Tasmanian Walking Company Announces World First: A 5-Day Guided Walk Uniting Australia's Northern Territory's Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk: "A desert journey into the heart of Australia and a trail that unites two geological icons, Kata Tjuta with Uluru ... it will become one of the great walks of the world."

Brett Godfrey, Tasmanian Walking Company co-owner and respected tourism leader.

Artist impression, Tasmanian Walking Company ©

In the beating central heart of Australia, the amazing, atmospheric Uluru and Kata Tjuta  are icons known the world over – and the breaking news of this particular desert journey certainly made my heart skip more than a beat! 

I've visited both places in the past as a travel writer, staying in all kinds of accommodation including basic camping, great resorts and the luxurious Longitude 131˙, close to Uluru but still all outside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park itself.

The camping was a visit on an incredible road trip, en route to the Tanami Track, Broome, the Bungle Bungles, Gibb River Road and beyond, in the days when climbing Uluru, while not encouraged, was still permitted. The morning of the climb I had no doubts about my ability to scale the rock – I was young-ish, fit-ish and loved walking. Yet as I began to climb I had an overwhelming sensation of a force or energy holding me back. I simply could not proceed. 

Feeling rather puzzled (there were female tourists returning from the ascent in white stilettoes for heaven's sake), I left my fellow climbers and started to walk around the base of Uluru on my own. How magical was that? I was aware of Uluru's extraordinary energy but able to experience the perimeter's more gentle vibes – and I had no wish at all to stand on top. 

We continued to Kata Tjuta and the energy for me there was incredibly powerful, yet softer and more mystical. The formations are stunning and different parts are highlighted as the light changes from dawn through sunrise to sunset.

Katja Tjuta. Photo by Tourism NT  ©

Since then I have visited on several assignments, one to mark the opening of the first luxurious Longitude 131˙, with its ground-breaking, safari-style desert accommodation with views of Uluru. I was the lucky one who got to see the sunrise on Uluru from bed while my photographer husband was camped out on a sand dune pre-dawn in temperatures of -4˙, to capture the resort at sunrise. (Happily, the uber-luxurious nature of the property was such that a member of staff appeared at his side with his favourite coffee!) 

So now, reflecting on past visits, I 'get' the importance of this new announcement, a walk connecting Uluru and Kata Tjuta and with the opportunity to stay within a World-Heritage listed national park. 

Walking at sunrise with Kata Tjuta. Photo by Tourism NT ©

About the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk 

Tasmanian Walking Company is proud to announce a world first; from 2026, it's a five-day fully guided walk inside the grounds of the World-Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. 

Developed in consultation with Anangu Traditional Owners, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Board of Management and Parks Australia, the all-inclusive experience will unite two of the world’s greatest natural wonders, Uluru and Kata Tjuta. 

Small groups of up to 14 will spend five days and four nights inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park learning about ancient Anangu culture and history, connecting with nature, and staying exclusively in environmentally sustainable accommodation.  

Tasmanian Walking Company co-owner and respected tourism leader Brett Godfrey, whose nine-year journey to bring the 54km walk to market, describes the experience as "a desert journey into the heart of Australia and a trail that unites two geological icons, Kata Tjuta with Uluru.”  “This journey started in 2015 when I walked with Traditional Owners for 150 kilometres from the South Australian border to touch Uluru seven days later. It was one of my life's great experiences, and it made me want to share this cultural phenomenon sensitively with anyone prepared to tackle the desert and immerse themselves in Anangu history.

Heath Garratt/Tasmanian Walking Company ©

“In my view, it will attract an international market and become one of the great walks of the world,” Mr Godfrey said.  The multi-day Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk starts in the shadows of Kata Tjuta’s giant dome formations and arcs east, traversing an extraordinary landscape along remote desert trails, cresting red dunes, and through mulga woodlands. Over five days, there are art workshops, lessons in land management practices, and daily three-course meals, many under night skies lit up by stars from the Milky Way.  

"For most of the journey, visitors will trek in full view of the two rock formations, both remnants of millions of years of Earth’s history. Carrying only a day pack, they will stay in spectacular eco-sensitive retreats and be guided by the knowledge of those who have walked the land for tens of thousands of years before them,” Mr Godfrey explained. 

“The ultimate destination is Uluru, a geological wonder deeply associated with Aboriginal culture and intrinsically etched into the Australian identity. “This walk has been a decade in development, but 500 million years in the making.”  

Uluru. Photo by Tourism NT ©

Chair of the Anangu Steering Committee – Tapaya Edwards says: 

“My people have lived on this land for more than 30,000 years and we welcome visitors from all over the world. This walk invites them to slow down, to look beyond the physical beauty of our home and to take time to learn about the customs that are so important to us.   

“We hope that over five days, they will better understand our stories and our art, respect our traditions and land management practices and help us protect the environment. By walking in our footsteps and on our trails, they will also come to see that our ancient culture is still very much alive today.” 

Managing Director of Tourism Australia, Phillipa Harrison says:

“International travellers are increasingly on the lookout for tourism offerings with a focus on wellness, adventure and cultural experiences so the opportunity for a multi-day walk through the heart of Australia will no doubt be highly sought after.

“When the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk launches in 2026 it will provide a unique five-day experience that combines learning about the world’s oldest living culture with the experience of one Australia’s most recognisable natural wonders.

“Uluru and Kata Tjuta are bucket list experiences for so many international travellers and there is no doubt many will be keen to see these iconic sites as part of the new walk through the World-Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.”

Heath Garratt and Vincent Nipper Anangu Senior.
Photo by Tasmanian Walking Company ©

 

Northern Territory Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Hon. Marie-Clare Boothby says:

“Congratulations to the Tasmanian Walking Company on launching the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk, it will be sure to be a popular hiking trail for adventure visitors to the Territory and marks the second offering in the NT joining the Larapinta Signature Walk that opened in 2022. 

“Some 1.6 million people travelled to the Northern Territory last year including almost 191,000 international visitors, with more than half visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta to experience its natural beauty and connect with Aboriginal culture. The Territory Government through Tourism NT is delighted to be able to work alongside Anangu and Tasmanian Walking Company to market this exciting new world-class, nature-based experience.

“The five-day walk will create a platform to promote the Northern Territory’s ancient culture in Central Australia and drive direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local Anangu community.” 

More Information

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk commences in April 2026 and marks the second offering in the Northern Territory for the Australian Walking Company, after the company launched the Larapinta Signature Walk in 2022.  

For more information about the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk and to register early interest, visit Tasmanian Walking Company 

Click HERE to read the full itinerary for the new Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk.  

Source: Press Release.

Night Sky over Kata Tjuta. Photo by Tourism NT ©

Legendary Jazz Pianist and Composer Mike Nock inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame

 

Love Mike Nock's music and so pleased to hear/see this. Great film! 

"Mike Nock is an icon of the Australian and international jazz scenes. In a career spanning more than 65 years, including 25 years in the US, he has worked with the world’s top jazz artists and garnered a swag of awards, including being inducted into the Australian Jazz Hall of Fame. His discography of more than 35 albums, recorded with his Trio, Quartet, Big Small Band and many other collaborators, includes ARIA, AIR and Jazz Bell awards, but 'Hearing' is his first solo album since the chart-topping ‘Touch’, released 30 years ago almost to the day, in 1993. Its 13 tracks reveal the many colours and moods that can be conjured from keys of a piano, and prove again Mike Nock’s incomparable genius as both composer and performer." Extract from 'Hearing' Press Release, 2023.

"No one does wistfulness better than Mike Nock. Although perfectly capable of evoking infinite moods and feelings at the piano, he does wistfulness with distinctive unsentimentality. It’s the kind of sadness that might be expressed with a half a wry smile, and is always couched in beauty because Nock, above all, is an aesthete who has ever greater command over his art." Extract from John Shand's Sydney Morning Herald  review of Mike Nock's solo album, 'Hearing', 2/8/23.

For more about Mike and his music, see Mike Nock. 

Mike often plays at Sydney's Foundry Six One Six Jazz Club and you can buy his many albums, including 'Hearing', from stores including Birdland Records. 

ALDI Holidays: Special Buys take to the skies

I love this!  ALDI aficionados know just how irresistible some Special Buys™ can be. Take my recent canvas painter's dropsheet buy, for example, despite no painting jobs on the horizon. Was I pleased/vindicated when friends dropped in unexpectedly and the dropsheet doubled as a tablecloth, covering the uneven surface of our outdoor table savaged that week by sulphur-crested cockatoos!!

But a world away from table linen and cockatoos, there's exciting travel deal news for ALDI high-flyers – and it's refreshing to see a company addressing this sector. Here's what they say:

In a first for Australian supermarkets, ALDI is the destination to book your next holiday! Get ready, set… pack for your next adventure as ALDI’s Special Buys have received a first-class treatment upgrade with the ALDI Holidays' online portal (see below).

From Wednesday 2 October, Australian shoppers will be able to plan their next vacation with a suite of exclusive ALDI escapes, cruises and tour deals. Bringing value to the travel category, these holiday deals still have all the frills attached with options including room upgrades, tours, customisable experiences and flights at some of the most sought-after travel destinations around the world.

From just $449pp, ALDI says its first drop of packages include picturesque escapes worth shell-abrating, from Surfers Paradise to The Whitsundays or even to Fiji, Thailand or Hawaii. Also  sea-sational cruises around the Pacific Islands or Japan and a range of 10-day tour options and awesome adventures to South Africa, Europe or China! 

Rodney Balech, Group Director, ALDI Australia said: “We are excited to be taking off in a new direction to make planning and booking a holiday a more enjoyable experience for Australians and in our signature, Good Different way with ALDI Holidays. This service, in partnership with Ignite Travel, will unlock incredible value and help all types of travellers create truly unforgettable experiences.

“With ALDI Holidays we’re bringing our Special Buys to the skies, offering savvy travelers premium holiday options. From budget-friendly bliss to extravagant escapes, there are different levels of luxury for every keen explorer,” said Mr Balech. 

ALDI Holidays

Source: Press Release, ALDI

Images: Courtesy of ALDI

Places to stay on Australia's Sunshine Coast: Think boutique heritage, hinterland farmstays, a tiny place, coastal resorts – and Richard Branson's Makepeace Island

I loved the story of UK Post Office campaigner Alan Bates' marriage on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands so much it made me cry. The private island's famous owner Richard Branson not only hosted Alan and his partner Stephanie, but also officiated at the ceremony. Class act! Coincidentally, I received a press release about what's new for Australia's fabulous Sunshine Coast this spring. Class act! Included was a reminder that Richard Branson is also an owner of Makepeace Island there. 

Makepeace Island

The heart-shaped, private island resort has just re-opened to the public following extensive refurbishment – think new bathrooms and furniture, a new tennis court and barge – catering for groups up to 22 guests exclusively, with three two-bedroom villas and four private rooms with ensuites in the Bali House. 

Dining, Makepeace Island

But Makepeace is only part of the story as the Sunshine Coast is buzzing with news from delicious boutique hinterland hideaways and farmstays to refurbished coastal stays. Also, new immersive animal encounters with seals, penguins and whales, and a new helicopter tour taking guests to new heights. 

New heritage homes open their doors

Elsie's Cottage. Photo: Hannah Puechmarin.

Despite being built in 1916, Elsie’s Cottage opened for guest stays for the first time last month. This enchanting hinterland retreat is named after the youngest granddaughter of Joseph and Alice Dixon, pioneers of the Sunshine Coast in the 1800s. The cottage has been lovingly restored by Joseph and Alice’s great-great-grandson Matthew Clarke and his wife, Sarah. Sleeps four with two exquisite ensuite bedrooms and panoramic views over the Blackall Range to the coast. 

Montville Estate

Following a luxury re-design, the entire Montville Estate (c.1895) is now available to guests, offering a large original homestead and a private, self-contained luxury cottage on the sprawling 1.5 acre property. 

In the Gympie Region, an atmospheric cottage has been created out of the heritage building, The Wimberley (c. 1911), which was once part of Wimberley & Sons Grocery & Hardware Store in the hinterland village of Goomeri. Fully renovated and accessible, this two-bedroom boutique stay is the perfect base for exploring the rail trail and enjoying the region’s renowned local produce. 

Hinterland Farmstays

Thirlestane Farm

Thirlestane Farm is a quintessential farm worker's cottage renovated to an exceptionally high standard with an adjoining newly built barn set in 28 acres of peaceful rolling hills in Cooroy, just 20-minutes’ to the stunning beaches of Noosa. Sleeping up to eight, these two properties are ideal for families or small groups to escape to the country to relax and soak up the serenity of the farm – complete with Highland cows! 

Seven Peaks Farm 

Nestled just 50 minutes away from both Sunshine Coast Airport and Brisbane Airport, Seven Peaks Farm Stay in Beerwah is a tranquil retreat with six modern private cabins and a family cottage with superb views of the Glass House Mountains. This area is known for its gourmet food trail, craft breweries, distilleries, hiking, mountain biking and scenic drives.

Tiny Ahana. Photo, Doe and Deer Photography

Into The Wild has launched their second tiny home on the Sunshine Coast, Tiny Aahana, perfect for tranquil family getaways. Sleeps up to six guests with all the amenities, including an outdoor bathtub. 

Refreshed coastal stays

Ramada Marcoola

Ramada Marcoola Beach is undergoing a $2million “Hamptons-style” refurbishment of 24 of its holiday apartments and hotel rooms. Construction has started to transform the rooms with a classic coastal theme. 

Glen Eden Beach Resort is located in one of the Sunshine Coast’s most in-demand villages Peregian Beach. Located just 10-minutes’ from Noosa with direct beach access, the resort is under new management and being given a fresh new look with refurbished public spaces and furnishings. 

In Mooloolaba, Mirra Chana resort is the perfect beachside getaway with direct access to Mooloolaba Beach and only a short walk from The Wharf Mooloolaba. The resort's beach-level three-bedroom apartments have undergone impressive renovations with deluxe bathrooms and full-sized kitchens. 

Attractions & tours

Oceanview Helicopters is set to launch a new ‘Picnic on a Peak’ experience that will provide the ultimate aerial tourism and local food experience on the Sunshine Coast. 

Oceanview Helicopters, Caloundra

New immersive animal encounters

Mooloolaba’s SEA LIFE has launched a new ‘behind the scenes’ Ultimate Animal Experience, while Epic Ocean Adventures has launched a first-of-its-kind whale encounter with ocean kayak tours. 

Food & drink

Established by two mates with a passion for fine spirits, Hayden Mokaraka and Trent McEvoy will open Buderim Distilling Co on Ocean St, Maroochydore, later this month. 

Glasshouse Plantation has reopened after renovations complete with a working coffee farm for a full farm-to-cup coffee tasting experience, all accompanied by stunning Glasshouse Mountains views. 

Events

Big Pineapple Music Festival 19 October, one of Australia’s most-loved outdoor concerts. 

Pop & Pour Festival 26 October, is a one-day brewery and distillery adventure.

Source: Press Release Visit Sunshine Coast 

Culinary treats, Makepeace Island, Sunshine Coast.

Read more about the Bates' wedding on Necker Island here.

Namia River Retreat, Hoi An, Vietnam: Wellbeing Meets Sense of Place

Namia River Retreat, Hoi An, Vietnam

There's a newcomer to the prestigious luxury wellbeing sector and it's already making a great impression with its themes of cultural wellness and Vietnamese herbology. Namia River Retreat was introduced to a group of us in the glorious setting of the Sydney Botanic Gardens on a sparkling, if cool, sunny day. The harbourside gardens are large enough to almost lose yourself in but, as I remarked to a colleague, I really wouldn't mind that at all. 

The Retreat's presentation was delivered by the travel industry's revered Donna Campbell and her description of the pools, the cuisine and Namia's proximity to heritage Hoi An already promised a very special experience. Then she mentioned the 90 minutes of wellbeing therapies and treatments included daily in the cost, and we were hooked.

The truly delicious Vietnamese lunch served in a crescendo of sharing plates at Botanic House, where the Asian cuisine is crafted by Ambassador Chef Luke Nguyen, forged further ties with the at-this-point intangible Namia. As in, I feel I know it even though it doesn't open until December 2024. 

I've been fortunate to experience a selection of the world's great spas and wellbeing retreats in the course of magazine roles including that of Health & Beauty Editor, and as a travel writer. So I know how blissful it is to be pampered, revitalised and nourished in a setting where you can feel a sense of place, to retreat and not lose but find yourself. 

Connecting with and embracing the local culture of Hoi An means that wellbeing really will meet sense of place at Namia River Retreat.

And I really wouldn't mind that at all.

Read about it here:

Namia River Retreat

What they say:

"Namia River Retreat is a quintessential Hoi An experience not to be missed!! Thoughtfully crafted with out-of-the-ordinary cultural journeys and wellness-inclusive therapies inspired by Vietnamese herbology. This is truly a new way to explore this lantern-lit ancient town  for those seeking a deeper connection to the people and culture. Return home to the luxurious comforts of a private pool villa, hyper-local Hoi An dining experiences, and stunning pools set amidst indigenous landscapes overlooking the Thu Bon river."

They're out! Rock orchids at our place, Wollombi, NSW

Our Sydney Rock Orchids (Denbdrobium speciosum). Photo © Alison Plummer

 

Stokesay Castle: Touch of Magic on the Welsh Marches

Stokesay Castle, Shropshire. Photo ©Alison Plummer.

I fell for Stokesay Castle, Shropshire, many moons ago and love it to pieces. The whole aura of it – the building, the setting, who knows what exactly, but it's like a magnet for me. The exterior blends castle walls with a medieval beamed manor house, and the gatehouse is a fairytale in itself. Inside is bare today, but still interesting. Climb the tower for views over the lush Teme Valley countryside.

Stokesay Castle Gatehouse. Photo by English Heritage.

Stokesay is close to Ludlow, a hill town with a very different castle, mighty and formidable, despite its ruined walls. Explore Ludlow's streets leading up to the castle and the adjacent market square. Markets are held four days a week and foodie Ludlow delivers local produce in many cafes, delis and restaurants. Explore this border country and its tiny towns and castles, hike the hills, feel the magic.

Photo by Alison Plummer©

Photo by The Clive Arms

Photo by The Clive Arms

Stokesay Castle

Ludlow Farmshop

The Clive Arms

Amalfi Coast Count Down – Farewell Angelina

A timely message about the end of summer on the Amalfi Coast popped into my inbox with the reminder of the seasonal closure of Casa Angelina in Praiano on 31 October. The description of thinning crowds, glorious sunsets and skippered boat trips to Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento and Capri tugged at my heartstrings. Who can fail to fall desperately in love with this curvaceous coastline and its mesmerising light? 

Image: Casa Angelina, Praiano, Amalfi Coast.©

The prompt made me smile as we would have done well to have heeded such advice on our first visit to Italy's Amalfi Coast. We were winging it, indie travellers somewhat carelessly piecing together our own itinerary, researching features for print and shooting images for an agency campaign to an exacting brief requiring shots of Positano.

Arriving in Rome, we lingered a little too long in a tiny, romantic hotel in Campo de Fiore. (Sigh!) We travelled by train to Naples and then to Sorrento for a delicious sojourn in a beautiful villa surrounded by lemon groves. We taxied to Positano, sure of finding accommodation – but this was 30 October and shutters were being closed and nailed fast in many restaurants and hotels around the tiny bay. Even the legendary Le Sirenuse hotel was shutting up shop.

Dismayed, we enquired and were directed to a pensione where the main rooms were already closed for winter. We were shown to a side room not facing the sea but it still didn't click that the end of the season was for a reason!

We scoped the beach for the exact location for the advertising shoot and then went to dinner. The narrow passage and stairways of Positano were lined with large pots of geraniums and we looked forward to a romantic stroll back through them towards the sea. But while we dined the wind came up – and what a wind. It howled through the passageways taking plant pots with it. "Hang on to me Dorothy," he exclaimed, invoking lines from The Wizard of Oz, and we literally clung to each other as we battled the elements.

The storms raged and it poured with rain all day every day for the next six days. We went to our chosen spot on the beach for the ad photos in case the clouds parted, but no luck. Sheltering, we dined on delicious meats, cheeses and tomatoes from the local deli, complaining about being 'stuck' and then laughing as we realised how privileged we were to be there, even in the rain. Finally the sun did shine, the Hasselblad shutter locked the photos in place and we were done, free again to explore at will, heading south to Praiano, Ravello, then Capri and points north back to Rome.

Last of Casa Angelina's summer season

So hurry if you will to Casa Angelina and its glorious sunsets at Praiano. Hop aboard a boat inspired by the traditional Sorrentine Gozzo fishing vessels with half and day cruises around Capri, the Blue Grotto and the Faraglioni Rocks. Sail south to small coastal towns such as Maiori, Minori and Cetara; or to Leranto Bay – a place of awe-inspiring beauty, where the mythical Homerian Sirens were said to have sung their enchanting songs to passing sailors. 

Image: Casa Angelina, Executive Chef Lepoldo Elefante.©

You will not go hungry as Casa Angelina Executive Chef Leopoldo Elefante offers boat-goers his favourite plates: Rice with White Sea Truffles, Sfusato Amalfitano & Zucchini flowers, Oyster & Raspberry, Shrimp Avocado & Dill, Prawn & Kaluga Amur Caviar, Squid Celery & Peach, Octopus Yellow Dapper & Mint, Mozzarella & Sorrento Tomatoes – conjuring for me the very tastes and colours of the Amalfi Coast.

If you can't make it before 31 October then it's farewell Casa Angelina until next year. Book ahead now for 2023 while you think of it! 

Information and bookings:

Casa Angelina is a 42-room hotel offering barefoot luxury in modern minimalist surroundings. The season runs from early March to late October.

In Australia and New Zealand contact Unique Tourism

Casa Angelina

Source: Press release and big thanks to Unique Tourism for the reminder!

   

Slingology – the new art of Raffles' Singapore Sling cocktail, now refreshed with craft ingredients and sustainability

Recently enjoying an extensive restoration, Raffles Hotel Singapore has gone to great lengths to retain the ambience and service so loved by its devoted clientele while appealing to those who are yet to experience its charms. Cosy social spaces and courtyards, new restaurants and bars are all part of the recipe along with treasured venues including the Long Bar, the mention of which triggered a fond memory.

The Sling at the Long Bar. © Raffles Hotel Singapore

My last visit to the hotel a few years ago was to attend an intimate, luxurious wedding reception in a private dining room. Between copious intriguing courses I was whisked away on a tour of some timber walkways framed by arches. My guide (a fellow wedding guest) hurried me along and I lost a heel from one of my slingback shoes on the way – I planned to return in daylight to look for it but that didn't happen. Despite my not being well-heeled, we all had a last drink in the Long Bar after the reception dinner. Inevitably, the group decision was that a Singapore Sling would make up for my loss!

Star of the Long Bar 

It's too late to retrace those exact steps now, but happily the Long Bar remains, complete with the iconic Singapore Sling now revitalised after its own makeover. Using craft ingredients, the cocktail's taste has been refreshed to suit modern palates while the use of ecoSPIRITS makes it more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

New delivery for the Singapore Sling. ©Raffles Hotel Singapore.

Adding to its accolades, the Singapore Sling has become the forerunner for Raffles Hotel Singapore in its move to reduce single-use waste and the carbon footprint. Working with Proof & Company and patent-pending ecoSPIRITS technology, key ingredients Widges Gin, Luxardo Cherry Sanque Morlacco and Ferrand Dry Curaçao are delivered to Long Bar in patent-pending ecoTOTETM format, saving tens of thousands of glass bottles each year. 

Single-use plastic straws have been replaced with biodegradable versions made with potato starch. Also furthering the sustainability profile, the Luxardo Maraschino Cherries and Long Bar exclusive Scrappy’s Spiced Plantation Bitters are shipped in low-waste formats, eliminating several thousand kilograms of packaging waste. Estimates using the ecoSPIRITS Carbon Calculator, developed by consulting firm Deloitte, the Singapore Sling saves the equivalent of 200g of CO2 emission per serving.

Under the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program, Raffles Hotel Singapore is planting one native tree in the Kalimantan or Sumatran rainforest for every 25 Singapore Slings ordered, leaving a permanent legacy of carbon reduction and reforestation of endangered wild areas. Discover Raffles Hotel Singapore’s contribution through the live digital forest.

ecoSPIRITS©

Cocktail in Disguise

Originally created in 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese bartender at Raffles Hotel Singapore, the Singapore Sling cleverly disguised a cocktail as fruit juice. Why? Etiquette required that ladies shouldn't consume alcohol in public, so their choice of beverage was limited to tea and fruit juices. Ngiam Tong Boon saw an opportunity, creating a cocktail that looked like a fruit juice but was actually infused with gin and other liqueurs. It was a hit!

He used pineapple and lime juices for a tropical flavour and cleverly masked it in pink with grenadine syrup to give it a feminine flair, leading people to think it was a socially acceptable drink for women. Today the Sling continues to delight and inspire with its rich heritage and now a fresh taste. It's also the subject of a new Slingology cocktail bar collaboration in Singapore.

 

More about Raffles Hotel Singapore: 

raffles.com/Singapore

Long Bar

Source: Press Release 

The Forelle Ensemble plays its way through NSW/ACT in Austrian "Schubertiaden" style.

How lovely is this? Celebrating 200 years of an Austrian musical tradition, the Forelle Ensemble is currently travelling through NSW/ACT in the spirit of Franz Schubert whose Lieder (songs) were played to small groups of friends in intimate musical soirees that became known as "Schubertiaden”. The Forelle Ensemble will perform 10 concerts, taking listeners on a musical journey to Austria in Bowral, Canberra, Albury, Young and the gorgeous setting of the Hunter Valley's Winmark Wines.

Forelle is the brain-child of James Armstrong, winner of the ‘Austria Scholarship’ granted by Sydney Youth Orchestras and Austrian National Tourist Office. Visiting Vienna and Salzburg in early 2020, James fell in love with Austrian chamber music, especially the music of Franz Schubert. 

 

The Forelle Ensemble.©

To honour Schubert and as a reference to one of the composer’s most famous chamber music pieces ‘Forellenquintett’ (Trout Quintet), James Armstrong formed the Forelle Ensemble with four fellow students of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Members include Lilly Bennett (double bass), James Armstrong (violin), Angela Shin (cello), Estelle Shircore Barker (piano) and Aisha Goodman (viola).

The first documented Schubertiade took place 200 years ago in 1821 and the term still refers to intimate concerts and festivals around the world, in all kinds of settings. Most famous is the Schubertiade Festival in Austria's Alpine province Vorarlberg with around 80 events and 35,000 visitors annually, making it the biggest Schubert Festival in the world. 

Musicians Schubertiade, Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg. (Bregenzerwald Tourism, Christopher Lingg.)

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to play this beautiful repertoire of Schubert’s music. We can reimagine it in the sense that we are performing music which was composed in the Austrian countryside and we are bringing it to the countryside here in NSW and ACT.”, says James Armstrong. “The works on the program are very colourful, each in their own way, to the extent that I imagine each piece as a postcard of Austria. The music intimately reflects the landscape and lifestyle - from the elegant and lavish decor of Viennese salons to the striking snow-capped Alps and lush green fields of the countryside. Schubert’s music illustrates these settings so sublimely.”

“James Armstrong stole the hearts of the Viennese with both his incredible talent as a young violinist but also with his curiosity and interest in Austrian classical music and culture during his time in Vienna early last year,” says Astrid Gruchmann-Licht, Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office in Sydney. “This year we were delighted to find out that James wanted to share his passion for Schubert - and for Austria - with Australian audiences in regional NSW and ACT and we partnered with the Forelle Ensemble to bring this project to life. I view it as a true collaboration and love the idea of an Australian Schubertiade”. 

James Armstrong performing Chamber Music at Hotel Sacher, Vienna, above, and enjoying beautiful Vienna, below. (ANTO, Marion Carniel.)

 

Tour Dates 

Friday 11th June, 6.30pm: Schubertiade Opening Concert, Sydney 

Sunday 20th June, 2.30pm*E: St Jude’s Church, Bowral 

Wednesday 23rd June: Residence of the Austrian Ambassador, Canberra 

Thursday 24th June: Hausmusik event at private residence, Albury 

Friday 25th June, 7.00pm*E: St Matthew’s Church, Albury 

Saturday 26th June: Hausmusik event at private residence, Young 

Sunday 27th June, 12.00pm*: Ballinaclash Orchard and Cellardoor, Young 

Tuesday 29th June, 6.00pm*E: Young Regional School of Music, Young 

Friday 2nd July, 6.00pm*E: Winmark Wines, Hunter Valley 

James Armstrong  with Astrid Gruchmann-Licht, Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office in Sydney, at a Viennese Kaffehaus. (ANTO, Marion Carniel.)

* Public events: tickets and more information are available on Eventbrite (E) or via the venue website

Winmark Wines

Austria information

Source: Austria National Tourism news release

Amara dining opens to non-residents at Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Blue Mountains, NSW

Here's exciting news for those in search of exclusive dining experiences – Restaurant Amara at Spicers Sangoma Retreat in the Blue Mountains is now taking a small number of outside bookings. So now you don't have to be an in-house guest to experience the highly creative degustation menus by head chef Will Houia, but you'll wish you were!

Restaurant Amara

Amara - Eggplant taco shell, smoked mushroom and pea flowers

Amara is the Zulu word for grace and the restaurant's philosophy is to provide a graceful dining experience, drawing on an ecosystem of local producers and sustainable on-site practices reflecting the natural bushland surrounds. 

Amara - King Edward potato, marigold, sage and basil

Amara - Squid confit stuffed with chicken and tarragon mousse, fennel, chicken broth

The daily seven course dinner degustation menu and five course lunches on Friday to Sunday are all based on the freshest organic and seasonal  produce available within 100km of Sangoma, including the Hawkesbury region. Amara's ‘Harvest Menu’ shared lunch concept, offered on Monday to Thursday, focuses on one succulent protein and four of the freshest organic vegetables, mostly sourced from local friends at Harvest Farms, followed by dessert.

Amara - Milk skins, hazelnut praline, smoked ice cream, raspberries, dulche

Chef Will Houia prefers traditional cooking techniques with charcoal and fire and the use of controlled dehydration to prepare fruit and veggies, as well as indigenous ingredients to add subtle layers of flavour.  Why not stay for a week and have Will cook for you every day?

Amara - Head Chef Will Houia

Restaurant Amara, Spicers Sangoma Retreat

70 Grandview Lane, Bowen Mountain NSW 2753

Amara dining only guests - an intimate fine-dining experience by appointment

Dinner - 7 course degustation. 7 days 6pm-9pm $125pp

Lunch - 5 course degustation. Friday to Sunday 12.30pm-2.00pm $105pp

Lunch – Harvest Menu. Monday to Thursday 12.30pm-2.00pm $85pp

Please advise any dietaries at the time of booking

In-house guests dine 7 days

Breakfast, Harvest Menu Lunch Mon-Thurs & 5 Course Lunch Fri-Sun, 7 Course Dinner

• RESERVATIONS  | Ph 1300 352 190
• AMARA 
• SANGOMA 
• EXPERIENCES 

Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Blue Mountains, NSW

Photos courtesy of Restaurant Amara, Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Blue Mountains.

Midnight Oil, Makaratta Project at Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW

Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil, Hope Estate. Image © AP

What a thrill to be at Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW, for Midnight Oil's Makaratta Project. The moving and engaging welcome to Wonnarua Country was followed by powerful performances from Alice Skye, Troy Cassar-Daley and the mighty force of Peter Garrett/Midnight Oil and guests. What a show, what a message for reconciliation. 

The Welcome to Wonnarua Country. Video © AP

Midnight Oil onstage, Hope Estate. Image © AP

Troy Cassar-Daley and the crowd we were part of at Hope Estate. Image ©AP

Alice Skye's quiet, awesome ownership of a stage set up for a phenomenal rock band still sends shivers down my spine. Playing piano and accompanied by twins on guitar and drums, Alice, a Wergaia/Wemba Wemba person from Horsham, Victoria, played her heartfelt songs including her own I Feel Better, but I Don't Feel Good, also Terror Australia , written by Peter Garrett and Bones Hillman (Wayne Stevens) who sadly died in November 2020.

Alice Skye at Hope Estate, Image © AP

Hopefully heading out of Covid are we going back to a better, more thoughtful world? 

https://www.midnightoil.com

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp: Virtual field trips for children in lockdown

How good is this? School children in lockdown around the world can hook up with a live personal call to see elephants in their natural jungle habitat in Northern Thailand at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort.

Virtual field trips at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp © Anantara

The complimentary service offers virtual participation in a jungle field trip including the resort’s Walking With Giants experience to get to know the elephants and develop a connection with them. The community initiative follows the success of Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation’s (GTAEF) live streams of rescued elephants walking in the jungle and taking a mud bath in the Ruak River. 

In Northern Thailand in the 'Golden Triangle' where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, the luxury Anantara resort is famous for its elephant camp, set up with the GTAEF in 2003 to help street begging elephants and others in need of help.  Over 60 elephants have been rescued and 23 now live in the resort's  jungle environment along with their mahout (carer) families.

 

During the livestream, children are introduced to elephants and join them on their daily walks accompanied by the mahouts and either a veterinarian or biologist to offer insights into how these intelligent creatures think and behave. Each virtual field trip is customised to meet the needs and curriculum of the students.

 

The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation can coordinate complimentary virtual field trips with elephants for online school classes that take place during Thailand daylight hours.  For more information or to reserve a live virtual fieldtrip spot, contact Mr John Roberts, Anantara’s Group Director of Sustainability & Conservation, on email jroberts@anantara.com  or telephone +66 53 784 084.

 

The Anantara portfolio specialises in authentic destination luxury, with over 40 properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Portugal, with future properties planned across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and South America.

https://www.anantara.com/en

 

Source: Press release