Your washed-out weekend plans have just been saved by Sydney’s newest dessert.
Stay warm, cosy and satisfied while entering a world of pure imagination with the brand-new Luke’s Golden Chocolate Bar dessert.
I was lucky enough to be treated to a preview of the spring menu at Luke’s Kitchen, inside the gorgeous lobby area of Kimpton Margot. While it was all delicious – from fresh prawns to homemade gnocchi – it was dessert that stole the show.
This sparkly, golden bar of gooey goodness (available from today) was inspired by the children’s classic book and movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It looks as good as it tastes, in my opinion. (Image: Chiabwut Sutthamaythee)
“Like many people, we grew up watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, dreaming of what might happen if we unwrapped a bar and found a golden ticket inside," chef Luke Mangan explained.
Described by Mangan as being “based on the classic Tim Tam, which I loved so much as a kid", I would say the comparison stops after considering the chocolate taste and crisp, biscuity bites. As gorgeous as it is on the outside – looking like an actual bar of gold, catching the light with its shiny surface – as Mangan said, “it’s all about what’s on the inside".
Cutting into the crispy wafer-like shell of Luke’s Golden Chocolate Bar (which was handmade and hand-painted) reveals a rich mousse of salted caramel that I personally could eat by the spoonful. Cleanse the palate between bites with the side of mandarin. Chef’s kiss.
The Golden Chocolate Bar will be available on the à la carte menu at select Luke Mangan & Co. restaurants. Order it as dessert, or, as I personally recommend, pop in to make it the main meal. Paired with Luke’s own rose, and you’re good to go.
It pairs very well with a rose. (Image: Chiabwut Sutthamaythee)
Now, this is enough for me, but there is a bit of an extra treat behind the limited dessert. 10 golden tickets are up for grabs across three of Luke Mangan & Company venues – Luke’s Kitchen, Luke’s Bistro & Bar and Luc-San – offering diners the chance to win over $50,000 in prizes. Think a four-day cruise with Carnival Cruise Line, exclusive superyacht dining experiences for 10, hosted by Mangan, or an intimate three-course dinner for two at Luke’s Kitchen.
“We want people to feel joy, surprise, and anticipation like a kid again, but in the best grown-up way," says Mangan.
“That moment of cracking the bar is meant to be shared, photographed and remembered. It’s about creating moments that spark connection and conversation."
Luke’s Golden Chocolate Bar launches at Luke’s Kitchen today, 22 August, and will be available until late October 2025 – or until all 10 golden tickets have been discovered, whichever comes first.
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Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.
Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.
Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.
Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.
The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.
The Riverina
Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.
The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.
North Coast
Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)
This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.
Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.
Golden West
Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.
Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.
Special event journeys
Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.
For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.
