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So it came to a surprise when they told me about a local liquor I had never tried before…
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“Yes. Brennivín. Everyone here has drunk Brennivín,” says Birna, the blond, brassy bartender at Bastard sounding both like a gift and an insult in that typically Icelandic way.
The very next day I found myself pedalling south on a bike along the sea to Garðabær (no idea, before you ask) to see if I could wrap my lips around this mythical elixir that was, if nothing else, purely Icelandic.
Eimverk Distillery sits quietly beyond a round-a-bout, and a low-key facade from the outside, giving away no hint that you’re outside one of the northernmost distilleries in the world. It’s only when you move inside that you start to feel its magical power from the ancient Viking symbols which grace the walls and which are burnt deep into locally made barrels. As an alcohol anthropologist this was like discovering a newly contacted civilization.
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Brennivín is considered Icelandic’s signature distilled beverage. The original bottle (produced by the Government) displayed a white skull on a black label warning against consumption, and was sometimes referred to as ‘svarti dauði’ (black death). This rather grim marketing was designed to be visually unappealing, therefore limiting demand. It didn’t work. For decades, Brennivín became the drink of choice for Icelanders, and a must-try for travellers.
“We make wonderful gin and aquavit here, but I think we are most remembered for our whisky, Flóki. Well, remembered if you don’t drink too much of it,” says Erik with a straight face as he lined up several drams of various handcrafted delights. Eimverk Distillery, like most of Iceland, takes extreme pride in their craft, and sources pretty much everything locally. This includes their winter barley, which grows during an extremely short summer season — making this some of the rarest small batch whisky in the world.
“Most Icelandic people have a still in their house. We have just taken what we all do at home, and do it on a larger scale. Did you ever think you would drink shit and like it?”
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I was on either my fifth or fifteenth tasting dram, and thought I perhaps misheard my host, but no, he was asking me if I enjoyed the taste of faeces.
“You see we have no peat on Iceland. So in order to flavour our whisky we use sheep dung… it’s traditional. ”
Again, straight face. What has already been tasted cannot be untasted, but fortunately this century-old technique actually yields a surprisingly smooth, floral and even a little earthy whiskey, that is nothing else is unlike anything I’ve tasted before.
“We named the whisky after the Viking that discovered Iceland in 868. He was named Hrafna-Flóki because three ravens were said to lead him to Iceland.” (NOTE: Hrafna-Flóki Google translated to ‘Raven Complex’. We think something has been lost here, but it makes the raven stuff make sense).
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Like Flóki I have been led somewhere; to a new favourite whisky, a millennia later, and I don’t think I will be the last person to discover this amazing distillery any time soon.
Try Flóki at Eimverk Distillery by heading to Lyngás 13, 210 Garðabær, Iceland. Check their website book a tour, and try their shit.
Solomon Islands ban all single use plastic
The Solomon Islands have taken matters into their own hands, banning all single use plastics in order to preserve their beautiful country.
After a six-month grace period, the country this week moved to make illegal the use of single use plastics, which focused on plastic bags, plates, cutlery, cups and drink bottles, while encompassing many more.
CLICK HERE FOR SIX OF THE BEST IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
The stunning South Pacific Island nation is famed for its water sports, being home to stunning beaches, incredible diving, fishing, snorkelling and surfing. Coral reefs teem with life, providing sustenance and income to many of the 994 islands, with some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. Idyllic stretches of sand and dense tropical rainforest still remain somewhat of a hidden gem off the radar of a lot of travellers.
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However, plastic-filled beaches has started to become more of a concern. The country begun to take action in the lead up to 2023’s hosting of the Pacific Games, following concerns plastics were threatening marine life.
Marine animals like sea turtles, whales, and seabirds will mistake plastics for food, at their peril, with entanglement and grave digestion issues a serious cause for concern.
In order to preserve the extraordinary natural beauty here, the step of banning plastics is a progressive one, and follows other South Pacific nations.
In 2017 Palau became the very first country in the world to change its immigration laws for the cause of environmental protection.
Fiji meanwhile has turned to underwater sculptures to restore its bleached reefs.
Click here to read our recent feature on Fiji’s Yasawa Islands, and hear about the marine life preservation taking.
Turkish Airlines begin Australia flights
If you’re in Australia and you’re thinking about a Euro trip this summer, or if you like kebabs, we’ve got some good news for you.
Turkish Airlines have entered the market as now flying to Australia, marking 130th country that airline flies to.
There’s a pretty good chance the additional competition will put pressure on other airlines, leading to cheaper flights into Europe.
The airline will fly Boeing 777s via a short stopover in Singapore initially, but plans to fly directly into Melbourne in 2025.
Turkey is an extraordinary destination; the meeting point of Asia and Europe. You could spend a couple of weeks in Istanbul only; cruising around narrow streets that open up to extraordinary feats of architecture like the Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace and Sultan Ahmed Mosque (known by most as the Blue Mosque).
Here’s our top five in Istanbul, to mark the Melbourne to Istanbul route:
1. Cop an absolute beating
Have your body scrubbed raw at a traditional hammam. This one is no secret – it’s about as Turkish as it gets.
For pure opulence, the Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam is tough to beat.
2. Go to the Bank
What do you reckon The Bank Hotel, which is part of the Design Hotels group, used to be before it was transformed into a mouthwateringly stunning hotel?
Omg you got it! It used to be a bank, but now it’s position is perfect to explore the trendy Karaköy district – nearby to bars and great eateries.
3. Throw down some boogs at Klein Garten.
This is a city known for its rooftop terraces, so it was hard to pick just one. But this is get lost – we’re not going to send you some soulless place with a great view, just because everyone else forks out a fortune to be there. We recommend Klein Garten –rotating DJs, affordable drinks, an incredible view and an incredible vibe. Boog the night away.
4. Go to a truly lit (think flares) football match
ideally the intercontinental derby between eternal enemies Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, which separates one side of the Bosporus from the other.
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Image credit Lardo Balsamico.
5. Munch an Islak Burger
Yeh sure, there’ll be plenty of time to eat gozleme and kebabs, but get lost recommends the ‘Wet Burger of Taksim’.
Head to the lively Taksim district, and on your way home, crush one of these strange fast foods which have garnered a cult-like following in this area – burgers doused in a rich garlic and tomato sauce, and then steamed, and served with meat and other stuff. Allegedly excellent for hangovers.
WINNER WINNER LONELY PLANET DINNER
What makes a good beach?
To reach an epic beach is one of the key elements of travelling.
Some like big waves and some like a peaceful bay. Some prefer crystal-clear white sand while others froth the black or even rare pink sand beaches. Some think it’s when there’s a buzzing vibe and big crowd of people wearing not much, while others like beaches that are completely deserted.
Best Beaches: 100 of the world’s most incredible beaches, is Lonely Planet’s guide to the very best beaches from around the world. It’s a beautiful coffee table chic showcasing beaches with elephants, beaches with caves, beaches with epic surf and sprawling coastlines.
Deputy Editor Sarah-Maree Cameron nominated the golden sand and rocky headlands of Avoca Beach, New South Wales.
Me? I (Editor Tim McGlone) love Dunes Beach in Exmouth, Western Australia.
A small, non-commercial wooden hut is based a little way up the beach, a social hub where barefooted people look out over the gentle left and right hand reef breaks, turtles intermittently popping their head up to say g’day.
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But there can be only one winner of our Best Beaches competition, and that winner is…
Drumroll please.
Alix Campbell
“I can see it from our green-framed kitchen window. Mighty waves slap the steep limestone cliff on the left and roll onto the wide stretch of sand, which eventually forms dunes that make it seem like you’re trekking through the desert in the dead of summer. This is Bordeira Beach in Carrapateira, Portugal.”
We liked Alix’s descriptive language, which transported us right to this dramatic, south-western post of Europe (pictured above).
Congratulations Alix! We’ll be in touch.
Lonely Planet’s Best Beaches is available for $49.95 RRP from all bookstores around Australia, as well as online.
WHY OUTSIDE IS SEATTLE & WASHINGTON’S BEST SIDE
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
Click to view gallery
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
This is the West Coast, after all.
While further south grabs all the attention, Westport, Washington, has quietly made a name for itself as a place to get pitted, with spots suiting both the kooks and the Kellys. Westport has three main spots: The Jetty, a consistent beach break, The Groins—a left-handed point break subject to monster tides; and The Cove, a feared shore break that bears the full brunt of the roaring North Pacific Ocean. All three are easily accessed.
If you’re not a surfer, no matter; Washington State is full of epic beaches for all kinds of beachgoers—click here for more info.
Click to view gallery
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
Click to view gallery
The large, red, neon-lit sign that adorns the entrance to the 117-year-old Pike Place Market is gorgeous, and it might just stop the Instagram crowd in their tracks. While they’re taking selfies, venture deeper into the market to find more time-honoured Seattle things—like fish throwing. Fishmongers and fishermen yelling, chanting, shovelling ice and hurling fish at customers and each other. It’s genuine chaos, and we love it.
The market is full of fresh food and classic Seattle dishes—like fresh oysters at Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar.
This is the West Coast, after all.
While further south grabs all the attention, Westport, Washington, has quietly made a name for itself as a place to get pitted, with spots suiting both the kooks and the Kellys. Westport has three main spots: The Jetty, a consistent beach break, The Groins—a left-handed point break subject to monster tides; and The Cove, a feared shore break that bears the full brunt of the roaring North Pacific Ocean. All three are easily accessed.
If you’re not a surfer, no matter; Washington State is full of epic beaches for all kinds of beachgoers—click here for more info.
Click to view gallery
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
The Seattle Times recently ran a piece that showed that Washington is among the country’s most discerning states when it comes to beer (beer snobs, in their own words). As well as epic craft beer, the breweries and pubs around the state share a key element of Australian beer drinking: the beer garden.
The Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden is one of Seattle’s best spots for an ale, with an epic beer list. About a half hour away is South Fork North Bend, who serve pints in a beautiful beer garden that taste even better after bike ride through some gnarly trails nearby.
Click to view gallery
The large, red, neon-lit sign that adorns the entrance to the 117-year-old Pike Place Market is gorgeous, and it might just stop the Instagram crowd in their tracks. While they’re taking selfies, venture deeper into the market to find more time-honoured Seattle things—like fish throwing. Fishmongers and fishermen yelling, chanting, shovelling ice and hurling fish at customers and each other. It’s genuine chaos, and we love it.
The market is full of fresh food and classic Seattle dishes—like fresh oysters at Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar.
This is the West Coast, after all.
While further south grabs all the attention, Westport, Washington, has quietly made a name for itself as a place to get pitted, with spots suiting both the kooks and the Kellys. Westport has three main spots: The Jetty, a consistent beach break, The Groins—a left-handed point break subject to monster tides; and The Cove, a feared shore break that bears the full brunt of the roaring North Pacific Ocean. All three are easily accessed.
If you’re not a surfer, no matter; Washington State is full of epic beaches for all kinds of beachgoers—click here for more info.
Click to view gallery
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
Never has there been a less accurate name than the ‘Easy Pass’. This breathtaking, brute of a trail winds through mountains, greenery and rocky sections. It packs in heavy timber, meadows, and avalanche chutes and takes trekkers as high as 1,981 metres, which is a really long way up.
This is tricky trekking, a proper calf-burner, but the 11.2km are doable in a day. Go in March or autumn, and the larch trees will turn captivatingly golden-yellow for you.
The Seattle Times recently ran a piece that showed that Washington is among the country’s most discerning states when it comes to beer (beer snobs, in their own words). As well as epic craft beer, the breweries and pubs around the state share a key element of Australian beer drinking: the beer garden.
The Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden is one of Seattle’s best spots for an ale, with an epic beer list. About a half hour away is South Fork North Bend, who serve pints in a beautiful beer garden that taste even better after bike ride through some gnarly trails nearby.
Click to view gallery
The large, red, neon-lit sign that adorns the entrance to the 117-year-old Pike Place Market is gorgeous, and it might just stop the Instagram crowd in their tracks. While they’re taking selfies, venture deeper into the market to find more time-honoured Seattle things—like fish throwing. Fishmongers and fishermen yelling, chanting, shovelling ice and hurling fish at customers and each other. It’s genuine chaos, and we love it.
The market is full of fresh food and classic Seattle dishes—like fresh oysters at Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar.
This is the West Coast, after all.
While further south grabs all the attention, Westport, Washington, has quietly made a name for itself as a place to get pitted, with spots suiting both the kooks and the Kellys. Westport has three main spots: The Jetty, a consistent beach break, The Groins—a left-handed point break subject to monster tides; and The Cove, a feared shore break that bears the full brunt of the roaring North Pacific Ocean. All three are easily accessed.
If you’re not a surfer, no matter; Washington State is full of epic beaches for all kinds of beachgoers—click here for more info.
Click to view gallery
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
Click to view gallery
Wandering through the thick sheets of green that blanket the Hoh Rain Forest, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve been pulled from Planet Earth and planted straight into a Dr. Seuss book.
As a result of the 355 centimetres of rain the area gets each year, the forest is spectacularly covered in green moss. Herds of elk wander the forest, and there are some epic trees that have been here long before grunge or the Space Needle. We’re not sure the Lorax ever made the four-hour drive from Seattle to Hoh, in Olympic National Park, but you definitely should.
Never has there been a less accurate name than the ‘Easy Pass’. This breathtaking, brute of a trail winds through mountains, greenery and rocky sections. It packs in heavy timber, meadows, and avalanche chutes and takes trekkers as high as 1,981 metres, which is a really long way up.
This is tricky trekking, a proper calf-burner, but the 11.2km are doable in a day. Go in March or autumn, and the larch trees will turn captivatingly golden-yellow for you.
The Seattle Times recently ran a piece that showed that Washington is among the country’s most discerning states when it comes to beer (beer snobs, in their own words). As well as epic craft beer, the breweries and pubs around the state share a key element of Australian beer drinking: the beer garden.
The Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden is one of Seattle’s best spots for an ale, with an epic beer list. About a half hour away is South Fork North Bend, who serve pints in a beautiful beer garden that taste even better after bike ride through some gnarly trails nearby.
Click to view gallery
The large, red, neon-lit sign that adorns the entrance to the 117-year-old Pike Place Market is gorgeous, and it might just stop the Instagram crowd in their tracks. While they’re taking selfies, venture deeper into the market to find more time-honoured Seattle things—like fish throwing. Fishmongers and fishermen yelling, chanting, shovelling ice and hurling fish at customers and each other. It’s genuine chaos, and we love it.
The market is full of fresh food and classic Seattle dishes—like fresh oysters at Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar.
This is the West Coast, after all.
While further south grabs all the attention, Westport, Washington, has quietly made a name for itself as a place to get pitted, with spots suiting both the kooks and the Kellys. Westport has three main spots: The Jetty, a consistent beach break, The Groins—a left-handed point break subject to monster tides; and The Cove, a feared shore break that bears the full brunt of the roaring North Pacific Ocean. All three are easily accessed.
If you’re not a surfer, no matter; Washington State is full of epic beaches for all kinds of beachgoers—click here for more info.
Click to view gallery
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
But we’re pretty sure you had no idea that the state of Washington on the U.S. West Coast is one of the country’s ultimate outdoor destinations, home to a unique set of topography with options for every kind of outdoor person.
We’re also certain you didn’t know how nice it is to be outdoors in Seattle, in beautiful beer gardens or at an unlikely waterfall incredibly close to the city centre, or at one of America’s best ballparks. If you like adventure and being outside, Seattle and Washington need to be on your list. Here are ten of the most epic outdoor experiences in the city and state that prove it.
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The San Juan Islands is the United States’ final bastion in the northwest, around 400 rugged islands that separate the country from Canada. These dramatic landscapes are one of the world’s best places to spot orca whales, year-round. And the best place to see these incredible beasts? In the water, obviously.
Crystal Seas Kayaking offer different kinds of kayak tours through these stunning waters, where you might just encounter an orca along the way.
They also offer a Women’s Weekend, a three-day, two-night kayak adventure for the girls only. YTG. And then there’s Discovery Sea Kayaks, who offer bioluminescent night kayaking, where the darkest nights are lit up by streaks of marine bioluminescence.
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Wandering through the thick sheets of green that blanket the Hoh Rain Forest, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve been pulled from Planet Earth and planted straight into a Dr. Seuss book.
As a result of the 355 centimetres of rain the area gets each year, the forest is spectacularly covered in green moss. Herds of elk wander the forest, and there are some epic trees that have been here long before grunge or the Space Needle. We’re not sure the Lorax ever made the four-hour drive from Seattle to Hoh, in Olympic National Park, but you definitely should.
Never has there been a less accurate name than the ‘Easy Pass’. This breathtaking, brute of a trail winds through mountains, greenery and rocky sections. It packs in heavy timber, meadows, and avalanche chutes and takes trekkers as high as 1,981 metres, which is a really long way up.
This is tricky trekking, a proper calf-burner, but the 11.2km are doable in a day. Go in March or autumn, and the larch trees will turn captivatingly golden-yellow for you.
The Seattle Times recently ran a piece that showed that Washington is among the country’s most discerning states when it comes to beer (beer snobs, in their own words). As well as epic craft beer, the breweries and pubs around the state share a key element of Australian beer drinking: the beer garden.
The Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden is one of Seattle’s best spots for an ale, with an epic beer list. About a half hour away is South Fork North Bend, who serve pints in a beautiful beer garden that taste even better after bike ride through some gnarly trails nearby.
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The large, red, neon-lit sign that adorns the entrance to the 117-year-old Pike Place Market is gorgeous, and it might just stop the Instagram crowd in their tracks. While they’re taking selfies, venture deeper into the market to find more time-honoured Seattle things—like fish throwing. Fishmongers and fishermen yelling, chanting, shovelling ice and hurling fish at customers and each other. It’s genuine chaos, and we love it.
The market is full of fresh food and classic Seattle dishes—like fresh oysters at Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar.
This is the West Coast, after all.
While further south grabs all the attention, Westport, Washington, has quietly made a name for itself as a place to get pitted, with spots suiting both the kooks and the Kellys. Westport has three main spots: The Jetty, a consistent beach break, The Groins—a left-handed point break subject to monster tides; and The Cove, a feared shore break that bears the full brunt of the roaring North Pacific Ocean. All three are easily accessed.
If you’re not a surfer, no matter; Washington State is full of epic beaches for all kinds of beachgoers—click here for more info.
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The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Seattle is where the epic meets historic. It’s described as waterfront, and that’s putting it mildly—the Edgewater is so waterfront The Beatles fished out of their hotel room window when they stayed here. The lobby and restaurants are something to behold, situated right on the water, and with a blazing fire and epic bar to keep you warm in Seattle’s fresh winters.
*We’re not sure if you’re allowed to fish out of your window—it’s probably more of a Beatles thing. If you’re reading, Paul or Ringo, go right ahead lads.
The SoDo district of Seattle plays host to a number of pro sports teams. The Seattle Mariners are one of those, playing their home games at T-Mobile Park, a modern stadium with a retractable roof that also stages the occasional concert.
Get a hot dog and a beer, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game while taking in ‘America’s pastime’.
Methow Trails in the North Cascade Mountains is North America’s largest cross-country ski area, with over 200km of perfectly groomed, skiable terrain. Within this 200km, there are long-distance town-to-town and lodge-to-lodge ski options and heart-pumping climbs and descents that will challenge the most seasoned mountain men and women.
All this space is good news—more room for you, more area to explore, more extraordinary landscapes to drink in. It also means you’ve got A LOT of skiing ahead of you.
It is borderline ridiculous that a place like Snoqualmie Falls can exist within a half-hour’s drive from downtown Seattle. From the city’s famous Space Needle, take the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge and drive east for hardly any time at all before reaching the exquisite 82-metre waterfall, which the local Snoqualmie people have designated as the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer.
This is one of the best city day trips you’ll ever find and it’s not the only one you can do in Seattle—Bainbridge Island and Leavenworth are a couple of other epic adventures you can squeeze into a day from Seattle.
Three Fukuoka pilgrimages to conquer
Tucked away in the southwest of Japan, Fukuoka offers the best the country has to offer in one intriguing package. The largest city on Kyushu Island, Fukuoka is famous for teasing visitors with the intoxicating aromas of street food at ‘yatai’ stalls, world-class shopping, culture and nightlife.
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It also has something for lovers of the outdoors—built on the shores of Hakata Bay, Fukuoka offers easy access to beaches and the stunning mountains that embrace it on three sides. Those mountains have beckoned pilgrims for centuries. Now it’s your turn.
Whether you’re searching for enlightenment, a life partner or a demon slayer, Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture has a pilgrimage to suit. Just don’t get your mountains confused.
Love mountain
Before Tinder, there was Mount Hōman. The mountain was known for being able to help the unlucky in love, with pilgrims praying to find their life partner as they headed up the trail. Its profile has been raised even more thanks to its starring role in a popular manga series.
The trail through lush forest includes several small waterfalls with cascading crystal-clear waters en route to the summit, 829 metres above sea level, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Fukuoka City—from the coastline and city in the north, to the mountains in the south.
Tamayorihime no Mikoto, enshrined in the main hall of Houman-gu Kamado Shrine, is famous as the god of matchmaking. It is said to bring together not only romantic relationships but also all kinds of connections such as family, friends, and work.
There are two rocks on the right side of the main hall called Aikei no Iwa, or ‘Charming Rocks.’
It is believed that if you walk from one rock to the other while closing your eyes and thinking of the person you love, your love will come true. Worth a crack.
Mount Hōman loop
Distance: 5.6km
Elevation gain: 602 metres
Time requirement: 3 plus hours
AllTrails rating: Challenging
Hard Hiko
With AllTrails rating the summit climb as ‘challenging’, it’s no wonder followers of the Shungendo religious tradition—a combination of Buddhism, Shintoism and mountain worship—picked Hiko as one of their training mountains. The Shungendo pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits in their bid to achieve enlightenment. Lesser mortals may need to stop to rest at the awe-inspiring Hikosan shrine. A registered national historic site conveniently located about halfway up the mountain, Hikosan is thought to bring good luck and is just one of a number of significant temples and shines on the mountain.
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You know you are about to enter a sacred space when you spy one of iconically Japanese ‘torii’ gates, featuring upright beams supporting lintels.
Hiko’s summit rewards your hard work with a panoramic view of the bustling Fukuoka city against a glittering Pacific Ocean backdrop.
Mount Hiko loop
Distance: 7.4km
Elevation gain: 732m
Time requirement: 3-4 hours
AllTrails rating: Hard
Forest bath
The Japanese have been the brains behind many useful, and not so useful, inventions, ranging from the Bullet Train to emojis. But it is during a leisurely stroll up the gentler slopes of Mt Kubote that you appreciate one of their more off-beat creations – ‘shinrin-yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’.
Forest bathing is now recognised internationally for its physical and mental well-being benefits. The idea is simply to spend time in densely forested areas to let the trees soothe and heal. With Mt Kubote’s ancient forests emitting the heady smell of cedar, all your troubles, including a fear of moths destroying your clothes, simply melt away.
Along with Mount Hiko, Kubote was a key training ground for the mountain-worshipping Shungendo, who believed Gods lived in the hills and that if followers endured severe training at altitude, they would gain superhuman powers. You can see evidence of Shungendo training grounds, temple ruins, halls, and graves strewn throughout Mount Kubote, which has been declared a national historic site.
End your adventure with a more traditional type of bathing in the natural hot springs at Kubote Onsen (assuming you haven’t gained superhuman powers, in which case you’ve probably got more important things to do)
Kobeotesan Daiichie Parking – Mount Kubote Loop
Distance: 5 km
Elevation gain: 446m
Time requirement: 2 – 3 hours
AllTrails rating: moderately challenging
Literally putting your life on the line
The mind is a curious beast. You’d think I’d feel safe being connected via a harness to a steel cable that, in theory, will prevent me from plummeting off the cliff to certain death. But somehow it only serves to ramp up the adrenaline.
I’m standing on the edge of the west face of Mt Buller, 1,804 meters above sea level in Victoria’s Alpine region. The views are as incredible as the drop is steep, so it’s no surprise this is where RockWire chose to create Australia’s first and only Via Ferrata.
For the uninitiated, a Via Ferrata is a climbing route decked out with a combination of steel cables, rungs, bridges, ladders and metal pegs that allow participants to explore, traverse and climb treacherous routes that normally you’d need mad rock climbing skills to experience.
Via Ferrata has a long history in Europe, where routes crisscross the Alpine regions, ranging in difficulty from beginner to bonkers.
It’s been an adventure even getting to this point. Mt Buller is a three-hour drive from Melbourne, a lazy meander through gorgeous country towns like Mansfield and the lush Yarra and Delatite Valleys before the winding road that beckons skiers and snowboarders in winter. Buller is reinventing itself as a year-round tourism destination and the launch of RockWire is providing another major string to its outdoor adventure bow.
RockWire’s HQ is at Buller’s Village Square. That’s where we don our harnesses before hopping into the minibus that takes us to the start of the 25-minute walk to the clip on point. My heart is already pumping as we tackle the short uphill section, my sights set on the peak where a man with what is surely the world’s most scenic and lonely job in the world sits in a cabin, scanning the mountains for signs of fire.
Beyond the cabin, the walk becomes more like a goat track, shale-like rocks scattering even whilst we try to stick to the narrow path. The guides reinforce the importance of respecting this delicate alpine environment, telling us about the tiny, endangered pygmy possum that calls part of this mountain home. Small enough to fit into your palm, the females live near the summit, away from the worst of their predators, and birth babies the size of peanuts.
When the males are only a few weeks old, the females force them to live further down the mountain. Obviously, RockWire is positioned well away from any pygmy possum action, which is commendable but I’m also secretly disappointed. I would have loved to have spied one of the little suffragettes in possum clothing.
Back to the wire. Wearing fetching orange hardhats and harnesses that feature two types of carabiner, with the main safety clip literally unable to detach until the end of the route, we are shown how to clip on and slide the carabineers between each section of the wire. Logically, its safe but when you’re clambering down the side of a cliff, sweaty hands seeking the iron holds that have been drilled into the rock, balancing on a ‘bridges’ that are merely a thin line of cable holding you above a potentially deadly crevasse, that seems debatable.
Instantly, my hands begin to sweat. Not great when you’re grasping steel. Never the most coordinated of folk, my hands and legs move in a clunky dance, my office-soft palms complaining.
The first descent is a battle of the mind but, slowly, I begin to get into a rhythm. Rather than waves of adrenaline, there’s a pleasant lap. Enough of a buzz to be fun, not so much that it’s not.
Soon, I’m able to begin to take in the majesty of this unique alpine area—its delicate wildflowers, the sweeping ranges, even Mt Timbertop where rich kids are free to roam.
It is an epic adventure. Before we begin, we are told to expect the whole experience to take five hours. My group does it in just over four, surprising given one of our party is wearing brogues and brought a tote bag, but my legs are like jelly as we reach the final vertical ladder. It is here I note the adrenaline has been replaced by something that feels like pride – and hunger. Having forgotten to bring a snack, I could murder a pizza. It can be life and death in the mountains.
Ultimate K-Adventure Winner
Whether you’re into K-Pop or not, we reckon South Korea should be on everyone’s bucket list.
The hectic frenzy that is Seoul, the deliciously crazy cuisine (hello, hongeo-hoe!) to the baseball games, South Korea is hit of extraordinary culture.
READ: SOUTH KOREA’S CLASH OF KULTURE
We know South Korea is on many of your bucket lists, owing to the thousands of entries we had into our Ultimate K-Adventure competition.
We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and creativity of our readers, and there were many worthy winners. But, there can be only one.
AND THE WINNER IS
Drumroll please…
Trishia Jandu!
Congratulations Trishia! You’ve won return flights to Seoul, $750 cash and an extraordinary 7-day South Korean adventure for the ages!
get lost would like to thank our incredible partners in this competition, ASIANA Airlines, Inside Asia, World Nomads and Visit Korea, for their exceptional support and making all this possible – helping travellers get lost.
ARE YOU NOT TRISHIA? STILL WANT TO WIN SOMETHING?
CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR FRAME YOUR VIEW COMPETITION, TO WIN AN OM-SYSTEM CAMERA WORTH OVER $2,000
CLICK HERE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE BEACH, FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A LONELY PLANET
48 Hours in West Hollywood
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So when assigned the task to share the best that West Hollywood has to offer, a place I first called home right out of college, that launched my obsession with travel, I was faced with a unique problem.
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On the surface, it might appear akin to asking David Attenborough to expound on goldfish behavior or Anthony Bourdain to critique his mom’s meatloaf. Yet, against all expectations, this assignment unfolded as one of the most personal and captivating journeys of my career. West Hollywood, or WeHo as locals affectionately don’t call it, holds a unique place in my heart—it was the initial haven I sought beyond the bustling confines of New York City.
Here, I learned, for better or worse, the art of savoring life through eating, drinking, and dancing. To paraphrase Thomas Wolfe “you can never go home again,” but Tommy, you’ve yet to acquaint yourself with West Hollywood.
Bedecked in a vibrant spectrum of rainbow hues, West Hollywood stands globally recognized as one of the LGBTQ+ capitals of the world. The acceptance that radiates from every street corner fosters an atmosphere of creativity and openness unparalleled in most locales you’ll have encountered to this point.
From coffee shops to repair shops, restaurants to hospitality, there’s an unbridled celebration of novelty, spirit, and character that sets this destination apart.
With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, I descended back into the folds of my old haunts to work out whether they retained the glossy brilliance that once captivated me, while also seeking to uncover mysteries that had evolved in this rainbow paradise during my absence while I explored the diverse landscapes of the world.
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I check into The Pendry Hotel, the contemporary pinnacle of fun-lux accommodations in West Hollywood, if not the entire expanse of Los Angeles. The hotel seamlessly blends maximalism and deco elegance, exuding casual charm that encapsulates the quintessence of West Hollywood. The rooms are opulent, the rooftop pool lounge is alluring, and the bars and lounges transport you into a Baz Luhrmann-inspired dreamscape. The ghost of the former House of Blues that occupied the same space years ago, has now metamorphosed into the Pendry’s ultra-lux piano bar, hosting luminaries like Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, and Beck—ensuring the legacy of celebration lives on.
Knowing myself all too well, I anticipate some serious recovery time after a proper night out in West Hollywood, so I headed to Book Soup to get something to read poolside with a bottle of Advil. I love this iconic literature shop, where you can still buy physical magazines or the perfect gift for your friends back home, not to mention your next favourite read. On the way out I spy a red sign pointing down an extremely thin alley that reads Mystery Pier Books. Following it I discover a living hobbit house where the owner, Harvey Jason, welcomes me in.
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Unannounced, I discover perhaps the most iconic rare bookstore in the world where you can see (and with enough collateral, buy) first editions of the world’s most sought after tomes. Byron, Kerouac, even first edition Shakespeare are in this little cottage house, all waiting for you to drool over.
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I start to head back to the hotel and duck into the Sunset Marquis to have a quick look inside the Morrison Hotel Gallery. Here, two-dimensional celebrities come to life in photographs of Cash, Madonna, Hendrix, and McQueen, capturing candid moments of their extraordinary lives. The spot is virtually hidden, but anyone that wants to get to know their celeb crushes better should not pass up this opportunity.
Embracing the polished sheen of West Hollywood’s streets, I couldn’t help but feel wonderfully inadequate—a sentiment I fondly recalled from my 20s. Back then I used to lift heavy things at Crunch, but today that experience can be lived at Dogpound, where A-listers sculpt their bodies with some of the world’s best trainers like Zach, the unsung heroes behind J-Lo’s tush and Hemsworth’s Thor-pack.
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Properly pumped and ready to undo all gains made earlier, I met up with some old friends to plan our attack on West Hollywood’s unbeatable nightlife. We started with a baseline bite at Harlowe, an establishment so good that once the carefully crafted cocktails and savory delights began dropping in on our seductively lit corner booth, we found it nearly impossible to leave.
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As the night unfolded, we explored West Hollywood’s world-class iconic joints for imbibing, each offering a unique vibe and salacious saltiness. Keeping it classic, I headed to The Formosa Cafe, the oldest and most authentic watering hole in West Hollywood, where strong drinks flowed freely in a classic atmosphere reminiscent of Hollywood’s golden era.
With the night still young, we ventured to Casa Madera, an exclusive venue nestled in the same space that marked the beginning of my travel-obsessed career at the infamous Mondrian Hotel. The fish-forward Mediterranean haven offers amazing views and delightful DJ beats. Their culinary offerings were a feast for the senses—seductive citrus hamachi, floral-draped butter crab legs, and a fortress of Haas tuna tartare. The experience was a West Hollywood trifecta, a perfect blend of taste, ambiance, and Instagram-worthy visuals surrounded by celebs.
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The nightcap started with a bit of laughter and revelry at The Comedy Store, before we moved 100 feet down Sunset to the Saddle Ranch, where my friend braved the mechanical bull for a round of free shots—a fair trade in our book. Finally we let gravity take hold of us as we tumbled down Olive to the infamous Barney’s Beanery, where nights in West Hollywood usually used to end. It, as always, did not disappoint.
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Look, if you know me, or you’ve come on my adventures, you will know I don’t suffer from travel fools. You can’t go back home, unless your home never leaves you. West Hollywood is that place that isn’t a location, it’s a philosophy, an emotion, or a dance move depending on when you ask. To me West Hollywood will always be the sweet flavour of fear of the unknown, mixed with the sweet release of acceptance. Be who you are or what you may be, this is a fold in the world’s culture where you’re not always just welcome, but celebrated. Thank you, and it is so good to be home.
WIN A LONELY PLANET: BEST BEACHES
What makes a good beach?
To reach an epic beach is one of the key elements of travelling.
Some like big waves and some like a peaceful bay. Some prefer crystal-clear white sand while others froth the black or even rare pink sand beaches. Some think it’s when there’s a buzzing vibe and big crowd of people wearing not much, while others like beaches that are completely deserted.
Best Beaches: 100 of the world’s most incredible beaches, is Lonely Planet’s guide to the very best beaches from around the world. It’s a beautiful coffee table chic showcasing beaches with elephants, beaches with caves, beaches with epic surf and sprawling coastlines.
The book is broken down by continent, and includes top ranking beaches for sunsets, the best for nature, the best for people watching etc.
LONELY PLANET’S TOP 5 BEACHES TO WATCH THE SUNSET
Maremegmeg Beach, Philippines
Punta Rata Beach, Croatia
Pfeiffer Beach, USA
Playa de Famara, Spain
Cable Beach/Walmanyjun, Australia (pictured)
**
To celebrate, get lost are giving away a few copies of this ripper.
TO WIN, TELL US IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE BEACH IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
Submit your entries via email to info@getlostmagazine.com – or DM us on Instagram. Entries close February 22.
Lonely Planet’s Best Beaches is available for $49.95 RRP from all bookstores around Australia, as well as online.
