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This Malaysian roti and satay establishment may have a queue forming outside from the moment it opens but it's worth the wait. The freshly made rotis and Malang styled curries are spicy, authentic and ultimately, delicious.
15 Goulburn St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
(02) 9211 1668
www.mamak.com.au/
Google map: tinyurl.com/y92eshz
This cafe is hidden away on a leafy street in Kings Cross. The Italian owner, Vittorio, loves to chat and laugh along with the clientelle and the coffee is superb.
6 Roslyn St, Kings Cross 2011 NSW
(02) 9368 1356
Google map: tinyurl.com/ycphksz
We’ve just got back from a wonderful trip to Australia and I have to say Pethers set deep in the Queensland rainforest is simply stunning. You feel as though you are truly in the heart of the jungle with all the bird sounds around you plus you are totally private enough to take a double jacuzzi bath overlooking the foliage with no chance of being overlooked! The treehouse room was bigger than our London apartment and we enjoyed our daily breakfast (delivered to the room each morning) on a huge balcony in the midst of the trees. We loved watching the parrots swoop overhead! It’s run by a great couple Tim and Ilena who were really friendly and made us so welcome. We had dinner one night and it was the best meal of the trip and reasonably priced. It’s not far from Brisbane -probably an hour and a half but you really feel as though you are miles from civilisation.
28b Geissmann Street
PO Box 117
North Tamborine, Qld 4272
AUSTRALIA
www.pethers.com.au
Phone: +61 7 5545 4577
Email:retreat@pethers.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9vojgt
First constructed in 1866, the Vue Grand is a superb historic hotel in Queenscliff about 90 mins from Melbourne. With very good accommodation in modernised old rooms, the Vue Grand is the place to stay while looking over the sights of Queenscliff or visiting the Historical Museum or discovering the local area of Bellarine. The Vue Grand has a number of cafes and eating areas as well as bars but the highlight is the Grand Dining room.
Just a nice place to stay in provincial Victoria.
46 Hesse St
Queenscliff VIC 3225
phone 5258 1544
www.vuegrand.com.au/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yd6uhwj
One of Australia's best rural restaurants is Athelstane House in the historic maritime village of Queenscliff. The dining experience we had was superb, with amazing food backed up by a very good list of local and regional wines (as well as imports from France etc) and very very good service. Dining can be done in the restaurant or on the balcony or in front of the fire. Athelstane House also provides high class accommodation as well as a very good food store. Athelstane House is the winner of many dining and good food awards. We were impressed.
4 Hobson Street,
Queenscliff 3225,
Victoria, Australia.
phone 5258 1024
www.athelstane.com.au/
Google map: tinyurl.com/y8rmd69
On the Mornington Peninsula about an hour from the centre of Melbourne are a lot of natural hot springs and pools and 'Peninsula Hot Springs' has built a resort over some of them. With this they provide special private treatments (massages, spa treatments etc) as well as public swimming areas in the thermal pools. Rich in minerals, the warm waters (around 36-42°c) soothe and caress.
140 Springs Lane
Rye, Mornington Peninsula
Victoria
ph 5950-8777
www.peninsulahotsprings.com/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yajwb2b
The most beautiful setting I have ever been to. Totally remote and totally secluded - you need a visa to enter the Aboriginal world of Australia's Arnhem Land. Situated in Gurig Ganuk Barlu National and Marine Park you can stay in luxury camps overlooking Port Essington where you will see the most beautiful sunsets. www.northernaustralia.com organise tours and you can stay at the luxury camp. I was lucky enough to live in Cobourg Peninsula and experience the beauty. There are also beach huts available. Experience the magic of Australian beaches - be warned NO SWIMMING IN THE WATER - due to crocs, jellyfish and all sorts.
North of Kakadu National Park (Northern Territory) Darwin.
Google map: tinyurl.com/ylmrdxz
Rottnest Island is a short ferry ride from Perth or Freemantle. Along with being known for numerous lovely bays which can be explored by bicycle, Rottnest is known for its Quokkas, little furry creatures that look a bit like miniature kangaroos. Quokkas are native to the island. Dutch explorers thought they were rats; hence the name, Rottnest Island.
The villas are self-catering units with balconies and bbqs and have lovely views of the sea. They are reasonably priced and popular with families. School holiday slots are chosen by lottery. Cars are discouraged on the island. Public transport and rental bicyles are readily available.
www.rottnestisland.com/en/Accommodation/Pages/Accommodation.aspx
+61 8 9432 9111
Google map: tinyurl.com/ycyd4u9
I spent 2.5 weeks at the Santuary Retreat, which is not quite a beach house but an eco-retreat in the tropical rainforest that is a short walk to the beach. It is half-way between Townsville and Cairns and close to Mission Beach. The accommodation is either mesh-huts so you are quite literally in the rainforest or more luxury canopy cabins. There is a restaurant, bar and social area with views to the Coral Sea. During the day it is a short walk down to the beach, which you often have to yourself, in the rainforest you might see a cassowary a native Australian flightless bird, or for the more active walker it is 1.5 hour walk to Mission Beach town. Or if you didn't want to leave the Retreat, you could join a yoga class or indulge in a massage. It is an amazing place to relax and enjoy the tranquility and wonderful hospitality.
72 Holt Rd, Bingil Bay
+ 61 (0)7 4088 6064
www.sanctuaryretreat.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9ts2s5
Comfortable cottages beside white sand beaches, a turquoise sea and pink mountains. And amazing wildlife; Wendy the wombat lived underneath the house and there were wallabies and all sorts of birds in the grounds. On the beach we saw pelicans and fur seals. Penguins and kangaroos used the road. We were there out of season but had a warm welcome from friendly and helpful hosts Tony and Kyle. Breakfast was brought in the morning and a log-burning fire warmed chilly evenings.
The nearby village of Bicheno had stores, restaurants, a stunning coastal walk and friendly people. There's a reserve where you can see tasmanian devils, and evening trips to watch the penguins. It's not far to the pink granite hills of the Freycinet National Park and a walk to the fabled Wineglass Bay.
sandpipercottages.com.au/
On Denison Beach 2 kms north of Bicheno, east coast of Tasmania. 18546 Tasman Highway
Google map: tinyurl.com/yl8xugq
It's really cheap and easy to stretch your legs or walk about while travelling rather than a coach or car.
Check out www.overlandit.com where you can get a few options for Oz
Cape Tribulation campground rents out safari tents so you can have the experience of beach camping without carrying the gear. On the edge of the rainforest and 100 m from the beach. You are given a bed with bedding in a permanent tent with a small balcony looking out onto the rainforest. One of the best bits was meeting up with other campers in the well equipped communal BBQ and cooking area using the cooking kit supplied by the campground. From here you can walk up the beach to the mangrove boardwalk through the rainforest.
It can be hard work trying to find a good beach spot in Australia that isn't over-run with tourists. If you're passing through Queensland, take the time to stop by Point Lookout on North Stradbroke island - beach houses for rent have balconies overlooking the ocean, most with BBQs (perfect for cooking prawns, tuna, snapper etc caught by local fishermen that day). Beautiful beaches, whales swimming past, and not a tourist bus in sight. It's one of the best kept secrets that the locals won't tell tourists about.
www.visitstradbroke.com.au/
Meegera Place, Point Lookout, 4183, Queensland
Australia
Phone: 07 3409 8255
Google map: tinyurl.com/y8hxsu6
This is THE place to buy a monster sandwich in Sydney.
It's set back from Pitt Street in a small arcade. You'll recognise it by the huge queue out of the door and down the street. The sandwiches are huge - more than enough to keep you going for an entire day. The lemon chicken comes very highly recommended. We only found out about it from a friend who lives in Sydney. It seems that everyone that goes is a regular and is greeted by name on arrival. If I'm in Sydney again and hungry at lunchtime, I'll be back...
The only downside - just a couple of seats in the window. Best to take your haul elsewhere to munch.
Shop 3
250 Pitt Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
tel/fax 9283 4700
Google map: tinyurl.com/ye39xmp
This nightclub is located in Darling harbour, which is on the Western side of Sydney, not too far from the IMAX Theatre.
Pontoon is awesome on Saturday night and plays a mix of House and RnB.
Cover charge is $10.
www.pontoonbar.com
Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Park
The Promenade North
201 Sussex St
Sydney NSW 2000
Google map: tinyurl.com/y8k46le
Melbourne is the place to be in Australia for clubbing. I spent a bit of time in Sydney but Melbourne is a thousand times better in my opinion.
The best places in Melbourne can be found at www.barsandnightclubs.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/ybehz6f
The Rocks is a precinct of Sydney near the harbour that has an old English feel to it combined with the relaxed laid back Australian attitude. It has a huge range of pubs, bars and nightclubs that are definately worth checking out, in particular The Argyle Hotel.
Argyle Hotel - 18 Argyle St, The Rocks, NSW, 2000 www.theargyle.biz - nearest station is Cricular Quay.
Google map: tinyurl.com/ycwn7sb
Great for breakfast and free wifi.
70 Druitt Street, Sydney, 2000
(02) 9264 1929
Google map: tinyurl.com/y8nw24c
Beyond Q is an extraordinary second-hand book shop, cafe, and live music venue hidden in the Curtin Shops, Woden, Canberra.
It's inconspicously located downstairs from the central square, and has a vast collection of constantly changing books, antiques, ephemera, and old typewriters. The cafe and service is very friendly and the books are well-priced. They regularly feature exceptional items, making them well worth repeat visits!
Beyond Q (formerly Lawton's Antiquarian) is hidden downstairs from the public square in the Curtin Shops. Follow the sign outside the stairs. Open every day from 8am to 6pm, and sometimes even later.
www.beyondq.com.au/
44 Curtin Place, ACT 2605
Google map: tinyurl.com/yd9njrm
Woodapple is in Hampton and gets its name from a strange Sri Lankan fruit of the same name (the fruit being hard skinned like a coconut but with an inner pulp like apple and berry pie filling according to our host)
So Woodapple serves Sri Lankan cuisine and does so superbly. There is a reasonable list of entrees but for mains the best choice is the hoppers (bowlshaped rice flour pancakes) filled with your choice of whatever curries are on the constantly changing menus. These are fantastic and come with some amazing chutneys. The coconut roti (bread) is also great. One thing we noticed is that vegetarians are well catered for with a surprisingly good choice of authentic dishes. The service was good, done by the either the lady owner and/or the chef.
Best of all, the prices are very nice and there is no corkage if you bring your own drinks.
Shop 1
427 Hampton St
HAMPTON 3188
ph 9598 7800
Woodapple is in the setback Hampton Village area of Hampton st shops and is about 200m north of Hampton station. Parking out front is free.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yfufnkk
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