesan or pecorino

Method 1.

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4.

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6.

7.

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4 eggs 70g breadcrumbs ½ bunch dill sprigs, chopped ½ bunch mint leaves, chopped 4 spring onions, finely chopped Fresh ground pepper, to taste Salt, to taste 375g filo pastry 125g butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350F).

When picking the warrigal greens try and pick just the leaves and not the stem. It saves you time later not sorting through the stems.

In a large pot bring salted water to the boil and blanch the warrigal greens in four batches for 30 seconds a time. Refresh each batch in iced water, then drain well.

Place the blanched greens in tea towels and wring dry of excess water. This process will help the end result of crisp pastry. Once the greens are very dry, roughly chop them and set aside.

In a frying pan, gently cook the chopped red onion, chopped garlic and chilli flakes in the olive oil until soft. This should take at least 10 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Place the feta in a large bowl and roughly mash with a fork. Add the ricotta, hard cheese, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, dill, mint and spring onions. Mix with the fork to combine. Then mix through the chopped greens and the cooled down red onion mixture until well combined.

Lightly oil or butter a 20cm x 30cm x 5cm baking dish. Lay the filo out on a work surface. Line the dish with a sheet of filo and brush it with butter. Top with another sheet of filo brushed with butter and continue until about half the filo is used. When not using the filo, cover it with a dry tea towel and then a damp one on top, to keep it from drying out.

Tip the greens mixture into the filo base and spread out evenly. Layer with the remaining sheets of filo brushed with butter, ensuring the final sheet is well buttered. Trim off any overhanging pastry and tuck in the sides.

Use a sharp knife to score the pastry into diamonds. Pierce the pastry once or twice to allow air to escape during baking. Sprinkle lightly with water and bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes, or until well browned. Gently shake the baking dish; the spanakopita should slide easily when it is cooked. Cover with foil if it is over-browning. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before serving. eat.live.escape

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Lume’s Murray Cod, Desert Lime, Old Man Saltbush pg24

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eat

12 DISHES TO EAT NOW From native and foraged ingredients to modern twists on old classics, these are some of the hottest dishes on the Ausralian food scene at the moment.

WORDS Ella Mitford

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Chilled Crustacean of the Day with a Selection of Sauces, RESTAURANT HUBERT Sydney’s basement gem, Restaurant Hubert, serves up French classics in an inspiring salon space. Eat this dish of superb crustaceans alongside a glass (or two) of French champagne and forget the fact that this may be the closest you get to Paris for a long time. restauranthubert.com @restauranthubert

A beautiful celebration of grilled seafood accompanied with three simple & delicious sauces.

The perfect way to entertain.

Ingredients 300g mussels, scrubbed, de-bearded, rinsed in water to remove any sand residue 300g baby octopus, cleaned & cut in half 300g king prawns, shells removed & deveined 300g vongole/clams, rinsed in water to remove any sand residue 300g calamari rings 12 fresh scallops 1 cup olive oil plus extra to cook in between seafood batches Salt & pepper to season

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CASONCELLI, Oster Silky plump pillows of pasta from Lombardy with a thoroughly modern twist. The pasta is piped with brown butter, grated breadcrumbs, vegetable stock and ​Heidi Tilsit -​ a rich, dense cheese with a nutty overtone. A light H ​ eidi Tilsit foam covers the dish, which is then topped with crispy pork sausage meat and fried sage. oystereatery.com.au oster_eatery

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Lobster Benedict, GOODFIELDS EATERY Lobster for breakfast, do we need to say more? Goodfields Eatery is a local brunch favourite situated in the heart of the Sydney suburb of Lindfield owned by father and son duo George and Anthony Karnasiotis. The cafe is known for its innovative and unconventional breakfast dishes and great coffee, but the clear menu standout is the Lobster Benedict which features a butter roasted lobster tail with seasoned crushed peas, poached eggs, crustacean hollandaise all on top of a granary loaf. Pure Sunday brunch pleasure. goodfields.com.au @goodfieldseatery

Image: Courtesy Brae via Instagram

Pretty Clam Tart, BRAE There is nothing usual about Brae, Dan Hunter’s much lauded restauant in regional Birregura, and every dish on his menu is worthy of being a ‘dish to eat now’ but the Pretty Clam Tart combines the highest quality of fresh produce, with the delicate touch of the Brae team to create a little slice of regional perfection, a lot like Brae really. braerestaurant.com @braerestaurant

Mango, Saffron & Silver, ATLAS DINING All that glitters is silver. This stunning dish contains Mango sorbet with mango sheeps milk yogurt served with saffron crumble, silver, pistachio and rose petals. atlasdining.com.au @atlasdining

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Asian Buttermilk Live Lobster, NIUBI New kid on the block, Niubi in Melbourne’s Chinatown serves up a dish for those seeking a truly unique taste of luxury, succulent Asian Buttermilk Lobster, slow-cooked in a sauce of buttermilk, curry leaves, chilli flakes, condensed milk, and curry powder, and served with mantou (deep-fried buns). @niubi.melbourne eat.live.escape

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Murray Cod, Desert Lime, Old Man Saltbush, LUME As a foraging restaurant, Lume is focused on making the endemic and naturalised species that are abundant in Victoria more accessible to guests.

Dining offerings are designed to celebrate the biodiversity by exploring individual eco-systems. Working with the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, the team at Lume has been exploring the bioregions within Victoria and recording their findings, the culmination of which being the first iteration of an 'Ecosystems' menu. The inspiration for this dish created by Chef Elijah Holland, came from a research and development trip camping in the dry, arid climate of Mildura - an area full of salt lakes, halophytes (salt tolerant species of plants) and beautiful rivers. The region is the Murray Darling Basin which encompasses the ecosystems of floodplains, halophytic shrubland and inland rivers.

The Murray cod, a freshwater fish from the Murray River, is filleted and brushed with a paste of fermented and salted desert limes. Next, the cod is skewered and barbecued over the fire, skin side down, and cooked until slightly opaque in the middle. The fish is then brushed with a young Arbequina olive oil (from near the Grampians) and seasoned with Mildura lake salt.

The rich and creamy Murray Cod veloute underneath the dish is made using Murray cod bones, wild sea parsley and a fermented desert lime paste. The dish is then finished with saltbush 'scales' (Old Man Saltbush leaves baked with burnt butter), and the fish skin seasoned with pink salt and black-seeded samphire. restaurantlume.com @restaurant_lume

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Prawn Croque Monsieur, YUGO A classic base of prawn toast (prawn, sesame & garlic) filled in to a traditional French sandwich built with bechamel and gruyere, then pan-fried in butter and served hot and crispy. There is a whole lot to love about this creation from Melbourne’s Yugo. yugo.melbourne.com yugo_melbourne

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Spaghetti, Mooloolaba King Prawns, Fennel & Cavolo Nero, TIPO 00 One of our favourite Melbourne restaurants, Tipo 00 serves up delicious Italian that is as classic and elegant as Melbourne itself. This dish combines sweet plump Queensland king prawns, house made spaghetti and a hint of fennel to provide a perfect marriage of Australia and Italy on a plate. tipo00.com.au @tipo_00

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Coconut & Banana Hotcakes, Coconut Sugar Caramel & Coconut Sorbet, NU NU A tropical Palm Cove beachfront location with a menu that reflects the stunning region of Far North Queensland, Nu Nu has us dreaming of swaying palm trees and endless sandy beaches.

This hotcake dish combines the best of tropical flavours with the comfort of plump and pillowy hotcakes. nunun.com.au @nununrestaurant

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Alpine & Juliette Strawberries, Sake Rice Cream & Green Almond, CUTLER & CO As Andrew McConnell's flagship fine dining restaurant, Cutler & Co reflects Andrew's passion for exceptional produce and memorable dining experiences. Colin Mainds, Head Chef explains more about the Alpine strawberries from Ramarro Farm in the Dandenongs “The conversation about interesting premium organic fruits started with Oliver at Ramarro Farm about 4 years ago. I expressed great interest in using the best ingredients available to me together with what he was capable of growing and supplying. He asked me what I would like to see in the future to use on the menu and here we are 4 years later with Oliver now supplying these beauties to us at Cutler & Co. I commit to taking up to 50 to 60% of his crop each year so that we can have a dish that centers around these strawberries on the menu as long as they are harvested. The berries are not easy for him to grow and pick as the labour is high and the shelf life low, but wow it is worth every bit of effort when you taste them" cutlerandco.com.au @cutlerandco Image:Jo Mcgann

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Dessert Hot Dog- Banh Mi Kem, HELLO AUNTIE

Known for its innovative spin on traditional Vietnamese flavours, the team from Hello Auntie restaurant, led by head chef and owner Cuong Nguyen, has created a "dessert hot dog" - Banh Mi Kem Nuoc Mam Caramen which features a malt custard semifreddo ‘hot dog’ with a brioche bun, whipped cream, fish sauce caramel and passionfruit to top it all off. hello-auntie.com.au @helloauntierestaurant

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DARRELL LEA IS NOW 100% PALM OIL FREE eat.live.escape

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Smoko Time!

Take a break with our Australian morning and afternoon tea classics.

RECIPES, STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY Jo O'Keefe

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moko is a great old Australian slang word that translates as a time for workers to take a short break to eat, smoke, use the bathroom and have a hot cup of tea or coffee.

The term originally sprouted into the Aussie language way back in the mid 1850s when Australian and New Zealand shearers would pop a billy on the fire and take a short break from their back breaking work, wipe the sweat from their brow and enjoy some simple hearty fare to fuel them up for the demanding day in the shearing shed ahead. The steam rising from the boiling of the billy signalled it was time for smoko, either around 10am for morning smoko or at 3pm for afternoon smoko.

The first authenticated tally of sheep shorn in a single day was 30 by Tome Merely back in 1835 and by 1892 a shearer by the name of Jack Howard in Queensland using hand blades managed a grand total of 321 sheep. I’m imagining he’d have said by mid-morning “thank god it’s smoko...I’m famished!”

Now into the 21st century there are new techniques and inventions but shearing is still the best and most common way to harvest wool from the sheep’s back. The Aussie shearer remains part of the Australian culture and hopefully the welcome call of “let’s have smoko!’ will continue to ring out on farms across the country for a long time yet.

Here’s some Smoko recipes that can be eaten at any time of the day, they’re either uniquely Australian or have an Aussie twist. Some are still traditionally served at smoko in shearing sheds and some are my fancier versions using our great Australian produce.

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Kangaroo and Pork Sausage Rolls (Makes 20) Ingredients 4 frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed 500 grams kangaroo mince 400 grams pork mince 1 grated carrot 1 grated zucchini 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs or oats Salt & pepper 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, parsley or basil 1 tbsp beetroot relish or tomato relish ( store brought or homemade) 1 egg beaten with 1/4 cup water for brushing Black sesame seeds for sprinkling Method 1.

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).

2.

Mix meat, eggs, vegetables, herbs and seasonings, relish and breadcrumbs in a bowl with wet hands working together until mixed well.

3.

Cut each pastry sheet in half and put 1/8 of the mixture along the long side of each piece like a long sausage shape. Roll up tight and cut into desired sausage roll size. Place onto a tray lined with baking paper.

4.

Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.

5.

Bake until brown on top and cooked on the bottom (approx.20 mins).

Cool on wire rack or serve immediately. These rolls are uitable to freeze.

6.

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Serve with a good quality beetroot or tomato relish.

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eat *ele Top Tip* If you prefer a savoury scone, swap the lemonade for soda water, add in some dried herbs and top with grated cheese before baking. Serve warm with butter.

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Easy Scones

A simple and versatile three ingredient scone recipe perfect topped with jam and whipped cream.

Ingredients

Method

3 cups self-raising flour 1 cup thickened cream 1 cup of lemonade

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Preaheat oven to 200C (390F).

Place flour into your mixing bowl.

Add in the cream and lemonade and mix to combine.

The mix is sticky, but with floured hands work it quickly and shape into a rectangle, flattening it with your hand until it is approximately 3cm thick.

Cut out with a scone cutter, a glass or even cut into squares.

Place scones onto a tray lined with baking paper so they just touch.

Brush with a little extra cream and bake until golden brown (approx. 12-14 minutes).

Wrap in a clean tea towel to keep warm and serve with a bowl of whipped cream and raspberry or blackberry jam.

These scones are best eaten fresh, however they will also freeze well.

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*ele Top Tip* For a pastry-less dish, pour the hot meat into a baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Bake in oven until golden.

Country Rabbit or Chicken Pies

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Country Rabbit or Chicken Pies (Makes 12 Pies) I love a good rabbit pie but if rabbits are not to your taste or readily available a great chicken pie is just as terrific. These are small smoko size pies but you can choose to make a family size pie which is less work and presents beautifully for a family dinner.

Ingredients 600 grams of rabbit meat or chicken thigh meat 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 carrot, diced 1 stick of celery, diced 1 small bunch fresh thyme 1 brown onion, diced 1/2 cup plain flour Salt and pepper 1 tbsp grain mustard 1/2 cup white wine 3 bay leaves 4 tbsps olive oil 50 gms butter (optional) Water (as required) 5 x puff pastry sheets, thawed 1 egg whisked with two tablespoons of water for brushing the pastry.

Optional extras: sliced mushrooms, green beans or cooked bacon pieces.

Method 1. Fry onion and garlic in half of the olive oil for 1-2 minutes and then add in carrot and celery. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. Dust the meat with flour and shallow fry using the remaining oil and butter (optional) until browned. Add the cooked vegetables back into the pan and mix through the remaining plain flour before deglazing with wine. You may need to add a little water to make your gravy at this stage.

3. Stir through the mustard and add in the thyme and bay leaves.

4. Put the mix into a slow cooker and cook for three hours on high. If you dont have a slow cooker, continue to cook on low on the stove top for 40-50 minutes. Remove the thyme bunch and bay leaves and allow meat to cool.

5. Cut puff pastry sheets to fit in a greased muffin or cupcake tin and then spoon in the cold filling. Top with pastry for the lids.

Brush the bottom of the pastry lids with egg wash and lay on top of the pies, crimp the edges together. Brush the tops with more of the egg wash.

6. Bake in a hot oven 180C (350F) for approx.

20 minutes until pies are golden.

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eat Classic Lamingtons A unique and iconic Australian vanilla butter cake dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in coconut. Great at anytime of the year either filled with jam or plain.

Ingredients

For the cake squares 185 g (1 ¼ cup) plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 40g cornflour 200g unsalted butter, softened 230g (1 cup plus 1 tablespoon) caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 3 eggs 125 ml (½ cup) full cream milk For the chocolate icing 500g (3 cup) icing sugar, sifted 200g dark chocolate 15g (1 tbsp) unsalted butter 125 ml (½ cup) milk, plus more 325g dessicated coconut (shredded coconut) Did you know?

While the inventor of the lamington is still up for debate, Lamingtons originated in Queensland in the late 1800s and are thought to have been named after Lord or Lady Lamington.

Method For the cake 1. Make sure that the butter, eggs and milk are at room temperature.

2. Preheat the oven to 175C (350F) 3. Butter a 23x 23cm baking tin, and line the bottom with greaseproof paper.

4. Sift the flour, baking powder and cornflour into the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add the butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs and milk. Beat on low speed until all of the ingredients are incorporated. At this stage, the mixture might look a bit curdled. Increase the speed to high until the mixture has slightly increased in volume. You should have a thick, pale yellow mixture.

5. Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

6. Leave the cake in the tin to cool a little before turning out onto a wire rack to cool, with the bottom of the cake facing upwards to help level the cake. This cake is best made the day before you cut it up and ice it.

7. Using a serrated knife cut the sponge into bitesize squares.

For the chocolate icing 8. Melt the butter and chocolate over low heat in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.

9. Add the icing sugar and whisk in the milk until you have a thick but slightly runny mixture. The icing needs to be thick enough to coat the cakes, but runny enough to only leave a light coating.

To assemble 10. Pour the desiccated coconut onto a large plate.

11. Using two forks, dip a piece of sponge into the chocolate icing mixture, making sure that all sides are coated, and allow any excess icing to drip off.

12. Then roll the chocolate-coated sponge in the desiccated coconut, and place the lamington on a wire rack to dry.

13. Repeat with the remaining sponge pieces.

14. If the icing mixture becomes too thick, whisk in some milk to thin it out.

15. Let the lamingtons set on a wire rack for an hour to set 16. store in an airtight container they keep well - if you can stop yourself eating them, they are delicious!

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*ele Top Tip* You can add jam to these lamingtons, simply slice the butter cake horizontally through the middle and apply a layer of jam prior to icing and cutting the cake into squares.

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Authentic ANZAC Biscuits (Makes 15) Perfect for dunking into a hot cup of tea for smoko and traditionally baked on April 25 to commemorate Anzac Day and the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand.

Ingredients 1 cup of rolled oats 1 cup of plain flour 1 cup castor sugar 1 cup of desiccated coconut 125 grams butter 2 tbsp golden syrup 1 tsp baking soda 2 tbsp hot water Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 160C (320F).

2. Put flour, sugar, oats and coconut into a bowl.

3. Melt the butter and golden syrup in a saucepan.

4. Mix baking soda with water and add into melted butter mix, it will foam up. Pour over the flour and sugar mix and stir well.

5. With wet hands roll into walnut sized balls and place onto a paper lined tray flatten with a fork or bottom of a glass.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving.

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Store Beach, Sydney pg 72 Image: My Sydney Boat mysydneyboat.com.au

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Insta-fabulous

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Travel News

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50 Must-Visit Australian Destinations

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4 Iconic Australian Roadtrips

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e come from different parts of the world, Germany and Tunisia, that’s a small country in Northern Africa if anyone is wondering.

We met while working at the same resort in the Maldives and fell in love. After a year of working together in tropical paradise, we decided it was time for us to leave and pursue our life together.

We bought a oneway ticket to Australia and created @kobajourney (koba means where in Dhivehi, which is the Maldivian language). Combining our passion for travel, photography and videography, we set out to create inspirational and engaging content, with whom we hope to connect people to the places we visit and take them along on our adventures.

We are currently 8 months into our road trip around Australia and couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to do so. Sophie & Aymen, @kobajourney

INSTA-FABULOUS Inspiration from some of our favourite travel couple influencers on the ‘gram.

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fter a few years of working full-time city jobs in Sydney, we decided to take the leap, quit our jobs and set off to travel all of Australia in our home on wheels, Vance, a 1982 VW T3 van. Living life in the slow lane and getting to explore this beautiful country is something we never take for granted. We spend our days beach hopping, hiking, surfing, chatting to locals and capturing the ups and downs of life on the road through photography and videography. We are now one year into our travels and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon! @kendallbaggerly @glennferguson_ YouTube: Kendall and Glenn

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@katemeets

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e are Jess and Ryan a couple from South Australia, we love creating and sharing memories of our adventures, and that’s how we came to start @takeus_withyou. We both have always had a strong passion for travel and photography, so we pursued our dreams and are now lucky enough to call this work. We couldn’t be happier, creating content and getting creative makes our hearts sing. Inspiring others through our images & video is all we could ever wish for! To us that’s priceless. @takeus_withyou takeus-withyou.com

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SUNSET SCREENING Enjoy the sun going down and the stars coming out at the iconic North Sydney Oval as Sunset Cinema brings you the ultimate Australian film experience.

Running from January 28 to April 3, a comprehensive program of new releases, classics and kids favourites will be shown at a unique cinematic experience for the whole family. This season is set to be a showstopper with a bunch of fresh new releases, timeless classics and family favourites. So, whether you’re treating the kids, catching up with the girls or taking someone on a date to remember, there is something to delight everyone. Embrace your inner superhero with blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984, or prepare to be totally enthralled by Eric Bana’s performance in the gripping Australian thriller The Dry and let your spirits be lifted by the inspirational story of Penguin Bloom, just some of the films on offer. sunsetcinema.com.au @thesunsetcinema

HOLLYWOOD LUXE Thompson Hollywood, the luxury boutique hotel situated on Wilcox Avenue, near Hollywood and Vine is set to be unveiled in Spring 2021.Visitors and locals alike can enjoy its prime location within the heart of the Vinyl District, an avant-garde project developed by Relevant Group that is breathing new life into the city. Thompson Hollywood will be managed

by Hyatt and will join Hyatt’s guest loyalty program, World of Hyatt.

With stylish architecture and interior design led by Tara Bernerd & Partners, the hotel will boast 190 luxury guest rooms with 24 suites, and an ensemble of tailored amenities. Flanked by musical landmarks, boutiques, and an electrifying bar and dining scene, Thompson Hollywood will also reflect the musical roots and vibrancy of its historic locale indoors through a worldclass culinary, nightlife, and entertainment offering. The hotel will feature two immersive restaurants, 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a state-of-the-art fitness experience, and scenic views from the rooftop pool deck and lounge. ghup.co.uk winncollectiongroup.com

HEAD WEST In Perth, the arts are always high on the agenda and COMO offers the perfect cultural retreat. Stay at COMO The Treasury, which occupies a group of striking 19th century government buildings in the very heart of the vibrant city. Dine at the best restaurants in Perth, including worldclass Wildflower, after or before diving into a series of cultural events.

Fringe World Festival – the third largest in the world – showcases diverse performances in comedy, music and the arts from Western Australia and beyond, while the new Boola Bardip in the Western Australian Museum, exhibits the state’s rich cultural and natural heritage. comohotels.com

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travel news We round up the latest travel and hotel news.

Parrtjima – a Festival in Light returns to illuminate Alice Springs from 9-18 April 2021. One of Australia’s most exciting annual events in the Northern Territory’s stunning Red Centre boasts a fascinating program curated around a collection of mesmerising new light installations each year. The only Aboriginal light festival of its kind in the world, Parrtjima proudly brings to life the stories of Australia’s oldest living culture through the newest technology, music, storytelling and art. A major attraction is the lighting of the MacDonnell Ranges, which converts two kilometres of the ancient landscape into the world’s largest light canvas. Parrtjima is delivered by NT Major Events Company and produced

by Creative Directors AGB Events, who have once again engaged Rhoda Roberts AO as Parrtjima’s Curator. Together, they have developed the theme for next year’s Parrtjima - Future Kultcha - which focuses on intergenerational wisdom and celebrates the next generation through light art, music, performance, talks, digital, workshops and more. The 2021 program includes a raft of new offerings, such as the incredible new under-the-stars dining experience, Merne.

Pronounced mer-na, which loosely translates to ‘food’ in the local Arrernte language, Merne will take place on Saturday 10 April. This is an exclusive first for Parrtjima, and the bucket-list experience of 2021. parrtjimaaustralia.com.au

HIT REFRESH

Hilton Sydney has unveiled a $25 million renovation with all 587 of its guest rooms and suites having undergone extensive redesign and refurbishment. Comprised of 40 suites and 547 rooms, all feature brand new soft furnishings including carpets and curtains, plus European tapware, recliners, bedside lights and 55” Smart TV’s. After listening to guest needs, Hilton Sydney has added two new room types: the Corner Room and Family Room. The first offers two extra square meters and an extended view of the CBD’s spectacular skyline via an extra window. Family Rooms are made up of two connecting rooms, which can be purchased together for family travel ease. Hilton Sydney provides guests with a complement of services and amenities. This includes 587 guest rooms, 3,786 square meters of event space, an indoor swimming pool and a chef ’s hatted restaurant. hiltonsydney.com.au eat.live.escape

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Bitter Springs, NT pg 86 Image: Tourism NT/Jonathon Clayton

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Must-Visit Australian Destinations From the outback to the city and everything in-between, these are the 50 Australian destinations that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

WORDS Mia Cowling, Katie Skinner & Julie Skinner

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Sydney Harbour, NSW

No list of must-visit Australian destinations would be complete without the inclusion of Sydney Harbour. The majestic spires of the Opera House, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and the stunning blue waters that frame the city tops our list for the pure spectacular beauty of it all. Wander through the historic Rocks and enjoy the old-world atmosphere of the area or head across the bridge to harbourside suburb Kirribilli and look back on the beauty of this one-of-a kind city. We love to catch a ferry and explore the pretty suburbs that hug the coastline or walk up to the Sydney Observatory and enjoy the view of the stars as they settle over the twinkling city lights.

Image: Rijan Hamidovik

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The Great Ocean Road, VIC

A worldwide attraction, the Great Ocean Road is 234km of road that hugs one of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic coastlines. Start at Torquay and head west taking in the sites along the way - spot koalas lounging around in Kennett River, discover isolated beaches and pretty seaside towns, see the majestic sites of the 12 Apostles rock formations, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge before finishing up at Allansford.

Better still you can do a walking tour, which takes in 100km of coastline and starts at Apollo Bay. The 8-day hike on the beautiful coastal paths is one of the most rewarding ways to see this stunning part of the world.

Perth, WA

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One of the most isolated cities in the world and thousands of miles away from the East Coast, it may not have the sophistication of Melbourne or the glitz of Sydney but to miss this city would mean missing out on almost permanent blue skies, unspoilt beaches a temperate climate and a booming bar and art scene. The beauty of Perth lies in its 80km of natural coastline and beachside suburbs that serve up a slow paced coastal lifetsyle without missing out on any of the attractions a big city has to offer. Head to Cottlesloe or Scarborough Beach for people watching or take a day trip to stunning Rottnest Island (pg 58) and enjoy its 63 pristine beaches, snorkelling, surfing and the chance to see a Quakko, the cute mini marsupial the island is renowned for.

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Daylesford, VIC

The gem of Victoria’s spa country region, the town of Daylesford is the perfect escape from the city grind.

Wander around pretty Lake Daylesford, spend a relaxing afternoon soaking in the theraputic mineral waters of the nearby Hepburn Spa and Bathhouse or walk through the botanical gardens. There are plenty of excellent restaurants and wineries in town, make sure you stop for a mimosa and brunch at Cliffy’s or enjoy fine dining at the Lake House and Sault. Head out to the Lavendula Swiss Italian Farm for a rustic fragrance-filled experience and make sure you try the lavender scones. There is alot to do and see in this region so plan to spend a few days exploring everything on offer, including the nearby towns of Kyneton, Woodend and Trentham. Visit during autumn and winter when cosy open fires, hearty stews and therapeutic hot springs will restore cold-weary bodies and remind you that Australia isn’t all about beaches and the outback.

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Noosa, QLD

A Queensland institution, Nooo-sah, has been a go-to for southern holiday makers for decades. The resort style town is framed by the stunning Main Beach with its turquoise water and golden sand backed by cafes and shops. Wander along Hastings Street and enjoy boutiques, restaurants and cafes that wouldn’t be out of place in a big city or if nature is more your thing, explore the coastal tracks in the beautiful Noosa National Park - ocean views, native wildlife and nature will reward you. Noosaville, about a 5 minute drive from Hastings Street, should also be on your list, wander along Noosa River and enjoy the sheltered swimming spots.

The whole Sunshine Coast is a great region to explore, add the Glasshouse Mountain, Australia Zoo, Maleny and Maroochydore on to your itinerary. Our tip is to visit out of season, when the town quietens down a little and you can enjoy the delights without the crowds.

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Image Courtesy: Tourism and Events Queensland eat.live.escape

Image: Tourism Tasmania and Andrew Wilson

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Image: Jess Bonde

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Bruny Island, TAS

A southern foodie paradise off the coast of Tasmania, Bruny Island packs a seriously tasty punch. Located about 2 hours from the capital Hobart, the island is all about food experiences set in a stunning natural location on D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Oysters, crayfish, whiskey, wine and berries - eat your way around the island on a day trip or stay a few nights and spend a little more time to truly experience eveything it has to offer. With Antarctica being the next land mass to the south, come prepared for cool weather and getting cosy in front of log fires.

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Image: Adam Gibson

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Icebergs, Sydney

A Sydney icon, nothing says Bondi like a dip in the Icebergs Club pool followed by lunch at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. The pool blends seamlessly into the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, and makes for a dramatic way to start the day. For a true eastern suburbs experience, follow your dip with a 6km walk on the Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk or learn to surf at world famous Bondi Beach.

Image: Marley Clovelly

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Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

1614 square kilometres of national park with arguably Tassie’s most famous mountain at its peak, the Cradle Mountain region is truly spectacular and showcases the magnificence of Tasmania’s wilderness. Isolated, wild and a hiker’s paradise, summit to the top of the mountain (about a 6-7 hour hike), enjoy the natural serenity and marvel and just how incredible this island state is.

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Image: Pierre Destribats

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Rottnest Island, WA

Sitting just offshore from Perth, Rottnest Island is home to 63 beaches, excellent surf and of course the famous mini Marsupial, the Quokka. Packed full of natural beauty, the island is the perfect spot to snorkel, swim, fish, surf and dive. Underlying the sunshine and sparkling clear water is a tragic past which saw 3700 Aboroginal men incarcerated on the island throughout the 1800s. Our tip is to enjoy what the island has to offer but to also spend some time to find out more about the island’s history and importance to the Indigenous community.

Image: Tourism Western Australia

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Queen Victoria Markets, VIC

Perched on the edge of the CBD, the ‘Queen Vic’ markets cover 17 acres of prime city real estate and are the largest open air markets in the Southern Hemisphere.

Donuts, cheese, fresh produce, flowers, coffee, seafood, salami and souvenirs, no trip to Melbourne is complete without a visit to the markets to see the traders plying their delicious wares. Go hungry and leave full, enjoying all that multicultural Melbourne has to offer.

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Port Fairy, Victoria

Voted the world’s most livable town this historic gem on the south-west coast of Victoria deserves a place on this list dominated by some heavy hitting destinations. It has everything - a stunning coastline, wild ocean beaches, hidden coves, a food and coffee scene to rival the best, friendly locals and a pretty river flowing through its centre. Watch surfers take on local surfing spot, ‘The Passage’, spot whales frolicking in the Southern Ocean in late winter, see shearwater birds nesting on Griffiths Island or take a boat trip out to Lady Julia Island to see the colony of seals sunning themselves on the island’s rocks.

Port Fairy combines the best of lifestyle with natural beauty that will make you reconsider your busy city life for a life by the sea.

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Cabarita Beach, NSW

Just 20 minutes from the Gold Coast airport you’ll find the Tweed Coast village of Cabarita Beach. More laid back than the more well known tourist spots of the Gold Coast and Byron Bay, Caba, as it’s known to the locals, ticks all the boxes for a relaxing holiday on one of Australia’s best beaches.

Aside from the crystal waters and golden sands of the beaches, Norries Headland gives you a majestic place to walk or picnic with 360 degree views over the Pacific Ocean and west towards Mt. Warning. If you have your 4 legged friends with you, take them for a run along the dog friendly beach south of the headland. Your foodie requirements are well catered for from casual to chefs hatted. Stay at Halcyon House and dine at the hatted restaurant, Paper Daisy, for a luxurious experience or come barefoot straight from the beach for a delicious egg and bacon roll and the best coffee in town at Caba Social, Seaside fish and chips from the Stunned Mullet never fails to please. There are plenty of interesting places to explore in the area surrounding Cabarita including Fingal Head and Dreamtime Beach, Casaurina, Pottsville, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, the list goes on.

eat.live.escape Image: Destination NSW

Image: Destination NSW

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Melbourne CBD, VIC

No one can deny that Melbourne is the hippest and most elegant of Australia’s cities and its thriving laneway culture is testament to that. Whether it is the beauty of the ‘Paris End’ of Collins Street, grafitti art of Hosier Lane, the restaurants and cafes of Degraves Street, Centre Place and Hardware Lane or the insta-photo opportunity at AC/DC Lane, there is something to be discovered all over the city. Do your research before you head out, restaurants and bars are hidden behind unassuming doors, little gems can be found all over the city and the coolest of the cool coffe shops are often squirrelled away in a hidden laneway location.

Image: Ray Reyes/Visit Victoria

14 Berry, NSW

The NSW south coast isn’t short of beautiful places to visit and Berry, the pretty town on the Shoalhaven Coast is one of the best. With its wonderful antiques and market, arts and crafts, excellent cafe and food options and proximity to the stunning coastline a visit to this region will have you thinking about packing your bags for a more permanent move to the countryside by the sea.

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Image: Ray Reyes/Visit Victoria

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Beechworth, Victoria

This gold rush town in Victoria’s north is home to beautifully preserved historic buildings, speciality shops, restaurants and the sweetest lolly store. The Beechworth Brewery is a must-visit (try the pretzels!) but what makes Beechworth a perfect country destination is not only the prettiness of the town itself but its proximity to some great walking spots and winery regions including Rutherglen and Milawa. There are plenty of antique stores to explore and cafes to visit. Try the Beechworth Bakery for a delicious home baked pie and Beechworth Honey for 100% Australian honey and all things related to this sweet, golden nectar.

Image: Rob Blackburn/Visit Victoria

Image: Rob Blackburn/Visit Victoria

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Hobart, Tasmania

Tasmania has enjoyed somthing of a renaissance with visitors from the mainland finally understanding just how much the isoltaed state has to offer. Its enviable island position, abundant natural beauty and food scene make the whole island a ‘must-visit’. Hobart is a standout, with its big country town feel, pretty harbour area and the famous Salamanca markets showcasing the best of local produce and products. A visit to this island city should be on everyone’s list. The beauty about Hobart is that it is in reach of some of the most spectaular natural regions of the State meaning it is a perfect spot to base yourself on your Tassie stay.

Image: Alastair Bett

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Mount Macedon, VIC

Originally the summer escape for Melbourne’s elite, Mount Macedon is a cool mountain gem unlike any other in Australia. Surrounded by natural beauty, excellent wineries, pretty towns and some of the most spectacular changing Autumn leaves in Australia, this elegant country escape is under an hour from Melbourne, yet is another world entirely. Extravagant large private estates, 19th century gardens and snowfalls that turn the landscape into a winter wonderland, Mount MacedonVictoria. Made Daylesford, wouldn’t be out of place in the heart of famous by the fanmous Picnic Europe. Every season brings such beauty, but in Autumn it at really shines. VisitRock the openbook and Hanging gardens of Tieve Tara and Forest Glade or series,main theroadThe simply drive the winding up the rosk iteself mountain and view the spectacular autumn sits between the pictureesque show. Want to defy physics and see your car of hillWoodend and roll up hill? Findvillage Anti-Gravity on Straws Lane and see what all of the fuss is about.

Mount macedon, making it a

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Cape Byron Lighthouse, NSW

No matter what you think about celebrity haven Byron Bay itself, there is no denying that it is located on a beautiful slice of the northern NSW coast. The Cape Byron Lighthouse, built at the turn of the 19th century, is an east coast icon that sits majestically above the sea and has been guiding ships safely along the coast for hunders of years. On our visit we spotted a specatular and unexpected whale and dolphin show as they frolicked in the sea. Unmissable.

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Image: Destination NSW

Image: Destination NSW

Lord Howe Island, NSW

Towering cliffs, crystal clear water, sandy beaches and an ‘effort to get to destination’ make Lord Howe one of our favourite island picks in the country. Located in the Tasman Sea about two hours from Sydney and Brisbane by plane, Lord Howe is just 11 km long and 2.8 km wide. Life on the island is slow and peaceful with many of the modern day stresses ceasing to exist in this paradise. Capella Lodge is one of the island’s standout 5 star accommodation properties, however other options on the island means there is something to suit most budgets.

Cliff face walking trails including the guided 14 kilometre hike to the summit of Mount Gower is a must for outdoor lovers. The true beauty of this island is just how much of an escape it is from every day life. A few weeks on Lord Howe will have you feeling like a true castaway.

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Wilson Island, QLD

Dreaming of a secluded coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef ? Look no further than beautiful Wilson Island.

Located off the coast of Gladstone, Wilson Island is an adults-only experience, offering true peace and tranquillity amongst the stunning natural beauty of the The Great Barrier Reef. If you want to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can book the entire island t0 yourself and guarantee your own slice of island privacy. The island is also super low tech with no TV or phones, making it the perfect place to fully unwind from modern life. Snorkel, swim, or simply laze in a hammock and soak up the beauty of a hidden island escape.

Image Courtesy: Tourism and Events Queensland

21 Uluru, NT

Majestic, iconic, historic and dramatic, Uluru is one of the most recognisable natural locations in the country. The red centre heart of Australia, the sandstone pre-historic rock is thought to have started formation about 550 million years ago. Located within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru is 450km away from the nearest large town Alice Springs. It is a sacred site to Indigenous Australians and of great importance to the historic culture of Australia. Stay at Longitude 131 for a luxury glamping experience and witness the setting sun on the rock for a truly moving experience.

Image: Emma Hodgson

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22 Horizontal Falls, Kimberley WA

Nicknamed the ‘Horries’ by locals, the Horizontal Falls in the Kimberly region of WA are a natural phenonemon where tidal flows cause waterfalls to flow horizontally through two narrow gorges. It truly is a spectacular natural experience but don’t just listen to us, David Attenborough has described the falls as ‘one of the greatest wonders of the natural world’. Intriguing, beautiful and a ‘not-to-be missed’ WA experience.

King Island, TAS

Cheese, lobster, beef and pristine water. Kind Island, located in Bass Strait between Tasmania and Victoria, is a laid-back cool island escape. Surfers come here for one of the world’s best surf breaks and golfer’s for one of the top golf courses in the country. The weather is wild and untamed and the island is a foodie paradise, our tip is to book accommodation with ocean views and soak up all that this island has to offer.

Image: Luke Tscharke

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Currumbin Beach & Valley, QLD

Visiting the Gold Coast? Take the opportunity to stay at Currumbin Beach, a mere 10 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport. This jewel of a beachside suburb is packed with things to do so you can be as active or as tranquil as you please. Swim in the dazzling crystal clear waters of the patrolled beach or inlet, surf the Alley, kayak or SUP the calm waters of Currumbin Creek or learn to surf at the Currumbin Alley Surf School. When you need a break from the water, eat at Vikings Surf Club next to Elephant Rock or at one of the delightful beach cafes along Pacific Parade. Whilst there, climb Elephant Rock for a breathtaking view of the Coast. Visits to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctury and Surf Museum, Currumbin Rock Pools, Sanctury Night Markets and September’s Swell Sculpture Exhibition are all a must do. This is an amazing, naturally beautiful and diverse area you will want to visit again and again.

Image Courtesy: Tourism and Events Queensland

25 Hahndorf, SA

An aesthetically dreamlike Germanstyle village, located just 25 minutes from Adelaide, the storybook town of Handhorf is a must-visit on any SA trip.

Artisnal food and shops, great pubs and cafes and a location in the heart of the Adelaide Hills wine region, Hahndof serves up a delicious serve of sweetness.

100 year old elms and plane trees line the streets accenting the restored Fachwerk buildings. Try the local beer on offer before wandering through the main street taking in the beautiful old buildings and historic atmosphere.

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Metung, Victoria

A pretty boating and fishing town located in the heart of the Gippsland Lakes, Metung is a picturesque location that is far enough off the beaten track to be truly relaxing. The village is located on the curve of pretty Bancroft Bay and edges Lake King. It is a water sports paradise and a great location to be based to explore all that the Gippsland Lakes area has to offer.

Hire a boat and head to the Barrier Landing for access to the pristine Ninety Mile Beach or head over to another pretty lakeside town, Paynesville for fish and chips and a wander around Raymond Island to spot native koalas.

The area is all about boating, fishing, swimming and enjoying the calm waters, inlet coves and hidden secrets of the lakes region.

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Mollymook, NSW

Three hours south of Sydney, Mollymook has become a getaway for those seeking a peaceful haven with all the trimmings. With some of the most spectacular beaches in Australia and easy access to places such as Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay and Milton, Mollymook is the ideal place to base yourself. Book into Bannisters by the Sea and watch whales frolic from your balcony then finish the night with a sumptuous dinner at Rick Stein’s iconic seafood restaurant. For coffee aficionados, Native in Ulladulla is a must.

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Barron Falls, QLD

The Barron Falls on the Barron River in Queensland are a wet season sight to behold. Standing at 125 metres tall these incredible natural waterfalls are some of the most incredible in Australia. In the 1890s the falls were one of Queensland’s most popular tourist attractions and their natural beauty has not diminished over 130 years later. The trick is to visit at the height of the rainy season, for much of the rest of the year the falls are barely a trickle.

Tropical Far North Queensland There is so miuch natural beauty in Far North Queensland, we asked Trent Ellen, Partnerships & Contracting Manager FNQ at Luxury Escapes for his tips on this beautiful region.

Tropical North Queensland is an incredibly diverse region, with lush rainforests, crystal clear waterfalls, white sandy beaches, glamorous seaside villages and charming country towns, there’s a perfect holiday for everyone. Recent data from Luxury Escapes Travel Trends 2021 report revealed that Tropical North Queensland is the number 1 destination that Australians want to visit in 2021.

The vibrant and tropical hub of Cairns is the perfect jumping off point for a Far North Queensland adventure. With Fitzroy Island and Green Island just a stone's throw away, start the day snorkeling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef and finish with a happy hour cocktail by the hotel pool.

If luxury is what you’re after, Port Douglas is certainly a highlight. This tiny enclave in Tropical North Queensland is the region's original resort town and the place to go for the ultimate relaxing, yet glamorous, holiday.

The rainforest meets the sea at the world’s oldest tropical rainforest (estimated to be around 180 million years old), the Daintree National Forest. With crystalline waters and verdant landscapes, this is the only place in the world where dual World Heritage areas collide, with the forest meeting the Great Barrier Reef, it’s simply a must-see.

Visit the stunning Atherton Tablelands to experience the widest single-drop waterfall in the country, hike along Misty Mountains walking trails, swim in a volcanic crater lake and taste delicious local produce at the region's weekly farmers markets.

There’s something for everyone in Tropical North Queensland, visit luxuryescapes.com to book your next holiday.

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Palm Cove, QLD

Swaying palm tress, aquamarine water and a tropical northern climate, it is no wonder that relaxing Palm Cove attracts visitors from all over world. It is laidback, casual and relaxed and has the feel of an Pacific island escape while only being 30 minutes north of Cairns.

It is also a well located spot to base yourself to enjoy all that is on offer in the region, from the thriving Port Douglas, beautiful Mossman Gorge, the Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation and the Great Barrier Reef. Feel like a more relaxing break? Simply laze by the pool or beach marvelling that such rich beauty exists in the world.

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Bridestowe Lavender Estate, TAS

Transport yourself to Provence amongst the fields of lavender at Tasmania’s Bridestowe Lavender Estate. The estate was originally created when Londoner CK Denny migrated to Tasmania in 1921 with a packet of lavender seeds from the southern French Alps. Since then it has gone on to be one of the largest lavender farms in the country. Wander through the purple fields inhaling the heavenly scent, but be sure to visit in December and January if you want to see the flowers in full bloom.

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Kangaroo Island, SA

Following recent devastating bushfires. Kangaroo Island or, KI to the locals, is rebuilding and rejuvenating, Rugged coastlines, crystal clear water, abundant native wildlife and delicuous local food, KI is one of our favourite island southern island escapes. From 5 star lodgings to glamping and beachfront houses, ther is an accommodation option for everyone. Our advise is to choose somewhere a little remote and enjoy the stunning peace and privacy that being on an island at the bottom of the world brings.

South Australian Tourism Commission Image: Meaghan Coles

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Store Beach, NSW

Store Beach lies within Sydney Harbour National Park on North Head near Manly, but it is only accessible by water which means it is usually deserted apart from weekends where you might find some local boaties moored up, or the occasional kayaker. We asked My Sydney Boat founder, Mark Dagleish about this hidden secret.

“Arriving at Store Beach is like stepping back in time thousands of years ago when local Indigenous Australians fished and collected local rock oysters, which are still in abundance and very tasty! There’s a small rainforest and some incredible rock formations with inscriptions dating back to the early settlers, some of whom were quarantined at Store Beach in the mid 1800s. It’s also home to NSW’s only colony of Little Penguins, who sleep in burrows here at night and spend the day out in the harbour and ocean. It’s the perfect place to take our guests to see a truly unique and special part of Sydney and there’s nowhere better to swim and snorkel in safe and pristine waters, or we’ll give them a gourmet picnic basket and bottle of bubbly to enjoy a private picnic on the beach.”

If you don’t own a boat to get there then you can take a kayak from Manly or try My Sydney Boat, Sydney’s only charter operator able to land right on the beach. mysydneyboat.com.au

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The Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Warm waters, calming sea breezes and an archipeligo of jewel-like islands amongst the stunning blue sea, the Whitsunday Islands are like no other part of Australia. Most of the 74 islands are unihabited, with luxurious resorts and family focused stays available of the main islands of Hayman, Hamilton and Daydream. Hiring a yacht and crusing the islands, stopping to snorkel and swim the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most lovliest way to spend a holiday in the region. Or head out by seaplane or helicopter to the aptly named Heart Reef and witness the beautiful heart shaped coral reef from the air. Whether you are travelling with family, as a couple or solo there is something for everyone in the Whitsundays, just make sure you take enough time to explore these truly unique and beautiful islands.

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Wineglass Bay, TAS

One of the jewels in the Tasmanian crown, Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula is a must-vitit on any Tassie itinerary. A powder white beach, framed by national park with sparkling azure water, hiking down to the Bay is a breathtaking experience. The entire region has so much to offer, from the pink granite mountains to the Friendly Beaches north of Coles Bay, it is a hikers and nature lovers paradise. For the adventurous try the 30km Freycinet Peninsula Circuit climb, pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

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Blue Mountains, NSW

Rugged cliff faces, dramatic scenery, pretty villages and majestic waterfalls, the Blue Mountains, 1 hour east of Sydney, are a part of Australia that shouldn’t be missed. With natural sites such as the Three Sisters, Jenolan Caves and the Grand Canyon, the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains region is undeniable, and combined with the pretty towns of Leura and Katoomba there is more than enough to keep you entertained for an extra, extra long weekend. Bushwalking, art gallery visits, delicious afternoon tea and dining and wine tours are just some of the delights on offer. Accommodation is plentiful from the luxurious Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley (pictured) to scenic camp spots, every type of traveller is catered for.

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36 Ningaloo Reef, WA

Incredible natural beauty, 500 species of tropical fish and giant but gentle whale sharks, true nature lovers should head to world heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park at least once in their lifetime. With the cheeky title of Humpback Highway, if you time your visit at the right time of year (July to October) you will be rewarded with the chance to swim with the whales. At all times of the year though, you can see manta rays, dugongs, dolphins and tropical fish. It truly is a spectacular slice of Australian nature that reaffirms what it is to be alive.

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Mount Buffalo, VIC

Hikers rejoice, this striking mountain in Victoria’s High Country is a walker’s paradise. Don’t miss the Eurobin Falls Track (1.5km), The Ladies Bath Falls and Crystal Creek or if you are feeling a little more adventurous attempt the The Big Walk, an 11.3km hike that takes you up the mountain and will test even the serious walker. Once you are at the top, watch the paragliders and hand gliders take off over the stunning valley or visit the historic abondoned chalet that is like somenthing out of a movie scene. In winter come prepared for a snowy white wonderland. In summer you can fish, swim and canoe on Lake Catani. Nearby is beautful Bright, with the sparkling Owens River running through it, a great brewery, cafe and shops. Mount Beauty, Falls Creek and Mount Bogong are all in the region so take your time and enjoy all that it has to offer.

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Esperance, WA

Home to one of Australia’s and indeed the world’s best beaches, the beautiful coast in the Esperance region of Western Australia is home to wide bays, crystal clear waters and stunning national parks. Blue Haven, West Beach and nearby Lucky Bay shouldn’t be missed, the dreamy white sands are almost too perfect to be believed (Lucky Bay reportedly has Australia’s whitest sand, though this is up for hot debate!). Whether you are after surf waves or calm waters there is something for every ocean and nature lover in Esperance.

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West MacDonnell Ranges, NT

About 1 hour west of Alice Springs you will find the stunning West MacDonnell Ranges.

If bush walking is your thing, you will enjoy hiking to picturesque spots such as Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ochre Pits and Ormiston Gorge, a few of the destinations along the 223 kilometre trail. A visit to these ranges will not be complete without a visit to Ellery Creek Big Hole. With the sun shining on the stunning cliff faces and rock formations it is easy to see why this area is renowned as a Red Centre must visit. Finish off with a refreshing swim in the creek after a hike.

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Town of 1770, QLD

Sleepy best describes the Town of 1770 but do not mistake this for boring. Seeped in history (Captain Cook famously landed here in May 1770), with pristine waterways, this largely untouched paradise is great for those looking for a low key, no fuss break.

Great for camping, four wheel driving and deep-sea fishing, there’s plenty to do. It’s well worth the near six hour drive north of Brisbane, and the perfect stop when road tripping up the east coast of Queensland.

41 Mt Gambier, SA

A lake that changes colour with the seasons, a hidden garden in a sinkhole, 800+ limestone caves and a full sized replica 18th-century ship, Mount Gambier is a natural wonderland to behold. The region is in the southeast corner of South Australia, about 377km from the capital Adelaide, and is known for its volcanic landscape and crater lakes. Don’t miss the Umpherston Sinkhole, a sunken modern day Garden of Eden. At dusk, the possum colony living in the gardens come out to play and can be fed fresh fruit, or simply enjoy the wonder of the hanging vines, native and exotic vegetaion and ivy draped walls that are reminiscent of a fantasy world. Another spectacular natural attraction in Mount Gambier is Blue Lake which in the summer months turns the most stunning cobalt blue colour.

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Bermagui, NSW

The seaside town of Bermagui is situated on the south coast of New South Wales, a little jewel in the Sapphire Coast crown. Its known for its stunning beaches, abundance of fresh seafood and water sports.

Surfing, kayaking, fishing and swimming opportunities abound. Night snorkelling at the ocean pool, Blue Pool is a must. For a little town the food and coffee choices pack a punch. Visit Honorbread bakery (make it a Friday when they sell their range of delicious bagels) or pop next door to Mister Hope and decide whether its coffee or gin that tickles your fancy.

Image: Destination NSW

Image: Destination NSW

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Broome, WA

Perched on the Indian Ocean, in the far north west of the country, Broome is isolated, remote and a world away from the hustle and bustle of the East Coast. Sunsets and camel rides on famous Cable Beach, endless deserted beaches, gleaming white pearls and a warm tropical climate, Broome is a must-visit WA destination. Eat fresh mangoes and smoked barramundi alongside an icy cold beer al fresco, under a canopy of scented frangiapani trees.

Image: Tourism Western Australia

44 Tathra, NSW

Located on the Sapphire Coast in southern New South Wales, Tathra’s natural beauty is rich is history and sea traditions. Fur seals and fairy penguins are likely to be your beach companions, alongside whale sharks and whales in the spring. Dolphins are also home in these waters and can be seen in most of the Tathra beach areas. Enjoy the local seafood, swim in the sheltered Mogareeka Inlet where the Bega River flows into the sea or launch a boat and head out into the sea to try your luck at fishing or catching fresh prawns. The area surrounding Tathra is also packed with plenty to do and see, with Batemans Bay, Eden, Merimbula, Narooma and Mallacoota all nearby.

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Orpheus Island, Qld

Traditional homeland of the Manbarra people, dreamy Orpheus Island off the Queensland coast is a diving and snorkelling paradise. The island is fringed by a reef that is home to clear turquoise waters, 1100 species of fish, and hard and soft corals. The island’s only resort Orpheus Island Lodge, is a laidback luxury escape and the perfect spot to fully unwind from the pressures of everyday life.

Image Courtesy: Tourism and Events Queensland

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46 Robe, SA

A fishing port on South Australia’s Limestone Coast and one of the state’s oldest towns, Robe is one of the most historic seaside spots in the south of the country. With a population of just under 1000, this tiny town swells in size in the peak holiday periods when Adelaideites and Melbournians seek out a seaside summer escape. In true ‘fishing-villagecome-tourist-town’, Robe’s appeal lies in its remoteness, its location on the wild Limestone Coast, and its feeling of stepping back in time to a simpler holiday destination when all you needed was the beach, an ice-cream and a great fish and chip shop.

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Mudgee, NSW

Perfect for a weekend escape filled with great food, excellent local wine and beautiful countryside, Mudgee on the mid-NSW coast, is a food and wine lovers paradise. Spend your days wine tasting at cellar doors, shopping in the local boutiques and dining at restaurants that are worthy of a city address. Come for a cosy escape in the winter with its cool frosty mornings and cosy evenings by the fire, or in summer when you can picnic on the Cudgegong River enjoying local wine and produce.

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Jervis Bay, NSW

102 square kilometres of ocean bay, and some of the whitest powder sand in the world, Jervis Bay is a southern NSW paradise. With relatively shallow water and sandy bays, it has some of the safest swimming spots in the country. Hyams Beach, Huskisson Beach and Pebbly Beach are all great spots to spend a day lazing oceanside.

If you are lucky you may get a chance to swim with the humpback whales or experience the bioluminescence ‘sea sparkles’ formed by a microscopic algae that makes the ocean glow blue in the dark of the night.

Image: Destination NSW

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Tiwi Islands, NT

80km north of Darwin lie the archipeligo of inhabited and unihabited Tiwi Islands. Melville and Bathurst are the main inhabited islands and are home to the Tiwi Aboriginal people. Visiting the islands is a cultural experience that should be on your Top End to-do list.

View traditional local art and learn more about the island and its history. Tourism is restricted so you will need to join a day tour in order to visit the Tiwis.

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50 Mataranka, NT

Warm thermal springs set amongst lush tropical palms and vegetation, Elsey National Park and one of Australia’s most enduring outback tales, We of the Never Never, Mataranka is beautiful and remote and . Mataranka is south of Katherine and tourists stop to bathe in the crystal clear waters of the thermal pools and Bitter Springs which are a naturally heated to a perfect 34 degrees Celcius year round. The other worldy beauty of this spot summs up just how magical Australia really is.

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Women’s Hairstring Dreaming by Alison Multa Alison Multa was born in Alice Springs and moved with her mother back to her Country, 200km west of Haasts Bluff. Alison's home Country is in and around the Cleland Hills. This is sand-hill country beyond the West MacDonnell Ranges, and a permanent dwelling at Brown's Bore allowed Alison to renew her connections with the land. Rather than limit herself to telling personal stories, she likes to experiment with styles and textures as she takes in the broader sweep of desert life, its changing moods and Aboriginal connection to the landscape.

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Four Iconic Australian Roadtrips Traversing the 7.7 million square kilometre Aussie landscape by car or campervan is a right of passage for the adventure traveler and with such diverse landscapes to explore, like the Outback, the Reef, World Heritage-Listed rainforests, waterfalls and dramatic coastlines, this is your opportunity to make memories that are certain to last long after the ignition has been turned off.

WORDS Melinda Healy

Image: Tourism Western Australia

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The Great Ocean Road, Victoria Considered one of Australia’s most popular routes, the Great Ocean Road starts about 90 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. Spanning 400kms it stretches from the town of Torquay to the South Australian border town of Nelson. Attracting as many as 2.8 million tourists a year, this drive is all about the dramatic south-west coastline. Late summer is the best time to travel this stretch, as it is still warm and the conditions are more settled. Peak tourist season is December through to February.

Distance Anywhere between one and seven days, depending on how much stopping you plan on doing along the way.

What you’ll see Whether you’re a beach bum or more of a village hopper, there’s plenty to see on this stretch of coastline. Stop and have a dip in the ocean at Bells Beach (famous for its world-renowned Easter Classic surfing competition) or get amongst the arts community in Lorne. The biggest drawcard though is the 12 Apostles - the cluster of limestone stacks in the ocean off Port Campbell National Park, you’ll need your camera for those. Make time to visit the fishermen’s co-op at Apollo Bay for some of the best fish and chips around before heading south. Cape Otway marks the spot where the Southern Ocean meets Bass Strait. The Cape Otway Lightstation is a must-visit too, as it is Australia’s most important lighthouse and a picture-perfect landmark.

What to pack A wind jacket is a staple on this trip, as is a good camera and your bathers. A picnic rug is a good idea too.

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The Red Centre Way, Northern Territory Climbing Uluru is no longer possible and protection and respect of this important Australian icon is critical, but that doesn’t mean that the iconic sandstone monolith is out of bounds altogether, in fact quite the opposite. It should be a pivotal part of your next Outback road trip. On this wide open stretch not only will you experience the ancient ochre hues the Red Centre is renowned for, but you’ll enjoy open skies blanketed with stars and iconic landmarks at every turn. Drone enthusiasts will have an incredible canvas for their road trip footage thanks to the red desert sands, gigantic gorges and nature walks.

Distance The 1,135-kilometre Red Centre Way loop starts and finishes in Alice Springs and is best undertaken over a six-day period.

What you’ll see This incredible road trip takes you through the West MacDonnell Range National Park, which is home to plenty of water holes including Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Redbank Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge and the 223 kilometre Larapinta Walking Trail if you want to leave the car behind for a bit. You’ll head out to the 140 million-year-old Tnorala comet crater, which has some fascinating cultural history, then beyond that, you’ll be mesmerised by Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Watarrka National Park, which is home to Kings Canyon - the iconic three-hour rim walk is a must-do here and best tackled at sunrise before the heat of the day kicks in.

What to pack Good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellant and a drone if you own one, the landscape out here is brilliant.

Image: Tourism NT, Kyle Hunter & Hayley Anderson

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The Coral Coast Highway, Western Australia Gorges, whales sharks, and pink lakes are all on offer when you cruise this stretch of the Western Australian coastline that hugs the Indian Ocean.

Winding its way north from Perth to Ningaloo Reef at Exmouth or in reverse from Exmouth back to Perth, this road trip promises so much and delivers at just about every turn. Given that WA covers almost the entire western third of Australia, the contrast in the landscape is just a part of the picturesque appeal of this adventure.

Distance From start to finish the Coral Coast Highway stretches for 1,250kms.

What you’ll see The first 400 or so kilometres takes you through the coastal townships of Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green Head, Leeman, Dongara, Port Denison and Greenough. Of these, Cervantes is the gateway to the Pinnacles Desert, one of the country’s most unique landscapes, host to thousands of limestone spires that can be experienced by car or foot. Jurien Bay, on the other hand, is more aquatic and boasts some residents you should definitely meet and even frolic in the water with - a family of fun-loving sea lions. The Pink Lake at Hutt Lagoon, Port Gregory, is an Instagrammable stop and can be best seen from the air, while further on, Kalbarri National Park’s Nature’s Window is the icing on the cake when it comes to framing your trip pictorially. The final leg takes in Monkey Mia (renowned for its dolphin community) and Exmouth, which is the final stop and all about the whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.

What to pack Bathers are a must, as are good walking shoes, a good camera, a hat, sunscreen and plenty of adventurous spirit.

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The Nullarbor, South Australia Stretching from the southern extremity of Australia between the Western Australian goldfields and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, this is perhaps not your typical roadie but it does promise plenty of adventure and interesting sightings, including camels, caves and jagged peaks and is something of a summer tradition for many Australians. If you’re planning to off-road, and you probably should, you’ll need a four-wheel-drive for this trip. The route from Ceduna in South Australia (the unofficial start and finish point) to Norseman in Western Australia, along the Eyre Highway, is bitumen. It’s advised not to drive at night due to the number of native wildlife on the move at dusk. The peak season for travel is during the Australian winter as temperatures are cooler.

Distance The journey from Melbourne to Perth is about 3,500 kilometres; from Sydney to Perth around 4,000kms. Port Augusta and the Eyre Highway is the proper start point though, and it’s 300kms from Adelaide.

What you’ll see The longest, flattest stretch of road in Australia offers a lot of nothingness between towns that are 200km or so apart. You will come across roadhouses, caravan parks, beaches with not many people and more wildlife than you can poke a stick at - emus, wombats, dingoes, wedge-tailed eagles and kangaroos are active out here. Before setting off from Ceduna, tuck into a seafood lunch, the oysters are particularly good. Meanwhile, as you journey across the Nullarbor be sure to stop at the Balladonia roadhouse, which has a museum attached and boasts debris from NASA’s Skylab that landed nearby, historical documents from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and seashells dating back millions of years. Do some Southern Right Whale watching from the lookout at the Head of the Bight Centre on the west coast (between Nullarbor and Border Town) between June and September and experience the world’s largest cave system at Koonalda and Murrawijinie Caves near the Nullarbor Roadhouse. If you’re a golf enthusiast, the 18-hole Nullarbor Links is spread over 1,300kms and is the longest course on the planet. The gold mining town of Kalgoorlie is a must-visit on this journey too and Lake Ballard is also worth a day trip.

What to pack Plenty of additional water, food and extra fuel. This part of Australia is no joke and you don’t want to get caught out. Some days you won’t see another vehicle.

Toyota’s 8 Vehicle Tips for Long Road Trips by Phil Gilbert Toyota 1.

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Oil levels - Make sure your oil level is topped up before you go anywhere. Park your car on a flat spot, pull out the dipstick and wipe it, then reinsert it, pull it back out and make sure the oil is where it should be.

Tyre pressure and tread - Driving with under or overinflated tyres could lead to unwanted knock-on effects such as issues with your braking, tracking and fuel efficiency. Make sure your tyres exceed the minimum tread depth of 1.6mm to ensure that your tyres can last your journey and use a pressure gauge to ensure your tyres match the recommended pressure.

Lights - Make sure all headlights and tail lights are in good working condition, and consider packing a spare bulb in your Toyota just in case a light burns out on the journey.

Horn - Your little ones can help you with this inspection; is the horn working?

Handbrake - To check your handbrake, apply the foot brake, release and then reapply the handbrake. Remove your foot from the foot brake, and if the vehicle remains stationary, everything should be okay.

Seatbelts - Make sure all seatbelts are present and working properly. Remember that the wearing of seatbelts is compulsory in Australia.

Windows - Examine your windshield to check it is clean and free of scratches - which can worsen and become chips if ignored. A dirty windshield, rear window or side windows can impede your visibility and produce glare. Use a window cleaning spray to get them clean and clear.Fluids. Running out of fluids on the road can be inconvenient at best, but could have disastrous consequences. Check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield fluid, and consider bringing a spare bottle with you.

Emergency kit - Consider taking a first aid kit for your family, as well as an emergency kit for your Toyota. This should include a torch, a blanket, a tyre gauge, jumper cables and basic tools.

Visit toyota.com.au to find the ultimate road trip vehicle for your journey. eat.live.escape

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South Australian Tourism Commission

lifestyle fashion 95 beauty 108 wellness 110 home 113

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Longmeadow Estate Pg 114

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ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY Leave the city behind and head out to the blissfully isolated Australian countryside.

PHOTOGRAPHY Jo O’Keefe

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ONCE WAS Mali Pleat Dress $349.95 oncewas.com.au @oncewas_ HAT, STYLIST”S OWN

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All That GLITTERS

SEED HERITAGE TEXTURED MAXI DRESS $159.95 seedheritage.com @seedheritage ROXY JACENKO ACCESSORIES CHUNKY GOLD BRACELET $25 roxyjacenko.com @roxyjacenko.accessories HAT, STYLIST”S OWN eat.live.escape

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SEED HERITAGE TEXTURED MAXI DRESS $159.95 seedheritage.com @seedheritage ROXY JACENKO ACCESSORIES CHUNKY GOLD BRACELET $25 roxyjacenko.com @roxyjacenko.accessories HAT, STYLIST”S OWN eat.live.escape

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SEED HERITAGE TEXTURED MAXI DRESS $159.95 seedheritage.com @seedheritage UGG EXPRESS AUSTRALIA TARRAMARRA BERA SLIDES uggexpress.com.au @ugg_express_australia HAT, STYLIST”S OWN PHOTOGRAPHER Jo O’Keefe @milosmlynarik STYLIST Shannon Meddings @stylemachine_ MODEL Georgia Murray LOCATION AT Victoria’s South-West

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Keep it light and cool with plenty of layers to be prepared on your Australian travels no matter what the weather.

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1.Cleonie Swim Bikini Separates cleonie.com 2. Bec & Bridge Susannah Midi Dress in Honey $179.95 becandbridge.com.au 3. Auguste the Label Emroidered Akira Mini Dress Amber $179 augustethelabel.com 4.

Jurlique Hand Lotion $39 jurlique.com 5.Oroton Quai Studs Gold $50 oroton.com 6. Rains Curve Jacket $200 rains.com 7.Oroton Mini Muse Mini Bowler Bag Cognac $369 oroton.com.au 8.Evo Hair Salty Dog Spray $36 evohair.com 9.Papinelle Cheetah Full Length PJ Set $99.95 papinelle.com 10.Mara & Mine Theresa Scrunchie Sandal Terracotta $425 maraandmine.com 11.S/W/F Romper $299 swfboutique.com 12.Palm Beach Coconut and Lime Scented Mini Candle $19.95 palmbeachcollection.com.au 13 Infamous Swim Tropicana Miranda One Piece $128 infamousswim.com. au 14 Brixton Wesley Straw Packable Fedora $79.95 brixton.com 15 Bohemian Traders Maxi Skirt $159.95 bohemiantraders.com

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10 AUSTRALIAN LABELS TO LOVE NOW Talent, style and substance, we chart ten of the hottest fashion labels on the Australian fashion scene.

WORDS Shannon Meddings

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s a personal stylist I will constantly scour the country to introduce my clients to brands I think they will love, so when the opportunity came up to showcase some of my favourite Australian designers who are creating beautiful collections that are not the usual high street go-tos I was beyond excited. The list of 10 designers below, I believe, are a standout, not only for the craftmanship that goes into their work but for their stories which make the pieces invested in something a little more special than the normal. These are the designers to watch and the designers bringing a uniqueness to your wardrobe that is both unexpected yet very stylish amongst the trends. I am also proud to say the brands listed below work in an incredibly sustainable and conscious way while maintaining both design and style. Enjoy this list, in no particular order, they truly are something special.

Gary Bigeni

Gary Bigeni has over 17 years’ experience working in the industry and is known for his own personal, eclectic style. Gary has built a reputation for masterful drape, intelligent silhouettes and artful use of colour, his once quiet colour palette now exudes the vibrance and joy of his own personality. Last year was the official shift to pre and made-to-order for Gary Bigeni, Gary will continue to release small capsule collections throughout the year and is taking into consideration customer feedback and requests with each capsule. All Gary Bigeni designs are hand manufactured in Australia using local artisans and sustainable fabrics. Gary’s designs are an absolute treat and bring fun into fashion in a very classic way

Local Supply

Local Supply was launched in 2013, with a vision to create the best quality and best value eyewear for everyone, everywhere. Local Supply are guided by the brand principles of Diversity, Sustainability, Design, Affordability and Community. Local Supply use only plantbased materials to produce their frames and use custom production methods that minimise waste and carbon emissions. Local Supply utilises a plant-based resin, sustainably sourced and produced resulting in 50% less carbon emissions.

Local Supply have also developed a custom injection moulding process that produces 10 x more frames per kg of raw material than traditional acetate production, this allows for more efficient and waste free production.

Designer Sean Satha has a background in engineering which drives the brand towards continuous improvement across design, production and manufacturing processes.

Their product mantra is “We believe everyone deserves to have nice things, and they

shouldn’t cost the earth. We minimise waste and unnecessary costs in order to supply exceptional products at less than half the price of our competitors”

Sarah J Curtis

Bringing together a love of summertime, travel, sun protection and quality craftsmanship, Sarah’s vision to create her signature styles, core collections and seasonal wide brim hats that look stylish and fabulous whilst offering maximum sun protection all year round. Celebrated for her unique take on the traditional Panama hat, Sarah works with the harvest of the raw material of the palm leaf buds of the Carludovica Palm Tree which is completely sustainable as only the ripe ones are taken without harming the mother plant.

Once in the workshop with Sarah each hat body is measured and prepared to be processed according to each specification Each hat is processed individually making sure every detail is looked after. The result is one-of-a-kind pieces of art that are ready for the most beautiful sunny days. With a scary encounter with sun melanoma Sarah is in her words “passionate about sharing the sun safe message and believes it is honestly not worth not protecting yourself ”.

to ‘hands’ in the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay language groups and works closely with Indigenous artists and creatives, drawing inspiration from Country to present within the context of contemporary fashion.

This stunning collection details an earthy palette showing a direct reflection of the Australian landscape featuring variations of Ochre Yellow, Ash, Sand and Red Earth. The ombre prints are reminiscent of rugged rock formations and sunset touching Country.

The use of billowing silhouettes, resort wrap styles and knotted details are combined with fringing and signature handwoven elements that pay homage to the brand’s core focus on artisanal craftsmanship. MAARA Collective use sustainable practices wherever possible and are on a continual journey to become more sustainable and make locally in Sydney, Australia. This collection is heaven on earth.

PJohnston

PJohnston have typically dressed men with their collections although also now provide their beautiful designs to women as well.

“Our goal has always been to help people dress better. We want to help women build their wardrobes using the same process and experience we have provided men for 11 years now” designers Patrick and Tamsin John say.

With a deep understanding of tailoring, they aim to help women feel strong and confident through a thoughtfully cultivated and atemporal approach to style and slow things down while taking great consideration with each piece. Patrick and Tamsin describe their design as a mix of classicism and individuality that takes advantage of Australia’s isolation which develops a more widely observed sense of style, particularly with respect to colour and that unique sense of ease and comfort associated with the Australian approach to life.

Their custom-tailored process allows them to minimise wastage by building very special and unique garments rather than crudely amassing inventory. These pieces will never fade in style.

MAARA Collective

MAARA Collective was founded in 2019 by Yuwaalaraay Creative Director Julie Shaw, to showcase and celebrate Indigenous art and fashion. The brand’s name MAARA Collective acknowledges and honours the ‘many hands’ involved in the creative and collaborative processes, where the word ‘MAARA’ refers eat.live.escape

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Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation. For those who like precision, Arnsdorf have a store in Melbourne where a personal stylist can tailor your piece to your body and help with the wardrobe you are building, also offering lifetime repairs on their garments you will always know where each piece was made, the people who made them and at what cost.

Eloïse Panetta

Eloïse Panetta is a luxury womenswear label motivated by feminine empowerment and nurtured by a transparent and ethical approach to fashion design. El creates products that celebrate the beauty of the natural world through unique artisanal skills and processes, creating consciously handcrafted jewellery, botanically dyed silk accessories and bespoke clothing, all proudly handmade in Australia. The Eloïse Panetta flagship store on George St in The Rocks Sydney is unique in that customers can meet El herself and see the creation process unfold in the studio which is adjacent to the retail space.

El dyes the silk herself by hand using flowers and eucalyptus leaves she has collected, so every batch is unique and each garment is one of a kind. She does everything from dyeing to pattern cutting to stitching on the buttons. While the majority of garments are created bespoke to order, there are some pieces in the store you can buy “off the rack” and she will customise them to fit you perfectly.Her made to order fashion approach using hand-dyed botanical silk result in unique pieces that are very special.

Sleeping with Jacques

Sleeping with Jacques made made its debut only three years ago and is now globally recognised in retail stores Harrods, SAKS 5th Avenue, FarFetch and Browns. In addition, the collection is also available on Net-APorter. Such an incredible achievement for the Melbourne-based designer, Jacques Hoang, who launched the brand. Founder and designer, Jacques Hoang began her label with the intention behind Sleeping with Jacques to make women feel good, powerful, strong and capable of anything. The true intention behind the brand lies with the notion of wanting the woman who wears Sleeping with Jacques garments to go to bed with their dreams and when they rise, go out and chase them. The design features of Sleeping with Jacques are true to the brands identity invoking confidence within the wearer.

Hoang worked in close collaboration with long-time supporter of the brand, Cheyenne Tozzi, UN Women Ambassador throughout the design process. A percentage of profits from the Romantic Virtue collection will be donated to UN Women Australia as the brand partnership continues to create a brighter, safer and more promising future for women.

A_C Official

Designer Tessa Carroll of A_C Official created the brand to be cruelty-free and sustainable accessories label and was the first brand in Australia to utilise a new cactus leather textile. The plant-based textile “Desserto” has been touted as the most earth-friendly leather alternative yet. A_C develops ranges using innovative non-leather textiles (previous collections have been made from Pinatex, or pineapple leather, and responsibly forested washable paper) and donates to carbon sequestration projects through an impactful Social Enterprise model.

With an emphasis on transparent supply chains, the business is built with the circular economy top of mind and offers a recycling buy-back program. Aside from it’s ecofriendly credentials the new monochromatic Cactus collection is super sleek and minimalist and would impress even nonvegan fashionistas.

Natalie Alamein

Destinations, music, love stories and art inspire Alamein’s collections and are designed to celebrate life in – wear them dancing, dating, confetti-tossing, champagnesipping, sunbaking, boating, travelling or just brunching with friends. Every now and then a brand just seems to do its own thing and just works so beautifully with its use of rich colours, customised vintage prints and uncompromising craftsmanship.

Each piece is conceptualised and brought to life with a team of like-minded tailors, master pattern-makers, seamstresses, dyers, graphic designers and store assistants – all of whom hold the ethics of quality, consistency and beauty at heart. Fine fabrics are staples, as are the small, thoughtful details that you didn’t know you needed and is just at home teamed with a pair of sneakers as it is heels. Launched in 2012, Natalie has spent the best part of a decade celebrating bold femininity and helping women around the world feel their best selves thanks to a strong understanding of how apparel can do justice to the female form.

Arsdorf

Jade Sarita Arnott founded the brand Arnsdorf in 2006 to be a collection of seasonless designs and limited runs of each item, along with our permanent collection, never holding excessive amounts of inventory never going on sale. Only using organic cotton & linen, tencel, hemp, wool & silk, Arnsdorf is a modern womenswear brand, based on a foundation of transparency, ethical manufacturing and sustainability. Each garment is designed, cut, sewn and finished in their own in-house Atelier in Collingwood in Melbourne, Australia and have an

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How To Double Cleanse Double cleansing takes a little more time in your skincare regime, but it is the key to beautifully cleansed skin.

DO double cleanse at night only, your skin will only require a single cleanse in the morning as it should be make-up free.

*Editor’s Pick* Santa Maria Novella Rose Water is a centuries old recipe made from Rosa Centifolia at the oldest pharmacy in the world. The Dominican monks of Santa Maria Novella marketed rose water as far back as 1381. With refreshing and toning properties, the delicate rose water can be used as a face mist to refresh skin, tonic for removing makeup or to scent bath water. We love its hydrating and refreshing properties and the exquisitie scent. buy.smnovella.com.au @santamarianovella1612

DO use a cleansing milk, oil or balm for

Cloud Nine’s Touch Iron is the fastest straightener on the market today, designed to deliver healthier looking hair in a heartbeat. The buttonless iron heats up instantly from the very first stroke due to the exclusive, revolutionary touch technology, eliminating any heat up time.

Infused with Cloud Nine’s signature Kinder Styling Technology-healing Sericite minerals exclusive to South Korea which seal the hair’s cuticle, lock in moisture and minimise damage to the natural structure of the hair. The versatile iron offers two temperatures, for finer hair and for thicker hair, providing total styling control. cloudninehair.com.au @cloudninehair

your first cleanse. This will help to melt off makeup and sunscreen and will gently remove oils and dirt. An oil-based cleanser will also help with the balance of oil in your skin.

DO use a foam or gel cleanser for

your second cleanse to get your skin perfectly cleansed ahead of your serum or moisturiser applications. It’s important not to use a foam or gel cleanser for both steps as this may strip the skin of essential oil and moisture.

DO use lukewarm water, not hot or cold, in order to avoid drying out your skin too much. The key is to be gentle with your cleansing and avoid harsh water temperatures and scrubbing.

ALWAYS use a moisturiser after you cleanse to keep you skin hydrated and plump.

iS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser blends Honey, Myristric Acid, Olive Oil, Papaya Enzymes and Japanese Green Tea to deliver a powerful, rich and exfoliating.cleanser isclinical.com @isclinical

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LUX SKIN® Face Sculpting Tool allows you to slim, contour and define your facial features all from the comfort of your own home. The tool combines LED light, heat therapy and ultrasonic vibrations to deliver multiple skin benefits. luxskin.co @luxskin

Recently launched AndSkin is a beauty brand that focuses on natural simple skincare made in Melbourne. AndSkin products are gentle, fragrance free, sustainable, cruelty free and vegan certified. The packaging is clean and simple and will make an impact on your bathroom cabinet. We love that the products really work and are great on sensitive skin. andskin.com.au @andskinaustralia

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Melbourne company Hey Bud launched in 2019 and made its way on to the beauty scene with its aesthetically pleasing green mask formula, a cannabis infused Hemp Clay Mask. The brand has since gone on to develop a Hemp Moisturiser and a Hemp Face Oil, all of which promise to naturally balance, nourish and hydrate the skin, leaving it supple and smooth.

Hemp seed oil is primarily recognised for it’s natural moisturising properties, however it also contains a very powerful omega-6 fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which acts as an anti-inflammatory while simultaneously promoting skin cell generation. It’s because of this and the non-comedogenic nature of Hemp Seed Oil which makes it the perfect choice for all skin types, including oily and dry heybudskincare.com @heybudskincare

the beauty edit Brow Gold by Brow Code is a unique mix of 5 beauty industry favoured oils, all 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free, specifically selected to nourish and promote the health of your hair. If your brows are feeling sparse, brittle or dry, Brow Gold is here to rescue them! This sensitive-safe treatment hydrates both the hair and skin (which strengthens your brows!). Use it daily to achieve fuller, thicker brows! browcode.com.au @browcode

SunButter Tinted SPF 50 Water Resistant Reef Safe Sunscreen is a tinted sunscreen option that’s vegan and cruelty-free. It also comes in a metal tin, which can be upcycled and is good for our reefs. sunbutteroceans.com.au

Image: Adrienne Andersen

Charlotte Tilbury’s Jewel Pot in Walk of No Shame is a perfectly shimmery pot of sparkle that enhances eyes and provides a creamy sheen finish to gives eyes a flattering day look or an equally dramatic night look paired with a liquid liner. charlottetilbury.com.au @charlottetilbury eat.live.escape

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The Healing Benefits of the SEA

As a land that is bordered by water on all sides, Australia is perfectly located to take advantage of all that the ocean can provide us.

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or those of us who are lucky enough to live by the seaside the day to day benefits of the ocean are easy to enjoy, however for the rest of us making an effort to spend some time in and around the water can have a wonderful effect on our health and wellbeing.

Find out how you can incorporate the sea’s natural goodness into you wellness regime.

MAGNESIUM Magnesium is an essential mineral for good health. It helps to keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, reduces inflammation and assists with heart rhythm. Magnesium is found naturally in the ocean and getting a dose from swimming or surfing can help to release stress, relax muscles and promote a deep sleep. Ideally swimming 2 to 3 times per week is a good goal however if you aren’t living by the sea try to incorporate dark chocolate, avocado, legumes, soybeans, whole grains and spinach into your daily diet, all of which are high in magnesium.

VITAMIN D A daily dose of sun on bare skin by the ocean is a great way to get your necessary Vitamin D intake (always

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before 10am or after 3pm to help prevent sun damage), however if you prefer to avoid the sun at all costs then try a high quality Vitamin D supplement to assit with maintaining levels.

RELAXATION & STRESS RELEASE You only need to spend a few minutes listening to the gentle lull or mighty roar of the ocean to start to feel relaxed and restored. If you can’t get to the sea, try a relaxation app to duplicate the sound of the ocean, there are plenty to download which replicate the sound of crashing waves against and are a great help to relax and induce sleep.

SKIN Seawater has healing benefits for many people suffering from a range of skin conditions including psoriasis, acne, lupus and eczema. Seawater is rich in sodium, calcium, chloride, sulphate and magnesium, all of which can work to help soothe and heal the skin.

SAND Sand is a great natural exfoliator, try gently rubbing it on dry feet and legs to smooth the skin or simply walk barefoot by the ocean.

EXERCISE Have you ever noticed that people who live close to the ocean seems to be more active? With such natural beauty on your doorstep it is easy to get out to walk, run, swim, surf and kayak each day. If you can’t get to the seaside for some exercise try listening to a wave soundtrack while you do your daily walk or yoga session to mimic the natural high of exercising by the water.

EAT Seaweed is an excellent source of dietry iodine, which supports the thyroid gland, and is great source of vitamins, minerals and protective antioxidants.

These days seaweed is fairly accessible to buy at the supermarket to include in cooking at home or eat more cusisines that incorporate seaweed in their dishes such as Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

IMMUNITY After a swim in the ocean red blood cells increase anywhere between 5 and 20 per cent in the body. If you suffer from a weakened immune system or anemia this boost can be very beneficial for overall health.

So make an ocean dip a regular event and reap the health benefits for years to come.

HOME

Home , interiors & garden magazine . C om ing April 2021.

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Benita Cavanagh, Three Dreamings Benita Cavanagh is an Aboriginal woman from the community of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte). Her Country is around what is known today as Arltunga. A fluid and talented artist, Benita’s paintings offer a window into the depths of her cultural role and special knowledge. Benita is Ngangkere and uses the healing powers of her Country and culture to attend to people's illnesses.

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ART 5 APPRECIATION

Bring life into your home with these beautiful pieces by talented Australian artists.

1. Robert Gordon Bromley Salt & Pepper Shakers Rabbit $59.95 myer.com.au. 2. Jayde Chandler As The Days Go By, 105cm x105cm, $3,500.00 available at Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD jaydechandler.com @jayde_chandler_art 3. Bonnie & Neil Flowering Gum Pink Coral Gold Print Small $300 bonnieandneil.com.au 4.The World and Your Oyster hand crafted oyster shells @theworldandyouroyster 5. Bruna Rodwell Ceramics brunarodwellceramics.com @ brunarodwellceramics 6. Bec Duff ‘Unity’ Original Painting becduff.com @becduffstudio 7. Jayde Chandler East Off The Verandah, 15cm x 15cm, $300 Available at The Corner Store Gallery, Orange NSW jaydechandler.com @jayde_chandler_art 8. Grotti Lotti Patchouli & Bergamot grottilotti.com @grottilotti 6. Amanda Brooks Australian Waterlily Original on Belgian Linen 90 x 120cm artbybrooks.com.au @amandajbrooksartist

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LONGMEADOW ESTATE A country homestead on a pristine private beach, we may have found Australia’s most picture perfect hideaway.

WORDS Katie Skinner IMAGES Marnie Hawson

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he Victorian south west coast is revered for the wild beaches, spectacular waves and imposing cliffs and rock formations. The coastline is blanketed by lush farming country and over 20 years ago, Bruce and Lyn and their children, Kerry, Sophie, Katie and Martin arrived from the tiny New Zealand village of Midhirst, making this part of Victoria home. They purchased a dairy farm in Tyrendarra, a 15-minute drive from the bustling seaside community of Portland, and in 2016 they purchased Longmeadow Estate, ten minutes up the road.

Today Martin manages the original dairy farm, and Sophie and Katie manage the family home, Longmeadow Estate.

Longmeadow Estate sits on 10-acres of beautifully landscaped gardens bordered by windswept fields and the rugged coastline of Shipwreck Coast. With its private access track to a secluded beach, you can spend your time whale watching, beachcombing or just enjoying the peace and quiet. When asked how the family came to own Longmeadow, Sophie explains, “Our Dad, Bruce, was campaigning for three phase power for the region in 2015 when he came across the property for sale. Longmeadow is quite unique and well known in the area so the opportunity to purchase the property was too good to ignore. It felt like it was meant to be. An offer was made, and the rest is history!”

Included in the purchase were considerable existing fixtures and furniture with much of the design features in the home reflecting the origins of the previous South African owners. After taking possession, the family converted the office and gym into bedrooms, making Longmeadow a seven-bedroom residence. The family’s goal was to convert the home into a short-term rental but also retain the charm of the original house.

Recently the family updated the colour palate to achieve a lighter, brighter interior with a more modern, coastal feel. The intent was to update the décor to reflect the outside environments and the regions rich maritime history. “We don’t have formal qualifications or experience in design however it has always been something Katie and I have been interested in. I have completed several workshops and short courses and am forever pouring over interior design and decoration publications. I follow design blogs and social media accounts and could spend hours researching all things interiors and design.

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“We didn’t want to reinvent the wheel with Longmeadow. It was already a beautiful property, for us we just wanted to make it a more cohesive space and bring the outside environment in.”

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Fresh fruit is a great addition to a table setting, try pineapples, citrus fruit or bowl of fresh cherries; garden parties are the perfect event for guests to bring kids and pets like Max the dog!,positioning tables under shady trees will provide relief from the hot Australian summer sun. FACING PAGE Dana has used a blue, white and yellow palette to pop againts the green garden space.

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More recently Katie and I completed the Hosting Masterclass with Sarah Andrews.

It was an incredible course with a lot of focus on the importance of styling and design to really impact a space and create that emotional connection.” Sophie also mentions Steve Cordony, Catherine Heraghty and Belle Bright as design inspirations.

She describes the style of Longmeadow Estate as a modern coastal Australian farmhouse. “We didn’t want to reinvent the wheel with Longmeadow. It was already a beautiful property, for us we just wanted to make it a more cohesive space and bring the outside environment in.” For Sophie the hero of the home is the light filled spaces. “There are so many large windows and French doors which you can open right up. You can see the garden from every room. Also, the close proximity to the beach makes it a really special place.”

Sophie and Katie have introduced texture and curves into the environment.

“We love layering and introducing curves and round shapes to help soften a space.

Using different textures and fabrics also help to create a warm and inviting feel.

I love the large sisal rugs in the formal dining room. Also, the large armchair in the reading room is the perfect spot to curl up with a book and a cuppa.” Sophie goes on to describe linen as their biggest splurge, “We wanted to supply beautiful linen for our guests to help enhance their stay with us. It has made such a difference.

The rooms look beautiful and the beds are just so comfortable to sleep in. It’s definitely worth the investment.”

The family have enjoyed many special family occasions at Longmeadow Estate including significant birthdays and Sophie’s wedding. They love to host extended family and friends. But it is the joy of hosting short term rentals that

really inspires them. Being able to share their beautiful home and surroundings with others is something Katie and Sophie are passionate about. “When staying at Longmeadow, sleep in! Don’t set an alarm just let the birds wake you. Or, for the early birds, the sunrise is pretty incredible from the master bedroom. Go for a morning stroll along the isolated beach, then start your day with a fresh pot of coffee and some freshly baked sourdough from the Bakehouse in Portland.” The summary of a perfect day for owners and guests alike.

Longmeadow Estate is available for shortterm rentals via Airbnb and HomeAway.

It is also available for weddings and photoshoots. @longmeadowestate

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The pretty flowered gardens at Longmeadow; neutral tones with a touch of history in one of the guest rooms; large windows let in plenty of natural light; high ceilings in the hallways lead to a sense of space; the dining area easily accommodates a large family or group of guests. FACING PAGE Modern country rustic styling in the kitchen.

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Sophie and Katie’s Address Book What do you love to do in your region?

We are so fortunate to live on such a beautiful and unspoilt stretch of coastline. Much of our childhood was spent at the beach and we still enjoy exploring the coastline today. Some of our favourite day trip locations are to Cape Bridgewater for its unspoilt beaches or Port Fairy, for its amazing cafes, restaurants and boutiques.

Favourite places to eat and shop?

Port Fairy is only 40 minutes away and has some incredible small businesses which we frequent often including; Bank St & Co – Amazing Brunch spot @bankstandco Oak & Anchor Hotel - Café, Bar & Boutique Accommodation @oakandanchorhotel Baleka Leather and Homewares – Beautiful homewares @baleka_leather Mason & Francis – Clothing @masonandfrancis Golden Store – Clothing, homewares, and accessories @goldenstore_aus Conlan’s Wine Store – Beautiful food and a great selection of wines @conlanswinestore Portland is only 15 minutes away and our favourites here are: A Little Decorum – Beautiful homeware shop. They have everything and we shop here a lot for Longmeadow @a_little_decorum Bedazzled – Beautiful bedding and soft furnishings. We also shop here a lot for Longmeadow. @bedazzledportland The Lido Larder – A great coffee and lunch spot. We love it! @thelidolarder The Bakehouse – The most amazing bakery.

Get there early so you don’t miss out. @kim_marieh

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TOP The secluded private beach at Longmeadow. BOTTOM pretty roses line one of the garden walkways.

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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Longmeadow owners, Katie Knowles and Sophie Bartley; 1. Brosa Virgo Table Lamp $129 brosa.com.au 2. Canvas & Sasson Eclipse Frick Cushion $65 eatliveescape.com 3 al.ive Hand & Body Lotion Cocnut & Wild Orangs $79 eatliveescape.com 4. Brosa Palermo 2 Seater Sofa in Corinthian White $999 brosa.com.au 5. Aesop Ressurection Hand Balm $33 aesop.com.au 6. Horgans Cove Natural Rattan Dining Chair $399 horgans.com.au 7. Bondi Wash Hand Care Trio bondiwash.com.au 8. Rhonda Hetzel Down to Earth $34.99 bookdepository.com 9. Aesop Ressurection Hand Wash $40 aesop.com.au 10. Auguste the Label Wild Flower Anita Maxi Dress $219 augustethelabel.com 11. Designer Influence, Catherine Heraghty, The Stables stables.com.au 12. In Bed Linen Fitted Sheet Stripe Queen $215 inbedstore.com 13. Aesop Ptolemy Aromatique Candle $135 aesop.com.au 14. In Bed Linen Apron in Stone $38 inbedstore.com 14. Studio Enti Tea Cups $35 studioenti.com.au

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All Images: Samee Lapham @samsette

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THE PLANT RUNNER

Let’s talk about plants! We catch up with Melbourne based horticulturist duo Dominic and Duncan from The Plant Runner to chat about all things green.

Tell us about Plant Runner and how it all started.

Duncan - The Plant Runner was basically born over a morning tea while doing some gardening work in 2017. I’d just come back from a trip to the States, and was raving about an incredible mobile plant shop I saw in New York (Tula House).

Within minutes Dom had found (what looked like) a suitable truck to buy and do the same thing in Melbourne, and by the following weekend we were the proud owners of a 1962 Harvestor International horse float. We spent 6 months converting the truck into a fully functional, walk in, mobile plant shop and by Jan 2018 we were good to go! The business has evolved a lot since then, as we have begun to focus on offering a range of indoor plant care products, designed for indoor plant people.

What are your tips for bringing more greenery into our lives, even if we don’t have a garden space at home?

Duncan - You don’t need to go overboard. It’s an easy to do in a world of ‘Plantfluencers’ everyone wants that instant ‘indoor jungle’. Start small and get an idea of what you’re like as a plant parent, chat to your local plant shop about your potential plant purchase and think about what your space is like (how much light is there, how warm/cold does it get). Most of all - enjoy it. It’s a huge cliche but every mistake (aka, every dead plant) is just another lesson.

What is one thing that may surprise us about plants?

Dominic - Plants can hear, feel & see! Most people don’t realize that plants share most of the senses that humans have but they process the information in unique mind blowing ways! We still have a lot to learn from plants and it’s an

exciting thing!

What are your tips for getting children and teens interested in plants?

Dominic - Just by simply getting them involved in both indoor and outdoor gardening, give them some tasks & responsibilities, once they start to see the results of their work e.g a new leaf unfurling, bees being attracted to flowers they’ve grown from seed or picking fruit & vegetables from plants they’ve grown they’ll be hooked.

If you could only have three plants in your home what would they be and why?

Dominic 1. Fiddle Leaf Fig, they’re popular for a reason, not many plants can create a canopy inside your house, I have a stunning fiddle 3 metres tall. It has hit the ceiling and grows across towards the window in our dining room creating a gorgeous canopy to walk under!

2. Heart Leaf Philodendron, these guys will trail for metres & metres around a room! As a kid my parents had one that trailed a full circle of our living room!

3. Rhipsalis also known as Jungle Cactus, these beauties come in so many amazing varieties from bold statements to light elegantly flowing foliage they’re perfect for shelves as they’re a great trailing plant.

Duncan 1. Monstera deliciosa - classic, always impressive and crazy rewarding. These guys give you proper jungle vibes and never disappoint plus they’re not so niche that you can’t make them work in any space, keep them as a statement plant on their own or add them to the Plant Fam to really green up a room.

2. Syngomium Fantasy (Syngonium podophyllum Albo Variegata) - Syngoniums are are way too underated. Crazy versatile as trailing plants or climbers, can be pruned back and kept busy or let run wild.

3. The Fantasy is an absolute stunner with its splashes of white amongst shades of green. The last one would be a Philodendron melanochrysum. Those leaves!

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start their own business?

Duncan - Surround yourself with people who motivate you and who have qualities/skill sets you don’t have. Be open to change and new ideas - what we envisioned for The Plant Runner three years ago is something completely different to where we are now.

Dominic - Create a business around something you’re passionate about, that way when things get tough (and they always do!) you’ll find that extra energy to push through. Also try to be diverse in what you do and think outside the square, you need to be on your toes and be able to mould into different situations (e.g COVID 19!). Finally treat all your customers and clients like they are VIP’s, they’re the only reason your business exists!

What’s next for Plant Runner in 2021 and beyond?

Duncan - Without giving too much away, we have a heap of exciting new products in the works, plus we’re hoping to focus more on international markets like the States. Eventually, we’d love to have our own bricks and mortar store but that might be a while off. theplantrunner.com

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Spectacular Natives Fill your garden with native Australian plants and flowers and reap the rewards for years to come.

BY Mia Cowling

Elegance, wealth, prosperity - beautiful peonies have a reputation that precedes them including being difficult to grow. But once you master a few basic tricks, they may just be the most rewarding flowers to bloom in your garden.

Did you know?

The word ‘Waratah’ is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘beautiful’. These magnificent flowers are the emblem of NSW, are featured in stained glass in Sydney Town Hall and are used by Indigenous people as a medicinal tonic.

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AU T U M N Planting Guide Growing a native Australian garden will help to support the local wildlife, be easy to maintain, require minimal water and is perfectly suited to Australian soil and conditions. With over 20,000 species to choose from there is something suitable for every garden and climate.

CLIMATE Not all natives will thrive in

WATER • •

•

Contrary to popular belief native plants do require adequate watering to really thrive.

30mm of water every two weeks should be enough to keep native plants in good condition or try deep soaking every 3-4 weeks.

If you plan to fertilise your native plants try a specific native plant formulation or an organic, slow release formulation.

every location across the country so visit your local nursery to find out which varieties will be most suitable for your locations and soil.

Some natives can become a pest (such as the paperbark tree) if they are planted in the wrong location so it is important to check that they are suitable in your area before you start planting.

VARIETIES There are so many varieties of

native plants to choose from, we love Banksia and bird attracting Callistemon, Waratah for their sheer magnificence in the garden and Grevillia and Wattle for their bright blooms and blossom. For something a little more unusual try Flame Pea, Flame Palm and Finger Lime.

Subtropical HERBS plant chicory, fennel, oregano, rocket, sage, thyme, sorrel, rosemary and lavender.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES plant broccoli, lettuce, onion, shallots, spring onion, turnips, peas. tomatoes, capsicums, eggplant, zucchini, cabbage, garlic, beetroot.

FLOWERS plant impatiens, sweet pea, viola, cornflower, carnation, Iceland poppy, dianthus, everlasting daisy, cyclamen.

Tropical HERBS plant basil, garlic, oregano, garlic chives, marjoram, thyme, coriander and winter tarragon.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES plant beetroot, eggplant, radish, rosella, tomato, zucchini, lettuce, melons, cucumber, capsicum, beans, parsnip, cabbage, sweet potatoe and zucchini.

FLOWERS plant carnation, aster, balsam, kangaroo paw, salvia, snapdragon, petunia, wallflower, zinnia, nasturtium, dahlia, gerbera, verbena, chrysanthemum, celosia.

Temperate HERBS garlic, marjoram, oregano, parsley, thyme and coriander.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES plant broad beans, English spinach, peas and green beans.

FLOWERS daisy, calendula, carnation, poppy, viola, sweet pea, cornflower, snapdragon, primula.

PICKING Floral arrangements of

native blooms are quite spectacular and are often long lasting, looking good even as they dry out. Try mixing bottlebrush and wattle with nonnatives such as rosemary for a striking fragrant bouquet.

Cool & Southern Tablelands HERBS plant coriander, chives, garlic, marjoram, tarragon, shallots, mint, thyme and rosemary.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES plant beetroot, leek, lettuce, potatoes, silver beet, lettuce, onion, broad beans, swede, turnip, carrot and cauliflower.

FLOWERS plant cornflower, lupin, pansy, sweet pea, stock, snapdragon, English daisy, cyclamen, French marigold.

LOCATION Native plants and flowers will

typically like a dryer location in the gardan with full sun and a well drained soil. Try grouping native plants together for a visually beautiful effect. Plant in the cooler months for the best reults.

PRUNING Prune lightly after flowering to

ensure that native plants, flowers and bushes continue to look their best. Some native plants can start to get a straggly look if they aren’t well pruned and cared for. eat.live.escape

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the final bite

Where in the World is Ella?

I

Food Editor Ella, travels the world in search of the perfect food experiences.

am feeling renewed! Saying a big goodbye (good riddance!) to 2020 was wonderfully renewing, and I’m approaching 2021 with cautious optimism that I may once more be able to leave the borders of my island home and head to pastures foreign. In the meantime though, I have been exploring the wonder that is Australia with my latest sojourn to the Shoalhaven region on the NSW south coast. The town of Berry was home base and my first stop was of course The Famous Berry Donut Van. Soft pillowy dough, fried to perfection with a dusting of sweet cinnamon sugar, stopping at one is never going to be an option. After a heart pounding run along Seven Mile Beach, which made me feel every so slightly better about the four donuts I devoured, it was on to Silos Estate Winery to try some of the local wine and produce on offer. A late afternoon of snoozing in the sunshine was all the prep I needed to get back on the food horse and head into town for a dinner at South on Albany of freshly shucked oysters and ceviche followed by poached peaches.

After a solid 9 hours sleep which somehow only seems possible in the countryside or by the sea, it was time for coffee and

organic sourdough at Milkwood Bakery. A wander through town to shop at the pretty boutiques was followed by a stop at the Berry Ice Creamery and, I’m almost embarassed to admit it, another stop at the donut van. Full of sugary goodness it was time to hit the road and head back to the bright lights of the big city, leaving the sweet ‘country by the sea’ lifestyle behind until next time.

Bon Appetit!

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