Byron Bay watch
Byron Bay just keeps getting better, but it’s the satellite communities of Bangalow and Brunswick Heads that have turned up the heat with their own brand of cosmopolitan cool. Dive in.
Advance Australia fare
First, we take Manhattan… Aussie-themed restaurants are bringing some Down Under flavour to New York.
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Australian long weekends: Get outta town
Need a plan for your next long weekend? Here’s our round-up of the best places to visit within an hour’s drive from the capital cities. Load up the car.
Sydney boutique hotels
Sydney has a great tradition of chic boutique accommodation and a flurry of recent openings is providing an even wider range of glam options.
London design: Top drawer
Design queen Ilse Crawford reveals her favourite London haunts, from quirky shops and markets to a brasserie with seats ‘stolen’ from a Sydney train.
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Great Scot
The magic of the Scottish Highlands meets the mystique of the Orient Express. All aboard The Royal Scotsman for the journey of a lifetime.
Heart of Hong Kong
In the centre of Kowloon, Mongkok is an exotic blend of rich culture and time-honoured traditions including, of course, good ol’ fashioned haggling.
New York City: High roller
Ever wondered what a hotel room costing $35,000 a night looks like? Check out New York’s most expensive suite. Butler, meditation room and bronze unicorns included.
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Faraway Bay: Paradise found
Faraway Bay, a tiny, secluded bush camp overlooking the Timor Sea on Western Australia’s northernmost tip, is an exquisite and exclusive wilderness escape. Fly in and experience the real Australia.
Fun in the Philippines
White talcum-like beaches, friendly locals and an energetic nightlife are just some of the charms of Boracay, a tiny island in the Philippines which is a magnet for funseekers.
Cape crusaders
New Zealand’s lush countryside and dramatic, craggy coastline meet at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay. Now with a new luxury lodge, it’s the makings of an unforgettable retreat.
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Dubai: Sand castles
Carved out of the desert, Dubai is a man-made urban oasis. But just as the sands are ever-shifting, so too is the city. Hop on as we follow its rise.
Hong Kong: Shop around the clock
Welcome to Hong Kong – where retail therapy is a national pastime. So you have 24 hours in this great city? Here’s our shop-by-shop city guide. Credit cards at the ready…
Bhutan: Nature’s temple
The Kingdom of Bhutan will make your spirits soar – from the gentle people to the dramatic landscape that’s literally breath-taking.
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Port Douglas: Sleeping beauties
Introducing the glam new kids on the block in Port Douglas, the beautiful, Asian-inspired Balé and sleek, sophisticated Pool – two distinctly different resorts in one of Tropical North Queensland’s most popular coastal getaways.
Akaroa, New Zealand: French accent
It may have a Maori moniker, but Akaroa is a little slice of France nestled on New Zealand’s South Island.
Santorini Dreaming
This Greek island's beauty is mesmerising, especially when you're bewitched by the charm of 1864 The Sea Captain's House in the historic town of Oia.
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Queensland: Life’s a Breeze
Boasting extraordinary natural beauty, the sleepy Town of 1770 is one of Queensland's best-kept secrets. Drop in at Sea Breeze - a glamorous getaway where modern design meets eco-friendly sensibilities - and you have, quite simply, heaven on earth.
New Caledonia: South Sea Paradise
Just a short flight away, New Caledonia offers a taste of France as well as pristine waters, white beaches and luxe sailing. Bienvenue.
Chile’s Atacama: Desert Flower
Chile’s Atacama desert is the highest, driest place on earth – bar none. But lush boutique hotel Awasi offers a designer sanctuary in this spectacular Andean outpost.
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Canada’s Yukon: Northern Exposure
More than moose and mounties, Canada’s Yukon province is steeped in goldmining history. Now experience-seekers can trace the path of early miners on the river journey of a lifetime.
Paris: Behind the Louvre Doors
There’s more to the world’s most famous museum than the Mona Lisa. With some inside knowledge and a well-crafted plan of action, step off the tourist trail and discover this Parisian icon’s hidden masterpieces.
The real Shangri-La
Authentic travel experiences may be thin on the ground but, refreshingly, a trip to China’s Yunnan Province promises a truly sacred landscape where minority cultures rule among its many awesome natural attractions.
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Fiji: South Pacific style
Tropical kitsch has had its day. Fiji is back on the luxury list with elegant new boutique resorts and stylish makeovers of some old favourites. The islands’ famed white-sand beaches await.
Brisbane bling
Check in to Brisbane’s new boutique beauty, the Emporium Hotel. It’s a hotbed of style with fine dining and prime shopping at your doorstep.
Barcelona buzz
This Catalan city is so hot right now – edgy street art, bustling markets, eye-popping architecture and the food… Find out why it’s fast becoming Spain’s gastronomic capital.
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The world’s ten best spa retreats
The international spa scene is booming so lie back, relax, and let your cares float away ... The only thing to concern yourself with is which of the world’s 10 best retreats – from Bali to the Baltic Coast – to visit first.
Decoding spa speak
Don’t know your ayurveda from your elbow? Think qi gong is a ball game played by Chinese men? Get through the maze with our A to Z of spa terms.
Palm Cove, Australia’s new spa capital
Balmy weather, sleepy ambience, lush tropical setting... it’s easy to understand why Palm Cove has become the new spa capital of Australia. Bliss begins here.
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Vietnam’s Nam Hai resort: The Hai Life
One of Vietnam’s newest boutique resorts, the luxurious Nam Hai is an oasis of calm just a stone’s throw from China Beach and the historic town of Hoi An.
Maldives Pleasure Island
Underwater spa? Check. Personal butler? Check. Azure vistas, fine dining and absolute privacy? Check. Welcome to Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives. Is this the world’s most exclusive resort?
Kerala, Little India
Beckoning visitors away from the beaches, Kerala’s backwaters unfurl like a scroll revealing an impossibly lush landscape and rich cultural make-up.
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Florence for food lovers
Want to avoid the tourist traps and eat like a Fiorentino? We asked Sydney restaurateur Giovanni ‘Johnny’ Paradiso for the inside scoop on where to find the best gelati, panini, aperitivi... Bellissimo!
Out of range
Bamurru Plains, in the Northern Territory’s Mary River wetlands, is offering a luxury wildlife experience like no other. Just be sure to watch out for the crocs. And the bush pigs, brumbies, buffalo...
Abu Dhabi gets its day in the sun
Shaking off its old image as glitzy Dubai’s poor cousin, Abu Dhabi is quivering on the starting blocks of becoming the next Arabian hotspot. Follow its form and get set for the race ahead.
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Foodie France: Périgord pantry
It’s one of the most glorious food regions in France. Experience this gastronomic gem at an exclusive gourmet retreat being set up by two former Sydneysiders. Bienvenue.
Montpellier, France: The Full Monty
Young, modern (and rugby mad) Montpellier, on France’s Mediterranean coast, is preparing to host the World Cup. Friendly and hospitable, this university city is ready to party.
Suite dreams
Combining new-age technology and exquisite design, the new hotel Fouquet’s Barrière takes opulence to the next level on the Champs-Elysées.
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Australian mid-winter escapes
From rugged mountainside retreats to cosy country cottages, take a mid-winter break with our favourite weekend escapes.
Welcome to Wellington, New Zealand
Forget what you know about capital cities. This New Zealand hub is gaining a reputation as a city of great style, and great fun. Plus, it’s only four hours away. Go on, ‘jump the ditch’ as the locals say.
New ski resorts across the globe
Global warming may be playing havoc with snow levels around the globe, but these hot new projects will give ski buffs a great run for their money.
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Dubai’s Desert Snowstorm
Aspen? Colorado? No, it’s Dubai’s latest project – an indoor ski resort replete with chalets, mixed terrain and sub-zero temperatures.
Rome’s Best Hotel Rooms
From Napoleon’s former residence to a designer suite owned by Italy’s first fashion family, live out your Roman Holiday in the city’s most stylish hotel rooms. Here are our favourites.
Puglia, Italy: Southern Bella
Head to the heel of the boot and succumb to Puglia’s simple charms, from its dream-like landscape and rustic cuisine to rolling olive groves and distinctive conical trulli.
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Joining the dots
A visit to the Top End experiencing the indigenous arts culture yields a far richer bounty than just the canvas or objects collected along the way.
Primo vino
Joe and Dina Grilli’s fiercely modern Primo Estate cellar door in South Australia’s McLaren Vale is all class – just like their wines and olive oils.
Hidden rooms
Down one of Melbourne’s much-loved laneways is a secret sleeper, Hotel Causeway – the ideal place to drop after you shop (and eat and drink).
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Mildura, Victoria: A River Runs Through It
From its landscape shaped by desert and river, to its rich cultural mix and gourmet appeal, Mildura in far north-west Victoria is a place of contrasts.
Miami nice
Florida’s Art Deco Riviera gets an infusion of exotic South-East Asian tranquillity with the opening of lavish retreat, The Setai. Come to where Bali highs soothe Miami Beach.
Istanbul: Turkish Delights
Great nightlife, luxurious digs, a vibrant food and fashion scene – move over Paris, Europe has a new place to party. Merhaba (hello) Istanbul!
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The great escape
Qualia, an ultra-sophisticated new Hamilton Island escape, raises the benchmark for resort-style getaways. Prepare to be pampered.
The 8 best secret islands in Italy
They're Italy's best-kept secret. Eight tiny islands scattered off the north-east coast of Sicily; the Aeolians. From party-central Panarea to the therapeutic charms of Vulcano's steaming mud pools.
