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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
A splash of colour from Lismore’s Back Alley Art Gallery. Every visit leads to a new discovery. #lismore #nsw #cometotheheart #visitlismore #lovelismore #backlismore #backalleyartgallery #streetart #streetartaustralia #mural #murals #streetartphotography #instatraveling #travelinggram #repeattraveller
Hotels with character are always our preference over their cookie-cutter counterparts. There’s more interest, more personality and style. This one — @theoldclare in Chippendale — definitely fits that brief. The rooms are stunning (like this suite we received a status-based upgrade to through EVT Stays) and the ground floor bar and restaurant inside the original hotel part of that quintessential Aussie pub experience. Oh, and the rooftop pool and bar are great too! #theoldclarehotel #theoldclare #independentcollection #evt #sydney #sydneyhotels #instatravel #hotelsoftheworld #boutiquehotels #repeattraveller
Throwback to our 2018 visit to Kyoto’s gilded Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion. The first shot is that iconic view across the pond everyone clamors for… and the second, the vantage point to get that still and serene image. Still an achingly beautiful place to visit though. #expectationvsreality #rokuonji #kinkakujitemple #konkakuji #kyoto #japan #lovejapan #visitkyoto #visitjapan #visitjapanjp #visitjapanau #instatravel #travelingram #travelstoke #repeattraveller
I’ve admired @r_o_n_e’s artworks from a distance for a while, but today finally had a chance to see them in person at the brilliant TIME exhibition at @artgallerywa. It’s beautifully done with 12 different immersive art installations, including a library, theatre and typists pool. Lights flicker and the sound of distant explosions booms, adding to the eerie atmosphere. It’s on until September 30. #rone #artist #ronetime #artexhibition #artinstallation #mural #murals #artgallerywa #perth #perthisok #astw_inc #instatravel #travelgram #travelstoke #repeattraveller
Behold, the ‘croffle’ — a croissant squishied in a waffle iron, topped with fried chicken and a spicy jalapeño salsa. Aka today’s breakfast at @sayerssister in Perth. #perth #westernaustralia #thisiswa #croffle #foodiegram #foodporn #travellingthroughtheworld #exploremore #traveldeeper #repeattraveller

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