4WD HOLIDAYS

As if we didn’t know it already, but Australia has been voted the 'The Best Country In The World' by readers of one of the UK’s luxury travel magazines. Australia beat Italy, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States as part of the annual awards for Ultratravel magazine. The magazine’s judges said Australia was the "perennial favourite of Britons" with "much to offer the luxury traveller". Especially noted were safari-style camps (such as the Karijini Eco Resort), wildlife, golf courses and award-winning chefs. Fewer Brits have been visiting Australia recently, because of the country’s economic downturn over the past few...

If anyone could predict snow, that fickle thing, they’d make a million dollars. All sorts of weather indicators for snow exist (‘it is raining and 13 degrees in Adelaide’ is a popular one), but for something more scientific, Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor of snowatch.com.au has long been the Oracle for long-range snow forecasts for keen powder hounds. He says ocean temperatures around Australia have been warmer than average this year, which could result in increased regional rainfall. That’s not good news for establishing a snow base pre-season – but never fear, there will be falls. “Warm nights during May could...

Quaint gardens, open fireplaces and old-world charm – the newly opened Coachman’s Cottage could be the Betty White of hotel hideaways. Nestled in the Adelaide Hills overlooking Piccadilly Valley, it is now available to guests as part of the historic Mount Lofty House estate – established in the 1850s by Adelaide politician and lawyer, Arthur Hardy. The cottage once housed the property’s coach master, who sent carriages to the main house after dinner to chauffeur guests home. But like Ms White herself, this charming treasure has an appeal that transcends generations, having undergone a clever reinvention ensuring it’s as fresh and...

Your schedule too tight to take in scuba diving and skydiving this weekend? Why not try both at once? That is the subject of one of the entries in the ‘One Day in Paradise’ film festival promoting Tropical North Queensland, launched on May 15. Experienced filmmakers such as 2013 Tropfest Winner Nicholas Clifford are among the 20 contestants involved in the $75,000-first-prize competition. All the two-minute films from the Youtube-based festival had to be made using wearable GoPro cameras. The flying frogman, Gold Coast stuntman Gulliver Page, pictured, warned that scuba-sky diving isn’t just your run-of-the-mill weekend activity. “Jumping out...

Sunny Gajjar loves photography and motorcycling so much he will be spending two months riding 23,000km of Australia’s most picturesque roads happily snapping away. The 32-year-old from New Delhi, India, has ridden around Australia before and estimates that he has clocked up close to 350,000km in 15 other countries pandering to his two great loves. In 2007  the self-proclaimed 'MotoGrapher' rode 22,000km around Australia with another rider from India, but this time around he is solo on his trusty 1200cc Ducati Multistrada, after commencing his journey in Sydney on April 22. Sunny is enamoured by the photographic opportunities and solitude that...

Hunter Valley, NSW: This was taken with a Nikon D7000 which I had only just bought. The lens was a Nikkor 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G. That morning the camera was set on the dreaded auto, as I am very much the novice and I was still finding out what it can do. It was a magical morning, with 18 balloons ready for flight as part of the Hunter Valley Balloon Festival held every October. They lifted off at about 7am and there was colour and movement everywhere, yet it was peaceful with the beautiful sunrise surrounded by a landscape of vineyards. A perfect...

A rich tapestry of history, landscape and wildlife awaits at Yanga National Park, writes Kathryn Scobie You could perhaps be forgiven for missing Yanga National Park in previous visits to Outback NSW, considering it is one of the state's newest national parks, opened in 2005. However, this picturesque national park, located half way between Hay and Mildura, should be on your list for your next trip into Outback NSW. The rugged landscape, abundant birdlife and fascinating history of this area make it well worth the visit. The park has a stunning 160km of river frontage along the Murrumbidgee, making it a...

Mildura is an ideal base for a trip to the stunning Mungo National Park, writes Kathryn Scobie  Mungo National Park is situated just 110km from the outback centre of Mildura, where you can experience an abundance of blue skies, rich earth and welcoming locals. Before you embark on your discovery of the fascinating Aboriginal heritage and stark beauty awaiting you at Mungo National Park be sure to enjoy everything this thriving town has to offer. Savour the tastes of local wines and fresh produce, enjoy the Mediterranean climate and explore some of the fascinating local history of Mildura. Located on...

A packing list might be handy, if she could remember where she put it... Nikki Wallman prepares for the Outback   Last month, my husband and I started planning our first camping trip together. I was brought up on the bliss of annual family camping holidays, so I’m fairly excited about the idea. But I’m also a little nervous. Unfortunately for me, I managed to marry someone who is as chronically forgetful as I am… and when you’re 300 kilometres from anywhere, that’s a possible problem. Our highlights reel includes the time I travelled from Sydney to a wedding in...

The Silver City is a place overflowing with outback soul and adventure right on its doorstep, writes Jessica Schumann Drenched in light, vast blue skies and clear nights ablaze with stars, Broken Hill is a Mecca for artists and is a culture hub in its own right. Situated just 50km from the South Australian border, the affectionately named Silver City is rich with authentic experiences, artefacts waiting to be discovered, and an overflow of nationally significant heritage. Broken Hill will greet you with classic outback hospitality, impressive history and a powerful punch of breathtaking beauty. It is one of the...

Australia has lesser known resorts outside the big seven – they lack the bells and whistles of major resorts (including chairlifts), but they won’t ask the big ticket prices either. Mt Baw Baw can be accessed from Melbourne on just one tank of petrol (2.5 hour drive). It’s for back country and cross country ski lovers with 35 hectares of groomed runs, seven ski lifts, two snow play areas, 10 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails and unlimited terrain amongst the snowgums to explore. Plus, a mid-week five-day pass is just $150. If you are a really keen cross-country skier, head to...

 Jessica Schumann seeks out the iconic in Bourke and stumbles upon some cultural delights on the way. Bourke is the gateway into south-west Queensland and the far west of Outback NSW, where green pastoral lands abruptly stop, settlements are few and the country is flat, brown and alluring. Located789km north-west of Sydney, easy-going Bourke sits at the top of Gundabooka National Park, a region of figurative segregation between Outback Australia. The iconic town holds a sense of prosperity and is a geographical hub for wool, cotton and citrus. Vast lands rich in natural heritage and human history make way for...

Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW: This image was taken at Diamond Head beach in the Crowdy Bay National Park on the North Coast of NSW. The national park abounds in pristine long stretches of beaches and this particular area has a surplus of colourful rock formations, many covered in lichen. The cloud formation first attracted my attention for this image and I used the colourful rocks for foreground interest and to break up the wide expanse of sea and beach. I used a Nikon D5000 with polarising filter and a Tamron 18-270mm lens at 18mm 1/90 at f16 and iso200. I...