Australian Traveller draws ever closer to solving one of its greatest myths: are Hoop Snakes real?
Forget the ubiquitous and highly nefarious Drop Bear. The dreaded Hoop Snake is the real scourge of the Australian outback.
The hoop snake began life as an American myth. Native to hilly or mountainous areas, when disturbed it’s said to form a rigid hoop by clasping tail in mouth and pursuing you silently and swiftly, using the slope to gain terrifying speed. Sightings in the US are still reported, with one naturalist offering $10,000 to the first confirmed evidence of a hoop snake. That money remains unclaimed.
Most online blogs or forums advising overseas visitors of the dangers of spiders and reptiles within Australia have at least one reference to hoop snakes and how best to evade attacks (usually something like “jump through the hoop to confuse it, then make your escape"). AT even discovered one lengthy exchange between a potential buyer and seller of a captive hoop snake. As the hapless purchaser drew nearer to making a decision, all kinds of advice from online onlookers poured in: be careful to build a big enclosure so it can hoop properly; make sure one end is higher than the other; perhaps use a small paddock on a hillside. Eventually the penny dropped and the sale aborted.
Three-toed skink.
In terms of the real thing, the nearest AT could find is the three-toed skink (Saiphos equalis) pictured above, a similar shot had been captured by Chris Rehberg who manages the excellent local action and conservation website www.wherelightmeetsdark.com.
Chris came across the rare skink in the southern Sydney suburb of Peakhurst (interestingly, among Chris’ stated missions in life is to “slowly but surely capture all Sydney skink species in photographs.")
Has he stumbled upon the real life Aussie hoop snake? Or at least a possible source of the legend here on our shores? When frightened, this skink shows off its reddened underbelly by curling into a tight hoop, but there’s certainly never been evidence of the tiny creatures (they only measure a few centimetres in length) attacking in full hoop formation. So it would appear the outback remains safe.
For now.
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Feeling peckish? These hotel restaurants prove the best weekend escapes are ones planned around noshing in-house.
Forget club sandwiches and lobby house wine; the folks at Hilton clearly missed the memo that stated that the dining experience should be a business trip afterthought.
Instead, they’re leading with their core belief that incredible dining should be the cornerstone of every travel experience: the long breakfasts with usually good flat whites, the golden hour cocktails, and the local flavours you’ll talk about long after you’ve returned home.
The result? We’ll let the following Hilton hotel restaurants do the talking.
1. Together & Co, Busselton
Sit down to the family-friendly Together & Co.
Nothing pairs better with the iconic Busselton Jetty and the beaches of Geographe Bay (both mere moments away) than the relaxed coastal charm of Together & Co, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton’s on-site restaurant.
Offering a relaxed, light-filled and family-friendly atmosphere with an open kitchen, Together & Co somehow appears unfussy on the surface, yet maintains a myopic focus on showcasing the best of local ingredients (regulars swear by the flame-grilled octopus, as well as their perfectly cooked steaks).
Keen to stay put for a drink? Together & Co Bar offers an extensive wine list, cold beer on tap, a crafted cocktail selection and a bar bites menu.
2. Cafe Sunrise, Cairns
Start the day with breakfast favourites.
At Hilton Cairns, dining and drinking options are plentiful – even without the Executive Lounge (open to Executive Room and Executive Spa Room guests who can enjoy continental breakfast, light refreshments and a nightly drinks and canape experience).
Cafe Sunrise starts the day with breakfast favourites, from fluffy pancakes to an omelette station, while Edge Terrace is made for a wind-down cocktail. At Gin Social, shared plates and succulent mains showcase fresh produce, and poolside dining comes with a playful bonus: call the ‘Popsicle Hotline’ for a complimentary fruit ice-block.
3. The Vine Room, Cairns
Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired eats by the pool.
In DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, Atrium Restaurant’s breakfast buffet offers more than 100 options, but don’t check out before dining at The Vine Room, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar pairing Tropical North Queensland produce with southern European flavours. A herby prawn risotto overlooking the Coral Sea? Yes please. Just be sure to leave room for Le Petit Chef, an immersive 3D dinner theatre experience where a tiny animated chef leads a culinary adventure to remember.
4. PepperBerry Restaurant, Darwin
Taste an award-winning menu, shaped by First Nations culture and residents.
Shaped by First Nations culture and residents from over 100 nationalities, Darwin’s dining scene has more character than most. It’s something to keep in mind as you consider Hilton’s trio of perfectly located properties (and its onsite restaurants).
At Hilton Darwin, PepperBerry Restaurant is the flagship, an award-winning upscale establishment where modern Australian cuisine is sharpened with native bush spices and superfresh NT produce. The multi-sensory dining experience that is Le Petit Chef is available here too, as is the option to enjoy lighter meals and cocktails at Palm Court Bar & Lounge, a premier spot favoured by locals.
5. Catch Restaurant, Surfers Paradise
Lean into the Gold Coast lifestyle at Catch Restaurant.
When you’re staying in a property located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got stamina for all the nearby attractions and happily, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences has you covered with some stellar options.
Start the day with breakfast at Catch Restaurant, the hotel’s signature eatery, which is inspired by the vibrant Gold Coast lifestyle. Make a reservation for dinner (Wednesday to Saturday nights only), where the focus is on sustainably sourced seafood, steaks and pasta.
Elsewhere, Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, a coastal-inspired restaurant facing the buzzing Orchid Avenue strip, remains a crowd favourite thanks to its tapas menu (think coconut king prawns and fried honey haloumi bites), flatbreads and signature cocktails, but why not also treat yourself to its High Tea offering?
6. Saltbush, Alice Springs
Taste native bush flavours at Saltbush.
Set against a red desert backdrop, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs feels like a palm-fringed oasis, but it’s the property’s dining offerings which anchor you firmly in the outback.
Saltbush, where buffet breakfasts roll into contemporary Australian lunches and dinners incorporating native bush flavours, remains a popular choice. The restaurant’s signature dishes include outback tenderloin koftas, lemon myrtle pannacotta and a classic outback pie made with kangaroo meat.
For an upscale dining experience, award-winning Hanuman Restaurant isn’t to be missed.
Also part of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs and located on the banks of the Todd River, expect a pan-Asian menu combining Thai, Indian and Nonya (Straits Chinese) cuisines. And why not finish up with a post-meal drink or snack at The Deck Bar & Eatery, a relaxed outdoor space where cocktails are served under a canopy of stars?
