Like all great ideas, Dirty Sultan – Brisbane’s first Turkish shisha lounge – was concocted during a backpacking trip around Europe.
Drawing inspo from bars in Greece, Turkey and even France, pals Tom D’Arcy and Dilan Ildes have taken all their favourite elements (think Middle Eastern flavours and a super-luxe aesthetic) and brought them to sunny Brisbane. The result is an exotic rooftop establishment loaded with daybeds, lanterns and plenty of greenery.
Shishas come infused with grape, watermelon and strawberry, but for something more substantial, the falafel popcorn or Nutella baklava hit the spot. Wash it all down with one (or many) of the ridiculously good cocktails, like the Leyla, a Turkish mojito made using pomegranate and mint.
Originally launched to coincide with Dark Mofo 2019 as a multipurpose cultural space, In The Hanging Garden has reopened as a permanent – albeit still flexible – fixture of Hobart’s hospitality and live music scene.
The enormous precinct, which features a tiered beer garden, outdoor dining area, bar, band room and nightclub, spans an entire city block, and is mostly covered by a huge cathedral-like roof. Faux lawn, potted plants and tables and chairs are dotted throughout the lower level of the venue, while the upper level is home to Oryza and Bruny Island Cheese Co., whose menus change with the seasons. The venue’s house bars also sling exclusively Tassie wines and a rotating list of seasonal cocktails.
Whether catching an acoustic set, heading out for a dance or simply meeting friends for a quick after-work drink, it appears as though this lush, urban oasis in the heart of Tassie’s capital truly has something for everyone.
Those of us who live in Victoria have long travelled to Healesville to sip, sample and take home Four Pillars’ excellent gins. Now Sydneysiders get their chance.
The new digs incorporate a lab, with a German copper still called Eileen doing its thing, and a shop where you can stock your home drinks trolley. But there’s also the gorgeous Eileen’s Bar.
James Irvine has devised the drinks list, which is heavy with gin cocktails – check out the Tash Sultana, made with sherry cask gin, muscatel, pineapple botrytis, fig vinegar and caramel – but also includes wine, beer and cider. Chef Matt Wilkinson has come up with some great drinking snacks to go with it. Salt and gin vinegar chips or a plate of party pies? Don’t mind if we do.
First held in the late 1700s in East Tanna, the Nekowiar Festival is one of Vanuatu’s biggest and brightest events and originally marked the end of a conflict between neighbouring tribes.
There isn’t a set date and time for the festival – it takes place when Tanna’s kastom chiefs collectively decide when it is most fortuitous to hold. In fact, the 2020 event was the first time the festival took place since 2012!
The festival is an extravaganza of the senses, taking place across three full days and nights. Hundreds of dancers join together and paint their faces with brightly coloured designs, significant to their tribal community, and the following days are filled with kastom song and dance.
The female dancers kick proceedings off. They sing in harmony and dance a traditional dance of Napen Napen, until they’re too exhausted to continue – swapping in and out with one another throughout the day and well into the evening. On the second day, it’s the men’s turn to perform the traditional Toka dance, chanting and dancing energetically to the beat for hours on end.
On the last day, everyone gathers together for a feast and food, pigs and other goods are exchanged between tribes at a ceremony known as the Niel, to reconcile any quarrels and disagreements between them.
There’s remote island escapes and there’s ‘remote island escapes’. The Conflict are genuine paradise escapes and are made up of 21 privately owned, pristine and completely uninhabited islands covering a total landmass of 375 hectares / 3.75km square). That’s a lot of space to get lost and found in.
How’s this for remote: at the Conflict Islands Resort you’ll find just six private beachfront ensuite bungalows, situated on the main island of Panasesa. There’s also a main house where guests can enjoy peace and tranquility whilst enjoying delicious fresh-caught local food, refreshing drinks, and even free wi-fi (if you want or need it).
There’s also a beachfront deck and a balcony overlooking the stunning archipelago and lagoon waters, with other-worldly aqua-blue colours.
With only 14 guests able to stay at Lissenung Island Resort at any one time, this is the secluded Pacific island hideaway you have been looking for! The resort features six deluxe oceanfront rooms, all with private facilities, and all with hardwood floors and spacious, relaxing verandahs.
The heart of the island and where guests come together to eat their meals is the Haus Win; the thatched-roof main building with sandy floors and walls open to nature, furnished with local art. For keen divers and water-based adventurers Lissenung Island Resort has it all: Pelagic fish action, currents, wall and muck diving, wrecks and beautiful reefs, clean surf breaks and authentically-colourful cultural experiences.
Plus the resort also runs its own turtle conservation programme from September to March every year to help protect the local population of turtles, with guests encouraged to help out with the resort’s efforts.
How does a long weekend in paradise sound? Loloata Island Resort is located a short boat ride from Port Moresby, making it an accessible overseas destination suitable for a long weekend away.
Loloata Island Resort is a contemporary, brand new resort, complete with 68 rooms (including 22 overwater villas), two restaurants, a swimming pool, private beach, and a day spa.
The island itself sits on the edge of the Papuan Barrier Reef and there are 29 surrounding dive sites where experienced divers can explore colourful reefs teeming with sea life, discover shipwrecks; and even come across a WWII Boston Bomber.
Or for those that feel like relaxing, spend some time by the pool with a cocktail in hand! Loloata Island Resort also offers day passes for approximately AUD $40, which includes boat transfers from Port Moresby.
Your next climbing challenge awaits. At 4,509m, Mount Wilhelm is not only the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea, but is also the highest point in all of Oceania. Led by Peter Doa, Papua New Guinean Mt Wilhelm head guide.
Despite its height, Mount Wilhelm is actually the country’s most accessible mountain to climb. Usually a 3-4 day hike (accessible from Mount Hagen) including overnight stays at camps / villages along the way, the expedition will find you crossing rivers, climbing through moss forests, alpine grasslands and glacial valleys. Mount Wilhelm has rugged peaks with a well formed trail leading to its summit. The ascent crosses diverse and beautiful terrain with open grassland on the slopes and granite predominant in the higher levels. While it is not a technical mountain to climb it does take a reasonable level of fitness to complete with 3 – 4 days to ascend.
Generally trekkers summit before sunrise to truly enjoy the view out to the north coast and surrounding valleys, and if you’re lucky enough you might even get to spot a beautiful bird of paradise too. While it’s not compulsory to reach the summit it is to come back down – the scenery is simply breathtaking!
Located on a cliff in Kangaroo Island overlooking South Australia’s stunning Snelling’s Beach is the idyllic Cliff House. It comes complete with outdoor cliff-edge Jacuzzi and panoramic southern sea views where you can sip champagne and watch dolphins dip and dive under the gaze of the southern stars.
While this is the ideal setting for a romantic getaway or honeymoon, the Cliff House also caters for families wanting to entertain the whole family with sleeping configurations that cater for six guests – two king bed bedrooms (one of which could be a twin), one king-bed round tower room, and two bathrooms.
For those with a little more moolah to splash around, there’s a private helicopter landing area nearby, perfect wedding venue and last minute getaways… just in case the romantic weekend doesn’t go as planned.
New Britain and New Ireland islands in the Bismarck Sea are popular with divers, surfers, history buffs and adventure seekers alike. These two easy-to-get-to islands are perfect for first-time visitors to Papua New Guinea.
In West New Britain Province (accessible by flight to Kimbe) you can hike to the top of the active Gabuna Volcano crater, relax in a natural spa-like thermal hot river or visit the local firefly trees at night and see the rainforest light up. At the other end of the island in East New Britain Province (accessible by flight to Rabaul), a world of history awaits; from hidden Japanese WWII war tunnels and Admiral Yamamoto’s famed buker, to the ash-covered remains of old Rabaul town (destroyed by the nearby Mount Tavurvur volcanic eruption of 1937).
At New Ireland (accessible by flight to Kavieng) you can go on a 5-day cycling adventure, travelling down the length of the 260km mostly-flat Bulominski Highway, stopping to rest at traditional village homestays along the way.
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