Revealed: the best carry-on, mid-size and large luggage

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Whether you’re heading off on a long holiday jaunt, overnight affair or work weekender, choosing the right luggage is the key to making your travel run smoothly.

No matter what type of bag you’re in the market for, we’ve found the best solutions for your next trip.

Carry-On

Victorinox Connex Frequent Flyer Carry-On

$599

 

The Victorinox Connex Frequent Flyer Carry-On is an ideal short-flight companion. The hard-side compact design makes it a practical but stylish solution, with all the compartments you need, and wheels that can make it easy to manoeuvre down the aisle. It you’re short on space it also offers an expandable upgrade.

 

Pro: Includes an integrated multi-tool with a USB port to charge any electronic device.

Con: A little pricey for the weight.

Weight: 2.9kg.

The Victorinox Carry-On is an ideal short-flight companion

Hershel Mammoth Backpack

$179

 

Hershel have always provided the best backpacks for day-trippers or adventurers, and their Mammoth Backpack is in-keeping with this theme. With a modern, streamline design, the Mammoth will be your best friend on hiking trips or city exploration. It holds plenty of storage solutions with a 15-inch laptop sleeve, a sunglass compartment and water bottle exterior pockets.

 

Pro: An affordable, practical, water-resistant and light-weight choice.

Con: Probably the closest to a school bag you’re going to find.

The Mammoth will be your best friend on hiking trips or city exploration

Staple Superior Harold Laptop Briefcase

$99.99

 

This Sydney menswear label have made a simple and sophisticated laptop bag in pebbled faux leather. Practical and professional, the Harold Laptop Briefcase is the perfect accompaniment to your next work trip. The briefcase fits up to a 15-inch laptop and contains internal padding to keep it safe. Compact sleeves offer great organisation and it can be hand-held or carried with an optional shoulder strap.

 

Pro: A strong, vegan and affordable selection to protect your laptop.

Con: It won’t fit much more than your laptop and essentials.

RM Williams Leather Duffle Bag

$560

 

RM Williams bags are as durable as their boots. Known as masters of the leather accessory, their Leather Duffle Bag is no exception. Its vintage style is timeless and made to last, with strong top carry handles and double sticked seams for durability. Inside you’ll find a fully lined interior with zip pockets and an optional shoulder strap.

 

Pro: It’s a stylish weekender that can be used for multiple occasions.

Con: Made of quality leather, it’s a heavier and non-vegan choice.

RM Williams bags are as durable as their boots

Mid-Size

Away Expandable Medium

$445

 

Away suitcases specialise in great storage solutions. Their Expandable Medium is perfect for all you over-packers that need that extra space. If your packing gets really out of control (we get it), this case also offers an interior compression system to help you fit even more inside. The soft-side is made out of a water-resistant nylon for added protection, and you’ll also find plenty of compartments to store your gear, including a sleeve that fits a 15-inch laptop.

 

Pro: Designed to expand an extra 1.75 inches with compartments that make all your travel essential easily accessible.

Con: The expandable storage and padded design makes it heavier than most mid-size suitcases.

Weight: 5.52kg

The Away Expandable Medium is perfect for all you over-packers

Delsey Chatelet Air 67cm Medium suitcase

$629

 

The French luggage brand has designed one of the chicest bags on wheels. Their Chatelet Air 69cm Medium suitcase is a favourite amongst the style conscious. It’s a surprisingly tough suitcase made out of an anti-scratch shell that also lives up to its name as a lightweight choice.

 

Pro: A sophisticated, classical style suitcase for the frugal packers. It includes an integrated lock to protect your belongings.

Con: It’s a pricey mid-size bag and chances are the cream exterior won’t stay cream for long.

Weight: 4.2kg

Chatelet Air 69cm Medium suitcase is a favourite amongst the style conscious

The Daily Edited

$399.95

 

From phones to luggage tags, The Daily Edited have long been our go-to for all things monogramed. Join the style-set and stamp your name on their Black Large Suitcase. Claiming an unbreakable hard-side shell, it’s also practically designed, with 360 degrees multidimensional wheels and a TSA lock – so you no longer have to panic when you lose your padlock key.

 

Pro: You can personalise it with your name or initials in a selection of colours and fonts. Plus, if your luggage gets lost in transit you might have more luck in tracing it.

Con: Everyone will know your name.

Weight: 4kg

Stamp your name on the Black Large Suitcase

Large

July Checked Plus Suitcase

$395

 

July are a newly launched Australian luggage brand dedicated to creating sustainable and longer-lasting luggage. Function meets form in their Checked Plus Suitcase which holds up to 110 litres. It’s designed to be waterproof and unbreakable – to withstand even the most violent of luggage-handlers – while also being lightweight. Overall, it’s a modern and affordable choice for an extended getaway.

 

Pro: Great durability and you can choose from some unique colours, including forest green, burgundy, nude or navy. Each suitcase includes a hidden laundry bag inside.

Con: The lighter colourway tends to show travel grime a little quicker than the alternatives. Opt for a darker shade if you have the choice!

Weight: 4.8kg

The Checked Plus Suitcase holds up to 110 litres

Samsonite Lite Cube Prime 82cm Spinner Large Suitcase

$1299

 

Samsonite’s extra-large suitcases are created with revolutionary materials to make them as light as possible. Their high-quality Lite Cube Prime 82cm Spinner Large Suitcase is the premium choice, positioning themselves at the forefront of luxury. The easy manoeuvrability of its wheels – a quality hard to find in large suitcases – is compensation for the hefty price tag.

 

Pro: Extra lightweight without compromising on size, the hard-side exterior also makes it a durable, long-term investment.

Con: Definitely pricey and potentially bulky.

Weight: 3.8kg

Lite Cube Prime 82cm Spinner Large Suitcase is the premium choice

Antler Portland Softcase Large

$369

 

There’s a reason Antler have dominated the market for affordable baggage. Their Portland Softcase Large is your best option if you’re looking for something inexpensive without compromising on style. Inside it holds two zip pockets as versatile storage solutions.

 

Pro: The Portland offers great affordability with plenty of packing room for extended stays. It’s also one of the lightest large suitcases on the market.

Con: The soft-side exterior will be less durable.

Weight: 3.5kg

The Portland offers great affordability with plenty of packing room
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The ultimate Margaret River road trip itinerary for food & wine lovers

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay
Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering  dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Pair'd Beach Club
Elevate your dining experiences at Pair’d X Range Rover Beach Club.

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting
Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia
Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd
Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Pair’d Margaret River Region is proudly owned by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA.