Travel News – August 2022


[Travel News]
Usher Spring with New Blooms and Spot Wildlife in a Steve Irwin-Inspired Luxury Escape
In September, Australia welcomes spring in all its splendour, with its sunny days and cool nights, as well as a slew of exciting new happenings and experiences, ranging from celebrating spectacular flora and fauna in bloom to staying in a nature hideaway inspired by Australia’s greatest wildlife icon, Steve Irwin. 
“With mild temperatures, stunning wildflowers and amazing festivals, Australia in springtime offers such a wide range of experiences that travellers can look forward to. There’s no better time to awaken your sense of wonder and unlock your imagination by taking that trip to Australia now,” said Brent Anderson, Regional General Manager, South & South East Asia (SSEA), Tourism Australia.

The Sydney Fringe Festival is an annual celebration of vibrance and culture. Photo by Sydney Fringe Festival

Sydney Fringe Festival (Sydney/ Warrane, New South Wales): The Sydney Fringe Festival, New South Wales’ largest independent arts festival, runs for the entire month of September and features over 500 events in 50 venues. Expect cultural creators from across the city to band together to share Sydney’s stories, presenting new work in a variety of genres. This year’s Sydney Fringe Festival launches the inaugural LIMITLESS microfestival,  which celebrates performance and visual artists with disabilities. From 1st till 30th September 2022.Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (Toowoomba, Queensland): The annual Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, which features more than 60 distinctive events and experiences, transforms Southern Queensland’s Toowoomba city into a breath-taking month of flowers, flavours, and sounds. Discover award-winning parks, breathtaking private gardens, streets awash with florals colours, world-renowned musical acts, the finest cuisine and wine available in Queensland, as well as a variety of cultural and natural excursions. From 1 till 30 September 2022.
Brisbane Festival (Brisbane/Meeanjin, Queensland): Brisbane’s most anticipated event of the year is a wonderful way to celebrate spring. As people emerge from their winter mood, Brisbane Festival brings them together for an explosion of artistic creations, live performances, and experiences for all ages. Get a ticket for the opening weekend to see Brisbane’s bridges, barges, and rooftops illuminated by spectacular pyrotechnic displays as the city skyline explodes with fireworks. From 2nd till 24th September 2022.

Take in the incredible sights of Lake Eyre and William Creek from above ground. Photo by Wilpena Pound Resort

Lake Eyre Explorer Package (Flinders Ranges, South Australia): Experience the breath-taking Kati ThandaLake Eyre on a trip to the Flinders Ranges with this scenic flight, accommodation and extras package. Marvel at the spectacular display of pastel colours from above, plus, enjoy an opportunity to be immersed in the rich culture of the Flinders Ranges when staying at the base of the Wilpena Pound.Origins Market’s New Experiences (Busselton, Western Australia): The beloved Origins Market in Busselton, in Western Australia’s South West, has added a range of tours and experiences that offer visitors a chance to better connect with the vibrant selection of exhibition makers and creators. Origins Market’s new experiences range from food and wine pairing to art tours, all of which provide visitors with a unique way to explore what the region has to offer. Connection: Songlines from Australia’s First Nations People (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory): From the makers of Van Gogh Alive, the exhibition explores First Nations People’s spiritual connections to land, water, and sky, through a vibrant and multi-sensory symphony of sound, light, and colour. State-of-the-art technology is used to create an immersive exhibition space, enveloping you in large-scale projections and cinematic surround sound. Girri Girra (Central Coast, New South Wales): Disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature at an overnight bush camp in the Ourimbah State Forest with Girri Girra, an Aboriginal-owned tour operator on the Central Coast. Sleeping in individual pop-up tents, guests will take part in an authentic Indigenous experience complete with a smoking ceremony, storytelling around the fire, body painting and dance. Tyama (Melbourne/Narrm, Victoria): Immerse yourself in a new experience grounded in First People’s environmental knowledge at Melbourne Museum. Designed to reawaken our natural world connection, Tyama (pronounced chah-muh) is fitted with beautiful soundscapes, encouraging visitors to play, connect, and discover items from the museum’s collection.
Gastronomo’s Sensorium promises a culinary adventure drawing on the senses to embrace the art of eating together while sharing stories. Photo by Gastronomo Dining

Gastronomo’s Sensorium (Kangaroo Island, South Australia): Masters of immersive dining, Gastronomo invites guests to take part in an elaborate dining experience, Sensorium, showcasing premium food sourced from the land and sea around Kangaroo Island and South Australia. The eight-course tasting menu evolves in front of guests as each course is cooked over the flames, coal or the smoke of an open fire pit, all set inside a historic sugar gum hut lit with flickering candlelight. Limited to small dining groups and only a few dates released each month, Sensorium will run until October 2022.Haselgrove Rooftop Cellar Door (Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia): Surrounded by cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, and mourvèdre vineyards dating back more than 60 years, Haselgrove Wines sits in an iconic location that is the perfect blend of history, beauty and, of course, great wine growing conditions.Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters (Melbourne/Narrm, Victoria): New culinary experience, Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters, has opened its doors in the heart of Melbourne, in a debut collaboration between Fed Square and the team behind Farmer’s Daughters. Overlooking Yarra River, the 250-seat restaurant will transport diners to the heart and soul of Victoria, paying tribute to and celebrating the produce, people, and places that make up this incredible state.  Moo Brew New Venue (Hobart/Nipaluna, Tasmania): The oldest craft brewery in Tasmania, Moo Brew is set to develop an unconventional venue to match its unconventional beers in Hobart. Featuring drinks galore, salty snacks and an edgy atmosphere, this new venue – part taphouse, part bar – will house a nanobrewery for concocting experimental brews in situ, as well as offering Moo Brew’s classic range of beers. Valley Social (Swan Valley, Western Australia): Valley Social provides a spacious interior with multiple zones to enjoy local craft beers, ciders, spirits and wines served across three different bars. The food menu features fresh local produce, with the venue’s custom-built ‘black beauty’ smoker serving up a variety of barbeque meats. It is also home to the largest glass micro-brewery kettle in the Southern Hemisphere, with all beers produced on-site, as well as house spirits. 
Experience unparalleled privacy and personalised service alongside barefoot adventure and a genuine connection to nature at The House. Photo by Elise Hassey 

The House (Great Barrier Reef, Queensland): A world-class reef house situated on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef, The House has opened its doors to guests seeking unparalleled levels of privacy and personalised service. Newly built on a pristine headland of the exclusive Lizard Island, The House and its adjoining residence, The Cottage, make up a rare and compelling offering which embodies all things authentically Australian and the opportunity to enjoy laidback luxury at its finest.The Crocodile Hunter Lodge (Sunshine Coast, Queensland): Inspired by Steve Irwin’s life, legacy and love for wildlife, the Irwin family launched The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, a beautiful hideaway home to red kangaroos, emus and koalas, nestled into the Australian bush near the famed Glass House Mountains and Sunshine Coast beaches. Guests can admire these iconic animals while taking a dip in The Billabong, a 25metre infinity pool, and enjoying a poolside snack or cocktail from Warrior Restaurant and Bar.Spicers Tower Lodge (Hunter Valley, New South Wales): The Hunter Valley has welcomed the return of an old friend, with the iconic Tower Lodge in Pokolbin reopening as Spicers Tower Lodge after a multi-million dollar renovation. The exclusive retreat is built in a modern Spanish mission style, featuring warm, earthy textures and colours that blend into the landscape. Handmade Mexican terracotta tiles line the floors, and adobe-rendered walls catch the sunset over Broken Back Range.Lancemore Milawa (King Valley, Victoria): Located in one of Australia’s oldest gourmet regions less than three hours from Melbourne, Lancemore Milawa is a boutique hotel set to reinterpret the vision of a country estate with the unveiling of its multi-million-dollar refurbishment in September 2022. Helmed by award-winning interior designer Hana Hakim of The Stella Collective, the Lancemore project will feature a fashion-forward, sophisticated space.Lily and Sadie Cabins (Clare Valley, South Australia): CABN has launched the Lily and Sadie CABNs – its first architectural accommodation escapes in the Clare Valley. With unrivalled views of the surrounding famed Clare region vineyards and an outlook of the rolling hills throughout the valley, this accommodation sets new standards and offers guests an exceptional CABN experience in a private natural setting.

Photo credits: Respective photographers for Tourism Australia