A short-break sailing from Sydney to Hobart proves the perfect circuit-breaker for busy lives.
There is surely no better harbour to set sail from than Sydney’s. From the deck of Celebrity Edge, I watch ferries zigzag past the Opera House, flags flutter atop the Harbour Bridge and the pilot boat guide our ship safely through the busy working harbour towards the open ocean. Every Sydney sail-away carries a sense of occasion, no matter the scope of the journey ahead.
This evening in particular, I am heading to Hobart and back on a five-night round cruise that will prove the perfect circuit-breaker in the midst of a busy few weeks. A couple of hours earlier I had closed my laptop, jumped on a train to Circular Quay and rolled my case onboard.
Celebrity Edge departing Sydney Harbour. (Credit: Tim Faircloth)
What I love about cruising is that decisive moment when you step aboard and holiday mode is activated with the flick of an invisible switch. Full inboxes and laundry baskets are left on land. From here, the biggest decisions are where to dine and whether to stay up for the ’80s disco.
I’m sailing on Celebrity Edge during its third outing Down Under, in a summer season of itineraries that range from short escapes like mine to 14-night journeys. The first ship of Celebrity Cruises’ pioneering Edge Series, it debuted in 2018 with innovative technology (including the Magic Carpet – the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform at sea) and staterooms crafted by celebrated British interior designer Kelly Hoppen.
Short cruises on the rise
Watch the sunset from onboard Celebrity Edge. (Credit: Tim Faircloth)
Short cruises are having a moment, with more Australians choosing to swap a traditional break for a few leisurely days at sea. Cruise lines have responded by increasing the number of shorter itineraries, including two-, three- and four-night sailings, both in Australian waters and overseas.
According to Joel Katz, executive director of Australasia at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the appeal is broadening cruising’s audience. “Short breaks have gained a huge amount of attention in recent years as cruise lines look to new demographics and first-time cruisers. Short breaks are more popular with younger travellers, but they also appeal to people who have never cruised before and want to try a taste of cruising without a big commitment."
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Life onboard Celebrity Edge
Eden is a three-level space onboard for dining, drinking and admiring ocean views. (Credit: Tim Faircloth)
Find plenty of places for a tipple onboard. (Credit: Imogen Eveson)
Dip into one of the ship's pools. (Credit: Ryan Wicks)
Reset at sea. (Credit: Imogen Eveson)
Tailored to appeal to contemporary cruisers, Celebrity Edge’s 29 bars, restaurants and lounges feel like well-curated hangout spots. From morning to night, there is no shortage of things to do, places to perch and drinks to sip. But it doesn’t take me and my partner long to settle into our own rhythm onboard.
Our evenings begin at Eden, a three-level space that epitomises Celebrity Edge’s innovative concept of outward-facing design with its striking glass frontage at the stern of the ship. Conceptualisted by renowned Patricia Urquiola as something of a fantasy garden, it evolves in mood throughout the day and after dark, and invites exploration. We order a drink at the bar – its ‘plant library’ a living wall that bartenders use to garnish cocktails – and discover the space’s many lookout points, gazing out to sea with glass in hand.
Soak up the sun at Rooftop Garden Grill. (Credit: Michel Verdure)
We enjoy a standout dinner here one night at Eden Restaurant, one of the ship’s specialty dining options, tucked between an open kitchen and a view of the ship’s trailing wake. Another evening takes us to the al fresco Rooftop Garden Grill. On different nights, we travel the world through dining at three of the main restaurants: Cosmopolitan, Cyprus and Tuscan.
The heated pool at the adults-only Solarium brings welcome warmth as we sail further south. And we make use of a day pass to the SEA Thermal Suite, slipping between the infrared sauna, steam room, crystalarium, salt room and hammam, before coming to rest like sun-baking seals on ocean-facing heated tile loungers.
Photography excursion in Eden
Eden’s historic Hotel Australasia was restored in 2022. (Credit: Imogen Eveson)
We disembark for a day in Eden on NSW’s far South Coast, joining a guided tour with a local photographer who shares image-making tips alongside insights into the history of this old whaling town. We have enough time at the end to nip into town for a drink at restored pub Hotel Australasia, before catching the shuttle back to the ship.
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A day exploring Hobart
The ship anchors long enough to have lunch at Hobart’s Mona. (Credit: Imogen Eveson)
We know Hobart well, so opt out of excursions, enjoying the ease of stepping off the ship into the heart of the Tassie capital and heading off on our own adventure. We choose to revisit Mona – but this time shake things up with a Mona Like A Rockstar package from Cultural Attractions of Australia. We spend a day learning behind-the-scenes secrets of Australia’s wildest museum while eating and drinking so much that we are almost too full for one more night of epicurean exploration onboard. But not quite.
Sailing back from Hobart, I stand out on deck and spot the jagged forms of the Three Capes. Over the past few days, the view outside has been a passive backdrop to eating, drinking and lounging. Here I tune into the coastal landscape for the first time. The sky is bruised with drama, and I remember the time I hiked the Tasman Peninsula. But a whiff of the wild is enough for me on this trip; the warmth of the ship and tonight’s diversions soon lure me back inside.
The details
As part of the upcoming season, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge sails a similar, four-night Tasmania round trip from Sydney from $1574 per person, with the chanced to experience life onboard and spend a day in Hobart. Departs 16 April 2027.
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Imogen Eveson is Australian Traveller’s Print Editor. She was named Editor of the Year at the 2024 Mumbrella Publish Awards and in 2023, was awarded the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Australia’s Media Award. Before joining Australian Traveller Media as sub-editor in 2017, Imogen wrote for publications including Broadsheet, Russh and SilverKris. She launched her career in London, where she graduated with a BA Hons degree in fashion communication from world-renowned arts and design college Central Saint Martins. She is the author/designer of The Wapping Project on Paper, published by Black Dog Publishing in 2014. Growing up in Glastonbury, home to the largest music and performing arts festival in the world, instilled in Imogen a passion for cultural cross-pollination that finds perfect expression today in shaping Australia’s leading travel titles. Imogen regularly appears as a guest on radio travel segments, including ABC National Nightlife, and is invited to attend global travel expos such as IMM, ILTM, Further East and We Are Africa.
Get out of the city and close to nature in Victoria’s Heartland, one of Australia’s finest food-producing regions.
This fertile area is abundant in natural beauty, rich volcanic soils, mineral-rich waters, artisan producers and farm fresh produce. In towns spanning the Central Goldfields, Macedon Ranges and surrounds, just a short drive or easy train ride from Melbourne, you can taste a plethora of incredible food and world-class wine in these best of Victoria’s Heartland food regions.
1. Daylesford
Dine on the multi-course fare served at the elegant and light-filled Lake House Restaurant. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Warm and inviting, fans of Japanese cuisine should make a beeline for Kadota. Settle in for Japanese flavours, in cocktail glasses and on the plate, that have been carefully produced using seasonal local ingredients.
For those who love a farm-to-table moment, Sault is the place to be. Fresh ingredients – directly from the restaurant’s kitchen gardens, or from regional organic farms and producers – are crafted into a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Hat-awarded Head Chef Jack Powlay.
Boasting gorgeous water views from its location on the banks of Lake Daylesford, Boathouse Restaurant is perfect for an elevated dining experience.
For a special treat, a visit to the two-chef-hatted restaurant at the Lake House is a must. Savour beautiful views and a seasonal menu championing small-scale local suppliers and their own farm just 10 minutes away.
2. Hepburn Springs
Tuck into hearty, farm-fresh flavours. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Taking cues from its Swiss-Italian roots and the area’s produce, the picturesque Lavandula Farm houses a seasonal trattoria, rustic wine bar, and a new deli and larder inside the original Shepherd’s Flat Post Office.
For another dining destination immersed in the area’s history, visit The Hepburn Pavilion café at Hepburn Bathhouse. Brunch, lunch, scones and house-made cakes are served under the vaulted ceiling of this Edwardian heritage-listed building.
And while The Surly Goat may have a farm-like ring to it, it’s in fact a homely restaurant that takes seasonality seriously. Chef David Willcocks heads up an ever-changing set menu celebrating local and small-scale regenerative producers.
3. Trentham
Satisfy your sweet cravings with handcrafted treats. (Image: Sisko Chocolate)
No trip to an Aussie regional town is complete without a stop at the pub. Pig & Whistle Hotel sits surrounded by farmland. Soak it in from the locally beloved beer garden. Here, pub classics include a parmigiana with an Irish twist.
For a more refined experienced, dine at du Fermier, where chef and owner Annie Smithers crafts a weekly menu of French farmhouse-style dishes, often sourcing ingredients from her nearby farm in Lyonville.
And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave town without a cheeky stop at Sisko Chocolate Studio, where owner Christina Tantsis has built a chocolate-lovers wonderland inside a stunning architectural space. Her handcrafted creations use couverture from Valrhona, a certified B Corporation, and the hot chocolates are positively sinful.
4. Woodend
Taste incredible Japanese cuisine at Kuzu Izakaya.
Taste local drops in town at the family-owned Woodend Cellar and Bar – complemented by tapas and artisan platters featuring sourdough from the local bakery – or at 600 Above, a wine bar with a sunny courtyard and cosy fireplace serving small and large plates.
Nearby, Kuzu Izakaya is the go-to place for Japanese dining. Chef Eriko Pannam has crafted a moreish menu of creative and traditional dishes; think miso cream scallops and everyone’s favourite, Japanese fried chicken.
Mount Macedon Winery is another must-visit for wine connoisseurs. Enjoy a glass and wood-fired pizza on the deck, or opt for fine dining at their Cellar Door Restaurant.
5. Kyneton
Piper Street in Kyneton is overflowing with top-notch eateries. Take Prato, specialising in traditional Greek dishes and pinsa (a lighter, crispier version of traditional pizza); or the upscale Midnight Starling, where chef Steve Rogers serves French classics inside a historic building with bluestone cellar.
A little further down, The Piper Street Wine Company is a European restaurant and wine bar inside a gorgeous heritage building. Their evolving menu highlights one European country or region at a time, so there’s always something new to discover. Further along, Fook Shing delivers a flavour-packed Southeast Asian menu using local and regional Victorian produce.
6. Castlemaine
Discover rich, creamy cheeses crafted by a certified cow’s milk artisan cheesemaker. (Image: Long Paddock Cheese)
Cafes, bars and restaurants have taken up residence inside this former Gold Rush town’s historic buildings. At The Mill Castlemaine – an 1870s woollen mill turned creative hub – you’ll find Long Paddock Cheese, a small-scale artisan cheesemaker that uses certified-organic cow’s milk from a nearby family-owned farm; and Das Kaffeehaus, a Viennese cafe serving traditional Austrian food with coffee from their small batch roastery.
Meanwhile, inside the Midland Hotel you’ll find the chef-hatted Bar Midland, founded by locals Loudon Cooper and Alexander Marano. Their monthly set menu celebrates Victorian producers who focus on sustainable land management, and often utilises indigenous food, introduced wild animals and weeds.
7. Lancefield & Romsey
Savour beautifully plated dishes in a relaxed setting. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Art meets food and wine at Mount Monument, located just outside of Romsey. The beautiful vineyard is home to a sculpture park, cellar door and restaurant with a menu shaped by the Macedon Ranges’ rich seasonal produce.
In town, The 1860 Romsey has reimagined a 160-year-old hotel. Here, country pub charm meets modern bistro, with a menu that supports local at every opportunity (their Central Victorian Oakdale Black Angus steak is a winner).
A few minutes’ drive north, the Lost Watering Hole in Lancefield is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant crafting 100% naturally brewed beers. Their unusual names – No Dodo, Flightless, Big Roo – make sense once you learn Lancefield is the location of one of the richest deposits of megafauna fossils in Australia.
8. Harcourt
Treat yourself to buttery, house-made Danish pastries. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Harcourt is famous for its apple orchards and cider production, and there’s no better place to visit than The Little Red Apple. At this roadside store, you can stock up on fresh crisp apples, ciders, vinegars, juices, and other gourmet products.
To taste more local delights, pop into the Harcourt Produce & General Store, renowned for their house-made danishes, or stop at Sutton Grange Winery where winemaker Chris Smales crafts wines using their organically grown estate fruit. Open on Sundays, it’s an idyllic spot to slow down over wine, pizzas and share plates.
