Qantas Magazine - February 23

Sydney flies the flag for WorldPride

SOME ENCOUNTERS YOU WEAR FOREVER. RINGS, EARRINGS AND COCO BRACELETS IN BEIGE GOLD, WHITE GOLD AND DIAMONDS.

Electrifying performance

The all-electric Audi RS e-tron GT

With a powerful presence, wide stance and fowing lines — the Audi RS e-tron GT is designed to turn heads. With up to 475 kilowatts at your disposal, onlookers will have to turn quickly.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ luxurious ships explore more than 500 immersive destinations across the globe.

Your perfect cruise awaits, with Every Luxury Included™ whilst enjoying the unrivalled space and unparalleled service found aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™.

Sydney WorldPride 2023 special

19 LGBTQIA+ icons share their fave places to eat, drink and play in the city and beyond, plus 20 top events at the festival

Dine

50 On The Menu: Sandwiches get fancy

56 The Crowd-pleaser: The Coconut at Muse

58 Best Of... Barossa Valley, South Australia

60 Food Miles: The joy of vineyard eateries

62 Local Heroes: Surf Coast, Victoria

64 Wine List: New-wave sauvignon blanc

Innovate

130 Up, Up And Away: How seven small companies transformed themselves into big businesses

140 View From The Top: Jeanne Johns, CEO, Incitec Pivot

146 Career Path: Richard Evans, managing director, ACO, and president, Live Performance Australia

148 Clock Wise: Richie Norton, entrepreneur, business coach and author

150 Upstart: AirRobe

Design

116 On The Inside: Osborn House, Bundanoon, NSW

118 Creative Process: Vipoo Srivilasa

120 Foundations: Barcelona Pavilion, Spain

122 The Statement: USM Haller

124 The Look: Men’s and women’s fashion

Data special report

153 Information overload: five experts on the latest trends, benefits and pitfalls of data

On board

161 Inflight entertainment

166 Games

170 Health, safety and security on board and when you land

Editorial Editor-in-Chief

Kirsten Galliott

Content Director

Genevra Leek

Deputy Content Director

Faith Campbell

Content Manager

Natalie Reilly

Contributing Editors

Jessica Irvine

Di Webster

Digital and Content

Operations Lead

Hana Jo

Online Editor

Christina Rae

Managing Editor, Qantas Hotels

Bridget de Maine

Digital Producer

Anneliese Beard

For editorial inquiries, contact: qantaseditorial@mediumrarecontent.com

Advertising

Head of Sales, Travel

Tony Trovato +61 404 093 472

NSW Sales Manager

Callum Bean

+61 404 729 224

NSW Senior Account Manager

Crystal Wong +61 420 558 697

National Advertising Manager, Business & Travel

Isabella Severino

+61 459 999 715

Qld, WA and SA Sales Manager

Sarah Harding +61 403 699 867

Head of Sales, Victoria

Chris Joy +61 406 397 715

Senior Account Manager, Victoria

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+61 410 387 707

Senior Account Manager, Victoria

Jo Farrugia +61 450 968 882

Digital Sales Director

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Digital Campaign Manager and Product Specialist

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Creative Director

Tony Rice

Senior Designer

Kate Timms

Visual Director

Elizabeth Hachem

Copy Director

Rosemary Bruce

Deputy Copy Director

Sandra Bridekirk

Copy Editors

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Nick Hadley

Production Manager

Chrissy Fragkakis

International Representatives

Greater China and Japan

Peter Jeffery +852 2850 4013 peterjeffery@asianimedia.com

South-East Asia and the UK

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United States

Ralph Lockwood +1 408 879 6666 ralph.lockwood@ husonmedia.com

For advertising inquiries, contact: qantasadvertising@mediumrarecontent.com

Rare Creative Strategy, Creative and Partnerships

Head of Rare Creative Paulette Parisi Content and Partnerships Director Mark Brandon Senior Content

Editor Natalie Babic Senior Writer Terry Christodoulou Creative Director Philippa Moffitt Designer

Sophia Lau Strategy and Insights Director Jane Schofield Senior Strategy Manager Natalie Pizanis

Commercial Insights Manager Molly Maguire Qantas Loyalty Partnerships Manager Alana Baird Qantas

Partnerships Manager Merryn Dhami Qantas Partnerships Manager Emily Ryan Content and Events

Campaign Manager Jessica Manson Campaign Producer Ben Woodard

For Rare Creative inquiries, contact: rarecreative@mediumrarecontent.com

Managing Director Nick Smith Chief Commercial Officer Fiorella Di Santo Head of Content, Travel Kirsten Galliott Digital Director Karla Courtney Head of Multimedia

Aidan Corrigan Head of Audience Intelligence Catherine Ross Financial Controller

Leslie To Finance Manager Yane Chak Junior Accountant Yongjia Zhou

A piece of you since 1972.

Qantas magazine and Travel Insider welcome you to an exclusive thought-leadership dinner event.

FROM THE EDITOR

How do you approach your holiday planning?

My sister, Fiona, has her year of travel sorted. A honeymoon in Fiji, a couple of weekends away, a family holiday in Bali and a short cruise. She loves knowing it’s all locked in.

I’m the exact opposite. I rarely plan and will organise breaks on a whim. Admittedly, this job helps with that but nonetheless, I’m far more likely to read about a destination or an experience, get excited by the idea and spontaneously book it.

Both methods have their merits but this year, I’m going to take a leaf out of my sister’s book and schedule in some weekends away. Short breaks, long weekends, mini-holidays – call them what you will but they have myriad benefits. Last year, I was shocked by how restorative I found a two-night getaway on Hayman Island. Maybe it was the tropical breeze but I genuinely felt like I was far away. I returned feeling recharged and ready to take on life again. Science supports my claim – a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that people feel physically and mentally better after just two days away. So where to go? Here’s my wish list.

Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Galliott, you’ll enjoy an exclusive dining experience as Australia’s top business leaders tackle the night’s theme in a live panel discussion.

The topic

Diversity and inclusion: Why it matters, how it changes a business, and the companies making real progress.

Date: Monday, 3 April 2023

Location: Sala, Jones Bay Wharf, Piers 19-21, 26/32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont, Sydney

Cost: $200 per person

Reserve your seat before the event sells out.

Book now at thinkbyqantasmagazine. eventbrite.com.au or enquire at rsvp@mediumrarecontent.com

1. Lake Pedder, in south-west Tasmania, is just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Hobart but offers a pristine, only-in-Tassie landscape (and a comfy bed at Pedder Wilderness Lodge).

2. The Hawkesbury River for a hit of luxe relaxation... and a long lunch at Berowra Waters Inn.

3. South Australia. I’m conscious that I’ve only been to Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. I’m tossing up between the Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders Ranges.

A short break every few months, punctuated by a longer holiday mid-year? That sounds like something to look forward to.

I hope you find some options in this issue that get you planning, too.

Kirsten Galliott Editor-in-Chief

kirstengalliott

Our writers are not armchair travellers. Rest assured any assistance we accept from the travel industry in the course of preparing our stories does not compromise the integrity of our coverage.

2024 ADVENTURES ON SALE

I just got back from…

United States

Brendon Hill

FREQUENT FLYER STATUS Silver

My wife and I had a wedding in Dallas that we used as an excuse for our American holiday. We flew to Los Angeles with Qantas, which is always a great experience, and stayed at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel (hotel.qantas.com. au/kimptonlapeer). You must visit Bravo Toast (bravotoast.com) for the Bagel Toast: salmon and capers on a bagel fried in butter. Dallas was fun; we went to a honky tonk, which is essentially a country music bar where you go line-dancing. You wear cowboy boots and a hat and there’s peanuts all over the floor. You should absolutely go.

London

Mark Brandon

FREQUENT FLYER STATUS Bronze

Visiting London with my partner, Lucy, and our toddler, Milo, was the high point of our big Euro summer trip. Milo loved the Natural History Museum (nhm. ac.uk), where he got to see dinosaurs, and the Diana Memorial Playground (royal parks.org.uk) for the pirate ship. Visiting Maltby St Market (maltby.st) – a smaller, cooler version of Borough Market – was also great. Before we jumped on QF2 for the flight home to Sydney (the air crew were wonderful with Milo), we had a last hurrah: a long lunch on the terrace at Chiltern Firehouse (chilternfirehouse.com). It’s pricey for delicious-but-basic American-style classics but worth every penny for the people-watching.

Fiji Harmony Behr

FREQUENT FLYER STATUS Bronze

This was my family of four’s third trip to Fiji and it was perfect. We flew to Nadi and spent three nights at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa (hotel.qantas.com.au/sofitelfiji) before catching a boat to Vomo Island Resort (hotel.qantas. com.au/vomoisland) which was heaven. I got a proper holiday (no cooking!) and the kids were entertained all day long. We went snorkelling to see the colourful fish and coral and, most days, the kids would go to Kids Club. One of my sons loved it so much, he was in tears when we got home because he missed the buddy he met there. I can’t fault Fiji as a destination for families.

Line dancing, tropical getaways and pirate ships. Here, three Qantas travellers share highlights from their recent trips abroad.

FROM THE CEO

Aviation has made incredible technology gains over the past century. In 1947 a flight from Australia to England took four days with seven stops; now we fly direct from Perth to London in 17 hours.

Other evolutions haven’t been as swift. Take gender equality. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that women were able to become pilots at major Australian commercial airlines. Today, globally, about 5 per cent of pilots are female. At Qantas we’re doing slightly better at 7 per cent but we’re a long, long way from where we need to be. To create a pipeline of new pilots for us and the wider industry we opened the Qantas Group Pilot Academy in Toowoomba in January 2020, just weeks before COVID started closing borders. The Academy kept running through the pandemic because we knew demand for pilots would be strong in the longer term. So far, 20 per cent of its graduates have been women and we want to grow this to 40 per cent over the next few years. We expect about 100 graduates will join the Group this year as our recovery continues and we begin renewing our domestic fleet with the arrival of our first Airbus A220s later this year.

Qantas has been a big beneficiary of the diversity of our teams and it’s a core contributor to our success. Put simply, greater diversity means we’re more reflective of the community we serve, giving us more perspectives to draw on and helping us be a better airline. It’s why we’ve had a long history of supporting diversity and inclusion, from promoting Indigenous Australian culture around the world with our much-loved flying art series to more than two decades of support for the Sydney Mardi Gras. We’re proud to continue that support with our major sponsorship of the Sydney WorldPride Festival. On 22 February we’ll operate a dedicated flight from Los Angeles to Sydney to help revellers in the US join the party. You can read more about the festival in this edition, along with plenty of travel inspiration to plan your next trip.

Thanks for choosing Qantas.

Alan Joyce CEO, Qantas

Wellness in the air

Qantas Entertainment now offers expanded inflight wellness content with a series of five- to 10-minute seated yoga and meditation classes from Peloton. Led by expert instructors, the classes are designed to encourage calmness, gentle stretching and help passengers sleep onboard long-haul flights. The Peloton classes, as well as the Qantas Guided Meditation series, are accessible in the Wellness collection on seatback screens and the Qantas Entertainment App.

Connect to Qantas

Fast and Free Wi-Fi

Once onboard, connect your own device to Qantas Free Wi-Fi on domestic flights in three simple steps:

Enable Aeroplane Mode and select the “Qantas Free Wi-Fi” network in your Wi-Fi settings.

Follow the prompts on the “Welcome Onboard” screen to connect.

Once you’re connected, you’re ready to access the internet and start exploring.

Having trouble connecting? Make sure you’re connected to the “Qantas Free Wi-Fi” network and go to wifi.qantas.com in your preferred browser to start the connection process. To ensure an enjoyable flight for everyone, keep flight mode activated, switch your device to silent and refrain from voice and video calls.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live and fly. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationship to the land and water.

Mercedes-Benz Sydney | Mercedes-Benz Melbourne | Mercedes-Benz Brisbane | AMG Sydney | Mercedes-Benz Melbourne Airport

When the glitter settles, Sydney’s still a show stopper. Six icons of the LGBTQIA+ community share their favourite spots in and around the harbour city.

Photographed at the Pool Club at Ivy, Sydney. Courtney Act wears Jason Clark Studio dress and headband, and Swarovski earrings. Wig styled by Jess Murray.

She sings, she dances, she acts, she writes, she advocates and educates and she’s one of Australia’s most famous cultural exports. Since winning the 1987 Mr Tiny Tot crown as Shane Jenek and taking Australia by storm as drag artist Courtney Act, the sharp-as-a-tack glamour queen has racked up writing and performing credits worldwide.

With singer Casey Donovan, Act will co-host Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert (featuring Kylie Minogue) on Friday, 24 February.

Shane Jenek, aka Courtney Act, tells us about his must-visit Sydney places.

Poof Doof at Ivy

“Ivy (merivale.com) is one of Australia’s premier venues for a big Saturday night. Upstairs is really fun pop, handbag sort of music and there are often drag shows and it’s a fun vibe. Downstairs, there’s

a big dance floor, the music’s a bit harder and more serious. On weekends in the summer, they have fun, queerproduced pool parties. There are lots of restaurants in the area so it’s great to have dinner and then go up to the club.”

Lady Chu

“This Vietnamese street-food restaurant in Potts Point (ladychu.com.au) is very bustle-y and busy and has amazing food. I don’t eat meat so I love the vegan net spring rolls and the coconut pandan dessert is just… perfect. The owner is a real character and her Google reviews are iconic. She will sometimes go in and reply to critics in a non-traditional way, like: ‘You might want to pay more attention to your girlfriend… she looked quite bored by your company tonight.’”

North Bondi

“North Bondi is historically known as the gay bit of Bondi Beach and on the grassy knoll on the weekend, drummers gather with all these different percussive instruments and start drumming just before sunset. It’s the most magical time.”

The Bearded Tit

“I’m almost reluctant to mention this queer bar in Redfern (thebeardedtit. com) because it’s perfect just the way it is. On Wednesday nights it’s called Queerbourhood. They have some great burlesque performers or circus acts, you get nice cocktails and meet gorgeous people. The staff and management are really lovely and inclusive. It just always feels nice.”

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

“The best way to see this jewel in the crown of WorldPride (mardigras. org.au) is to be in it. But to do that you’ve got to know someone in the queer community. There are often floats with spaces for people – or get into a fabulous outfit and hair and make-up and march in the parade. You feel like a pop star because there are thousands of people screaming and cheering. Such an exciting vibe. If you can’t be in it, get tickets to viewing areas. Failing that, go to the toilet, get a milk crate, get in early and bring refreshments because you’re in for a long night.”

She wears Jason Clark Studio jacket and body suit, and Valet Studio earrings. Wig styled by Jess Murray.

Photographed at Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay, Sydney. David Parsons wears Pangaia blazer, shirt and trousers, Holly Ryan necklace and Moncler sneakers

For a man who literally creates the built environment, architect David Parsons sure loves wide open spaces. A keen yachtsman and the co-founder of Emerald City Kickball (aka soccer baseball), he’s never happier than when he’s sailing on, swimming in or biking around Sydney’s dazzling harbour.

And while Parsons – who’s one of 45 Rainbow Champions for WorldPride – would list the Friends of the Emerald International Kickball Tournament (21 t0 22 February) as his number one Sydney

WorldPride must-do experience, a close second “would be to visit a harbour beach”, he says, “places like Murray Rose Pool [in Double Bay] and Parsley Bay [in Vaucluse], which is a stunning place to sit and watch people or jump in the water” and clothing-optional Obelisk in Mosman “if you’re feeling a bit cheeky”.

Many hidden harbour beaches are accessible from the Hermitage Foreshore Track in Vaucluse (“I usually pick up a picnic lunch from Chargrill Charlie’s on New South Head Road in Rose Bay”)

and the longer, more arduous but no less spectacular Spit to Manly Walk , “stopping at Forty Baskets Beach for a quick dip”.

Seeing the harbour from Sydney is a thrill that never gets old; seeing Sydney from the harbour is quite another. A budget way to do that is to take a ferry to Watsons Bay or Manly for lunch; an adventurous way is on a kayak, which you can hire at the Spit Bridge, Mosman, or Rose Bay; and a luxe way is by chartering a yacht, says Parsons, “to explore further into places like Cobblers Beach [also clothingoptional], Middle Harbour and Balmoral , where the houses are absolutely beautiful”.

Before you hand back the keys to the yacht (or return the kayak), Parsons suggests checking out the harbour islands. “Cockatoo Island (cockatooisland.gov.au) has some heritage cottages you can stay at and, this summer, the Sunset Sessions with live music” or “venture out to Shark Island or Clark Island (nationalparks.nsw. gov.au) for a picnic”.

Local tip: people who live in the city’s eastern suburbs joke that they don’t go “OTB”, shorthand for “over the [Sydney Harbour] bridge” to the leafy Lower North Shore.

But Parsons has no such reservations, particularly when it’s by bicycle. “The bike lane is on the western side of the bridge”, which “affords you more of the sunset and the afternoon light”. Other options on the north side? A rollercoaster ride at iconic Luna Park (lunaparksydney.com) at one end of the spectrum and a meditative stroll through Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden (wendyssecretgarden.org.au) –“one of my favourite little hidden gems” – at the other.

On a larger scale, it’s hard to miss the 30-hectare Royal Botanic Garden , which sits harbourside in the CBD. “The succulent garden tucked up at the back is a favourite of mine and very, very beautiful,” says Parsons, who also loves the smaller McKell Park at Darling Point.

Having been on, in and around the harbour, Parsons’s final suggestion is to take off from it – on a seaplane to finedining institutions Berowra Waters Inn (berowrawatersinn.com) or Cottage Point Inn (cottagepointinn.com.au). “I’ve done it a couple of times for special occasions. It’s a really beautiful way to experience a meal.”

Photographed at Luna Park, Sydney. He wears Emporio Armani blazer and trousers, Tommy Hilfiger shirt and Calvin Klein shoes.

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Photographed at the Old Fitz Theatre, Woolloomooloo, Sydney. Suzy Wrong wears Mariam Seddiq dress, Vivienne Westwood necklace and Valet Studio earrings

A theatre critic (suzygoessee.com), radio presenter and actor (Hungry Ghosts), Suzy Wrong moved to Sydney from Singapore in 1996. When the famous Amsterdam Rainbow Dress visited Australia in 2022, Sydney WorldPride asked Suzy to model the “living work of art”, which features the national flags of countries where being LGBTQIA+ is still illegal. When the laws change so does the dress. To her delight, shortly after Wrong wore it, the flag of her home country, Singapore, was removed.

When she’s not sitting in dark theatres, Wrong loves exploring corners of Sydney that aren’t featured in tourist brochures.

“This is a whole-day affair. Nan Tien Temple (nantien.org.au) is located on the outskirts of Wollongong, which is a 90-minute drive south of Sydney. The gardens are beautiful and there are two big worship halls and a great vegetarian restaurant. It’s a good opportunity to have the sort of quiet, serene, meditative moments that we don’t have living in Sydney.”

“I started collecting records six or seven years ago when it became trendy again. Glebe Record Fair is held twice a year, with more than 100 stalls, in the Peter Forsyth Auditorium, near Glebe Markets [in the Inner West]. There are all kinds of people you wouldn’t normally interact with but we can spend an hour or two sharing space, poring over music. Music does bring people together.”

“My favourite Chinese restaurant is XOPP in Haymarket. It was opened by the people who ran the famous Golden Century in Chinatown. XOPP (xopp.com.au) has a very old-school ’80s-immigrant vibe, which I love, with beautiful tanks of live fish, crabs and lobsters for you to choose.”

“Yiribana is a gallery that shows First Nations artwork exclusively. It’s just moved over to the new Sydney Modern (artgallery. nsw.gov.au). It’s meaningful to me because it was the first time I came in touch with Aboriginal art. I cherish the time I had there in the old building and also at the Asian Lantern galleries, which is quite an unpredictable space and changes frequently enough to keep things fresh.”

“Trans Glamoré is held on the first Thursday of every month at the Stonewall Hotel on Oxford Street in inner-city Darlinghurst. They have trans performers headlining the events but it’s really an excuse for trans people and their friends to spend time together (transglamore.com). The Pollys Club (thepollysclub.com.au) is an established institution that holds LGBTQIA+-themed dances, usually in Marrickville [in the Inner West], to raise money for charity. It’s a good place to hang out with a more mature crowd.”

“Sometimes it feels like half the restaurants in Newtown are vegetarian or vegan. There are lots of people doing inventive cuisine, not just salad and chips. My favourite is Vina (395 King Street; 0432 587 769), a small Vietnamese place and probably one of the first vegan restaurants there so it has sentimental value for me. You can have a pho, which is fast becoming a national dish in Australia.”

“A lot of my friends in the industry show their work at the Old Fitz Theatre so I spend a lot of time there. It’s an intelligent, artistic, daring theatre in Woolloomooloo (redline productions.com.au) where you get a taste of what Sydney is like outside the predictable, more conventional face of who we think we are – and the food is sensational!”

She wears Aje dress, stylist's gloves, Vivienne Westwood necklace, Sarah & Sebastian rings, Valet Studio earrings and Steve Madden shoes.

Photographed at The Imperial, Erskineville, Sydney. Daniel McDonald wears Venroy cardigan, Alemais shirt, Holly Ryan choker and Versace glasses

Daniel McDonald knows many things. As an LGBTQIA+ man he knows about struggle – and pride. Being hearingimpaired, he knows about living with a disability. As a visual artist with works in private and corporate collections, he knows success. Having lived in Darlinghurst and Paddington for the past 30 years and as a current member of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council he knows

the value of community. And he knows that people coming together from all over the world – LGBTQIA+, those with disabilities and locals – “to rejoice in the freedoms and the acceptance that’s been so hard fought for has to be celebrated”.

When WorldPride rolls into town, McDonald – one of 45 Rainbow Champions – will not only offer the Welcome to Country at the Mardi Gras Parade (in a costume

made by Sydney couturier Catherine Colubriale), he’ll also deliver a speech with his interpreter at the Human Rights Conference and have his art – he learnt dot painting from his grandmother and his Aunty Mum Shirl – on show at Flinders Street Gallery (flindersstreetgallery.com).

But back to what else he knows. He knows some cracking places to take visitors in Sydney, such as his favourite restaurant, Zafferano Trattoria Mediterranea (zafferano trattoria mediterranea.com) in Paddington, close to Oxford Street (once a route for Aboriginal people travelling to what is now the CBD). His pick? The risotto marinara.

Also close to home, McDonald loves Paddington Markets (paddingtonmarkets. com.au) for the diversity of shopping, the gathering of locals and visitors, and the eateries. On summer Saturdays, “I go to the beach early then catch the bus back to the markets to get some of my favourite food and flowers.” It’s a more refined seven-days-a-week scene in Queen Street, Woollahra (Willarra or Wallara –“the lookout” – to the original inhabitants) with its high-end shops, boutiques and galleries that are “well worth a browse”.

Personally, McDonald draws inspiration on the ferry from Watsons Bay to Circular Quay, especially the reds and yellows that paint the sky at sunset. When the built environment takes over, “the city lights and the Harbour Bridge are far more visually appealing from the water than on a bus”. (Watsons Bay was known as Kutti by the Aboriginal people who fished the area.)

Three pubs are on his itinerary for visitors: The Beacham (thebeacham.com. au) and The Light Brigade (lightbrigade. com.au) hotels in Oxford Street and The Imperial (imperialerskineville.com.au) in Erskineville, a long-time champion of Pride and LGBTQIA+ rights, the location for scenes in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and “great nightlife in a diverse community”. The family-ownedand-operated Beacham is “friendly, with good, reasonably priced food and drinks” and The Light Brigade’s rooftop bar “is a favourite for sunsets and a relax after the beach, with great cocktails and food”.

To the Gadigal people it was Koojay; today it’s seaside Coogee and the place, especially Wylie’s Baths (wylies.com.au), for a morning dip to beat the heat and mark a new day in Sydney, home to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.

Photographed at The Imperial, Erskineville, Sydney.

He wears Giorgio Armani jacket, Venroy shirt, Provocator trousers, Sarah & Sebastian necklace and Tommy Hilfiger shoes

Beau Brummell

Introductions founders Vinko Anthony and Andrea Zaza, photo by Sealeybrandt.com

Photographed at Sydney Modern in the Domain, with Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos (2022) by Yayoi Kusama. Christine Manfield wears Arsndorf coat

The famed chef (Paramount and Universal in Sydney; East@West in London), awardwinning author and gastronomic-tour leader is preparing, with fellow queer chefs Nornie Bero and Reece Hignell, a fabulous feast for Pink Salt, WorldPride’s signature culinary event, in Newcastle, just over a twohour drive north of Sydney, on 18 February. Now living on the NSW North Coast with Margie Harris, her partner of 45 years,

Manfield is a visitor when she hits the city these days. But she still knows where to go.

Bennelong Restaurant at the Sydney Opera House

“We go to the Opera House (sydneyopera house.com) for theatre productions and every show that Bangarra Dance Theatre has put on. Tied to all of that is being able to sit in the Bennelong dining room

(bennelong.com.au) and feel a part of the building, the architecture. The food is accessible, skillfully plated and has a big focus on Indigenous ingredients, seasonal and local. It’s a quintessential Sydney experience.”

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar

“When I come to Sydney, we do the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk then, hopefully not too sweaty and dirty, have a leisurely lunch at Icebergs (idrb.com). Being in that space feels like you’re part of the ocean. For [owner] Maurice Terzini, it’s not just a restaurant, it’s part of Sydney culture.”

Sydney Modern, Art Gallery of NSW

“The new gallery (artgallery.nsw.gov.au) is extraordinary – not just the architecture but the content. They’ve brought out a lot of stuff they had hidden in the vaults and focus on the Aboriginal art in the collection. For any visitor, it should always start with that connection to Country.”

Tribal Warrior Cultural Cruise

“This is a harbour cruise (tribalwarrior. org) led by Aboriginal Elders. It gives you what I call the ‘truer history’ of Sydney Harbour and they also do a walking tour of Redfern. It’s giving back to community and making it part of our bigger story.”

A bar hop

“A great way to get an overview of a city is to make a list of cool bars that do snacks and have one drink and one snack at each place. In Sydney, I’d start at 5pm at Piccolo (piccolobarkingscross.com.au) in Kings Cross then Paski Vineria Popolare (paski.com.au) on Oxford Street. Head to Surry Hills to the hottest ticket in town, Gildas (gildas.com.au), for seriously cool food, fantastic cocktails and great wines. I’d go to Redfern, first to Re (wearere.com. au) in the South Eveleigh precinct then up the road to Bart Jr (bartjr.com.au) and finish at Ante (ante.bar) in Newtown –Matt is the Australian importer of sake and his partner, Jemma, is a hot-shot chef.”

Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon

“Claire’s Kitchen (claireskitchen.com.au) is on Oxford Street near Hyde Park. Marc Kuzma, aka Claire de Lune, is a chef and he does dinner, drag and a cabaret-style show. Those nights are hugely popular.”

She wears Beare Park dress and Boss blouse

PRINCIPAL LEGAL PARTNER OF SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

IT’S NOT JUST WHAT WE DO, IT’S WHO WE ARE.”

Herbert Smith Freehills has a distinguished and established business and human rights practice, whose members have been involved in the development and implementation of core international standards, most importantly the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Our deep commitment is further demonstrated through our systems, networks, and our people.

We are proud advocates and allies of our LGBT+ community, as a leading global employer for LGBT+ diversity and inclusion. And now, proud principal legal partners of Sydney WorldPride Read more about our vision, our determination to drive diversity, inclusion and responsible business, and our ambition to redefine legal services for the digital-first age.

JUSTIN D’AGOSTINO, CEO

HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM

PROUD

Photographed at Mahon Pool, Maroubra, Sydney. Kirli Saunders wears Paul McCann dress and crown

Gunai woman Kirli Saunders is an awardwinning writer, artist, consultant and the author of books, including Bindi and Our Dreaming. This year, her visual poetry collection, Returning, will hit the shelves.

Saunders’ work will feature in Linger, Dash, Talk, an exhibition of queer and First Nations artists at Paddington’s Cement Fondu gallery (cementfondu.org), from 17 February, in partnership with WorldPride. An avid yogi, surfer and bushwalker, her “first thought for friends and family visiting Sydney is how can I connect them to land, sea and sky? Better still, how can I connect them to places I know and love?”

Here are her suggestions.

Discover Wattamolla

“Head south. In the east of the Royal National Park, 50 kilometres from Sydney, is Wattamolla – a luscious lagoon and secluded beach where waterfall meets sea on Dharawal land. Lounge, lilo or snorkel in calm estuarine waters or take a bush trail to the southern end of the beach and go fishing with headlands in front and falls behind you, as our people have done for tens of thousands of years.”

Unearth Dharawal history

“Hike the 26-kilometre Royal National Park Coast Track (nationalparks.nsw. gov.au) from Bundeena to Otford train

station, through coastal rainforest, heath, rock pools and beaches. It’s a two-day trek that offers outstanding views along a whale migration path (late May to early November). Dharawal Country is rich in First Nations history, with middens and engravings on the trail, so tread lightly.”

Hike the Illawarra Escarpment

“Go further south to Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area and marvel at the views from Stanwell Tops, where sea eagles and hang-gliders soar. A one-way 14-kilometre hike combines the Forest Walk, Wodi Wodi Track and Sublime Point trail, past towering gums, cabbage tree palms, across creek beds and Gymea lily-lined escarpment. Top it off with a picnic at Sublime Point Lookout.”

Have a dip in Mahon Pool

“If a day by the sea [about] 10 kilometres south of the CBD is more your vibe, I can recommend Mahon Pool, Maroubra. This sculpted ocean pool, north of the main beach, was shaped in 1935 and has been loved by bathers and sea life since. With sandstone platforms, there’s space to soak up the sun and facilities to wash away the day afterwards. Walk to cafés or the Maroubra Caves on the headland.”

Find Aboriginal culture in the Blue Mountains

“Just 90 minutes west of the city is the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area – a million hectares that span Darkinjung, Dharawal, Dharug, Gundungurra, Wonnarua and Wiradjuri Country. The mountains are a haven of Aboriginal culture with the Three Sisters, Jenolan Caves, rock engravings and cave paintings. There are canyons to explore but if you’d rather relax, book a high tea and sample exquisite local produce.”

Take home a meaningful item from Trading Blak

“Gadigal lands have always been a trading hub for our people – especially down by the water – so it’s no surprise that Trading Blak (tradingblak.com) has established a store at Barangaroo in the CBD. This collective empowers the First Nations owners to achieve success on their own terms. Find them at the store or browse the range of artists, makers and products online.”

She wears Paul McCann dress, Wynn Hamlyn dress, Showpo skirt and Valet Studio earrings

Twenty

Bloodlines: The Huxleys

Until 5 March, Carriageworks, Eveleigh

Melbourne’s premier performance art duo deliver a glittering tribute to a generation of artists lost to HIV/AIDS.

Paul Yore: Word Made Flesh

Until 26 February, Carriageworks, Eveleigh

One man’s trash becomes Yore’s treasure in this immersive survey of the artist’s 15-year career. Expect a multimedia installation of found objects, collage, painting and video.

top events and you won’t have to spend a cent.

COMPILED BY NICHOLAS CAROLAN

Braving Time: Queer Art in Contemporary Australia

3 February – 18 March, National Art School, Darlinghurst

Curated by Richard Perram, Braving Time captures what it means to be queer in Australia today.

Powerhouse Late: WorldPride

16 February – 2 March, Powerhouse, Ultimo

Coinciding with its Absolutely Queer exhibition, the museum plays host to three weekly events celebrating Sydney’s queer creative landscape.

Cloak: Queer Science, Fashion & Photography

16 February – 5 March, UTS Central, Ultimo

LGBTQIA+ scientists working in conservative fields collaborate with fashion designers intent on reinventing the lab coat in an exhibition that proves the disciplines needn’t appear so divergent.

Eulogy for the Dyke Bar

17 February – 5 March, UNSW Galleries, Paddington

American artist Macon Reed resurrects their handmade installation – a nod to the bygone bars claimed by gentrification – as an interactive, fully functioning bar and platform for cross-generational storytelling.

Oxtravaganza and Pride Villages

17 February – 5 March, Oxford Street and surrounds

Large sections of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst will be closed

the Pride March will take place on Sydney Harbour Bridge (above); Mardi Gras Fair Day (below)

45 to traffic to host pedestrianfriendly, day-into-night forums with stalls, performances and street parties.

Heaps Gay Lobby Residency

17 February – 4 March, Ace Hotel Sydney

Sydney’s eminent queer party planner, Heaps Gay, and the city’s vibiest new lobby bar join forces for three weekends of DJs, performers and artists.

PRIDE (R)EVOLUTION

18 February – 9 July, State Library of NSW, Sydney

The library opens its archives to present stories from historically marginalised groups.

Living History Walk: The Golden Mile

18 February, opposite Paddington Town Hall, Oxford Street, Paddington

Spend two hours under the guidance of queer historian St Robert of the Rainbow Chronicles and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as they take you on a colourful stroll along the city’s singular strip.

Disco on the Green, World Dance Record

18 February, Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville

Regardless of whether or not this attempt at breaking a world record for “the largest disco dance lesson” is successful, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend an afternoon. All ages welcome.

Mardi Gras Fair Day

19 February, Victoria Park, Camperdown

Mardi Gras festivities commence in earnest each year at Fair Day,

Ann-Marie Calilhanna. Peter Hughes. Anna Kučera

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Oxford Street (opposite);

an all-welcome, all-day-long, all-ages, pet-friendly free-for-all.

Lip Sync Heroes

19 February – 5 March, The Imperial, Erskineville

If lip-syncing is the unofficial sport of the queer community, this three-week Sunday-night showdown might be World Pride’s Grand Final. Just what this country needs.

Queer Art

After Hours

22 February, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney

AGNSW’s after-hours program is reimagined as a queer fantasia

Start

with live performances, installations and workshops led by LGBTQIA+ artists in the new Sydney Modern wing.

Mardi Gras Parade

25 February, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst and surrounds

The world-renowned parade makes its return to Oxford Street on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ 45th anniversary –a celebration of pride and protest that’s anything but pedestrian.

Queer Mart: A Darlo Makers Market

26 February, Australian Design Centre, Darlinghurst

Spend the morning after Mardi Gras in search of handmade wares from local makers, with 20 stallholders selected by artists Nikita Majajas and Jeff McCann.

Coming Out, Coming Home

27 February – 5 March, Hurstville Museum & Gallery, Hurstville

The search for home in exile is the concern of this interactive project for the Queer Chinese in Australia community, which finds its expression in

photography, installation and documentary-style storytelling.

Koori Gras

28 February, Carriageworks, Eveleigh

On the final day of Marri

Madung Butbut: The First Nations Gathering Space, leading local and international First Nations artists come together to celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living culture through a showcase of Blak drag excellence. All ages welcome.

Genext x Pride

4 March, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Check out a major takeover of this museum by young people aged 12 to 18. What’s in store? Music, dancing and... art.

Pride March

5 March, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney

Celebrate the successes and struggles of global equality and inclusion as 50,000 people cross the iconic harbour on this historic sunrise march.

Find out more at sydneyworldpride.com

Green Tier journey today

Jacquie Manning

Family Portrait by Amos Gebhardt, part of the Braving Time exhibition (above); Nana Miss Koori, ready for Koori Gras (below)

Achieve Green Tier on your next escape

Unlock exclusive offers

Once you’ve completed five eligible activities, you’ll achieve Green Tier status and unlock access to exclusive offers such as 150 bonus Qantas Points for every night you book at one of our eco-accredited hotels.

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6

Day 7

Day 8–9

CAIRO, EGYPT

Explore the best of Cairo - enjoy a camel ride while admiring the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. Marvel at the sprawling Citadel of the Mountain, and tour the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.

LUXOR, EGYPT

Fly to Luxor and visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, then board your ship.

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Enjoy a guided tour of the sprawling Dendera Temple Complex, including the fascinating Temple of Hathor..

LUXOR, EGYPT

Visit the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, enjoying Privileged Access to the tomb of Queen Nefertar.

ESNA, EGYPT

Explore the red sandstone Temple of Khnum during a guided tour. Then, if you wish, head to Esna Village for a full tour of the town and its lively market scene.

ASWAN, EGYPT

Visit the Aswan High Dam followed by a local market, take a scenic Nile cruise on a felucca, or join an optional excursion to Abu Simbel to admire the Great Temple of Ramses II. The next day, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Philae Temple.

Day 10 EDFU, EGYPT

Ride in a horse-drawn calèche to the Temple of Horus, or you can choose to visit Edfu market with our resident chef.

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Fly back to Cairo, then check into your hotel for one night.

Day 12 CAIRO, EGYPT

After breakfast, disembark your ship.

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A fruit sando with yuzu whipped cream from Sandoitchi in Darlinghurst, Sydney

A CUT ABOVE

“It’s a very satisfying feeling, eating with your hands,” says chef and restaurateur Neil Perry. It’s a view that explains two things: why Perry’s last book, Everything I Love to Cook, features more than 20 sandwich recipes; and why Australia is currently in the thrall of the humble sando. Or, more accurately, the sando 2.0.

“I think it’s about the purity of it – flavour between bread,” says Perry. “A well-made sandwich is easy to eat and full of flavour.”

Whichever way you cut it, boutique sando shops and delis are having a moment. And chefs and restaurateurs are in on it, too. From Morning Market (morning.market), Andrew McConnell’s lush food store in Fitzroy, Melbourne, there’s the breakfast bap (a fried egg, bacon from sister venue Meatsmith and gentleman’s relish all on a squishy potato roll). Over in Collingwood, Falco (falcobakery.com), from the team behind Bar Liberty and Capitano, are busting out everything from vegan focaccia to show-stopping fried chicken milk buns.

In Sydney, Continental Deli (continentaldelicatessen.com.au) in Newtown and the CBD delivers its famous roast beef rolls with French onion dipping soup, while Ester chef/restaurateur Mat Lindsay’s A.P Bakery (apbakery.com.au) serves up crisp bacon dressed with curry leaf butter on fermented potato ciabatta.

Adam Liston, from celebrated Adelaide Japanese restaurant Shobosho, has long been a flag-bearer for the pimped-up sandwich. When it comes to his signature katsu spin, it’s all about nailing that mix of texture and flavour, combining soft bread, the crunch of cabbage and adding a surprise crisp thing. “My favourite twist is tempura nori sheets,” he says.

“People are taking a little more care with the fillings now,” says Aldo Putzo, one of the partners behind Deli’s Continental in Perth. Ultimately, he adds, “a great sandwich should be something that is delicious, fulfilling and easy to carry on the go. It shouldn’t leave you needing a nap after eating it.”

Across the country, fancy sandwiches are proving the best new thing since sliced bread.

Chef Dom Wilton from Hector’s Deli in Melbourne (above); sopressa, fermented chilli and fior di latte sando at Adelaide’s Bottega Bandito (right)

Melbourne

Hector’s Deli

It all started with a little Richmond milk bar, which quickly became chef Dom Wilton’s ground zero for great things between bread. Nowadays, he has three Hector’s Delis (hectorsdeli.com.au): in Richmond, South Melbourne and the brand new Fitzroy shop, which opened in November. Head for the egg salad.

Mortadeli

The new kid on the sandwich block from owner Jack Cassar, this Torquay surf coast shop (mortadeli.com.au) offers what could well be the area’s best conti roll, stuffed with mixed meats, cheese and Spanish pickles. There’s also pastrami on dark rye and plenty of takeaway cold cuts.

Heartattack and Vine

Mortadeli’s conti roll in Torquay, Victoria serves simple Spanish bodega classics such as a warm buttered roll with a side of jamón (gretamelbourne.com.au). For lunch, get into the folded egg sandwich with melted provolone.

The name says it all at this all-day Carlton diner (heartattackand vine.com.au). Order a tortilla roll (Spanish omelette with caramelised onion and potato on ciabatta) in the morning, a porchetta roll (roast pork, salsa verde, sambal) in the afternoon and a meatball sanger at night.

King and Godfree

K&G Deli is just one part of a 150-year-old gourmet empire in Carlton (kingandgodfree.com). Here, it’s all about croque signor (ham, cheese, bechamel) and the bacon and egg panini with salsa rosso, ordered and eaten at the espresso counter.

Greta

It’s a city wine bar, sure, but it’s a wine bar that doubles as a café that’s open from breakfast and

Adelaide

Just Down the Road

Any shop offering two types of chicken sandwich – the classic shredded roast chicken with aioli and iceberg, and fried chicken with bread and butter pickles – is more than okay by us. There’s also an alfalfa, feta and asparagus number served on rye at this city sandwich specialist (jdtr.com.au).

Bottega Bandito

This sweet café and deli in Prospect (bottegabandito.com) serves a fried eggplant sanger

with tomato kasundi, cabbage and herbs for the veggos alongside a sopressa and fior di latte choice for carnivores.

Hobart

St. J’s Deli

Is the baguette this year’s bread of choice? Quite possibly, based on the evidence here (stjs.com.au).

Exhibit A: stracciatella, mortadella, confit tomato and pesto. Not to be outdone by exhibit B: slow-cooked lamb shoulder, olive tapenade and whipped feta.

Perth Falafel Omisi

Visit this Yokine eatery (falafelomisiperth.com.au) for falafel and chips, served in a pita pocket with pickles and salad,

or a classic sabich – sautéed eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini and salad, all stuffed in pita. Or a vegetarian shawarma with seven types of mushroom. Yes, seven.

Deli’s Continental

A meatball sub covered in melted cheese, pesto and more tomato sauce than a Sicilian passata day. True to name, there’s also the show-stopping conti roll with deli meats, salad and cheeses. A West Coast classic (2/861 Beaufort Street, Inglewood).

Sydney Fabbrica

This CBD deli, bar and general store (ciaofabbrica.com) from the folks behind Italian bar Ragazzi offers a porchetta roll for the ages. And for vegetarians: roast asparagus, peas, mint and buffalo curd. Team yours with a Negroni and perch in the petite courtyard.

Sydney highlights include the buttermilk chicken sando at Sandoitchi (above) and the deli sandwich at Good Ways (below)

Soulmate

Order a side of chips with this Newtown cafe’s blood sausage number, with herbed mayo and sambal, or try the behemoth fried chicken sandwich with melted American cheese (soulmatecoffee.com.au).

Sandoitchi

Fluffy Japanese-style sandos at this Darlinghurst café (sandoitchi.com.au) include crumbed chicken katsu with lettuce, kimchi and tonkatsu mayo. Or for the ultimate indulgence, go for yuzu whipped cream and fruit on white bread.

Good Ways

Such is the popularity of Redfern’s favourite sandwich bar (goodwaysdeli.com.au), they’ve opened a second shop down the road in Alexandria. At both outlets you’ll find the deli sandwich (kangaroo mortadella, ham, salami, cheeses and pickles) and a classic salad number with grated beetroot and carrot.

Penny’s Cheese Shop

Yes, it’s essentially a cheese store… But! There’s also a modest menu

of very good sandwiches at this Potts Point site (pennyscheese shop.com.au). A crunchy baguette, for instance, filled with gooey camembert and slices of salami. There are cicchetti, such as focaccia with buffalo mozzarella and mortadella. And, of course, a four-cheese toastie.

Brisbane

Sunny Side

The focus at this Windsor shop (eatsunnyside.com.au) is on sandwiches you could stop a door with. Chicken schnitzel on Japanese-style white bread with pickles and mayo. Or egg salad, the boiled egg split down the middle with a perfect yolk.

Nug General Store

It’s a general store, a deli, somewhere to grab a glass of wine and a sandwich in Fortitude Valley (nuggeneralstore.com.au).

Sarah Baldwin, chef from the tiny but mighty Joy restaurant, has created a menu of five sandwiches that changes regularly. Keep an eye out for the pepperberry salami with cream cheese and tomato or roast pork with potato and Swiss cheese.

Nikki

To. Leigh Griffiths

Underwater Expedition

Bionic Bar

Surf Trip

Gourmet Getaway

Island Adventure

Spa Getaway

Night at the theatre

STORY BY ALEXANDRA CARLTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE BUTLER

THE COCONUT AT MUSE

There aren’t many coconuts growing around the Hunter Valley but this adored dessert has nonetheless become a defining dish of the region.

The irony of the signature dish at Hunter Valley restaurant Muse at Hungerford Hill Winery (musedining.com.au) is that it mostly defies the ethos of the rest of the menu. “I know these terms get thrown around a lot but ‘local and seasonal’ really is what we’re all about,” says chef and owner Troy Rhoades-Brown. “And I can tell you that none of us has a coconut tree in our backyard! But my compromise with the Muse Coconut is seeing the look on our guests’ faces when it arrives at the table. It really does make people happy and that makes me very proud.”

The Muse Coconut shell is layers of tempered chocolate – light and dark, designed to look like a real coconut shell – filled with a frozen cloud of coconut mousse and sweet, vanilla-scented coconut water. And Rhoades-Brown manages to sneak some ofthe-place specialness in there: the dessert is garnished with fresh violets, marigolds and bronze fennel – usually picked from his

garden – and the bespoke coconut-shaped bowl it sits in (designed by Sydney artist Katherine Mahoney) has clay from the dam on the chef’s own property brushed around the outside.

It may spark joy for diners but the Muse Coconut’s construction puts the kitchen team through their paces. They generally make between 300 and 350 shells each week – a process that involves blowing up miniature water balloons with a bicycle pump to achieve the perfect shape – which takes the pastry chef a whole day. But it’s worth it. In fact, the Muse Coconut has become so iconic that guests have told Rhoades-Brown they booked dinner at Muse just to try it and worked out accommodation later.

“To me that is so flattering,” he says. “We know that at least 50 per cent of our dining room at any time is anniversaries or other special occasions. The Coconut is something that helps bring an element of celebration.”

Sardinian to savour

Fire-roasted suckling pork and pecorino-stuffed culurgiones. Italian is done with farmhouse flair in Brisbane’s West End.

“We wanted to show that there is more to Italian food than pizza and pasta,” explains Valentina Vigni, co-owner of the newly opened restaurant Pilloni (pilloni.com.au), which serves Sardinian fire-grilled fare in Brisbane’s West End.

It’s one of the Queensland capital’s hottest new restaurants – perhaps literally, with head chef Mimmo Miceli cooking lobster, porcheddu (Sardinian spit-roasted suckling pork) and whole fish over the firepit. Pilloni has been a long time coming for owners Vigni and Andrea Contin, who also helm popular Roman-style pizza restaurant La Lupa.

“We’ve wanted to open Pilloni for such a long time but it was really about finding the right space; we wanted something homely,” says Vigni. “Somewhere we can invite you in and treat you with that sense of Italian hospitality.”

The pair drew inspiration from a recent trip to Sardinia – where Contin has roots – to build an urban agriturismo : a Sardinian farmhouse designed to take in guests. For Vigni, Brisbane was the ideal place for this slice of Italy.

“Provenance of produce is important and it makes Queensland perfect for Sardinian cuisine, where we have access to the best lamb, seafood and pork – the three most essential meats in the island’s cuisine,” says Vigni. “The menu is small and constantly changing in

accordance with what our producers have on hand. If something doesn’t meet our standards of quality, it doesn’t make the menu.’’

Despite flame-kissed elements taking centre stage, some regional pasta dishes have snuck onto the menu, with Miceli showcasing Sardinian potato- and pecorino-stuffed culurgiones, hand-rolled fregola pasta and fresh spaghetti with Tasmanian lobster.

The restaurant has been divided into four areas by designers Alkot Studio and Tonic Projects. Away from the restaurant floor you can sip a Sardinian vermentino by the ivorycoloured marble-topped bar, with the worldly

wine list fitting into Pilloni’s “low-intervention” ethos. Elsewhere, feel Brisbane’s breeze on the blue-and-cream alfresco terrace with a sbagliato in hand or duck down the corridor to the private dining room for 16 guests tucked away in the wine cellar.

166 Hardgrave Road, Brisbane, Qld

Find out more at pilloni.com.au

Presented by Pilloni Restaurant

BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Best Italian Casa Carboni

Matteo Carboni’s legendary cooking classes book out months in advance but stop by this charming enoteca for lunch on Thursday or Friday and you can enjoy his handiwork without lifting a finger. Even the decisionmaking is easy, with just two pasta options that might include lighter-than-air gnocchi with a hearty ragù to keep it from floating off the plate or fluffy parcels of ravioli filled with local pumpkin, butter and sage.

67 Murray Street, Angaston; 0415 157 669; casacarboni.com.au

Best dégustation Hentley Farm

Served inside a glass-walled atrium overlooking Greenock Creek, the aptly named Discovery Menu is a three-hour tour through this fertile region. A selection of freshly plucked garden leaves drizzled with Jersey cream, honey and chives sets the scene for a procession of ever-changing dishes that let the ingredients sing. Each course is presented by the chef who prepared it and pairings include estate wines and glasses from further afield.

Corner of Gerald Roberts and Jenke roads, Seppeltsfield; (08) 8562 8427; hentleyfarm.com.au

Best atmosphere Fino Seppeltsfield

A sun-drenched courtyard with a bubbling fountain shaded by palms and citrus trees lends this favourite a decidedly Balearic feel and chef Dan Murphy employs an appropriately light touch on the seafood- and veggie-forward menu. Finish with a serve of crèma catalana all to yourself; the heavenly silken custard hidden beneath a layer of brittle caramel has been on the menu since day one for good reason.

730 Seppeltsfield Road, Seppeltsfield; (08) 8562 8528; fino.net.au

Best Asian Ferment Asian

If you think an ice-cold beer is the only match for spicy Vietnamese fare, this unassuming spot on the main street of Tanunda will open your eyes. Parcels of fiery caramelised Barossa Hampshire pork wrapped in fresh betel leaves and zingy squid and finger lime salad find their match in a voluminous (and well-priced) 100-page drinks list that also includes sherry and sake.

90 Murray Street, Tanunda; (08) 8563 0765; fermentasian.com.au

Best brewery Ministry of Beer

For the best balance of sweetness, oak and acidity, head to tiny Lyndoch, where brewer Brett Reimann specialises in tart, barrel-aged beers with vinous complexity that will convert even the most reluctant beer drinker. His seasonal golden apricot and ruby cherry sours are designed to be sipped at the timber-clad bar, while lighter styles are better suited to a session in the sunny courtyard.

1 Lyndoch Valley Road, Lyndoch; 0402 572 229; ministryofbeer.com.au

Best French fare Le Mas

The lavish breakfast spread of flaky croissants, baked apples, golden omelettes and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is reason alone to book a stay at this delightful Provençal-style farmhouse. But dinner in the guests-only restaurant is an even more opulent affair, featuring escargots flambéd in cognac, meaty soupe aux champignons and decadent duck à l’orange with Billecart-Salmon champagne and grenache from the estate. If you stay for a weekend, you might have room for both.

1929 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat; (08) 8524 4488; lemasbarossa.com.au

Farmers and fine-diners find common ground in this iconic wine region, where peerless local drops and produce are always on the menu.

Best local produce The Farm Eatery

Maggie Beer gained fame in the kitchen but her daughter, Elli, shines on the restaurant floor and the generous portions at this airy spot overlooking a turtle-filled pond are indicative of the family’s superb hospitality. The five-course Feast menu takes its cues from the bucolic surroundings, with fluffy olive focaccia alongside a pot of sweet pickled fennel, cucumber and celery a fitting start to the proceedings.

50 Pheasant Farm Road, Nuriootpa; (08) 8562 1902; thefarmeatery.com

Best brunch El Estanco

A visit to this South American-leaning café the morning after overindulging in red is a rite of passage for Barossa visitors and locals. Colombian chef Julian Velasquez mans the Argentinian grill and sends out plates piled with chorizo, tomatillo, roasted pepper and piquant Peruvian aji amarillo that boast magical reanimating powers. The on-site roastery guarantees the coffee is always fresh.

18-22 Murray Street, Greenock; 0438 006 552; elestanco.com.au

Best casual dining

Contour Bar & Kitchen

Fine-diner Appellation is one of the swankiest spots in the region and the elevated comfort food at Contour, its more casual sibling, gets the same level of care. Housemade nitrate-free guanciale with celeriac leaves is as healthy as pork jowl will ever get, while the fresh salsa verde, peri peri, aioli and smoky barbecue sauces that accompany the fries pop with as much colour as the fiery sunsets beyond the picture windows.

Corner of Seppeltsfield and Stonewell roads, Marananga; (08) 8562 2722; thelouise.com.au

(Clockwise from above) Matteo Carboni at Casa Carboni; purple congo mash with crab, quail egg and aji amarillo dressing at El Estanco; Le Mas

WORTH A DETOUR

STORY BY JOHN LETHLEAN

The best vineyard restaurants come with a serve of bucolic bliss, according to this food critic.

A warm mist of anticipated contentment descends on our long, raw timber communal table; it’s all “ooh”s and “ah”s and “doesn’t that look bloody good?”. In front of us is a dish of beautifully roasted duck in a lovely, anise-scented soy broth. Jasmine rice. Stir-fried vegetables with lychee. A baby prawn laksa. Housefermented chilli sauce. A glass of estate shiraz. And a couple of friends to share the meal. It’s a pretty good start.

To my right, hectares of grapevines: chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, we’re told, with the inevitable (for Western Australia) pocket of sauvignon blanc to blend with semillon, the juice of the West.

The sun streams into the dining room through marri and karri trees; happy diners chat on the terrace. The waiter is a welcome, familiar face.

It’s actually a pretty great start.

For me, this is a happy place. Vineyard restaurants make me smile – they’re the very essence of glass-half-full dining experiences. Why is that, I wonder?

Is it simply because the best restaurants in my corner of the continent are all on vineyards? Or because, in the same way an inner-city wine bar should convey something of the suburb – a bit of urban grit – a good vineyard restaurant does its own version of appropriate context?

It’s certainly not the home turf thing; some of the best meals I’ve had – all lunches – were in wine-growing pockets of the eastern seaboard, South Australia and Tasmania. Restaurants where the nexus between place and plate is magnified and exploited. In a good way.

It’s the meal as an event. A commitment. A whole day, even. The journey into the region, the sights and smells, the destination, the connection with a place that grows fruit that is then turned into something that makes us happy.

And I’m convinced that surrendering to the rhythm of rural life is good for the digestion; nature, agriculture, the inexorable cycle of the seasons with a little intervention from a clever viticulturist. Vineyard restaurants are often such peaceful places.

There is something so right about a glass of Hunter semillon or Margaret River chardonnay in the very place the grapes were grown. And when the food reflects some kind of symbiosis between winemaker and chef, as it surely does at the best establishments (but not all), this is when they play their “unique” card.

Nobody else can replicate this. Our food, our wine – as it was meant to be drunk – at our place.

I’m not saying it’s always perfect. I know ordinary vineyard restaurants with exceptional wine. And superb, offthe-beaten-track vineyard restaurants where the wine clearly plays catch-up. But you will find parity at Vasse Felix (pictured; Wilyabrup, WA), The Zin House (Lowe Family Wine Co, Mudgee, NSW), Montalto (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria), Hentley Farm (Barossa Valley, South Australia) and Osteria Vista at Stefano Lubiana Wines (Granton, Tasmania), among others. We’re talking great Australian dining experiences. Travel experiences. Meals that are, as the Michelin Guide expression goes, “worth a detour”.

Worth a lot more, I reckon.

Food Miles

SURF COAST, VICTORIA

STORY BY JESSICA IRVINE

It’s famous for the Great Ocean Road but this region offers plenty of delicious reasons to visit, too. Chef Jo Barrett shares her favourites.

She’s earned acclaim for her focus on sustainable dining, having helped drive the closed-loop project “Future Food System” in Melbourne. So it’s no surprise that Victorian chef Jo Barrett ranks fresh, local produce chief among the selling points of the Surf Coast, where she’s now based. “There are a lot of dedicated growers here – everyone’s growing vegetables, there are beef producers, lamb producers,” says Barrett, who opened casual diner Little Picket at Lorne Bowls Club (littlepicket.com.au) six months ago. “We have a lot of our local community dropping in herbs and lemons. I don’t think we have purchased a lemon since we moved in!” she says, laughing. “I’m getting to cook with incredible produce.” When she’s not busy reinventing her own menu (on a sometimes weekly basis), this is where Barrett goes to eat.

Local Heroes

Torquay Farmers Market For

organic produce

“Stop at the Saturday morning market (1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay) and check out Kinsfolk Farm (kinsfolkfarm.com.au). They’re local, organic growers and we get a lot of produce from them, mostly vegetables. The market really does highlight this region because it only features growers and producers from around here. Every week, Kinsfolk sends a list of what they’re picking and it changes according to the weather. I think that’s the future of food – relying on small and localised systems.”

The Riverbank Cafe

For a sandwich and coffee

“I always get a toastie and coffee from this café in Lorne (6 Mountjoy Parade); they serve beautiful scones, too. I get the Henny: a poached chicken toastie with mayo, spring onion, seeded mustard and avocado. It’s a small, tuckedaway place and you can sit out under the grapevines.”

Ipsos

For the small bites

“This Greek restaurant (ipsosrestaurant.com.au) in Lorne is really popular. I go for an afternoon Aperol and a selection of beautiful dips (taramasalata and skordalia are on the menu). It’s been around forever, serving lunch and dinner, and there’s an extensive wine list, with some wellknown Australian winemakers on there.”

The Store

For the wine

“There’s not much in Deans Marsh but there is The Store (thestoredeansmarsh.com.au)

and it’s become a place to hang out. They do a great job of highlighting local winemakers and brewers. We have a few local winemakers on our wine list but The Store sells them

retail as well – like the Heroes label. So you can go and purchase them if you’re not going to the cellar doors. You can also buy produce, artisan pottery and have some local beers. It’s really cool and quirky.”

Last One Inn

For the cocktails

“As you come into Anglesea, stop off at Last One Inn (lastoneinn.com.au), a bar and bistro. I go here for a cocktail, always a Margarita. They have a beautiful view of the bridge over the river and to the beach, and the food’s really modern with a South American vibe – dishes such as empañadas, chorizo, tapas and churros.”

Robert Blackburn/Visit Victoria. Belinda Van Zanen

(Clockwise from bottom left) Chef Jo Barrett; surfing at Lorne; The Store in Deans Marsh; Ipsos at Lorne

NEW-WAVE SAUVIGNON BLANC

Is it time to give sauvignon blanc another chance? Yep. While it was once considered green and overly acidic, falling into the “love it or hate it” category, the new wave of sauvignon blanc is more complex. We’re talking wines from low-yielding vines that exhibit nectarine, grapefruit and gooseberry flavours. New Zealand’s Marlborough region has long been in the limelight. Is it keeping up with the trend? Marlborough has some terrific sauv blancs, especially those wines that incorporate (older) oak, yeast lees ageing and the essential high-quality fruit. Look for TWR (Te Whare Ra), Dog Point, Villa Maria, Greywacke, Spy Valley Envoy and Giesen The August. Which Aussie areas are making good drops? The Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Orange and Tasmania. And there’s a swathe of interesting wines from Margaret River, too. Again, today’s wines are all about intense fruit flavours with subtle oak and layers of complexity. Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, Cullen, Fraser Gallop and Flowstone are all worth seeking out. What about France? Isn’t that where it started?

Sauvignon blanc is grown in Bordeaux, where it’s blended with semillon to make great dry white styles or lush sauternes. In the Loire Valley, it flies solo – in its purest form as the minerally sancerre or more complex pouilly-fumé. What food does it pair with? Seafood, spicy dishes, Caesar salad. Oh, and goat’s cheese is the perfect partner. How much is it? $25 to $50 gets you in the zone, while top drops such as the 2019 Cullen Legacy Series cost up to $100.

Bird in Hand Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Kym Milne worked for New Zealand’s Villa Maria before Bird in Hand so he knows a thing or two about sauv blanc. Gooseberry and snow pea aromas lead to a slinky palate backed by an energising acidity.

Adelaide Hills, SA / 2022 / $25

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa

Named in honour of co-owner Clair Mugford’s mother (and grandmother of her son, Hugh, who was the instigator of this new wine). Nashi pear, lychee and guava herald a textural palate and a fine finish.

Margaret River, WA / 2021 / $71

STORY BY PETER BOURNE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG WALL

what you think you know about this much-maligned white.

Comte Lafond Sancerre

“Classic” is the only way to describe this tight, minerally wine. It comes from the chalk-laden soils of Sancerre, its grapefruit and white-peach flavours and zippy acidity well-suited to a warm goat’s cheese salad.

Loire Valley, France / 2020 / $70

Greywacke Wild Sauvignon

Kevin Judd helped start Cloudy Bay in 1985 before launching his brand in 2009. “Wild” describes his winemaking style. Rich melon, quince and ruby grapefruit aromas lead to a well-structured palate and a deep, savoury finish.

Marlborough, NZ / 2019 / $45

Forget

THE BEST FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT AND SERVICE AT SEA

Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Lazy

The pool in the exclusive Level area of the resort

When you’re in Bali for a laid-back time, not a long time

Meliã Bali, Nusa Dua

By Dilvin Yasa

Travellers are calling out double-digit numbers all around immigration like overzealous The Price is Right contestants but my sad little figure isn’t cutting it. “How can you come to Bali for a couple of days and expect a proper holiday?” an officer asks me in an incredulous tone. Oh, snap, I think. Challenge accepted.

Less than 30 minutes later, I’m kicking back at Meliã Bali (hotel.qantas.com.au/ meliabali), a sprawling beachfront haven in the landscaped enclave of Nusa Dua. After more than 30 years, the property has nailed the relaxed vibe that entices holiday-makers to return again and again. “Some of our guests have been coming here for more than 20 years,” a friendly staffer tells me.

As an “all-inclusive” guest who has bought into The Level, a “resort in a resort” offering a range of exclusive spaces and services unavailable to regular guests (such as a private pool and beach area, and concierge), I’m putty in their hands.

Day one

Wake-up calls are curious things at Meliã Bali; they can appear in the form of a rogue wave showering over your canoe as you rock sleepily in the sun; in an unexpected breeze that collects your dress as you cycle along the waterfront;

and in the serenade of frogs applauding your decision to slip straight into the pool from your spacious suite. All serve to jolt me – momentarily – out of the dreamlike state I’ve entered but nothing does the trick better than being served my LinkedIn headshot emblazoned in the foam of a flat white at Sorrento restaurant, one of the property’s five eateries and five bars.

With almost 11 lush hectares to explore, plus an activity schedule that includes everything from a golf simulator and painting lessons to water sports and pedal cars, analysis paralysis is a risk. Between activities and quick

dips in the adults-only pool, I regroup by putting my sandy feet up at Kopi Petani, a thatched-roof café where The Beatles crackle over the speakers and the staff express disappointment in my long-black order (they like to serve Oreo caramel lattes).

At sunset, on one of a handful of excursions included with my package, I watch monkeys tear apart a tourist’s sunglasses at Uluwatu Temple. That spectacle and the following satay campur and kecak dance performance back at the property’s Lotus Asian Restaurant, taps on my temples, reminding me that I’m in Indonesia and not “just a resort”.

Day two

Sunrise yoga by the beach? I get over my (short-lived) guilt of skipping stretch class for an hour-long alfresco foot massage at YHI Spa by cycling over to the property’s gently perfumed organic garden. It features more than 60 varieties of herbs, fruits and vegetables, as well as facilities for cooking classes.

Overnight, I appear to have caught some sort of healthy-living bug so I’m all about trying the resort’s Eat Pray Love wellness package (available at extra charge), which includes a water purification ceremony at Tirta Empul Temple, a nourishing lunch and a palmreading session at Liyer Spirit House –made famous by the Elizabeth Gilbert juggernaut. The traffic-choked drive to Ubud, I soon realise, is not for those on short getaways but lunch overlooking the rice terraces surrounding Dragonfly Café (dragonfly-village.com) offers plenty of time for rest and reflection.

Back at Meliã Bali, I toast the balmy weather with a seaside drink before a final dinner at Sakura, the resort’s Japanese restaurant. Amid calls from fellow diners for the chef to “saki it to them”, the beef Angus tenderloin is melt-in-the-mouth perfection and as I dine, I silently vow to return again and again.

I don’t see the same immigration officer on my way home, which is a shame. I want to tell him I won.

Tommaso Riva. Francisco Guerrero

(Clockwise from above) The resort's Lotus Asian Restaurant, beachside trattoria Sateria and YHI Spa

Even the pademelons are relaxed on this island off an island

Bruny Island, Tasmania

By Kirsten Galliott

For years, Bruny was a sleepy patch of paradise where Hobart locals escaped their version of the rat-race. And then mainlanders discovered it.

That’s had pros and cons. Pros? You can eat and drink well on this 362-squarekilometre island, which can only be reached by ferry from Kettering, 32 kilometres south of Hobart. There are some lovely things to do, beyond appreciating the dramatic landscape, such as dropping into Sprokkelwood (grietjeandkeith.com), a sculpture garden created by local artists Keith Smith and Grietje van Randen.

And the cons? Guilt for sitting in the sun-drenched lounge room of Cloudy Bay Beach House (pictured; brunyisland. com.au) and doing nothing but watching plump pademelons waddle by. Guilt for eating another wedge of Nick Haddow’s epic cheese (brunyislandcheese.com.au). And guilt for loving every long, lazy minute of this untamed version of island life.

Pick your perfect stay

Plan a whistlestop capital hop, a leisurely long weekend, a jazzage getaway or a sustainable escape at these urban retreats.

If you want a tropical timeout

A dreamy pool platform for soaking in the Queensland sun and buzzy dining options are just some of the perks on offer at Brisbane’s Calile Hotel (thecalilehotel.com) in Fortitude Valley’s James Street precinct. Conceived by awardwinning architecture firm Richards & Spence, the building pairs concrete with lush tropical greenery that adorns white brick walls. Inside, rooms are decked out in muted pastels of blush and duck-egg blue and accents of pink marble benchtops and cork floors. But the real show

stopper is the 27-metre pool flanked by palm trees and pistachio-coloured day beds, where you can recline with a refreshing watermelon juice mixed with peach and mint.

You can also indulge in an afternoon at the on-site KAILO Wellness Medispa with its infrared sauna and signature facial featuring French clay and cold-pressed plant oils. Food-wise, slice into flaky spanakopita at the hotel’s modern Greek restaurant Hellenika, taste delicate scallop nigiri at the Sushi Room and in the Lobby Bar, snack on blue swimmer crab toast topped with radishes grown in the rooftop garden.

Collection by TFE Hotels

If you want to step back to a bygone era

The heritage-listed Hotel Kurrajong Canberra (hotelkurrajong.com.au) delivers historic charm at every turn with its pavilion-style building, grand semicircular driveway, hand-carved mantel and corridors lined with framed black-and-white photographs of former prime ministers.

John Smith Murdoch designed the 1926 property – the Chief Commonwealth Architect behind Old Parliament House, which is 10 minutes walk away – and all 147 rooms have plush king-size beds, soft teal furnishings and walk-in showers. Political buffs will love staying in the wood-panelled Chifley Room in the heritage wing – it’s where Ben Chifley lived as PM.

Chifley’s Bar & Grill is perfect for a long lunch serving hearty classics including a premium selection of meat dishes and Australian contemporary cuisine. Find a comfortable spot to sip a classic Benny’s Double or sundowner gin and tonic made with the hotel’s lightly smoky Cigar Gin, a collaboration with The Canberra Distillery.

Spend a leisurely Sunday morning strolling around Lake Burley Griffin and perusing The National Portrait Gallery, both a 15-minute walk away.

If you want a glamorous city getaway

Occupying a corner of Melbourne’s CBD since 1866, The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins (savoyhotelmelbourne. com) provides an elegant retreat from its bustling location opposite Southern Cross Station. Inside the vast marble lobby, jazzy standards emanate from The Alexander Bar, a low-lit affair with Art Deco influences. Settle into a navy velvet banquette and try the Hollywood Glamour cocktail, a heady mix of dark spiced rum, amaretto, cherry liqueur and pineapple created in homage to cinematic royalty Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner.

Upstairs, the Roaring Twenties design scheme translates into geometricpatterned carpets, subway-tiled bathrooms and guestrooms dressed in a palette of grey and cream. Those on the upper floors look out over the city and Docklands; book the Corner Plaza Room to maximise your vantage point. Need more space? The Alexander Suite comes with a separate living and dining area and a fully outfitted kitchen. There’s also the V Hotel Spa on the lower ground floor for rounding out your weekend with an hour-long hot stone massage.

If you want a sustainable New Zealand escape

The Hotel Britomart (thehotelbritomart. com), a striking brick-clad tower on Auckland’s downtown waterfront, is New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel. Greenhouse-gas emissions are tightly capped, those 150,000 bricks were handmade with clay and there’s reclaimed wood everywhere (even the door handles to the hotel’s double-height entrance are driftwood cast in bronze). Kiwi handiwork is core to the rooms, with ceramic vases by Elena Renker, organic Sans[ceuticals] skincare and coffee-table tomes showing the best of NZ design. In the top-floor Rangihoua Suite, floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto a 35-square-metre terrace, where you can laze in front of the outdoor fireplace while watching dusk descend over Waitematā Harbour.

Take the hotel’s custom bikes for a spin around the nine-block Britomart neighbourhood before a spot of lunch back at the on-site restaurant, kingi, a historic exposed-brick space in the adjacent Masonic House building. Naturally, the menu is a celebration of sustainably caught seafood: think Te Matuku Bay oysters, snapper head terrine and fried buttermilk blue cod wings with ranch dip.

To find out more visit collectionbytfehotels.com

Go slow (and travel back in time) at this Mid-centurystyle boutique hotel

Kyah, Blackheath, NSW

By Sarah Grant

Approaching the elegant entrance framed with cacti in pastel pots, it’s immediately obvious that a stay at Kyah (thekyah.com. au), a reimagined 1970s motel in sleepy Blackheath, two hours drive from Sydney, is going to be less Blue Mountains kitsch and more Palm Springs cool. Retro rules after a luxe refurb by Sydney design firm MKD Architects but the sleek getaway defies the dated – some may say fusty –bed-and-breakfast vibe.

Just under a hectare of landscaped gardens surround the 46-room hotel, which features chic furnishings, plush drapery and killer curves – from the rounded edges on bedheads to glowing orb lamps. And what Slim-Aarons-fantasy escape would be complete without a steam room and tennis court?

While the temptation to swap trackies for tennis whites may entice, so does the chance to relax by the bar away from daytrippers whose bushwalking efforts risk putting your low-key itinerary to shame.

Whatever the day serves up, the evening must end at Blaq, the on-site restaurant that offers a garden-to-table philosophy under executive chef Mate Herceg. The eatery plates up the state’s best in seasonal produce, such as Junee lamb, prawns from Yamba and vegies grown on the property, in a sophisticated space with velvet banquettes and flickering fireplaces (all three of them).

Round out the night with one of Kyah’s signature cocktails, the Smoked Maple Old Fashioned, and hit the hay loving the fact that everything old is new again.

Steven Woodburn

FACE OFF AGAINST THE LEGENDARY HAKA

LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO PULL ON THE BLACK JERSEY

PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST

Lazy weekends

By Alex Greig

Maleny, Queensland Maleny Lodge

As one of 11 children, Freda Cook didn’t have a private claw-foot bathtub, snug king-sized bed or wood-burning stove for chilly nights. But you will in the room named in her honour (left) at Maleny Lodge (malenylodge.com.au), which is behind a white picket fence in the picturesque Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Maleny, 95 kilometres north of Brisbane. The lodge comprises Rosedale, a 1905 Queenslander built by Freda’s parents, Ada and Alfred Cook, and four stand-alone suites, and it’s possible to occupy a room, the house or the entire property exclusively. Wake up to birdsong and sunlight filtering through linen curtains then step into the verdant garden to take in the mountain views and paddle in the heated magnesium pool before wandering into town for breakfast.

Rakula, Northern Territory

Finniss River Lodge

You can lose track of time watching the mesmerising, ever-changing flood plain from the private verandah of a Finniss River Lodge suite (finnissriverlodge.com.au). And that’s kind of the point. The remote location, a 90-minute drive or 20-minute charter flight from Darwin, means once you arrive at the lodge, part of a vast 200-square-kilometre Brahman cattle station, you can relax –there’s nowhere else to go. In addition to six understated suites, the property has a serene infinity pool and an impressive restaurant supplied with local produce. Two daily guided tours – the early morning cloaked in mist and the late afternoon peachy with the setting sun – explore the station’s remnant rainforests, dry savanna and those wetlands with their saltwater crocs and thousands of long-legged birds.

Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia

Timba

Plans for more “Rtreets” augur well if Timba (rtreet.world), this luxe off-grid bush escape on the Fleurieu Peninsula, 50 kilometres south of Adelaide, is the blueprint. Set on 40 hectares of vineyards and rolling hills, the main house has three bedrooms, with a fourth occupying a separate studio. The landscape is echoed inside in a palette of mustard, ochre and olive with clean lines, natural fabrics and lots of wood. A-type personalities can book yoga instructors, massages and garden tours through Rtreet, or hike to the hills and go koala-spotting in re-wilded native forest. Everyone else can avail themselves of the pool and its lush surroundings, spend an inordinate amount of time deciding on dinner and even longer lingering over the meal in the dining room.

Sorrento, Victoria

InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula

For years, Sorrento locals have enjoyed a drink at the circa-1875 Hotel Continental – aka “the Conti” – overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Now, after a glitzy revamp, the venerable limestone pile has been transformed into the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula (hotel.qantas.com.au/intercontinental sorrento). Evoking the seaside glamour of a Mediterranean resort just 90 minutes from Melbourne, the hotel hits the mark for a long, laid-back weekend. There’s a heated pool with a terrazzo deck, a bathhouse and spa, plus a fine-diner called Audrey, helmed by Scott Pickett, and a moody cocktail bar. Not to mention 108 rooms and suites decked out in rattan, blonde wood and pops of green and crimson within the historic building as well as a new addition. Long live the Conti!

Family

For an easy Top End getaway, just add water

Darwin, NT

By Bek Day

There’s a playful other-worldliness to Darwin that kids easily embrace. It’s brash, steamy and irreverent (you just can’t take yourself too seriously in that heat) but also ancient, immersive and – particularly at sunset – dazzlingly beautiful. The city’s charms span the kitsch (delightfully over-the-top wildlife park Crocosaurus Cove, crocosauruscove.com, sits in central Darwin) to the ethereal (twinkling twilight beach markets with stalls spruiking fragrant bowls of laksa alongside frozen Top End mangoes blended into sorbet on the spot). But nothing can hold a candle to the epic beauty of the region’s national parks, most within day-tripping distance of the city. Set up camp at the DoubleTree Hilton Darwin Esplanade (hotel.qantas.com.au/ doubletreehiltonesplanade), which is footsteps from the harbour and dishes up warm choc-chip cookies on arrival, then get the kids out to chase waterfalls slightly further afield.

The crowd-pleaser

Red and green might sit opposite one another on the colour wheel but they dance a captivating paso doble at Buley Rockhole, with verdant rainforest looming over ancient sandstone beds, ruby-slick under the cascading water. Less than two hours drive from Darwin and 30 minutes in from the entrance to Litchfield National Park, this freshwater swimming favourite fills up fast. Here, gentle falls create naturally tiered formations, with shallow pools for little feet and some surprisingly deep diving spots as well. From the car park (where you’ll find toilet facilities nearby), a short loop-walk brings you to the series of creeks and rockholes marking the

base of the Tabletop Range’s primary plateau. Shade is almost as scarce as parking spots as midday approaches so it’s worth getting up early to enjoy it with the birds and before the day’s heat takes hold.

For big kids

If your kids are closer to double-digits and don’t mind a bit of a climb, Florence Falls (also located in Litchfield) brings the drama. An easy three-minute walk from the car park will get you to the centre of the action – a lookout platform, where you’ll see two roaring torrents race each other off the gorge and into the plunge pool below. Spring-fed

year-round, the real treasure at Florence Falls lies in its cool, clear swimming hole (left), beckoning from the bottom of a 160-stair descent. Once you’ve floated to your heart’s content, the one-kilometre Shady Creek Walk leads you back around to Florence Creek, where you can spread out the picnic rug for some lunch before returning to the city. Alternatively, extend the adventure at the nearby Florence Falls 2WD-accessible campsite or the old 4WD campgrounds slightly further down (bookings essential; nt.gov.au).

For little ones

The payoff when you arrive at idyllic Berry Springs Nature Park is reward enough but every aspect of this lush oasis – from the 40-minute drive from Darwin (palatable to even the tiniest of travellers) to the spring-fed paddling creek and shade trees just right for languid picnics – almost make it feel too easy. That’s almost because you’re still in the NT and rangers occasionally close the park if they spot evidence of crocodile activity or harmful bacteria, particularly in the wet season.

Come in March and April, when the park’s native wildflowers bloom in a technicolour carpet, with goatsfoot, scarlet bloodroot and cajeput tree transforming the creek banks. There are toilet facilities, a barbecue area and, from April to October, a kiosk selling essentials such as local Tommo’s meat pies and swimming goggles, rounding out the destination’s family-friendly pedigree. Three kilometres down the road is the icing on the cake: Territory Wildlife Park (territorywildlifepark.com.au), where a shuttle train takes visitors past saltwater crocs, ghost bats and olive pythons.

Jackson Groves

A tropical island escape where the whole crew can kick back

Minjerribah, Queensland

By Natalie Reilly

“I don’t think we’re moving!” my nine-yearold son, Teddy, scream-whispers. We’re in a hire car – a 4WD picked up from Brisbane Airport – and having driven the 40 minutes to Toondah Harbour, we’re now on the vehicle ferry crossing the South Passage to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Leaving my husband in the driver’s seat, I take Teddy and his six-year-old sister, Amina, past schoolkids heading home, bearded

men drinking beer and older women in head-to-toe linen to the top deck. Up here, they can see that we’re moving quickly across the navy-coloured ocean, the wind watering our eyes, and we watch as our island holiday home draws near. We’re about to spend three days on North Straddie, swimming at the beaches, going on bushwalks and wandering around barefoot.

“Can we stay here forever?” asks Amina, jumping onto her bunk bed at our three-bedroom Airbnb. With its timber floorboards, eggshell-blue doors and chic minimalist furniture, the Gabura beach house (airbnb.com.au) – featuring a big backyard where the kids play soccer – exudes a polished ease. After a quick dip at Frenchman’s Beach, which is just a stroll up the road, my family plays with a deck of Uno cards they found in a drawer. I’m about to indulge in a shower with pressure so strong it feels like a massage when we hear what sounds like a baby softly crying. What’s more puzzling is that apart from the general store across the road and the dozen or so sleepy homes nearby, we’re surrounded by thick bush. “Those were curlews,” says Elisha, a Quandamooka woman, solving the mystery for us the next day on a walking cultural tour of the island with Yura Tours (yuratours. com.au). “The curlews are our messenger birds. They normally coo but will warn us with a horrific scream when something bad is going to happen.” I’m grateful

(Previous pages) Cylinder Beach

(From above left) The view, the interior and a pizza at Kokomo Beach House; sampling home-grown honey on a walking cultural tour; kangaroos are a common sight on the island

I only heard a warble. Elisha has brought native honey along and invites us to dip leaves plucked from a nearby Bungwall fern into the amber liquid, which she says has multiple medicinal benefits, such as healing cuts. “Yum!” Amina revels in its lemony tang. “Mum, can you buy this for us?” Elisha laughs. “It’s not for sale –I grow this in a beehive in my backyard.”

“Breathe, Mumma!” The woman walking past cracks up and so do I. I’ve been busted reprimanding my kids, who are loudly demanding I watch them on the grass at the Little Ship Club (littleship club.com.au). I’m trying to soak up the Fanta-coloured sunset (and my cold

1405076 2022-11-30T15:14:54+11:00

white wine) over a plate of calamari and chips. But the kids, thrilled to be running around on the huge lawn of the Waterfront Bistro, keep calling out. I exhale when I realise I’m the only one who cares that they’re making noise.

“Congratulations, you’ve seen a kangaroo.” Teddy’s sarcasm is almost understandable given how often they pop up around here. On a Saturday evening that’s still warm at 9pm, we’re back from the woodfired pizza place, Kokomo Beach House (kokomobeachhouse.com.au), where we tried smoky vegetarian pizzas and the strongest (and therefore greatest) spicy Margarita I’ve ever had. The roos

are reclining on the grass like they own the joint and look like every other local we’ve encountered: completely relaxed.

“That little girl is walking a dog by herself!” After breakfast – stacks of bacon, eggs, butter-soaked sourdough, spinach and sausages – at The Barn Café (16 Bingle Road, Dunwich; +61 07 3409 9156), we’re heading off when my daughter sees a girl who can’t be older than five walking a stout cattle dog. Later, as we roll back onto the ferry, I marvel to my husband about this quiet island, with its cicada-buzzing bush and uncrowded beaches, where a tiny girl can walk her pet unbothered, all the way home.

It’s mellow, by the beach and there’s a brewery (with a kids menu)

Busselton, WA

By Bek Day

It’s been known for years as the gateway to the Margaret River region but that tagline doesn’t begin to convey Busselton’s sleepy allure. Two-and-a-half hours south of Perth and nestled inside the curve of Geographe Bay, “Busso” also has undeniable main-character energy. With Tahitian-teal water fringed by Norfolk pines and cheerful British beach huts dotting the heritage-listed Busselton Jetty (busselton jetty.com.au), the whole place is bathed in the nostalgia of a family photo album. Here, a cherry-red train will take you the 1.8-kilometre length of the Southern Hemisphere’s longest wooden-pile jetty (bring a baby-carrier for tiny ones as prams aren’t allowed onboard) to the Underwater

Observatory. Jump off and buy a ticket inside to watch southern fiddler rays meander past sub-tropical coral formations in the artificial reef.

A two-minute stroll from the jetty entrance will bring you to the palatial Shelter Brewing Company (shelterbrewing. com.au). Ham and cheese pizza and meatball subs keep the kids happy while an Outdoor Shower Sour with juicy watermelon up front and beach cactus for a salty tang will have you grabbing a roadie on the way out.

Alberta’s (open mornings, Friday to Monday; 3/55 Queen Street), helmed by ex-Noma – yes, that Noma – alum Ben Ing and Kirsty Marchant, offers a seasonal, ever-changing culinary experience informed by the couple’s passion for Western Australian produce and love of community. Kirsty’s tip? “Spend a morning at the Sunday Markets then take a stroll down Queen Street – where beautiful old buildings house boutiques and eateries – until you end up at the water’s edge.”

For excellent coffee, family-friendly Sensations (24 Freycinet Drive; +61 08 9754 7968) is on the quiet side of Geographe Bay Canals and offers ocean views, while the Dawson Estate Nature Playground in neighbouring Vasse provides the perfect spot for kids to run off their babycinos.

A swim at Meelup Beach (busselton. wa.gov.au) is 30 minutes away by car but you’re rewarded with talcum-powder sand and shaded picnic glades. From here, walk the one-kilometre paved trail to Point Picquet, where in the cooler months you can spot migrating southern right whales from the rocks.

With waterslides, pools and bikes to hire for the grown-ups, the Mandalay Holiday Resort (hotel.qantas.com.au/ mandalayholidaybusselton) is a family getaway nirvana. Accommodation ranges from camp sites to self-contained cabins but the dedicated glamping area – bell tents complete with air-con and king-sized beds – is a luxe, pack-up-free camping experience you won’t soon forget.

Family weekends

By Alex Greig

Byron Bay, NSW

Elements of Byron

Having small children puts the kibosh on some of life’s great pleasures: late nights, white T-shirts, spontaneity. But it need not get in the way of a luxurious escape. Enter Elements of Byron (hotel.qantas.com.au/ elements), a sprawling beachfront resort with two-bedroom villas equipped with everything from full kitchens and laundries (maybe you can wear white, after all) to board games. The Lagoon Pool Precinct is for tiny splashers, a sandy log-and-rope playground makes for imaginative games and Azure Bar & Grill has a greatest-hits kids menu. The MVP kids club (school holidays only) will keep little ones entertained while parents escape for lunch, a massage at Osprey Spa or the adults-only pool. Reach town in 10 minutes flat on the solar-powered Byron Bay Train.

Yallingup, Western Australia

Smiths Beach Resort

Essentials for the ultimate seaside weekend include a beach within walking distance, days that conform to a lazy rhythm dictated by meals and swims, and accommodation that isn’t so precious you can’t hang your cossies on the balcony to dry. Smiths Beach Resort (hotel.qantas.com.au/smithsbeachresort), located in the Margaret River region three hours’ drive from Perth, ticks all the boxes. Sitting alongside the white sand and turquoise water are options from one-bed beach shacks to four-bedroom villas (left). The property also features Lamont’s Restaurant by chef Kate Lamont and Gourmet Deli & Wine Store. And for burning off energy, Margaret River is packed with options, including fun parks, horseriding, zip-lining, archery, a fudge factory and Aboriginal cultural tours.

David Young

Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Camel Beach House

It’s a challenge for any parent: impressing a teenager. Throw everything at it with a weekend getaway to the Eyre Peninsula – the coastal town of Port Lincoln is just under an hour’s flight from Adelaide. Go on a tour with the Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience (bairdbay. com) and see screen-dulled eyes widen and smirks stretch to smiles on encountering bottle-nosed dolphins and sea lions in the waters off Jones Island. Watch the hard-toplease light up when they see Camel Beach House (right; camelbeachhouse.com.au), a chic shack with the best Instagrammable aesthetics, such as edgy art and sculptural succulents, in a remote location. Make sure you take a snap of that smile – not for Insta but for the family memories.

Beerwah, Queensland

The Crocodile Hunter Lodge

There’s something magical about a zoo after hours, when the animals, performance over, can finally be themselves. What do they get up to after dark? Find out at Australia Zoo by spending the night at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge (thecrocodilehunterlodge.com.au). Steve Irwin was probably happy to sleep in a swag but don’t worry, things are more lavish at this stay, where eight family-sized cabins are set in a bushland habitat with kangaroos, koalas and emus. Watch their comings and goings from The Billabong, a 25-metre infinity pool, or over drinks and dinner at the Warrior Restaurant & Bar. Unlimited entry to the zoo is included in your booking and once you’ve explored the African Safari Park, cuddled a koala and fed a kangaroo, the beaches of the Sunshine Coast await.

Food+ wine

Because neighbouring Byron Bay isn’t the main course anymore

Bangalow, NSW

By Sarah Reid

Ciao, Mate!

It’s the hatted neighbourhood Italian that’s largely responsible for putting Bangalow back on the Northern Rivers food map. Ciao, Mate! (ciaomate.com.au), which popped up in mid-2021 with a woodfired pizza oven that’s barely taken a breather since. The salami pizza is a standout, served with a gooey dollop of stracciatella in the centre. With snacks, a pasta (or two) of the day and a dessert (currently cannoli) rounding out the short menu, it’s a place to gather mates, slide into a leather booth and order one of everything.

Eltham Hotel

The reliable pub grub at the historic Bangalow Hotel is a cut above but it’s hard to resist the call of The Eltham (elthampub.com.au), a 20-minute drive deeper into the hinterland. Tim Goegan (ex Melbourne’s Supernormal) has overseen the still-refreshingly-accessible bistro menu (think: eggplant parmy or grass-fed beef burger with dill pickle and housemade sauce) at this classic

watering hole, now often as lively as its early 20th-century heyday. Upstairs are five guestrooms if you want to stay over.

Bangalow Farmers Market

The town buzzes on Saturday mornings as families, chefs and foodies converge to stock up on local produce. Little sister to the Byron Bay Farmers Market (held on Thursdays), the Bangalow edition (byronfarmersmarket.com.au) showcases most of the same stallholders. Chat with farmers and makers as you fill your basket with Coopers Shoot tomatoes, Hayters Hill Farm eggs and more.

You Beauty

Bangalow’s newest culinary slam-dunk comes courtesy of Western Australian chef Matt Stone, who last year teamed up with the Mosey on Inn Group (Ciao, Mate!, Eltham Hotel) to open this innovative ode to local produce (youbeauty2479.com). You Beauty’s fit-out is a nod to the building’s Federation heritage, with vintage

Ciao, Mate! (left)

pendant lights casting a moody glow on the bar and crackly records providing the soundtrack. But the ever-changing share plates are right up to the minute, spanning roo skewers glazed with fermented honey to fresh-caught kingfish tarted up with kefir cream – the type of dishes that recently earned the restaurant a hat. Nearly everything is housemade, from the stracchino to the salami.

Woods

Sister-café to Byron Bay’s Folk, the similarly bohemian Woods (woodsbangalow.com.au) nestles in the heart of the artsy Station Street precinct. Grab a coffee (a bespoke blend by local Byron Moonshine Coffee) to sip while browsing the neighbouring boutiques and galleries, or take a seat in the sunshine and tuck into wholesome brunch dishes until 2.30pm daily, before Woods transforms into a pop-up restaurant on select summer nights.

The Hut Byron Bay

Making the best case for a long lunch is this slice of the Med tucked into the hills above Bangalow (thehutbyronbay.com.au). Occupying a century-old schoolhouse, the light-filled space evokes memories of prosecco on pebbly beaches even before the seasonal, share-style plates arrive in a flurry of crunchy fried sardines, salty saganaki and zingy spanner crab tagliatelle. Naturally, the wine list heroes drops from Italy and France. And vegans: there’s a menu just for you.

Stay Ha’veli House

Luxe Balinese villa meets classic Bangalow farmhouse at this central two-bedroom cottage (haveliofbyronbay.com.au) from the owner of homewares store Ha’veli of Byron Bay. Flanked by Bangalow palms, a Balinese day bed in the garden hut offers a serene spot to relax and digest a gourmet escape.

(Clockwise from above) Pumpkin ravioli with butter, sage and hazelnut at The Hut Byron Bay; You Beauty; Woods

Cool climate, warm welcome. Say cheese!

King Valley, Victoria

By Alexis Buxton Collins Photography by Rhiannon Taylor

The human-sized terracotta urn in the lobby is hard to miss, as is the set of Sidney Nolan Ned Kelly prints on a nearby wall. But it’s the earplugs that really catch my attention when I check into the Lancemore Milawa (hotel.qantas.com.au/ lancemoremilawa).

Clocking my look of confusion, the friendly receptionist explains that “some of our guests find the neighbours a bit loud”. Fortunately, the deep thrum of eastern banjo frogs drifting in through the shared balcony is the only noise pollution I need to worry about on a weekend in the lower King Valley, three hours north-east of Melbourne.

High ceilings, whitewashed walls and the prominent use of natural fibres, including linen curtains and jute rugs, create an air of sophisticated minimalism in the boutique 40-room hotel, which has just emerged from a $3 million makeover. The breezy Mediterranean vibe is enhanced by an inviting saltwater pool and low-slung hammocks that sway gently beside trellised vines wreathed in lush garlands of green. And despite its reputation as a premium wine region, grapes are just one of many crops that thrive on this fertile alluvial plain.

“We grow as much of our produce as possible,” my server, Stella, informs me after a short stroll to Brown Brothers’ (brownbrothers.com.au) on-site restaurant for The Slow Lunch. “So this meal has been months in the making.”

It’s worth the wait. Thick spears of forest-green asparagus dusted with hemp seeds and violet society garlic flowers pair beautifully with the zesty Patricia chardonnay, while sprigs of saltbush are fried into delicate crisps and brushed with dehydrated vinegar to create the ultimate carb-free salt and vinegar chip.

But the real show stopper is the “garden waste oil” that simmers constantly in the kitchen as it absorbs a bouquet of flavours from ingredients that would otherwise end up in the compost. The herbaceous elixir infused with rosemary stems, garlic ends and tomato peels is one of the few mainstays on a menu that changes daily and as I dunk a piece of fluffy sourdough in the pool of saffron-coloured oil, Stella tells me that it’s constantly evolving. “The flavour comes from whatever by-products the kitchen produces so when the chillies come through in summer it gets a bit of heat and becomes even darker.”

It’s a reminder that Milawa doesn’t just move to the rhythm of the seasons; every day brings a new flavour. That’s reinforced the next morning as I watch a slowly rising sun emerge from behind the surrounding

peaks and paint the thunderheads that have formed overnight with streaks of electric pink.

Searching for a caffeine hit, I find local farmers and foodies discussing the recent rains and stocking up on cobs of crusty sourdough, bags of granola and decadent chocolate mousse cruffins made from flour milled onsite at Milawa Bread & Kitchen (milawabreadandkitchen.com.au). The light-filled former butter factory on the edge of town is also home to Milawa Cheese Co. (milawacheese.com.au), where dairy from two nearby properties (one for cow’s milk, one for goat’s milk) forms the base for 17 varieties of handcrafted cheese.

“The flavour and fat content of the milk changes depending on what the animals are eating,” says retail manager Kel Wiedemann as she offers me a slice of the deliciously gooey King River Gold. “It will taste subtly different every time you come in. It means our cheeses don’t just have a sense of place; they have a sense of time.”

As I pack up my purchases and head home, I wonder what flavours will be waiting for me the next time I visit this valley of plenty.

Feel new

IN THE MOMENT

Promised yourself bigger adventures and more family time in 2023? Recharge your soul at the top of epic mountains or find joy on a safari from the bush to the beach – these NSW getaways are just what you need.

Beyond the cruisy towns and surf breaks of the Sapphire Coast, Tracey Withers discovers a living landscape – and a heartfelt new perspective.

iMn d shift

Smoke from smouldering leaves and bark is clouding around my body. The dusk air is heavy with salt and the only sounds are those of the surrounding bush and the rhythm of a song being sung in an ancient language. “There’s medicine in the smoke,” says a voice. “Take it in. This is how we begin…”

Dwayne “Naja” Bannon-Harrison – a Yuin-Ngarrugu Descendent, founder of Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness (ngaranaboriginal culture.com) and the voice behind the smoking ceremony that welcomes me to Yuin Country – runs a two-night retreat near Narooma to share the vibrant South Coast Koori culture’s

connection to land. “For mob, wellbeing, perspective, balance, all comes from Country,” he says, “but all of us are custodians connected to the earth.” Some of us just forget it.

“You’re on a process here,” he adds, “not just a tour. Everyone will have their big mind-blower moment, when the connection makes sense.”

My process begins the next morning on a tiny black-shale beach tucked behind the glamping tents and cabins of Mystery Bay Cottages (mysterybaycottages.com.au), where I’m staying. We’re greeting Grandfather Sun. “He always comes, never failing, even

Fly to Sydney Drive five hours south to Narooma

Cover: Eugene Tan

when you can’t see him clearly,” says Bannon-Harrison. “We’re grateful for every day that is a new beginning of your life.”

Sometimes on foot, often in Bannon-Harrison’s blue 4WD, we spend the day tracing the songlines that stitch together the Sapphire Coast’s saltmarshes, mangrove-hemmed lakes and frothy surf breaks. “Songlines are geographical but spiritual layers connect the sites,” he explains as we pull up to look over Mystery Bay.

At first glance, the bay appears as a pretty rock pool. But then my eyes adjust and I can see what’s really here. “This is one of the only Aboriginal fish traps known to exist. With the tides of Grandmother Moon, our people would move the rocks to create vortexes that would catch mullet, rock cod or salmon and then release what they didn’t need. Sustainability and engineering.”

South of the beach at Bermagui, I see Billima, a huge sandstone rock that looks just like a turtle, at the base of the cliff. With his front flippers in the sea, he’s looking out for the language of the land and the ecosystems of local waterways, says Bannon-Harrison.

After tracking the stories of the sea, my mind-blower moment hits unexpectedly on an unassuming inland roadside near the scone-and-tea houses and cheese shops of Tilba town. We’ve

pulled over to look up at Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) looming above pastoral hills and bush. She is “the matriarch of Yuin culture”, says Bannon-Harrison as he points to sacred women’s spaces.

I’m about to ask why women travelled all the way here to give birth, when I feel the answer in my gut. On Mother Gulaga’s side, I notice a huge granite rock curled into the shape of a baby. “An ancient ultrasound,” says Bannon-Harrison with a smile, revealing that there’s also an “umbilical cord” of fresh water that runs out under the sea to provide for Baranguba (Montague Island), Mother Gulaga’s son, who sits off Narooma’s golden coast. A cord of quartz tethers her to Najanuka, the small mountain-son not yet ready to stray so far. “Make of that what you will. A lot of people get tearful.” I now can’t think of the landscape in any other way.

The shift in thinking settles into my body during an Aboriginal wellness session on the last morning of the retreat. Wayapa Wuurrk, a narrative meditation modality, is not unlike yoga, tai chi or qi gong but the movements are rooted in Australian nature. In deep, grounding lunges, I am a gatherer. Shaking off expectations, I wiggle free as an eel. As I bend and stretch, I can smell the smoke from the morning’s ceremony still clinging to my skin. Gulaga

Feel like a new person

The Byron Bay peace out: At Soma Byron Bay (pictured; soma byron.com.au), a luxurious retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland, formerly burnt-out entrepreneur Peter Ostick and master meditation teacher Gary Gorrow guide guests towards a fresh plan for living. Bliss comes inside an other-worldly dome, where meditation, yoga and breathwork take place. Meals are all Ayurvedic and plant-based; participants can stay in luxe on-site suites or other digs nearby.

The urban escape plan: New in 2023, Sofitel Spa at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour (sofitelsydneydarlingharbour.com.au) creates half-day wellness journeys that fuse movement and nourishment. Think sunrise yoga by the infinity pool or a heart-pumping Peloton session, a luxurious Recherche Biologique facial or infrared sauna – all served up with a healthy, balanced menu.

The mountain challenge : At Spicers Sangoma Retreat (spicers retreats.com) in the Blue Mountains National Park, wellness goes wild, with guided canyoning, rock-climbing and hiking adventures in the World Heritage wilderness. Afterwards, walking meditation and cocktail classes take the edge off the adrenaline.

Play like a kid on a sleepover in a zoo, revive the classic beach holiday, forget work on a wellness retreat. Here’s how to make your next mini-break count.

C h a nge it u p

Feel the nostalgia

It can be tricky to get the mix of retro and luxury right but Motel Molly (pictured; motelmolly.com.au), the new pastel-coloured stay on the South Coast, nails it. Light-filled rooms have sunken Moroccan-style baths and SMEG fridges filled with local goodies. There’s a pool and spa and the property’s barbecue isn’t too fancy for an old-fashioned fish fry. Owner Josh Crealy and his business partners, Rhys Broom and Daniel Moroko, leaned into the easy, golden-summer vibe of Mollymook, a 3.5-hour drive from Sydney. “There’s Mollymook Beach for surfers and snorkelling spots where kangaroos bounce along the sand in the morning but there’s also a modern scene to go with it,” says Crealy. Close by are Gwylo (gwylo.com.au), an Asian street-eats and cocktail joint, and Cupitt’s Estate winery (cupittsestate.com.au), the home of a fromagerie, brewery and restaurant with views over vines and out to Pigeon House Mountain Didthul.

Feel the thrill of the unknown

You’ll never guess what you’re in for at The Blue Door (thebluedoorsurryhills.com.au), the 18-seat fine-diner in Sydney’s Surry Hills. Chef Dylan Cashman rewrites his seven-course tasting menu weekly, dictated by whatever is available from his roster of ethical NSW producers – and there’s no heads-up online. But that’s the fun. Hope for marbled lamb that comes jerk-spiced and dressed with salsa verde with red speckled peas. But trust that all vegetables are from no-till farms (where crops are grown without disturbing the soil), fish is sustainable and meats are sourced from green pastures in the Southern Tablelands.

Monica Buscarino, Elise Hassey

Feel inspired by a bush gallery

It’s a suprise to find one of Australia’s coolest buildings hidden in rugged bushland, 20 kilometres inland from Nowra, on the NSW South Coast. Kerstin Thompson Architects won the 2022 Sir Zelman Cowen Award – Australia’s highest accolade for public architecture – for Bundanon (bundanon.com.au), a futuristic art museum half buried in a hillock, and The Bridge (pictured), a temple of minimalism that houses accommodation. Artist Arthur Boyd donated this 1000-hectare property to the nation in 1993 and you can nose around his homestead and studio before exploring the museum. See Inside, underground (until March 12), in which five Australian artists investigate the relationship between body and site, responding to the architecture of the museum itself. You can drop in at Ramox Café but you’ll need to book in to stay at The Bridge for weekend events. The next experience (25 to 26 February) centres on foraging with wild-food expert Diego Bonetto – your harvest will make the Saturday night feast.

James Vodicka

Feel like an explorer

Conquering Mount Gower, one of Lord Howe Island’s twin blocks of stone (pictured), isn’t easy. The hike requires donning a hard hat for vertiginous shimmies along a cliff-side trail, rope-assisted scrambles up rock faces and few rest stops to reach the 875-metre-high summit and return in a day, a trek of about 14 kilometres. Why do it? Because it’s like stepping into a David Attenborough documentary. In April, you meet Providence petrels, so friendly you can cradle one and feel its heartbeat through the feathers. You’ll move through mesmerising micro-climates, such as the mossy cloud forest, where lichen-draped trees shade shrubs, ferns and orchids. On the guided five-day Seven Peaks Walk (greatwalksofaustralia.com.au), you can also swim with turtles and snorkel coral wonderlands, returning to your plush base camp at Pinetrees Lodge each night.

Feel joy on a safari sleepover

You can drive your car around the 5.3-kilometre circuit at Taronga Western Plains Zoo (taronga.org.au) but it’s even more fun by bike or buggy. There are more than 350 species to see at this savanna-style park near Dubbo, in NSW’s Central West, including rare Mongolian takhi, black rhinos and African lions. Let a cheeky critter sit on your lap in a Meerkat Encounter then take the kids for a splash at The Waterhole waterplay park. To make the most of the zoo, stay overnight in a glamping tent at Billabong Camp and savour a barbecue dinner.

Hastings Point, Tweed Coast

“Hastings Point is one of my favourite spots on the Tweed Coast. I come a couple of times a week to surf – and forage. I get lots of wild ingredients for Pipit’s kitchen: succulent mustard leaf, coastal parsley and sea lettuce, which we turn into nori-style sheets for our crispy sushi rolls. I love how this environment is more edible than it looks.”

Ben Devlin

Owner and chef, Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville

Sabine Bannard

FEEL TIME STAND STILL

Discover what happens when a luxury lodge turns it up a notch

The Louise, Barossa Valley, South Australia

By Dilvin Yasa

Day drink and daydream

Sitting in a sunny courtyard overlooking the celebrated grapevines of the Barossa, a glass of Tscharke grenache in hand, it’s easy to imagine you’re in Italy. Until you spot the curious kangaroos and are reminded that you’ve checked in at the best possible time in The Louise’s 18-year history (hotel.qantas.com.au/thelouise barossavalley). After a $3-million modern “glamover”, there are plenty of opportunities to indulge at the home of laid-back Barossa luxury. Feast in front of the fireplace in one of 15 refurbished villa-style suites, grab a drop from the new 800-bottle glass wine cellar in the guest lounge or watch the sunset from the infinity pool.

Ask and you shall receive

Request a unicorn ride to a vineyard picnic and within seconds, guest experience coordinator Nathan Gudsell would be making calls to riding schools and researching equine-safe glitter paints. “Legality and ethics come into play but

outside of that, I will move heaven and earth to make every indulgence yours,” says the man responsible for creating exclusive “backstage-pass” itineraries. Bespoke Barossa experiences aside, there are lots of ready-made activities on offer: hot-air balloon rides over the vines, private wine tastings and pasta masterclasses at The Farm Eatery Cooking School under the tutelage of chef Tim Bourke.

Eat at an unstuffy hatted restaurant

It may offer a daily-changing four-course dégustation menu of premier local produce but don’t expect self-important service at award-winning Appellation restaurant. Truth is, it’s a talk-loudly-with-guestsat-all-the-other-tables kind of relaxed. Behold the likes of goat’s cheese and truffle éclairs, torched avo with cured egg yolk and striploin with tarragon emulsion – alongside enchanting vineyard views. And when the waitress tells you, “I would love to get that for you”, it’s as if she’s been training for this moment all her life.

Food+wine weekends

By Alex Greig

Cooinda Lodge, Northern Territory

Kakadu Full Moon Feast

For at least 60,000 years, First Nations people have lived on the land now called Australia, yet our supermarket shelves are filled with the native produce of other nations. In the wilds of Kakadu, Bininj man Ben Tyler is working to introduce the flood-plain flavours of the local Murumburr clan to visitors with a series of Kakadu Full Moon Feasts (kakadu tourism.com). Tyler, founder of bush food company Kakadu Kitchen, alongside Cooinda Lodge’s executive chef Philip Foote, creates extravaganzas of four-course menus, stories and music. Expect to sample foods caught and foraged on Country, such as barramundi with finger lime and desert sunrise lime curd. Base yourself at Cooinda (all.accor.com) and taste the bounty of the Top End’s six seasons.

Scenic Rim, Queensland

Beechmont Estate

It may seem immodest of Scenic Rim to include the word “scenic” in its name. But to be fair it could have gone with “charming” and “feast-worthy”, too. Hit the road from Brisbane or the Gold Coast – it’s roughly an hour from either – and explore this ring of mountain ranges and World-Heritage-listed rainforest. Just make sure you take an esky with you. Between the peaks, the valleys are teeming with wineries, dairies, farms and restaurants supplied by local growers, makers and brewers. Stash the goodies acquired en route in your fridge at the sumptuous Beechmont Estate (hotel.qantas.com.au/ beechmont), located on the edge of Lamington National Park, home to the ancient Gondwana Rainforests. Then head for dinner at the estate’s hatted restaurant, The Paddock (left).

Swansea, Tasmania

Rocky Hills Retreat

Fans of low-food-mile dining (and everyone else) can live the philosophy on Tasmania’s east coast. Beginning in St Helen’s, a couple of hours drive east of Launceston, and travelling along the rugged coast towards Coles Bay, you can cruise from meal to spectacular meal on an edible adventure. On the way, there’ll be fat briny oysters, superb lobster and scallops every which way – try the pie at Blue Edge Bakery in Bicheno (55 Burgess Street; +61 03 6375 1972). Stomach full, settle in at Rocky Hills Retreat (right; hotel.qantas.com.au/ rockyhills) with its ocean views and crashing waves soundtrack. Have breakfast on the deck (provisions provided), wander to the art studio or bathe in the Huon pine outdoor tub. By now, it’s likely been at least 12 hours since your last oyster. What are you waiting for?

Australian Capital Territory Canberra

It began with imaginative menus at the likes of Monster (monsterkitchen.com.au) and good times at Bar Rochford (barrochford.com). From there, a generation of local hospo talent who might once have decamped to Sydney or Melbourne have stayed to put their stamp on Canberra’s food scene. Hop around the city’s bar scene from Molly (right; molly.bar) to Paranormal Wines (paranormalwines.com).

Book a table at Wilma (overseen by James Viles; wilmabbq.com.au), bistro Onzieme (onzieme. com.au), lauded Pilot (pilotrestaurant.com), and the Pilot team’s new offering, Such and Such (andsuchandsuch.com), with its buzzing courtyard spilling onto Constitution Place. In the same precinct you’ll find A by Adina (hotel. qantas.com.au/abyadinacanberra) with its 130 studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Nature

This Great Barrier Reef idyll is some of Australia’s best work

Lizard Island, Queensland

By Rachel Lees Photography by Lean Timms

As I open the curtains on the inky pre-dawn, a shimmer of neon-blue ripples along the water’s edge. Bioluminescence gleams on the beach beyond my bedroom window, flickering along the fine white sand like ancient magic. It’s my second day on Lizard Island, a 1000-hectare expanse of pink-grey granite hills encircled by tranquil beaches on the northern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, and “awestruck” is already my default setting.

The spell is cast even before touchdown when, almost an hour into the flight from Cairns, cotton-wool clouds part to reveal a dazzling jewellery box: a handful of peridot-green landmasses rising from a sea of sapphire and topaz.

A flash of gold, green and chestnut plumage flutters ahead of the chauffeurdriven car as we leave the airstrip. It’s a rainbow bee-eater, seemingly guiding us to The House (thehouseatlizard.com), a private three-bedroom sanctuary built on a headland in the national park.

A quick tour of the two-storey copperand-concrete hideaway and it’s tempting to write off the afternoon. I consider lolling in the pool overlooking one of three beaches and the Coral Sea; think about selecting an award-winning beaujolais from the cellar to sip by the rooftop jacuzzi; and am taken by the three outdoor baths. But Emma-Lee Whyte, one of two attendants at The House, has a better idea: “Find a turtle.”

It’s a curious suggestion, given the island’s namesake. After Lieutenant James Cook’s ship HMS Endeavour fell prey to the area’s labyrinth of reefs in 1770, he named the island for the yellow-spotted monitors and other lizards he encountered here. But it already had a name. To the Dingaal people, it’s Jiigurru, which means “stingray”, a sacred place where boys were brought for initiation, Elders met and the ocean provided bountiful harvest.

Still, Whyte’s logic is sound. “Swimming with turtles instantly aligns you to the pace of the island,” she says. “They’re such gentle creatures and the way they move is how we encourage you to move while you’re here.” At Watsons Bay on the west of the island, the water is barely calf-deep when I spy my first green turtle. By the time I pull on my snorkel, five more have arrived.

I swim a few metres from shore to Clam Gardens, where massive blue-lipped clams stand sentinel as feather stars and tropical fish flit around the coral. But it’s only a teaser. After a guided yoga session on the deck the next morning, plans to make use of the twin-outboard boat included

in the stay are thwarted by inclement weather. Instead, we take the 56-foot motor yacht Pisces for a 40-minute run to North Direction. “It’s some of the best snorkelling around,” says captain Harry.

The return trip is spent animatedly describing underwater wonders, from electric-blue sea cucumbers to rainbowhued parrotfish. But the show isn’t over. Giant trevally and tawny nurse sharks dart around the stern of the yacht as it pulls into Anchor Bay, in front of the luxurious 40-room Lizard Island Resort and its superlative day spa (where a onehour treatment is included for each guest of The House).

As I watch a pastel-pink-and-purple sunset next to a bonfire on the beach, The House manager, Paul Steinfort, appears with a bottle of Barons de Rothschild champagne to talk through the threecourse menu created by the property’s chef, Kyle Dixon. Grilled tiger prawns with yuzu, sesame and Sichuan pepper to start, eye fillet and crayfish with café de Paris butter for main and pavlova with roast plum, crème fraîche and spiced berries for dessert. Magical in every way.

For full immersion in the wilds of the North Island

Steve Couper

Poronui Lodge’s off-the-grid Safari Camp

Taupō, New Zealand

By Ben Mack

At play

The ancient forests of Taupō, 3.5 hours south of Auckland, are the place to find trees hundreds of years old and a walking trail for almost every mood (many of which pass waterfalls).

Tokaanu Thermal Walk curves past natural pools of hot water, steam drifting up to swirl among the trees. This track, as well as routes such as the Great Lake Pathway, the trails around Huka Falls and the Tongariro River Trail, is suitable for everyone. The sound of your feet crunching along gravel or packed-earth paths is accompanied by birdsong and rustling leaves.

Biking enthusiasts can zip through the bush on several purpose-built courses, like the Great Lake Trails and Craters Mountain Bike Park. Taupō’s pumice-rich soil drains quickly so you can still tackle the terrain on a rainy day.

In town

“The region’s natural resources inspire artisan producers like Lakeman Brewing Co., Beehave! Craft Meadery, 5 Mile Gin, Volcanic Chocolate and Bread Culture, to name a few,” says Jane Wilson, general manager of Love Taupō. “Of course, there’s also the trout, which isn’t sold in shops, so the only way to enjoy its unique flavour is to catch it yourself.”

Enjoy your morning brew with a view at The Steaming Bean (121 Lake Terrace; +64 27 670 9494) on the lakefront – look for the quirky, renovated retro trailer and try the specialty iced coffee.

At the southern end of Lake Taupō, Turangi is a quaint town that’s a favourite with anglers (the lake’s full of rainbow and brown trout). For home-cooked pastries that the locals rave about, pop into Creel Tackle House & Cafe (creeltackle. com), attached to a fishing tackle shop in a charming green wooden cottage.

On water

The centrepiece of the region is Lake Taupō, New Zealand’s largest lake. Mist cloaks the water’s surface on many mornings and when the day grows long, you can carry the dreamlike feeling into evening on a sunset trip with Taupō Sailing Adventures (tauposailingadventures. co.nz). Daily voyages depart from the wooden wharves of the town’s marina.

While floating on the sapphire surface at Mine Bay, in the lake’s north, see the incredible 10-metre-tall Māori carvings on

the cliffs. They resemble a sealed doorway to a secret world. Although they look ancient, the etchings were actually made in the late 1970s and seem to protect the lake from whatever is behind them.

In the mountains

The snowy slopes and long runs around Mount Ruapehu, a little over an hour’s drive south of Lake Taupō, are the North Island’s premier winter sports destination. Beyond skiing and snowboarding, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a day trek through the rocky volcanic landscape surrounding the peaks of Tongariro and Ngāuruhoe (Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings films).

See it all from up above with Taupō’s Floatplane (tauposfloatplane.co.nz). Flights depart from the Lake Taupō marina, skimming the water’s surface before soaring high to see dazzling views of the lush green forests and snow-capped mountains. For more airborne adrenaline, book a jump with Taupo Tandem Skydiving (taupotandemskydiving.com), which takes off from Taupō Airport.

After hours

There are several sublime stays near Taupō but Poronui Lodge (poronui.com) feels the most other-worldly thanks to its luxury and location. “Poronui means ‘part of something bigger’,” says Vicki Febery, the property’s director of tourism. A stay here allows guests “to experience the magical landscapes our region is famous for and the many wilderness pursuits, on a 6500hectare property”.

Situated on a working farm, Poronui comprises the Lodge, with its seven riverside cabins, and private villa Blake House, which overlooks the Taharua River and has four big bedrooms and two bunkrooms. There’s also the unplugged, rustic-luxe Safari Camp with its two tented cabins on the Mohaka River. In The Stables, there’s a sauna, “hunting room” with an antique billiards table and, below it, a wine cellar that holds up to 10,000 bottles.

The lodge’s remote wilderness setting adds another element when the sun goes down. “Poronui’s location – a 45-minute drive or a short heli flight from Taupō – has it far from light pollution,” says Febery. “The night sky is a stargazer’s dream.”

Fly-fishing at Poronui Lodge

Go where the water is still and the wine is bubbly

Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, Fingal, Victoria

By Larissa Dubecki

Arriving at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa (albathermalsprings.com.au) at Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Melbourne, I start to feel an affinity with the ancient Romans. Those OG bathing connoisseurs would love this hypnotic property, where people drift languidly between Zen-like pools. It’s akin to an art-directed dream, with fluffy white bathrobes.

Built into a steep hill, this $90-million complex is “like the Guggenheim in Bilbao” exclaims my plus-one when we get to the dramatic entrance, where reflection pools

and soaring pillars create the illusion of walking through an architecture magazine.

As we discover, you can spend a day happily percolating in more than 30 pools spread over 15 hectares of cultivated landscape but just a few hours is all it takes to soak your cares away.

AM

Tucked across rolling grounds planted with native melaleucas, flowers and grasses, the pools range in temperature from ambient to toasty and a particularly challenging one I dub the lobster pot (“Not hot enough,” declares my friend, proving that we’re all on our own journey). My favourite is found inside a giant concrete sarcophagus, overhead portholes streaming light into the cloistered space, with the sauna and a cold plunge pool right next door. It’s a heavenly warm-up for the spa, a temple to wellness with generous daybeds orientated to stunning views of the hinterland. After my Alba Artisan massage, I don’t walk out, I glide.

PM

I’ll admit it’s hard to tear myself away from Eve, a shallow, womb-like pool designed for serene floating. But the hour calls for a trip to the high ground, where the westfacing Luna pool soaks up the sunset and the only sounds are birds twittering their goodnights.

And that’s our cue for dinner. Claiming a burnt-orange banquette in the all-day and very chic Thyme restaurant clad in a bathrobe feels awkward before our waitress diffuses the tension. “Embrace it!” she encourages. We do as we’re told, relaxing into a Karen Martini menu that balances the demands of wellness with the diktats of deliciousness.

Prawn toast with wasabi mayo and lime pearls and ocean trout gravlax with crème fraîche, capers and crostini prove a yin-yang triumph. As for fermented beverages? We’ll do kombucha tomorrow. We clink glasses of local sparkling and toast to wellbeing in all its forms.

Nature weekends

By Alex Greig

Bathurst Island, Northern Territory

Tiwi Island Retreat

There are few Australian tropical escapes so gloriously remote as the Tiwi Islands. An archipelago in the Timor Sea, 80 kilometres north of Darwin, the Tiwis are small but diverse with the two inhabited isles, Melville (Yermalner) and Bathurst (Nguyu) boasting dense jungle, rainforest, white-sand beaches and foliage-fringed waterholes. Tiwi Island Retreat (tiwiislandretreat.com.au) is an off-grid oasis of barefoot luxury on Bathurst Island. Activities include helicopter flights to a remote waterhole and buggy rides along Five Mile Beach for wildlife spotting, beach fishing and picnicking on the sand. Two new glamping tents offer the resort’s most sumptuous stay yet, each with a beach-facing deck jacuzzi and space for a family of four.

Cradle Valley, Tasmania

Tiny Escapes

Co-founder Jessica Collins conceived Tiny Escapes (tiny-escapes.com.au) out of a desire to share Tasmania’s wilderness with others. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park captivates visitors with its alpine heathlands and rainforests, the imposing summit of Cradle Mountain and its furred and feathered denizens, including quolls, Tassie devils and platypus. Tiny Escapes offers six houses, secreted among more than 100 hectares of temperate rainforest, through which the Iris River twists and weaves. More spacious than the rest, Blackjack is a modern chalet that’s exquisitely, if simply, furnished along clean lines. With two bedrooms, heated bathroom floors, an outdoor bath, a two-way fireplace and a campfire, the comfortable little home is a front-row seat to nature’s wonder.

Murray River, South Australia

The Frames

Spectacular views from each balcony (see that sunset!) are reason enough to visit this idyll, just three hours drive from Adelaide in Paringa. Comprising three luxurious contemporary retreats built on a clifftop overlooking the meandering Murray River, The Frames (hotel.qantas.com.au/theframes paringa) invites you to indulge in the on-site hydrotherapy spa (each retreat boasts its own pool, spa and sauna), cook a feast in the gourmet kitchen or pop a cork on the balcony and dine as the sky darkens to mauve. In-villa services include massages and a private chef who’ll create threecourse dinners. If you can bear to leave your riverside abode, guided wetland and wildlife safaris, sunset gondola cruises and cultural tours can all be organised.

Broome, Western Australia

Eco Beach Resort

How to describe the blue of the Indian Ocean? Turquoise? Cerulean? It’s tempting to reach for your phone to share a pic. But don’t bother –there’s no wi-fi here. Made up of 30 glampingstyle Eco Tents, 25 Eco Villas and two Beach Houses connected by elevated boardwalks, Eco Beach Resort (hotel.qantas.com.au/ ramadaecobeach) is set amid the dunes on Cape Villaret, a 25-minute heli flight or 90 minutes by car south of Broome. Having come all this way, the only thing left to do is immerse yourself in the land – the Mud & Bubbles experience involves being smothered in mineral-rich mangrove mud from nearby Jack’s Creek while sipping champagne. There’s also stand-up paddleboarding, fishing safaris, early-morning beach yoga and bushwalks led by Traditional Owner Neil McKenzie.

New Zealand

Drink at a sustainable, design-led city bar

Auckland’s newly rejuvenated 1 Albert Street building is home to Palmer (palmerbar.nz), a city-centric cocktail bar and restaurant. Sip well-shaken cocktails, such as the Habanero Margarita, that are mindfully mixed using local produce and unused peels, husks and juice from the kitchen to minimise waste. Should a few drinks turn into a longer session, grab the lamb ribs with romesco or the fried chicken with hot honey. That’ll fortify you for another round of Martinis on the expansive rooftop.

Eat

Take

Stay at a luxe Marlborough Sounds sanctuary

The Bay of Many Coves Resort is set in 52 hectares of private Marlborough Sounds bushland, overlooking Miritu Bay. Take your morning coffee onto the generous balcony of your contemporary, treehouse-like luxury apartment before lacing up your walking boots to hit the Queen Charlotte Track or zipping up your wetsuit to meet the sealife at nearby Motuara Island. Guests arrive at the resort by boat or helicopter then settle into a front-row seat to nature, filled with stargazing, birdwatching, spa experiences and long sessions at The Quarterdeck – one of three on-site restaurants – drinking crisp Marlborough sauvignon blanc and sampling local cheese.

Save

Load up to 10 different currencies –including NZD, GBP, EUR and USD – onto your Qantas Travel Money card and earn 1.5 Qantas Points for every AU$1 equivalent spent in foreign currency.2

Your Qantas Frequent Flyer card doubles as a Travel Money card

Don’t forget to pack your physical Frequent Flyer card on your next international trip. It’s easy to load up to 10 different currencies at a rate that suits you.1

Discover a geothermal wonderland

New Zealand’s beauty runs deep. At Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland (waiotapu.co.nz) in Rotorua, you can catch all the action originating from the depths that give the region its hot springs, geysers and steaming

lakes. Witness the Lady Knox Geyser, whose waters can reach an astonishing 10 to 20 metres high, as well as the other-worldly geothermal park – an extensive and colourful system filled with intense oranges, vibrant blues and emerald-greens – covering more than 18 square kilometres, plus the country’s largest, bubbling mud pool.

Explore an ancient forest from above

Step into a harness and whizz above a prehistoric forest in Rotorua. The Original Canopy Tour (canopytours.co.nz) is a three-hour exploration along two swing bridges and 600 metres of ziplines that will appeal to every adventurer (aged six and up). Feeling brave? Look down as you zoom along the 220-metre line to ground and try to spot a native bird and those iconic silver ferns. As a small-group, guided experience it’s perfect for fearless families.

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Pride is in the Air

Qantas is proud to support Sydney WorldPride 2023 and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, celebrating love, equity and diversity

Pieces from the Happy Australian series (2022) by Vipoo Srivilasa

STORY BY FAITH CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN JENSEN

OSBORN HOUSE, NSW

“We wanted it to be quite eclectic, curated but not overly fussy and there’s a really fine balance in achieving that,” says Alan McMahon of designing boutique hotel Osborn House (hotel.qantas. com.au/osbornhouse) with Linda Boronkay, in sleepy Bundanoon two hours drive south of Sydney. An even greater challenge was finding aesthetic equilibrium from opposite sides of the globe.

Boronkay, former design director of Soho House London, was on holiday in Australia in 2019 when she took on the project and asked former colleague McMahon to join her. After visiting the site, a grand Victorian guesthouse originally built by George and Dinah Osborn, “we were so excited at the prospect of bringing the building back to life,” says McMahon. Boronkay returned to London later that year and the creative collaboration moved online.

“It was about working out which brands Linda had access to that we also had access to here, as it’s important to touch and feel, see colours in reality,” he explains. “I was shipping over Dulux paint colours and we’d make decisions via Zoom.”

The pair’s vision of creating a “whimsical retreat” was realised by opening up poky rooms, mixing vintage and contemporary furniture, curating works by Australian artists and collections of objets d’art and layering colours and textures. Communal spaces – the library, games room, lounge and reception – are lamp-lit and cosy, splashed in harmonious tones of pink, green, grey and grounding neutrals. “Linda and I kept referring to it as like being invited to somebody’s country house,” says McMahon. Located on the fringe of Morton National Park, the property’s bar and two restaurants – laid-back George’s and more formal Dinah’s – are oriented to take in bush views.

Though few of the site’s original heritage features remained, the designers were passionate about preserving what they could while bringing new life to the property. “We didn’t necessarily want to recreate the old; we wanted to give a little nod to the past but throw a contemporary spin on that,” says McMahon of adding bespoke details such as joinery and wall panelling.

Highlighting another pre-existing feature, the conservatory-style pool house, led to one of the hotel’s loveliest moments. “We put in the retractable roof, which really changes that space. It’s special when you’re swimming in there with the open sky above.”

A Victorian guesthouse designed via Zoom is the coolest stay in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Pieces from Vipoo Srivilasa’s Always Better Together series (2022); the artist in his Melbourne studio (opposite)

VIPOO SRIVILASA

“There were many ceramic factories in Thailand but not many ceramic artists,” says Melbourne-based artist Vipoo Srivilasa, recalling his early frustrations studying art and ceramics at Rangsit University International College in Bangkok. “There are designers and mouldmakers but it wasn’t until I moved to Australia that I realised you could be a ceramic artist and make a living. That’s when I knew what I was going to do.”

Working mostly in small-scale ceramics, Srivilasa’s work is joyous, charming and a beautiful cross-cultural exchange of motifs and ideas derived from Thai and European-Australian decorative arts – the use of blue and white, for instance, which can be found in both Asian and European traditional porcelain items, as well as flowers. “The flower patterns appear when I make work about different cultures because they can have different meanings,” he explains. “For example, the lantana flower – in Australia, it’s a weed but in Thailand, it’s used to pay respect to our teachers.”

Collaboration is a key part in Srivilasa’s practice. While his use of clay started in the early noughties, for more than a decade he has explored the medium – sometimes incorporating food – via community projects, through mentoring or pieces created in a partnership. “Clay is easy to work with and reminds people of their childhood,” he says of his devotion for the material.

“When you work with your hands, it does something to loosen the mind. It helps people to open up.” He believes that clay absorbs whatever you’re feeling, “from head to hand to heart” and because of this he refuses to work when he’s sad or angry, in case the energy is transferred.

“Clay teaches patience and how to be humble. You put it in the kiln and fire it and you don’t always know what will come out. But that’s the most exciting part and what I love about it – the kiln takes away what I can control and that’s very exciting to me.”

With a playful approach that marries European-Australian and Thai motifs, this Bangkok-born artist’s figurines are full of charm.

Studied at: Rangsit University International College, Bangkok; Monash University, Melbourne; University of Tasmania, Hobart.

Exhibited at: Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; Shepparton Art Museum, Victoria; Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane; Adrian Sassoon, Pavilion of Art & Design, London; Olsen Gallery, Sydney; The National Gallery, Bangkok; Saatchi Gallery, London; Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei; Galerie Handwerk, Munich; Korean International Ceramic Biennale, Icheon.

Selection of awards: Ceramic Artist of The Year, The American Ceramic Society (2021); Korea-Australia Arts Foundation Prize, highly

commended (2019); 44th Muswellbrook Art Prize, Ceramic, winner (2017); Basil Sellers Art Prize, Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne, finalist (2016 and 2015).

Breakthrough moment: Roop-Rote-Ruang (TasteTouch-Tell ) exhibition. “I was offered a solo show [at the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art exhibition in 2008], on the condition I didn’t use plinths. So I made it a dinner project. I cooked people a Thai meal and used my work to serve the food and tell the story of how I moved to Australia. It changed how I use clay, not just as sculpture but as a medium to connect communities.”

Foundations AS

BARCELONA PAVILION, SPAIN

Almost a century on, this serene early example of open-plan design continues to inspire Sydney-based architect Tony Chenchow.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MACIEK JEŻYK

Barcelona Pavilion is one of the first examples of Modernist architecture It was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich for the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929. The dominant styles of architecture in Europe and the United States then were Gothic Revival, French and Italian Neoclassicism and Art Deco, which were all highly decorative. The Pavilion ran contrary to this; it was devoid of ornamentation.

This building was an exploration of pure space without a function. When the German Republic engaged them for the job, Mies van der Rohe and Reich asked, “What will the Pavilion be used for? What will it exhibit?” The reply was, “The Pavilion itself is the exhibit.” It was an abstract exercise. It would’ve been difficult to create the building they did. Receiving a brief like that, you’d ask yourself, “Where do I start?” Constraints are important – they give you focus and direction.

The ideas we think of as modern are more than 100 years old. Open-plan spaces and floor-to-ceiling glass were incorporated into Barcelona Pavilion. At the time, interiors were compartmentalised rooms and windows were holes in walls. In this building the walls and floors are reduced to abstract vertical and horizontal planes. Between the horizontal planes [roof and floor], the space is demarcated by vertical walls. These planes seem to float effortlessly past each other, creating an open-plan space, and the windows are floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

The Pavilion was demolished after the exhibition ended and then reconstructed in 1986. I visited the reconstruction in 2000 during my first trip to Europe. I’d studied the Pavilion as a student and it exceeded my expectations. It has an ethereal quality I’ve rarely experienced in other buildings. The walls seem to float, giving it a weightlessness. There’s a feeling of solitude and calm, a lightness of being, when you’re in the space. You’re also drawn to the material quality of the onyx marble walls, which are almost hypnotic.

The clarity of the idea makes this a singular building. The Pavilion has always been an important work to me and Stephanie Little, my partner in life and at our company. Mies van der Rohe popularised two phrases, “God is in the details” and “less is more”. Creating something that appears so effortless actually requires a lot of effort. That’s something we always strive for in our work.

Tony Chenchow is a founding partner of Sydney-based practice Chenchow Little Architects (chenchowlittle.com). His residential projects have earned him some of Australia’s highest architectural honours.

STORY BY LISA GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHE GLAUDEL

USM HALLER

For a deceptively simple storage solution manufactured by a metal foundry and locksmith in Switzerland, USM’s modular Haller system has built a glamorous legacy.

In 1961, when engineer Paul Schaerer became the third generation to join his family’s company, he commissioned Swiss architect Fritz Haller to design a light-filled steel-and-glass factory pavilion. Heavy timber furniture was never going to work in the office so Schaerer and Haller devised a solution reflecting the streamlined style of the ’60s.

The Haller system is a masterful piece of Swiss engineering. Thin steel sheets fit into a shiny frame of chrome-plated steel tubes, which hinge on chromed brass ball joints. When the Rothschild Bank in Paris ordered 600 Haller workstations in 1969, its commercial success was all but assured.

With its shape-shifting versatility, shiny chrome connectors and space-efficient panels in sunny shades, Haller creates endless possibilities for makeovers. The original palette of 14 colours – primaries and neutrals – is ever-fresh, while a recent innovation has seen the tubes threaded with electrical cable

for LED lighting and USB ports. An Instagram scroll shows Haller at the heart of domestic life, dividing rooms, defining work nooks and as bedside tables, bar trolleys and kids storage units.

Fashion retailers Nicola and Orlando Reindorf of The Standard Store use the sustainable, reusable Haller as display units in their Sydney and Melbourne boutiques and it holds their vinyl and magazines at home. “We’d done fit-outs and refits in the past and custom-made joinery ended up in a dumpster,” says Nicola. Haller is a foolproof, flat-packable investment. “It’s so versatile and well-made and totally sums up our retail ethos: quality only hurts once!”

Showy department store fixtures, a towering installation at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in 2018, a ribbed collaboration with German luxury luggage brand Rimowa and regular pop-ups in influencer #roomtours have kept Haller sales humming. Anibou (anibou.com.au) stocks the system from $1500 for a bedside table. And with every new gambit – integrated pot plants and 2022’s special addition of rosy-pink, for instance – the Haller’s versatility and longevity are underscored.

This Tetris-like furniture system has proven it can work any room.

Discover a new world of colour

flooring design for a better environment

1. Bird & Knoll dress, $720, birdandknoll.com. Jasmin Sparrow necklace, $1200, jasminsparrow.com. Weekend by Max Mara bag, $885, world.weekendmaxmara.com. 2. Gucci bag, $8395, gucci.com. 3. A Emery sandals, $220, aemery.com. 4. Eres swimsuit, $750 (approx.), eresparis.com. Helen Kaminski hat, $595, helenkaminski.com.au. Holly Ryan necklace, $1690, hrjewellery.com.au.

FORCE OF NATURE

Geometric prints and textured raffia add new life to earthy neutrals.

Make a statement by teaming bold animal-print sandals with contrasting patterns in natural tones.

STYLING BY LUCY WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL GOODE HAIR, GROOMING AND MAKE-UP BY PETER BEARD

Style tip

Double-breasted jackets have a laid-back but polished look, the right choice for weekends.

1. Commas blazer, $835, and trousers, $595, commas.cc. Orlebar Brown shirt, $475, orlebarbrown.com.au. Birkenstock sandals, $457, birkenstock.com.au.

2. Rodd & Gunn sandals, $119, roddandgunn.com. Emporio Armani tote, $530, armani.com. 3. Venroy polo shirt, $170, venroy.com. Mr. Leight glasses, $798, mrleight.com. Omega De Ville Prestige 41-millimetre co-axial gold watch with leather strap, $19,475, omega.com.au. 4. Prada blazer, $5300, and trousers, $1680, prada.com. Orlebar Brown T-shirt, $395, orlebarbrown.com.au. Gucci loafers, $1420, gucci.com.

Shot on location at Osborn House, Bundanoon, NSW

Style tip

KEEP IT LIGHT

Linen suiting goes poolside, paired with a relaxed cotton shirt and slides.

UP, UP & AWAY

HOW DO YOU TURN A SMALL BUSINESS INTO A BIG BUSINESS? THESE SEVEN COMPANIES USED DIFFERENT METHODS TO SUPER-CHARGE THEIR GROWTH.

BY NATALIE FILATOFF

FIND THE RIGHT PARTNER

Feels Botanical distils eau de vie grape spirit and combines it with sustainably sourced botanicals, such as Illawarra plum, turmeric and ginseng. When it soft launched in 2020, the company partnered with high-end bars to develop the use of Feels in cocktails. Talking to individual liquor outlets about how to recommend and position its products was also key to driving sales, say founders Blake Vanderfield-Kramer and Steve Pillemer.

By mid-2022, Feels Botanical had decent recognition in bars and restaurants and was available in more than 60 liquor outlets and online, mostly on Australia’s east coast. But to take the business to the next level, the co-founders needed to find a like-minded distributor.

Vanderfield-Kramer turned to Michael McShane, CEO of Swift + Moore Group, which is a respected distributor of premium alcoholic beverage brands. “Swift + Moore has salespeople in each

state and it deals with national accounts,” says Vanderfield-Kramer. “It was the step we wanted to take because it’s challenging to personally get around to every customer in Australia.”

Importantly, the new partners have similar business values. Neither is chasing mass-market sales but both are aiming for sustainable growth. And because Swift + Moore is also a boutique company that’s in a growth phase, Feels has maintained close oversight of its brand, driving the marketing. “We didn’t have to hand it over for someone else to do everything.”

Within four months of joining forces with Swift + Moore in August last year, Feels has seen a significant uplift in orders, says Vanderfield-Kramer, and is on track to almost quadruple the number of stores stocking its range to between 250 and 300 by the end of this year.

And a note on cashflow... The expansion of distribution and sales requires business owners to calculate how they’ll balance upfront supply-chain outlays (such as Feels

Botanicals’ cost of quarterly production) with revenue, which can be affected by industry-standard timing of payments by retailers to distributors and then by distributors to producers.

Cashflow was a key consideration in growing their business, says VanderfieldKramer. “We focused on the next three to five years and did a lot of work on volume and distribution builds with the Swift + Moore guys. On the back end, we looked at the cost of fulfilling a rise in orders from both a production and an operations perspective.”

ALIGN WITH YOUR VALUES

Sam Canning started his free-range butchery, Cannings, in 2010, in Hawthorn, Melbourne. After doing his apprenticeship as a teenager and working in paddock-toplate butcher shops in Europe, he felt he couldn’t work for most meat purveyors

Blake Vanderfield-Kramer (left) and Steve Pillemer, founders of Feels Botanical

in Australia. “As an animal-lover, I felt their values didn’t align with mine,” he says, pointing to standards of animal care and raising, transport, slaughter and processing. So at 28, with $100,000 in scrounged capital and having talked his way into a lease, he opened his first shop, taking pride in bringing ethically sourced produce to the community.

Since then, he’s opened another eight stores and now has a staff of 140 behind the counter and in head office. “It was about doing the right thing by the farmer, the producer, the animals and our employees but I’ve never been great at documenting or process.”

So about three years ago, he decided to investigate becoming a B Corp, which is a global certification scheme that holds companies to account for their environmental and social performance. Achieving B Corp certification – and maintaining it by renewing the application every three years – requires discipline, documentation and rigorous attention

to numerous factors, including corporate governance, treatment of your workers, and the community and environmental impacts of making your product or offering your service.

“B Corp was a great way of taking the business model and the values we already had and structuring and documenting them in a way that could be referenced,” says Canning, who adds that the process was “arduous” and time-consuming –working through the requirements alongside day-to-day operations took almost two years. “But if someone challenges us on our free-range claims and says, ‘I want to see your suppliers’, everything is now organised to a point where we can validate any of our claims.”

Today, the business’s project manager, Joseph Lynch, keeps a consistently keen eye on aligning the company’s decisionmaking with its compliance. “The most exciting part,” says Canning, “is how it now influences all the decisions we make on a daily basis.”

To consumers, B Corp certification signals that your credibility as an ethical provider is proven and transparent – no greenwashing. Although accreditation is mentioned on the butchery’s website, “we never made a big song and dance about it,” says Canning. “Customer reaction has been subtle but encouraging.”

He hopes that B Corp will raise the bar for the local industry. “At the moment, we’re the only meat-industry B Corp in Australia but I’d love to see other meat companies get on board.”

HAVE A POINT OF DIFFERENCE

When Melbourne-based Keep It Cleaner (KIC) wellness duo Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw reformatted their website offering simple healthy recipes and accessible exercises into an app in 2018, their subscriptions went up by 25 per cent. The website was owned by a company

Simon Canning, founder of Cannings butcher shops

THINK NATIONAL, NOT NEIGHBOURHOOD

Susan Toft, CEO of Laundry Lady, took revenues from $200,000 to $2 million per annum when the COVID pandemic gave her time to develop the business model she’d always envisaged. She started the business on the Gold Coast in 2012 when she was the mother of a toddler, doing laundry pick-up, washing, folding and ironing as required and returning the whole crisp package to people and small

businesses in her local area. When she went back to work as an events manager, her laundry life became “a side hustle”, says Toft. Then COVID put a hold on events and government support enabled Toft to scale up her business model. “Having that knowledge about systems and processes in place from years of learning within the business made it possible to grow really, really fast, once I had the time.”

For a $399 upfront fee, contractors join the company and receive training to ensure their standards and methods are consistent across the brand. The fee also includes a starter pack of supplies, such as branded laundry bags and detergents, which they reorder from the company as needed. Bookings are handled by Laundry Lady’s simple online system. “We work with contractors to reach their capacity and earning goals,” says Toft.

The business is based on flexibility for its customers and contractors. Toft now has more than 100 Laundry Ladies and Lads on her books, who can earn

between $300 and $3000 each week, depending on how much they want to work. “Earnings are consistent as 80 per cent of our customers have repeat bookings.”

Quality control across its workforce is achieved by a number of methods, including customer surveys, “mystery shoppers” in each area and tracking repeatbooking rates. “Everyone has laundry so we have no shortage of customers. It’s a matter of where we can find contractors to service them.” Laundry Lady recruits via social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, and on Google Ads, and Toft hopes to double her workforce this year.

that had partnered with the former models to popularise healthy living but the women wanted to run their own show. Their agreement with the website owner meant that they couldn’t take their subscriber database with them so they forfeited the database to go it alone, says Henshaw. “We were so passionate about developing the business and we had all these plans for what we wanted to do.’’

Still able to communicate with their health-seeking social-media community via their personal social channels, the pair canvassed those followers about their interest in more KIC recipes and varied workouts delivered via an app – and the responses were overwhelmingly positive. “People could have a personal trainer in their pocket,” says Henshaw.

Smith and Henshaw’s experience in the body-perfect, dieting world of modelling encouraged them to go down a different path and make confidence boosting and sustainable change their points of difference in the crowded health sector. They eschew kilojoule counting, dieting, body measurement and before-and-after photos in favour of easy, nutritious recipes and multiple exercise options. “Our members are finding their own recipe for a healthy life,” says Smith. “Their routine doesn’t have to look like someone else’s.”

In 2020, having analysed how users were engaging with the app, asking them what they’d like from the next version and researching their competitors’ activity

Steph Claire Smith (left) and Laura Henshaw of Keep it Cleaner

and KIC’s market potential, Smith and Henshaw relaunched with nine trainers in different disciplines, from yin yoga to dance cardio.

The app relaunch coincided with the second COVID lockdown in Melbourne and gave them a new audience of people who couldn’t go to the gym and needed to workout at home. Henshaw attributes KIC’s subsequent high retention rate to its focus on healthy lifestyle, rather than quick fixes, and fresh weekly content that keeps people motivated.

With each increase in revenue, KIC expanded its employee base (from a preCOVID eight to the current 17) and brought software development in-house in 2021 so they could constantly upgrade the user experience.

They’ve also continued to push their podcasts. On KICPOD they talk about “stuff that matters”, such as relationships and mental health, which has broadened their membership and added value to the brand. Their almost 200 podcasts

have racked up more than eight million downloads, with an average of 128,000 unique listeners per month.

EXPAND YOUR CLIENT BASE

The mission of Mina Nada and Michael Johnson in co-founding Zoomo, the Sydney-based light-electric vehicle (e-bike) company, was to “accelerate the electrification of transport starting with last-mile delivery”. Last-mile encompasses meals, grocery and “instant” consumer goods delivery, plus parcels, documents and express cross-city post. Allied Market Research forecasts that this sector will more than double by 2031.

When Zoomo first started making its purpose-built e-bikes in 2017, the drive for cities and corporations to decarbonise was in its infancy. Nada and Johnson focused the business on individual delivery riders, who wanted efficient, reliable,

faster-than-pedalling transport to help them earn more money, and Zoomo wrapped its bikes into payment plans that included servicing and insurance.

Now, says Johnson, companies are looking to electrify their delivery fleets. “If you’re delivering letters or small parcels in London, there’s absolutely no way an electric van is going to be faster or more efficient than an e-bike.” A Zoomo e-bike saves an average five tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, compared to an internalcombustion-engine vehicle, he adds, and the cost of an electric-powered van could cover the purchase of multiple e-bikes.

Soon after its launch, Zoomo’s founders decided to test whether enterprises in the last-mile sector would be interested in leasing or buying its e-bikes, which included servicing and digital tracking and security technology. We “placed bets”, says Johnson, seeding a single salesperson in markets such as San Francisco, London and northern European cities, to start conversations and pilot schemes.

Zoomo’s Mina Nada (left) and Michael Johnson

Space to work as you like it.

When you’re travelling for work, you need an apartment that works for you. Our spacious, open-plan apartments have separate living, sleeping and working areas so that you can Zoom like you would in your own office. With fast WiFi and local coffee shops at your doorstep, you can work as local as you like it.

The sales cycle can be long, taking 12 months in some instances to get a pilot up and running, “but in 2021, the year we really focused on our enterprise offering, Zoomo grew its orders by four times” and its global enterprise segment grew 20-fold to become two-thirds of the business.

The company now employs more than 400 people globally and serves clients such as North American grocery delivery service InstaCart; German-based ondemand grocery service Gorillas; and Uber Eats and Deliveroo in numerous markets.

Fleet-scale servicing and tracking technology, says Johnson, “have allowed us to win in the enterprise space, where safety and quality data are important”. In lease arrangements, he adds, the fleet management system that tracks the live location of the bikes by site, customer and use status, and weekly servicing, “gives us good control over our assets”.

EMBRACE SOCIAL MEDIA

Making rock candy with intricate messages or images is mesmerising to watch. At Sticky Australia’s shopfront in The Rocks in Sydney, CEO David King was accustomed to seeing 70 or 80 passers-by gather to watch Sticky’s small team roll and stretch

each sugary, eight-to-16-kilogram mass of coloured strands into cylinders of candy with images and words embedded over their entire length.

But it wasn’t until COVID hit that King capitalised on the theatricality of his craft. The former lawyer, who started the business in 2001 with his biochemist partner Rachel Turner, saw sales of personalised lollies for weddings and corporate events drop “to zero” during the pandemic. If it hadn’t been for a small number of online customers, he says, “the business would have folded entirely”.

In the midst of COVID, Sticky began posting more on Facebook and Instagram, which helped to boost online sales, but the couple’s teenage daughter, Annabelle, suggested they also open an account on TikTok, the fastest-growing social media platform in the world. “We started to live stream our processes,” filming 15-second takes of staff making rock candy, candy canes, bullseyes, swirly lollipops and more, says King, “and everything went bonkers.”

Enquiries and online orders bubbled over. Sticky has subsequently increased its workforce from five to 17 in line with the three-fold increase in in its production and revenue.

The store now goes live on Facebook on Friday and Saturday mornings; on YouTube on Saturday afternoon; Instagram

EVOLVE THE TEAM TO MEET THE BUSINESS’S NEEDS

The people at Plico Energy knew about renewables, having put together solar and battery systems to power mine-site accommodation in remote Western Australia. But when it launched a disruptive new business model supplying renewable-energy systems to homes in the south-west of the state, CEO Robbie Campbell realised he had to adjust his workforce to reflect this new consumer market.

Plico Energy is taking the upfront sting out of solar-plus-

battery costs for the residential market. In exchange for a weekly subscription that starts at $38.90, Plico installs and maintains the system and automates it to provide the optimal amount of energy for household use. The fleet of batteries is intended to form part of a “virtual power plant” (VPP) that will ultimately support the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), as the grid is known in the west, balancing fluctuations in electricity supply as the proportion of renewable generation grows.

at midday on Fridays; and TikTok on Saturdays at midday, where it’s attracted 6.7 million followers and its videos have had 231 million views.

The streaming schedule considers employee availability and the time zones that work for audiences and plays to the audience’s thirst for reliability. “Having a regular schedule also makes planning our production infinitely easier,” says King. It helps staff to know when they need to be “on” and when they need not feel that “pressure to perform”.

King thinks sharing the personalities of Sticky’s employees, who show their vulnerabilities alongside their skills, is what has resonated most with audiences. “People come to see us because we’re just like them and often a little bit hopeless.”

Sticky has more followers on TikTok than on other platforms, he says, and live streams there can get many more viewers. But TikTok doesn’t pay creators for their content in Australia, whereas Facebook and YouTube “do try to support the people making the platforms work” via advertising revenue. Also, live videos on TikTok disappear “the moment you finish; they don’t live on, like they do on the others. All the platforms are important to us but for driving business and earning streaming revenue through advertising, Facebook and YouTube win hands down.”

Plico was rich in technical expertise but its segue from dealing with mining executives and operations managers to a more mass market meant that the new workforce priority had to be communications, community relations, marketing and couching technicalities in layperson’s terms.

VPPs are technically complex but they represent both a joint venture and a joint resource for communities – enabling them to work together for electricity-cost reductions and decarbonisation. Plico’s new four-strong marketing team has aligned the company with a variety of community events and sponsorships, including skateboard workshops at the annual Groundswell Festival in Scarborough.

“If you haven’t built the brand and people don’t know about it, you can do all the selling you like but no-one’s gonna jump on it,” says Campbell. “If you’ve got your brand and leads coming through but you don’t have the right salespeople in place, those leads are going to be wasted. Further down the line if your operations team is not able to cope with the volume that’s coming through, you’ll lose scale.”

Campbell says that before he rejigged the Plico team, in the six months “from November 2021, Plico installed 300 home systems”. But once he’d expanded and re-targeted the workforce to the needs of its new consumers, installations “doubled to 600 during the next six months”.

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BALLARAT

Local secrets

Catch the last rays of summer with a stay at some of Australia’s best under-the-radar beaches. Post-surf cocktails included.

Walk coastal paths at Scarborough Beach

Pack your walking shoes for a trip to Perth’s Scarborough Beach. A 20-minute drive from the city centre, this west coast destination is best explored by foot on off-road paths that deliver incredible ocean views, such as the 6.1-kilometre return walk to the beachside Clarko Reserve. Quest Scarborough is a two-minute walk from the bustling esplanade and the chic La Capannina Italian, which overlooks the Scarborough Beach Pool. Enjoy a lunch of squid ink tagliolini with sweet crab meat and cherry tomato sugo. The turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean are sure to beckon for a late summer swim.

Marvel at the wildlife in Mackay

A top destination for animal lovers, the Queensland town of Mackay is where you can track turtle hatchlings traversing the beach and spot threatened shorebird species, such as the eastern curlew, wading in the shallows. It’s also a renowned fishing spot with Illawong Beach ripe with mackerel and tuna. Or try your freshwater luck from one of the specially designed fishing platforms on the Pioneer River boardwalk, located just two blocks north of Quest Mackay on Gordon . If the fish aren’t biting, nearby restaurant and bar The Dispensary is waiting with its modern Mediterranean menu of ricotta tortellini, Moreton Bay bug, lemon and basil.

Presented by Quest Apartment Hotels

Quest Mackay on Gordon

Scarborough Beach

Beat the city rush at Brighton

The 82 brightly coloured colonial-era bathing boxes lining the sand at Melbourne’s Brighton Beach are a cheerful sight against the capital’s skyline. Quest Brighton sits a short walk away from the historic Royal Brighton Yacht Club, where views of Middle Brighton Pier and Port Phillip call for an Aperol Spritz sundowner. Stay on the bay with a table at The Baths restaurant at Middle Brighton for dinner, where the menu celebrates seafood through native spiced calamari and classic fish and chips.

Go cool hunting in Cronulla

Chic cafés, cocktails and easy coastal culture can be found at Cronulla, just 30 minutes drive from central Sydney. Kick off the day with an acai bowl and coffee at laid-back café Barefoot on the Beach or have a lunchtime feast of Mooloolaba prawns and a glass of pinot gris at Zimzala. Quest Cronulla Beach’s prime position between the south and north beaches puts it within walking distance of the Olympic-sized rock pool and some of Sydney’s best surf

breaks, while the siren song of a nightcap under the stars at nearby Après Beach by the Pines eatery is hard to ignore.

Ride a wave at Newcastle

The surf’s up at Newcastle – a mecca for seasoned wave-riders chasing the breaks off

Newcastle Point and beginners practising their skills with the guidance of surf school instructors. Located a few hundred metres from the buzzing Honeysuckle waterfront precinct, Quest Newcastle West is the best address for beachgoers. Take a picnic to nearby Nobbys Beach and walk up to the working lighthouse on its rocky headland. Make a splash in the beautiful Bogey Hole, NSW’s oldest ocean pool, or while away a lazy afternoon with burgers and a round (or two) of Caprioskas with vodka, fresh lime, brown sugar and crushed ice at harbourside bar and restaurant The Landing Bar & Kitchen. Find your next local stay at questapartments.com.au

Cronulla promenade

Newcastle Memorial Walk

Brighton Beach

Jeanne Johns

One of only a handful of women running an ASX 100 company, the CEO of Incitec Pivot says the bigger the crisis, the calmer she is.

CURRENT ROLE CEO, Incitec Pivot

TENURE Five years

AGE 58

PREVIOUS ROLES Head of OMS and Operations Excellence, BP; head of Safety and Occupational Risk, BP Downstream; president, Asian Olefins and Derivatives, BP

KIRSTEN GALLIOTT ILLUSTRATION BY MARC NEMORIN

How do you define good leadership?

Nothing really important in this world ever happens alone so leadership is all about finding how to get people galvanised about a common purpose to achieve something significant.

And what do you think your greatest strength as a leader is?

I’m very strategic so that helps in the long term but I also think it’s important to be able to express where you want to go and the steps to get there.

What would you say is your biggest gap?

The challenge is always balancing doing versus inspiring. Most of us who succeed are great doers – we have been rewarded for getting things done. But at some point, it’s not about you getting things done; it’s about helping other people get things done. We just had a board meeting and somebody junior nailed it. He showed that right balance of push back and reverence. A couple of years ago, I don’t know if he could have pulled that off. He really did a great job.

You’ve said before that you can’t run the trains – you have to show the trains where to go. That’s right and you have to be comfortable with seeing the gap and not having to fill it. Let the organisation find that gap and fix it for themselves.

View From The Top INTERVIEW BY

You’ve been described as a mix of serenity and steel. Do you think that’s an accurate description?

I think so. Through my long career there have been plenty of things that needed to be responded to. I’ve learnt to fight the resistance to emotionally react to them and to keep level-headed and clear-headed – to absolutely not just accept things but to persevere through them all.

Do you ever get emotional at work?

Everybody does and I think it would be a shame not to get emotional at work because that’s what taps into the connection you have with other people. But it’s about channelling emotion into positive energy, showing the possibilities and not reacting to the setbacks.

You moved to Australia from the United States to take up the Incitec Pivot role in 2017. Do you feel like you’ve had to adapt your leadership style here in Australia?

I think I have. I worked for BP for many years so I was in a very British environment there but I also lived in China. In some ways it was almost easier in China because the culture was so different that you knew you had to always be aware of the cultural overlay. When you’re Anglo Saxon in an Anglo Saxon-based culture, you underestimate the differences. Americans tend to be a bit more reverenced to hierarchy and they can come off as stronger personalities. You have to scale that back a bit to be as effective in Australia.

But you were also surprised by how open and assertive people are here, weren’t you?

Everybody knows everything sometimes. I find that I just have to assume that everybody knows everything and it’s just going to happen.

You’ve been wanting to spin off the company’s fertiliser business for some time but you’ve just delayed it again. What have you learnt about patience and are you any good at it? It depends on what it is. When it’s strategic and long-term, I’m very patient. Some of the smaller stuff can annoy me at times. I remember in the BP world, we had a stranded asset we were trying to sell but nobody wanted it at the time and my boss was just like, ‘Give it away.’ But I thought there was value there so I hung onto it and about two or three years later, the perfect opportunity came up. We walked through that window and we sold it for over $300 million instead of getting $50 million. So it pays to stick with something and make sure you get the timing right.

Let’s talk about BP. You began your career there as a chemical engineer and you’ve told me before that one of the most difficult jobs you ever had was as a refinery manager. What happened? Well, first of all I was really young. And I was in a very male-dominated environment and a very industrial environment. Leadership when you’re across all kinds of different people in a refinery is very different. You do have to span a broader range of motivations of people and what’s important to them in that kind of setting. An hourly worker may not be as concerned about career advancement but they’re very concerned about security and that their job is there for the long haul.

I thought of myself as an engineer who happens to be a woman but people often see the woman first. So understanding how you’re coming across to them is part of what you need to learn and navigate.

You were the only female refinery manager then and you felt at times that you had to prove yourself above what a man would have to do. Do you think that’s still common now?

Yes, I still think there’s an underlying bias. I once followed a man in a job that had a lot of operational aspects to it. He was an accountant and really had no background in operations compared to me. People accepted him as being competent, whereas I had to go out there and show the people in the field that I knew what I was talking about. I had to talk about pumps and compressors and pressure readings and sampling.

You’ve also said that being six feet tall and being direct has helped you in your career. Do you think women have to overcompensate in that way sometimes?

With anything, you have to take the good with the bad.

Early on at the refinery, we were trying to get the ops people to change some of their pressure readings – they just saw risk all over the place – and the boss said, “Why don’t you go in because they might have a hard time yelling at a woman?” And indeed that worked. So sometimes it can play to your advantage. While I never thought of myself as a woman – I thought of myself as an engineer who happens to be a woman – people often see the woman first and that surprises them. Understanding how you’re coming across to them is part of what you need to learn and navigate.

It’s crazy we’re still having these conversations, though, isn’t it? When I started my career, the US had just passed an equal opportunity law and my first boss said something like, “You’re smart, you’re a woman, this is going to be a piece of cake.” I think it’s taken everybody by surprise that it’s tougher than it seems.

You’ve had a lot of operational roles throughout your career. Was that a strategic choice?

Part of it was strategic and part of it was interest. I love the operational roles because you get to see the results of your work and there’s a real satisfaction in that but then I also like the more functional and advising roles because they give you time to think and be a bit more cerebral. I try to go back and forth between the two but I do think that having those line roles are incredibly important because it’s those roles where

you have the accountability and the responsibility to actually deliver something. Nothing easy is ever done on your own and those are great training grounds for the bigger jobs. Advising is good but actually being able to be on the spot and deliver helps you learn a lot.

Let’s talk about one of those learnings. In 2010 you had to deal with a significant crisis when the biggest oil spill in the world happened in Mexico. What did you learn about your capacity for crisis?

That I’m amazingly calm. The bigger the crisis, the calmer I am. I think it’s all about perspective. I learnt that early in my career when I did my first operational jobs – those roles were about safe and reliable operations day in, day out. When I got promoted into office work and economically optimising the refinery – buying the crew, selling the products – I recognised that was a lot less stressful. If I made a mistake in the office by making the wrong call, it could cost BP a million dollars. But in the BP world, a million dollars didn’t really move the dial and I could make another decision two days later and make two million back. The cost of a mistake was relatively minor. Whereas when I was in operations, the stakes were much higher. Somebody could get hurt, have a life-altering injury or worse – and that’s not reversible.

What are the biggest mistakes people make in crisis management?

In very stressful times your weaknesses always come to light so if you’re short-tempered, you’re likely to have a short temper in a crisis. The other thing people do sometimes is close down and that’s when you really have to open up. You feel vulnerable because you’re in the hot seat but you need to make sure that you bring in who you need to advise you and to help carry the load.

When you left BP after more than 25 years, you deliberately took some time out for yourself. What was the benefit of that?

Somebody told me not to jump into anything too quickly. He said, “I’ve seen so many people jump and then they pick the wrong thing.” It was the best advice I ever had. So it was really about distancing myself a bit and thinking about what I wanted in the next role and making sure I was picky. I’d been on a treadmill for a long time so my husband and I got in our car and drove across the eastern half of the United States for two months. We went anywhere we wanted to and we did hikes and historical sites and visited friends. Not having that responsibility for a while was a great refresher.

But you missed work, didn’t you?

Indeed, yes. I should have been ecstatic but I realised that I did miss work and the collective goal-setting and trying to do something together that’s pretty outstanding. So when this job came up, I thought, “Yep, I’m ready to go back in.”

I know you’re a great believer in making sure that you take jobs that make you feel a bit uncomfortable. After five years as CEO do you ever still feel uncomfortable in the role?

You’re never comfortable in this type of role – the CEO role is among the most challenging but there’s no doubt that you learn and gain perspective and you consider how you would do things over again. I still feel very challenged because the range of things that I deal with in this job is quite unique.

If I made a mistake in the office, it could cost BP a million dollars. But in the BP world, a million dollars didn’t really move the dial. Whereas when I was in operations, the stakes were much higher.

If you feel a little bit out of your depth, how do you cope?

My husband always says that I get very relaxed once I have a plan of action. So I try and think through how I’m going to get into action on something. And depending on how big an issue it is, there’s nothing like a good run to clear my mind of other things and to get it back to what’s essential.

Some leaders find it easier to say no than yes and others are the opposite. How do you know when to really run at opportunities and when to give them a miss?

There are always easy ones and there are always easy misses but as you’re implying, there are ones in between where you take on too much or not enough. One of the leader’s jobs is to understand how much the organisation can take on and regulate that. When you think about the opportunities, the key is, Does it actually move the dial? There’s no shortage of good things to do but how do you help focus the organisation on things that move the dial?

Is that something you’ve always naturally been good at?

I’m pretty good at it. The most challenging piece is when excited people want to do things that don’t move the dial.

But that’s the role of the CEO, isn’t it? Often you disappoint people. Yes. I always say it’s the wrong job if you want to please everybody all the time.

What do you think are the most pressing issues for CEOs at the moment?

Post-COVID, we’re all dealing with supply chains but some of that is behind us now. As we look around the corner, everybody is asking what will happen with the economy and if the world goes into recession, are we recession-proof?

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a brand-new CEO? It would be something about understanding the scope of the CEO job. You’ve got a lot of stakeholders – a board, the workforce, your investors, the communities – so you need to think about the job as broadly as possible. We all come into it with a bent – some have a marketing bent, some have an operational bent, some have an M&A bent – but the job is really broad and you need to appreciate that breadth and get a great team around you.

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25 ways to take your business further

Australian small and medium businesses share the tips that are taking them places – from minimising costs to maximising time and cash flow. Because small steps today can mean big rewards tomorrow.

QANTAS BUSINESS REWARDS

is the loyalty program that connects Australian SMEs with a range of services and products that make doing business even more rewarding. Whether you’re a sole trader or growing enterprise, travel a little or a lot, by joining Qantas Business Rewards you’ll access a range of benefits on top of what you and your employees already receive as Qantas Frequent Flyers.

Small steps, big rewards

MAKE AND RECEIVE PAYMENTS THE SMART WAY

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TURN EXPENSES INTO BENEFITS

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Frequent Flyers receive Qantas Points2 for eligible flights, hotels and car hire as usual. The business also earns points when employees travel for work and add the ABN into their bookings, plus the employee earns an additional 250 bonus points per booking when they fly. 2

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Be rewarded for going about your business. Save on flights1 and earn more Qantas Points on travel and everyday expenses on the ground to make doing business even more rewarding.

“The Card that instantly changed our business”

Alexandra

One ingredient matters most when it comes to the success of Allie’s Cold Pressed, the juice brand that began with a small stall at Sydney’s Marrickville Markets in 2014 and now supplies more than 1500 cafés, restaurants and hotels around Australia. And that’s quality. “Despite the increased cost of produce, we’ve made our bottles a little bigger and added more premium ingredients,” says founder Alexandra Szwarcberg-Poch, who co-owns the business with husband Braian.

Now selling more than 1.2 million juices a year, Allie’s has doubled its revenue annually since 2017. Recent years have brought challenges and new opportunities, both requiring financial flexibility. “A lot of our sales were in the city centres but with more people working from home, we’ve seen enormous growth from suburban cafés and wholesale. We’re also doing more deals with big hotel groups, like Accor and Marriott, as they increase emphasis on Australian-owned and -made products on their menus and in minibars.”

1 UNLOCK FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY

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2 MANAGE CASH FLOW AND MAKE PAYMENTS STRESS-FREE

While long-term contracts have shielded Allie’s from many produce price spikes, supply can be uncertain. “Stock run-outs are extremely costly. If one of our bestselling products runs out for even five days, we can lose thousands of dollars and it has a domino effect on our production pipeline. We can’t delay ordering something because we’re worried about how we’ll pay for it. Having up to 51 days to pay for purchases5 on our American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card helps us stay ahead. And the greater volume we purchase, the better prices we get.”

3 USE QANTAS POINTS TO GROW

Earning up to 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday business expenses6, like rent on new larger premises, with their American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card helps the team fly regularly to meet distributors and wholesale customers. “Points cover the majority of our travel costs and our most long-standing relationships have been because of that face-to-face interaction. You can’t replace that with Zoom calls and online everything.”

Szwarcberg-Poch Allie’s Cold Pressed

For this juice-maker, fast growth means squeezing the most value out of every business expense.

This family business has grown into a construction empire – and loyalty has paid off in spades.

“You can come to us with a $50,000 civil project or a $1.5 billion underground tunnel connecting parts of a major capital city,” says Tony Hennessy, general manager of corporate services for BMD Group – Australia’s largest privately owned civil construction and urban land development business.

Despite incredible growth – BMD has approximately $2 billion worth of jobs in the pipeline – the company is still a family business at heart. Founded in 1979 by Mick and Denise Power, the couple remain the sole shareholders and maintaining loyal business relationships is a top priority. “We’ve got third-generation excavating contractors that do 90 per cent of their work for BMD. We also have strong relationships with clients like Brisbane Airport Corporation – we’ve had rolling jobs with them for 15 years. And we have more than 100 members in our ‘20 Year Club’, where we reward and incentivise long-term staff.”

4 SAVE ON EVERY LITRE OF FUEL

With a fleet of 1,300 vehicles and construction machinery operating across the country, BMD’s

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As a Qantas Business Rewards member and BP Plus customer, BMD saves 3 cents per litre at more than 1,400 bp locations. “Our fleet travels about 330,000 kilometres a week – 17 million kilometres a year – so it certainly adds up. With BP Plus, we get a monthly invoice on a 21-day payment term and access to customised reporting.” This makes for simple accounting and provides data on fuel spend and mileage.

5 TURN FUEL BILLS INTO FLIGHTS

When BMD teams aren’t on the roads, they’re in the sky, using Qantas Points earnt through BP Plus to fly crews and senior management to “the west coast and the east coast and everywhere in between,” says Hennessy. “In the first quarter of this financial year, we spent $665,000 in Qantas air travel across more than 1,600 flights. The ability to offset costs with points is a game changer.”

6 HARNESS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS

Finding suppliers who’ll go the extra mile is imperative. “We have a dedicated BP Plus account manager. The ability to ring someone who knows the fleet staff and the BMD business is critical. The support is seamless. It’s really important to have partners who can help us get around nationally and internationally as we look at growing our global footprint.”

SAVE UP TO 3 CENTS PER LITRE ON FUEL WITH BP PLUS 8

Plus, every time you use your BP Plus fuel card, you can earn up to 1 Qantas Point per litre and 1 Qantas Point for every $1 spent on eligible in-store purchases.8 T&Cs apply.

“We travel 17 million kilometres a year. Our fuel discounts add up”

Tony Hennessy BMD Group

Be rewarded for going about your business. Save on flights1 and earn more Qantas Points on travel and everyday expenses on the ground to make doing business even more rewarding.

Rachael Christensen

“Our flight savings go back to communities”

The stakes are high for Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation (PMMRAC), a not-for-profit that provides essential services – from housing to water, power and waste management –for remote First Nations communities in Western Australia. “Without organisations like ours, people out on community don’t get clean drinking water, they don’t have power, they don’t have sewerage and they don’t have housing management,” says PMMRAC CEO Rachael Christensen.

7 SAVE UP TO 10% ON THE BASE FARE OF SELECTED FLIGHTS1

The service covers an area of 600,000 square kilometres, from Geraldton on the mid-west coast of WA up to the Northern Territory border. “Staffing is our biggest challenge,” says Christensen. “It’s really difficult to get people to remote areas so that’s where Qantas comes in.” Discounts on flights that PMMRAC receives as a Qantas Business Rewards member save

“Keeping travel expenses down is key”

Keith Clarkson was turning down two gigs a day every day at the end of 2022. “Events are back,” says the director of Sydneybased audio-visual company EventSound. “There’s so much work being thrown at us, we physically can’t take it all.”

Clarkson, who founded EventSound in 2006 with just one van, is grateful for the return to growth – the volume of business is 50 per cent larger than it was before the pandemic. The challenge now is staffing, as last-minute jobs surge. “It’s taking a while to rebuild the workforce. Believe me, I’m hiring!”

Teams fly about six to eight times a month for interstate jobs – ranging from concerts and major sporting events to conferences and celebrity weddings – and need a range of vehicles in many locations.

9 TRUST A RELIABLE FLEET

Whether crews are travelling further afield or working on large events closer to home,

EventSound uses Budget Car and Truck Rental to extend its fleet. “There’s almost always a Budget truck in our driveway,” says Clarkson, who tried other rental companies but found his local Budget branch easy to work with and flexible around drop-off times, after-hours access and sudden changes. “It’s like it’s our Budget, you know? They’re our people.”

10 TURN RENTALS INTO COST REDUCTIONS

As well as the ease of booking reliable vehicles, EventSound earns 4 Qantas Points per $1 on Budget rentals as a Qantas Business Rewards member – on top of 4 points per $1 for the driver, who’s a Frequent Flyer. Clarkson uses the points on flights and to book stays through Qantas Hotels when jobs take teams away from home. “We might have 12 to 15 staff on a large event. Using points keeps our expenses down.”

thousands of dollars a year.1 “Our profits go back to the communities we serve. What we save on airfares pays for programs making a difference now and in the future. In remote communities, like Punmu, we help provide leisure activities, such as a BMX track and a laser tag centre, to keep kids occupied.”

8 HELP YOUR TEAMS BENEFIT FROM GOING THE EXTRA MILE

While PMMRAC earns Qantas Points on flights, employees also accrue their own points on work trips through Qantas

Frequent Flyer – plus, they get a Flyer

Bonus of 250 Qantas Points2 if they enter the organisation’s ABN at booking. Little perks mean a lot. “Our staff aren’t doing a normal fly-in/fly-out job. They swag it, live in accommodation on community or finish a 12-hour day in 50-degree heat and then drive to a hotel or caravan site, which could be up to 200 kilometres away. It’s great if we can help them earn more points to use for a holiday with their families.”

Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation

Keith Clarkson EventSound

Save on flights1 and earn points for your business every time you or your team fly for work.

This beloved hospitality business earns points on customer card payments and reinvests them to deliver even better food and service.

“There are Italian restaurants everywhere but to feel like you’re enjoying traditional food and Italian hospitality in someone’s home, that’s unique – especially here in Canberra,” says Andrew McFadzean, general manager of The Italian Place, a cosy 45-seat dining room and providore in the inner suburb of Braddon.

It’s a recipe that’s working for the fouryear-old business; revenue has been growing fast since it expanded with a deli, bottle shop, coffee and wine bar two doors down from the original eatery. “The restaurant went gangbusters in the first year; it was one of

the hottest spots in town. Then, during COVID we evolved it into the deli and saw there was a market for that, too. So I joined manager and co-owner Tony Lo Terzo and we opened the providore officially in October 2020. It might have seemed like a bold move given the timing but it’s paying off.”

Despite a little “economic headwind”, the team is exploring options for a third venue. “We have a great location in Braddon, a lovely mix of offices and residential, so we can tap into both markets. And we have Tony; he’s our unique selling point. He lives and breathes this.”

11 TURN CUSTOMER EFTPOS PAYMENTS INTO POINTS

Reliable card payments are essential for a hospitality business. That’s why The Italian Place chose Live Payments, receiving 100,000 bonus points upon sign up and 1 Qantas Point for every $1 processed through Live Payment’s Black terminal. Plus, Live Payments offers same-day settlement so funds hit your bank account every business day. “The reliability is absolutely critical to our business. And no lock-in contract is always an important benefit when you’re trying a new provider.”

12 USE POINTS, SAVE CASH

McFadzean and his team earn up to three million Qantas Points a year, mostly through Live Payments, and reinvest them back into the business to save money. “Managing cash flow is always front of mind. We’ve purchased new iPads from the Qantas Rewards Store for the ordering system at the deli and we can buy a huge range of tech and appliances without having to dip into cash reserves. It’s a no-brainer. We also use points to shop at Qantas Wine and it lets us introduce new and interesting wines to our customers. I also run a winery – so I’m quite picky – but the Qantas Wine selection is great. We’ve used about 700,000 points on wine recently.”

13 GET TWICE THE RETURNS FROM WORK TRIPS

Travel fuels inspiration for growth and exploring the hospitality scene in other cities is essential for product development. It also doubles as a wellearned break for the owners. “Finding money for non-core business activities can often be hard,” says McFadzean. “Using Qantas Points to travel and go out and look at opportunities beyond your business, without having to reach into your cash pocket, makes the decision so much easier.”

EARN UP TO 500,000 BONUS QANTAS POINTS

Apply for a new Live Payments Green, Gold or Black terminal for the first time by 31 March 2023 and earn double Qantas Points on all customer transactions (up to a total of $500,000) within 45 days of approval.10

“Reliable EFTPOS is critical, while Qantas Points help us go further for our customers”

Tony Lo Terzo and Andrew McFadzean The Italian Place

10

Be rewarded for going about your business. Save on flights1 and earn more Qantas Points on travel and everyday expenses on the ground to make doing business even more rewarding.

Combinate founder Shane McGeorge has built a reputation for developing custom software and websites for SMEs and ASX-listed companies alike. Working with top organisations across multiple industries – from government and freight to health and beauty – McGeorge and his team are trusted with clients’ critical technology, confidential information and intellectual property. “I’m an optimist and we have the strictest protocols in place but in the real world, things can go wrong. Having the right protection gives us extra peace of mind.”

14 MAKE INSURANCE EASY

McGeorge chooses BizCover for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance, citing the insurer’s easy online experience and competitive pricing. “We saved thousands compared to our previous annual premium; the reduction was really significant for our business. And it was so straightforward. BizCover’s

technology and service is great. It made it very easy to make the switch. If you find quality, reliable suppliers for the essentials, like insurance, you can focus on the other stuff, like solving problems for clients.” Earning 1 Qantas Point for every $1 spent with BizCover is a bonus. “Points offer another cost saving for the business.”

15 USE POINTS TO BRING YOUR CLIENTS CLOSER

The ideal for McGeorge is to see his customers in person and he uses Qantas Points earned through Qantas Business Rewards to make it happen. Whether he’s flying clients in to meet with Combinate’s 20-strong team of developers or upgrading staff to Business for overnight international flights, service and comfort matter. “We only fly Qantas. When you’re seeing clients or spending quality time with your team you’ve got to land switched on and ready to go.”

I’m a Frequent Flyer. How is Qantas Business Rewards different?

Our loyalty programs work together. Qantas Frequent Flyer members retain all the benefits they know and love but as a Qantas Business Rewards member, the business earns points and saves on flights while the employee earns additional Qantas Points when they travel for work. It’s a win for the business and the employee.

TRAVELLER GETS

Qantas Points and Status

Credits on flights

Qantas Points on hotel stays with Qantas Hotels and car hire bookings with Avis and Budget

BUSINESS GETS

Increased savings on flights as you move through membership levels1

Additional Qantas Points on flights, hotel stays and car hire bookings

Qantas Points on business expenses, like fuel, energy, credit card spend and insurance with 50+ partners

One easy place to manage bookings and upgrades

Join Qantas Business Rewards free until 31 March 2023 at qantas.com/qbr/join

BOTH PROGRAMS = MORE REWARDS FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM

A Flyer Bonus of 250 Qantas Points for the Frequent Flyer when they enter the business’s ABN in booking2

Link your Qantas Frequent Flyer account with your Business Rewards to easily access both

“When insurance is simple we can focus on customers and growth”

Shane McGeorge Combinate

“Keeping energy costs down also helps us power our workforce”

Knowledge is the tool of his trade so this hardware retailer puts Qantas Points earned with his energy provider into upskilling his people.

“It’s an exciting time to be in business up here,” says Mark Timbs, whose Total Tools franchises cater to trade professionals in south-east Queensland. “The 2032 Brisbane Olympics will be a game changer.” His East Brisbane store is in a prime position to service The Gabba, which has been earmarked for a $1-billion redevelopment into the Olympic Stadium. “And there are lots of other venues to build, including the athletes’ village, which will fall in our territory,” says Timbs, who recently opened his fourth franchise. “Total Tools was a small co-operative when we joined – now there are 101 stores across the country.”

16 FIND A BETTER ENERGY PROVIDER

With four locations to power, Timbs was looking for a reliable, cost-effective provider. He landed on Alinta Energy. “The main reason? They had competitive pricing, plus Qantas Points. We spend upwards of $140,000 on energy per year so it’s one of our biggest expenses.” No lock-in contracts and detailed bills also appealed. “Keeping our costs down is a big focus. Alinta Energy helps us manage this so we can keep growing.”

17

TRAVEL SMARTER TO MAXIMISE TIME

“The points were a real drawcard,” says Timbs. As an eligible Qantas Business Rewards member, he earned bonus Qantas Points when he signed up to the Alinta Energy BusinessDeal Qantas Electricity plan and continues to earn 3 points per $1 spent on his energy bills, offsetting an essential business expense. Paying bills with a Qantas Points earning credit card maximises his rewards – but the benefits go beyond cost savings. “Being a Qantas Business Rewards member has helped me access more flying benefits. Things like Qantas Club allow me to do business on the run efficiently and, most importantly, give me back time with my family.”

18

SUPER-POWER STAFF ENGAGEMENT

Investing in employees is why Timbs says the company has grown year-on-year since the day it opened in 2001. “It’s definitely people-related. You’ve got to look after your staff. Challenge them to improve every day and you’ll find that creates a happier team environment, which flows on to your customers.” He uses Qantas Points to help

retain talent in “a really difficult market”, keeping his 80-plus employees engaged through training and by offering them networking opportunities at conferences. “We use points to fly staff to industry events. It helps keep our employees happy but also develops their knowledge. Customer service is our number one focus. Our staff don’t just point customers in a direction and let them fend for themselves. Around 95 per cent of our business is selling to the trades so they expect our salespeople to really know what they’re talking about.”

EARN UP TO 20,000 BONUS QANTAS POINTS12

when you sign up to Alinta Energy’s BusinessDeal Qantas Electricity plan. Plus, join by 31 March for your chance to win a cricket bat signed by the 2022/23 Australian Men’s International T20 Cricket Team.13

Mark Timbs Total Tools

Be rewarded for going about your business. Save on flights1 and earn more Qantas Points on travel and everyday expenses on the ground to make doing business even more rewarding.

Like many businesses, Workplace Emergency Management (WEM) moved online during the pandemic. “But face-toface training gets the best results,” says managing director Steven Lowe, whose company travels across Australia to provide evacuation plans, emergency responses and in-house training for childcare and aged-care facilities, offices and warehouses. “Preparing a facility for emergencies is relevant to their equipment, their layout, their people. And our training is interactive. People might never have used a fire extinguisher so they’re better prepared when training is hands-on.”

19 BOOK STAYS THE SMART WAY

Half of WEM’s 24 staff are on the road at any time. Each consultant travels at least one week a month so getting the bestquality stays within budget is paramount. By booking through Qantas Hotels, the business can earn an additional 1 Qantas

Point per $1 spent on stays, on top of the 3 points per $1 earned by the Frequent Flyer. “With some booking platforms there are cancellations and unlisted fees. We trust Qantas Hotels.” Lowe appreciates the range of hotels – more than 5,000 around Australia – and competitive price points.

“We’re a medium enterprise; we have financial constraints. Qantas Hotels easily allows us to compare price and services.”

20 USE POINTS TO REWARD STAFF

WEM’s team flies to all parts of Australia –from Beaudesert, Queensland, to Broome in Western Australia. This is where upgrades to Business and discounted Qantas Club memberships through Qantas Business Rewards make a difference. The company earns more than 200,000 Qantas Points a year through Qantas Hotels stays. “All the points are reinvested into staff to make their lives easier. They’re doing a great service and we want to give back.”

A smarter way to stay

Book the best business stays with Qantas Hotels and earn more points when you’re away for work.

EARN UP TO 3,332 QANTAS POINTS on a two-night stay15

EARN UP TO 3,832 QANTAS POINTS on a two-night stay16

A short walk to Docklands and the CBD, this hotel’s rooms are made for business (spacious desks, LCD TVs) with a view of the city skyline. Take meetings at The Office business zone or for more casual networking, hit the 28 Skybar Lounge.

EARN UP TO 2,152 QANTAS POINTS on a two-night stay17

EARN UP TO 4 QANTAS POINTS PER $1 SPENT14

on all domestic and international Qantas Hotels bookings. That’s 3 points per $1 for the Frequent Flyer, plus an extra point per $1 for your business.14 Book at qantas.com/hotels

Feel the serenity at this rainforest-inspired stay smack-bang in the middle of town. Dine onsite or scoot to lunch catch-ups at Rothwell’s Bar & Grill and Donna Chang. Next-level meeting rooms feature writeable glass wall panels and LCD screens.

“Quality stays bring us closer to our clients. And that can help them save lives”

Opened in late 2019 in the iconic GPO building, this five-star sanctuary is positioned on Martin Place, the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Power lunch at Aalia, Rockpool and Felix or get to work in the business centre before sweating it out at the 24-hour gym.

Capri by Fraser, Brisbane

Crown Metropol, Melbourne

Steven Lowe and Roseanne Sorbello Workplace Emergency Management

Fullerton Hotel, Sydney

Growing up on farms in regional Australia, Tim Gentle and Kat Bidstrup developed “a real passion for rural and remote communities”. Their backgrounds in software development and digital marketing sowed the seed for Think Digital: a business using VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality) and AI (artificial intelligence) to connect people with agriculture.

Working with partners all over the globe, the South Australian business creates immersive interactive content for schools, universities, government and industry groups – even converting a bus into a high-tech classroom on wheels. “We work closely with Woolworths’ Fresh Food Kids Discovery Program, teaching kids where their food comes from,” says Bidstrup. “We take interactive farm tours to the city and the digital world to the outback to help remote communities leverage it.”

21 EARN QANTAS POINTS ON FOREIGN CURRENCY CONVERSIONS

Think Digital works with “the best in the world” to develop its software and needs an efficient way to pay international suppliers. Enter Qantas

Business Money – a global payments platform making international business payments cost-effective, simple and rewarding. “We were incurring a lot of cost through using traditional payment methods like PayPal and bank transfers,” says Gentle. “With Qantas Business Money, we pay a set fee on conversions, plus we earn 1 Qantas Point for every $10 we convert into foreign currency.”

22 SAVE MONEY ON CONVERSION RATES

Qantas Business Money saves businesses up to 70% on conversion rates compared with the big banks.18 “Some of our subscriptions and a lot of our software is charged in US dollars so we wanted more security around the dollar,” says Gentle. “We can convert funds when rates are good and know we’ve got that money sitting there, ready to pay those bills.”

Clients can pay Think Digital in their own currency, too. “We’ve got three US universities that will be thrilled to pay us directly into an account using US dollars. It makes it easier to do business internationally.” Having converted more than

$100,000 through Qantas Business Money so far, Bidstrup says the process has been “seamless”.

23 USE POINTS TO BOOST TEAM CULTURE

Bidstrup recently flew a Perth-based hire to SA for onboarding using points she earned through Qantas Business Money. “We were able to induct her into the Think Digital culture, take her out for lunch and let her experience Adelaide life. There’s something about working together in the same environment. The traction has been tangible.”

EARN UP TO 25,000 BONUS QANTAS POINTS18

Earn 1 bonus Qantas Point per $1AUD equivalent converted with Qantas Business Money by 31 March, up to 25,000 Qantas Points. That’s on top of 1 Qantas Point per $10AUD equivalent you convert.18

Be rewarded for going about your business. Save on flights1 and earn more Qantas Points on travel and everyday expenses on the ground to make doing business even more rewarding.

“The big banks don’t offer these kinds of FX conversion rates”

A new global payments platform makes it easy for this agri-tech company to engage with the best in the world.

Kat Bidstrup and Tim Gentle Think Digital

How can I use Qantas Points to save on business costs?

From computers and office tech to hotel bookings, car hire and wine, there are hundreds of ways to reinvest your Qantas Points into your business even when you’re not booking flights.

UPGRADE YOUR OFFICE TECH

“As Tribe has expanded, we’ve needed more equipment,” says Kayla Houlihan , founder of the allnatural, vegan-friendly skincare line. “Rather than outlaying cash, we’ve used points at the Qantas Rewards Store to purchase the iMac that our graphic designer works on and the iPad for customer transactions.”

PAY FOR CAR HIRE AND STAYS

“It’s absolutely essential to see our key clients on a regular basis,” says Alexandra Ormerod , co-founder of premium stays service Luxico. “When we’re on the road, we use the points we’ve earned through Qantas Business Rewards to book stays with Qantas Hotels and hire cars through Avis, which saves a significant amount of money.”

SHOP WINE FOR EVENTS AND GIFTS

“I’ve used Qantas Points accrued through Qantas Business Rewards to purchase wines online through Qantas Wine –for client gifts or team celebrations,” says Pierre Issa, founder of gourmet butter-maker Pepe Saya. ”There are some really exciting, unique and one-off wines on the site and it’s easy to make a purchase using points.”

Matt Sprem, co-founder of White Horse Coffee, is passionate about local brews.

“We’re blessed to have so many great roasters in Australia,” he says. But it’s customer service that has set his business apart ever since opening its first café in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire in 2008.

White Horse Coffee now supplies about 180 wholesale partners, including eateries, schools, offices and even churches, and provides unlimited training to its baristas around the country. “It’s all about building that relationship with your partners, working together and making it a success for both parties.”

24 GET POINTS + PEACE OF MIND

“Coffee is a fruit; fresh roasted is best,” says Sprem. If a delivery vehicle breaks down, his team depends on the NRMA for its roadside assistance. “It’s about not letting down your partners, always having the coffee there on

time. And partners like to greet our drivers, maybe chat about the latest beans and blends. Again, it’s relationships.”

As well as earning 4 Qantas Points per $1 spent on roadside for White Horse Coffee’s fleet of seven vehicles, Sprem puts his trust in the NRMA’s ability to service anything from passenger vehicles to trucks. “If there’s a breakdown, the NRMA can handle it and get the driver safely out of a situation and back on the road to work.”

25 HARNESS PEOPLE POWER

The Qantas Points, which the business earns through the NRMA, go straight into travel – flying and accommodating team members for trade shows and competitions here and overseas, as well as to meet with partners. “I’m a face-to-face person. There’s nothing like spending time with someone, feeling their energy and sharing a cup of coffee because that’s what we do.”

EARN 4 QANTAS POINTS PER $1 SPENT19

on roadside assistance for your whole business fleet.

“Qantas Points and peace of mind are taking our coffee to the world”

Allan Hughes, Matt Sprem and Nic Matuzic White Horse Coffee

To take part in any of the offers listed in this magazine, your business must be a Qantas Business Rewards member. A one-off joining fee of $89.50 including GST usually applies; however, this will be waived for businesses that join between 1 February and 31 March 2023. Membership of Qantas Business Rewards, savings and the earning of Qantas Points as a business are subject to terms and conditions at qantas.com/qbr/terms. Qantas Business Rewards recommends members consult their accountant or tax adviser to understand any possible tax implications; for example, fringe benefits tax (if applicable), for which they may be liable. Qantas Points are offered under the applicable partner’s terms and conditions and earning thresholds may apply. 1. Savings are available exclusively to Qantas Business Rewards Members on selected fares only and do not apply to taxes, fees and carrier charges. Availability is limited. Advance purchase and other conditions may apply. Savings are subject to and defined in the terms and conditions of Qantas Business Rewards as Member Savings. 2. You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer to earn Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program terms and conditions. Qantas Points and Status Credits (where applicable) are earned on eligible flights with a Qantas or applicable oneworld® Alliance Airline or Airline Partner flight number on your ticket. Qantas Points and Status Credits may not be earned on some fare types and booking classes. See terms and conditions and the Airline Earning Tables for details on the conditions for the applicable airline. Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn 250 Qantas Points per eligible flight booking where a Qantas Business Rewards Member’s ABN and the traveller’s Qantas Frequent Flyer membership number are quoted at the time of booking. An eligible booking must include a domestic or international flight with a Qantas ‘QF’ flight number on the ticket that is purchased in Australia; has a ticket number commencing with ‘081’; and is booked and travelled for business on or after the date the business registers for Qantas Business Rewards. Points will be credited to the Frequent Flyers account within 6 weeks from the date of travel. Points cannot be withdrawn from members’ account once credited if the booking is changed or cancelled. No retrospective claims can be made for this offer.

3. A business can redeem Qantas Points directly from their Qantas Business Rewards account on Classic Flight Rewards or Points Plus Pay flights and/or transfer Qantas Points out of the Qantas Business Rewards accounts into any individual’s Qantas Frequent Flyer account. In order to transfer or directly redeem Qantas Points from a Qantas Business Rewards account, the business account must have a balance of at least 3,000 Qantas Points. We recommend you consult your accountant or tax adviser to ensure you understand possible tax implications, for example fringe benefits tax (if applicable).

4. No pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchases are approved based on a variety of factors, including current spending patterns, your payment history, credit records, and financial resources known to us. 5. Depending on your method of payment, when you make a purchase, when your statement is issued and whether or not you are carrying forward a balance on your account from your previous statement period.

6. Your business will earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 of everyday spend, which does not include annual fees, late payment fee and fees and charges for foreign currencies, 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at participating merchants classified as “utilities” and “insurance” excluding insurances offered by American Express and 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on the eligible Qantas products and services purchased on the Qantas merchant account (i.e. directly from Qantas). Excludes Jetstar and other exclusions. 7. Offer only available to new American Express Card Members who apply by 4 April 2023, are approved and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on their new Card in the first two (2) months from the Card approval date. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any other Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18-month period are ineligible for this offer. 150,000 bonus Qantas Points will be awarded to the eligible Card Member’s Account 8-10 weeks after the spend criteria has been met. Subject to the American Express® Qantas Business Rewards Card Points Terms and Conditions. $450 annual fee applies. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer. American Express approval criteria applies. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Fees and charges apply. All information is correct as at 1 February 2023 and is subject to change. This offer is only available to those who reside in Australia. Cards are offered, issued and administered by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). ®Registered Trademark of American Express Company. 8. 1 Qantas Point will be earned for every litre of Ultimate 98. 1 Qantas Point will be earned for every 2 litres of 91, 95, Diesel, and Ultimate Diesel. 1 Qantas Point will be earned per $1 spent on eligible in-store purchases. For a full list of eligible in-store purchases, please refer to the BP Plus Terms and Conditions. Qantas Points will be awarded to the eligible member’s Qantas Business Rewards account 4 weeks after a BP Plus account has been paid. Qantas Points for BP Plus members are offered under, and subject to the BP Terms and Conditions. Any claims in relation to Qantas Points under this offer must be made directly to BP at aurewards@bp.com 9. To be eligible for the double points, Qantas Business Rewards customers must make a new eligible booking between 1 February and 15 March 2023 for rentals collected between 1 February and 31 March 2023, from Budget Australia locations for 2 or more consecutive days. Members will earn 4 Qantas Points per A$1 spent on time and kilometre charges. Qantas Business Rewards members will earn 8 Qantas Points per $1 spent on vehicle hire with Budget during this promotional period. Coupon number MPAZ008 must be included in the rental. Qantas Points will not be earned in relation to taxes (including GST), fees, or for charges for insurance, petrol, GPS and other miscellaneous charges. The number of Qantas Points earned is limited to 240,000 per year. Unless otherwise specified by Budget, Qantas Points for business will not be earned for vehicle rentals purchased as part of package holidays, free vehicle rentals, vehicle rentals at industry discount rates, vehicle rentals using Award vouchers or discount certificates or contracted corporate or government rates. Rentals that earn Qantas Points for business will not earn Budget Business Club free rental day coupons. Qantas Points will be credited to the Members Business Rewards account within 30 days of rental completion. Any claims in relation to Qantas Points

to a maximum of 10,000 Qantas Points per policy. A customer is only eligible to earn Qantas Points if they have purchased directly through BizCover (not through a referral or white label partner) and not used any discount or promotional code. Qantas Points for business are offered under the BizCover and Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions. Qantas Points for business are offered under the BizCover Terms and Conditions at bizcover.com.au/qbr/full-terms-conditions/. Any claims in relation to Qantas Points under this offer must be made directly to BizCover. Qantas Points will be credited to the member’s Business Rewards account within 100 days of purchase.

12. To earn Qantas Points in connection with your Alinta Energy product, you must: (1) be a Qantas Business Rewards member; (2) have an active ABN; (3) sign up to a new Alinta Energy Market Offer contract; (4) have a NSW, Victoria, SA, or South East Queensland supply site; (5) pass a credit check; and (6) be a small customer as defined in Australian national energy laws (excl. Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) customers). Full T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply, see alintaenergy.com. au/qbrofferdetails. Qantas Business Rewards membership and earning Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Business Rewards T&Cs (see qantas.com/au/en/business-rewards/terms-and-conditions.html). Qantas Points can’t be redeemed for cash and can only be transferred in line with the Qantas Business Rewards T&Cs. Your business is solely liable for any tax implications relating to earning and using Qantas Points under the Qantas Business Rewards Program. 13. To go in the draw to win a cricket bat signed by the Australian Men’s International T20 cricket team, your business must sign up to the Alinta Energy BusinessDeal Qantas Electricity and/or Gas plan between 9 January-31 March 2023. Full competition T&Cs apply, see alintaenergy.com.au/residential/customer-rewards/competitions/QBRCompetition-terms-and-conditions. 14. Qantas Points for business are offered under the Qantas Hotels Terms and Conditions. Qantas Business Rewards members will earn 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on domestic and international hotel accommodation only (room rate) booked and paid for in the booking excluding Airbnb bookings. Qantas Points will not be earned on any additional fees or hotel sundries charged to the room (for example, room service, hotel dining etc). Qantas Points will be credited to the members’ Business Rewards account within 9 weeks of the stay. Any claims in relation to Qantas Points under this offer must be made directly to Qantas Hotels. 15. Price is correct as at 7 November 2022 based on a check in date of 6 January 2023 in a Tower Superior King Room, for 2 nights for 2 adults. The amount of Qantas Points earned are subject to change. Availability may be limited. 16. Price is correct as at 7 November 2022 based on a check in date of 6 January 2023 in a Luxe King Room, for 2 nights for 2 adults. The amount of Qantas Points earned are subject to change. Availability may be limited. 17. Price is correct as at 7 November 2022 based on a check in date of 6 January 2023 in a Studio Luxe Room, for 2 nights for 2 adults. The amount of Qantas Points earned are subject to change. Availability may be limited. 18. Qantas Business Money is powered by Airwallex Pty Ltd (ABN 37 609 653 312, AFSL No. 487221). Your access to Qantas Business Money is arranged by Qantas as Airwallex’s authorised representative (No. 261363).This information doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. It is important for you to consider these matters and read Airwallex’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you make a decision regarding these services. You can obtain a copy of the PDS at qantas.com/businessmoney.Applications for Qantas Business Money will be assessed by Airwallex and are subject to Airwallex’s approval. Personal information collected will be handled in accordance with the Qantas Privacy Policy and the Airwallex Privacy Policy. Qantas Business Rewards members who have been approved as customers of Qantas Business Money will earn 1 bonus Qantas Point per $1AUD (or AUD equivalent) of foreign currency conversions, up to $25,000AUD (or AUD equivalent) by 31 March. This is in addition to the standard 1 Qantas Point per $10AUD (or AUD equivalent) of foreign currency conversions transacted through Qantas Business Money. Qantas Points should be credited to the Qantas Business Rewards account within 3 business days of the conversion being completed. Offer is limited to one per ABN. These points will be credited to the Qantas Business Rewards account in accordance with the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions. The FX price comparison (70%) is based on comparing quoted Qantas Business Money FX rates against published USD/AUD rates of the big 4 banks in Australia (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation, and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group). Find out more at qantas.com/businessmoney. 19. NRMA Business Members will earn 4 Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible products. Qantas Points for NRMA Business Motoring Members are offered under the NRMA Business Rewards Terms and Conditions. Payment must be made to the NRMA no later than two business days after the renewal due date. Qantas Points will be credited to the Member’s Qantas Business Rewards account within 30 days of payment to the NRMA. Any claims in relation to Qantas Points under this offer must be made directly to NRMA by emailing businessrewards@mynrma.com.au. Insurance Australia Limited (trading as NRMA Insurance) and its related entities are separate and unrelated to National Roads and Motorists’ Association Limited. 20. To enter the promotion, eligible entrants must (a) be an existing Qantas Business Rewards member and register their business via qantas.com/au/en/business-rewards/exclusive-offers/QBES287.html OR join Qantas Business Rewards between 12.01am (AEDT) 1 February and 11:59pm (AEDT) 31 March 2023; (b) spend with any Qantas Business Rewards program partner between 12:01am 1 February (AEDT) and 11:59pm (AEST) 30 April 2023 and (c) have a minimum of 1 Qantas Point credited to their Qantas Business Rewards account as a result of spend by 11:59pm (AEST)

RICHARD EVANS

INTERVIEW BY KIRSTEN GALLIOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUGH STEWART

He’s made his mark on some of our biggest cultural institutions but the arts boss says his role is to encourage others to be creative.

2016-present

Managing director, Australian Chamber Orchestra

“I was running my own consulting business, which is still going, but after working on my own, I really craved a team environment. There’s something about the cycle of successes and failures and openings and closings and that sense of rhythm. Doing it on my own ultimately didn’t feed me. We’ve really built the team, – hand-picked over seven years – who look for new and inventive ways to bring the orchestra to market, whether that’s here or in London, New York or Tokyo. The biggest thing for us has been moving to a new space in Walsh Bay. This is a project that will cost the ACO $22 million – we’ve raised about 16 and the rest will come from our reserves. Moving from a small organisation that pops up around the world and plays in other people’s theatres or concert halls to being an organisation and having our own spaces is quite a transformation for us. So how can we ensure that this lives on beyond all of us and the artistic planks that are put in place have longevity long after we are gone? We really encourage our people to go out and see a range of work and have a bigger life in whatever way they can. I want to engage people to think outside of their world because our world can get very narrow. How can we ensure that as we get older our lives become richer and not narrower and calcified? We have to create an environment where the most creative things can happen.”

Find the right team and give them the opportunity to be creative

“LPA is a professional association that includes Live Nation down to a two-person theatre company in Kalgoorlie. It has given me a richer appreciation of the diversity of people working in the arts. One of the amazing things about COVID was that when things were suddenly turned off, you realised what was there. The state governments were desperate for the arts to be reactivated to bring the cities back to life; they realised that there’s many thousands of seats in theatres each night that drive upstream and downstream economic benefits. We’ve all spent millions of dollars on economic impact studies to prove the worth of the arts but there’s nothing like a real-life example of what happens when it’s not present.”

“I had four premiers in five years while I was at the Opera House – it was incredibly taxing. I’d also had my second child so BridgeClimb was an opportunity to step out of the seven-nights-a-week environment I’d been in. BridgeClimb is an incredible organisation and such a gift to Australia. It was an iconic experience – like going to the Opera House – but I realised I was built for the cultural sector. I missed the value proposition beyond the commercial running of an organisation; I was more interested in the cultural benefits and the richer experiences that existed. Changing industries made me realise that the arts is my home. I thought I was doing the right thing for my family and it was an opportunity at a second career but what it brought into sharp relief was that the arts was where I was supposed to be.”

“There’s no bigger stakeholder management job than the Sydney Opera House. There’s the premier, the treasurer and all the senior ministers and their staff. There’s all the resident companies, their chairs and chief executives. There were also 700 or 800 staff as well, and the audiences and businesses that operate within the Opera House, such as the restaurants and bars. I was trying to keep all of those plates spinning at the same time as really aggressively pursuing a cultural agenda. When I did the interview, the panel said, ‘What is it you do that is different?’ I said, ‘Look, I really don’t know but if you put me in a room with a bunch of really smart people, they’ll be better as a result.’ I’m a boy from a small town in New Zealand. I really enjoy people, I like getting to know them and I like trying to understand what makes them tick. I think I innately understand how people are and if things are working or not working.”

“I didn’t know anything about ballet but I found the development pathway for young kids intoxicating. It was democratic, too, with kids from all over the country and all walks of life. In my day, we had 72 dancers and two doctors, three therapists and two physios. We really looked at injury prevention and invested in research, which has continued. How can we look after the artists on the road? And how can we keep them at their optimum, whether that’s preventative work from the physio team or creating a maternity leave policy? People either chose not to have a child so they could continue to dance or they would have a child and never come back. I was like, ‘Wow, there’s all these fantastic dancers who disappear just when the public is getting to know them. How can we help them?’ You have to invest in people.”

“I wanted to get inside [founder] John Bell’s head. John had done such a lot of things throughout his career so I really wanted to understand what he wanted to achieve next and then move heaven and earth to make that happen for him. In my career, the purpose has been to create an environment where creative people can work at their best. That’s what the whole game is about. I’m the worst micro-manager in the world – I’m terrible at it. If people need too much guidance, that’s a problem. I’m very much about finding the right person, coaching them and letting them run with it. They might not do it the way I do it – probably better [laughs] – but I’d rather look at what can be improved rather than trying to dictate everything along the way. Otherwise you can’t do everything at scale.”

“It’s now very unusual to find chief executives who actually grew up sweeping the floor. I did that. I began by working in university theatre as an assistant stage manager. But my first big break was working for Margi Mellsop, who had her own promotional agency in Auckland and used to look after the [folk duo] Topp Twins. I became her first assistant and what I really remember is that you just need to ask the questions. As long as you’re not afraid of not knowing the answer, people are really keen to help and they like nothing more than for their expertise to be sought after. So if you have a bit of chutzpah and you’re not afraid to look foolish, you can actually get quite a lot done. More and more I think that the more confident you are about not knowing anything, the easier life becomes.”

07:00

I live at Sunset Beach on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii, where all the big waves are. I wake up whenever (today it’s seven), drink water, take vitamins and walk my dog, Velzy [a Maltese Shih tzu], on the beach. It takes an hour or two because I’m checking my phone for client updates and messages from around the world. My company, Prouduct, makes 100 different products at a time so anything can happen between when I go to bed and when I wake up.

09:00

I’ve learnt to set interviews and work calls at nine or 10am. There was a time I’d do them whenever other people wanted but giving myself predictability around when I meet adds value to those connections and flexibility to the rest of the day. A full calendar is an empty life because it means you’re not flexible to do the things you want or like to do. An empty calendar means you’re a leader because it’s handled.

11:00

I take a breather from the concentrated batching of my work and check in with my business partners and family. My wife and I always wanted to be available to take our three kids to school and pick them up. “Available” is an important word to me. You can be autonomous – you decide what you want to do – but you might not be available to do it. Now we’re homeschooling.

I’ve realised that when I tell myself I’m being productive, I’ll put my head down for eight hours and get something

INTERVIEW BY ALISON BOLEYN PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALEIGH NORTON

Entrepreneur and business coach Richie Norton doesn’t quite “do” workdays. Here’s how the Anti-Time Management author spends his hours.

done. But if I force myself to do the fun stuff or the family time – what I’m working for anyway – I’m able to get the same thing done in less time. No-one’s more productive than a procrastinator with an impending deadline!

12:00

First meal of the day: a pan-seared steak with avocado. I scroll through Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn and read the comments on my posts for inspiration. There’s this loop: I share, there’s feedback, where else does this need to go?

13:00

I know this sounds luxurious and, I’ve got to be honest, it is. Most days, the time between lunch and sunset is totally open. I’m not thinking about what’s next. If I was up late, I’ll take a nap. If the wind’s in the right direction, I’ll go surfing with the kids. Or we’ll go hiking or I’ll write. Then we’ll work on projects around the house or on our dream projects. For example, our oldest son, Raleigh, makes films; we discuss how to negotiate with producers 20 to 30 years older than him.

I don’t punish myself for being “lazy” because I’ve already worked on a dozen projects and a couple of interviews. I’ve tried to create an environment where productivity can happen and there’s space for the unexpected – both the good unexpected and the tragic. We have four sons; our youngest passed away. [Baby Gavin died in 2010.]

I didn’t always do it this way. I used to always be super-busy. And I realised, what am I working for? If it’s not for work’s sake, it’s for something else. Now I put the something else first.

18:00

I watch the sunset every evening. It’s not a structured meditation – I’ll invite my family and whoever’s around or I’ll bring

my dog. Every sunset’s an opportunity to reset. On hard days I’ll contemplate what worked and what didn’t. If I did wrong or there’s something I’m worried about saying or wish I’d said then I’ll consciously try it for myself: “Yeah Richie, you can let that go.”

19:00

I learnt a long time ago that an hour with my kids at the park, when I’m on my phone walking in circles, is not as exciting to them as five minutes with me on the trampoline. I plug my phone in to charge. We order from a Thai food truck across the street – chicken panang curry and mango coconut sticky rice – and eat it out of the box, on our couches, watching whatever my wife Natalie wants to watch.

Often people don’t really want their business or project; they want what they think will come after. Well, why not start there? And build the economic and strategic ways to support it? For me, travel is huge. I have set up my business in a way that I can be anywhere and get things done in any time zone. I believe that when you sacrifice what you love for success, you get neither.

21:00

The kids have no set bedtime. My wife and I are chilling, talking about where we want to travel. We talk about Raleigh moving to Africa to do mission work [the whole family are members of a Latter-day Saints church]. We talk about ways Natalie can scale her work coaching high-achieving women who want to overcome trauma.

23:00

When you’re a kid and the teacher says, “If you do all these good things, I’ll give you this jelly bean at the end of the day,” that was about control. But we do that. If you have a business, you

need to build in from the start the freedom of time or the ability to travel or whatever your dream is. We have to rescue our dreams from the end of a timeline and put them first.

If my head is spinning with ideas, I’ll write them down; otherwise I won’t sleep. I switch off the tech, black out the windows, turn the AC to super-cold and go to sleep.

A good cause

Academics often illustrate Aristotle’s theory of causation with a table, which comes to be through four “causes”: materials, design, a carpenter and – final cause – the table. So Richie Norton asks: “What’s the purpose of the table?”

“If it’s to make a family heirloom, build it. But if it’s to bring your family together, you don’t need to build a table.”

Managing time can itself become the final cause. Norton advocates starting with values then finding ways to support them.

“If you move beyond goals and habits to what they were intended to create – the dream – you can better decide which goals and habits are useful and which aren’t. If you ask yourself, ‘What’s the job of the goal?’ it changes the goal.”

Time management was never supposed to be in the self-help vernacular. It was designed to measure and control every drop of blood, sweat and tears of workers for productivity.

AIRROBE

STORY BY JANE NICHOLLS

Tech that lets fashionistas rent or sell their wardrobe is a runway to a sustainable circular economy –and brands and retailers love it.

Need to know

Founder

Hannon Comazzetto (below), 30

First customer

The Fashion Advocate, 2021

Offices

New York (headquarters), San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne

Investors

Sugar Capital, Tidal Ventures, Blackbird Ventures, Investible, Alberts Impact Capital, Paul Greenberg, Rachel Kelly

Staff

21

What is it? When customers buy a new fashion item online from one of more than 150 AirRobe partners, they can add the product to their Circular Wardrobe (which AirRobe has trademarked). “Product information and the accompanying professional imagery is saved to their account,” explains CEO and founder Hannon Comazzetto, so AirRobe users can later resell, rent or recycle these items “with one click”. Comazzetto recalls helping friends resell items on Ebay. “Most of us have endured taking photos of the black dress on the bed or hanging on the back of a door. We make it easy.”

Where did the idea come from? “Our goal is to keep quality, pre-loved clothing in circulation and away from landfill,” says Comazzetto, who’s been a thrift-shopper since she was young. “When e-commerce became huge, it struck me that products have been photographed and described with the information you need to sell them online.” She saw an opportunity to work with brands to “make ‘recommerce’ seamless for their customers” by giving consumers access to that collateral.

How did it get it off the ground? The idea was to “intercept fashion when it’s purchased” so it lived longer. The first step was getting brands and retailers on board – current partners include The Iconic, Oroton, General Pants Co. and Ginger & Smart – and the technology to make the marketplace frictionless was key. “More than 85 per cent of what we wear ends up in landfill,” says Comazzetto. “Building a circular economy means that we re-use these valuable resources.” AirRobe has 50,000 users around the world, a customer base that she was confident was waiting. “Gen Zs and Millennials want brand-led conscious fashion.”

Biggest challenge? In the beginning, it was getting retailers to understand the benefits of offering a circular-economy solution for their clients. “There’s an old-hat view that allowing your customers to resell their items can harm your primary sales but we now have many case studies that show the opposite is true.” She says data reveals there are financial benefits and improved loyalty as shoppers see the lifetime value of their purchases.

What’s next? “We’re building and scaling the technology so we can share this concept across any industry that has products that can live on.” Circular consumables in their sights include homewares, appliances and baby products, which obviously have a short life for their original users.

airrobe.com

BUILDING BY EXAMPLE

One of Australia’s most forward-thinking industrial property companies is leading the charge towards net-zero carbon emissions in a bid to revolutionise the broader industry – and help the planet.

For Frasers Property Industrial, sustainability and moving towards net-zero carbon emissions sits at the core of its business.

The innovative, multinational leader in industrial and logistics property development, leasing and management was the first of its kind to mandate a 5 Star Green Star rating across all of its facilities in 2017. It’s also committed to implementing environmentally responsible innovations such as solar and onsite battery storage into its property portfolio that help occupying businesses operate sustainably. In short greener buildings mean greener businesses.

“Our approach is pragmatic, because we’re looking to create long-term value in terms of futureproofing what we do.” explains Frasers Property Industrial’s CEO Reini Otter of the company’s sustainability targets. “But on a deeper, purpose-driven level, we’re also contributing to a better future.”

That commitment to sustainable solutions has seen the company rank strongly in the 2022 global

GRESB results – which assesses the ongoing ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance of real estate assets and progress towards global sustainability goals. One example of Frasers Property Industrial’s green credentials is displayed through its collaboration with US retail giant WilliamsSonoma to deliver one of the most sustainable industrial buildings in Australia. The storage and distribution warehouse at Sydney’s The Horsley Park Estate is the first to implement a net-zero carbon solution through solar power, battery storage and biodiesel back-up generation.

“This building will be able to generate and store its own electricity and reuse it when it needs to. We can see this being replicated on larger estates and that will be a game changer for the industry.”

The health of customer’s employees is also part of Frasers Property Industrial’s sustainable strategy. The new build-to-suit facilities support wellbeing through increased greenery and natural light and partnering with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds

to promote physical and mental health in the logistics industry. As the company moves towards a net-zero carbon future, goals include the reduction of Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions produced in a company’s value chain), increasing solar power generation and the rollout of the data-driven Smart Warehouse Pilot Program – which aims to improve energy consumption and environmental standards – across its portfolio.

“To be able to participate in the transformation of our industry, which benefits the people involved, and the planet, is very satisfying,” says Otter. “We want to inspire but we also want to be inspired because that’s how we’ll improve.”

For more information on Frasers Property Industrial go to fraserspropertyindustrial.com

↑ Williams Sonoma at The Horsley Park Estate, New South Wales

Information overload

Data is both more critical and more perilous for every business. Five experts share their knowledge on the latest trends, opportunities and danger zones with Jane Nicholls.

Data analysis needs to get smarter

Pratik Doshi, founder and CEO of Convincely, believes companies need to constantly monitor how they measure data.

Many companies are spending a lot of money to get consumers to visit their websites but that’s dollars down the drain if potential customers are frustrated by the user experience. The root cause of drift is often dodgy web analytics that are not revealing the true pain points for customers.

“Organisations spending $10-15 million a year in advertising are looking at inaccurate data,” says Doshi, whose company helps businesses make their websites more userfriendly. “The first thing we do with a new client is an audit on the web-analytics data.”

Doshi, whose customers include higher education, insurance firms, finance and aged care, says 98 per cent of Australian companies use Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics. “Both are relatively easy to implement so people set-and-forget their data-capture mechanisms, failing to go back to check and improve them as time

passes.” As a result of that benign neglect, about 75 per cent of organisations fail Convincely’s data audit.

The problem begins when analytics tools are implemented, says Doshi. The assumption is once your data dashboard is feeding you info about your website, you’re good to go. “They are specialist tools and you’ll miss a lot if they’re not properly configured.”

Companies also measure too many data points. “If you’re going to measure 100 different KPI goals, you’re never going to use them all and for them to be accurate, you have to maintain the mechanisms behind them.” It can quickly get out of control. “Very soon, people will notice one thing in the data is inaccurate and they will lose trust and start doubting the analytics program.”

Doshi says tightening all this up allows organisations to accurately track how users interact with their website. Convincely goes hunting for pain points to suggest improvements. For example, how a user moves their mouse over a website or finger on a mobile site can reveal a problem. “There are lots of signals that show frustration and an issue on that specific area.” That means it’s time to dive into the user experience of that page or button. “It’s not a huge transformation project; it’s about simplifying and fixing things,” he says. “It’s low-hanging fruit.”

As you pluck those easy-to-reach apples, get your web analytics ready for a “postcookies” world. “Firefox, Chrome and Apple are constantly making cookie-tracking mechanisms more rigorous and more in favour of consumers,” says Doshi. “You need to update your tools to overcome the situations where third-party cookies are no longer accepted by browsers. The constant change in the ecosystem around web browsers is a key area where companies fail to keep their web analytics up to date.”

Big changes are coming to the world’s most widely used analytics tool, too. Google has announced that Google Analytics will be “deprecated” from July this year and there is no automatic migration to the new version, GA4. “Organisations should take this as an opportunity to look at their data-capture mechanisms, set those KPIs tighter and implement the new tool with a specialist so it’s secured for the future.”

Personalisation strategies are being overhauled

Managing personal data has never been more important, says Greg Dickason, managing director Asia & Pacific at LexisNexis and a former CTO at CoreLogic.

As ever-stricter government data regulations come in around the world, businesses need to switch to sipping data like a fine wine rather than chugging it from a yard glass. “It opens up opportunities and enormous risks for businesses,” says Dickason. “The fines can be large and obviously there’s a reputational risk because people now understand the value of their data.”

Even when operating within the boundaries of permissions, the abundance of off-the-shelf products that turn data into customer targeting has become a risk in itself. “It’s easier to categorise customers and have finely grained approaches to marketing but it leads to over-personalisation – and people are now far more sceptical about how a company got hold of their data. The general principle is that if you search for something, you get retargeted. You search for sewing machines and the next day you get banner ads for sewing machines. It’s irritating and you’ve probably bought the machine so it’s a waste of marketing money.”

Dickason says smart marketers will turn down the volume and become much more

subtle. He cautions that data greed is not just about the risk of getting breached. “You can create models that are so ‘overfitted’ that they break.” The predictive model becomes an exact fit for the training data and can no longer perform on unseen data, defeating its predictive purpose. “That happens with too much data, not too little.”

After years of filling data lakes, the best shift now could be for businesses to be explicitly transparent about how they treat their customers’ data, even beyond the regulations. “Integrity is becoming so much more important. It’s valuable for a business to say, ‘We don’t keep your data at all’ or ‘We only keep it for these purposes.’ That will resonate with consumers.”

The next wave for data analytics and AI

Carlie Idoine, vice president analyst, chief of research for analytics, data science and AI at Gartner, shares this set of trends.

Activate dynamism and diversity

“It’s about building systems that can learn and evolve as our business and the world around us change,” says Idoine. That includes embracing adaptive AI to update its own models – and for that to work, data needs to be better planned from the outset. “All of those things have been addressed haphazardly,” says Idoine. “We build data sets and then we say, ‘Oh, I’m going to use this data for AI’, as opposed to going into it saying, ‘How can I make this data better out of the gate?’ and thinking about its use for AI.” Gartner also argues that the architecture connecting D&A – data and analytics – needs to improve and calls for better data sharing. “High-performing organisations actively promote data sharing [across organisations]. It helps drive consistency and aligns with key priorities.”

Augment people and decisions

Amid all this tech, it’s imperative to keep people in the loop. For starters, most people will understand data analysis if they have more context. “We might want to combine situational data with environmental data or combine images and videos in documents,” says Idoine.

Next up is “business-composed D&A”, which sees low-code or no-code applications putting more of us in the

data-analytics driver’s seat. “This is one of my favourites. We’re moving from IT creating the analytics to business users creating their own – the people who use ’em, create ’em.” This is decision-driven D&A, “a flip from when the data and analytics decided what we’d do”. For it to be successful beyond the IT experts, broader data literacy is key. “We need a concerted effort to develop the D&A skills and data literacy of our workforce.”

Institutionalise trust

“You can have the best data and analytics in the world but if people don’t trust it, they’re not going to use it to make business decisions,” says Idoine. “This is super important.” A connected governance framework around a company’s D&A must go “across all the business functions and geographies”, she adds. Trust also demands robust AI risk management. “You need a process in place that takes the models and puts them through an operational lens and verifies that you’re managing transparency and mitigating potential risk.”

Ways to win the cyber war

Abigail Bradshaw, head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), shares her insights on cyber safety.

If your company holds PII data – personally identifiable information – you have a very serious responsibility to protect the humans on the other side of it. “We’ve seen how personal data can be used and weaponised to make money, by selling it on in order to conduct scams or steal identities, or to perform other social engineering to obtain more information or to extort money where that information is sensitive or potentially embarrassing,” says Bradshaw.

As cyber criminals become more devious, defences need strengthening and measures that were once adequate are now proving weak. Bradshaw has a number of recommendations.

“Network segmentation is a hugely effective control to prevent an adversary from easily moving through your network once access has been gained,” she says. “If you segregate your network into multiple zones, you can protect servers and services as well as data.” Visualise the slamming doors in the opening sequence of the ’60s TV classic Get Smart, locking out the cyber criminal agent from advancing further.

And it works. “We’ve seen instances of companies who’ve been the subject of ransomware attacks who have, because of their awesome network segregation, been able to confine it to particular parts of their network and preserve and protect other segments, including vital data.”

Bradshaw also urges companies to ensure basic cyber hygiene measures are in place, such as logging. “In the event of intrusion, logging helps you understand, if there has been unauthorised access, whether data has been exfiltrated.

“The better your logging is, the more likely you’re going to be able to ascertain sooner rather than later whether access has led to data exfiltration. Finding out sooner is super important to reducing the harm of that exfiltration and potential publication of the data.”

Beware the false-sense-of-security trap. “It used to be the case that if you had good firewalls, protections and visibility at the perimeter, everyone thought they were okay on the inside,” says Bradshaw. “But there are so many avenues for getting in now that companies are increasingly moving to what’s called a ‘zero trust’ framework, where you assume on a constant basis that there’s malicious activity going on inside your networks.”

Despite the almost 13 per cent year-onyear increase to 76,000 cybercrime reports from July 2021 to July 2022, it is possible to thwart hackers. As well as hyper-vigilance, fastidious backups make all the difference. “Those with really good network segregation and excellent backups are the entities that are most likely to contain the attack, close the door, push the actor out and get up and start running again.”

There’s a large amount of information on the ACSC website (cyber.gov.au) and Bradshaw urges people to check the site’s ReportCyber section. “ReportCyber is how we catch bottom feeders trying to extort data breach victims, because someone puts in a report.”

If you do nothing else…

According to Bradshaw, focusing on these three things will substantially improve your resilience against cyber attacks. Automatic updates for software “A large number of ransomware attacks and data thefts occur because software is not updated. Make automatic updates your default setting.”

Backups “The best way to recover from a ransomware attack is by having a digital copy of your business’s most important information, whether that’s customer details or sales figures. Keep it separate from your normal systems, which can be as simple as on a USB, an external hard drive or backing up to the cloud.”

Multi-factor authentication “Ensure you have multi-factor authentication applied on as many systems as possible.”

10 things every board and executive team should know…

What data you have

The value of that data

Where your data resides

Who has access to your data

How to back up and restore your data

Your legislative obligations

Your threat environment

How to protect your data

That you need to assess and verify that your data is protected

How to respond to data breaches

The 5 things leaders need to know about the cloud

1

It’s not (just) storage. “People think the cloud is a new version of hosted infrastructure and it’s so not,” says Sorenson. “It’s the brains of the cloud platform that creates the magic. When I talk to boards, I get asked if the cloud is just shifting from our data centre to yours. It is far more than that.” Yes, the cloud is a platform for data storage but it’s also home to extra computing resources and all manner of tools, known as SaaS (software as a service). 2

The business case is solid. “Boards and CEOs need to realise that for the cloud it’s not if, it’s when,” says Sorenson. “Only a few years ago people were still looking

at whether the business case stacked up.” In a data-driven world, using the cloud unlocks what teams need to deliver AI and ML (machine learning) programs, for example, by making high-performance computing resources available on demand. “The cloud gives businesses the power to spin up and spin down.” 3

It accelerates digital transformation. “During COVID, all of a sudden companies of every size had to spin up computing resources to enable their teams to work from anywhere. It forced the kind of digital transformation in a few weeks that probably would have taken years.” Now we’re underway, the cloud helps keep the pedal to the metal. 4

It can help control capital expenditure. Spinning computing resources up and down means companies always have access to an on/off switch, as opposed to

investing in physical servers that are usually a massive investment. As well, says Sorenson, there are solutions to help you monitor cloud costs, including one from Microsoft Azure partner CloudMonitor. “It helps organisations reduce unnecessary spending on the cloud, using tools to see what you can turn off, what you’re no longer using – a bit like switching off office lights at night or on the weekend.” 5

How to step onto cloud one? “Think of it like constructing a building – you have to start with the foundations and for the cloud that’s a landing zone,” says Sorenson. “The landing zone starts with insights as to how ready an organisation is to move its applications to the cloud. We know sustainability is top of mind for boards and CEOs and if you have big, old data centres chugging through power sources, moving to the cloud is going to help you hit your sustainability goals. Start with ‘dev and test’. If you’ve got a project idea, spin up a demo test environment and see how it works – and then turn it off.”

Vanessa Sorenson, chief partner officer ANZ and managing director of Microsoft New Zealand, takes us on a quick tour of cloud computing.

Is your business cyber smart?

Attacks are growing in sophistication and volume, making it more important than ever to strengthen your cybersecurity defences.

Keeping your business cyber safe is getting more difficult every year as online criminals create increasingly sophisticated methods of attack.

According to the State of Ransomware 2022 report conducted by Sophos – a global leader in the development and delivery of cybersecurityas-a-service – 66 per cent of businesses globally were hit by ransomware in the past year. The average cost to remediate an attack in Australia was $1.61 million, with almost half of those attacked paying the cybercriminals a ransom.

“IT professionals have never faced a taller challenge,” says Aaron Bugal, global solutions engineer at Sophos. “Australian organisations are facing ransomware attacks well above the rates we’re witnessing globally. Eighty per cent of Australian organisations were hit with ransomware in 2021, which is up considerably from 45 per cent the year before.”

This increase calls for stronger and dedicated defences to protect your business. A combination of expert advice and services coupled with up-to-date software can be the

difference between a harmless hack and a devastating, costly attack.

Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution provides 24/7 threat hunting, detection and response delivered by an expert team as a fully-managed service. Sophos MDR fuses machine learning with human analysis to rapidly identify and neutralise complex attacks within minutes.

For example, a telecommunications provider faced a spear phishing attempt that saw a client’s email flagged for suspicious links by the Sophos MDR platform before it evaluated, grouped and analysed the alerts, while an expertly trained human checked that it had been negated by the technology.

“Organisations are struggling to keep pace with well-funded adversaries who are continuously innovating,” says John Donovan, managing director for Sophos Australia and New Zealand. “Sophos MDR can discover and intercept these steps before they result in a data breach, ransomware or other type of costly compromise.”

5 steps to stronger cyber protection

It can seem overwhelming but ignoring cybersecurity risks is a sure path to pain.

1. Understand the maturity of your current cybersecurity operations. The Australian Cyber Security Centre has developed the Essential Eight mitigation strategies as an excellent starting point.

2. Decide how you will approach threat hunting – in-house, outsourced with Sophos’ MDR solution or a hybrid approach?

3. Identify technology gaps and review existing tools –are they effective or does the business need to consider outsourcing this technology?

4. Find skills gaps. Appreciate that threat hunting is a specialist occupation and outsourcing should be considered. At the same time, every person in every business needs evolving and up-to-date training.

5. Develop and implement an incident-response plan, ensuring that when the inevitable attack comes, you’re ready and can reduce its impact. Learn more at sophos.com

On board

Premiere movies, hit TV shows and absorbing audiobooks

Movies

There’s something for everyone in this selection of new films.

Triangle of Sadness

Just like The Menu, Triangle of Sadness – which took out the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year – delivers one comeuppance after another for the financially blessed. In this case, it’s a group or passengers who are onboard a $250-million luxury yacht that’s designed to cater for the every whim of its guests, no matter how delusional. Starring Woody Harrelson (above right, with Arvin Kananian) as the ship’s beleaguered captain, with Harris Dickinson, the late Charlbi Dean and Zlatko Burić in supporting roles.

Rated M

The Menu

Oscar-winning actor Ralph Fiennes (above) serves up his patented foreboding energy in The Menu, a dark-as-molasses satire about celebrity chefs, foodie culture and the super-rich.

Fiennes plays world-renowned chef Julian Slowik, who seethes with self-seriousness and an unpredictable ferocity that would give Gordon Ramsay nightmares. Slowik owns and runs an exclusive destination restaurant called Hawthorne (based loosely on Noma, the award-winning Nordic restaurant in Copenhagen), located on a remote private island. Weary of pandering to the “one per cent”, he decides to plot a nefarious dégustation journey for his 12 entitled guests that gives new meaning to the maxim “eat the rich”.

But it’s not all gloom and doom: The Menu has a solid comic pedigree, with co-production by former Saturday Night Live heavyweights Will Ferrell and Adam McKay (who brought us the darkly hilarious Don’t Look Up).

Writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, former scribes for parody news website The Onion, manage to skewer not just the microcosm of restaurants and their sycophants but the bottomless demands of the privileged.

Co-stars include Ozark ’s towering villain, Janet McTeer, as a food critic who has been instrumental in Slowik’s success, Paul Adelstein as her editor and Nicholas Hoult (The Great) as a food snob whose date, played by Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit), has plans of her own. Rated MA15+

Black Adam

In 2600 BCE an enslaved boy is bestowed with superpowers by a council of wizards, enabling him to slay an evil leader. Fast-forward to an archeological dig in the present day and the search for an ancient crown, supposedly imbued with superpowers. The only way to retrieve it is to call on the former slave boy, now known as Teth-Adam, aka Black Adam, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (above right, with Pierce Brosnan as Kent Nelson/Doctor Fate) and based on a DC comic-book character. Rated M

Words by Natalie Reilly

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Creating a Marvel sequel without its beloved hero was always going to be a challenge after star Chadwick Boseman, who played the role of King T’Challa, died of colon cancer in 2020. Rather than ignore his passing, the makers of Black Panther have folded it into the sequel, even enacting a memorial for T’Challa and leaving his sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), and his mother, Queen Ramonda (an effortlessly regal Angela Bassett), to lead their people – and the wider Marvel audience – in a cathartic rebuilding of the kingdom. But you can’t unite a people without a common foe. Enter a new threat: the Talokan, a civilisation of amphibious blue-tinged elfin-eared people, with a vengeful leader, Namor (Tenoch Huerta), who possesses remarkable longevity. It’s time to call in the rest of the troops – Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and M’Baku (Winston Duke, right) – for a good, restorative CGI-laden rumble. Rated M

Emily

What motivated Emily Brontë to write Wuthering Heights, one of the most celebrated English novels of all time? Frances O’Connor, known for her acting in films such as Mansfield Park, attempts to explain Brontë’s reasons in this fictionalised biopic she wrote and directed. Emily swirls with feminist subtext and romantic longing. The film stars Emma Mackey (left, from the comedy series Sex Education) as Brontë, who becomes romantically entangled with her tutor, William (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a stiff-necked gent who is both attracted and repelled by what he views as her “ungodly” writing and her strange (read: clever) view of the world. Rejected, Brontë seeks solace in her sister Charlotte (who would later write Jane Eyre) and her mischievous, troubled brother, Branwell, thought by some to have been the inspiration for Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Rated M

Television

Whatever your mood, there’s a show to match.

The White Lotus: Season 1

Australian actor Murray Bartlett earned an Emmy playing the concierge in this instant classic – an engrossing series about the hidden lives of guests and staff at a five-star resort in Hawaii. Both funny and tragic, the drama is driven by actors such as Jon Gries and Jennifer Coolidge (below). Rated MA15+

The Confessions of Frannie Langton

This four-part historical English drama tells the story of Frannie (Karla-Simone Spence, below left, with Sophie Cookson), a former slave accused of murdering her employer and his wife. Rated MA15+

Pam & Tommy

Before the internet, where a new supercouple is anointed seemingly every week, there was Playboy pin-up Pamela Anderson, the breakout star of Baywatch, and Tommy Lee, bad-boy drummer of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. Together they were a powerhouse of sex, drugs, rock’n’roll – and scandal. This eight-part series, created by writer Robert Siegel, broadly covers their tumultuous union from 1995 to 1998. And although the two are now divorced, the legacy of their love (and sex tape) lives on. Starring Lily James (above right, with Pepi Sonuga) and Sebastian Stan. Rated R18+

Queen of the Universe

The British answer to RuPaul’s Drag Race is hosted by late-night compere Graham Norton (left) and features Leona Lewis, Trixie Mattel, Michelle Visage and Vanessa Williams as judges. May the fiercest performer win! Rated MA15+

Pantheon: Box Set

Based on the fantasy novels of award-winning author Ken Liu, Pantheon is an animated adult series that follows the shady dealings of a technology corporation. With the voices of Katie Chang and Paul Dano. Rated M

Audiobooks

Tune into these compelling stories.

A Human’s Guide to the Future

Overwhelmed by the lightning-fast evolution of scientific and technological advances and want to make sense of it all? In this book, Australian biomedical engineer, inventor and futurist Dr Jordan Nguyen takes us on a fascinating journey through high-tech innovations, including robotics, artificial intelligence and bionics, arguing that embracing this mind-blowing change can benefit our future rather than destroy our humanity.

The Dressmaker’s Secret

In 1950s Melbourne, Tilly Dunnage is toiling away in a down-at-heel dress salon – but she has good reason to hide her talents. Back in her fictitious outback hometown, Dungatar, the locals are keen to find her after she left the main street in flames in an act of vengeance. In Rosalie Ham’s darkly comic sequel to The Dressmaker, which was made into a film starring Kate Winslet, Tilly must face the secrets of her past.

When All is Said & Done

When he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2013, former AFL player and manager Neale Daniher had two choices: give in to the incurable condition or create hope for other sufferers. Raised in a large family in regional NSW, Daniher had an illustrious career across three clubs. Post-diagnosis, he founded FightMND, which has raised millions for research into what he calls “The Beast”. Here, Daniher reflects on his life and how to make every day count.

Connect to Qantas

Free Wi-Fi and Entertainment App

Once onboard, connect your own device to Qantas Free Wi-Fi on domestic flights in three simple steps to access the internet and Qantas Entertainment App.

STEP 1

Enable Aeroplane Mode and select the “Qantas Free Wi-Fi” network in your Wi-Fi settings.

STEP 2

Follow the prompts on the “Welcome Onboard” screen to connect.

STEP 3

Once you’re connected, you’re now ready to access the internet and the Qantas Entertainment App.

News

Enjoy unlimited access to theaustralian.com.au, afr.com.au and themonthly.com.au when you are connected to Qantas Wi-Fi onboard and in Qantas lounges.

Having trouble connecting? Make sure you are connected to the “Qantas Free Wi-Fi” network and go to wifi.qantas.com in your preferred browser to start exploring. Inflight entertainment varies by route and aircraft. Voice calls are not permitted inflight.

Quick clues

Across

01. Ragamuffin (6)

05. Hollywood prize, Academy ... (5)

08. Bath sheets (6)

11. Elton John and Liberace (8)

12. Casualty department case (10)

13. Treatment of skeletal problems (10)

14. Intensify (8)

15. Bunks (4)

16. Studies for exam (7)

19. Grimy (6)

22. Eat nothing (6)

24. Lines of soldiers (7)

27. Affirm (4)

28. Dairy drink (4)

29. Tooth expert, dental ... (7)

30. Space vehicle (6)

31. Nationwide household survey (6)

33. Scorn (7)

34. Feeble sentimentality (4)

36. Turkish sultan’s palace (8)

39. Commemorates (10)

41. Place of learning for teenagers (4,6)

42. South American city (8)

43. Preamble (4-2)

44. Whim (5)

45. Evades (6)

Cryptic clues

Across

01. Sea creature seen living on the street (6)

05. Grant given to a local council division (5)

08. Manchester items we put in return slot (6)

11. Key players? (8)

12. He’s in hospital but they won’t let him stay (10)

13. Hope to stay around for manipulative therapy (10)

14. Add to number in layer (8)

15. Where gardeners spend time working or resting (4)

16. Advises about replacing commercial reviews (7)

19. Dirty like a maggot? (6)

22. Five in tears made to go without food (6)

24. Posts regular articles (7)

27. Bravo! We’re going inside to state the truth (4)

28. Remove snake’s venom from contents of baby’s bottle (4)

29. Lad has secret desire to be a doctor (7)

30. Salad plant that will shoot up rapidly? (6)

31. This roll will count. Heads! (6)

33. Dad is in trouble for showing contempt (7)

34. Cornmeal porridge is said to get the dogsled team moving (4)

36. Gaoler is moved out of harem (8)

39. Holds party for new model of Beetle cars (10)

41. Where education is secondary (4,6)

42. Blair is a disaster in Brazil’s capital (8)

43. The French promo is part of intro (4-2)

44. Elaborate notion (5)

45. Ducks find ways to avoid paying tax (6)

Down

Down

02. Hand out again (7)

03. Fasting demonstrations (6,7)

04. Stickybeaks (4,7)

05. Advantage (5)

06. Acute pain (5)

07. Dumps (7)

08. Dealing (7)

09. Use scales (5)

10. Cavalry weapon (5)

17. Parish minister (5)

18. Vendors (7)

20. Alone (13)

21. Penniless (5)

23. Moment (5)

25. Craze (5)

26. Diving platform (11)

32. Computer technology region, ... Valley (7)

33. Set down (passenger) (4,3)

35. Germ-free (7)

37. Expulsion (5)

38. Throbbed dully (5)

39. Punctuation mark (5)

40. Foyer (5)

02. Reprint publication about descendants (7)

03. Protests that leave you feeling hollow (6,7)

04. Folk who are mighty inquisitive when they stop their cars at the kerb? (4,7)

05. Something of value like a television receiver (5)

06. Great torment suffered in the past by New York (5)

07. Diggers initially have allergic reactions in the trenches (7)

08. Swapping, buying or selling (7)

09. Pull up the anchor to see how heavy it is (5)

10. Knight’s spear ends up clean (5)

17. Cleric caught up in civic argument (5)

18. Does the star of The Pink Panther make purchases from them? (7)

20. No-one will back this kind of performance (13)

21. Shattered on being declared bankrupt (5)

23. Electric eels hide in the blink of an eye (5)

25. Mia has an obsession (5)

26. Jump-off point for seasonal committee? (11)

32. Announced foolish scam involving material for microprocessor (7)

33. Fall asleep during steep descent (4,3)

35. Unproductive state of isolation ward? (7)

37. Banish former lover before lie gets around (5)

38. Small account he’d badly wanted (5)

39. Two dots visible in large intestine (5)

40. Throw high near hotel reception area (5)

Tough puzzle, simple rules: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1-9.

Wheel of words

Create as many words of four letters or more as you can using the given letters once only but always including the central letter. Don’t use proper nouns or plurals ending with “s”. See if you can find the nine-letter word using all letters.

Match-ups –Hollywood Walk of Fame

Here are some of the celebrities who have a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Complete the names and find the missing parts in the box of letters. The letters left over will spell out a musical group that has one of the stars.

Spot the difference

Can you spot the seven differences between these two images? Circle what’s changed on the image below.

Quiz

By Hazel Flynn

01. What is the world’s second-largest island?

02. Who is the Catholic patron saint of beekeepers, fainting, happy marriages, love and plague?

03. Who plays Laurie Strode in the Halloween movie series?

04. And in what iconic 1960 horror movie did that actress’s mother play Marion Crane?

05. In astrobiology, what does SETI stand for?

06. How many members were in the band Ben Folds Five?

07. What are the official languages of Cyprus?

08. What is the only sport included in the NATO alphabet?

09. Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men?

10. What is the closest living relative of the koala?

11 Which psychologist’s “hierarchy of human needs” culminates in self-actualisation?

12. In what city was the world’s first Green political party founded in 1972?

13 What classic children’s story features a girl called Fern and a pig called Wilbur?

14. What is the English translation of Moulin Rouge?

15 Stanley Street and Vulture Street are the “ends” of what Test cricket ground?

16 French brand mascot Bibendum is more commonly known as what in English?

17 What bird family includes crows, jays and ravens?

18 What car company produced Australian model the P76?

19 What is a pascal used to measure?

20. PEK is the code for which major city’s airport?

Solutions

If you’ve filled in the answers, please take the magazine with you so the cabin crew know to replace it with a new copy.

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Get

Wheel of words

Anta, Ante, Earn, Elan, Erne, Lane, Lean, Near, Neat, Rant, Rent, Tarn, Teen, Tent, Tern, Arena, Eaten, Enter, Laten, Leant, Learn, Natal, Renal, Tenet, Terne, Treen, Antler, Latent, Latten, Leaner, Learnt, Natter, Neater, Netter, Nettle, Rattan, Relent, Rental, Talent, Tartan, Entreat, Eternal, Anteater

Nine-letter word: ALTERNATE

Aretha Franklin, Bing Crosby, Bugs Bunny, Cameron Diaz, Charlie Chaplin, Ellen DeGeneres, Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Gloria Estefan, Jackie Chan, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Lopez, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Durante, Julio Iglesias, Kim Basinger, Leonard Nimoy, Liza Minnelli, Marvin Gaye, Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze, Russell Crowe, Sissy Spacek, Steven Spielberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Woody Woodpecker

Solution: KC and the Sunshine Band

Quiz

01. New Guinea 02. St Valentine 03. Jamie Lee Curtis 04. Psycho (Janet Leigh) 05. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 06. Three 07. Greek and Turkish 08. Golf 09. John Steinbeck 10. The wombat 11. (Abraham)

Maslow’s 12. Hobart 13. Charlotte’s Web 14. Red mill 15. The Gabba (in Brisbane) 16. The Michelin Man 17. Corvidae 18. Leyland 19. Pressure or stress 20. Beijing

Inflight workout

These exercises are designed to provide a safe way to stretch and enjoy movement in certain muscle groups that can become stiff as a result of long periods of sitting. They may be effective at increasing the body’s blood circulation and massaging the muscles. We recommend you do these exercises for three or four minutes every hour and occasionally leave your seat to walk down the aisles. Each exercise should be done with minimal disturbance to other passengers. None of these exercises should be performed if they cause pain or cannot be done with ease.

Foot pumps (foot motion is in three stages)

Ankle circles

Lift feet. Draw a circle with toes, moving one foot clockwise and the other counterclockwise at the same time. Reverse circles. Rotate in each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired.

In the air

Knee lifts

Lift leg with knee bent while contracting your thigh muscle. Alternate legs. Repeat 20 to 30 times for each leg.

Neck roll

With shoulders relaxed, drop your ear to your shoulder and gently roll your neck forward and back, holding each position for about five seconds. Repeat five times.

01

Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upwards as high as you can.

02

Put both feet flat on the floor. Lift heels high, keeping the balls of the feet on the floor.

03

Repeat these three stages in a continuous motion and at 30-second intervals.

Knee to chest

Bend forward slightly. Clasp hands around left knee and hug it to your chest. Hold for 15 seconds. Keeping hands around the knee, slowly let it down. Alternate legs. Repeat 10 times.

Forward flex

With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs towards your ankles. Hold for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.

Shoulder roll

Hunch shoulders forwards then upwards, backwards and downwards in a gentle circular motion.

Mobile phones and electronic equipment: All transmitting electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets and laptop computers, must be switched to flight mode* prior to departure. Smaller devices such as mobile phones, e-readers, electronic games, MP3 players, iPads and other small tablets may be held in your hands or stowed in a seat pocket. Unless otherwise directed by the captain, these devices may remain switched on and used in flight mode during take-off, cruise and landing. Larger electronic equipment such as laptop computers may only be used from when the aircraft seatbelt sign is extinguished after take-off until the top of descent. After landing, the cabin crew will advise when flight mode may be switched off.

Headsets: Do not use a personal single-pin audio headset in the Qantas inflight entertainment system unless it is supported by a two-pin airline headset adaptor. Personal headsets that connect via a cable

to a handheld device can be used at any time from boarding until arrival. Headsets and other devices that connect via Bluetooth must be switched off for take-off and landing but can be used during cruise.

*Flight mode enables you to operate basic functions of your mobile phone or personal electronic device while its transmitting function is switched off, meaning you cannot make phone calls or send an SMS.

Fly Well

Your wellbeing is our priority. Our Fly Well program brings together a number of measures to give you peace of mind during your flight.

Cabin air: Our aircraft air conditioning systems are fitted with hospital-grade HEPA filters, which remove 99.9% of all particles including viruses. The air inside the cabin is refreshed every few minutes, ensuring the highest possible air quality.

Inflight: The aircraft configuration, including the seats and galley, act as a natural barrier, and people are not seated face to face. The direction of inflight airflow is ceiling to floor.

Enhanced cleaning: Our aircraft are cleaned with a disinfectant effective against coronaviruses, with a focus on the high contact areas of seats, seatbelts, overhead lockers, air vents and toilets. Our people are trained in the latest hygiene protocols.

Face masks: Some destinations require you to wear a mask during your flight or at the airport. Ensure you check the latest government requirements before you travel. Your face mask needs to cover your mouth and nose, fit securely and must be worn unless you’re under 12 years of age or have a medical exemption.

Your inflight health: When flying, passengers can be seated and inactive for long periods of time. The environment can be low in humidity and the

cabin pressure equivalent to an altitude of 2440 metres above sea level. The following advice helps you stay healthy during your journey.

The importance of inflight blood circulation and muscle relaxation: When walking, the leg muscle action helps return venous blood to the heart. Sitting in the same position for a long period of time can slow this process and, in some people, leads to swelling in the feet. Some studies have shown that immobility associated with travel of longer than four hours (by air, car or rail) can also lead to an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or clotting in the legs. Personal factors that increase the risk of DVT include:

Age over 40 years

Personal or family history of DVT or pulmonary embolus

Recent surgery or injury, especially to the lower limbs, pelvis or abdomen

Cancer

Inherited or other blood disorders leading to clotting tendency

Pregnancy

Oestrogen therapy (oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy).

There are a number of ways to help reduce the possibility of DVT, including the following:

Avoid leg-crossing while seated

Ensure adequate hydration

Minimise alcohol and caffeine intake before and during your flight

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes

During your flight, move your legs and feet for three to four minutes per hour while seated and move about the cabin occasionally

Do the light exercises we recommend here (see above) and through the inflight entertainment system.

If you have concerns about your health and flying, or you feel that you may be at risk of DVT, Qantas recommends that you talk to your doctor before travelling. Additional measures such as well-fitted compression stockings or anti-clotting medication may be recommended for high-risk individuals.

Jet lag: Unlike other forms of transport, air travel allows for rapid movement across many time zones, which can disrupt the body’s biological clock. This is commonly known as jet lag. This disruption can affect various body rhythms such as the sleepwake cycle and the digestive system, leading to symptoms such as tiredness and lack of energy and appetite. In general, the more time zones crossed, the more disruption of the body clock and the more symptoms experienced after the journey. We recommend the following to minimise the effects of jet lag.

Before your flight:

Get a good night’s rest

During your flight:

Eat light meals

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and sleep when you can

Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water and avoid excess tea, coffee and alcohol

At your destination:

If possible, give yourself a day or two after arrival to adjust to the new time zone

Go out in the daylight and do some light exercise

Try to eat meals and do other social activities at appropriate destination times to adjust to the new time zone

Cabin humidity and hydration: Humidity levels of less than 25 per cent are common in the cabin, as the outside air that supplies the cabin is very dry. The low humidity can cause drying of the surfaces of the nose, throat and eyes and it can irritate contact lenses. If normal fluid intake is maintained during the flight, dehydration will not occur.

We recommend:

Drink water and juices frequently during the flight

Drink coffee, tea and alcohol in moderation

Remove contact lenses and wear glasses if your eyes are irritated

Use a skin moisturiser to refresh the skin

Cabin pressurisation: During flight, aircraft cabin pressure is maintained to a sufficient density for your comfort and health. As the aircraft climbs, the cabin may reach the same air pressure as at an elevation of 2440 metres above sea level. Cabin pressure does not pose a problem for most passengers. However, if you suffer from obstructive pulmonary diseases, anaemias or certain cardiovascular conditions, you could experience discomfort at these altitudes. These passengers should seek medical advice before flying, as some may require supplementary oxygen. Qantas can arrange this but requires at least seven days’ notice before travelling. The rate of change in cabin pressure during climb and descent is also carefully maintained and does not usually cause discomfort. However, children and infants, and adults who have sinus or nasal congestion, may experience some discomfort because of pressure changes during climb and particularly descent. Those suffering from nasal or sinus congestion because of a cold or allergies may need to delay travel. The following advice may assist:

To “clear” your ears, try swallowing, yawning or pinching your nose closed and gently blowing against it. These actions help open the Eustachian tubes, equalising pressure between the middle ear chamber and throat. If flying with an infant, feed or give your baby a dummy during descent. Sucking and swallowing help equalise pressure in an infant’s ears. Give children something to drink or chew during descent. Consider using medication such as nasal sprays, decongestants and antihistamines 30 minutes prior to descent to help open up your ear and sinus passages.

Motion sickness: Air travel, especially if turbulence is experienced, can cause motion sickness, as it leads to a conflict between the body’s sense of vision and its sense of equilibrium. Maintaining good visual cues (keeping your eyes fixed on a non-moving object) helps prevent motion sickness. When the weather is clear, you should look out at the ground, sea or horizon. If the horizon can’t be seen, closing your eyes and keeping your head movements to a minimum will help. While over-thecounter medications are available, we recommend

you consult your doctor about the appropriate medications. More information can be found: At qantas.com.au/info/flying/intheair/ yourhealthinflight

Through the onboard entertainment system

On our information leaflet available from Qantas or your travel agent

Smoking: Government regulations prohibit smoking on all flights operated by Australian-registered aircraft. The use and charging of all e-cigarettes and other personal vaporisers are not permitted on board an aircraft. There are smoke detectors in all toilets and penalties for regulation breaches.

Travelling with children: Please ask cabin crew for help if required. Baby food and nappies (diapers) are available on most flights, while some washrooms are fitted with baby change tables. Please dispose of nappies etc. in the waste bins.

When you land

Leaving flights: On international flights, the cabin crew will distribute the necessary Customs and Immigration forms. If you are stopping en route, you will need your boarding pass to re-board the aircraft. If you’re travelling as a domestic passenger on an international flight within Australia, retain your boarding card with the large D sticker. This will be required to clear Customs at your destination.

Transferring from Australian domestic flights numbered QF400 and above to international flights: At check-in you will be issued with your international boarding pass. Your international boarding pass and baggage will be tagged through to your final destination. There is no need to claim your baggage or attend check-in at the transfer airport. Follow the signs for international transfers passengers to the complimentary transfer bus (not necessary in Melbourne and Darwin).

Transferring from international to domestic flights numbered QF400 and above: On arrival at your Australian transfer port, go through Immigration and collect your luggage. Proceed through Customs and follow the signs to the domestic transfer area to re-check your luggage. A complimentary transfer bus (not necessary in Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin) departs at regular intervals for the domestic terminal for your connecting Qantas flight within Australia. If your connecting domestic flight is numbered QF1-QF399, there is no need to clear Customs and Immigration. These flights depart from the international terminals. Customs and Immigration clearance will be completed at your final destination.

Transferring to a Jetstar domestic flight: If your next flight is with Jetstar (JQ) or a Qantas codeshare flight operated by Jetstar (QF5400-QF5999), you will need to collect your baggage and follow the signs to the Jetstar counter to check in for your flight and re-check your baggage.

What you need to know

about

your onboard security, safety and health

Qantas security policy

The Qantas Group has a strict policy of denying boarding, or offloading any passenger who makes inappropriate comments or behaves inappropriately inflight or on the ground. Qantas will not accept any inappropriate comments as “jokes”. It will also seek to recover all costs incurred, including diversions as a result of security incidents, from those involved.

Group-wide security

Security screening is subject to the laws and regulations of the country of operation. The Qantas Group ensures that its passengers, staff and aircraft are safe and secure through an outcome-focused, risk-based approach to security management. Qantas security standards apply across the business, including QantasLink and Jetstar. A dedicated operations centre monitors global security events 24 hours a day.

Security advice

Pack your own luggage

Do not carry any items for another person Carry valuables, approved medication and keys in your carry-on baggage

All knives, sharp objects or cutting implements must be in checked baggage

Security measures can include random frisk search after consent is obtained. Passengers may request privacy and must be searched by a screener of the same gender

Important note: Security screening is subject to the laws and regulations of the country of operation.

Restrictions on powders and liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs)

On all international flights to and from Australia: Each container of LAGs in your carry-on baggage must be 100ml or less

All 100ml containers must be placed in a single transparent one-litre plastic bag

Plastic bags containing LAGs are to be screened separately from other carry-on baggage

All powders must be screened separately with restrictions on the carriage of inorganic powders over 350ml (350g)

Passengers may still carry prescription medicines or baby products sufficient for the flight

If departing, transiting or transferring on an international flight at an Australian

international gateway airport, duty-free powders and LAGs must be sealed, with receipt, in a security tamper-evident bag issued at the time of purchase

Full-body scanners

The Australian federal government has introduced full-body scanners at international gateway airports: Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast

The Australian Federal Government has commenced introducing full-body scanners at major domestic airports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Townsville

At international gateway airports passengers refusing to pass through the scanner will be banned from entering the sterile area or boarding an aircraft for 24 hours

Exemptions apply for people with serious medical conditions, infants and small children, and people in wheelchairs

As per advice, the energy exposure is comparable to that from a mobile phone several metres away

There are no known safety concerns for people with pacemakers and metal implants or for pregnant women

Dangerous goods

Common items used every day may seem harmless but on an aircraft they may become dangerous. When the aircraft changes altitude, variations in temperature and pressure may cause items to leak, create fumes or catch fire.

Items that are forbidden on aircraft or have carriage restrictions include lithium batteries, other battery types, camping stoves, fuels, oils, compressed gases, aerosols, household cleaners, matches, lighters, paints, explosives (including flares, fireworks, sparklers and bonbons), emergency position-indicating radio beacons, radioactive material, biological and infectious substances and fuel-powered equipment. This list is not exhaustive so please carefully consider what items you pack for your next flight.

If you’re unsure about an item in your baggage, ask a member of our friendly cabin crew.

For further information, go to qantas.com or email dg@qantas.com.au.

Travel advice

Qantas is a partner in the Australian government’s Charter for Safe Travel. Travellers may obtain the latest travel advice for their destination by visiting smartraveller.gov.au.

Automated immigration clearance

Several countries are introducing automated immigration clearance procedures to cope with growing air-travel numbers. The goal is to provide a faster, smoother immigration experience to eligible passengers without compromising border security. Please note that some automated clearance options may not be available due to COVID. Countries providing facilities across our network:

Australia SmartGate: e-passport holders of Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and US

China e-Channel: citizens of China

Hong Kong e-Channel Residents: citizens and residents of Hong Kong

Hong Kong e-Channel Visitors: frequent visitors that are visa-exempt, including Australians

Indonesia Autogate passport gates: citizens of Indonesia

Japan Speedy Immigration: citizens and foreign nationals with re-entry and special re-entry permits

New Zealand SmartGate Plus: e-passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, UK and US

Singapore enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS): citizens, permanent residents, work permit holders and APEC cardholders

UAE eGate: UAE citizens and residents

UK ePassport gates: e-passport holders of UK, Switzerland and European Economic Area (EEA)

USA Global Entry system: US citizens and permanent residents, Dutch citizens, South Korean citizens and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents with NEXUS membership

USA Automated Passport Control: for US, Canadian and Visa Waiver Program passport holders

Fee applies

Pre-enrolment required