WHERE I’D RATHER BE . . .
SHORT HAUL
In NSW’s Brownlow Hill (90 minutes from Sydney CBD), for the Secret Garden festival, a two-day fancy dress forest disco, with music, gourmet food, and fun vibes. This is the festival’s 11th — and last — year. Feb 22-23. secretgardenfestival.com.au
Eating: At Coco Cubano in nearby Ambarvale, where owners Tony and Avril Melhem have created a Cuban/Australian fusion menu and have now expanded to 11 locations in three states. cococubano.com
Drinking: At Razorback Ridge Wines in the Macarthur area of NSW, the region with the longest grape-growing history in Australia. razorbackridgewines.com.au
Staying: Camping at Secret Garden is free but after a couple of nights in a tent, I’ll head to the Camden Valley Inn for a spot of luxury. camdenvalleyinn.com.au
MID HAUL
Forest bathing among the towering trees in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, not far from Kyoto. The soothing sound of wind rustling through the forest has been named one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan”. kyoto.travel/en
Eating: At Shoraian, on the edge of a mountain overlooking a river, where the tofu comes in many different varieties — boiled, fried, burrata-style, and even icecream. shoraian.com
Drinking: Whisky while listening to live jazz, at Hello Dolly, a 1930s New York-inspired bar in Kyoto’s Pontocho neighbourhood. hellodolly.hannnari.com
Staying: At the Kyomachiya Hotel Shiki Juraku, former townhouses converted into guesthouses but retaining their traditional Japanese style. shikijuraku.com/en
LONG HAUL
Hiking one of the famous trails in south-western Germany’s Black Forest, the region full of evergreen trees, pretty villages, spas and cuckoo clocks that inspired the tales of the Brothers Grimm. blackforest-tourism.com
Eating: In Baden-Baden, a town on the edge of the forest, where I’ll try Black Forest gateau, and Flammkuchen — similar to a wood-fired pizza. visit.baden-baden.de/en
Drinking: Cocktails at Roomers Rooftop Bar, where there’s an infinity pool, regular live music, and views of the town and the forest. roomers-badenbaden.com/en
Staying: At my namesake, Villa Stephanie, a historic hotel dating back to 1872. It now offers a range of spa, wellbeing, detox and beauty programmes. oetkercollection. com/hotels/villa-stephanie