taking you places , fashion , travel , lifestyle

What do wine buffs, surfers and the discerning Perth weekend crowd have in common? Largely their love of their own pristine backyard, the south- west region of Western Australia, stretching through wine country and tall forests all the way to Albany, with magical things to see and do along the way.

But now the rest of the world is waking up to the area, curious to see what all the fuss is about. For a start it makes sense to fly into Perth from Europe and Asia as the flight times from London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are under 18 hours and just under 5 hours from Singapore. From here you can explore Perth and travel south to explore the fabulous coastline, the Margaret River Wine Region and beyond.

Perth is the world’s most isolated capital city, but don’t let that worry you as both it and Fremantle offer superb food and wine, arts and cultural activities to soak up before heading south.

Leave the traffic lights behind
Driving in the area is a pleasure and it is no wonder that car companies often use the area as a launch and test-drive location. It’s a three-hour drive to the famous Margaret River Wine Region and you can take it easy stopping at places along the way. White beaches, sweeping bays, cliffs and oceans that vary from stunning blue to deep green – you’ll be amazed at the scenery and sheer freshness of it all.

Your journey need not be direct and you’ll love turning off to explore as you wish. Drop in to Bunbury, the City of Three Waters, with the surf of the Indian Ocean, the Leschenault Inlet and Koombanna Bay on three sides. More than 100 bottlenose dolphins live in Koombanna Bay and you can swim with them and cruise alongside them from the Dolphin Discovery Centre.

Busselton is in a fantastic setting on shores of Geographe Bay – the water is usually a fabulous blue and more than 30 kilometres of dazzling, white sandy beaches stretch off into the distance towards Cape Naturaliste. You can snorkel, dive, fish and sail, cycle the foreshore or just sit in a cafe or bar and watch the world go by.

If you’d like to see the underwater world without getting wet, the Busselton Jetty’s Underwater Observatory is 12 metres below the surface on the ocean floor with 11 viewing windows through which to see the vivid corals and marine life of the jetty’s own reef.

Just before Cape Naturalise, Dunsborough is a place where the vineyards meet the sea. Discover Bunker Bay and Meelup Beach, photograph Sugarloaf Rock and dive the 113-metre Swan Dive Wreck.

Around Margaret River and Yallingup catch (or maybe just watch) the waves at Surfer’s Point where the Margaret River Pro is held or Smiths Beach for fishing, swimming and surfing. The Yallingup Surfilm Festival is held every two years and the next is in January 2012, featuring surf films, surf book authors and all sorts of surf legends and culture.

Surfing’s not the only thrill – the area is famous for its caves and Outdoor Discoveries run caving programs from large caverns to, as they put it, tight squeezes!  They will also take you abseiling and rock-climbing at the Willyabrup sea cliffs, one of the South West’s premier sites.

Don’t forget to drop in to the Kodja Place Visitor and Interpretive Centre in Kojonup, and the Wardan Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Yallingup to discover more about Indigenous history and culture.

Wine country
In Margaret River wine country there’s fabulous food and local produce to complement the wine trail. The region is responsible for over 15 per cent of the country’s premium wine and the cellar doors and restaurants echo the quality.

The Margaret River region sits on an ancient granite peninsula between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin along a coastal ridge enjoying fine soil and a maritime climate that produces fine Cabernet Sauvignon, powerful Shiraz and intense Chardonnay among its different varietals.

Labels such as Cape Mentelle, Vasse Felix, Cullen, Fermoy Estate, Xanadu, Howard Park and Madfish are just a handful of examples of the wine labels of the area. Madfish is part of Howard Park a family owned company with a cellar door in Margaret River and also at Denmark in the Great Southern wine region around the coastline near Albany.

Great Southern is a lesser known but much larger region, 100 kilometres by 150 kilometres and with five sub-regions, Denmark, Albany, Mount Barker, Frankland River and Porongurups each with its own variation in climate, making this a fascinating wine region to tour.

Howard Park has grown into Western Australia’s largest family-owned wine company under the guiding hands of Jeff and Amy Burch their multi-award winning Howard Park Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon testament to the diverse growing conditions of the area.

“This is just such a special part of the world,” says Amy Burch. “ We spend time in France with our business and I love it but oh, the traffic in those narrow streets, even in the villages. I come here and drive to Margaret River and we have the whole gourmet experience but without the traffic lights, and that is very precious indeed.”

All the way to Albany
South east of Margaret River, Pemberton continues the foodie theme with specialities such as black truffles grown at Manjimup. Visit the Wine & Truffle Co and join a ‘truffle hunt’ to locate the wonderful black truffles beginning in April each year.

Alongside vineyards and pastures, Pemberton is surrounded by spectacular karri forests of the Gloucester National Park. The Gloucester Tree is WA’s most famous karri at 61 metres tall and you can visit cafes and vineyards and bushwalk along the Bibbulmun Track through the forest. If you don’t want to walk you can also see the forest by tram or steam train.

You’ll also see karris between Manjimup and Denmark and in spring the forest floors are covered with wildflowers. The Tuart Forest National Park along the Swan Coastal Plain between Busselton and Jurien Bay protects one of the most precious and rare ecosystems on earth with tall grey-barked tuart trees and endangered wildlife such as Carnaby’s black cockatoo.

Further south, Denmark on the Denmark River has turquoise Ocean, spectacular beaches, whale watching, cellar doors and enticing berry farms and toffee and cheese factories. The area is also known for wildflowers and walks – the Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants is a walk through the canopy of a forest of gigantic tingle trees nearly 40 metres up in the air in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park. The buttressed red tingles can reach 75 metres in height and 26 metres at the base, the largest of any eucalypt.

Stay, ride, take a walk
Margaret River’s Cape Lodge is WA’s best known boutique hotel and check out the Injidup Spa Retreat, Smiths Beach Resort south of Yallingup and Pembertons’ Stone Barn to name just a few of the places to stay.

Also note that bike riders can cycle the Cape to Cape track and the Munda Biddi Trail and, from March 2011, Auswalk is launching a self-guided nine-day, inn-to-inn Cape to Cape walk.

Written by Alison Plummer on behalf of Tourism Australia.

Vineyards With A Twist

The Mudgee Region is the ultimate destination for those that enjoy their wine with around 40 boutique wineries. But a trend is underway as cellar doors offer so much more than wine to attract visitors and differentiate themselves. ‘Vineyards with a Twist’ have opened with a game of croquet, a spirit distillery, cooking classes, sculptures in the gardens, art classes, cheese making, wine-maker dinners and even museums.

“The passionate, diverse and artistic nature of the Mudgee Region’s community is alive and evident at our cellar doors. Yes they offer quality food and wine, but visitors can indulge many other sensory experiences such as art, history, sport, education and local produce,” said Alison Slevin, Interim Executive Officer of Mudgee Region Tourism Inc.

The Mudgee Region’s ‘Vineyards With A Twist’:

• Anyone for Croquet or a Drop of Liqueur? – coming soon to Mudgee, taste and buy hand-crafted spirits and liqueurs on site at Vinifera with their new Baker Williams Distillery www.bakerwilliams.com.au. While you are there enjoy a round of croquet, a popular European sport. This winery also hosts tapas lunches on weekends, and at Easter and throughout the September Wine and Food Festival they host a travelling exhibition of local artworks for sale. www.viniferawines.com.au
• Artist Retreat Workshops and Sculptures In The Garden at Rosby Wines – to develop the inner artist within, enrol in one of Rosby’s Artist Workshops held throughout the year including print-making, mixed media portrait drawing and more. Visit over the 13-14 October 2012 and witness the gardens of the property transformed into an outdoor gallery, with the annual Sculptures In The Garden event. www.rosby.com.au
• Behind The Scenes at High Valley Wine & Cheese Co. – take part in a ‘Tasting & Talking’ session to gain an insight into the grape growing and cheese making process while enjoying taste tests along the way. www.highvalley.com.au
• Wagyu Beef BBQs at Gooree Park Wines – Gooree Park is famous for its champion horses and thoroughbred racing with their annual Gooree Cup in May at the Mudgee Race Course. They also breed high-grade Wagyu cattle, known as the world’s best tasting tender beef. Make sure to visit for their special Wagyu Beef BBQs held throughout the year, including each Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day. www.gooreepark.com
• Old Wares and Collectables at Broombee Organic Wines – taste organic cold pressed olive oils, table olives, jams and freshly picked fruit including nectarines and cherries in season. Take home a unique collectable with old wares for sale including spinning wheels, vases, books, bottles, glassware, linen and lace. www.broombeeorganicwines.com.au
• Di Lusso Estate ‘Winemakers and Pizza’ lunches – enjoy an authentic Italian alfresco long lunch, with the choice of a seasonal menu or delicious wood-fired pizzas straight from the outdoor pizza oven. Served with a range of Italian varietal wines and olive oil. They also have their own figs and farm-made fig products. Held every weekend and open for casual lunches daily except Tuesdays. www.dilusso.com.au
• Learn about Organics at The Winemaker’s Table – David Lowe of Lowe Wines plays host throughout the year to regular Winemaker’s Table events, replicating a larger scale dinner party at home with a large group of friends. Enjoy wine, good company and conversation, and a delicious banquet prepared by local food identity Kim Currie – rustic, seasonal and wherever possible from the Tinja property. www.lowewine.com.au
• Browse Vintage Motorcycles at Robert Stein 5-Star James Halliday Winery and Vineyard – see an impressive collection of vintage motorcycles from the 1920’s to the 1970’s, along with other rare collectables and photographs at Robert Stein’s renowned Vintage Motorcycle Museum. www.robertstein.com.au
• Shop and Taste at Botobolar Wine & Things Organic – Australia’s oldest certified organic vineyard now has a cellar door and shop in the heart of town. Sample their wine and enjoy perusing the shelves that stock a variety of organic, local, fair trade and sustainable goodies including foods and fabulous homewares. Located at 95 Market Street, Mudgee. www.botobolar.com
• Cheese Making Workshops at Leaning Oak Winery and Dairy – take part in the Farmstead Cheese Making Workshops at this boutique winery. Classes include milking the sheep and goats, then making, ripening and ageing cheeses by hand. From 9am-4pm, includes morning tea and lunch and costs $165pp. www.leaningoak.com.au
• Long Lazy Lunches at Blue Wren Wines – enjoy a sunny alfresco lunch at their onsite restaurant, set within a beautifully transformed barn with a menu that reflects in-season produce. Open seven days for brunch to lunch, and Thurs to Sun for dinner. www.bluewrenwines.com.au

Other Vineyards with a Twist include Master Cooking Classes at Blacklea Vineyard and a classical Music Festival in November at Huntington Estate.

For more information contact the Mudgee Visitor Information Centre on 02 6372 1020 or go to www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au

Hedonistic Hiking’s October walking holiday in Piedmont is a celebration of Slow Food and Slow Travel.  The hiking is very varied, taking in alpine pastures, pristine lakes and ripening vineyards but even more mouth-watering is the chance to taste everything from artisan cheeses to fresh pasta and the famous white truffle of Alba.

The Piedmont region is renowned for its wines; Barolo, Barbaresco and Asti to name but a few.   The holiday includes a tour and tasting at the cellars of an established wine-maker in the village of Barolo, a visit to a cheese producer and a rare chance to hunt for truffles with a local expert and his trusty dog.
“The ethos of Slow Food is central to the philosophy of Hedonistic Hiking” explains Jackie, MD of the Company.  “We whole-heartedly support local food traditions and one of our key aims is to offer premium quality, locally sourced produce both in our own picnic lunches and in the menus we plan together with restaurateurs.”

Accommodation is based in two delightful hotels.  The first is a converted farmhouse in the medieval town of Saluzzo, the artistic jewel of Piedmont nestled at the foot of Monviso.   The second is an elegant hotel in the pretty village of La Morra in the heart of the Langhe region.
Mick and Jackie Parsons own and operate Hedonistic Hiking, a company specialising in guided gourmet walking holidays in Italy and Australia.   They are passionate about the food, the wine and the walking of both countries.

The tour starts and ends in Turin and runs from 12th – 19th October 2012, is priced at €2425 per person based on two sharing and is fully inclusive. For booking and full tour details please visit www.hedonistichiking.com or call +61 (0)3 5755 2307.

The new luxury boutique hotel Casa San Agustín will open in Cartagena de Indias in Summer 2012 after a complete renovation.  Simply elegant and uniquely authentic, the property features 22 rooms and 9 suites and is destined to set a new standard of luxury in Colombia.  The hotel creates an architecturally unique atmosphere by preserving 3 Colonial buildings and an ancient aqueduct.  Casa San Agustín sits within the walled city of Cartagena, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site which is rich in palaces, gardens, convents and churches, conserving all the enchantment of the Colonial period.  The narrow streets are flanked by beautiful doors and projecting balconies with trailing blooms mimicking the romantic Andalusian style, leaving an indelible mark on this beautiful city nestled on a bay on the Caribbean Sea.

Accommodations feature exceptional amenities, yet it is the unique architectural character of the buildings themselves that make Casa San Agustín such a luxurious experience.  Wooden beamed ceilings soar up to 25 feet (6 meters); arched windows allow light to flood into the guest rooms and suites; breezy balconies and flowered terraces create and preserve an authentic Colombian style within the chic yet relaxed atmosphere of Casa San Agustín.

Many furnishings have been crafted by artisans and a series of singularly designed ironwork chandeliers have been designed for the restaurant, bar and outdoor terraces.  Pure whites, deep blues and shades of green are reflective of the
Caribbean Sea and influence the color palette throughout the hotel.  Four-poster beds furnish each room and suite while a select number of rooms feature private plunge pools or Jacuzzis.  To satisfy the needs of the most discerning traveller, modern technology has been seamlessly woven into every aspect of the hotel. From the individually decorated rooms and suites with their refined details, Casa San Agustín will resonate with true luxury and authentic sophistication, setting an enduring standard for Cartagena.  Tailor-made services provide an added touch of luxury to the amenities that are offered.  From assistance with organizing a wedding, to arranging a private boat excursion to the Islas de Rosario, the seasoned professionals at the hotel will manage your requests with ease.

Restaurant Alma – Restaurant Alma will feature al fresco dining in the courtyard of Casa San Agustín and guests of the hotel as well as the locals will gather to imbibe and dine on local specialties.  The bar and poolside lounge will invite guests for tapas style portions along with a refreshing mix of cocktails.  The chef will showcase the region’s rich
choice of produce from freshly caught seafood to local beef.

Private Terrace + Bar – The third floor terrace overlooks the rooftops of the city and will serve as a solarium for hotel guests during the day, offering an alternative place to relax. During the evening, the terrace transforms into a “By Invitation Only” lounge for locals and guests.

One of Australia’s most spectacular destinations, El Questro Wilderness Park, will open its gates again on 1 April, 2012 to welcome visitors to the magnificent Kimberley region in far north Western Australia.

This year there will be more reasons to visit this amazing location as El Questro celebrates the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first accommodation at the Park with special offers and stylish new suites.

Three accommodation options exist for visitors – El Questro Homestead, Emma Gorge at El Questro and The Station at El Questro.

The Homestead is a stylish retreat set high, overlooking the Chamberlain River.  In 2012, three new Cliff Side Retreats will open bringing the total number of suites to just nine at this exclusive property.  The Retreats will offer uninterrupted views of the rugged scenery courtesy of the floor to ceiling, sliding glass walls.  From the shower, guests can access either the free standing bath on the verandah or the garden rain shower surrounded by magnificent stone walls that ensure complete privacy.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary, guests staying four nights or longer will save 20% off their accommodation. This is available throughout the entire season.

Emma Gorge at El Questro offers safari-style tented cabins complete with en suites located right in the heart of the rugged red Cockburn Ranges at the foot of the spectacular gorge.  Set amongst gardens featuring beautiful pandanus and palm trees and looking up to the towering sandstone escarpments on either side of the Gorge, this accommodation is perfect for couples and families looking to get close to nature.

 The Station at El Questro is the central hub of the Wilderness Park, offering two types of accommodation. Air-conditioned Bungalows overlook the Pentecost River and are ideal for couples or a family holiday. Alternatively guests can camp at the Black Cockatoo campground or at one of the 25 beautifully
located private campsites.  These sit among sprawling green lawns and right near the local swimming hole.

In 2012 guests can stay for three nights and pay for two at either Emma Gorge or The Station at El Questro.
El Questro Wilderness Park is a vast landscape of just under one million acres in the Kimberley comprising red rock ranges, river gorges, waterfalls and thermal springs housing a fantastic display of flora and fauna.   Each year after the wet season finishes, visitors are treated to an amazing display of Australian nature as the native flowers burst into life and the breeding season begins for many of the local bird colonies including the elegant black-necked stork or Jabiru.
Located 110km from Kununurra, El Questro is a remote and rugged destination that promises the seclusion to explore this iconic part of Australia and the amazing wildlife that exists within its boundaries.
Numerous tours are available throughout the season which runs until 31 October each year.  These allow guests to experience the area by 4WD, helicopter, horse and on foot – all led by expert guides.  Full day fishing tours for the elusive local barramundi are also available.

For reservations please contact www.elquestro.com.au or call 1300 233 432.

The iconic Cradle Mountain Lodge has joined Australia’s premier boutique accommodation brand – Peppers Retreats & Resorts – following its sale to new owners, Moss Capital.

To be known as Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, the multi-award winning property first opened in 1972 and transformed over the years into a world-class boutique wilderness retreat. The Lodge’s 86 guest cabins boast an enviable location at the entrance to the spectacular World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in the northern Tasmanian highlands, just over an hour’s drive from Devonport and two hours from Launceston.

Bob East, CEO of Mantra Group which manages the Peppers portfolio says the signing of such a renowned property as Cradle Mountain Lodge recognises the brand’s reputation as one of quality.

“It is fitting that one of Australia’s greatest examples of boutique accommodation should now be associated with Peppers, a brand synonymous with providing luxury boutique accommodation experiences to guests for over 25 years,” he said.

“We are very strategic with our acquisitions to the Peppers brand and ensure that all properties are of the highest standard which Cradle Mountain Lodge more than satisfies.”

Marianne Ossovani, Head of Tourism and Leisure at Moss Capital said that co-founders Bill Moss and Glenn Willis are delighted to partner with Mantra Group on this iconic Australian tourism asset.

“Partnering Peppers with Cradle Mountain Lodge is a natural association – we believe the Peppers brand captures the essence of boutique retreat accommodation and it is a welcome addition to the established name and reputation that the Lodge already enjoys.”

The Peppers brand started with the opening of the first Peppers property 25 years ago – the famous Peppers Guest House in the NSW Hunter Valley – and now includes over 25 properties in Australia and New Zealand.

What began as a group of small boutique retreats now includes a host of luxury holiday resorts and the beginnings of a network of metropolitan based apartment hotels.  Retreats include Peppers Mineral Springs Resort in Daylesford and Peppers Craigieburn Bowral through to the impressive resort style accommodation at Peppers Salt Beach in Kingscliff and Peppers Beach Club Palm Cove.  The brand’s first foray into metropolitan locations has been a great success with the opening of Peppers Broadbeach in 2010. Further CBD and regional locations around Australia and New Zealand are slated for 2012.

Set discreetly within a stunning wilderness setting, Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge offers four different types of accommodation, from the contemporary Pencil Pine Cabins to the luxurious King Billy Suites, and extensive leisure facilities including the award-winning Highland Restaurant and indulgent Waldheim Alpine Spa.

The Lodge is surrounded by ancient towering forests, mountain scenery and clean glacial lakes and streams, crisscrossed with over 20 walking trails for every fitness level. Activities on offer include guided or self-guided trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, fly fishing, canoeing and more.

Rates: Pencil Pine Cabins start from $209 per night including full buffet breakfast, subject to availability.  Visit www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au for bookings and further information.

Renowned chef and Friend of Australia, Matt Moran, tonight celebrated the launch of the T-QUAL Tick Tour, which will see him travel around Australia to visit some of the country’s best tourism experiences that are endorsed by the Australian Government’s new national symbol of tourism quality, the T-QUAL Tick.
Tourism Australia is responsible for promoting the T-QUAL Tick on behalf of the Tourism Quality Council of Australia, and has designed the T-QUAL Tick Tour to showcase some of the quality tourism businesses that have met the criteria to display the T-QUAL Tick.

Tonight’s exclusive launch event was held at the T-QUAL endorsed ARIA Restaurant on Sydney’s iconic harbour. Guests were treated to some of Matt’s celebrated culinary dishes while hearing all about the details of the upcoming T-QUAL Tick Tour.

A seasoned domestic traveller for business and pleasure, Matt Moran said he is looking forward to experiencing more of Australia’s quality offerings.

“I’m so excited to get started on the T-QUAL Tick Tour. As co-owner of ARIA, I understand the importance of promoting quality in the industry. I can’t wait to discover the best that Australia has to offer and to experience the high-quality products that are available right on our doorstep,” he said.
Matt will kick off his T-QUAL Tick Tour tomorrow with an overnight adventure to Taronga Zoo’s Roar and Snore, where he will experience rare insights into the zoo’s nocturnal inhabitants and spend a night sleeping in an architecturally designed tent overlooking Sydney’s iconic harbour. Matt will then embark upon his journey around the country, visiting some quality tourism experiences in destinations such as Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Broome.

Managing Director of Tourism Australia, Andrew McEvoy, commented that, “The T-QUAL Tick is working to promote quality tourism in Australia and raising industry standards and is backed by the Australian Government.
“Matt’s tour will give people all over the country an insight into exactly why they can trust the T-QUAL Tick when booking their next holiday, allowing them to relax safe in the knowledge that they will enjoy value for money and a quality experience,” said McEvoy.

Everyone can join Matt on his journey by following his regular blog posts, video logs, tweets and Facebook updates, providing an up close and personal look at the quality experiences that Australia’s tourism industry has to offer.
The T-QUAL Tick Tour will feature on Matt’s blog (t-qual.tumblr.com), Matt’s Twitter account (@chefmattmoran), Matt’s Facebook page (facebook.com/chefmattmoran), and YouTube (youtube.com/user/TQUALaustralia).

For further information on T-QUAL Accreditation visit www.tourism.australia.com/t-qual.

Hamilton Island has opened the first phase of its newly refurbished Premium Palm Bungalows, providing a luxurious yet affordable romantic or family getaway.
Currently undergoing a $4 million refurbishment, the Premium Palm Bungalows offers guests the option of a little more luxury whilst retaining the relaxed simplicity of a ‘back to nature’ private retreat.

Thirty per cent of the Palm Bungalows have been refurbished and are now available to guests as ‘Premium Palm Bungalows’ with 60 per cent to be completed by the spring and the remainder in 2013.

The Premium Palm Bungalows entice guests with an inviting palate of neutral sandy tones and modern interiors. Bright and airy, each bungalow features a king-size bed, divan, air conditioning and an all-white bathroom with premium fittings and decor. Guests now have access to an expandable kitchenette, with microwave, bar-fridge, mini bar and tea and coffee making facilities for in-room entertaining and relaxation. The free-standing bungalows are sleek yet simple, accommodate up to three adults, or two adults and two small children making it ideal for small families.

Located footsteps from Catseye Beach and the Marina, each free-standing bungalow includes its own fully furnished private balcony with a hammock surrounded by beautifully landscaped tropical gardens. Guests have access to the main resort pool overlooking the ocean, complete with a swim-up bar and complimentary use of non-motorised water sports.

The bungalows have been designed by award winning Australian interior designers, Hare + Klein, who have also created the interiors of Hamilton Island’s luxurious day spa, Spa wumurdaylin.

Premium Palm Bungalows are available to book from $330 per room per night twin share. For bookings, please go to www.hamiltonisland.com.au or call 137 333.

Melbourne is ‘hot’ right now. International visitors are proving it by flocking to the ‘Most Liveable City in the World’ in record numbers. In fact, Victoria recorded its highest number and share of total international overnight visitors on record with a 9.1% increase to 1.74 million for the year ending September 2011.

Here are twenty of the hottest new reasons to visit Melbourne and Victoria in 2012.

1. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2012 celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Extended to last 20 days between 2 – 21 March, 2012, the celebration will start with a Riverside Opening Weekend with activities such as city street feasts; 80 events under $50, and the world’s longest lunch. Almost 100 of the world’s top chefs and winemakers from 14 different countries will converge on Melbourne for the festival’s famous Langham Masterclass in order to share their culinary secrets and the newest gastronomic trends. Beer lovers are also in for a treat as the festival will be showcasing its very own 20th anniversary brew at the Great Melbourne Beer Breakfast. There will also be over 100 events across regional Victoria, giving visitors the chance to explore Victoria’s harvest-ready wine and river country.
2. Melbourne Airport’s $330 million expansion is almost complete. New gates 18 and 20 are now in operation and the aerobridge upgrades will be completed this month. New airside retail offerings include Little Ludlow, Dreamtime Journey, Think Sport, WH Smith, Discover Victoria and Hudsons has also launched their rebranded concept store. Opening soon will be Melbourne’s only Victoria’s Secret store, Bar Pulpo by Movida, Happy Lab, Wok on Air and Hungry Jack’s.
3. So many exciting restaurant openings in 2011 from the Shannon Bennett’s new Vue de Monde at the top of the Rialto to Donovan Cooke’s Atlantic in Crown and Andrew McConnell’s Golden Fields in St Kilda. Then there was the amazing Chin Chin by Chris Lucas of Pearl fame, not to mention Geoff Lindsay’s Dandelion in trendy Elwood – can the stomachs of food tourists cope with another year like this? We are already looking forward to seeing what Andrew McConnell does with Fitzroy stalwart, The Builders Arms, in the New Year.
4. The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia, a major new exhibition showcasing stunning artefacts from one of the world’s great ancient civilisations will open at 2011 RACV Victorian Tourism Award winner, Melbourne Museum on 4 May, 2012. Presented in collaboration with The British Museum, The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia explores an era of extraordinary invention and innovation. The exhibition will focus on three of the great centres of ancient civilisation, Sumer, Assyria and Babylon, bringing their rich history to life through objects and multimedia. Themes in the exhibition include palaces and royal power, religious beliefs and rituals, burial practices and royal tombs, and the myths and legends that surround ancient Mesopotamia.
5. Music lovers visiting the Australian live music capital, Melbourne, now have a free guide to help them find venues, music stores and other music resources with the release of Melbourne Music City. The guide maps Melbourne’s main metropolitan entertainment hubs as well as venues in regional Victoria. The guide also includes a Victorian music festival timeline, a plotted history of key music events in the state plus information on gig guides, media, public transport and music-friendly accommodation. The guide is available in hard copy at various tourist hotspots around the city, and will be distributed internationally via international embassies and consulates. The guide is also available to download.
6. Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk is to be extended in 2012, allowing visitors to walk all the way to the iconic 12 Apostles. A new platform has just been completed at the finish of the walk where hikers can celebrate their achievements with the view of the 12 Apostles in the background.  Works are already underway which will extend the track as far as the Gibson Steps by the end of this year. The track will then be extended further via an underpass under the Great Ocean Road which will allow walkers to access the 12 Apostles by foot.
7. One of the newest international events on the sports calendar is billed as ‘probably the toughest event on the planet’. Tough Mudder at Phillip Island, 31 March – 1 April, 2012 encourages participants to ‘get dirty’ while tackling the world’s most extreme obstacle courses. It’s a physical and mental endurance challenge designed by ex military men and Phillip Island is set to welcome some very extreme participants and amused spectators as they travel to the island for the event. Visitors will also be able to get their hands dirty in a very different way next year with the extension of Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate. The new chocolate kitchen, set to open on 26 December, 2011, will have visitors making their own chocolate in an interactive exhibition that is sure to delight chocolate lovers of all ages.
8. Renowned for being Victoria’s premier wine region, the Yarra Valley has recently seen an infiltration of a different kind of drop. A handful of brewers and cider makers are producing unique local beers and cider, giving the wine makers a run for their money. So great is the interest, that the region’s seven brewers and cider makers have joined together to launch the Yarra Valley Cider and Ale Trail. From December 2011, visitors to the Yarra Valley will be able to grab a copy of the new Cider and Ale Trail brochure and explore these innovative businesses including an eco-friendly brewery, a winery producing the golden drop and a brewery shipped in all the way from New Zealand.
   
9. Want to tick off wild kangaroos, wallabies, emus and wombats in one bush walk? Well now you can with Wilsons Promontory National Park’s new Woodland Walk. Located in the northern part of the park, the walk is 7.6km or two and a half hours return and will almost guarantee native wildlife spotting. Wilsons Promontory is in the Gippsland region of Victoria; about a three and a half hour drive from Melbourne. Visitors wanting to explore more of this extensive and extraordinary region will be excited to hear about Inspiring Gippsland Rides - a guide to 35 rides that take in the best of Gippsland by bike, to be launched in February 2012.
10. A new boutique hotel will open for guests visiting the stunning Mornington Peninsula region of Victoria next year. Construction has begun to turn 120-year old Flinders Hotel into a forty guestroom boutique accommodation slated for completion mid-2012.  The hotel’s restaurant will be the first to open. Getting ready for completion this month, Terminus will be a fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant headed up by Chef Pierre Khodja (ex Canvas restaurant) and Food & Beverage Manager Clinton Trevisi (ex Royal Mail Hotel). This destination restaurant will add another feature in the cap of the culinary hub of Mornington Peninsula – only an hour’s drive from the centre of Melbourne.
11. Victoria’s Goldfields region, a mere hour’s drive away from Melbourne, is becoming known as much for its major art exhibitions as for its gold rush history and architecture. This year, the Art Gallery of Ballarat has secured the rights to host Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration from 25 February – 15 April, 2012. It’s an exhibition of vintage prints from London’s V&A Museum taken by royal photographer, Sir Cecil Beaton. And just down the road in Bendigo, there is a celebration of another Queen, the Queen of the screen. Grace Kelly: Style Icon will be drawing visitors far and wide to Bendigo Art Gallery from 11 March – 17 June 2012.
12. New accommodation options are a welcome addition for outdoor adventurers visiting the Grampians, North West Victoria, in 2012. DULC  cabins in Halls Gap is building new cabin, Boroka Downs luxury accommodation now has a two bedroom villa available, and Hamilton Apartments in the Southern Grampians has range of self contained houses available for holiday rentals. And after working up a hunger exploring the region’s many mountain ranges and natural wonders, visitors can stop by Three Troupers Brewery provedore / café which has recently opened in Beaufort.
13. The biggest shark and stingray feeding experience in the world opened near Melbourne this month. The Australian Shark and Ray Centre (ASRC) is the world’s largest combined shark and ray feeding experience located just 20 minutes from Melbourne on route to Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can opt to stay dry in waterproof pants, or get waste deep in the water with a wetsuit, and hand feed, pat and play with nearly 20 species of sharks and stingray. Sharks range from 10cm to 3m giants, and rays from 15cm to the world’s largest species of stingray (the Black Stingray) at 300kg. Children and adults of any age can enjoy the experience and there are shallow pools and viewing bridges for those wanting to keep their distance.
14. Aqua Orbs water zorbing is the hottest new family fun activity in Victoria’s second biggest city, Geelong. On the Eastern Beach of the beautiful Geelong foreshore, Aqua Orbs is a safe, fun addition to any day on the Corio bay. Another new family attraction nearby is Geelong’s Saddle On Riding School. It’s been operating as a horse riding school for several years but is now open as a tourism experience with horse camps, pony parties, BMX, buggy, archery and track hire available, plus an animal farm for the little ones.
15. The second and final stage of the Royal Botanic Gardens’ 18-hectare Australian Garden in Victoria is anticipated to open in spring 2012 and will complete one of the most significant landscape projects in Australia. The multi award-winning Australian Garden tells the story of the metaphorical journey of water through Australia’s arid outback eastward to the urbanised coast and will offer visitors a unique landscape experience and the chance to immerse themselves in the stories, colours, textures, sounds and scents of Australia. The garden is located just 45 minutes from Melbourne at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Since it opened in 2006, it has received over 17 international, national and regional awards for landscape design, tourism and sustainability. The garden was also recreated at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2011 and won a prestigious gold medal.
16. King Valley Prosecco Road is a new wine and food trail attracting a lot of attention to north east Victoria. The King Valley is the first region in Australia to commercially grow and produce the Italian celebratory sparkling white wine, prosecco. Each year the region produces over 10,000 cases for the Australian market. In 2011, the King Valley prosecco wine making pioneers developed the food and wine trail with a dedicated King Valley Prosecco Road website and travel booklet enabling visitors to discover a new way of experiencing the warmth and hospitality of Victoria’s beautiful King Valley. The King Valley is easily accessible by car, train or air. Albury Airport has daily flights between Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and from the airport it’s an approx 90 minute drive to the King Valley.
17. Historic property, Perricoota Station, has been carefully restored in a makeover that will be ready for those visiting the Murray River town of Echuca Moama in early January 2012. The property, which has previously been associated with pursuits including Merino Sheep, Cobb and Co Horse Transport, Short Horn Cattle, Orange and Grapefruit Orchards, has been brought back to life as a grand visitor destination. Surrounded by over 3 ½ Km’s of Murray River frontage it will be available for accommodation, functions, weddings and conferences.
18. In Daylesford, one hour drive from Melbourne in the wonderful Spa Country, the owners of the recently renovated Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat announced the purchase of the historic Club Hotel in Clunes. Clunes is notable as the site of Victoria’s first gold strike and the Club Hotel is one of the many features that stand to this day. Plans are already underway to transform the 1870′s Hotel into a stylish bistro restaurant, café and wedding venue under the new moniker Birch Club. It is planned that almost all of the produce used in the bistro will be sourced from the Birch Estate Farm nearby.
19. Experienced Murray River captain, Greg Evans, and his singer/entertainer wife, Julia, have this month launched Wentworth River Cruises. Heading off from the historic port of Wentworth, near the tranquil desert town of Mildura, a four hour drive from Melbourne, this new scenic cruise is the only one that takes visitors to the junction of Australia’s two largest rivers, the Murray and the Darling.  The new fully catered, licensed and air conditioned motor vessel can carry more than 50 passengers who can relax on either the lower indoor or upper outdoor decks.
20. The Barmah Forest Heritage and Education Centre has opened its doors to the public. Located in picturesque, Nathalia, in north central Victoria, the centre provides visitors with the chance to discover and explore the colourful history associated with the Barmah National Park. Interpretive boards show key time-frames dating back to pre 1830 and information on the Indigenous community; the timber industry; past industries; cattlemen and ecology is brought to life for visitors as they walk through the centre. Situated on the doorstep of one of largest River Red Gum wetlands in the world, the centre will act as the perfect starting point or stopping point for those visiting the Barmah National Park.

Written by Zoe Shurgold on behalf of Tourism Victoria.

Melbourne is ‘hot’ right now. International visitors are proving it by flocking to the ‘Most Liveable City in the World’ in record numbers. In fact, Victoria recorded its highest number and share of total international overnight visitors on record with a 9.1% increase to 1.74 million for the year ending September 2011.

Here are twenty of the hottest new reasons to visit Melbourne and Victoria in 2012.

1. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2012 celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Extended to last 20 days between 2 – 21 March, 2012, the celebration will start with a Riverside Opening Weekend with activities such as city street feasts; 80 events under $50, and the world’s longest lunch. Almost 100 of the world’s top chefs and winemakers from 14 different countries will converge on Melbourne for the festival’s famous Langham Masterclass in order to share their culinary secrets and the newest gastronomic trends. Beer lovers are also in for a treat as the festival will be showcasing its very own 20th anniversary brew at the Great Melbourne Beer Breakfast. There will also be over 100 events across regional Victoria, giving visitors the chance to explore Victoria’s harvest-ready wine and river country.
2. Melbourne Airport’s $330 million expansion is almost complete. New gates 18 and 20 are now in operation and the aerobridge upgrades will be completed this month. New airside retail offerings include Little Ludlow, Dreamtime Journey, Think Sport, WH Smith, Discover Victoria and Hudsons has also launched their rebranded concept store. Opening soon will be Melbourne’s only Victoria’s Secret store, Bar Pulpo by Movida, Happy Lab, Wok on Air and Hungry Jack’s.
3. So many exciting restaurant openings in 2011 from the Shannon Bennett’s new Vue de Monde at the top of the Rialto to Donovan Cooke’s Atlantic in Crown and Andrew McConnell’s Golden Fields in St Kilda. Then there was the amazing Chin Chin by Chris Lucas of Pearl fame, not to mention Geoff Lindsay’s Dandelion in trendy Elwood – can the stomachs of food tourists cope with another year like this? We are already looking forward to seeing what Andrew McConnell does with Fitzroy stalwart, The Builders Arms, in the New Year.
4. The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia, a major new exhibition showcasing stunning artefacts from one of the world’s great ancient civilisations will open at 2011 RACV Victorian Tourism Award winner, Melbourne Museum on 4 May, 2012. Presented in collaboration with The British Museum, The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia explores an era of extraordinary invention and innovation. The exhibition will focus on three of the great centres of ancient civilisation, Sumer, Assyria and Babylon, bringing their rich history to life through objects and multimedia. Themes in the exhibition include palaces and royal power, religious beliefs and rituals, burial practices and royal tombs, and the myths and legends that surround ancient Mesopotamia.
5. Music lovers visiting the Australian live music capital, Melbourne, now have a free guide to help them find venues, music stores and other music resources with the release of Melbourne Music City. The guide maps Melbourne’s main metropolitan entertainment hubs as well as venues in regional Victoria. The guide also includes a Victorian music festival timeline, a plotted history of key music events in the state plus information on gig guides, media, public transport and music-friendly accommodation. The guide is available in hard copy at various tourist hotspots around the city, and will be distributed internationally via international embassies and consulates. The guide is also available to download.
6. Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk is to be extended in 2012, allowing visitors to walk all the way to the iconic 12 Apostles. A new platform has just been completed at the finish of the walk where hikers can celebrate their achievements with the view of the 12 Apostles in the background.  Works are already underway which will extend the track as far as the Gibson Steps by the end of this year. The track will then be extended further via an underpass under the Great Ocean Road which will allow walkers to access the 12 Apostles by foot.
7. One of the newest international events on the sports calendar is billed as ‘probably the toughest event on the planet’. Tough Mudder at Phillip Island, 31 March – 1 April, 2012 encourages participants to ‘get dirty’ while tackling the world’s most extreme obstacle courses. It’s a physical and mental endurance challenge designed by ex military men and Phillip Island is set to welcome some very extreme participants and amused spectators as they travel to the island for the event. Visitors will also be able to get their hands dirty in a very different way next year with the extension of Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate. The new chocolate kitchen, set to open on 26 December, 2011, will have visitors making their own chocolate in an interactive exhibition that is sure to delight chocolate lovers of all ages.
8. Renowned for being Victoria’s premier wine region, the Yarra Valley has recently seen an infiltration of a different kind of drop. A handful of brewers and cider makers are producing unique local beers and cider, giving the wine makers a run for their money. So great is the interest, that the region’s seven brewers and cider makers have joined together to launch the Yarra Valley Cider and Ale Trail. From December 2011, visitors to the Yarra Valley will be able to grab a copy of the new Cider and Ale Trail brochure and explore these innovative businesses including an eco-friendly brewery, a winery producing the golden drop and a brewery shipped in all the way from New Zealand.
   
9. Want to tick off wild kangaroos, wallabies, emus and wombats in one bush walk? Well now you can with Wilsons Promontory National Park’s new Woodland Walk. Located in the northern part of the park, the walk is 7.6km or two and a half hours return and will almost guarantee native wildlife spotting. Wilsons Promontory is in the Gippsland region of Victoria; about a three and a half hour drive from Melbourne. Visitors wanting to explore more of this extensive and extraordinary region will be excited to hear about Inspiring Gippsland Rides - a guide to 35 rides that take in the best of Gippsland by bike, to be launched in February 2012.
10. A new boutique hotel will open for guests visiting the stunning Mornington Peninsula region of Victoria next year. Construction has begun to turn 120-year old Flinders Hotel into a forty guestroom boutique accommodation slated for completion mid-2012.  The hotel’s restaurant will be the first to open. Getting ready for completion this month, Terminus will be a fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant headed up by Chef Pierre Khodja (ex Canvas restaurant) and Food & Beverage Manager Clinton Trevisi (ex Royal Mail Hotel). This destination restaurant will add another feature in the cap of the culinary hub of Mornington Peninsula – only an hour’s drive from the centre of Melbourne.
11. Victoria’s Goldfields region, a mere hour’s drive away from Melbourne, is becoming known as much for its major art exhibitions as for its gold rush history and architecture. This year, the Art Gallery of Ballarat has secured the rights to host Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration from 25 February – 15 April, 2012. It’s an exhibition of vintage prints from London’s V&A Museum taken by royal photographer, Sir Cecil Beaton. And just down the road in Bendigo, there is a celebration of another Queen, the Queen of the screen. Grace Kelly: Style Icon will be drawing visitors far and wide to Bendigo Art Gallery from 11 March – 17 June 2012.
12. New accommodation options are a welcome addition for outdoor adventurers visiting the Grampians, North West Victoria, in 2012. DULC  cabins in Halls Gap is building new cabin, Boroka Downs luxury accommodation now has a two bedroom villa available, and Hamilton Apartments in the Southern Grampians has range of self contained houses available for holiday rentals. And after working up a hunger exploring the region’s many mountain ranges and natural wonders, visitors can stop by Three Troupers Brewery provedore / café which has recently opened in Beaufort.
13. The biggest shark and stingray feeding experience in the world opened near Melbourne this month. The Australian Shark and Ray Centre (ASRC) is the world’s largest combined shark and ray feeding experience located just 20 minutes from Melbourne on route to Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can opt to stay dry in waterproof pants, or get waste deep in the water with a wetsuit, and hand feed, pat and play with nearly 20 species of sharks and stingray. Sharks range from 10cm to 3m giants, and rays from 15cm to the world’s largest species of stingray (the Black Stingray) at 300kg. Children and adults of any age can enjoy the experience and there are shallow pools and viewing bridges for those wanting to keep their distance.
14. Aqua Orbs water zorbing is the hottest new family fun activity in Victoria’s second biggest city, Geelong. On the Eastern Beach of the beautiful Geelong foreshore, Aqua Orbs is a safe, fun addition to any day on the Corio bay. Another new family attraction nearby is Geelong’s Saddle On Riding School. It’s been operating as a horse riding school for several years but is now open as a tourism experience with horse camps, pony parties, BMX, buggy, archery and track hire available, plus an animal farm for the little ones.
15. The second and final stage of the Royal Botanic Gardens’ 18-hectare Australian Garden in Victoria is anticipated to open in spring 2012 and will complete one of the most significant landscape projects in Australia. The multi award-winning Australian Garden tells the story of the metaphorical journey of water through Australia’s arid outback eastward to the urbanised coast and will offer visitors a unique landscape experience and the chance to immerse themselves in the stories, colours, textures, sounds and scents of Australia. The garden is located just 45 minutes from Melbourne at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Since it opened in 2006, it has received over 17 international, national and regional awards for landscape design, tourism and sustainability. The garden was also recreated at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2011 and won a prestigious gold medal.
16. King Valley Prosecco Road is a new wine and food trail attracting a lot of attention to north east Victoria. The King Valley is the first region in Australia to commercially grow and produce the Italian celebratory sparkling white wine, prosecco. Each year the region produces over 10,000 cases for the Australian market. In 2011, the King Valley prosecco wine making pioneers developed the food and wine trail with a dedicated King Valley Prosecco Road website and travel booklet enabling visitors to discover a new way of experiencing the warmth and hospitality of Victoria’s beautiful King Valley. The King Valley is easily accessible by car, train or air. Albury Airport has daily flights between Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and from the airport it’s an approx 90 minute drive to the King Valley.
17. Historic property, Perricoota Station, has been carefully restored in a makeover that will be ready for those visiting the Murray River town of Echuca Moama in early January 2012. The property, which has previously been associated with pursuits including Merino Sheep, Cobb and Co Horse Transport, Short Horn Cattle, Orange and Grapefruit Orchards, has been brought back to life as a grand visitor destination. Surrounded by over 3 ½ Km’s of Murray River frontage it will be available for accommodation, functions, weddings and conferences.
18. In Daylesford, one hour drive from Melbourne in the wonderful Spa Country, the owners of the recently renovated Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat announced the purchase of the historic Club Hotel in Clunes. Clunes is notable as the site of Victoria’s first gold strike and the Club Hotel is one of the many features that stand to this day. Plans are already underway to transform the 1870′s Hotel into a stylish bistro restaurant, café and wedding venue under the new moniker Birch Club. It is planned that almost all of the produce used in the bistro will be sourced from the Birch Estate Farm nearby.
19. Experienced Murray River captain, Greg Evans, and his singer/entertainer wife, Julia, have this month launched Wentworth River Cruises. Heading off from the historic port of Wentworth, near the tranquil desert town of Mildura, a four hour drive from Melbourne, this new scenic cruise is the only one that takes visitors to the junction of Australia’s two largest rivers, the Murray and the Darling.  The new fully catered, licensed and air conditioned motor vessel can carry more than 50 passengers who can relax on either the lower indoor or upper outdoor decks.
20. The Barmah Forest Heritage and Education Centre has opened its doors to the public. Located in picturesque, Nathalia, in north central Victoria, the centre provides visitors with the chance to discover and explore the colourful history associated with the Barmah National Park. Interpretive boards show key time-frames dating back to pre 1830 and information on the Indigenous community; the timber industry; past industries; cattlemen and ecology is brought to life for visitors as they walk through the centre. Situated on the doorstep of one of largest River Red Gum wetlands in the world, the centre will act as the perfect starting point or stopping point for those visiting the Barmah National Park.

Written by Zoe Shurgold on behalf of Tourism Victoria.