Taste the best of Sydney in a single night out: food, fireworks, singing and spectacle under the stars as you experience the romance of the original Bohemian love story on the magnificent floating stage at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.
From 23 March to 22 April 2018 you can join the cultural event of the year as La Bohème is performed with a backdrop of one of the world’s most stunning skylines.
Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour “Carmen” opening night 2017 (photo by Jamie Williams/Operas Australia)
La Bohème opens your soul to emotions too big for words. As six friends bare their hearts and souls in a Parisian winter, you’ll fall in love, flare with passion and ache with loss, right alongside them.
In 2018 the venue opens at 5pm, so arrive as the sun is setting over the city skyline and take in the view with a glass of bubbles as dusk falls. Meet for dinner at one of the pop-up bars and restaurants, then sit back in a grandstand at the water’s edge and immerse yourself in Puccini’s passionate music.
From 23 March–22 April 2018 on Tuesdays to Sundays at 7:30pm (no performance on Good Friday 30 March)
Explore something new and a little bit different about the city of Sydney with a Sydney Street Art tour. Top notch guides will take you around some of Sydney’s best-hidden treasures in local food, coffee, street art, small bars and gallery hotspots.
Explore lively laneways of contemporary street art and discover works by Sydney’s most prolific street artists. On a private Sydney Street Art tour you can expect vividly patterned pieces by Beastman, Lister’s grand ballerinas, and works by over 50 other Sydney-based artists such as JUMBOist, Bafcat, Skulk, Phibs, Numskull, Nico and David Cragg. Explore gallery and independent fashion and design spaces through curated routes around Sydney’s most creative suburbs, with a coffee in hand of course! And afterwards, settle down and unwind with local brews, cocktails, wine, cheese and nibbles loved by the locals.
Did you know that Australia has it’s own mysterious geoglyph, on par with the Nazcar lines of Peru? The Marree man (so named due to its proximity to the town of Marree), is an engraving in the Australian desert of an indigenous figure of a man with a spear or boomerang. It’s 4.2km-long with a circumference of 28km. It’s so big, that it can only truely be seen from the air.
The Marree man mysteriously appeared suddenly in outback South Australia near Lake Eyre almost two decades ago. One day it wasn’t there, the next it was. Nobody knows who did it or how, although it hasn’t come from outer space – that is for sure. Conjecture is that it was created by people from the United States or an Australian artist named Bardius Goldberg, but nobody has stepped forward to confirm.
Over the years it started to fade but has recently been restored to its former glory, making a scenic flight to see it, a valuable addition to any trip to outback South Australia. We’d recommend tacking it on as a day trip with a 3 or 4 night stay at Arkaba in the Flinders Ranges. Your pilot will also show you Lake Eyre and Wilpena Pound from above to give you a real sense of how spectacular Australia’s desert landscape can be.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney announced the launch of Mode Kitchen & Bar in July 2017 with Francesco Mannelli, ex Balla, est. and Uccello, as Head Chef.
Mode Kitchen & Bar, the latest addition to Sydney’s burgeoning CBD dining scene, will strike the perfect balance between casual bistro and fine dining and is a reflection of what guests and Sydneysiders are looking for in a contemporary dining experience today (Mode: of the moment).
Renowned Sydney design team, Luchetti Krelle has overhauled the former Pei Modern space to create a restaurant drawing from the glamour of the 1920s – velvet, polished brass, marble and leather finishes all hark back to the grand days of art deco hotels. The restaurant has also been enclosed by fluted glass to create an intimate dining room setting.
Mode Kitchen & Bar seats up to 200 guests across a mix of seating options including stools at the new central bar, a chef’s table, banquettes, lounge seating and two private dining spaces.
Mannelli has been entrusted to create a menu which delivers simple dishes executed exceptionally well, drawing from his rich experience in Australia. The best seasonal produce is a given with a roster of Mannelli’s favourite produce already on board, including calamari from South Australia, New Zealand scampi and fresh truffles from Tasmania.
Mode Kitchen & Bar is located on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, near Sydney’s beautiful Circular Quay and will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. More details can be found on their website.
Summer is a wonderful time for walking in Tasmania – days should be sunny and warm, rain rarely falls on the east coast and nights are cool and star studded (the clear skies are perfect for star gazing). Maria Island (pronounced Mar-aye-a) is an island national park and a natural wildlife sanctuary with historic ruins, sweeping bays, dramatic cliffs and peaks and tall woodlands and this is why we love the Maria Island Walk, one of the Great Walks of Australia.
Friendly Eastern Grey Kangaroos seen on the Maria Island Walk
In addition to the island being one of Tasmania’s great bird watching hot spots (11 of the state’s 12 endemic species can be seen here), wombats, wallabies, kangaroos as well as pademelons and Tasmanian devils are frequently seen. The waters around the island are a Marine Nature Reserve and are regularly visited by whales, dolphins and seals.
Relaxing in the wilderness on the Maria Island Walk
Flush with awards (the walk has earned more Gourmet Traveller awards than any other product around the globe) here are 7 reasons why this walk is one of our favourites:
Operating in a national park means all aspects of the walk are eco-friendly
This is a great walk for wildlife spotting and for exploring different habitats
The walk can be easy or moderate. Without the side-trips the walk is an easy 25km over 3 nights / 4 days; add-in the side-trips and the challenge becomes 43km, some of it quite steep.
The walk is owner operated – not that Ian Johnstone hosts every walk, but he does run the business and is very passionate about what he does.
The walk is easily combined with two of our favourite Tassie destinations – Hobart & Saffire (perfect for a little indulgence after a few days of walking).
During the height of the season the walk operates almost daily so it is an easy fit into a well-planned itinerary.
Food glorious food … Tasmanian produce is some of the best in the world so enjoy delicious meals and a glass of wine each evening.
Maria Island walk – The Dining Hut, with a well earned bottle of red waiting on the table…
The walks operate in groups of 10 guests and two guides, they include transfers from / to Hobart. For those walkers who prefer not to carry the normal 5-8kg pack, The Maria Island Walk is now offering a “pack-free” experience, where guests’ gear is transferred between camps each day so they only carry their lunch, water, camera and jacket.
A cute Common Wombat seen on the Maria Island Walk.
Maria Island 2 night Winter Escape experience (May to September)
Winter is also a beautiful time to visit Maria Island. In groups of up to 8 guests guides will show you the island’s beauty and history and amazing wildlife. And then each night, in the warmth and comfort of Bernacchi House, a rare, heritage listed house dating back to 1880. Enjoy a delicious candlelit dinner with fine wines while your guides amaze you with their many fascinating stories of Maria Island. And after the night’s banquet take a stroll on to veranda and marvel at the millions of stars and the fragrance of the lavender garden below.
From jumping crocs to stunning landscapes to meeting indigenous artists, our 3-day famil trip with Sab Lord of Lord’s Safaris had it all. We went from Darwin to Kakadu and back, with a dose of Arnhemland thrown in, and it was so great to finally meet the legend himself in person – he really is larger than life.
Here are some of the highlights…
Jumping crocs
Jumping crocs on a Lord’s Safari
On our way to Kakadu we boarded a vessel on the Adelaide river for a one hour croc spotting cruise. I’m not normally a fan of wildlife tourism where animals can be disrupted from their natural behaviour so I was a bit hesitant but it blew me away. Spot crocs we did! Lots of them. And BIG ones. It was kind of scary but in a thrilling way, and yet in the end I felt a real affection for them, as if they were puppies. Seeing the crocs ‘jump’ is to witness an almighty power that is just fascinating and commands complete respect of these relics of the dinosaurs. It was a real highlight of the trip.
Sab’s Camp in Kakadu
The huts at Sab’s campsite with see-through mesh walls.
With 8 semi-permanent mesh-sided huts, Lord’s Safaris private campsite is a oasis away from the crowds of Kakadu. You are definitely camping but it’s very comfortable. We sat around the campfire each evening after our daily excursions, glass of wine in hand, as Sab expertly cooked us dinner (how one cooks a roast beef with veg to perfection over a fire pit I’ll never know!) and related stories of his childhood growing up in the area. My twin-bed was extremely comfortable and I slept like a baby although as a city girl, going to sleep to the sounds of only the bush took a bit of getting used to. One night we heard dingoes howling – quite an eerie sound – but that’s all part of the reason we had come here, to get closer to nature. Waking up in the morning as the daylight began to filter through the mesh walls, was a lovely experience, as was our delicious bacon and eggs for breakfast, once again cooked perfectly by Sab over the campfire.
Swimming atop a gorgeous waterfall
Swimming atop a waterfall in Kakadu
Kakadu is dotted with incredible waterholes and Sab knows exactly where to take his guests to wow them. We spent a good few hours at Gunlom Falls – it was a steep but short climb to the top and we were rewarded with some stunning natural swimming holes that fed a large 70 metre waterfall. We swam and had a picnic lunch, enjoying views as far as the eye could see over Kakadu and relishing the cool water on a hot day. Upon decent we visited the lagoon at the bottom of the waterfall (famous for a scene in Crocodile Dundee) which we decided was even more beautiful than where we had just been, and we jumped in for another swim.
Yellow Water Sunset Cruise
Yellow water sunset at Kakadu
If you’ve only got time for one or two things whilst in Kakadu I would highly recommend the Yellow Water sunset cruise. It’s just gorgeous. The stillness of the water, the prolific bird life, the bright green of the grasses contrasting with the pink flowers of the water lilies and the blue of the sky, the occasional croc cruising alongside our boat and finally watching the sun set and the water reflect its orange glow all added up to a truly beautiful experience.
Injalak Rock Art
Our guide Roland teaching us about the Injalak rock art in Arnhemland
After an exciting river crossing in Sab’s 4×4 we headed into Arnhemland where we were given permission to see some of Australia’s most outstanding ancient rock art galleries at Injalak near Gunbalanya. Our local guide Roland, himself an artist, showed us the extensive art works that range between 100 and 8,000 years old. He taught us the stories and the meanings behind the art and how they were created using natural materials. We were also taken to an ancient burial site where a skeleton still remains, and our entire group felt very privileged to have had this experience.
The main man from Lord’s Safaris – Sab himself
Sab at the Injalak Arts Centre with a local artist
Of course the final highlight of the trip was Sab Lord himself. What a character! He’s a true Aussie larrikin whose cheeky spirit, relaxed nature and infinite knowledge of the region makes him on of Australia’s best guides. To find out more about him click here. > A big thanks to Sab and the team at Lord’s safaris for a wonderful trip and showing us his world – it really was terrific.
Happily Hamilton Island is back to business after Cyclone Debbie. Below is a message from them…
As you would be aware, Cyclone Debbie passed over Hamilton Island on Tuesday morning 28 March. Due to the incredible support of the local community, guests and our tireless staff, we were able to re-open on Saturday 8 April.
qualia Re-opening
Over the past three months our talented team has worked tirelessly to transform and inject their magic, bringing qualia back to the truly special place it is known to be. The distinctive style. The sun-drenched location. The intuitive service. These are all elements of the harmonious experience the resort strives to deliver to each guest, all of which have remained at the forefront as we reopened last weekend. During the closure period, qualia has invested in the beautiful gardens and landscaping, the refurbishment of the soft finishes in each Pavilion and introduced a new, exclusive private charter motor yacht, Palm Beach. We have also transformed the dining offering with Long Pavilion now operating as a casual style bar and grill, and Pebble Beach transitioning to be the signature fine-dining experience with a six course tasting menu. These are all exciting changes that we look forward to our guests experiencing.
Sails Restaurant – Now open for Dinner
We are happy to announce that our adored dinner service at Sails Restaurant will again operate in addition to breakfast and lunch as of Friday 23 June. Chef Falk Boehlefeld has prepared a new menu which will be available between 11.30am – 9pm and we are eager to treat guests to a relaxed dining experience with our lovely team and breathtaking views of Catseye Bay.
The Traditional Owners of Australia have a different (and probably much more accurate) view of our cycles of nature, after-all they have lived here for up to 50,000 years.
Over the past ten years the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has been working with the below groups of Aboriginals to learn and document their ecological and scientific knowledge of Australia’s fragile ecosystems.
Gulumoerrgin/Larrakia people from the Darwin region in the Northern Territory
Ngan’gi, MalakMalak and Wagiman people from the Daly River region in the Northern Territory
Tiwi people from the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin in the Northern Territory
Kunwinjku people from western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory
Gooniyandi and Walmajarri people from the Fitzroy River area in the Kimberley region of Western Australia
Ngadju people from the Great Western Woodlands region in south-west Western Australia
Kundjeyhmi people from the Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) region in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory
The Alquemie team enjoyed a private tour of Kakadu National Park in the Top End with Australia’s cheekiest guide Sab Lord in May 2017 (Yekke Season) and learnt first-hand about the stunning Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) region. We watched as small fires were lit to manage the tall spear grass that had sprung up after the wet season. By keeping this under control, it prevents big bushfires later in the year.
Gunlom Falls in Kakadu
Below are the six annual seasons of the Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) region that were documented by the CSRIO in conjunction with Violet Lawson, a Traditional Owner from the Ngurrungurrudjba region, whose knowledge of the area was passed down to her from her mother.
Kudjewk is the hot, wet and humid monsoon season. Barra, the north-west monsoon winds, bring thunderstorms, lightning and flooding rain. The wetlands are lush and green, and swollen with water. Plants and animals thrive in the hot, wet and humid conditions. It is a good time to hunt for animals stranded by floodwaters. Bamurru (Magpie Geese, Anseranas semipalmata) are nesting and their eggs are a favoured source of food.
Bangkerreng (April)
In Bangkerreng knock ’em down storms, the last of the wet season, flatten Anbedje (Spear grass, Sorghum intrans). The rain clouds disperse and clear skies return. As the floodplains drain into the rivers and creeks, Namarnkorl (Barramundi, Lates calcarifer) feast on small fish, tadpoles and crustaceans.
Sunset on Yellow Water in Kakadu
Yekke (May, June)
Yekke is a relatively cool time with low humidity. Djimurru, the dry wind from the south-east, blows. Early morning mists hang low over the wetlands. Ngurrungurrudjba is covered with Andem (waterlily) flowers. When Andjalen (Eucalyptus miniata) flowers, it is time to start burning the woodlands.
Wurrkeng (July, August)
Wurrkeng is the coolest and driest season. The humidity is low. The floodplains are drying out, and many creeks have stopped flowing. Cool, dry winds blow from the south-east. Yellow Andjedj (Cochlospermum fraseri) flowers tell us that the Kumoken (Freshwater Crocodiles, Crocodylus johnsoni) are laying their eggs on sandy creek banks.
Kurrung (September, October)
Kurrung is the season of hot dry weather. Whirly whirlies – Nadjurlum – are common. Mahbilil, the salt water wind, blows in the evenings. Bamurru have grown fat on Andem (Nymphaea violacea) and Ankurladj (Eleocharis dulcis) corms and are good to eat. They crowd around the shrinking billabongs with other water birds and are easy to hunt. Thunderclouds start to build high in the sky signalling the return of Kunumeleng.
Kunumeleng (November, December)
In Kunumeleng the air becomes more and more humid and thunderstorms build in the afternoons. Rain on the dry floodplains brings bring rapid growth. Balmarradja, the wind from the west, starts to blow. Waterbirds spread out as the area of surface water increases. Namarnkorl (Barramundi) travel up the rivers to the estuaries to breed.
When’s the best time to visit Kakadu?
Generally between about May (when the Dry season begins – before that it’s usually quite flooded) and October. In May, some of the main waterfalls may still not be open due to crocodiles however there are less tourists and you can still find the most amazing places to visit.
Learn more about our private guide – Sab Lord – who grew up in Kakadu with the local Aboriginals as his closest friends. His knowledge of the area is second to none.
Kids and adults alike will love this ‘Jungle Surfing’ zipline Australia adventure through the canopy of the Daintree Rainforest. You’ll be strung up 20 metres above the ground and fly through the jungle between six rainforest canopy platforms.
As you surf the jungle you’ll have gorgeous views of the tree tops, freshwater streams, and out to the coral fringes of the Great Barrier Reef.
The adventure lasts two hours, with over one hour in the rainforest canopy
There are six eco-friendly tree platforms, seven ziplines plus a Human Hamster Wheel
You’ll receive an interpretive talk about the Daintree Rainforest region on each platform
This is a must-do experience for anyone who wants the thrill of flight in one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
A 1.5 hour charter flight south-west from Darwin takes you to Bullo River Station – 500,000 acres of privately owned countryside – the perfect place for families and adventurous groups of friends who like to get hands on.
Bullo River Station is encircled by the coffee coloured waters of the Victoria River and rugged hills inscribed with Aboriginal rock art. This vast property is not only home to around 9,000 Brahman-cross cattle but a huge variety of local fauna species including wallabies, dingoes, wild buffalo, a myriad of native and migratory birds, fish and the omnipresent crocodile. The ‘Boab’ is Bullo’s symbol and these proud trees dot the entire property lending their stature to what is already an impressive landscape.
At Bullo the nearest neighbour is over 2 hours drive away, and the property encompasses half a million acres. So remote is this region that there are waterholes and Aboriginal art galleries that have remained unseen and untouched for hundreds of years.
Guest accommodation is comfortable and simple; all rooms have private en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning and ceiling fan and floor to ceiling windows so that you can wake to the expanse of it all.
There’s also an option for guests to stay at one of a pair of huts which are accessible either by helicopter or vehicle and sit along a sandstone ridgeline and overlook a lake where buffalo and cattle come to drink. Each hut has a queen size bed and ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet. Guests can sit on the decking with nothing to interrupt the cattle station views at sunset and they offer complete privacy.
Home cooked meals are prepared by the station cook and your own just-caught Barramundi is bound to be the best fish you will ever eat. Breakfast is often al fresco on the wide stone verandah, lunch might be a picnic, perhaps by some beautiful freshwater swimming hole and dinner is usually served in the main dining room. You are encouraged to make yourself at home in the large living rooms of the homestead and there is a small swimming pool for those hot afternoons.
The friendly station hands plan your stay to take into account the seasons and your interests, your time with them might include:
Taking part in the daily activities of a working cattle station such as bull catching or mustering
Horse riding (some competency is required)
Boat cruises on the Bullo River Gorge
4WD safaris and quad biking
Helicopter flights to the outer edges of the station (additional cost)
Wildlife viewing – Wallaroos, wallabies, dingos, crocodiles and buffalo are all regular sightings
River and coastal fishing – Barramundi are almost guaranteed at Bullo!
Aboriginal art interpretation and viewing
Swimming in freshwater rock pools, picnics washed down with billy tea, you can even swag out (camp out) by a water hole if you are feeling very adventurous
Heli trip to the Cascades
One of the highlights is a helicopter trip to the Cascades. Franz will take you on a spectacular flight across the vast cattle plains, over a huge billabong and the Bullo River before rising up above the escarpment and the stony country on the western edge of the station. He will leave you at The Cascades but before he goes he will roll out your ‘swag’, the bedding of choice for generations of Bushmen, and set up your camp for the night. Once the helicopter has been unpacked and Franz has shown you how to use the satellite phone, the place is yours. Take a dip in one of the waterholes, go for a hike or just relax on the beach. Bullo River will pack a gourmet picnic with provisions for you to cook your dinner on the campfire and this will of course include bacon and eggs for breakfast the next day!
