100 Greatest Holidays of Australia: The Panel

We gathered 20 of the most in-the-know, well-travelled people in the country to bring you the ‘100 Greatest Holidays of Australia‘.

Jen Pinkerton

Specialties: NT, indigenous culture, wilderness, eco-travel
Darwin-based journalist Jen Pinkerton has worked in the features department for Prevention, was a reporter for The Canberra Times and won an Australian Food Media Award in 2010. A regular contributor for Australian Traveller, Jen lectures in writing at Charles Darwin University and runs workshops at the Northern Territory Writers’ Centre. Any travel that involves the Top End and indigenous culture has her heart.

Max Anderson

Specialties: Luxury, gourmet travel, SA
Max Anderson is the editor of Adelaide Hills Magazine and writes for publications including Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Guardian. He is the former editor of Ansett’s in-flight magazine, Panorama, and deputy editor of the travel section of The Sunday Times. He has won a number of awards including AITO British Travel Journalist of the Year and two North American Travel Journalist Awards.

Sue Gough Henly

Specialties: Gourmet travel, indigenous culture, luxury, adventure
Award-winning travel writer and photographer for more than 25 years, Victorian Sue Gough Henly has written for The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, The Guardian and many major Australian publications, including Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She is the author of Australia’s Best Places travel app, and has been a book editor in New York and Seattle.

Georgia Rickard

Specialties: The outback, long weekends, city stays, adventure
Author, producer and Australian Traveller editor was a lifestyle journalist prior to joining the team two years ago. Before living and breathing Australian travel, she contributed to Cosmopolitan UK, GQ, Sunday magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, and the Sunday Telegraph. Her work has been syndicated globally and she is a radio regular. You can see her speaking about Australian travel on SKY News.

Inger Vandyke

Specialties: Islands, marine, wildlife, beaches
Photojournalist and eco tourism pioneer Inger Vandyke has contributed her images and stories to over 20 publications including Australian Geographic and National Geographic. Growing up on the Great Barrier Reef, her passion lies in island and marine conservation. She has led photography and natural history trips in Australia and has been involved in the establishment of Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands as destinations.

Andrew Bain

Specialties: Cycling, hiking, Tassie
An expert on all things adventure and outdoors, Hobart-based travel writer Andrew Bain is the author of Lonely Planet guidebooks Walking in Australia and Cycling Australia and was awarded the Australian Society of Travel Writers’ Best Australian Story in 2010 and 2013. He has cycled from Cairns to Cape York, hiked the Larapinta Trail, the Overland Track, and traversed the Cape to Cape Track many times.

Catriona Rowntree

Specialties: Where do we begin?
With more than 18 years as a travel reporter for Channel Nine’s Getaway, Catriona Rowntree is an authority on all things travel. Previous to that, she worked as a researcher for BRW, in various newspapers, on radio and other TV programs such as Wonder World!. Now based in rural Victoria, she has penned two books including Catriona’s Australia: 100 of My Favourite Aussie Locations, and blogs on her website.

Tom Neal Tacker

Specialties: Gourmet travel, eco travel, Victoria
Tom Neal Tacker serves on the Advisory Board of the Australian Festival of Travel Writing and is a frequent guest speaker for Australia’s Travel Writing Festival and Melbourne’s International Writer’s Festival. He has edited and contributed to several books including Gourmet Touring Around Australia and Red Dust & Wanderlust and is editor of online magazine nakedhungrytraveller.com.au, which is all about ‘honestly naked’ travel writing.

Louise Goldsbury

Specialties: Cruising, luxury, hotels
Named Best Travel Writer at the 2013 National Travel Industry Awards, Sydney-based Louise Goldsbury has been a journalist for 20 years. Louise is the editor of Travel Daily Cruise Update, a regular contributor to Sydney’s Sun Herald as well as Australian Traveller and International Traveller. This cruise aficionado takes around 10 cruises a year and writes about it on her website cruiseylife.com.

Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt

Specialties: Camping, beaches, adventure
Host of travel television program The Great Australian Doorstep, Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt is probably best known for his 16 years on the footy field, but his new gig sees him travelling the country by 4WD, caravan, tent and motorhome. He is based on the Gold Coast, hosting the morning breakfast show on Gold FM, is the face of Coleman Australia’s Bigfoot camping range and launched fishing e-magazine XXXX Anglers in 2013.

Christine Salins

Specialties: Gourmet travel, ACT
Editor of the Food and Wine section in The Canberra Times for eight years, Christine Salins is a highly respected restaurant reviewer and judge, regular wine columnist and travel writer and has been a journalist for over 30 years. She runs her website foodwinetravel.com.au, where she shares her food and travel stories and recipes. During her participation in this panel, she also relocated to Queensland – busy!

Suzanne Medway AM

Specialties: Eco tourism, wilderness
President of the Wildlife Preservation Society, Suzanne Medway has been given the remarkable honour of Member of the Order of Australia in 2013. She is also editor of the society’s quarterly magazine, and three books Conserving Australia’s Wildlife, Conservation Victories and Battles Yet to Win and 100 Years of Saving Australia’s Wildlife, as well as having previously worked for the Observer in London.

Keith Austin

Specialties: Gourmet travel, weekends, luxury
Sydney-based Keith Austin has been a journalist for more than 35 years working as the travel editor, features writer, chief sub, reviewer and columnist for Sydney Morning Herald. He was editor of four editions of Good Food’s Pub Food Guide for NSW, has worked for many other publications including The Sunday Times, Readers’ Digest, Good Weekend and The Guardian, and written two young adult books and edited two cookbooks.

Fiona Harper

Specialties: Adventure, boating, luxury, Queensland
Fiona Harper is a freelance travel writer and photographer whose articles have been published in many magazines, newspapers and websites globally, including Foxtel Travel Channel, CNN Travel and REX’s in-flight magazine. This Cairns-based girl is widely travelled – she’s travelled Queensland by mountain bike, motor bike, foot, air, road and sea, and also has her own blog, travelboatinglifestyle.com.

Craig Tansley

Specialties: Adventure, luxury, remote travel
For the past 17 years, Melbourne-based travel journalist Craig Tansley has written for many prestigious titles including Sydney Morning Herald, Financial Review and the Sunday Times in London, not to mention been a regular contributor to Australian Traveller and International Traveller . Spending about six months on the road every year, this travel buff’s speciality is high-end adventure and remote travel.

Fleur Bainger

Specialties: WA, wilderness (especially the Kimberley), gourmet travel
Feature and food writer for the Sunday Times Magazine, Fleur Bainger has also worked on travel podcasts for Lonely Planet and has written for Outback Magazine, OUTthere Magazine, The Australian’s Travel and Indulgence, Cruise Passenger, Qantas’ Travel Insider and Australian Traveller. She has been a presenter and reporter on numerous radio programs on the ABC and a news journalist at Nova.

Lee Atkinson

Specialties: Road trips, wilderness, NSW, the outback
Lee Atkinson has been writing about travel for 23 years as former editor of magazine The Open Road, author of several books such as Australia’s Best National Parks, On the Road: 40 great driving holidays in Australia and Frommers guidebook Sydney Free & Dirt Cheap. She is a life member and past president of the Australian Society of Travel Writers and contributes to many publications including The Sun Herald.

Brent Wallace

Specialties: Luxe travel, hotels, resorts
If you ever need some advice on how to travel in style, Brent Wallace is the man to talk to. He is the director of multiple Australian travel companies including travel agency Fairlights and the co-founder and General Manager of Riche Hotels & Resorts, a luxury travel tour operator collaborating with the most spectacular and stylish hotels and resorts across the world. He also writes his own travel blog, wheresbrentbeen.com.

Daniel Scott

Specialties: Road trips, family travel, spas
Award-winning travel writer Daniel Scott won the accolade of Australian Travel Writer of the Year 2011 and was listed as a finalist in 2013 for the Kennedy Journalism Awards for Outstanding Travel Writing. He is currently a regular contributor to Wall Street Journal, Fairfax Media, Telegraph Media Group, CEO Magazine and Australian Traveller. He is also the creator and tutor of a travel journalism course at the British College of Journalism and Morris Media.

Kerry Heaney

Specialties: Gourmet travel, Qld, camping
Kerry Heaney is president of the Australian Travel Writer’s Association and writes regularly for Escape Travel, Jetstar Magazine, Where Magazine, Get Up & Go, Selector Food Wine Travel and Tiger Tales. She edited Go Camping Australia magazine for more than 10 years and is ranked number seven in the Top 100 Australian Food Social Media Influencers. Her blog chronicles her food and travel experiences: eatdrinkandbekerry.blogspot.com.au.

MORE: See the full ‘100 Greatest Holidays of Australia‘ list

The Mornington Peninsula blends vineyards, galleries, golf and delicious finds for an unforgettable getaway that indulges all penchants.

Just over an hour from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula blends coast and country in a way that feels effortlessly indulgent. It’s a region where vineyard views meet acclaimed dining, art and culture is never far from the sea, and where hot springs bubble alongside rolling fairways. Whether your escape is a long lunch, an immersive art trail or a round of golf, the Mornington Peninsula has an itinerary to match. And there’s always a glass of good local pinot waiting for you at the end of the day.

A creative trail through the Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is a haven for artists and creatives. Its coastal views and rolling landscapes have long been a source of inspiration. Stay at the historical InterContinental Sorrento , a grand hotel established in 1875, recently renovated to blend heritage charm with contemporary elegance. With curated art lining the hotel’s corridors and rooms, you could spend hours simply wandering the halls, studying the walls.

Pt Leo Estate outdoor gallery — Wander around Pt. Leo Estate’s outdoor gallery. (Image: Visit Victoria/Jesse Hisco)

If looking for an outdoor gallery with sea views, head to Pt. Leo Estate , a landscaped vineyard home to a sculpture park featuring more than 70 large-scale works by both local and international artists, all easily accessible by connecting paths. After strolling through the vineyards, there are three dining options: fine dining at Laura, a relaxed meal at Pt. Leo Restaurant or a vino at the Wine Terrace. For something more hands-on, sign up for the Sip & Sketch experience. And if you book directly into the elegant Lancemore at Lindenderry Red Hill , you’ll enjoy free access to the sculpture park.

food at Pt Estate — Pt Leo Estate boasts three elegant dining venues. (Image: Visit Victoria/Two Palms/Arianna Harry)

For those who like their art framed by rolling hills, vines and wetlands, Montalto is the place. More than 30 sculptures are dotted throughout the property. The vineyard offers a formal restaurant and casual tables among the seasonal produce in a setting that feels like Mr. McGregor’s Garden from Peter Rabbit. And there’s always the option to picnic on the lawn.

Montalto Vineyard is an idyllic setting for afternoon wining and dining. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robyn Lea)

The Sorrento-Portsea Artists Trail offers a self-guided walk along bush paths and sea cliffs to see the same landscapes that once inspired brushstrokes of some of Australia’s most famous artists. Along the way, interpretive signs share insights into the area’s artistic past. And, if the peninsula’s weather turns a little wild, the region is brimming with galleries, particularly around Flinders, Sorrento and Red Hill. Artisan studios are open by appointment.

A feast for food and wine lovers

With more than 200 vineyards, around 60 wineries and cellar doors, plus an abundance of breweries, distilleries, orchards and family-run farms spanning generations, the Mornington Peninsula is a playground for food and wine enthusiasts.

The perfect base for a culinary inclined trip is Cassis Red Hill , where luxury accommodation is tucked between grape vines and olive trees. A quiet nod to the fishing village of Cassis in the south of France, this retreat is all about contemporary elegance – crisp linen, sunlit interiors and a private mineral plunge pool.

Then, for a stand-out lunch, Green Olive at Red Hill offers a delicious way to enjoy the region. Graze on generous tasting plates with house-made relishes, lamb sausages, local cheese and just-picked garden produce. Pair it with a wine flight or order a picnic hamper to enjoy among the olive grove; there’s a picnic option for your dog, too. And for a playful twist, Green Olive is home to what is believed to be Australia’s only pickleball court set within a vineyard or orchard.

Amid the many wineries with open cellar doors, Main Ridge Dairy offers a delicious detour – a goat dairy where you can sample handcrafted cheeses and even meet the resident goats. For a more refined experience, Paringa Estate is one of the peninsula’s most awarded wineries, offering fine dining with sweeping vineyard views and a menu crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

If you’re looking to step outdoors before a lingering lunch, during winter Flinders Truffles offer the chance to join their clever dogs and search for the black gold under oak trees. For an authentic taste of the region, time your visit with one of the Peninsula’s vibrant farmers’ markets.

From golf days to spa stays

Kingswood CountryGolf Club — Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With its champion courses, the Peninsula is a dream destination not only for those who love to tee off but for those who enjoy the post-golf wind down. Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club draws keen golfers from around the world, while Peppers Moonah Links Resort is a course that has hosted both a PGA tournament and two Australian Opens. For a true test of skill, The Dunes Golf Links is one of Australia’s top public courses. Each golf course offers accommodation, and staying onsite means maximum convenience, especially at The Dunes, where premium rooms have you sleeping right next to the fairway. Off-course indulgence is close at hand, too.

Alba Thermal Springs& Spa — Soaking at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Peninsula Hot Springs and Alba Thermal Springs are just next door, where thermal waters drawn from geothermal mineral springs deep underground provide the ultimate recovery after a day of perfecting your swing. These award-winning wellness sanctuaries offer everything from bathing pools to private plunges and spa treatments.

After sinking the last ball, and the 19th hole beckons, the Peninsula serves up just as many dining options as it does golf courses. Just minutes away and right on the beach, Jetty Road Brewery  is a laid-back spot perfect for a round of beers and typical pub fare. For something a little elevated, book a table at Epicurean . Here, a glass of local red pairs beautifully with handmade pastas and woodfired pizza, all served in a historical coolstore and packing shed dating back more than a century.