BNE Magazine Issue 24

FR EE YO M UR AG AZ IN E

ISSUE #24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

THE CHARMS OF

CHIANG MAI

50 FREE THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER A DAY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND ECO WARRIORS SAVING THE REEF

CHILL OUT

BEST ICE CREAM IN THE CITY

TASTE OF HONG KONG

HOLIDAY STYLE

NICOLE KIDMAN WHY WOMEN LOVE HER

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CONTENTS

W

e love summer but if you thought it was a time to sit back and relax, think again.

This issue is packed with things to do right up until the first day of Autumn.

First, you can ease into the new year, and your list of resolutions, by trying loads of activities for free – get fit, learn something new, explore nature, get out of your comfort zone – see page 6. Give glamping a go, even with the kids (page 20), fly high above the bay (page 42) or make this the year you get involved in a big issue (page 12). In the meantime, find a shady spot and settle in with one of the best ice creams in town (page 30) and read on...

42

4 6 8

Brisbane Airport News

Mentor program looking for innovative startups; Brisbane hosts Routes Asia; new home retail centre for Skygate, and more

50 free things to do this summer

Keep busy with these ideas to get fit, explore, learn, see and do more

Champions for change

12

How to be an eco warrior

Leaders in the eco revolution to protect the Great Barrier Reef

Swimwear made from recycled fishing nets and other waste

Boho Summer

Kaftans, maxis and jumpsuits are the laid-back look for summer holidays

ESCAPE 16 The charms of Chiang Mai

From centuries-old temples to quad bike tours in the jungle this is a city of contrasts

22 24

Minjerribah magic

New Island Eco Tents provide family camping without the hard work

Time in transit

How to spend time between flight connections at Brisbane Airport

Barossa and beyond

Best wine experiences near Adelaide

Escape Extra

30

Lost Valley found at Currumbin; Breakfast at Tiffany’s; photo tour to the Top End, and more

A day on Adventure Island The place where you can snorkel, kayak, fly, sail, ride, paddleboard, toboggan and more if you have the energy for it

FOOD & DRINK 28 Taste of Hong Kong

Chef and TV presenter Tony Tan shares a recipe from one of his favourite cities

30 Time to chill

Where to find the best ice cream in Brisbane, plus footy and good food matches

Everyone can be part of the movement to save our marine environment

STYLE 13 Trash to treasure

20

42

Nicole Kidman

Passionate about her craft, her family and helping others succeed

10

14

26

WHAT’S ON 32 Hot summer nights 35

Music, comedy, theatre, musicals and more entertainment not to miss

Events calendar Find out what’s happening around the city

I QUEENSLAND 36 Sarah Morrison

Mamma Mia! star, on why she likes coming home to Brisbane

GALLERY 39 Day in the life

People in transit at Brisbane Airport

NEED TO KNOW 38 Helpful information for 40 43

visitors to Brisbane Airport Destination map Brisbane region map

13

13 BNE magazine is published bi-monthly

by Brisbane Airport Corporation Brisbane Airport Corporation Corporate Communications and Media Manager: Leonie Vandeven Managing Editor: Heather McWhinnie email: editor@bnemagazine.com.au Advertising sales: advertising@bnemagazine.com.au Designer: Stephen Bryett Cover photography: Nicole Kidman ©Todd Heisler/The New York Times/Headpress ©2018 Brisbane Airport Corporation. The contents of this publication are not for reproduction, redistribution or reuse by any means whatsoever or in any form whatsoever without express permission of the publisher.

Advertising: all advertisements in BNE magazine are the responsibility of advertisers. Advertising is accepted on the understanding that it does not contravene the Trade Practices Act. Responsibility is not accepted by BNE magazine for statements made or the failure of any product or service to give satisfaction. The publication of any material or editorial does not necessarily constitute endorsement of views or opinions expressed. While every effort is made to avoid errors, some information contained in the publication may be superceded.

BRISBANE AIRPORT NEWS

ASIA ROUTES LEAD TO BRISBANE

Travel in Asia Pacific is enjoying strong growth and Brisbane is reaping the rewards – the city has seen record highs of more than a million international visitors in one year, Brisbane Airport has added new routes direct to Shanghai, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Shenzhen and Beijing in the last three years alone to meet demand, and airlines are adding more flights to peak destinations.

As one of Asia Pacific’s fastest growing gateways, Brisbane will host a key industry forum in March.

More than 1000 airline, airport and tourism delegates from 100 countries are expected to attend Routes Asia 2018 to discuss the changing market and outlook, how to manage the growth, impact of low cost carriers, opportunities for alliances, challenges for destinations and more. Key speakers include Julieanne Alroe, managing director and CEO Brisbane Airport Corporation, Gareth Evans, CEO Jetstar Group and John O’Sullivan, managing director, Tourism Australia.

Routes Asia 2018 is on 18-20 March at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information see www.routesonline.com/events/191/ routes-asia-2018/

EXPANDED PICK-UP AREA EASES TRAFFIC CONGESTION Collecting passengers arriving from overseas at Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal has got a whole lot easier with the introduction of a new expanded Passenger Pick-up Area now in place for private cars on ground level at the northern end of the terminal. At the new Passenger Pick-up Area there’s more space at the kerbside just for private cars, separated now from commercial transport such as taxis, buses and ride-share services to ease traffic congestion outside the terminal.

Finding a solution to traffic chaos caused by increasing passenger numbers is an ongoing challenge for expanding airports, according to Martin Ryan, head of Parking and Transport Services at Brisbane Airport Corporation which has seen its international passengers more than double over the last 20 years. As similar increases are expected in the next 20 years the new Passenger Pick-up upgrade is part of broader ‘future-proofing’ terminal improvement plans at Brisbane Airport, including $7 million invested in construction which will streamline inter-terminal transfers for transiting passengers.

Here are three easy steps to a smooth pick-up at International Terminal: 1. Download the BNE App to follow flight updates and aim to be at the airport no earlier than 20 minutes after an international flight has landed; 2. Park at Skygate for some shopping or coffee (or park in the 30-minute Public Waiting Area off Dryandra Road) and wait for the passenger to call/text after they have exited Border Control and before they go to the Pick-up Area; 3. Once the driver receives the message, proceed to the Passenger Pick-up Area.

New clearly marked signage shows drivers how to navigate the pick-up process – see map, above – and there’s more information and video directions online at www.bne.com.au

Images this page: Shutterstock.com

Bright horizons for startups Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has joined the Queensland Government, tourism technology specialist Amadeus and corporate matchmaker Slingshot to launch the new Horizons Accelerator Program. According to Slingshot CEO Craig Lambert, the program partners are looking for startups or ‘scale-ups’ that will add value to Queensland’s travel and tourism industry. “They might be developing new technology, innovative products and services or have a new disruptive business model for the travel and tourism industry but need access to investment, mentoring and education to accelerate their business,” says Lambert.

More than 200 travel-related startups applied for the first program and 12 have been selected to go through a rigorous 12-week mentoring program to help take their businesses to the next level and seek more than $100,000 worth of funding. Businesses taking part range from high-end technology to marketplaces, Indigenous travel specialists and environment social enterprise.

Lambert says the program is like a mini-MBA for startups, with tuition and access to industry resources and experts over the 12 weeks. Then, in February the 12 candidates get to pitch their progress to potential investors in a bid to win funding for their future growth. The next round for applications in the Horizons Accelerator Program opens in April. See www.horizons.slingshotters.com

4 | BNE January/February 2018

Let the sun shine in

Brisbane boasts the highest number of sunshine days in a year and more hours of sunshine in a day than any capital city in Australia and Brisbane Airport will capture more of that solar power to cut its energy costs and its carbon footprint. Installation of a new mega solar system is already underway and when it is completed it will be the largest commercial rooftop solar system in the Southern Hemisphere – 22,000 panels will span an area equivalent to more than twice the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, set up across six sites at the airport. The solar energy generated from the new system, which is expected to be operating by Spring this year, will be equivalent to powering more than 1700 Australian homes for a year, with carbon offset equal to planting more than 50,000 trees or taking 1500 cars off the road each year.

Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Krishan Tangri views solar panels on the terminal roof

HOME CENTRE COMES TO SKYGATE The Skygate shopping precinct at Brisbane Airport is set to become even bigger with the construction of a new Home & Life retail centre to be completed by September. Building has begun adjacent to DFO and retailers including Nick Scali, Pillow Talk, James Lane and Lighting Illusions already headline the tenant list at the centre. More than half the space had been snapped up before construction began while more is under consideration even before the public leasing campaign is launched later this month. CBRE’s Damian Crocetti and Andrew Brimson have been appointed exclusive leasing agents.

“Skygate Home & Life is an exciting opportunity for retailers within one of the region’s fastest growing lifestyle precincts,” Crocetti says.

More than 100,000 vehicles per day pass through the precinct which is home to 460 businesses and 23,000 workers, while more than a million people live within a 30-minute drive.

The new development is being carried out by BNE Property, a division of Brisbane Airport Corporation, which recently completed a $35 million redevelopment of Skygate including an expansion to DFO which added 30 new stores, a multi-level car park, new alfresco dining restaurants, children’s playscape and commercial offices.

The precinct is now home to more than 160 retail, café and dining options, Queensland’s first 24-hour Woolworths, a medical centre, gym, childcare, Golf Central BNE, 4.5 star Novotel Brisbane Airport and more. Home & Life centre enquiries, email damian.crocetti@cbre.com.au

Help to save koalas

Frodo the koala is just one of the many animals nursed back to health at Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. It’s Australia’s busiest and largest wildlife hospital where a whopping 73,000 animals have been treated since it opened in 2004 – more than 600 koalas in one year alone – and the phones are ringing hot every day with emergency calls about sick and injured wildlife.

The hospital is just one of the projects supported by Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors which is also involved in conservation, research and education to help save koalas in the wild. This year Brisbane Airport also has come to the rescue with a donation of more than $22,000 for Wildlife Warriors – the proceeds from a lost property online auction held before Christmas.

Every year hundreds of items are left behind at Brisbane Airport terminals, from smartphones, laptops and cameras to jewellery and designer handbags. After all efforts to find their owners are exhausted and they remain unclaimed the loot is auctioned in an annual fundraiser for charity.

Australia Zoo vet Dr Amber Gillett with Frodo

New charter operator at BNE Charter airline Hevilift Australia has opened a new base at Brisbane Airport to expand its charter services into Queensland and northern NSW. Hevilift is a 25-year veteran in the charter industry and operates services in Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea for clients including the Australian Defence Force and many global mining, oil and gas companies. The airline will operate ATR42/72 aircraft from the Brisbane base to service popular FIFO destinations in Queensland with a plan to open up public passenger services on some routes in the future. Find out more at www.hevilift.com.au

BNE January/February 2018 | 5

FEATURE 6. Learn female self-defence at Svoboda Park, Beenleigh Road, Kuraby on 15 January from 10am. Bookings essential.

Call David on 0410 645 552.

50 FREE

7. Don’t get caught with a flat tyre. Learn to maintain a bike, for women only, on 14 January, from 9am at Kalinga Park.

8. Explore Carindale Recreation Reserve using a bushwalker’s GPS and map to find clues and solve puzzles on 11 January from 9am. Bookings required, email bookings@vertecadventure.com.au 9. Listen to the Queensland Youth Band Concert at the Bandstand, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha at 2pm, 12 January.

10. Listen to live music every Friday afternoon 5pm-7pm at Eagle Street Pier as part of the City Sounds program or tune in to

17. Discover the city on the Secrets of Brisbane cycling tour at South Bank Parklands (4 February 9am) or book a free Brisbane Greeters tour any day. Search ‘Brisbane Greeters’ on www.visitbrisbane.com.au 18. Start the eight-week fitness challenge at parks in Yeronga, Moorooka (bookings at Nadu Fitness on 0487 070 174) and Tingalpa (bookings at Fitness Forever on 0414 437 616) from 29 January.

19. Little ones will have fun at the Dino Discovery workshops at New Farm Park for ages 3-5 on 7 February from 10am.

Bookings at www.bazilgrumble.com.au 20. Paddle a dragon boat on Breakfast Creek, 11 February from 9.30am at Yowoggera Park, Albion.

21. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Queensland Scout Jamboree in Brisbane

THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

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Sunday Sessions from 2pm on the River Green at South Bank.

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1. Pick up some fishing tips at FishWise, 11 February from 1pm at Colmslie Reserve, Morningside. Bookings required, see www.2bentrods.com.au 2. Teens can learn basic circus skills such as juggling, acrobatics, hula hooping, clowning and more at Mt Gravatt PCYC. For ages 10-17 on 15 January from 10am.

Bookings required, call 3420 4655.

3. Join the pool party to get fit at Aqua Zumba kids for ages 10-17 at Wynnum Wading Pool on 15 January from 4.30pm. Bookings required, call Linda on 0428 419 157.

4. Young teens can learn to play tennis at Kangaroo Point Health and Fitness, Ferry Road, from 8am on 16 January, for ages 10-17. Bookings are required, email mark@tooheytennis.com.au or call Mark on 0416 265 755.

5. Take a guided nature walk through Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha Monday through Saturday from 11am. Also available at Karawatha Forest and Boondall Wetlands.

6 | BNE January/February 2018

11. Explore the mangroves by kayak from Nudgee Beach Reserve on 10 January from 4.30pm. Or try a fishing adventure by kayak from Lota Point Park. Bookings required, email bookings@vertecadventure.com.au 12. Join the Athletic Warrior Circuit at Robertson Park, Taringa from 29 January at 6am. Bookings required, call Jen’s Outdoor Gym on 0410 010 316.

13. Butterflies are free to flutter at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha and you can find out all about them from 10am on 18 January. Meet at Kitchen in the Garden. For information call 3403 2535.

14. Learn boxing for different ages at various parks from 23 January. See what’s on at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 15. Abseiling outdoors at Kangaroo Point Cliffs for ages 10-17 (18 January, bookings@ vertecadventure.com.au) or indoors at 61 Sandstone Place, Parkinson (12 January, see www.therockindoorclimbinggym.com.au).

16. Try Tai Chi Qigong at Northshore Riverside Park, Macarthur Avenue, Hamilton, at 7.30am on 29 January.

with stalls, demonstrations and more at Jamboree Heights Scout Den, Wood Park at Middle Park on 13 January from 11am. See www.scoutsqld.com.au 22. Swim at Streets Beach with a view of the city skyline from South Bank and kids will love the Aquativity water play park and Riverside Green playground in the South Bank Parklands.

23. Try pilates at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha from 9.30am on 23 January and at various parks, search what’s on online at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 24. Browse the Riverside Markets on at City Botanic Gardens every Sunday.

25. Learn to ride a mountain bike with a qualified guide, bikes and helmets supplied at Walkabout Creek, The Gap, on 17 February from 9am. For beginners, bookings required online at Eventbrite or call Walkabout Creek Adventures 0419 289 802.

26. Learn low budget film making techniques at Shoot IT for ages 10-17 on 10 January from 10am at Mt Gravatt PCYC. Bookings required, call 3420 4655.

27. Get back to nature with yoga at Karawatha Forest Park from 8am on 20 January.

28. Follow any one of 18 different self-guided Heritage Trails across Brisbane to discover the stories of our suburbs. Download maps and information to plot your course from www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 29. Spend Australia Day at South Bank Parklands and wait for the fireworks display when the sun goes down.

30. Join the survey. Since 100% Brisbane opened at Museum of Brisbane almost 18 months ago thousands of visitors have dropped in to discover what makes this city tick – from its Indigenous history to familiar smells and odd objects on display. Almost 36, 000 people have participated in the Brisbane DNA survey since opening, providing an ongoing insight into the views of residents and visitors. Among the responses 65 per cent of visitors have so far responded yes to the question ‘Do you think you will make a difference in the world?’ Nice to know.

31. Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in Chinatown Mall, Fortitude Valley, 17 and 18 February and be immersed in cultural performances, lion dances, fire shows and more.

Centre, South Brisbane until 11 February.

See www.qagoma.qld.gov.au 34. Visit the Epicurious Garden at South Bank and see what fresh produce looks, feels and smells like and learn about inner-city gardening. Volunteer gardeners are on site 7am-11.30am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when you can also collect free produce from the garden’s harvest cart (first in, first served). Produce in the garden is organic and rotated seasonally throughout the year. Find it opposite the City Hopper ferry terminal at the River Quay end of South Bank Parklands.

35. Take a digital journey through the collection at Queensland Museum using your smartphone, iPhone or iPad to scan the QR codes next to special objects and discover hidden secrets in the Discovery Centre.

Most Wednesdays at 1pm you can Meet a Curator or special guest for a special up close tour of museum collection items and learn about science projects and amazing discoveries. See www.qm.qld.gov.au

gardening advice from experts including TV presenter Annette McFarlane (Nundah Library, 13 January). Search ‘library events’ at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au 42. Find that story within and join a writers group for help and support, almost every local library has one. See website above to find one.

43. Design a comic book with the help of comic book artist Adam Rose, at various libraries 8-17 January, or join the monthly comic meetup group at Brisbane Square Library.

44. Enjoy science, attend a family STEM night with games and activities at Chermside or Sunnybank Hills libraries on 11 January at 5.30pm.

45. Play in the Digital Futures Lab at State Library of Queensland until 21 January – pilot a drone, ride a virtual rollercoaster, learn more about robots, algorithms and mindfulness from a machine. Awesome stuff. Open daily at the State Library of Queensland, Cultural Precinct, Stanley Place, South Bank.

46. Listen to the irreverent hybrids of Korean folk music blended with rock, pop and extravagant visuals and Indonesian music punctuated with contemporary rock at a

32. Find out about the history of Puppetry at the exhibition Puppet People: A Snapshot

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of Australian Puppetry at the Tony Gould Gallery, QPAC until 27 January. It features more than 50 puppets and offers a rare glimpse into some of the people and companies behind puppetry in Australia, from the first Punch and Judy shows in the 19th century to Laser Beak Man puppets from Dead Puppet Society.

33. Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is an international phenomenon. Time magazine named her one of the world’s most influential people and a museum dedicated solely to her works opened in Tokyo last October. She is a performer, writer and fashion icon and has continued to work into her 80s. The exhibition Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow features more than 70 works, including some of the latest from the series ‘My Eternal Soul’ which is a work still ongoing, a riot of bright colour that now includes more than 500 paintings.

Exhibition at GOMA and its Children’s Art

36. Kids can watch a movie for free at Holiday Movie Madness at Logan Hyperdome Library 11 and 18 January from 10am, popcorn and refreshments provided. Or families can watch a free movie at Little Bayside Park, Manly on 3 February see www.manlyharbourvillage.com 37. OPA-cize dance fitness is the first structured Greek dance workout. Try it from 29 January at 5.30pm at Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, meet at Mosaic Square Picnic Area.

Call 0416 136 806 for more information.

38. All the family can sail a catamaran and paddle a kayak at Breakwater Park, Waterloo Esplanade, Wynnum on 20 January form 9.30am. Bookings required at www.sailsatbayside.com.au 39. Cycle from the Story Bridge to the Gateway Bridge, on a three-hour guided expedition.

BYO bike, helmet and water. Meet at Captain Burke Park, Kangaroo Point at 9am on 25 February.

40. Be immersed in Brisbane’s diverse Asian communities during BrisAsia Festival, a program of arts and cultural events across multiple suburbs from 10 February to 4 March.

41. Improve your green thumb with free

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Night Across Asia at Brisbane Powerhouse Turbine Platform, 22 February 9.30pm.

47. Latin Fridays are an institution in Reddacliff Place (outside Treasury Casino on Queen Street) with free informal dance classes followed by some social salsa every Friday from 7pm.

48. Visit the Manly Creative Markets at Little Bayside Park, Manly, on every Sunday from 8am or the Fortitude Valley Markets in Brunswick Street Mall on every weekend. Browse a market in a suburb you haven’t been to before.

49. Practise Walking Meditation at Two Feet, Five Senses on 22 February from 9.30am at the Celebration Lawn, Roma Street Parklands. To book, call 0481 066 789.

50. Film buffs can find a quiet corner and stream a selection of documentaries and indie films for free on Beamafilm, available with a library membership. See www.beamafilm.com/libraries/ Find many more free events by searching what’s on and library events at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or at www.visitbrisbane.com.au BNE January/February 2018 | 7

COVER STORY

NICOLE KIDMAN WHY WOM EN LOVE H ER

8 | BNE January/February 2018

©Armando Gallo/Headpress

She’s unwaveringly passionate. She gives of herself. She stands up for what she believes in and she pushes the envelope with every single role she takes

N

Nicole Kidman is something of a chameleon. On the red carpet she is every bit the movie star, standing tall (she is 180cm) in her Christian Louboutin heels and designer gowns, but on screen she transforms into characters that are tragic, suicidal, homicidal, comical or, more recently, disturbingly like the woman next door.

At 50 Kidman has had one of the busiest years of her career, appearing on screen in films and on television, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.

When she was honoured for her body of work recently at yet another awards show, her friend and collaborator Reese Witherspoon revealed she was a little starstruck herself by ‘our Nic’.

“I’ve been one of her biggest fans since I saw one of her very first movies, Dead Calm (Kidman co-starred with Sam Neill in the Australian thriller when she was 21). She is simultaneously so vulnerable and so badass at the same time. I saw the movie when I was a girl and thought ‘that’s my hero’. That’s the kind of woman I want to be. Her breadth of performances range from broken to master of her own universe.”

Kidman has indeed become master of her own universe. She started her own production company, Blossom Films, in 2010 but it had only a handful of credits until she partnered with Witherspoon to produce and star in Big Little Lies – the big winner on television last year.

The series is adapted from Australian author Liane Moriarty’s book of the same name and a second season is on its way. Together they have also optioned another of Moriarty’s books, Truly Madly Guilty.

Kidman has said that the collaboration on Big Little Lies was a way to build opportunities for themselves and their friends – Witherspoon and costars Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz have all received high praise for their performances, Kidman won an Emmy Award for hers, and while author Liane Moriarty’s books were already best sellers Big Little Lies has been the first to make it to the screen.

Kidman’s role as Celeste Wright, wife of a wealthy man and victim of domestic violence, not only earned her awards and critical acclaim it has garnered an outpouring of support from women around the world.

“Her powerful performance showed the intricacies of what so many women are going through and I truly believe this helped open up the conversation that so many people are having now about people who are facing the same struggle with abuse and harassment in their own lives,” says Witherspoon. Kidman, too, says she is glad it has created a conversation and she has received emails from people saying they now understand better why someone stays with an abuser. “I’m glad it pulled the veil off,” she says.

In another film Kidman provided an intimate insight to adoption from a mother’s point of view when she played Sue Brierley in Lion the adaptation of the true story about Saroo, an Indian boy who gets lost, is

adopted by an Australian couple, then years later goes on an epic search to find his birth mother with Brierley’s support.

Brierley confesses that years before the film was considered she had been asked, jokingly, who would she like to play her if the Saroo’s story became a film and she answered Nicole Kidman. When eventually that was exactly what happened the two mothers bonded immediately during the filmmaking process and their shared experiences connected them at the soul, says Brierley.

Kidman says she was immediately connected at the first reading. “I’ve played many mothers but I have a strong maternal feeling, particularly at this stage of my life, my maternal instincts are pulsing through me in a very powerful way. I love what this movie says about adoptive mothers, about biological mothers, about mothering in general and the strength of good love. I just wanted to put this into the world.”

For Kidman it’s yet another direction in a career spanning more than 30 years and a long list of films that have earned more than $4 billion at the box office. While that sounds a tidy sum you only have to look at her body of work to see that budgets and box office are not what drives her choices.

“She’s unwaveringly passionate. She gives of herself. She stands up for what she believes in and she pushes the envelope with every single role she takes,” says Reese Witherspoon.

One of Kidman’s latest films, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which has been seen on limited release in Australia was, she says, made on a shoestring budget but she wanted to work with director Yorgos Lanthimos. Indeed, the list of directors she has worked with are the envy of many of her peers – Stanley Kubrick, Gus Van Sant, Lars Van Trier, Alejandro Amenobar, Baz Luhrmann, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, to name a few. But there are many more new names joining the list, including Garth Davis, the first-time director she worked with on Lion.

Next up she will be working with Joel Edgerton on his next directorial project, Boy Erased.

“I love supporting new people. I love being able to put support behind them and sometimes that will mean you are going to fail, sometimes it’s going to work and that’s a wonderful feeling.

“I’ve just lived and died on jumping in, constantly, and taking opportunities, reaching out when you can to get scripts. I just had a friend call me and say, ‘How do I get a script to this actor’, who is a friend of mine, and I said, ‘I’ll pass it on.’

“As much as we appear like we’re so far away, we respond to good stories, we’re participating in an industry that’s growing so we’re definitely not up in glass castles. It can appear that way, I know it’s hard to get access, but whoever you know, you know a friend who knows a friend. I have literally got projects that way and been in them and had them made that way. So it does happen.”

I have been one of her biggest fans since I saw one of her first movies and I thought ‘that’s my hero’. That’s the kind of woman I want to be

From left: Nicole Kidman in Lion, The Beguiled, Top of the Lake China Girl and Big Little Lies

BNE January/February 2018 | 9

FEATURE

Champions for change O N T H E G R E AT B A R R I E R R E E F

A growing number of reef warriors are working to counter the effects of climate change, pollution and even natural predators that threaten the Great Barrier Reef and what they are achieving is truly remarkable, but there’s more we all can do. As 2018 marks the International Year of the Reef, there’s no better time to start than now

Main image: Tourism and Events Queensland.

10 | BNE January/February 2018

THE VISIONARY Since landing on Lady Elliot Island in 2005 PETER GASH (left) has transformed this small piece of paradise on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef and 80km off the coast of Bundaberg into a shining example of innovative eco-tourism at its best.

What took nature 3500 years to build – and just a few years to strip bare with the arrival of the first European settlers – has undergone a major regeneration thanks to the planting of thousands of native plants under the green thumb (and green mindset) of keen aviator and conservationist Don Adams and continued by Gash.

Like his predecessor, Gash is also a pilot. He flew tourists to Lady Elliot Island (and nearby Lady Musgrave Island) for more than 20 years.

Indeed, it was his own experience of snorkelling the pristine waters of Lady Elliot that inspired him to become a pilot in the first place. Over time, the ‘lady’ arrested his heart and Gash did what any man in love would do – he made the island his own, eventually taking over the leasehold with his wife and two business partners.

Managing such a delicate environment is no mean feat but Gash has made some startling

changes – from being the first island in Australia to ban disposable drink bottles to slashing its fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in favour of solar power.

The work goes on and Gash has a goal to power the island with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020. As a result, the island and its fan-cooled 41-room eco-resort (with no phones, no television, no radio) have won a swag of awards, have advanced eco certification and are considered a model of best practice and a climate action leader.

“Lady Elliot Island is special for so many reasons. It’s remarkable in its contrasts. It’s a place of unique and pristine maritime environment, yet at the same time a recovering mine site.” (Originally a haven for nesting seabirds, the early settlers had mined the island for its fertile ‘bird poo’, stripping all vegetation.

Now the birds are back, a delight to be seen on walking tours of the island.)

“To look after our environment, we must be efficient, we must be economical in all we do, we must continue to educate, particularly our young people who will take over from our stewardship.

“Lady Elliot Island is the jewel in the crown of the Great Barrier Reef. It helps us to educate people what they can do for their town, their city, their country, their home.

“I just love to see the looks of joy on our guests’ faces when they experience the pristine wilderness of such a beautiful place.”

THE CLEAN-UP QUEEN While Peter Gash started his own crusade to stop plastic contaminating the reef by banning single use drink bottles from Lady Elliot Island – and you won’t see any plastic straws in drinks from the bar either – commercial skipper and mother-of-two, LIBBY EDGE (above), also has been waging war on plastic in and around the Whitsunday Islands.

Her environmental epiphany came shortly after she watched a 60 Minutes documentary about ocean litter around the Hawaiian Islands and felt relieved that her own backyard – from Airlie Beach to the edge of the reef – wasn’t in the same boat … or so she thought.

Two weeks later she found herself on a remote beach littered with plastic. For Libby, the discovery was a life-changing moment and one that spurred her into action, using her husband’s marine salvage equipment and a barge to make a difference, with the help of a small army of like-minded volunteers.

That was the start of Eco Barge Clean Seas, a not-for-profit organisation with a mandate to remove rubbish and reduce its impact on the local beaches and waterways, save the lives of marine animals and, in the long-term, to educate and reduce landbased litter and littering behaviour in the tropical north.

“Marine litter is one of the most threatening, but also preventable, pollution issues currently affecting the world’s ocean and waterways,” says Edge.

A report released by the World Economic Forum in 2016 estimated that more than 150 million tonnes of plastics are choking the world’s oceans and if that continues to increase at the current rate there will be more plastics in the sea than fish by 2050.

It seems hard to believe, after all many of us travel to such beautiful spots and never see the piles of rubbish mentioned in such reports. And that’s part of the problem, too many people are still unaware it even exists!

While most tourists flock to the sheltered and pristine islands of The Whitsundays, Libby Edge knows that there are more than 30 bays

along the south eastern island coastlines that are exposed to prevailing south east trade winds, washing up ocean junk that sometimes has floated in from far off countries.

After nine years in the business, Libby knows which beaches will suffer after the big winds and takes action accordingly, often with the help of international backpacker volunteers. She has also joined with others in the community to open a rescue centre for sick and injured turtles, initiate a Clean Streets and Creeks program to remove land-based litter in a series of clean-ups to keep it out of the ocean and for three years co-ordinated the Mackay Coastal Clean Up which removed more than 25,000kg of litter from the local beaches. Information she collects also helps the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, created by the Tangaroa Blue Foundation.

THE TRASH TRACKER According to HEIDI TAYLOR (left), cofounder and managing director of Tangaroa Blue Foundation “if all we do is clean up, that’s all we will ever do” and so she set out to take the process a step further and developed the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) which collects data to track the washed up waste to its source and then works with communities and partners to develop and implement Source Reduction Plans.

So far, the program has helped change government legislation and, to date, the AMDI database has just clicked over 9.5 million items of garbage removed from 2460 sites across Australia with the help of more than 96,000 volunteers and more than 1000 AMDI partners!

In addition to clean-ups the foundation also raises awareness through schools and workshops with corporate organisations and communities around Australia, co-ordinated from bases in Port Douglas in Queensland and Margaret River, Western Australia.

“In Maori and Polynesian mythology, Tangaroa is the god of the ocean. Tangaroa

made laws to protect the ocean and its sea creatures. ‘Tiaki mai i ahau, maku ano koe e tiaki’... ‘If you look after me, then I will look after you...’ When, after a week-long clean-up event, the whales and dolphins come close to our beach and slap their flippers we sometimes wonder if it is Tangaroa saying ‘thank you’,” says Taylor.

THE EXTERMINATOR Like many champions of the Great Barrier Reef, COL MCKENZIE’s own experience of the natural wonder eventually led him to make a sea change in his career and he went from army officer to dive shop owner and activist. Since then, McKenzie (right) has been an influential force in the dive and tourism industries and through his own marine advisory company, Gempearl, he provides vital information to researchers within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Reef Rainforest Research Centre and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

“It’s not all doom and gloom,” he says about the future of the reef. “The Great Barrier Reef is spectacular and one of the few coral reef systems where you can see great coral, whales, coral fish, turtles and big sharks on a daily basis.”

But it does need our protection and climate and pollution are not the only threats. One of the biggest natural enemies of the reef is the Crown of Thorns Starfish (CoTS) – just one can be lethal, able to reproduce in the tens of millions and, if left unchecked, has the potential to devour large coral outcrops, destroying vital reef fish habitat across huge swathes of the reef.

As executive director of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO), McKenzie has pioneered the CoTS Control Program which sends out teams of divers to seek and destroy outbreaks on the reef, using a bile solution which dissolves the starfish without harming the coral. Their work has been so successful – more than 650,000 CoTS removed from 80 reefs since 2012 – that countries including Fiji and the Maldives are turning to this pioneering research for guidance in managing CoTS in their own marine environments.

“At times it feels like we are at war, but we are definitely winning; we are seeing coral regenerating, we can see the difference,” says McKenzie.

Find out more about the Great Barrier Reef at www.queensland.com

Fly direct between Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef, via Cairns, Whitsunday Coast or Hamilton Island with Jetstar, Qantas, Tigerair and Virgin Australia BNE January/February 2018 | 11

FEATURE

eco warrior BE AN

Everyone can be part of the solution to save the reef and Shelley Thomas outlines just a few ways you can help

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oin the EYE ON THE REEF program, an environmental monitoring and assessment program developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) that enables anyone who visits the reef to play an active part in its long-term protection. One of the easiest ways to take part is simply to download the smartphone app (from Google play or Apple store) or login to the desktop network app (www.gbrmpa.gov.au/sightingsnetwork) to send in real-time sightings of marine animals, reef health and incidents. Find out about more advanced levels of participation at the GBRMPA website.

Volunteers can literally dive in and train to become a coral reef surveyor (snorkelling or diving) for REEF CHECK AUSTRALIA, a notfor-profit organisation that works to protect reefs and oceans by involving the community in hands-on research and education. Find out more at www.reefcheckaustralia.org Become a citizen scientist and play a role in PROJECT MANTA, a study of manta rays supervised by the University of Queensland.

Photos and videos of the underside of these graceful giants are needed to help track and protect endangered species in Australian waters. And, if a new manta is identified the photographer has naming rights. Find out more at www.biomedical-sciences.uq.edu.au/ project-manta Contribute to James Cook University’s MINKE WHALE PROJECT just by taking a tour with an operator endorsed by GBRMPA to

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host swim-with-whales encounters. Approved operators are required to collect information about the behaviour of these extraordinary whales that visit the northern Great Barrier Reef in winter months and each member of the group is automatically part of the observation team during these priceless encounters. Find out more at www.minkewhaleproject.org Help clean up the tonnes of debris that threatens marine sustainability as a volunteer at one of the events organised in conjunction with the TANGAROA BLUE FOUNDATION as part of its Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI). Beyond the clean-ups the program collects data that tracks debris to the source then works with partners and communities on solutions to stop the debris entering the environment in the first place. Anyone can be part of the solution every day, too, by making a commitment to reduce, refuse, reuse and recycle to help keep rubbish out of the ocean and off the beaches. For events in all states see www.tangaroablue.org Simply sign up to become a CITIZEN OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF and join one of six actions to be part of the solution — from using less plastic to sponsoring a diver in the fight to eradicate Crown of Thorns Starfish. The results feed into a global dashboard so ‘citizens’ can see the difference every positive action makes. Find out more at www.citizensgbr.org Not sure where to begin? The GREAT BARRIER REEF CITIZEN SCIENCE ALLIANCE can help with a list of projects

on land or underwater along the reef and Queensland coastline. Look out for ReefBlitz, an annual event held around October each year when volunteers lend a hand to survey reefs, collect marine debris, monitor mangroves and more. Find the list at www.greatbarrierreefcitizenscience.org.au You can even help by just taking a vacation.

Guests at luxury Lizard Island Resort can enjoy a special tour of neighbouring LIZARD ISLAND RESEARCH STATION for $65 with funds donated directly to the station (which is operated by the Australian Museum and featured on David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef TV special). For more information see www.lizardisland.com.au LADY ELLIOT ISLAND (pictured above), at the southernmost tip of the Great Barrier Reef, is recognised as one of the ‘Top 5’ locations on the planet to dive with manta rays and Project Manta researchers visit several times a year, but there are many more ways to explore and learn more about this natural marine sanctuary on day trips or longer stays, from reef walks and guided island walks to a tour of the Reef Education Centre. As a visitor you will be helping this eco-tourism award winner and climate action leader continue its conservation work. Find out more at www.ladyelliot.com.au Earthwatch Institute is looking for experienced scuba divers to join its next RECOVERY OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF expedition.

Find out more at au.earthwatch.org

STYLE

OceanZen Sea Jelly one-piece $160

Shapes in the Sand Ocean Swim Ghost Reef one-piece $229

treasure TR ASH INTO

Textiles made from recycled ocean debris and other waste is being formed into summer’s hottest swimwear

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unshine Coast-based marine science graduate Steph Gabriel (left) has set out to save our oceans one step at a time with the launch of her swimwear label OceanZen. Gabriel practises what she preaches and last September joined a trash tribe organised by Clean Coast Collective to pick up rubbish on Queensland’s northern coastline as part of Tangaroa Blue Foundation’s AMDI program. The small group travelled to the remote Cape York Peninsula and what they found there was shocking.

Over five days the team removed more than 7000 tonnes of rubbish from less than 7km of coastline – plastic bottles, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes were the biggest haul, literally thousands of them washed up on a remote stretch of beach.

Gabriel launched OceanZen to be part of the solution and it is one of a growing number of swimwear brands committing to more eco-friendly practices, including using textiles made from regenerated waste such as discarded fishing nets and fabric scraps.

Alex Dash, creator of Shapes in the Sand, also uses the recycled material in a capsule collection called Girls and the Sea. Dash says her prints are inspired by the Great Barrier Reef: pastel shades borrowed from the sea alongside stark black and white tones that make a statement about coral in jeopardy. But it’s not just a fashion statement – Dash is donating $15 from each piece sold from the Girl and the Sea Collection to Tangaroa Blue Foundation.

OceanZen Sea Waves Orca top $80 and pant $80

OceanZen Salty Palms one-piece $160

Shapes in the Sand Waterangel crop top $109 and reversible pant $99

Buy online at www.oceanzenbikini.com and www.shapesinthesand.com.au BNE January/February 2018 | 13

STYLE

b o h o SUMMER

Elixir lace maxi dress $189

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risbane designer Kirsty Ballentine (left) is a self-confessed urban hippy, a gypsy spirit who loves all things white, beachy and bohemian, so it’s hard to believe that only five years ago she was working in the corporate world of human resources and wearing suits to the office. Now her ‘office’ is a bright white studio surrounded by a luscious garden where she creates limited edition homewares and womenswear for her label Losari. For Ballentine it was a leap of faith in her own artistic talents to create the beautiful things she had long had a passion for collecting.

The label name is key to her creations – Losari means ‘spirit of the earth’ in Javanese – and her desire to make beautiful things that whisper to their owner ‘stop the world and take a deep breath’. The new Isle of Luxe collection for Losari Woman is almost all white, which has become Ballentine’s signature, with ivory and delicate pastels and a hint of the detail that informs her homewares too – soft fabrics, tassels, lace and macramé – on maxis, jumpsuits and kaftans perfect for a bohemian summer.

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Twilight jumpsuit $159 Capri maxi dress $169

Solace maxi dress $149

Azure kaftan $179

Fashion by Losari. For stockists and to buy see www.losari.com.au Santorini kaftan $189

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THE CHARMS OF

CHIANG MAI Carmen Jenner shares her top 10 ways to discover Thailand’s mountainous north

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ike a queen overseeing her subjects from her throne, Chiang Mai hovers high in Thailand’s north, far away from the south’s madness. Originally conceived for her trade route to China, the northern capital remains largely independent from the rest of the country. Compact, walkable and friendly, Chiang Mai has all the cultural bases covered with its food, ruins, temples, scenery, elephants, adventure, crafts and continuing traditions.

1. TAKE A TUK-TUK Flying through the city by tuk-tuk is the 16 | BNE January/February 2018

most invigorating way to zip through the city’s labyrinth. Haggling is part of the deal with prices ranging between 60 and 100 Baht (about $2-$4). Just go with it as you really can’t put a price on the entertainment factor, as I discovered when the theme song from the movie Frozen blared from our tuk-tuk’s speakers while we bunny-hopped to our destination. I made a note to never ‘Let it (the handrail) go’ again.

Decorated in all forms of gaudy, many double as the family transport with school and supermarket drop-offs as part of the journey and when the sun sets some transform

into mobile, albeit seated, discos. For a more sedate experience, book an Uber or hail down a metered taxi, or join the locals on the red pickup trucks called ‘songthaews’.

2. ANCIENT TEMPLES There are more than 300 temples in Chiang Mai and its outskirts, with a dozen stand-outs of historical or architectural significance within walking distance of each other.

The Old Town, once the capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom, lies within a square of ancient brick ramparts edged by a moat.

It is one of the most congested parts of the city with motorbikes, cheap massage joints and backpackers but the main attraction is its temples, such as Wat Pan Tao and, gilded in fine stucco, it is deemed the most beautiful of all.

Within the ancient walls of the Old Town, Wat Phra Singh dates back to 1345. Although three main structures vie for attention, it’s hard not to gravitate to the shimmering Kulai Chedi pagoda. However, the real treasure – the famed Lion Buddha image known as Phra Singh – lies within the small chapel Wihan Lai Kham.

I could have spent hours admiring the internal walls of Lai Kham assembly hall decorated with exquisite murals and stucco decorations depicting the lives of the locals from the late 19th century.

After all that admiration of the Lanna temple architecture, markets and food stalls, we indulged in a foot massage in the grounds, something we also would have liked after climbing the Naga Serpent Staircase to 14th century Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, considered the most significant temple in Chiang Mai and

Compact, walkable and friendly, Chiang Mai has all the cultural bases covered with its food, ruins, temples, scenery, elephants, adventure, crafts and continuing traditions still a working monastery. The fact there’s a tram as an alternative route to the 300 plus steps, lined by serpent (naga) statues, gives some indication of the burn factor. The views from its hilltop location are impressive but next time I hope to verify just how spectacular it is at sunrise. In the meantime, and perched 1676 metres above sea level, the temple on Doi Suthep is a majestic backdrop to the city.

3. EAT BEAT As they say, when in Northern Thailand … you’ve got to try the local cuisine. Lemongrass, chilli, turmeric, lime and coconut enhancing noodles, curries, pork, shrimp and fish doused with the local pepper sauce are just some of the flavours of the north.

The local speciality Khao Kha Moo, stewed pork leg served over rice with egg and spices, is readily available, especially from the lady in the cowboy hat at the Chang Puak night market. Be prepared to join the queue since chef, writer and TV presenter Anthony Bourdain paid her a visit on his program. Lively any night of the week, the open-air market has a wide range of local and international dishes, as well as the ubiquitous pad thai noodles, noodle and meat filled omelettes, larb (or laab, a spicy mince salad), satays, seafood, crispy fried insects, thankfully washed down with beer.

In hipster haven Nimman, short for the

district located around Nimmanhaemin Street, the waft of wood-fired pizzas from Italian Restaurant Why Not? lured us in for their home-made pasta, imported cheeses, antipasto and Italian wines. Equally aromatic is the barbecue chicken at Cherng Doi. Served with sweet and sour tamarind sauce, the spit-roasted chicken is available only for a few hours in the middle of the day until it is sold out and they shut up shop.

Chiang Mai’s nightlife is a mini version of Bangkok’s trappings of vice and there are plenty of bars to indulge. The pub on the first floor of the Night Bazaar is wonderful for bluesy renditions and its people-watching vantage point.

The strip along Charoenrat Road is a great place to eat, drink and watch expats behaving badly or, for a less salacious night out, the Riverside Bar has a pub vibe and Thai food.

The Khao noodles and tom yum gung soup at the award-winning Gallery Restaurant housed within an antique building and riverside vantage point has romance in spades.

Opposite page: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is considered the most significant temple in Chiang Mai. This page, above: Indigenous Akha children at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Left: Buddhist monks launch sky lanterns during a festival at Wat Pan Tao Temple.

Images: Alexander Mazurkevich (left), evantravels (above) and opposite page/Shutterstock.com

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asiastock / Shutterstock.com

4. CAFFEINE STOP Chiang Mai is a mecca for digital nomads, their caffeine-fuelled furrowed brows lit up behind laptops in cafés all over the Nimman area, popular for their fast WiFi, tasty food and coffee. The rotating art-space at Gallery Seescape provides plenty more to look at than a row of laptops; Ristr8to serves gourmet coffee around the clock, and the all-day brekky and cute garden at Blue & Rustic often extends into lunch. The oversized pink dog statue in the garden at Iberry is enough to inspire a lengthy linger over their home-made ice creams.

5. RIVER CRUISING Weaving through the city and past the Old City walls, several tour companies traverse the Mae Ping River languidly passing by teak houses, fancy hotels and kids frolicking on the banks. Normally a relaxing rural experience, ours took an exciting turn when our endearing guide channelled Elvis. ‘Jailhouse Rock’ bellowed out of the megaphone as our scorpion-tailed boat pulled up at a spice farm for an interesting tour followed by a tasty treat of mango on sticky rice. Dinner cruises are also available.

Carmen Jenner

Shutterstock.com

6. OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE

Tuk-tuks are the most entertaining way to travel; Bor Sang Village is the home of hand-made umbrellas, a staple accessory in Thailand; the Iberry is not hard to find in trendy Nimman, just look for the dog.

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Quad biking through the jungle seemed like a good idea until discovering the need for more upper-body strength than we possessed to control the powerful beasts slipping through the mud. An abundance of experienced drivers was immediately summoned to save us damsels in distress, looking like bedraggled pink garbage bags in our provided raincoats.

Once the controls were in someone else’s hands I began to relax and enjoy myself for the next couple of hours over the 40km trail. Find out more at www.8adventures.com

7. TREASURE HUNTING Chiang Mai is known for its local crafts and offers an abundance of silk, silver, lacquerware, wood carvings and hilltop tribal crafts. The Night Bazaar opens at sundown until 11pm and is a treasure trove of goodies including hand-made bags, clothing and bedding you won’t find in the shopping malls.

Sunday Walking Street Market stretches for about one kilometre and sells hand-crafted items, while Wualai Walking Street opens on Saturday nights and, as it’s less busy, there’s more opportunity to browse and haggle.

The historical riverside shopfronts along a portion of Charoenrat Road specialise in highend Lanna art and crafts; Nimman has a host of quirky galleries and boutiques; the Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre and the open-air lifestyle mall Kantary Terrace are both a short walk away for well-priced high-street fashions.

Colourful umbrellas are everywhere in Thailand, mainly to shelter from the relentless sun, and just a few kilometres from the city Bor Sang Village is the centre for hand-made umbrellas, ranging from the

cocktail variety to sun-shading parasols.

Meander among open-sided wooden workshops to watch the umbrellas being made and the annual Bor Sang Umbrella Festival (this year 19-21 January) is a highlight.

8. BE PART OF THE ART Reality as we knew it was altered at the Art in Paradise museum where we ‘became’ part of the artworks in this interactive exhibition, at least for our cameras. My daughter braved a shark attack, popped inside a snow globe, floated through Venice, played hide and seek with a massive kitten, glided on a paper plane and jumped off tall buildings in a single bound, all part of a creative illusion. See it at www.chiangmai-artinparadise.com

9. MORE THAN MASSAGE Receiving a Thai massage is a bit like doing yoga while someone else does all the work for you, well at least on first impressions.

Generally speaking, no oil or long soothing strokes are used and, after changing into loosefitting pyjamas and directed to a floor mat, arms, fingers, toes, legs, hips and shoulders are contorted into all kinds of positions compliments of the masseuse’s fists, hands, feet, forearms, elbows and knees. A calming tea completes the experience before floating back out into the city throng.

The Signature Makkha Thai Massage at Makkha Health & Spa combines acupressure, massage and yoga into the treatment while the Srimantra Signature Massage at Srimantra Spa combines traditional Lanna Thai massage with an aromatherapy oil massage. Fah Lanna Spa has a signature Wisdom massage which embraces elements of traditional Lanna culture such as Thai dance into the treatment.

10. CARE FOR THE ELEPHANTS Saving the best for last, Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary is one of the few ethical elephant parks in the country that allows rescue elephants to roam free in peace. History declares that Thailand’s trade routes were originally trekked by elephant because there was no other mode of transport but today there’s no excuse for plonking your derrière on the back of an elephant for the sake of novelty; their backs aren’t designed to carry hordes of tourists touting selfie sticks. Besides, it’s way more fun to get dressed up as a mahout (elephant carer), prepare their food and give them a mud bath in their open-air spa. Be warned, hanging out with these magnificent creatures is a life-changing experience. See www.lannakingdomelephantsanctuary.com

Thai Airways flies direct between Brisbane and Bangkok daily with onward connections to Chiang Mai. See www.thaiairways.com

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To discover why we’re famous for our larger suites and exceptional value for money, please call our Australian based reservation hotline on , or visit meritonsuites.com.au

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ESCAPE

Minjerribah magic

Leonie Vandeven rediscovers all the charm of family camping without the hassle in new eco tents on Brisbane’s favourite island

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nesting plover, expertly camouflaged amongst the leaf litter, gives me a sharp alarmed shrill, warning me I’ve over-stepped her invisible boundary as her mate flexes his wings in protest. I side-step automatically, apologising profusely to the annoyed looking little birds, as a group of statuesque storm birds watch on regally and the kookaburras stifle a laugh.

Around me sun-kissed barefooted campers are waking up to the calls of the wattle birds, emerging from tents and camper vans and plunging into the crystal clear and cool ocean waters metres from their beds.

The scene recalls fond memories of camping with my family in simpler times, whiling away the hot summer holidays, drinking cordial, eating Samboy chips and spotlighting at night before falling asleep exhausted, salty and with slight sunstroke, in a sleeping bag full of sand, not a care in the world.

A beachside camping adventure is a rite of passage for Aussie kids and it is my obligation, indeed my duty, to make sure my children experience this memory-making magic.

However, my problem is that I’m no longer the 10-year-old whose only responsibility is packing a pair of swimmers and my thongs for the holidays. I’m now the adult in charge of the camping logistics with tonnes of equipment, bedding, food, seating, lighting and the right amount of tent poles, making a ‘quick’ weekend getaway an exercise in strategic planning, endurance and patience.

Yet here I stand on an island paradise with breathtaking views, triumphant in my ‘adulting’ ability to organise my family of four on an authentic two-night beachside getaway without needing to mobilise an army.

I’ve found the answer to my dreams in Brisbane’s backyard of Moreton Bay, at Adder Rock Camping Ground on the lands of the Quandamooka People on North Stradbroke Island – known as Minjerribah to the Traditional Owners.

A little less than an hour's ferry ride from Brisbane’s bayside suburb of Cleveland, Minjerribah is a place international visitors travel halfway around the world to experience. For lucky locals the trip across the bay feels a world away from home, yet it is close enough for a weekend break without missing a minute of school or work.

The landscape of Adder Rock Camping Ground is unpretentious,

natural and unspoilt by mass tourism, artificial embellishments and high-rise accommodation or souvenir stores.

The vibe is relaxed, safe, friendly and simplistic, with stunning bushland brimming with wildlife bordering white sandy stretches of pristine and uncrowded beach frontage.

Unlike the backpackers and surfers camped nearby, I’ve not pitched a tent, nor blown up a single airbed; I’ve woken relaxed and refreshed in a brand new ‘Island Eco Tent’. Don’t be fooled by the name, while the walls of my abode are indeed canvas, this isn’t any ordinary ‘tent’.

Nestled beneath a shady canopy of towering bloodwood trees, it is one of 12 Island Eco Tents blending harmoniously into the bushland and offering a touch of luxury in the traditional campground setting.

Inside our family tent there’s a tastefully decorated, light and airy room containing a hand-woven floor rug, a queen bed laid with crisp white sheets and a separate annex with a bunk bed for the kids.

Linen scatter cushions featuring artwork by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, a local Nunukul, Ngugi and Goenpul woman of Quandamooka Country who lives and works on Minjerribah, beautifully illustrate the rich Indigenous history of the island.

Ceiling fans, mood lighting, power points, bar fridge and kettle, crockery and cutlery, armchairs, white-washed timber cupboards, fluffy white bath towels and a large private deck add the luxury elements you won’t find, nor could fit, in a self-pitched tent.

The bathroom facilities, while basic, communal and would have been state-of-theart in 1977, are kept clean and are more than adequate to wash off the day’s salt and sand. It is one of the simple elements that keeps the ambience of the camp authentic and down-toearth, taking me back to my own childhood holidays.

While there are myriad cafés, restaurants, take-away joints and even fine dining options a short walk or drive away, Adder Rock Camping Ground’s central outdoor covered barbecue facilities with free electric hot plates are great for cooking up pancakes with the kids while mingling with travellers from around the world and soaking up a unique camping community vibe you’ll find nowhere else.

In fact, there is nowhere like this in the world and, regardless of the amount of sand in your luxury bed or swag, I guarantee you’ll fall in love with this magical slice of paradise in Brisbane’s own backyard.

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Images: Tourism and Events Queensland; Leonie Vandeven and Marty Smith

The scene recalls fond memories of camping with my family in simpler times, whiling away the holidays, not a care in the world

snacks on the island; bring HOT TIPS: Bring an empty esky and buy ice, drinks and camp cooking facilities. cooking utensils if you’re planning on using the communal

EAT Order snapper, calamari and chips from Fins ‘N Fries and picnic on the beach (Point Lookout).

Enjoy American style ribs and wings at Sisco’s Philly Cheese (Point Lookout).

Pick up some fresh local oysters or prawns to eat alfresco.

Treat yourself with coffee and cake at Seashells Café (Amity Point). Bare feet welcome!

DO Walk North Gorge to see whales (June to October) from the best vantage point on the island.

Flick a lure off Amity Point jetty for bream and pike, where you can also spot dolphins and turtles.

Swim at Bummiera (Brown Lake), coloured by therapeutic tannins from native ti-trees framing the lake. Bummiera is significant to the Quandamooka people and said to be home to the mythical Bunyip.

Take a Kayak Kulcha Experience with Quandamooka Traditional Owners. On the four-hour adventure tour learn to hand spear and taste local bush tucker.

Enjoy the weekend markets with local arts, crafts, produce, home-made jams and island honey.

GO There are nine Island Eco Tents for couples and three family tents which include an annex with bunk beds for children. Opening rates start from $149 per night. See www.straddiecamping.com.au Vehicle ferry transfers between Cleveland and Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island start from $55 one-way (offpeak) for a standard sedan. Prices vary depending on time of travel and ferries depart hourly every day with some later departures Friday to Sunday. For timetables, prices and more information about vehicle and pedestrian ferry travel see www.stradbrokeferries.com.au

Clockwise from top left: Lake Bummiera, also known as Brown Lake for the tannins that colour its shoreline, is a hidden gem; look out for wildlife on the North Gorge Walk; picnic on fresh fish and chips at the beach; inside a new Island Eco Tent at Adder Rock Camping Ground; the beach is on the doorstep; neighbours at the camp site; throwing out a line from Adder Rock Beach.

BNE January/February 2018 | 21

ESCAPE EXTRA

Time in

TRANSIT

Frequent flyer Kerry Heaney has a few tips on how to spend time between flights in the terminals at Brisbane Airport

I

t’s not unusual these days to have a few hours to spend between flight connections at an airport. I once spent seven hours in transit – in both directions – between flights to Europe but with access to a zen tea house in the airline lounge I basked in the quiet and calm – my two favourite things to find in an airport. But you don’t have to be travelling best in class to while away the hours at Brisbane Airport as there’s more than just free WiFi to keep you occupied between domestic and international connections.

ONE HOUR

Photography by Marc Grimwade

At Brisbane’s Domestic Terminal the SHOPPING options alone help time fly with some of my favourite women’s clothing retailers such as Mimco, Witchery, Peter Alexander, Seed Heritage and Victoria’s Secret to browse.

It’s also good for spontaneous purchases, maybe a bargain from the sale rack, an extra pair of pyjamas or new sunnies for the trip and gifts from Typo for friends and family. The good news is shops are open from around 6am to at least 8pm most days.

After browsing, I like to escape the airport bustle with a great coffee and the soothing world of BOOKS at Watermark Books, opposite gate 23.

At International Terminal shopping is full of Australian gifts to share with friends and family abroad including Indigenous art from Dreamtime Journey, hand-made leather belts and boots (and more) from R.M.Williams, sheepskin and wool fashion from Merino Collection and great local chocolates, some infused with honey and macadamia, at the Australian Produce Store, just don’t eat them all before you fly!

There’s plenty of time to sit on an international flight, so this is a good time to EXPLORE the terminal. Some travellers like to throw a coin in the fountain for good luck but a new display that caught my eye on my last visit is Ben Craig’s BricksBNE models, made with LEGO bricks, which capture the experiences of travellers in mini scenes.

In the early evening there’s a festive air, too, as local musicians play in the BNE BEATS program from 4pm to 7pm, generally from Wednesday through Sunday, at various locations within each terminal.

Travelling between terminals is easy on FREE TRANSFER BUSES that run between the terminals every 10 minutes (or 25 minutes in off peak hours).

TWO HOURS More time at Domestic Terminal provides an ideal opportunity to enjoy a GOOD MEAL before flying with a wide range of options in the food court and cafés. For example, it’s the only place in Brisbane you’ll find the famous American Carl’s Jr burgers, including the signature Angus beef thickburgers, handscooped ice cream milkshakes and my favourite, the guacamole

22 | BNE January/February 2018

Relax with a cocktail and catch some live music during BNE Beats; find Fonzie Abbott for a quiet coffee; indulge in good food such as breakfast at Brisbane River Grill, International Terminal or check in to Plaza Premium Lounge; have a mini makeup session at Mecca Maxima, Domestic Terminal; and shop for Aussie produce at International Terminal

bacon thickburger (minus onion). No matter what your passion for WORLD FOOD is – Mexican, Vietnamese, Italian or Japanese – Mad Mex, Roll’d, Bar Roma and Sushi Sushi have that covered. But there’s a HIDDEN GEM near gate 41 where you’ll find me stopping for coffee. Fonzie Abbott has been voted one of the best roasters in town, a locally-grown business that supplies many other cafés with what they call their ‘sweet F.A.’ carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans.

At International Terminal the independent Plaza Premium Lounge is open to passengers no matter what airline you are flying.

Inside, there’s a comfortable and relaxed view over the airport concourse and entry cost includes a buffet with a range of meal options, barista coffee and workstations with connectivity.

There’s time, too, for the ultimate pre-travel pickup – a massage at the WELLNESS SPA, just behind Plaza Premium Lounge.

Treatments range from a simple but relaxing hand massage to full body treatments. Afterwards, there is a quiet area where you can relax until your flight is called.

At International Terminal, too, there’s more time to INDULGE in a good meal at Brisbane River Grill and taste the flavours of the local region including free-range eggs from Tamborine Mountain, cheese from Woombye on the Sunshine Coast and Green Beacon beer from the Brisbane craft brewer. An early morning departure looks so much better after I’ve eaten a full ‘B.R.G Breakfast’.

THREE HOURS + Bust that thought that it’s a long wait ahead by getting outside the terminal. Just a 10-minute walk from Domestic Terminal is the new Pullman Brisbane Airport Hotel and a ground floor bar overlooking the pool bar where you can enjoy a drink and charge your phone simply by laying it on top of the counter. In the Apron restaurant executive chef Justin Zammit has created a fine dining menu featuring locally sourced produce and he also oversees the menu at the more casual Cribb Island Beach Club next door at the ibis hotel.

There’s also plenty of time to hop on the SKYGATE LOOP free bus which runs between both terminals and the Skygate shopping and dining precinct. I find it almost impossible to visit the DFO outlet stores without coming out with a bargain. There are now more than 160 stores, a good selection of cafés, a 24-hour Woolworths, gym, beauty salon, hairdresser and barber – there’s even putt-putt and a golf driving range across the road at Golf Central BNE. With more time at your disposal you can take the AIRTRAIN from outside the terminals and be in Brisbane’s city centre in about 30 minutes where a whole lot more adventure awaits, with free city tours and fun ways to explore the city, river and parklands.

If you need to store baggage for up to 24 hours lockers are available at both the Virgin and Qantas ends of the Domestic Terminal, at International Terminal and at Skygate.

For more information see www.bne.com.au/what-to-do-while-transit Follow Kerry Heaney at www.eatdrinkandbekerry.com.au

Comfortable rooms and honest, authentic service are just the start - Jen Fast, free Wi-Fi throughout the Hotel Be at the airport in 25 minutes with direct access to the AirTrain Start the day right with Espresso coffee machines in every room In the heart of the CBD, just 5 minutes from Queen Street Mall Always the best rates on offer, visit hoteljen.com to book now

Hotel Jen Brisbane, 159 Roma Street, Brisbane, 4000 hjbb@hoteljen.com | www.hoteljen.com | 3238 2222 BNE January/February 2018 | 23

ESCAPE EXTRA special, try your own birth year Tawny, directly from the barrel, guided by a Seppeltsfield wine educator. The Australian newspaper’s food critic, John Lethlean, described the multi-awardwinning restaurant FINO as the best place in Australia for a long lunch. Hard to miss on Seppeltsfield Road, Seppeltsfield, one hour drive from Adelaide.

BAROSSA and beyond

The d’Arenberg Cube

T

hose who venture beyond the cellar door will be richly rewarded in South Australia.

The Barossa, McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills offer some of the best wining and dining experiences in Australia.

D’ARENBERG, MCLAREN VALE With a dedication to “the art of being different”, d’Arenberg’s new space-age Cube doesn’t disappoint. Winery owner Chester Osborn’s visionary Rubik’s Cube-style, five-storey multifunctioning masterpiece is now open and houses several bars, a restaurant run by chef Brendan Wessels and private tasting rooms. Osborn calls it an Alternate Reality Museum and it’s a sensory feast – not just of food and wine but also for its extraordinary artworks, soundscape and special effects. The aim is to give the illusion of floating in the middle of a vineyard. Against type, the new cellar door is actually on the top floor and boasts views overlooking the rolling hills of Willunga and visitors can choose to blend and bottle their own wine. Find it at Osborn Road, McLaren Vale, 40 minutes drive from Adelaide.

PENFOLDS MAGILL ESTATE, ADELAIDE Nestled in Adelaide’s foothills, this is the birthplace of Australia’s most prized wine, Penfolds Grange. With a rich history dating back to 1844, the heritage-listed winery is a labyrinth of underground tunnels and bluestone cellars. It’s a treat to visit the Grange Cottage and vintage cellar and see the original hiding spot of Max Schubert’s Grange followed by a structured tasting of Penfolds’ most highly-coveted wines and a three-course lunch matched with more

24 | BNE January/February 2018

ST HUGO, BAROSSA St Hugo honours the visionary winemaker Hugo Gramp and is located within the ruins of William Jacob’s winery, built more than 150 years ago. Of course, there are guided tastings and visits to the vineyard but St Hugo’s history is best understood during the Past, Present and Future tour through back, current and yet-to-be-released St Hugo vintages, extracted straight from the barrel, complemented with a four-course degustation lunch. Find it at 2141 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat, just over an hour from Adelaide.

TWO HANDS WINES, BAROSSA When you’ve been there and done that it’s time to head for the Holy Grail – literally – the latest pride and joy in the Two Hands Shiraz-based portfolio. Survey the vineyard in a chauffeurdriven 4WD with tasting on site and at the cellar

wines. Find it at 78 Penfold Road, 15 minutes drive from Adelaide’s CBD. THE LANE VINEYARD, ADELAIDE HILLS Over lush green hills and down a quiet, winding country lane lies one of the newest small batch single vineyard wineries in Australia, called The Lane. A barrel masterclass hosted by the winemaking team is a good way to take your wine knowledge to the next level, tasting heritage wines directly from the barrel and learning about the impact oak has on colour, aromatics, texture and structure, accompanied by some delicious treats from the chef.

Find it at 5 Ravenswood Lane, Hahndorf, just over 30 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD. JACOB’S CREEK, BAROSSA Named after a creek that runs through the beautiful Barossa Ranges, Jacob’s Creek has origins dating back to 1847.

A special way to enjoy it is with a signature cooking class – first foraging for ingredients in the kitchen garden then enjoy the results paired with Jacob’s Creek wine while overlooking some of the best views in the Barossa. Find it at 2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat, just over one hour from Adelaide.

SEPPELTSFIELD WINES, BAROSSA With a legacy dating back to 1851, Seppeltsfield is famous for its Centennial Collection: an unbroken lineage of Tawny, spanning every vintage from 1878 to today. For something

Jacob’s Creek Wirra Wirra

Penfolds Magill Estate

The Cube is a sensory feast – not just of food and wine but also for its extraordinary artworks, soundscape and special effects

ON BOARD SINGAPORE AIRLINES A350-900 T

he Singapore Airlines A350-900 signals the beginning of upgraded Airbus services between Brisbane and Singapore and this aircraft has lots of bells and whistles to provide a more comfortable flight with low ambient noise. On a long weekend getaway KERRY HEANEY travelled from Brisbane in Premium Economy and returned from Singapore in Business Class.

THE FACTS

Two Hands Wines

door. Still not satisfied? Add a tour of Moppa Hills’ Secret Block, a few other stops and a long lunch to make a day of it. Find it at 273 Neldner Road, Marananga, 70 minutes drive from Adelaide.

WIRRA WIRRA, MCLAREN VALE Wine aficionado James Halliday gives it five stars, and its Church Block Shiraz is the bestselling red blend in its category in Australia. But these folks don’t take themselves too seriously and if you think flinging watermelons is something you’d only see in Queensland think again and have a go at Wirra Wirra’s ingenious catapult. There’s plenty more to recommend this place, from the Trott’s Tales back-of-house tours to twilight tasting and Harry’s Deli, which serves up a menu overflowing with South Australian regional produce. Find it at McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale, 50 minutes drive from Adelaide.

For more information about these winery experiences see www.southaustralia.com Jetstar, Qantas/QantasLink, Tigerair and Virgin Australia fly between Brisbane and Adelaide up to 68 times weekly

Aircraft:

Singapore Airlines A350-900

Route:

Brisbane to Singapore return

Class:

Premium Economy Brisbane to Singapore, Business Class Singapore to Brisbane

Flight time:

7 hours 30 minutes

Services from Brisbane:

Four daily flights, including one using the A350-900 at time of this review

Baggage allowance:

Premium Economy 35kg; Business Class 40kg

THE EXPERIENCE The flight departed from Brisbane at 9.10am and arrived in Singapore at 3.10pm local time.

On departure, Premium Economy passengers are third in line for boarding but are fasttracked through security and given a hot towel once seated.

A swivel foot and calf rest keep your feet raised and enhance the comfort of the 47cmwide Premium Economy seat. There is an adjustable light on the side of the seat and handy additional storage in the seat back for a water bottle and more. Noise cancelling headphones also are included.

Every seat on the Singapore Airlines A350900 fleet has KrisWorld inflight entertainment (right) with more than 1000 options across movies, TV shows, music, games and apps.

Download the SingaporeAir app to browse programs and create your own playlist before boarding. A USB/iPod and AV-input has been

included so you can play personal videos.

WiFi is available with payment by credit card.

In both Premium Economy and Business Class Singapore Airlines has a new ‘Book the Cook’ service offering dishes “inspired” by a panel of international chefs, including Aria’s Matt Moran, available to order online before departure. There are also 23 dietary options – eight types of vegetarian selections alone – to pre-order. It was great to see Brisbane’s own Green Beacon Wayfarer American Wheat Beer craft brew on the menu on both flights.

The return flight from Singapore to Brisbane departs at 9.15pm and arrives in Brisbane the next morning at 7.15am local time. Business Class passengers are amongst the first to board and airline staff settle everyone in with a drink and warm cloth.

The Business Class seats are 71cm wide and recline, with a little help from the flight staff, to make an angled flatbed (pictured above).

The middle Business Class seating row has a privacy seat divider between the adjoining seats and no overhead lockers, instead carryon luggage is stored over the window seat.

Singapore Airlines has dispensed with the standard amenities pack in Business Class and instead offers an eyeshade, socks and slippers.

A toothbrush and other toiletries are available in the lavatory.

THE VERDICT On a daytime flight take advantage of the increased comfort offered by Premium Economy but on a night flight nothing beats stretching out on the flatbed available in Business Class and on a short flight forget the food order and push ‘do not disturb’ for longer sleep time.

BNE January/February 2018 | 25

ESCAPE EXTRA

LOST VALLEY

discovered at Currumbin Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast has opened up its new ‘Lost Valley’ – five hectares of tropical rainforest where visitors can get up close to unique exotic flora and wildlife such as ringtailed lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, red panda, capybaras, free-flying birds, reptiles and more. The new precinct has been three years in the making and is the biggest the sanctuary has opened in its 70-year history, and the single largest investment in an exhibit made by owners, the National Trust of Australia (Queensland).

Lost Valley pays tribute to the nearby, real Lost World Valley in the Gold Coast hinterland which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage-listed area. Few places on earth contain so many plants and animals that are almost identical to their ancient ancestors and Currumbin has replicated the rainforest environment as closely as possible for its new animals and plants to thrive – for visitors it’s as close to walking in a rainforest as the real thing. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin. Day pass from $49 adult. See www.currumbinsanctuary.com.au Clockwise from top left: cotton-top tamarin, ring-tailed lemur, green iguana, green winged macaw and red panda.

Breakfast at

TIFFANY’S

Ever since Audrey Hepburn stood on Fifth Avenue in her pearls and evening gown with her take-away coffee and pastry in a paper bag, gazing in a jeweler’s window, romantics the world over have dreamed of having Breakfast at Tiffany’s … and now they can, but in an even more glamorous fashion. Tiffany & Co has opened its first ever Blue Box Café at its flagship New York City store, serving up a simple seasonal menu for a fixed price around $40. The café is fitted out in the classic Tiffany Blue (below), open seven days (from 10am, or 12noon on Sundays) but it’s first in first served and you may need to be patient to get in. Tiffany & Co, 727 Fifth Avenue, NYC. Air Canada flies daily direct between Brisbane and Vancouver for onward connections to New York City

WILDERNESS PHOTO SAFARI

Aspiring photographers will have a chance to learn from the best and snap some of the best wildlife in the Top End on a five-day Wilderness Photo Safari hosted by top notch travel photographer Richard l’Anson and Canon Collective.

There will be plenty of early mornings to catch the ‘golden hour’ for great pictures as l’Anson leads the group on daily sessions from the comfortable base of Wild Bush Luxury’s Bamurra Plains property on the edge of Kakadu National Park. Bamurra Plains is a private property spanning 300 square kilometres and guests will be skimming across wetlands aboard airboats looking for crocodiles, buffalo and more than 200 species of birdlife as well as taking a day trip to Arnhem Land to experience Indigenous culture among the daily excursions. l’Anson is passionate about the Top End experience. “Not only does it offer a wealth of superb wildlife and landscape photography opportunities but the safari lodge itself offers exceptional hospitality and facilities. It’s also great to have the Canon Collective accompanying us as guests will have the opportunity to use some of Canon’s most professional and high-end equipment,” he says.

There will be two tours in 2018: from 28 April and from 2 May; cost from $5,388 per person, twin share, excluding airfares. For more information see www.bamurraplains.com Jetstar, Qantas, Tigerair and Virgin Australia fly direct between Brisbane and Darwin to connect with light aircraft flights to Bamurra Plains

26 | BNE January/February 2018

CONTROL FOR DRONES

Thailand Travel Lover/Shutterstock.com

The pressure is on to get better and better Insta-worthy images from a holiday but if you’re looking to replicate spectacular aerials like this one (below) from a drone – beware. Like many other destinations, Thailand has rules and regulations regarding the use of drones in their country and its National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) recently announced that all drones – including those brought in by holidaymakers – must be registered before they can be used and even registered drones must be flown according to a list of rules. If they are not, the owner could face a five-year jail term or a fine of more than $3500. For details and forms see www.caat.or.th/en

Unlocking secrets of

THE SOUTHERN REEF Shane and Pascaline Emms want to introduce more people to their little slice of paradise on Queensland’s coastline and have opened the boutique ZEN Beach Retreat at Bargara, less than an hour’s flight from Brisbane and on the doorstep of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. To help guests enjoy a truly local experience the Emms offer to tailor itineraries to include private hosted experiences, from discovery tours of nearby Fraser Island to exclusive food trails surrounding Bundaberg, swimming with sea turtles, playing golf with a PGA coach and more. They describe it as ‘unlocking your own Great Barrier Reef secret’.

“There are so many secrets that are yet to be discovered on the Southern Great Barrier Reef and we want to give our guests access to places and experiences most people have never heard of,” says Shane.

Thai Airways flies daily direct between Brisbane and Bangkok, Thailand

Qantas and Virgin Australia fly direct between Brisbane and Bundaberg up to 37 times weekly

y a l P d Stay aat n

BRISBANE MARRIOTT

Soak up the sights of Brisbane as you “stay and play” in style at Brisbane Marriott.

Enjoy a night or two in a river view room and feast on a variety of dining options including our Seafood Dinner Buffet, Afternoon Tea and Buffet Breakfast.

For our latest deals visit: brisbanemarriott.com or call (07) 3303 8000

BNE January/February 2018 | 27

TASTE

TASTE OF

Hong Kong Australian-based chef and TV presenter Tony Tan loves Hong Kong and every time he returns to visit family is an excuse to explore its rich and diverse food scene. In particular he admits to a weakness for dim sum and claims Hong Kong is the city for the best.

Here, he shares a recipe from his new book Hong Kong Food City, a cook’s tour of the vibrant city through 80 different dishes, from hawker stalls to the kitchens of top hotels, intertwined with stories that trace the city’s culinary evolution and Tan’s personal picks to sample the food at its best.

STEAMED PORK AND PRAWN DUMPLINGS These open-faced steamed dumplings are traditionally made with minced pork and wrapped with wonton pastry, and known as siu mai, meaning ‘cook and sell dumplings’.

INGREDIENTS Makes 25-30 25-30 square wonton wrappers 2 tbs carrot, finely chopped

From Hong Kong Food City

by Tony Tan (Murdoch Books).

Photography by Greg Elms

Filling 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water until softened 300g pork belly, coarsely chopped 180g peeled uncooked prawns, coarsely chopped 80g water chestnuts, chopped 2 tbs light soy sauce 1 1⁄2 tbs Shaoxing rice wine 2 tsp sesame oil 2 tbs finely chopped ginger 1 spring onion, thinly sliced 1 egg white 2 tbs potato flour

METHOD

To make the filling, squeeze the excess water from the mushrooms, discard the stems and finely chop the caps. Combine the mushrooms in a large bowl with the remaining ingredients, season with salt and pepper and mix well. (Dim sum chefs tend to stir the mixture in one direction 20 times.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 20 minutes to marinate.

Place a teaspoonful of filling in the centre of each wrapper. Bring up the sides and gently squeeze to hold in the filling. Smooth the top of the filling with a knife and gently tap the bottoms of the dumplings on the bench so they stand upright. Top each dumpling with a pinch of carrot.

Line a bamboo steamer with baking paper and make a few tiny slits to allow the steam to rise through, or lightly brush the steamer with oil. Steam the dumplings in batches for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through. Serve at once.

Cathay Pacific and Qantas fly direct between Brisbane and Hong Kong with up to 18 departures per week. For details see www.cathaypacific.com and www.qantas.com 28 | BNE January/February 2018

TASTE

All natural GELATO VS ICE CREAM Mint Choc Chip dairy gelato (above left) is the best seller at NOM NOM NATURAL GELATO followed by Chai Latte, a dairy-free flavour based on soy and their own spice mix, suitable for vegans and lactose intolerant people while the blokes like Cookies and Cream (above right), all made under the keen eye of Swiss-trained confiseur Thomas Aegerter. They also make fruity sorbets including watermelon, mango and coconut. The signature blend, though, is gelato hand-made by the traditional Italian method and using their own recipes.

According to Aegerter, authentic gelato has a lighter, creamier consistency than ice cream and about half the fat content. There are 18 flavour choices at any given time and new ones are introduced as the mood strikes the chef, inspired by the best ingredients. Find it at 139 Oxford Street, Bulimba.

See www.nomnomnaturalgelato.com.au

CHILL

OUT Where to find the best ice cream in Brisbane

SPECIAL EFFECTS WITH THAT

At NITROGENIE the process is as absorbing to watch as the flavours are to taste. A base of fresh eggs and cream is blended with real food ingredients and fast-frozen in a mixing bowl then emerges as if by magic through the vapours of liquid nitrogen as they waft out into thin air. Nitrogenie was born in Queensland and now has stores in Europe, Middle East and Bali. Find it at Shop 30, Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank, and in Noosa and Toowoomba in Queensland. See www.nitrogenie.com

The strawberry sundaes at Brisbane’s annual show, Ekka, are legendary – some people go only for them – and now we know who is responsible for them. Grant Lew’s experience as a fine dining chef has made his LICK! ICE CREAM a popular choice for restaurants and Ekka, but it is also available over the counter at their own stores, showcasing up to 35 flavours at any one time. Staples like Vanilla Bean and Couverture Dark Chocolate are award-winners and on Australia Day you can’t go past Pavlova (a passionfruit base with raspberry ripple and green and gold meringues) and Smashed Lamington (smashed Lamingtons with toasted coconut and strawberry ripple) ice creams. But it’s flavours such as Redskin Whaaat and Spiced Apple Cider (made with cider from the apple capital of Queensland, Stanthorpe) that really capture the imagination and tempt the taste buds.

Lew uses all natural ingredients and there are options to cater for anyone with dairy/nut/ gluten allergies. Find it at 5/591 Wynnum Road Morningside and 3/321 Honour Avenue, Graceville.

See www.lickicecream.com.au

WE LOVE watermelon There’s nothing that says ‘taste of summer’ in Australia more than watermelon and ‘double good’ when it’s an ice cream as well! Watermelon Soft Slice (a wedge of fresh watermelon filled with watermelon-flavoured soft serve, right) and Watermelon Granita (topped with vanilla soft serve and a fresh wedge of watermelon served in its own watermelon float) are just two of summer’s coolest ice creams from DOUBLE GOOD, which has a menu to make the mouth water – from the La Vida Loca (more summer goodness in mango and macadamia flavours served in a coconut shell) to the Pina Colada (mango, pineapple and coconut soft serve in a pineapple, left). Double Good has also introduced Brisbane to its first black ice cream – dark chocolate coconut soft serve in a black waffle cone with Oreo biscuits.

Double Good is open weekends only at Eat Street Markets, Northshore, Hamilton. For information see www.eatstreetmarkets.com.au

NEW FLAVOURS the old-fashioned way

Gerardo and Lei Deflorian make their gelato the old-fashioned Italian way at GELATERIA CREMONA using traditional methods that date back almost a century, but that doesn’t stop them having fun with a few flavours inspired by the holidays such as Lamington, Anzac Biscuit 30 | BNE January/February 2018

and Hot Cross Bun. Their new vegan sorbet is flavoured with coconut water and mango. There are more than 200 flavours in the repertoire so the menu board is always changing. Find it at Shop 5, 151 Baroona Road, Paddington and follow them on Facebook.

FOOD AND FOOTY PERFECT PAIRINGS When the Global Rugby 10s tournament kicks off at Suncorp Stadium on 9 and 10 February the action will be fast and furious as 12 world class teams from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan and France – 10-a-side, 10 minutes per half – play for glory. But a fan’s got to eat and here are five top picks for before and after game feasting.

BEST STEAK Black Hide Steakhouse has been named Queensland’s Best Steak Restaurant for the last four years in a row, earning a reputation for its extensive range of cuts – 11 in all on the menu – of prime Angus, wagyu and organic beef sourced through an exclusive deal with premium producer Stanbroke. Barbecue short ribs are a signature dish but Black Hide has issued its own long-standing challenge to hearty meat eaters – a 1.2kg Tomahawk steak. Find it at 36 Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace, in the heart of the party precinct just a few minutes walk from Suncorp Stadium. See www.blackhidesteakhouse.com.au

Share plates at Peasant, above, then clockwise: indulge at Darling & Co; try something hot at Sichuan Bang Bang; start the day with a hearty big breakfast or try Italian specialties at newcomer La Stazione; or tuck into the mega Tomahawk steak at awardwinning Black Hide Steakhouse

post-game. Larger plates include seafood zarzuela and beef cheeks, rustic Spanish meatballs or stuffed pequillo peppers. The social vibe at Peasant is built on a menu made for sharing and groups of four or more can order a banquet. At the Barracks, Petrie Terrace. See www.peasant.com.au

FAN CENTRAL BEST NEWCOMER La Stazione, a sibling to Cicchetti on the Gold Coast, has opened next door to Milton Station and serves up the same award-winning pizzas and specialties from executive chef Fabio Ricciardi, including house-made gnocchi with chunky veal ragu or crispy skin pork belly roulade with apple chutney and sweet potato chips. The good news is it’s open for breakfast as well so it’s a top stop on the way to a game, whether for a Healthy Start (roasted sweet potato cubes, zucchini and quinoa fritters, beetroot labneh, sliced avocado, free range poached eggs, dukkah and rye toast) or a Local & Co Big Brekky (free range eggs, bacon, chorizo sausage, mushroom, grilled tomato, baked beans, hash brown and sourdough toast) to sustain a full day cheering from the stadium stands. Find it at Shop 2, 55 Railway Terrace, Milton. See www.lastazione.com.au

MOST SOCIAL It’s easy to bond with fellow fans over Spanish sangria and tapas at Peasant, a one-time Best Restaurant of the Year. Or drop in for the tapas tasting board or a charcuterie board

Last year Darling & Co traded until 5am, with DJs, entertainment and dining all weekend. Located across the road from the stadium, this is an obvious port of call but it’s a step up from pub grub under the influence of head chef Giuliano Melluso who brings an Italian heritage and Michelin-starred experience to the menu. Think Angus Beef Tartare, Fremantle Octopus with heirloom tomato, and more. At 157 Given Terrace, Paddington. See www.darlingpaddington.com.au

BEST CHINESE Dumplings at Sichuan Bang Bang are handmade fresh in-house every day but if you really want to turn up the heat then look for crispy eggplant chips with fried shallots and traditional Sichuanese dishes such as Bean Curd Noodle Salad with radish, black fungus and Chinkiang vinegar chilli sauce, the classic Sichuan beef and fish hot pots, and the Chilled tofu tiles with chilli oil, black sesame, coriander and port floss. And beware, sitting down to the endless yum cha on Sunday is likely to eat into the afternoon session at Suncorp Stadium. At 167 Given Terrace, Paddington. See www.sichuanbangbang.com.au Brisbane Airport proudly supports Brisbane Global Rugby 10s. Find out more about the tournament at www.brisbaneglobaltens.com BNE January/February 2018 | 31

WHAT’S ON

INTO THE TIME WARP Get ready to do the Time Warp again when The Rocky Horror Show makes a triumphant return to the Brisbane stage. Craig MacLachlan (The Dr Blake Mysteries) pulls on the fishnet stockings again to reprise his award-winning role as Frank N Furter and Cameron Daddo steps in as the Narrator. The Rocky Horror Show may have been more outrageous to audiences when it first opened in the 1970s but it continues to have a cult following of fans through generations. An extra show has already been added to the Brisbane season due to popular demand.

From 17 January at Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane. Tickets from $59.90 plus fees at www.qpac.com.au

Glittering Arabian nights The magic carpet bringing the lavish production of Aladdin to Brisbane arrives in February. Featuring a cast of 34 wearing more than 300 glittering costumes between them, embellished with more than 500,000 Swarovski crystals, Aladdin the stage production is adapted from centuries-old folktales including ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ and Disney’s animated film, complete with favourite songs from the Oscar-winning soundtrack and more written specially for the stage. It’s a tale of adventure, comedy and romance with Hi-5 alumnus Ainsley Melham in the role of Aladdin. From 20 February, at Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane. Tickets from $80 plus fees at www.qpac.com.au

MONSTER creation

THEY’RE BACK

Designer and costume maker Tracey Leino spent more than 60 hours experimenting with materials and shapes to come up with the final look for Nathan Pamenter to take on the features of the title character in Brisbane Arts Theatre’s production of Shrek The Musical. Paint, prosthetics and padding are all part of transforming Pamenter into the ugly, but ultimately lovable, green monster. There’s a meet and greet with the cast after Thursday night performances. From 24 February at Brisbane Arts Theatre, Petrie Terrace.

Tickets from $44 plus fees at www. artstheatre.com.au

These bands love coming back to Brisbane and we love having them to rock out summer in venues from big arenas to the chilled out lawns of wineries and city parks. Let music brighten your summer

32 | BNE January/February 2018

The Manganiyar Seduction is a group of 40 musicians from three generations of Manganiyars, a caste of desert musicians from the heart of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, who bring ballads about kings and mystic poems to life in a set inspired by both the Hawa Mahal Palace in Jaipur and Amsterdam’s red light district.

Sometimes compared to a jewel box, the set adds to the dramatic effect as the music builds to crescendo. The Manganiyar Seduction performs as part of BrisAsia Festival, 1-2 March at QPAC. See www.qpac.com.au

TLC

Roger Waters

Tionne Watkins (aka T-Boz) and Rozonda Thomas (aka Chilli) funded their latest album with a Kickstarter campaign that drew donations from the likes of Katy Perry and raised more than double their goal amount, showing the R&B duo has lost none of their influence even after 15 years since their last recording. On 4 February at RNB Vine Days, Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton. Tickets from $119.90 plus fees at www.ticketmaster.com.au

The English rocker’s last tour is a hard act to follow. The Wall Live broke sales records six years ago and remains the highest grossing tour by any solo artist in history. Songs from legendary Pink Floyd albums are back on the playlist alongside new tunes from his latest album. On 6 and 7 February at Brisbane Entertainment Centre Boondall. Tickets from $101.75 plus fees at www.premier.ticketek.com.au

Fresh talent IN COMEDY

Of course all the names you know and love will be at the Brisbane Comedy Festival – Dave Hughes, Tom Gleeson, Akmal, Wil Anderson, Jimeoin, Joel Creasey, Fiona O’Loughlin and Mel Buttle to name a few – but there’s some emerging talent earning a bit of pre-festival buzz including Brisburned led by UQ Law Revue graduate Mark Lombard and The Travelling Sisters (left) – Elle Sachs, Laura Trenerry and Lucy Fox – who have indeed travelled from humble beginnings at Woodford Folk Festival to Edinburgh Fringe, Glastonbury, London, Berlin, Prague and Hong Kong, leaving a trail of top reviews in their wake. Brisbane Comedy Festival is on from 23 February to 24 March across three venues, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane City Hall and new venue SunPAC at Sunnybank. See www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com

SNEAK PEEK AT NEW WORK The Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) is this country’s largest international trade-market for contemporary performing arts, held every two years for buyers from around the world to come and view Australian and New Zealand works and potentially give them a new audience in another city, state or country. This year, for the first time, the doors will open for the public to peer behind the industry curtain and see some of the works showcased at APAM in a program of free and ticketed events at Brisbane Powerhouse.

For example, South Australian acrobatic ensemble Gravity & Other Myths will kick off the public program with their work Backbone and Western Australia’s Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will take over the Powerhouse’s Performance Lawn with Leor (above), a giant illuminated puppet, hand-made with over a kilometre of woven rope and 600 LED lights which passersby can help animate. Program from 16-23 February, for details see wwwbrisbanepowerhouse.org

Paramore

WILD

family dinner Queensland Theatre’s first play of 2018 has been called a blend of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and Meet the Fockers a laugh-out-loud rom-com that sold out its world premiere season last year in Sydney – a triumph for writer Nakkiah Lui and director Paige Rattray. In Black is the New White Charlotte (Shari Stebbens, right) is the high flying young lawyer, daughter of a high profile Aboriginal politician, who brings her penniless and white fiancé home to meet the parents. Lui has already shown how funny she can be as a writer and actor on ABC’s Black Comedy and Kiki and Kitty, and here she turns her barbs to class, race, politics and power. On 1-17 February, Playhouse, QPAC. Tickets from $82 plus fees. Find out more at www.queenslandtheatre.com.au

Robbie Williams

The Rubens

They have been busy since their last visit, winning He may have flouted local laws on a previous The Margin brothers and their crew have emerged a Grammy Award, releasing their new album, tour by lighting up a cigarette on stage at the from their war bunker south west of Sydney and After Laughter, a hit single with a video that has non-smoking venue but, the premier at the time almost are ready to share the songs they created attracted more than 50 million views, and creating offered to pay his fines and Williams has been there for their new album due out this year. With their own rockin’ festival on a cruise known as back since, charming audiences as much as ever first single ‘Million Man’ already hitting the right Parahoy which has become so popular it’s back with his pop anthems, swing tunes and orchestral note with critics and fans, it will be a welcome again this year. On 11 February at Riverstage, City production numbers. On 20 February at Brisbane return. On 24 February at the Tivoli, Fortitude Botanic Gardens. Tickets $101.74 plus fees at Entertainment Centre, Boondall. Tickets from Valley. Tickets from $70 plus fees, for bookings www.ticketmaster.com.au $149 plus fees at www.premier.ticketek.com.au and information see www.ticketmaster.com.au

BNE January/February 2018 | 33

WHAT’S ON

THE DEVIL

IS IN THE DETAIL Kathryn Marquet is the first emerging talent to go through Playlab’s new playwright-in-residence program and her work is about to be seen on the main stage

What is your new play about?

It’s a black comedy that explores the situation of a young woman, George, who is extremely concerned about the environment, extinction and climate change and she is doing everything in her power to do something about it, then something goes really wrong for her. The play explores our response to climate change, our response to species extinction and our response to the absurdity of the world at the moment.

What compels you to write?

I usually get a strong image in my mind of a scene, a moment, a character and that drives me to think about the idea a lot and start to form a story. Alternatively, I get pretty worked up about injustice – particularly environmental injustice – so I often write out of intense frustration and sadness with the world.

What do you as an artist stand for?

I worry we’re moving into another ‘dark age’ where science and reason are dismissed in exchange for fear and ignorance. It makes me livid. It keeps me up at night. So, I stand for science but not blindly. I try to see the world in as many greys as I can, rather than black and white. I try to demonstrate this kind of thinking in my plays.

I also judge people by how they treat others, not what their gender or sexuality or ethnicity or religion or clothes size is.

I think, maybe, if I can do some small good – if I can change someone’s mind – through my writing, then I am contributing to the small actions of those all around the globe who desperately seek change. We all have a role to play.

What art do you most identify with?

Art that makes me feel like I’ve been punched. Art that has a cathartic – deep – response in me. I remember seeing the reading of Marcel Dorney’s Fractions at Queensland Theatre. I couldn’t speak for some time after. It made me want to weep like a child. That’s the best art.

I also like art that’s ambitious – where new inventions are made, and where artists say, “This is hard, but we’re going to do it” – such as Dead Puppet Society’s The Wider Earth, which was an epic love serenade to nature. Fail or fly, I say. Mediocrity is the worst.

Professionally, what’s your goal?

I want to work at the top level with people I admire and respect. I want to push myself and challenge myself. I would like to earn enough money to be able to not live in poverty. That would be nice. But, you know what? Mostly, I just want peace and I only find peace when I’m working.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?

Oh, that’s difficult because there are so many.

Hemingway said: ‘Write clear and hard about what hurts’. I think that about sums it up.

What do you want the audience to take away from your play?

I hope that the play is entertaining and makes people forget their problems and have a good laugh, but maybe when they go home that night they will look up at the stars and have a little think about the world.

The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek at La Boite Theatre, Kelvin Grove from 10 February to 3 March. Tickets $60 plus fees at www.laboite.com.au

34 | BNE January/February 2018

WHEN WHAT

WHERE

JANUARY

A LESSON IN GRACE Sue McPherson (above), born in Wiradjuri country and now living in Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast, was inspired to write after attending a weekend workshop. Now the charming young Fuzzy, the voice in her award-winning first book, Grace Beside Me, comes to life in a new 13-part children’s series to premiere on NITV from 16 February. Adapted from the award-winning novel and filmed in south east Queensland’s Scenic Rim, the coming-of-age story is told through Fuzzy Mac’s eyes, an Indigenous teenager who just wants to have fun with her mates. However, that gets complicated when, on her 13th birthday, she discovers she can communicate with spirits. And so begins the adventure as Fuzzy tries to find her way in the world with one foot in the Indigenous realm of culture and the other firmly planted in the world of a 21st century teenager and she learns to accept her gift and understand the meaning of ‘grace’.

Weird and wonderful science Adam Savage (below left) will be familiar to many as the former co-host of TV series MythBusters but Savage has moved on and created his own website called tested.com and joins an equally curious science geek Michael Stevens, creator of YouTube channel Vsauce (17 million subscribers, more than 2 billion video views) to bring Brain Candy Live to Brisbane.

The two hosts have been game-changers in sci-edutainment as a genre of show biz and it’s only getting more popular as they bring their bag of crazy toys, tools and demonstrations to help answer some of the weirder questions of everyday life.

This is one show where you want to be asked to go up on stage and help with an experiment and Savage agrees the audience interaction is one of the best parts of bringing the show to a live stage. On 28 February, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tickets from $75 plus fees at www.ticketek.com.au

3-13

The Funatorium, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Playhouse, QPAC, South Brisbane

6

Vince Jones plays Van Morrison’s masterpieces

Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane

9

Bryan Adams and Thirsty Merc

Sandstone Point Hotel, Bribie Island Road

9-13

Brainiac Live

Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane

9-13

Brainiac Detective Academy

Studio 1, QPAC, South Brisbane

10-11

Much Ado About Nothing

Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Fortitude Valley

10-11

International Pro Darts Showdown Series

Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills

From 14

Amalia Pica: please open hurry exhibition

IMA, Fortitude Valley

16-20

Storytime Ballet

Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

17-20

The Little Mermaid, Ballet Theatre of Queensland

Playhouse, QPAC, South Brisbane

19

One Day International: Australia v England

The Gabba, Woolloongabba

20

Molly’s Game, Moonlight Cinema advance screening

Outside Brisbane Powerhouse at New Farm Park

20-28

Lifeline Bookfest

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

25

Electric Gardens Festival with Fatboy Slim

The Marquee, Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen HIlls The Triffid, Newstead

26

AC/DC Day

27

Women’s Big Bash League: Brisbane The Gabba, Woolloongabba Heat v Sydney Thunder

27

Big Bash League: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades

The Gabba, Woolloongabba

28

Lady Bird, Moonlight Cinema advance screening

Outside Brisbane Powerhouse at New Farm Park

29

Adam Devine, comedian

Tivoli, Fortitude Valley

FEBRUARY 2

Macklemore

Riverstage, City Botanic Gardens

2-5

Blur Photography Festival

Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills

3

Welcome to Night Vale

Tivoli, Fortitude Valley

3

Mariah Carey

Sandstone Point Hotel, Bribie Island Road

3-4

World Travel Expo

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

6

Manchester Orchestra

The Triffid, Newstead

7

Celtic Woman

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

10

St Jerome’s Laneway Festival

Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills

10-11

Red Hot Summer Tour, Suzi Quatro and more

Sandstone Point Hotel, Bribie Island Road

11

Evanescence with Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall

13

Russell Peters, comedian

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

From 13

Gordon Shepherdson exhibition

Philip Bacon Galleries, Fortitude Valley

16

The Beatles Orchestrated lll

Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane

18

Mrs Brown’s Boys

Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall

18

An Evening with Chris Botti

Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane

23-25

Mind, Body, Spirit Festival

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

23-25

The Home Show

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

24

From Jaws to Jurassic Park, the music of John Williams, Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane

From 24

The 39 Steps, Queensland Theatre

Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane

25

Ball Park Music

Tivoli, Fortitude Valley BNE January/February 2018 | 35

I

QUEENSLAND

SARAH MORRISON PERFORMER, MAMMA MIA!

I

t’s hard to believe that the vivacious young Sophie on stage in the musical Mamma Mia! was once a shy young girl in primary school who was taken to drama classes to help bring her out of her shell.

It did more than that for Sarah Morrison, triggering a passion for acting, singing and dancing that has brought her to the biggest stage in Brisbane. Indeed, it was at a mother and daughter date to see Mamma Mia! live on stage when she was 12 that first gave Morrison the idea it could actually be a career.

Now, at 27, she is singing her way through a hit list of ABBA tunes as the daughter about to be married on a Greek island, with three potential fathers to give her away. For Morrison, it’s also a special opportunity for her to stay in her home town during the show’s run after more than a year of almost constant touring but soon enough she will be packing up again to go with the show to Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

Where do you live?

Out of a suitcase. I was born in Cairns but my family moved to Brisbane when I was only a few weeks old. They have lived at The Gap ever since and it’s great to be home again during the season of Mamma Mia! Before Brisbane I was in Canberra and after Brisbane we will go to Sydney, Perth and Melbourne with the show. Last year I travelled to the east coast capital cities with Queensland Theatre’s production of Ladies in Black. But I still think of Brisbane as home.

What do you love about your neighbourhood?

I think The Gap is a very special place. It is far enough away from the city that you feel like you’re away from the hustle and bustle and it is so green out there. I love going for a walk around Enoggera Reservoir when I am home.

Sarah Morrison, above, and starring as Sophie in Mamma Mia!, right. Morrison has fond memories of a family road trip around Queensland when she was younger, panning for gems in Emerald and travelling in caravan convoy with a gathering of Morrison family members visiting from around the

Best memories of growing up in The Gap? Being selected to be in the school musical from Grade 5 at St Peter Chanel Primary School. It was such excitement to be in that show, called Danger Kids. I was one of the Danger Kids. Then in Grade 7 I got to play King Neptune in a show called Under the Sea. It was after that I really wanted to try more things.

You’ve done a lot of travelling, any memorable trips?

My parents are Scottish and there are a lot of Morrisons around the world – in Britain, America and Australia – and when I was about 12 they all came together in Queensland and we had a caravan convoy going up to places like Roma, Emerald and Bundaberg for a few weeks. We went panning for gems in Emerald, I had my first ever surfing lesson at Rainbow Beach. I loved it.

I’ve also been back to Cairns and Port Douglas and been snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and to the rainforest, and we always go up to Noosa once a year for a family holiday.

Any places you keep going back to in Brisbane?

West End and the markets. I also love catching up with friends at James Street, at Gerard’s Bar and at Hello Please in Fish Lane. Fish Lane is great because it’s so close to the theatre.

Queensland images: Tourism and Events Queensland

What about outside the city?

Twin Falls in Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland is a beautiful place.

36 | BNE January/February 2018

Do you get homesick?

Of course, you miss family and friends but the good thing about shows like Mamma Mia! is that the rest of the cast and crew become like a big family. There are so many people to spend time with it’s a lot of fun.

Best packing tip?

Muji dividers for my suitcase have changed my life. I also always carry my own pillow.

Mamma Mia! is on stage at Lyric Theatre, QPAC until 4 February.

Tickets from $59.95 plus fees at www.qpac.com.au

BOOKS

5 MINUTES

Great Australian

CRICKET STORIES

WITH JESSICA WATSON

As the summer of cricket heats up Ashley Mallett’s Great Australian Cricket Stories makes interesting reading between innings. Mallett isn’t only one of Australia’s great bowlers he’s also a natural storyteller and even newbies to the game will appreciate his stories of ‘backyard tests’, behind-the-scenes insights to Nathan Lyon’s rise and rise, and his personal accounts of some of the heroes of the game (ABC Books).

The youngest person to sail around the world at age 16 and author of Indigo Blue Indigo Blue is … my first novel for young adults.

The book is … an adventure story about a teenage girl who pushes aside people’s expectations of what she is able to do.

Alex, the main character, is … very different to me when I was her age, although we do share a love of sailing.

Boreen Point is … the location of the story and a real place on the Sunshine Coast, a sleepy little hamlet where I spent family holidays – and still do – which is very special to me. It played a big part in the inspiration for the story.

TELL TALE

The book that changed my life is … Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit by Jesse Martin. Mum used to read it to us when we were young and it inspired me to sail around the world. As amazing as Jesse is he is also a normal guy and the book made me realise that [sailing around the world solo] was something I could do as well.

This new collection of stories by best-selling author Jeffrey Archer gives a fascinating and sometimes poignant insight to the people he has met, tales he has come across and the countries he has visited over the past 10 years. Reviews have scored the collection of 14 stories high on white-knuckle suspense and wit (Macmillan).

My favourite books growing up were … adventure stories like The Famous Five.

I’d like girls who read Indigo Blue to … fall in love with sailing like I do.

Indigo Blue is published by Lothian Children’s Books

Jessica Watson

GOOD H O L I DAY R E A DS HELEN GARNER’S STORIES The release of two collections of stories – one fiction and the other non-fiction – celebrate the 75th birthday of award-winning writer Helen Garner and a career that spans more than 50 years. For readers yet to experience the power of her writing either one of these latest books is a good introduction: True Stories that give some insight to her own life and experience and Stories that delve into the complexities of life, all told with a characteristic sharp observation, honesty and, sometimes, humour (Text Publishing).

The History of Bees Screenwriter and children’s book author Maja Lunde came up with the idea for her first adult novel after seeing a documentary about the environmental impact of declining bee populations. Through her research she found the basis for the three main characters and built a story around each one, linked by a connection to bees yet set in very different times and different places. But the three leading characters also have something else in common: they are all parents and their stories are as much about their relationships with their children, about love and loss, as they are about our relationship to nature and humanity (Simon & Schuster).

UNCOMMON TYPE

Oscar winning actor Tom Hanks (left) won’t be giving up his day job any time soon and nor is he likely to pen a celebrity tell-all but there are subtle references to his life and the stories of others close to him in his first collection of short stories, Uncommon Type. The ‘easter egg’ to be found in every story is a typewriter – Hanks is an avid collector of vintage models – and the collection has been crafted over many years between takes and films, some previously published in magazines such as The New Yorker (‘Alan Bean Plus Four’), some skewer his own industry (such as ‘A Junket in the City of Light’) and one is actually about how he got his first typewriter (‘These are the Meditations of My Heart’). But no, contrary to some reports, he didn’t write the book on a typewriter (William Heinemann).

Find more good reads at Watermark Books & Café, Newslink, Aero and News Travels, Domestic Teminal Level 2; and News Travels, International Terminal Levels 2, 3, 4.

Image: Christopher Patey/Contour by Getty Images

BNE January/February 2018 | 37

NEED TO KNOW

Welcoming volunteers are available to answer questions and offer directions to visitors within Brisbane Airport’s Domestic and International Terminals. Look for ambassadors wearing bright blue shirts if you need assistance and our team of Chinesespeaking ambassadors wear red shirts.

BNE PARKING

Convenient, secure and undercover short and long-term parking is available within walking distance to both terminals. For more information about special offers and full product offering including valet, car washing, AIRPARK and more see www.bne.com.au

TERMINAL TRANSFERS

Passengers transferring between the terminals can travel via the free Transfer Bus which departs at regular intervals from Level 2 International Terminal and Level 1 Domestic Terminal and travels via Skygate.

dedicated Pick Up Waiting Area with 30 minutes free parking for drivers arriving to collect passengers from the Domestic Terminal. While drivers are allowed to pick up arriving passengers on the Departures Pick Up Road at the front of the terminal, the designated Pick Up Waiting Area helps avoid congestion for all travellers. It is located beside the P2 long-term car park and can be accessed via Dryandra Road (see map, right) where drivers can wait for passengers who are not yet ready to be collected. When the passenger is ready for collection the driver can proceed to the pick up location. Parking in the waiting area is free for the first 30 minutes. For easy how-to use instructions see www.bne.com.au

Coach, rail, limousine and corporate car bookings can be made at the Visitor Information Centre, Level 2 International Terminal or Level 1 Domestic Terminal.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TransLink is the local bus, ferry and train public transport network stretching north to Gympie, south to Coolangatta and west to Helidon. For information and timetables see www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.

TAXIS AND AIRTRAIN Taxi ranks are located kerbside Level 2 International Terminal and Level 1 Domestic Terminal. Airtrain provides regular rail links between Brisbane Airport, Brisbane city, Gold Coast and TransLink network as well as terminal transfers. Tickets available in the terminal or at the station.

BNE Maps + More Download the Brisbane Airport app to access important flight information, terminal maps and parking, shopping and dining options at the airport. Add your itinerary and more. Available free for iPhone and Android at Google play and App Store.

38 38 | BNE January/February July/August 2016 2018

PUBLIC WAITING AREA

P2 P1

AIRPORT DRIVE

D om

estic Termin

al

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Visitor Information Centres For information about accommodation, tours, transfer tickets and general enquiries, Visitor Information Centres are on Level 2 International Terminal and Level 1 Domestic Terminal Central Area.

TRANSPORT BOOKINGS

DRYANDRA ROAD

SKYWALK

Airport ambassadors

MORETON DRIVE

BRISBANE AIRPORT has a

Currency exchange Travelex currency exchange and transfer facilities are on Levels 2, 3 and 4 International Terminal and Level 2 Domestic Terminal near Gate 23.

Baggage lockers Find small, medium and large lockers for short and long-term hire at the terminal entrance to the public car park at the International Terminal, at either end of the Domestic Terminal, or next to the bus stop at Skygate.

Tax Refund Scheme (TRS) The TRS enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) that you pay on goods bought in Australia. Call 1300 363 263 or see www.customs.gov.au Lost property International: enquiries to Visitor Information Centre, Level 2; call (07) 3406 3190 or email international@sqt.com.au. Domestic: enquiries first to your airline. Qantas call (07) 3867 3264, Virgin Australia (07) 3114 8150, Jetstar (07) 3336 1752 or email Tigerair at ttbne.ops@ aerocare.com.au before contacting the Visitor Information Centre on Level 1; call (07) 3068 6698 or send emails to domestic@sqt.com.au Disability Access Lifts, travelators, ramps, aerobridges, rest points, accessible parking spaces and toilet

facilities are in place for passengers with limited mobility or disabilities. Airlines are

responsible for assisting passengers with disabilities within terminals. Passengers should refer to their airline’s policies prior to booking their ticket.

There is no porter service or any form of direct assistance provided at Brisbane Airport other than any assistance that may be provided by the passenger’s airline.

A dedicated Changing Places bathroom facility for the use of travellers with special needs is located on the central ground floor area of Domestic Terminal (near Qantas baggage carousel 3).

Facilities for assistance dogs are available at International Terminal Level 3 Departures and Domestic Terminal Level 2 Central Area.

WiFi access Brisbane Airport has the fastest uncapped free WiFi in Australia available at International Terminal and Domestic Terminal Central Area.

Local amenities Skygate is Brisbane Airport’s retail and dining precinct, a short free ride on the Transfer Bus from the terminals. There are more than 160 stores, including brand-name factory outlets, a 24/7 supermarket, hairdresser, gym, restaurants, chemist, medical clinic, hotel, beauty services, barber, tavern and golf leisure centre.

Prayer Room A multi-denominational prayer room is located at International Terminal Level 4.

Police For assistance at Brisbane Airport telephone 13 12 37.

Tour Brisbane Airport Have a question about the new runway? Want to know more about Brisbane Airport? Join a free community bus tour. For information and to book see www.bne.com.au/tours

MORETON DRIVE

DAY IN THE LIFE

DRYANDRA ROAD

PUBLIC WAITING AREA

P2 P1

Jared and Marissa Baragar, from Jakarta, on DRIVE AIRPORT for their way to the Whitsundays a cruise

D om Danny Ogden in transit to his home town Adelaide, from Los Angeles where he now lives

SKYWALK

Dylan Hartshorn powers up his smartphone on the recharge bike at International Terminal

Charlotte Vilstrup, from Denmark, is travelling around Australia for three weeks

estic Termin

al

Chad Essery from Townsville grabs forty winks while waiting for a flight to Newcastle with his mum and sister

Almost 23 million people travel through Brisbane Airport each year. These are just a few snapped on their journey ‌

Virgin Australia crew member Felicia Mackay on duty at Domestic Terminal.

Her favourite travel destination is Los Angeles

Ximo estisquia dolorep erferum veris dolupta doloremqui dionsed i dis el id qui

Thani Sikwebu, from Emerald, on her way home to South Africa for a family holiday

Lucy White has a big kiss for brother Ted on her return from a working holiday in Canada with partner Tom Britnell from the UK

Lawrence Fioravanti, from the US, in transit from Gladstone to Sydney for a family reunion Photography by Marc Grimwade

Jo Traikos, from Melbourne, takes a seat in a promotional car at International Terminal on her way to New York for a holiday

Lawyer Clarissa Moore on her way to Rockhampton for work meetings

BRISBANE TO THE WORLD

Seoul

Beijing

South Korea

China

Tokyo (Narita) Japan

Shanghai (Pudong)

Guangzhou China

China

Shenzhen China

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Bangkok

Abu Dhabi

Hong Kong

Taipei

Thailand

United Arab Emirates

Taiwan

China

Manila

Philippines

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Singapore

Singapore

Port Moresby Papua New Guinea

Denpasar Indonesia

BRISBANE

BRISBANE

to the world

To 84 destinations direct from Brisbane and beyond

Air China Air Canada

Air Niugini Air New Zealand

40 | BNE January/February 2018

Aircalin Air Vanuatu

Cathay Pacific Alliance Airlines

China Eastern Airlines China Airlines

Emirates China Southern Airlines

Eva Air Etihad

Fly Corporate Fiji Airlines

Hainan Airlines

Vancouver

Canada

Los Angeles USA

Honolulu USA

Darwin

Nauru Nauru

Cairns

Apia Honiara

Solomon Islands

Port Hedland

Espiritu Santo Vanuatu

Port Vila Vanuatu

Nadi

Charleville Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay) Roma Miles BRISBANE Quilpie BRISBANE St George Toowoomba Thargomindah Cunnamulla Norfolk Island Moree Inverell Narrabri Coffs Harbour Tamworth Armidale Dubbo Port Macquarie Birdsville

Fiji

Noumea

New Caledonia

Perth

Auckland

New Zealand

Queenstown New Zealand

Townsville

Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine) Hamilton Island Moranbah Mackay Mt Isa Barcaldine Middlemount Longreach Rockhampton Gladstone Emerald Blackall Alice Springs Biloela Bundaberg Windorah Cloncurry

Samoa

Adelaide

Wellington New Zealand

Christchurch

Newcastle Orange Sydney Lord Howe Wollongong Island Wagga Wagga Canberra Albury

New Zealand

Melbourne

Dunedin

New Zealand

Launceston Hobart

Map not to scale. Please note airlines and destinations are current at time of print.

Hawaiian Airlines

Jetstar Jetgo

Malindo Air Korean Air

Philippine Airlines Nauru Airlines

Rex Qantas/ QantasLink

Solomon Airlines Singapore Airlines

Tigerair Thai Airways

Virgin Australia

BNE January/February 2018 | 41

ESCAPE EXTRA

5.30pm

A DAY ON

Adventure Island 11.30am

10.00am

he ferry journey down Brisbane River and into Moreton Bay is immediately relaxing, a slow cruise at first then a steady plough through the swell where the only energy expended is keeping a weather eye out for dolphins, often seen to swim alongside. It’s the perfect chill zone.

By the time we reach the jetty at Moreton Island the water is turquoise, crystal clear to the sandy bottom and the sand as white as you’ll find at the Whitsundays … it seems the perfect spot for a lazy lie down, but surprisingly the sun lounges by the pool are all empty. After just one day at Tangalooma Resort I can tell you why … this is Brisbane’s own Adventure Island and here’s how I spent Day One.

grouper – among more than 100 species to be found among the rusted wrecks. An eagle ray glided slowly below me and a wobbegong lay partly camouflaged in the underwater shadows on my guided tour.

The water is so clear, you can see plenty from just below the surface but the sea scooter also helps for small duck dives – and maybe the odd barrel roll, according to our diver guide on the day! Tour time is 90 minutes including a pre-snorkel briefing, fitout with all the gear and boat ride to the wrecks, $99 per adult.

seems a safe way to go – kids from age 10 can ride them. There’s a safety briefing, wardrobe check (no thongs, hairnets to wear under helmets) then it’s off for driver training along the beach and we’re split into groups. After a bit of practise on the roads behind the resort – up and down hills – we head for the sandy tracks and the fun begins, the speed picks up and we follow the leader through rutted tracks around ‘s’ bends, up and down and around bush and sand tracks.

After 30 minutes we’ve got the pedal to the metal – almost! Tour time 45 minutes, cost $65 per adult, solo (there are also tandem quad bikes).

8.30am

This the most fun you can have sitting down.

On a calm, clear day it’s possible to spot a ray or turtles from the air. I drifted up to a dronedefying 150 metres and, while it’s a short ride, it’s one of the best views of the island outside a helicopter. Journey takes one hour, seven minutes in the air, single person $105.

T

STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING

Water sports are a cinch at Tangalooma with everything easily accessible on the beachfront.

Where better to give it a go – a first for me – than in the calm shallows a few steps from my room.

I’d seen all the pictures and it looked serene – heck people even do yoga poses on those boards. Better still, the morning I went out I had the beach to myself … so far so good. What I hadn’t anticipated was what a 10-knot ‘gentle’ breeze feels like standing up on a board. Bumpy! It made for an hilarious first half hour as I tried to get my sea legs and became expert at getting back up on the board from the submerged position. Tips: check wind and tide before setting out. Stand Up Paddleboard hire from $35 for one hour.

10.00am SEA SCOOTER SAFARI Otherwise known as power snorkelling! Easy to drive by pressing a trigger button on the handle bar, this is the best way to go snorkelling along Tangalooma’s famous wrecks, making it easier to travel further and navigate the current around the wrecks to follow the fish. And there’s plenty to see – from luminescent moon wrasse, parrotfish and striped sergeant majors to kingfish, cod and 42 | BNE January/February 2018

11.30am PARASAILING

1.30pm

DESERT SAND TOBOGGANING

Queensland is home to the world’s largest sand islands and this is one of them, so it stands to reason that the ‘Desert’ is part of the adventure playground. First there’s a rollicking 4WD ride getting there through bushland which surrounds the shifting dunes, then it’s a slow walk up with a thin plank of waxed Masonite … the quickest way down! Some people reach speeds up to an eye-watering 40kmh and the hot tip is to keep the front end up and your mouth closed for a good downhill run. The truly fit will go back up for another hit. Tour time 90 minutes, cost $43 per person.

3.00 pm QUAD BIKES RAMBLE I prefer to be a little higher off the sand, unless I’m on a beach towel, so an ATV Quad Bike

4.30 pm SUNSET SEGWAY After the quads this is a smooth cruise along the beach to admire the scenery, enjoy the quiet and do a few (slow) 360s along the way. It’s a tad more challenging on the soft sand when the Segway can come to an unscheduled and abrupt stop in the bumps if you’re not concentrating (hence a helmet is provided). Tour time 45 minutes with snacks provided midway, cost $59 per person.

5.30 pm

ILLUMINATED NIGHT CLEAR KAYAK TOUR

Kayaking along the shore of Moreton Island is a sublime activity but even better when the kayak is transparent and you can see the fish below rather than just off to the side. At night it’s kind of eery by the light of a head torch when there’s no one else around the wrecks. Perhaps less adventurous, but you get to see more at night, is the glass bottom boat tour where an underwater camera also live streams vision to iPads on board.

Both night tours, 90 minutes each, cost $79 per adult kayak or $55 per adult on the boat.

Of course there’s more, from beach bikes and bush walks to 4WD safaris, but you just can’t do it all in a day!

– Heather McWhinnie Find out more at www.tangalooma.com

BRISBANE REGION MAP

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which Brisbane Airport stands and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. *The general locations of larger Indigenous language groups of South East Queensland on this map are indicative only, based on the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia published by Aboriginal Studies Press

Map illustration by Eun-Young Lim. Map is not to scale or exact and an indication only.

BNE January/February 2018 | 43

INTRODUCING

07 3188 7300

07 3188 7373

07 3139 8100

Featuring the Cribb Island Beach Club, Apron Restaurant, executive lounge, rooftop bar, state-of-the-art conference centre and a full suite of guest amenities and services.

NOW OPEN www.bneahg.com.au Located adjacent to Domestic Terminal, Brisbane Airport.