Coastal ESCAPE
PORT STEPHENS is a destination that ticks all the boxes for a postlockdown escape: NATURAL GOOD LOOKS, coastal soul and some HIP AND HAPPENING VIBES thrown in for good measure.
IF THESE past few months have taught us anything, it’s to appreciate the simple things in life: space to breathe, natural beauty, connection to nature and each other. So now our dreams are finally answered and we can explore this great land of ours again, where better to do that than the coastal region of Port Stephens? This quintessential Australian enclave strikes the perfect balance between life’s simple pleasures and indulgences – natural beauty, heart-pumping adventure, and a collection of coastal towns that ooze soul.
Located on NSW’S North Coast, just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney and a hop, skip and jump from Newcastle Airport, this coastal region boasts pristine landscapes that are a nature lover’s dream. Anchored by a tranquil bay and the
, aquatic adventures are aplenty. Beach bums are spoilt for choice with 26 stretches of sand to choose from with excellent surf breaks (such as
and ), safe swimming spots for families (such as and ), a number of SUP hire options and a surf school for beginners.
Marine animal enthusiasts can get up close to the pods of bottlenose dolphins that reside in the bay on a cruise with
or
Get even closer to dolphins during NSW’s only wild dolphin swim in Nelson Bay with
(September to May) or spot humpbacks on a whalewatching cruise during an extended whale season (May to November).
Back on dry land, Anna Bay is home to the southern hemisphere’s largest coastal sand dunes –
in the Worimi Conservation Lands – which you can explore by 4WD, fly down on a sandboard or traverse on a quad bike further south on the dunes. While at
in Anna Bay, you can take things slower with a sunset camel ride or gallop along the shores on horseback.
Keen hikers can strap on their boots to tackle the a 2.2-kilometre climb that rewards you with panoramic views of Port Stephens and its breathtaking coastline. The surrounding comprises coastal bushland, sand dunes, heathland and forest all worth exploring.
Outdoor adventure aside, the many towns that make up Port Stephens are both casual and cool, with an increasingly sophisticated dining scene, chic boutique shopping and first-class accommodation options that are the epitome of barefoot luxury. Premium boutique hotel at Soldiers Point has a tranquil day spa and offers excellent dining at renowned ; iconic and
is
WORDS
Getting there
Direct flights arrive in Cairns from most Australian capital cities. Alternatively, turn your visit into a road trip by taking one of the four main routes that lead into the region: the Great Inland Way, Pacific Coast Way, Matilda Way and Savannah Way.
Staying and playing there
The five-star luxury resort provides the perfect escape
(crystalbrookcollection.com). Bounce between the Riley,
and where you don’t have to go far to find some of the city’s best bars and eateries. Dive into Asian eats at give pasta a twirl
and head to at Bailey for authentic Latin share plates. There are also great eateries scattered like pebbles along the Esplanade and waterfront. Our pick is the eat-in trawler
which is moored at the Marlin Marina.
For more information visit
tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
AS FAR AS SHORT BREAKS go, Canberra is the whole package: a compact city where heavyweight national icons are met with world-class gallery offerings and offset by a current of rule-breaking creative energy manifesting in up-and-coming suburbs. Here, a four-day itinerary that takes in the best of both worlds.
Avant-garde and design-heavy Hotel Hotel really shook things up in Canberra when it opened in 2013 and quickly became a destination hotel in itself; it is now reincarnated as Ovolo Nishi and its creative spirit remains. After arriving in the city – just a three-hour drive from Sydney – check in and take the time to orientate yourself in the neighbourhood (the NewActon cultural precinct), beginning right on your doorstep. The architecturally exciting Nishi building that your digs are housed in is also home to contemporary cultural space The Nishi Gallery. Make a dinner reservation at Monster Kitchen and Bar, Ovolo Nishi’s eclectically outfitted in-house restaurant that serves up modern Australian with Japanese and Middle Eastern inflections.
FRIDAY
For a bird’s-eye-view of Walter Burley Griffin’s handiwork, get up at the crack of dawn for a hot-air balloon ride over the city with Balloon Aloft. Reward yourself afterwards with breakfast and excellent coffee at Barrio in the hip hood of Braddon, before spending some time exploring the boutiques and design stores that help make up this little pocket of style in a former light-industrial area.
Spend the afternoon with Canberra’s national icons, including the Australian War Memorial, National Museum of Australia and Parliament House. And make time to visit the National Gallery of Australia, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, which hosts world-class exhibitions and is home to some of the modern art that
SATURDAY
looms largest in the Australian consciousness: Jackson Pollock’s and Sidney Nolan’s series.
For an evening of good food, fine wine and great music, head to an upstairs alcove in one of Canberra’s oldest buildings, the Melbourne Building (just a 10-minute walk from Ovolo Nishi). Bar Rochford is a bar first and foremost, but serves a concise menu of sophisticated modern Australian dishes alongside plenty of atmosphere.
Blue Poles MONDAY Ned Kelly
Eat breakfast at Monster before making your way to south Canberra to visit Canberra Glassworks within the historic Kingston Power House – the city’s oldest public building that powered its development in the early years. Explore its industrial-cathedral interiors via a gallery exhibition, a heritage tour or by taking part in a glassblowing session. Then drop into the Old Bus Depot Markets next door, where all manner of fashion, craft and food stalls come together in yet another impressive industrial building every Sunday.
Pick up some lunch from the markets and head to the Kingston Foreshore to hire an easy-to-sail, carbonneutral, electric picnic boat from GoBoat to spend a lazy afternoon exploring the city from the perspective of Lake Burley Griffin.
SUNDAY
Check out of your hotel and head down the road for a caffeine fix at The Cupping Room: Canberra’s temple to coffee, which does a good line in breakfast, too. Start your journey back from Canberra the long way round by exploring the city’s cold-climate wine region; it’s home to more than 30 cellar doors, all located within 35 minutes’ drive of Canberra. Clonakilla, Mount Majura Vineyard and Helm Wines are top choices (that also open on Mondays). If you’re driving back towards Sydney, stop off along the way in Bowral (see #71 for more on the Southern Highlands) for a stroll around the boutiques and bookshops and high tea at Dirty Janes.
and serves up Cantonese that lets the quality of the local produce used shine.
Housed in a grand heritage bank building, the wine menu here concentrates on more boutique producers while the food is European-influenced and designed to share.
MAEVE WINE
Stay and play
Luckily the local hotel scene is keeping pace with the food one, with loads of luxe accommodation options coming online in the last few years; book a room at the super-cool Calile Hotel, the art-inspired Fantauzzo or big names such as W Brisbane, with its sexy pool deck, or Westin Brisbane.