So many people have told me they love Melbourne and the surrounding area it became a must-do destination for our latest trip to Oz. I can see why now. A fine city, spectacular coastlines, great beaches -and that was before we even got on The Great Ocean Road. What's not to like?  The house exchange we arranged was in Mt Eliza on Mornington Pen...

My son raved about Tasmania when he returned from Australia, urging his Mum and me to go there in the near future. It took about four years, but we managed it this February. We flew from Perth to Hobart overnight, via Sydney, arriving at 7.30am. Our accommodation for a week was in Devonport, at the opposite end of the island. Those w...

Whilst Queenstown depicts calmness and untouched scenery, it is also home to adrenaline junkies! Indeed I refer to the highest Bungy jump platform in New Zealand, The Nevis at the small matter of 500 feet tall. The build up to the dropping platform begins at ground level in the town centre and you have several hours to manage your ne...

As the recent BBC TV series demonstrated in glorious HD, travellers go to New Zealand for its spectacular and hugely varying scenery. Just as we did. However, the consistently high standard of meals whilst enjoying the remarkable landscapes of both North and South islands was an unexpected bonus, and three of the meals we enjoyed were absolutely ou...

​ If you know where to look, you can find bars tucked away in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) that the typical tourist are very unlikely to happen upon Seek and ye shall find: You may wonder why a bar would have no signs outside or be set back from the main streets in the kind of alleyways someone who doesn't know a city is unlikely to ven...

Halle is the consummate cuddler. This little two-and-a-half-year-old koala has my daughter, Grace, in a eucalyptus-scented embrace. Grace smiles and snuggles and Halle half closes her eyes. Rather than contentment with this human interaction, Halle may just be tired. Images by Steve MacNaull 1: 'Grace and koala' : Steve MacNaull's daughter, Grace, ...