Category Archives: Australia

Street Art with Heart on Bruny Island, Tasmania

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Briar's Travel Beat

I love solo road trips, because I can jump on the brakes whenever I see something of interest to photograph, assuming there’s not somebody right behind me of course. (Ask my hubby to pull over while he’s driving and by … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Australia, Road Trips, Tasmania, Travel | Tagged art, Beyond Blue, Bruny Island, garden art, sculpture, street art, Tasmania | 2 Comments

Quarantini Cocktails – using rum from New South Wales distillers

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Briar's Travel Beat

Quarantini – I love this term, meaning a martini drunk in isolation, or more generally any cocktail enjoyed during quarantine at home during Covid-19. I think most of us who imbibe have been drinking more during ISO, especially initially, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Attractions, Australia, Food & Wine, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel | Tagged Brix Distillers, cocktails, daiquiri, distillers, mojito, NSW Distillers, NSW rum, passionfruit daiquiri, rum, rum cocktails | 2 Comments

Drive-through gourmet feasts supporting local producers in the Hawkesbury

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Briar's Travel Beat

Drive through gourmet feasts – didn’t think I’d hear that, but these strange (Covid) times have brought about some wonderful initiatives as businesses strive to stay afloat. Here in Sydney food venues are offering takeaway meals while farmers and producers … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Hawkesbury, Road Trips, Sydney, Travel | Tagged Castle Hill Farmers Market, Covid outing, Hawkesbury, local produce, Sackville, shopsmall, supportlocal, takeaway meals, The Cooks Co-Op, Tractor 828, Willowbrae Chevre Cheeses | 2 Comments

Kakadu Bird Week 2019

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

Like me, most visitors to Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory probably don’t come purely for the bird life. But it’s impossible not to be awed by the park’s proliferation of feathered friends, from a tiny, brightly-plumed azure kingfisher … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, adventure travel, Animals, Australia, bird watching, birds, Kakadu Bird Week, National Parks, Northern Territory | Tagged Australian birds, bird watching, Kakadu, Kakadu Bird Week, Kakadu National Park, national parks | Leave a comment

Wonderful Western Sydney

Posted on May 18, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

Lately I’ve been touring Western Sydney, gathering stories for articles, and I’ve been blown away by the diversity of experiences and attractions available for every age group and type of visitor, from thrill seekers, to nature lovers and history buffs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Attractions, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel | Tagged Blue Mountains, driving holidays, family fun, Food and Wine, Hawkesbury, kids' activities, sydney, Sydney Hills, weekend getaways | Leave a comment

Toe-tapping retro fashion fun in the Blue Mountains

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Briar's Travel Beat

Love retro fashions? Like a bit of toe-tapping on the dance floor? Enjoy lingering with friends over delicious regional food and wine? Then you’ll love the Roaring 20s Festival. Held in Sydney’s Blue Mountains this year’s event takes place on … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Events, Fashion, festivals, Food & Wine, New South Wales, Sydney | Tagged Blue Mountains, Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillacs, Charleston Challenge, Charleston for Charity, Charlotte Smith Collection, Charlotte Smith Fashion Collection, Dress up, fashion, festivals, Food and Wine, Hydro Majestic, Hydro Majestic Long Lunch, Plate Up, retro fashion, roaring 20s, Roaring 20s fashions, Roaring 20s Festival, vintage cadillacs | Leave a comment

Sydney’s QVB turns 120 – share your story to win

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Briar's Travel Beat

Since moving to Sydney 20-odd years ago I’ve come to love the elegant Queen Victoria Building, which occupies and entire city block. But like many of the shoppers and commuters that pass through her colonnaded walkways and underground passageways, I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Attractions, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel | Tagged Architecture tours, Queen Victoria Building, QVB, QVB History Tour, QVB120, sydney, Sydney architecture, Sydney tours | 2 Comments

Whale of a tale – on Australia’s Gold Coast

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Briar's Travel Beat

Sometimes the tale behind an image is as breathtaking as the image itself – this time literally so. I was enthralled by the image on the cover of the latest issue of Where* Gold Coast magazine this month. The juxtaposition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Australia, Photography, Travel | Tagged Blue Dog Photography, Gold Coast, humpback whales, photography courses, whales | 2 Comments

Do Sydney’s Great North Walk one leg at a time

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Briar's Travel Beat

Fancy tackling the Great North Walk from Sydney to Newcastle, but don’t have the time to do the full 260km in one thru-hike and/or a bit nervous of getting lost along the way? That’s exactly how I felt. Billed as Australia’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Events, Great North Walk, Hawkesbury, National Parks, New South Wales, Travel, Walking | Tagged Day hikes, day walks Sydney, Great North Walk, national parks | 7 Comments

Event: Sydney Tomato Festival Royal Botanic Garden

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Briar's Travel Beat

Love tomatoes? Then mark the Sydney Tomato Festival in your diary for this weekend 20-21st February 2016 – to be held at The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. I didn’t realise Sydney had a Tomato Festival, so I’m disappointed to know I’ve … Continue reading →