Against the shiny facade of Sydney Harbour, Cockatoo Island’s rugged, industrial look provides a stark contrast.
Over two centuries, the 18-hectare island housed a convict prison, reformatory girl’s school and, most recently, a sprawling shipyard. Boat building ended in 1991 and, after a UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2010, tourism is now the primary industry. With its multi-level maze of pathways, tunnels and precarious stairways, intrigue lurks around every corner. Nature meets history on an epic scale.
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Hobart’s illustrious past and creative present combine to stimulate the senses of the curious visitor, writes Rob Grant.
Built on over 200 years of history, and situated near Australia’s most southerly point, Hobart is a unique spot. It can surprise new arrivals, with a quirky mix of sights, sounds and sensations. Forget any illusions of a sleepy town on the edge of civilisation. Hobart is a stimulating showcase of Tasmania’s gourmet excellence and a melting pot of offbeat artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs.
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One destination, two different adventures. Rob leaves his Sydney city pad to discover the joys of the wild west
Afternoon off work secured, and an overnight bag packed, I meet the missus and board the Nicole Livingstone RiverCat at Circular Quay. The low sun is dazzling, and the boat slows to a crawl as our destination rises over the leafy riverbank. Parramatta, here we come...
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Sydney is more than just the icons; the city hums with music and food writes Rob Grant. 
Winter is a short affair in Sydney; it barely lasts a month. Yet when ocean temperatures start to rise and the jacaranda trees blossom, it’s a whole new world. Outdoor events appear from nowhere. Early nights become a thing of the past. Every park, beach or corner becomes a place to hang out. Replenished by a brief hibernation, Sydney awakens and there’s no finer place to be.
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Japanese tradition and Australian produce join forces at a full-scale sake brewery in Sydney’s outskirts. Rob Grant goes rice spirit sipping in the suburbs.
In the realm of improbable tasks, exporting Australian sake to Japan would seem to rank alongside the proverbial “selling ice to the Eskimos”. Yet the expert brewers at Sun Masamune in Penrith, western Sydney, do exactly this and invite any curious visitors to see how...
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Two very different travellers, Megan and Rob, visit Melbourne for two very different weekends.
Rob - this Sydney romantic whisks his fiancé off to Melbourne to taste the best of the culture capital’s European cuisine and architecture.
MIDDAY IN PARIS
On a sunny, clear blue-sky afternoon, a stroll through Melbourne’s “Paris End” seems like a good place to start. The elegant buildings, tree-lined pavements and high-end fashion stores of Collins Street, between Russell Street and Spring Street in Melbourne city, do create a Parisian feel of sorts. But it’s only window shopping for me...
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Determined to keep their WEEKENDER LIFESTYLE alive, the duo behind WHILEAWAY GUIDES set out to show Australians there’s plenty to DISCOVER in their own backyard.
In the early days of a fledgling business, it can be what you choose not to do – rather than what you do – that determines your success. Jess Grinter and Kitty Spry know that first-hand, after the travel guide creators decided their product would be sans photos – just cleverly crafted words to lure readers in...
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An entertaining mail boat tour of a history-laden natural treasure starts only one hour from central Sydney.
The serenity of the Hawkesbury River can lead to thoughts of nature’s innocence. Surely nothing risqué happens around here? But people do say you should beware of the quiet ones. In similarly subdued areas across Australia it’s often the postal worker or “postie” – witness to any sneaky, early-morning shenanigans – who’s best placed to
dish the gossip. It’s the same story here....
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