Australasia & Pacific

Best for sun-worshippers: Bondi Beach

Saturday, 6 February 2010

I once spent six months working in television in Sydney, and that's when I first visited Bondi Beach. Back then, it was a bit unloved – there was nowhere to eat and the beach was run-down and grubby. In spite of its close proximity to the city centre, Bondi just wasn't fashionable. Nowadays, things are very different – the neighbourhood has been reinvented and Bondi has become the most vibrant beach in Australia; perfect for a fun weekend break from the city. The combination of a beautiful bay, golden sands and a cosmopolitan crowd ensures that this is a beach for everyone – surfers, serious swimmers, hikers, sunbathers and families enjoying communal picnics. Once frequented by backpackers, junkies and down-and-outs, the cleaned-up, restored Bondi is chic, and boasts, among other things, award-winning chef Sean Moran's Panaroma on Campbell Parade, a great neighbourhood restaurant where he offers organic produce, delicious roast chicken and fresh fish, all served simply. Think River Café, Aussie-style.

Best for far-flung thrills: New Zealand

Saturday, 6 February 2010

There's a flock of noisy kakas on my front lawn, quarrelling over some croissants left over from breakfast. A few hours ago, I saw baby carpet sharks bobbing offshore, and a blue penguin gliding through the emerald waters. Tonight, who knows, I might spot a kiwi.

On The Road: Soaking up desert life in Alice Springs

Saturday, 6 February 2010

Alice Springs is greener than I expected. As you fly in you can see the red desert pocked with trees, the organic lines of forgotten riverbeds crossed with straight dirt trails. The aerial landscape seems to mirror the dotted style of the indigenous artwork in this part of the world.

Trail Of The Unexpected: Off-road in Queensland

Saturday, 30 January 2010

Bike down a mountainside or explore the shore: there's plenty of nature in Noosa.

Express yourself: New Zealand is best seen by rail

Saturday, 23 January 2010

Grand Central, St Pancras, Milano Centrale – and, er, Britomart?

Links across the Outback: The world's longest golf course

Saturday, 16 January 2010

Rory Ross: Nullarbor Links opened in southern Australia in late 2009. The distance from first hole to last: 1,365km.

On the tail of a tiger in Tasmania

Saturday, 9 January 2010

Tasmania's thylacine has been extinct for 70 years – or has it? James Stewart tries to track it down

Queensland: Sun, sea, sand - and the Outback

Saturday, 19 December 2009

Australia's most diverse territory has it all

The Big Six: Australian rooms with a view

Saturday, 12 December 2009

Best of the west: Australia's largest state offers superb diving and the nation's finest wines

Saturday, 5 December 2009

It's never a good idea to drink and dive. Sage advice for anyone fortunate enough to find themselves among the bays, beaches and wineries of Western Australia's glorious south-west...