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Home & Away with Robert Walshe
Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network & Travel Editor for numerous print & online publications on the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com
Founded over 30 years ago, Hastings Hotels are Northern Ireland’s premier hotel group. The Hastings portfolio includes the 5 star Culloden Estate and Spa, the world famous Europa and the Stormont Hotels in Belfast, the Everglades in Derry, the magnificent Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle and the 17th centuary Ballygally Castle on the Antrim Coast.
Holiday Hotspot – Bathurst, Australia Amazing Country Escapes is a unique collection of luxury accommodation & experiences that provides perfect places to introduce you to the lifestyle and countryside of Central New South Wales Australia. The group has developed a distinctive branding promoting the abundant offerings of the country’s regional areas at Mudgee, Orange, Carcoar & my first “ Amazing “ experience at Bathurst , the regions oldest inland settlement. The city first settled on 7th May 1815 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie is 210 km from Sydney. Free settlers soon moved to the area, which was originally occupied by the Wiradjuri Aborigines. Conflict between the parties resulted in the declaration of martial law in 1824. Drought and the depression of the 1840s meant that the town developed slowly in its early years. However its fortunes changed early in 1851 when Australia’s first payable gold was discovered at Ophir, approximately 35 kilometres from Bathurst. Gold fever gripped the colony and Bathurst was transformed into a busy service centre for those on their way to the goldfields. If you appreciate gourmet food & fine wine , or want to celebrate a special occasion while staying in luxurious accommodation while soaking up the history and sleepiness of this wonderful location make sure and include “Amazing Bathurst” on your next Australia holiday. www. amazingcountryescapes.com.au While staying here you get the chance to savour the charm and history of Bishop’s Court Estate, built as the residence of the Anglican Bishop Samuel Marsden in 1870 and home to a long line of clergy
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until it was privately sold in the early 1960s. Leading Australian interior designer Christine Le Fevre from Sydney bought Bishop’s Court in more recent years and the transformation is staggering. Her attention to detail is faultless – with beautiful colour schemes, objet d’art and king-sized beds, in-room touches include plush bathrobes, quality chocolates and port. The bedrooms are vast with views over the 140-year-old garden. We just loved every part of this house, including the second floor terrace lounge with treetop views. This is sumptuous elegance with a sprinkling of Victorian grandeur. Bishop’s Court is also renowned as a venue for weddings - it has its own private chapel, of course - and other special events. The breakfasts and dinners are simply superb, with elegant options such as dinner in the chapel lit by candlelight. www.bishopscourt-
bathurst.com.au One of Bathurst’s most loved foodie ■ Abercrombie House Bathurst Australia. destinations, Legall presents a mouthwatering selection of pies, quiches au Stone Pine Distilland tarts, sweet treats and bread ery was established in 2008 by - all baked daily on the premises. Bev and Ian Glen who had previNearby Hub Espresso Bar offers ously worked in the UK brewing fresh, regional dishes with Italian and distilling industry is distilled and Middle-Eastern influences, Win- and bottled in Bathurst. Bev, with ner of the Best Cafe Western Region her background in running various - Restaurant & Catering Awards for Edinburgh pubs, manages the CelExcellence 2012, the breakfast menu lar Door, while Ian is the distiller. here is better than anything I’ve ex- The distillery was designed to have perienced in Australia. Local attrac- a minimal carbon footprint, with tions include Abercrombie House, a measures including the use of solar heritage treasure of the region and power and harvested rainwater in private home of the Morgan family. the distilling process ensuring a full The heritage experience includes flavoured and vibrant gin. the 50 room Scottish-baronial manThe result is so good that they sion of the won a Silver award in the 2013 In1870s; ex- ternational Wine and Spirit Comhibitions, petition. www.stonepinedistillery. d i s p l a y s , com.au For sporting enthusiasts the collections, Bathurst 1000 is the crown jewel of g r o u n d s Australian Motorsport and arguand gar- ably one of the greatest races in dens, out- the world and another great reason b u i l d i n g s to visit. www.bathurst1000.com.au and prop- My preferred car rental company erty walks on this trip was Hertz & pick up is around 18 available in downtown Sydney or h e c t a r e s . at the International airport. A reThe house minder also that gold plus rewards was bought in 1968 by members enjoy fast pick up and Mary & her husband Rex drop off car rental including excluMorgan, MBE founder and sive benefits. Hertz consumer disPrincipal of The Pittwater counts with full details are available House Schools at Collaroy. at www.hertz.ie Earlier this year The family embarked on a Emirates and Qantas formed a glocomplete restoration and bal partnership, working together commenced a programme to operate 14 flights daily between of public heritage tours of Dubai, Australia and beyond - along the house making Aber- with extensive Australian domestic crombie House one of the flights, frequent flyer advantages longest standing privately and lounge access. Emirates cusowned historic house mu- tomers are now able to choose seums in Australia. www. from 32 Australian destinations to abercrombiehouse.com. which Qantas operates including
Canberra, Port Lincoln, Cairns and Hobart, opening up Australia to passengers from all over the ever expanding Emirates network. Emirates operate a daily departure from Dublin to Dubai daily at lunchtime with onward connections to five cities in Australia – Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Current Sydney prices ex Dublin are economy class: €1116 & business class: €3429. The main talking point amongst those who have flown on the upper deck of the A380 operating on the Dubai to Sydney route and back is the onboard lounge, where business class and first class travellers can exchange tales and talk business over a drink at 40,000 feet. All Emirates’ A380s are fitted with Wi-Fi, allowing full connectivity with the ground. Emirates earlier this year opened “Concourse A”, the dedicated home of its A380 fleet and the world’s first purpose-built facility for the aircraft at Dubai International. The concourse, part of Terminal 3, comprises 20 A380-capable contact gates, as well as Emirates’ flagship First Class and Business Class lounges, the largest in the world. A reminder also that the airline’s chauffeur-drive service is available to both First and Business Class passengers across the island of Ireland. All Emirates’ customers can enjoy in-flight telephones, SMS and email and children’s activity packs. Highly trained cabin crews from across the globe, including Irish & UK nationals are on hand to serve gourmet chef prepared meals. www.emirates.com