After another wonderful stay in Cairns, the city that feels like my second home, it was time to head back to Sydney. For this flight I chose Qantas Airways for three key reasons: first, the chance to fly on a widebody Airbus A330-200; second, I grabbed a seat with points (or miles) that was quite…
Tag: Australia
The Wonderful Food at the Historic Mount Kembla Village Hotel, Wollongong.
The Mount Kembla Village Hotel welcomes everyone with genuine warmth and country charm. With 16 beers on tap, a thoughtfully curated wine list, a wide range of spirits, and a menu crafted by a talented chef, there’s something for every taste. The wood fired pizzas are a local favourite, and the morning buzz of our…
The Malaya, Sydney, Malaysian food at its Best.
The Malaya in Sydney is an institution, renowned for its vibrant Malaysian and Singaporean flavours. Established in the 1960s, it continues to impress with signature dishes like chicken and pork satay’s, char kway teow, and beef rendang, and all served with warm, attentive service that keeps diners returning. This post may contain affiliate links, to…
A Road Trip to the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
My friend Shanny, who I’ve known for over 30 years, and I both needed a little getaway. With a few days off, we decided on a short escape to the New South Wales (NSW) South Coast—not too far from my home in Sydney and hers in Wollongong. This post may contain affiliate links, to read…
A Visit to Spice Temple Melbourne – Ten Years Later… (With a Sneaky Cocktail at Marmont!)
While in Melbourne with my cousin Cath, visiting from Calgary, I suddenly exclaimed, “We have to go to Spice Temple!”. It has been almost ten years since my last visit, and I was genuinely excited to return to this unforgettable dining experience. A quick search reveals that on Fridays they offer a Yum Cha menu,…
The Virgin Australia Lounge – Melbourne
The Virgin Australia Lounge in Melbourne offers a relaxed, modern space with plenty of seating, work areas, and tarmac views. Guests enjoy a self serve buffet, barista made coffee, and a selection of beverages, ideal for unwinding before a domestic flight. This post may contain affiliate links, to read more click here. Virgin Australia domestic…
Aussie Dining at Dundee’s on the Waterfront, Cairns.
Dundee’s Restaurant in Cairns, Australia, is a popular dining establishment known for its focus on Australian cuisine, particularly seafood. Located along the picturesque Cairns waterfront, it offers a scenic dining experience. Dundee’s is renowned for its seafood platters, steaks, and a variety of dishes that showcase the flavours of the region. Full disclosure, this post…
Jetstar – Melbourne to Sydney for $20.
Time to head home from Melbourne on our $20 tickets! We only have carry-on baggage at a limit of 7kgs, so there wasn’t much shopping done, but we had a great time visiting Chloe, eating at Flower Drum Restaurant and our hotel stay at The Grand Chancellor Hotel was lovely! How does one get $20…
Bankstown Food Tour – Taste Cultural Food Tours.
It’s like travelling through Indochina and the Middle East on this wonderful food tour of Bankstown. Even better is that the tour company is a charity, non-for-profit organisation and social enterprise, where the profits are used to provide training to asylum seekers and immigrants. Food, isn’t it one of the best ways to celebrate diversity…
Sydney’s Pittwater, Palm Beach And The Show Home & Away
While in lockdown, we all watched quite a bit of television – queue music from Prisoner or Orange is the New Black- if you’re like me and don’t mind watching the occasional soapie – it tends to be a bit of escapism from the everyday. Tourism has a lot to thank tv shows, movies and…
Norfolk Island food review – and some fun foodie facts!
Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island food ride…and some fun foodie facts. My BFF and travel tag-along (“Lets go here!”… “OK”), Ciaran,…
Norfolk Island Fun Facts – History
Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island ride…and some fun facts. history /ˈhɪst(ə)ri/ 1. The study of past events, particularly in human affairs…
Norfolk Island Fun Facts – Cows.
Welcome to Norfolk Island, a small island that lies some 1700 kilometres or so off the east coast of mainland Australia, almost midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand. I’ve just spent a week here… Get ready for an interesting island ride…and some fun facts. Cow /kaʊ/ Noun: 1. A fully grown female animal of…
Lunch On Board The Emerald Princess
“We’ve booked an inside cabin, but with a non-obstructed view” I overheard at the check in area, Um OK, you’re going to be disappointed, I thought to myself. My love of travel extends to all forms transport and I was recently invited to take a look around the Emerald Princess, the largest of the Princess fleet…
HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society) and the Famous QANTAS 747-438, VH-OJA – Oh and Connie, VH-EAG
HARS – Historical Aircraft Restoration Society – is located at The Illawarra Regional Airport in Wollongong and just over a year ago it gained another major attraction with a retired Qantas Boeing 747-400 arriving at the museum. Back in March of 2015, I was invited with several media and bloggers to visit Qantas Headquarters in…
Wandering Through Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney Australia
“Dog must not steal from dog” – Convict saying. Recently, I decided to become a tourist in my own city of Sydney and visit one of Australia’s oldest European buildings, The Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Listed on the New South Wales and Australian National Heritage registers and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site…
Lounge Review: The Qantas Club – Melbourne Domestic Airport
As you know, I love airport lounges! – Almost, just almost – as much as I love flying. Recently I had a guest pass to visit any Domestic Qantas Club Lounge, so before I took off on my first Jetstar 787 flight to the Gold Coast, I visited the Melbourne lounge, What a great way to start this…
Fancy Sandcastles – Australian Sand Sculpting Championships 2013 – Part II
Continuing on from part 1, I was staying in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast during the weekend that the 2nd Annual Australian Sand Sculpting Competition was being held. This years theme was Sand Safari, and I swear some of that sand followed me back as weeks later I found sand on my balcony –…
Fancy Sandcastles – Australian Sand Sculpting Championships 2013 – Part I
I’ve never been a big fan of the beach, dumping crashing waves, eye-stinging saltwater and the sand – sand that would hide and follow you home then turn up months later in the uncanniest of places. In fact, not long ago, I found some on my balcony thinking it had followed me back from the Gold…
REVIEW: St Tropez Apartments – Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, QLD
Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and it doesn’t matter where you go or where you stay you just want to relax, put your feet up and do nothing. My trip to the Gold Coast was one of those weekends where I wanted to do just that, nothing, and booking my accommodation at the last…
Welcome to Nyngan – Bogan Shire – Central New South Wales
When I said to friends I was going to Nyngan for the long weekend, most said “you’re going all that way to smoke weed?”… “No, thats Nimbin on the NSW North Coast” I stated with a sigh. Nyngan is located in outback NSW on the Bogan River in the Bogan Shire. I was off to…
Matty Somewhere 