Liz's Lines

Kingsford Smith Int’l Airport – 6 miles – 35-40 min

Visit Sydney Melbourne – Nov-Apr with 70’s highs; Barrier Reef & Darwin – Apr-Oct – heaviest rain Dec-Mar - Curr – Aus dollar

 

WINE – Barossa Valley – Shiraz renowned; from the McLaren Vale often more balanced

Coriole for feminine, dressed-up wines, Two Hands for pure power

 

Air Adventure – Historic Hotel Heli Tour – Darwin to 5 N. Territory’s most iconic pubs – day

       Includes fishing - $858 pp

Luxury Lodges of Australis luxurylodgesofaustralia.au 

 

Sydney –

 Four Seasons – small rooms (former Regent) – Harper ’12 – harbor stes great, bad buffet

    Breakfast, room upkeep not great

     **The Observatory – expensive, residential area

                *Pier I – 4 ½ star on water - boutique

                Intercontinental

                 Amora Hotel Jamison

                Ritz-Carlton Double Bay

                Establishment Hotel – exc rest www.luxehotels.com – mod

*Russell Hotel – historic gem, boutique in the Rocks - mpd

**Park Hyatt – water’s edge near Opera House – nice rms, report of bad service – the

       Best – very exp – Harper ’13 – gets fab recs, ;location, rms, service

    Shangri-La – luxe

                Blue Sydney www.tajhotels.com/sydney - recs

                Hotel Altamont – cheap

                The Storrier – mod

The Darling – by harbour – cutting edge for hipsters

                 Regents Court – mod – rooftop garden   

                L’otel – cheap near Paddington

                 Menzies – mod in town center

                 Sebel – Surrey Hills

Hilton - inexp

 

Double Bay –Ritz-Carlton

*Costa Pienti – exp apts, deluxe

Palm Beach Peninsula – Barrenjoey House

                                       LJHooker Palm beach for rentals

 

New South Wales –

        Milton Park – 1 ½ hr drive

 

Blue Mountains – 3 hrs NW Sydney – can helicopter

     Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort – near Sydney (Harper)

***Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa – exp – working sheep ranch – 4000 acre –

      40 colonial-style bungalows – 2 exc rest – splendid, not perfect – offer riding,

      Hiking, 4-wheel drive kangaroo’s safaris – good spa – ’11 Harper – range tours

      2 ½ hr drive from Sydney

 

Hunter Valley – Pokolbin –

    Tower Lodge - 2 ½ hours Sydney in wine country (winery – Harper)

                                           Convent at Pepper Tree – nearby (Harper)

                                          Belltrees Country House

 

Canberra – embassies, War Museum, National Museum

                   Hyatt Hotel Canberra

                   Brassey Hotel of Canberra

 

Melbourne – Victoria

 Crown Towers

 **Park Hyatt – big recs – Harper ’13 – smart 240 rms in leafy downtown neighborhood

Langham – deluxe, exp – 25 story with views of skyline

                      Hilton

                      Carlton – popular pub

                      The Prince – small & inexp in St Kilda

                       The Marque – mod in St Kilda

                      Westin - (former Regent?)

                      Crown Casino Hotel – great pool

                      Shandon 1884 – boutique, mansion overlooking Port Phillip Bay

                      *The Adelphi – boutique, so-so

                       Duxton – boutique, so-so

 

Yarra Valley Wine Region – 33 miles NE Melbourne

Chateau Yering – 32 comfortable accomod – 250-acre estate, many rms with spa baths,

    Fireplaces - **exc rest Eleonore’s

 

South Yarra –

*The Lyall – boutique, charming in suburb by trams stop  

 

Sherbrooke –

     Burnham Beeches – near Melbourne

 

Sorrento – beach town W tip of peninsula – wine area

     Hotel Sorrento – inexp – 41 elegant rooms

Sorrento Portsea Getaways – beach houses weekly leases www.sorrentoportseagetaways.com.au

Dine Sorrento – Aquolina exc for N Italian, Loquat – romantic for Med cuisine

                            The baths for exc, exp lunch

 

Fingal – 20 min SW – Peninsula Hot Springs – Japanese-style

    Peppers Moonah Links Resort – mod – 89 stes & studios

 

Merricks North – Stonier – old winery; Port Phillip Estate – most striking winery

**Tussie Mussie – upscale 7-rm country inn – mod

 

Red Hill South – lunch at Café Culture; dinner at The Long Table

Port Phillip Estate vineyard – exp – studios, 6 high-design apts

 

Main Ridge – dine for lunch at La Pétanque

 

Flinders – sleepy oceanside town – dine at the Deck Bar & Bistro

 

Montalto – Vineyard and acclaimed rest

 

Portsea – other beach town, 5 min drive w of Sorrento – quieter, toney with exclusive villas

 

Yarra Valley – 1 ½ hrs from above beach areas

 **Chateau Yerling – splendid 250 acre Victorian manor-estate – Harper – exp

                       Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa – mod

    TASTE: Balgownie Estate, Yarra Yering, TarrWarra Estate, Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander

     DINE: Locale – Dixon’s Creek, Healesville Hotel

 

Howqua River – 3 hrs NE Melbourne –

    **Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat – Harper

 

Southwest –

Adelaide – near Barossa wine region – See: Adelaide Botanic Garden, Central Market for local

                 Provisions and Anne & Gordon Samstag art Museum of Art – contemporary art

         Tour Guides – Barossa Daimier Tours, Barossa Taste Sensations, Off Piste 4 WD Tours

             Dine: Africola for best produce & local wine; Orana for pricey innovative outback

             Menu; Kokumi for Japanese. Sad Café, hip East End, is the place to see & be seen.

             Nightlife – Maybe Mae is top spot for nightcap

The Louise – high mod – rms have fireplaces, outdoor showers, great rest - suites

Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury – best in town – Jr ste has kitchenette, not luxe but very

     Comfortable, Harper - great staff, roof garden – mod

Thorn Park by the Vines – B&B in rural Clare Valley – mod

Vineyard McLaren Vale – 4 cozy cottages with kitchens, porches set on a hill, vineyard views

Intercontinental

Hermitage of Marananga – Harper – get vineyard or spa suite – inexp

Franklin Hotel – rm #6 quietest – 19th cent pub – 7 industrial-chic rms

Majestic Minima Hotel – different art in each rm – cheap

The Watson – hillside views - cheap

 

Kangaroo Island – 40 min flight from Adelaide – Tasman – see Flinders Chase Nat’l Park

*** Southern Ocean Lodge – Harper – 1 hr drive - magnificent Great Room – 4-hour island tour

     21 stes with fantastic Southern Ocean views – exc rest – very exp – big rec, hospitality

Stranaer Homestead

 Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat – cheap

 Hog Bay Hill – cheap

       Dine Rockpool Café, Fish Café, Sorrento’s Restaurant – more exp

 

 

Blanchetown –  90 mi NE Adelaide

    Portee Station – 8 guestrooms www.portee.com.au

 

Barossa Valley – 2 hrs from Adelaide – 20 miles long

Tanuda – dine at 1918 Bistro & Grill

  The Louise – Harper – elegant 15 ste contemp. country house – good for wine touring

      Luxe, courtyard, sitting room – exc rest Appellation – exp to very exp

 

 Lyndoch – in valley

   Abbotsford Country House – more authentic experience (Harper) – hops, attractive 8 BRs,

     Spacious, Eng chintzy, country style - 50 acre cattle ranch, vineyards – mod

 

Kakadu National Park – Aboriginal day trips, Arkaba Station

Wild Bush Luxury – old sheep station – hiking, mountain biking, walking safari

   9 tents – reef is 5 yards from shore – kayaking, snorkeling, fishing

 

**Flinders Ranges – Arkaba Station – outback – exp – 60 min flt Adelaide – 5 hr

     Drive from Adelaide

 

 

McLaren Vale – 40 min drive from Adelaide – wine country

   McLaren Ridge Log Cabins – vineyard view cottages – cheap

                      DINE: D’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant; Victory Hotel on beach; Fino for lunch

                      TASTE: Coriole Vineyards (lunch) (Dancing Fig Shiraz); Kay Brothers Amery Vineyards (Shiraz); Samuel’s Gorge Cellars

 

Gold Coast

Hilton Surfer’s Paradise – mod – great Salt Grill rest

Sea Temple – exp

**Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat – wellness resort co-owned by Hugh Jackman – exp

 

Cabarita Beach – 1 hr N Sydney

Halcyon House – 21 rm inn – lovely details – mod, exc rest

 

North Queensland

 

Great Barrier Reef – Quicksilver Cruises www.quicksilver-cruises.com

 **Lizard Island –

Voyages Lizard Island – tops – Harper’12 – 40 cottages on

       The reef – 24 beaches, get pavilion, exc food, friendly staff - beautiful

                                                          Sunset Bay Villas 800-225-9849

  **Hayman Island – 60 min flight from Cairns to Hamilton + 1 hr boat or shorter

          Float plane or helicopter

   Lovely – 212 guestrooms, 1 villa – coral fringed beaches

            Launch transfer from Hamilton Island Airport

**One & Only Hayman Island – very exp – redo of former resort -

 

Orpheus Island – 28 guest resorts on Reef – rest of island is Nat’l Park – from

      Tonsville – 30 min or Cairns

Resort – beachfront rms, families welcome - $1400 nite – meals, wine, beer, snorkeling

   Diving extra – not fancy – average stay 4-5 nites

   

    **Voyages Bedarra Island – 16 deluxe villas – Harper – romantic, small

                                                                        Beach, get pavilion, food great 800-225-9849

     Hamilton Island – Whitsundays – Qualia exp www.qualiaresort.com.au

        Qualia – (Harper – first deluxe property – huge A/C cottages - exp www.qualia.com.au

             Sea views, plunge pool – exc rest – great spa – not terrific for Americans

          Reef View Hotel - mod

                                 

       Green Island - mod

                                  Orpheus Island - deluxe

                                  Dunk Island – more mod

                                  Heron Island – mod

                                   Hinchinbrook - mod

                                  Four Seasons Lindeman Island – former Club Med

Cairns –

Kewarra Beach Resort

               Radisson Plaza at the Pier

              Angsana Resort & Spa

Queensland Outback

Crystalbrook Lodge

 

Port Douglas –

Thala Beach Lodge

                         Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel

                         Mai Tai Resort

 

Atherton Tablelands –

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat – mod, edge Wooroonooran Park

 

Palm Cove – Sebel Reef House & Spa - exp

 

Queensland –

 Palazzo Versace – great spa

 

Queensland Outback – 180 kms w Cairns

Crystalbrook Lodge

 

Daintree National Park –

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa www.daintree-ecolodge.com.au

 Mossman – Silky Oaks Lodge www.poresorts.com/silky

 

Cape Tribulation National Park –

 Coconut Beach Rainforest Resort

 

Lord Howe Island –

** Capella Lodge – 2 hr flt Sydney Harper ’08 – 9 chic rms, stes – exp

Pinetrees Lodge – same owners, historic, mod

 

Northern Territory

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – Uluru is Ayers Rock

        **Voyages Longitude 131º - www.longitude131.com.au  - 900 nite – see Kings Canyon and

             Ayers Rock -15 linen canopied tents – Harper

Ayers – Voyages Sails in the Desert – 5*

              Voyages Desert Gardens – 4*

            

Alice Springs –

Voyages Alice Springs

 All Seasons Oasis

 

Queensland outback –

Wrotham Park Station 800-225-9849 – luxe www.poresorts.com

     186 mi inland from Cairns

 

Mary River Wetlands – outback for naturalists

** Wildman Wilderness Lodge – 15 luxury tents, 10 cabins, $435, $575 – on 17 acres

        Infinity pool, crocs, wallabies, dingoes, water buffalo

 

Nitmiluk National Park – outback

***Cicada Lodge

 

Kuri Bay – NW – Remote getaway

Resort – 5 simple, chic rooms – exp, 2 nite minimum

 

West – near Perth Margaret River –

 Empire Retreat – inexp – Harper

 Basildene Manor Harper

 

Kimberly Coast – NW

****Berkeley River Lodge

​

Perth – rests Raah – middle Easter, Aviary – rooftop rest, lounge & bar

 

Margaret River – 3 1/2 hr drive south of Perth - Wine region

Yallingup -  

Cape Lodge – 22 rm retreat on secluded vineyard – mod – plush boutique

                    Constellation Apartments – mod

Injisup Spa Resort – 10 villas on Indian Ocean – pristine beach below – high mod

Smiths Beach Resort – beachfront – clustered around infinity pool, exc rest – inexp

 

         DINE: Cape Wine Bar; Food Farmacy; Leeuwin Estate for exp lunch, Morries for

         Charcuterie, tapas, Miki’s Open Kitchen – exc, Studio Bistro in garden, eclectic

        WINERIES: Cullen Wines Estate (exc restaurant); Howard Park; Vasse Felix (exp lunch);

         Voyager Estate; Xanadu winery – fabulous Shira, Leeuwin Estate, Cape Mentelle –

         Exc Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Darwin – Northwest - Northern Territory Wilderness

Ringwood, Victoria – Seven Spirit Bay - Harper

 

 

TASMANIA - Do a climbing expedition; visit Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair & Freycinet

                       National Parks – also Trowunna Wildlife Park – beautiful

                       SE coast of Australia – size of Switzerland – 75 min flight from Sydney 

Hobart – like Portland Maine – treasure of Georgian cottages

 Grand Chancellor Hotel

*Islington Hotel - more deluxe – outside town – lovely, Harper likes, great dining

**Henry Jones Art Hotel – Harper fav – meticulously restored 1825 waterfront building –

     

    Get 2nd floor rm – deluxe spa harbour view best – decent restaurant, bar

Lenna of Hobart – Margery Coen

 

Restaurants – Marque IV – upscale on water, N. Hobart – Restaurant 373 – seafood

                   Daniel Alps at Strathlynn – Rosevears, Kate’s Berry Farm – Swansea

                   *The Source (near MONA); Hobart – Ethos for lunch; **Garagistes

                    Smolt – on waterfront – popular bistro 

 

Lachlan – 45 minutes north – Agrarian Kitchen cooking school – 1-2 day courses

 

East Coast – rugged – Great Oyster Bay beaches

 

Berriedale – Ferry from Hobart (near Jones Art Hotel) on Derwent River

 MONA (Museums of Old and New Art) – striking galleries, fine collection

   

Bothwell –

Priory Country Lodge – hunting, exp

 

Sheffield –

 *Cradle Mountain Lodge – rugged wilderness retreat – Harper

Deloraine – Calstock Country Retreat www.calstock.net

Coles Baye – Freycinet Lodge – Coen stayed

 

Berriedale – Moorilla Estate – also great winery – dine nearby Hobart at Lebrina

Mount William National Park – 10 room Bay of Fires Lodge www.bayoffires.com.au

 

Launceston –

Werona – Queen Anne style manse – Harper

Cradle Mountain Lodge – mod

Calstock Country Retreat - mod

Hatherly House - cheap

Avalon Coastal Retreat

Bay of Fires Lodge – luxe lodge

 

Lake St Clair National Park – 2 ½ hr drive from Hobart

Pumphouse Point – boutique wilderness-retreat – moderate alternative to Saffire

   Located outside Cradle Mountain

 

Freycinet National Park – East coast – a 2 ½ hr drive from Hobart

Coles Bay –

**Saffire Freycinet Lodge - luxe, very exp 1500 nite, 20 stes, 27 acre – Harper ‘13

       Handsome, comfortable suite – exc cuisine – be sure no encumbered views

            HARPER AWARD ‘13