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How my day started. Full disclosure: I’ve never been the biggest fan of camping. Sure, it’s fun and I always enjoy myself whenever I go, but I just don’t have that ever-present itch to load up the car, roll out the swag and tell stories around the camp fire. Glamping, however, is an entirely different story. I’ll be first out the door. Which is how I ended up at @ingeniaholidays Byron Bay, just out of town opposite the Byron Bay Golf Club. With comfy diggs like this, and the promise of a gorgeous sunrise (that did not disappoint), it was an easy decision. #hosted #byronbay #ingeniaholidaysbyronbay #glamping #glampingtent #glampinglife #astw_inc #travelgram #instatravel #nsw #visitnsw #repeattraveller
Just finished a short trek to Kitekite Falls, near Piha on the West Coast of New Zealand’s North Island - around 45mins from Auckland. It was an easy one hour round trip. The path had a gradual climb (with a couple of steeper spots) and one creek crossing. I’d recommend it if you’re steady on your feet, but if less mobile, perhaps give this one a miss. #newzealand #kitekitefalls #piha #nznorthisland #waterfall #waterfalls #waterfallhike #instatravel #travelgram #astw_inc #repeattraveller
We’ve been on a mission tracking down the best pet friendly cafes in our local area for an article. Mission accomplished at @woodsbangalow. It’s gorgeous - and the food is excellent too. #bangalow #woodsbangalow #petfriendly #byronshire #nsw #instatravel #travelgram #astw_inc #northernrivers #travelwriter #repeattraveller
Reading up on an @ohheywa walking art tour of Perth reminded me just how many mural photos I took on my last trip to the city. Apparently there are some new additions I need to snap. Time for a repeat visit? #perth #westernaustralia #thisiswa #ohheywa #streetart #streetartperth #streetarteverywhere #mural #murals #visitperth #instatravel #travelstoke #repeattraveller
Having a holly, jolly Christmas break filled with great food, family time, and sensational weather. #ballina #nsw #visitnsw #feelnsw #travelgram #travelstoke #instatravel #repeattraveller
A drone’s eye view of the beach in Brunswick Heads. This is our frequent stomping ground, as long-time members of @brunswickslsc (Simon joined as a Nipper in the early 80s). Today we successfully completed our proficiency, meaning we’re qualified to be on the beach, in the surf and in the IRBs for the 2024/25 season. #brunswickheads #brunswickslsc #byronshire #nsw #surflifesaving #swimbetweentheflags #mysurflife
One of the great things about Byron Bay is there’s always somewhere new to dine. The latest addition to the town’s culinary makeup is Byron Bay Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant at @hotelmarvell (the ochre-hued venue formerly known as Bonito). As the name suggests, @byronbayoysterbar is all about the bounty of the sea — with the oysters kept in a special seawater tank in the nearby industrial estate and watched over by an ‘oyster whisperer’ (ok, maybe I made that title up) for max freshness. Having dined at Bonito before it, we’d say this new iteration feels like a genuine step up in service, atmosphere and menu; they’ve taken what worked well before and made it better. Our pick of the menu is the mixed dozen oysters (you can choose from 10 hot and cold flavour combinations) and the heirloom tomatoes with stracciatella. #hosted #hotelmarvell #byronbay #nsw #byronbayrestaurants #foodieporn #foodiegram #instatravel #travelgram #travelstoke #foodie #astw_inc #repeattraveller
It’s been a whirlwind seven days and I’m only now getting the chance to take stock of all the amazing experiences we had, the kind people we met, and of course the sensational wines we tried during the ASTW Convention in the @huntervalley. Now comes the fun part of reliving it again as I share the stories. (Photos taken at the excellent @winehousehuntervalley in Pokolbin, which acts as a combined cellar door for smaller wineries without their own cellar doors or those that are a little too far out of town for day trippers). #astw #astw_inc #huntervalley #nsw #visitnsw #feelnsw #astwhuntervalley2024 #travelwriter #instatravel #winetourism #repeattraveller @astw_inc @visitnsw #winehousehuntervalley #boutiquewine
Magic weather for an evening at Vamp Wine Rooms from Lisa McGuigan. Just in case the photos don’t give it away, let’s be clear: this is not your typical cellar door. It’s bold and filled with personality (plus a lot of chain mail, swords and centurion armour), and that’s before you even get started on the sensational wines. My picks are the Prosecco, Pinot and buttery-smooth Chardonnay. #astwhuntervalley2024 #astw #huntervalley #wine #astw_inc #nsw #feelnsw #vampwinerooms #lisamcguiganwines #cellardoor #repeattraveller
Cheesecake and wine pairing? It’s a thing at Vamp Wine Rooms in the Hunter Valley - and seriously delicious. It’s a fun collaboration with Newcastle business Slab Cheesecakes, which makes these amazing ‘shots’ that pack all the deliciousness of a cheesecake into a two-bite-size morsel. Pair them with two of Lisa McGuigan’s top-notch wines and you have a decadent match made in heaven. #huntervalley #vampwinerooms #lisamcguiganwines #nsw #feelnsw #astw #astw_inc #winetasting #slabcheesecakes #foodiegram #instafoodie #astwhuntervalley2024 #repeattraveller @huntervalley @slabcheesecakes @lisamcguiganwines
Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley - aka ‘home sweet home’ for the Australian Society of Travel Writers convention this week. How’s the serenity? #astw #astw_inc #oakscypresslakesresort #oakshotels #minorhotels #huntervalley #feelnsw #nsw #newsouthwales #astwhuntervalley2024 #travelwriter #travelstoke #repeattraveller
I was lucky to attend a sneak peek of the @lismoreregionalgallery today, ahead of its official reopening on Friday. The art gallery has undergone a massive $5.1 million restoration following the devastating February 2022 flood, which saw Lismore’s downtown swallowed by 14.4 metres of swirling, reddy-brown water (you’ll see my photo of Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph pointing out how high it came within the gallery). The building is now sparkling from top to bottom, with some added features intended to make it more resilient in future. To celebrate, the gallery is kicking off its new era in style with five exceptional exhibitions. Make sure you come check it out! #lismore #lismorecometotheheart #backlismore #visitlismore #lovinglismore #art #artgallery #northernrivers #nsw #visitnsw #astw_inc #lismoreregionalartgallery

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