Travel

GET IT I TRAVELI TRAVEL The green island

in the sky

Cedar Creek Lodges Photo by Luke Marsden

Cedar Creek Lodges

Where to stay

Cedar Creek Lodges

If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a rainforest, now’s your chance. The new, luxurious Cedar Creek Lodges are perfect for a romantic getaway. Book the new Courtyard Spa at Wallaby Lodge, which features a vaulted ceiling, private bush courtyard, a couple’s bathroom, oval bed, luxe linen and of course, local produce on a platter at any time. For those with kids in tow, there’s two-, three- and four-bedroom options, some nestling right next to the waterfall. They boast a fully equipped kitchen, living room and fi replace. Once the kids are in bed you’ll truly feel like you’re getting away from it all. cedarcreeklodges.com.au

Scenic Rim Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

Where to dine

Picnic Real Food Bar

The Picnic is the brainchild of famed Queensland foodie Brenda Fawdon. Boasting the country’s best sausage rolls (try the Tommerup pork, apple and fennel), the food here is not just delicious, it’s great for the environment. The restaurant boasts a closed-loop sustainability system that turns the kitchen waste into compost to minimise garbage and nourish the soil. Now that’s good food! northstores.com.au/picnic-real-food-bar

Overlooking the glitz of the Gold Coast, you’ll find the delights of Mt Tamborine. Whether it’s bush walks, wineries, distilleries, delicious foods or antiques, it’s the perfect day out, or to stay for a little longer. So grab your walking shoes, appetite and sense of adventure and head for the hills!

Just one hour from the golden sands and high rises of the coast and Brisbane, lies a place of breathtaking beauty. In fact, Mt Tamborine is so spectacular, the national park and its surrounds were recently voted Queensland’s Top Tourism Town and one of the top 10 places in the world to visit by the Lonely Planet guide. Don’t let the sleepy atmosphere fool you. There’s a lot to cover during a visit, so it’s best to plan ahead.

Where to drink

The Cauldron Distillery

At home in the Hartley Road Winery Precinct, Cauldron Estate is seven glorious hectares of established vineyards and lush green meadows perfect for picnics, lawn games and sips. Cauldron’s True Blue Gin is a sipper’s salvation. Featuring three outstanding Australian native botanicals in strawberry gum leaves, fi nger lime (native to Tamborine) and aniseed myrtle, the blue colour came from steeping butterfl y pea fl ower leaves after distillation, while their newest Gin nods to the Mediterranean, featuring fi gs, olive leaf, coriander, orange and sage. It’s dry, savoury, and perfect for a Queensland summer. Darren Stewart, Head Distiller said: “There is never a bad time to enjoy a quality Gin, but with the growth and talent of local distilleries there are now Gins that perfectly match the season at hand.” cauldrondistillery.com.au

Tamborine Mountain Distillery

Tamborine Mountain Distillery is Australia’s most awarded distillery and liquor brand. Founded in 1993, it is the third oldest distillery in Queensland. The creators use an artisanal approach and multiple distillations with an impressive range of natural ingredients and native fl ora, creating smooth and unique fl avours. Their master distiller employs a range of equipment, from handmade copper pot stills to large multi column refl ux stills. This artisanal process has been passed down through generations from founder Alla Ward’s Russian and Ukrainian family heritage, and still remains the essence of the distillery today. tamborinemountaindistillery.com

Witches Falls Winery

Pack a picnic basket, stock up on the local cheeses and head to Witches Falls winery. You can wander the vineyards, sip their famed wines share a local produce platter and talk to the winemakers. Plan to arrive for Sunset Sips, held until 7pm every Friday and Saturday night. witchesfalls.com.au A visit to the mountain isn’t complete unless you’ve visited the breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls. For a guaranteed sight, follow the 1.1km track to Curtis Falls or pack a picnic and follow the trail to Cedar Creek Falls to peer up at the 15-20m waterfall. There’s the 3.1km Witches Falls Circuit, which has incredible views. The walk to Cameron Falls takes about half an hour each way and is well worth the effort. visitscenicrim.com.au

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

An eco-adventure that’s a must do for the whole family. Follow the easy-tonavigate trail through the rainforest, culminating in the canopy top view over the valley and beyond. skywalktamborine.com Experience the thrill of fl ying through the cool, green, leafy world on a zip line, ropes course and over-the-waterfall walk. Use your strength to experience the beauty of sun-drenched gum trees, bush fl owers and thriving brush box amongst the towering red gums. There’s even a ropes course for the little ones, so no-one misses the fun. Or keep your feet fi rmly on the ground and discover the remains of yesterday t the Thunderbird Park Egg Mine. Take the results of your labour to the hut afterwards where they’ll cut and polish your fi nds. thunderbirdpark.com treetopchallenge.com.au If that’s too sedate for you, then why not get a bird’s eye view of the Scenic Rim. SEQ Hang Gliding uses the purest form of free fl ight: there no cockpit or engine. Just you, nature and of course, that breathtaking view. hangglidequeensland.com.au Sound too risky? Take your local produce and blanket and settle down on the mountainside to watch the paragliders and setting sun to the west. Robert Sowter Park at Main Western Rd is the ideal spot, with plenty of parking. Take a tour through the rainforest and into the famous glow worm caves for a truly magical experience. It’s perfect for kids and grownups. Extremely knowledgeable staff leads groups, with stories and information to light up inquiring minds. Then settle down for a spot of lunch at the adjoining café. If all that outdoor air has left you hankering for something sweet, head to Gallery Walk. You’ll fi nd ice-creameries, fudge stores, such as Granny Mac’s Fudge Store and Café, Chocolates on Gallery, and the nostalgia-inducing Bygone Days and Vintage Crafts. Park the car and wander down Long Road to explore the art, craft, gift and knickknack stores along the way. Don’t miss out on the mountain’s legendary art gallery, where you can pick up a local creation to remind you of your visit. Try the Arthur Hamlin Art Gallery or the Mountain Dreams Studio.

All shopped out? Then reward yourself with a pint of local beer at Fortitude Brewing Company.

For more information visit Scenic Rim (visitscenicrim.com.au) to plan your itinerary.

Cauldron Distillery Photo by Luke Marsden

Cauldron Distillery Photo by Luke Marsden

Heart failure is one of the biggest killers of both men and women in Australia, aff ecting more than half a million Australians. Heart failure is one of the biggest killers of both men and women in Australia, affecting more than half a million Australians. Of those, almost 160,000 will end up in hospital, and that’s because of a range of symptoms that result from their heart Iron

The key failure. At least that’s what they believe. But according to Cardiologist Associate Professor John Amerena, some of to heart these symptoms could be avoided, or at least reduced.

failure patient wellbeing

Associate Professor John Amerena Many people are unaware that iron defi ciency can signifi cantly exacerbate symptoms caused by heart failure. But, what is heart failure?

Heart failure occurs when your heart is not working well enough to pump blood around to your organs and tissue within your body. It can result from conditions such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart valve defects, viral infection, or alcohol misuse. Heart failure patients can experience fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling and a racing heart, and these symptoms are often made worse by iron defi ciency. “Iron defi ciency occurs when your body has insuffi cient iron stores and can no longer make enough red blood cells,” said Assoc Prof Amerena.

Around half of heart failure patients will be diagnosed with relative or absolute iron defi ciency with and without anaemia. “It’s quite common and we think it’s probably due to decreased absorption, as oral iron is not well absorbed in patients with heart failure” said Assoc Prof Amerena.

If iron is low, patients often feel lousy, tired and breathless. If it’s replaced, the reverse is true, with patience reporting improved symptoms and quality of life. “We recommend replacing it up intravenously if iron stores are low in patients with heart failure with reduced heart function. Tablets are not effective, but intravenously, it can have consistent benefi ts and make patients feel better.”

Assoc Prof Amerena said heart failure patients’ chance of survival decreased with each subsequent hospitalisation, with research showing a 25 per cent chance of death within one year of their fi rst hospital visit. So it is important to try to keep patients from repeat hospital visits. For more information please visit takeironseriously.com/au If you are concerned that you might be iron defi cient, please speak to your doctor.

Surviving the party season

For many of us, the first Tuesday in November (Melbourne Cup) signifies the beginning of the party season leading into Christmas. With so many gatherings, catchups, work functions and end of year awards, this twomonth period can be filled with temptation. The positive aspect though, with a bit of forward planning and structure we can overcome the party period still on track to keep our health and fitness in order. Below are a few tips to help you not only survive, but thrive!

1. Plan ahead

The key to your success during the holiday season is to plan ahead. Make sure to write detailed grocery lists for all your meals and stock-up on healthy snack items that you can put together quickly to serve to guests or enjoy with your family. Meal prep is a great way to ensure you always have a supply of pre-cooked and prepared proteins and vegetables on hand.

2. Keep moving

We are truly creatures of habit so maintaining your normal routine as much as possible will help you stay on track. Don’t leave your fi tness to chance! Schedule times throughout your holiday to be active. If you are travelling, fi nd out where the nearest gym is and either work out independently or join a class or get the whole family involved by planning activities you can do together like cycling, swimming or walking.

3. Don’t forget to eat

Eat regular meals throughout the day to help regulate your insulin levels and keep food cravings at bay. Don’t forget that eating fi ve or six meals a day will stimulate your metabolism into burning the equivalent amount of energy as 30 minutes of cardio! If your house guests are late sleepers or early dinner eaters keep to your regular schedule by having a healthy snack before they rise or before going to bed. Another great tip is to have a protein-based snack before going out for dinner so you don’t arrive hungry and won’t be as tempted to over-indulge.

4. Stay hydrated

Drink water to help you feel fuller and keep your body functioning well. Have a glass of water at home before heading out for a meal and if you are consuming alcohol, drink a glass of water between each drink. Try to keep your water intake up throughout the day especially in the summer heat so you don’t end up gulping down a glass or two before bed and disrupting your sleep by having to make trips to the bathroom at night.

5. Watch your alcohol consumption

It’s the time of year to be ‘merry’ but calories from alcoholic beverages, especially mixed cocktails fi lled with liqueurs, fruit juices, and syrups or creamy drinks like eggnog add up quickly. Try to keep to ‘single ingredient drinks’ like wine or beverages that use a water-based mix. Don’t forget that for every glass of red wine you drink it takes approximately 21 minutes of walking to burn off the calories!

6. Get some sleep

Sleep is so important to our overall health and research shows that we turn to sweets and carbs when we are over-tired. Getting between 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night will do wonders for your metabolism and will ensure you have the energy you need to get through busy days with family and friends.

7. Think before you eat

Sometimes we eat because we are tired, thirsty, bored or stressed. Take a moment before indulging that sweet tooth and determine whether you really are hungry and act accordingly. Think of cravings as a suggestion, not an order, and you have the fi nal say!

10. Keep temptation away

If you are staying home over the holidays why not take advantage and avoid purchasing unhealthy snack foods and sweets. Having them in the house, even if you aren’t intending on eating them, means that you have to rely on willpower in moments of temptation.

11. Indulge selectively

Rather than consuming store-bought items, plan to selectively indulge in your favourite homemade holiday treats. It is too hard to deprive yourself completely over the holidays. By giving yourself permission to enjoy one or two special items, you will be able to maintain your will-power, enjoy them without feeling guilty and get back on track quicker.

12. Focus on fun, friends and family – not food

We know that for most of us the holidays are centred on special eating traditions, however, we hope you also remember to take time to reconnect with your lovedones and with yourself to ensure that your holidays are fi lled with happiness and joy!

*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals.

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