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.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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.

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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

Here’s how to turn your next work trip into a Melbourne city break, with market lunches, rooftop bars and gallery visits fitting neatly around the odd meeting or two.

A long weekend in Melbourne is an easy sell. Begin with a coffee prepared with the precision of a laboratory experiment, before disappearing down the rabbit warren of graffiti-covered laneways. Explore the cutting edge of Australian art and culture in museums, and spend sunsets with a rooftop cocktail in hand.

Follow our guide to the perfect weekend stay in Victoria’s capital.

Where to stay

lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne

Make the short stroll from Melbourne Central Station towards Queen Victoria Market to arrive at lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne, a 90-room hotel whose communal spaces are a siren call for remote workers and travellers alike. Parked in the free tram zone and right beside Queen Victoria Market, it’s as central as it gets.

Designed by DKO Architects inside a heritage 1975 building, lyf’s interiors lean into warm Japandi-like styling, colourful art and flexible shared spaces. Whether you’re settling into the Collab workspaces, cooking in the Bond communal kitchen, squeezing in a workout at Burn gym or catching up on laundry at Wash & Hang, the hotel is built around sharing and spontaneous connections.

Where to eat

Bonnibel

First stop is lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne’s neighbourhood kitchen and bar, Bonnibel. Like any Melbourne spot worth its truffle salt, Bonnibel serves a cracking coffee alongside an all-day menu that runs the gamut from barbecue beef brisket benedict with jalapeño salsa and gochujang hollandaise to coconut chia nourish bowls.

Bond

If the freshly baked sourdough, local produce and fresh fruit on offer at Queen Victoria Market have your fingers twitching towards your wallet, no need to hold back. Pick up, then head back to lyf’s Bond communal kitchen to cook it yourself. Fully equipped, it’s designed for guests to prepare meals together – and if you forget that dukkah for your avo and eggs, Queen Vic is only next door.

Soi38

Stretch your legs and make your way to Soi 38, one of Melbourne’s favourite Thai lunch spots. Specialising in street food-style dishes, the sprawling menu can feel as busy as a Bangkok market. Just know that the boat noodles are a must, alongside the Crying Tiger with marinated Black Angus brisket, crispy pork belly with house dipping sauce and a glass of sweet pink nom yen.

Shanghai Street

At Shanghai Street, order the xiao long bao as soon as you sit down at this cult restaurant; the delicate-skinned soup dumplings remain its signature. Don’t overlook the crispy-bottomed pan-fried pork buns or the homemade dumplings, served boiled, pan-fried or coated in chilli oil.

Where to drink

Fleet Rooftop Bar

Sitting 22 floors above Flinders Street, Fleet Rooftop Bar pairs Southbank views with one of the city’s best rum selections. Thanks to its retractable roof and glass panelling, the terrace works in Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather. If rum isn’t your thing, flag down the martini trolley for a classic, oyster shell or olive leaf martini, then settle in with snacks like torched salmon caviar.

Goldilocks Rooftop Bar

Hidden above the Denyers Building, Goldilocks Rooftop Bar is one of the CBD’s favourite spots for bottomless brunch. Expect shared plates of spinach and mushroom bao, fried chicken ribs and xiao long bao alongside free-flowing mimosas, peach and yuzu spritzes, Aperol spritzes and Bloody Shiraz jugs. It’s just right for a long afternoon in the city.

Fifty-five Bar

Swap rooftop views for basement vibes at Fifty-five Bar, where dim lighting, rotating craft beers and DJs create one of the CBD’s cosiest late-night hangouts. The cocktail list is just as fun, with drinks like the Silk Road Sour, made with pomegranate molasses and sumac, and frozen white peach cosmos.

Things to do

Free City Circle Tram

The City Circle Tram passing along Swanston Street, an iconic sight on the ultimate Melbourne weekender. — Travel between landmarks for free. (Credit: Visit Vic)

Say hello to every Melbourne traveller’s new best friend, the free City Circle Tram. This magic carpet of Melbourne transport loops around the CBD and Docklands, getting you from landmark to landmark without dropping a cent.

Melbourne Central

Carve a chunk of time out of your schedule because all work and no play makes anyone a dull Melburnian. Instead, visit Melbourne Central to crack on with vintage shopping, duck into colourful laneways, wander through the grand 19th-century arcades and get to know its many museums. The architecture and people-watching aren’t too shabby either, whether you’re watching the crowds spill out of Flinders Street Station or gathering in Federation Square.

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) – new Cartier exhibition

Striking artwork inside the National Gallery of Victoria's stunning red gallery. — Explore one of Melbourne’s must-see exhibitions. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

The jewel in Melbourne’s art scene, the NGV has welcomed one of its most glittering exhibitions yet: Cartier. Created by London’s V&A, it showcases jewels worn by some of history’s greatest divas, from Elizabeth Taylor and Rihanna to Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Windsor. Sketchbooks, photographs and original designs from the Cartier archives reveal the skill behind the sparkle.

Explore Melbourne’s arty laneways

Colourful street art lining Hosier Lane, a vibrant highlight of the ultimate Melbourne weekend. — Follow the city’s vibrant street art trail. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Start at Hosier Lane, the undisputed heart of Melbourne’s laneway art scene, where fresh murals appear thick and fast. From there, wander over to the music-themed AC/DC Lane, then duck into Union Lane, where independent artists constantly layer new works over old.

Start planning your ultimate Melbourne weekender at discoverasr.com.