September 2009

Girls on the go

Gather up your besties and put a spring in your step with these three great getaways

Girls on the go

WORDS UTE JUNKER

Sydney: Chic thrills

Cocktails, jewellery classes, the races — if you want to glam it up with your friends, Sydney is the place to go. Former Miss Universe Australia, Laura Dundovic, will be among the famous and fashionable at the Spring Racing Carnival at Rosehill Gardens this month, where what you wear is just as important as which horse you back. “It’s an excuse to get the girls together and dress up after the chilly winter months,” Dundovic says.

On 12 September, flaunt your fascinators at Myer “Mad About the Hat” Day — wear a hat or fascinator, and a friend gets in free. The best dressed can compete in Fashions on the Field. Then 19 September is Tea Rose Day: strut down the red carpet, have your shoes polished by one of the shoe shiners, and soak up the beats from the live bands and DJs.

Give your outfit an individual polish with a unique piece of jewellery — one that you’ve designed yourself. Jeweller Claire Aristides holds one-day beginner’s courses every month (AU$149), including one on 19 September, where you’ll learn about different tools and techniques, as well as taking home two pieces you’ve made yourself.

“It’s a day of pure me time,” Aristides says. “Once you’ve mastered five or six essential techniques, your choices are limitless. Within an hour, you’ll have a piece of jewellery you’ll love and wear.”

Stay: Blue Sydney’s harbourside location at Woolloomooloo looks a million dollars, but with Jetstar’s special deals, it’s affordable for anyone. Live the Woolloomooloo lifestyle, with early morning strolls through the nearby Botanic Gardens, and dinner at one of the chic restaurants also housed in the wharf. Make your booking at www.jetstar.com.au/hotels.

Eat: Icebergs Dining Room and Bar still has one of the most stylish interiors in all Sydney — which is even more impressive when you consider it also has one of the best views in town. Whether you’re staring out at the stunning panorama over Bondi Beach, or checking out the beautiful people inside, don’t forget to pay attention to the food — some of the best in town.

Best bargain: On sunny days, Sydney’s yachties take to the harbour; you can enjoy the same stunning view by jumping on a ferry.

Best splurge: The Ivy is not Sydney’s cheapest bar, but it’s one of the most glamorous, which makes it a great place to start a big night out.

FIND IT

Sydney Spring Racing Carnival Canterbury Park
Racecourse, King St, Canterbury, tel: +61 (2) 9930 4000

Claire Aristides Jewellery School Australia
Tel: +61 (0) 449 283 448

Blue Sydney
6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo, tel: +61 (2) 9331 9000

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
One Notts Ave, Bondi Beach, tel: +61 (2) 9365 9000

Ivy Bar
330 George St, Sydney, tel: +61 (2) 9240 3000

Launceston: Gourmet getaway

If your idea of the perfect weekend away involves gourmet meals and sampling fine wines, put Launceston on the top of your list. The nearby Tamar Valley, dotted with scenic forests and lavender plantations, is also home to some of the country’s best cool climate wines.

Spend a day or two exploring the pick of the bunch, including Josef Chromy, a small winery that in just two years has racked up more than 100 medals. It’s also home to one of the most popular restaurants in the area. According to sales and marketing manager David Milne: “Our location, gardens, ambience and attention to detail are what set us apart.”

Stay: The Sebel Launceston’s elegant suites make a perfect downtown base, and Jetstar offers the best deals around. Make your booking at www.jetstar.com.au/hotels.

Eat: “With the paddocks only minutes away and the seafood on your plate within hours of being caught, Launceston offers some of the freshest produce and most incredible dining experiences in Australia,” says Kim Seagram. She should know — she’s the marketing manager of Stillwater Restaurant, the best place to eat in town. Savour wild Tasmanian scallops served with a warm salad of enoki and oyster mushrooms and roasted organic garlic sauce at this prime waterfront location.

Best bargain: Feel the need to work off some of your indulgence? Cataract Gorge, a stunning setting for a bushwalk, is just 15 minutes from town on foot. Follow the signs to the Duck Reach Power Station for an invigorating walk that will get you back to town in around an hour. If you’re feeling really energised, choose a longer option.

Best splurge: Savour your getaway even after you get home — pick up some edible souvenirs at The Mill Providore, which has a great selection of local gourmet produce including cheese, chocolate and smoked goods.

FIND IT

Josef Chromy Wines
370 Relbia Rd, Relbia, tel: +61 (3) 6335 8700

The Sebel Launceston
Cnr St John and William Sts, tel: 1800 990 970

Stillwater Restaurant & The Mill Providore
Ritchies Mill, 2 Bridge Rd, tel: +61 (3) 6331 4153

Phuket: From sea to spa

With Phuket’s glorious golden beaches, there are no prizes for guessing what the number one activity on this tropical island is. Looking for more ways to get wet? Take a day trip to the famous Phi Phi Island (where The Beach was filmed), sail around gorgeous Phang Nga Bay, or learn to dive with one of the island’s many dive centres.

Patong’s night markets can be something of a scrum — for a more relaxed shopping experience and a great range of quality goods, the OTOP Market (on Rat-U-Thit Road opposite the Holiday Inn) has the island’s best one-stop shopping. OTOP is a program that helps poor Thai villages sell their crafts around the country — look for beautiful scarves, hand-dyed napkins and tablecloths, and even women’s T-shirts.

Stay: Want to discover how the other half holiday? The ultra-indulgent Banyan Tree Phuket Resort & Spa is offering sensational deals until March 2010, with deluxe villas starting from around US$300 (AU$368) a night. Book more than 45 days in advance and you’ll get a further 20% off, or book for three nights or more to receive a free massage in the resort’s award-winning spa.

Eat: Super-fresh seafood, attentive service, and the chance to feel the sand between your toes while you eat: it’s a winning combination, and you’ll find it at Sala Bua, Phuket’s best beachfront restaurant. Chef Ronnie, the man in charge, says the reason diners keep coming back is the “creative menus, immaculate service” — and of course his secret herbs and spices.

Best bargain: Want a bit of pampering that won’t break the budget? On Phuket’s numerous beaches, you can have an invigorating Thai massage for about 300 Baht (AU$10) an hour.

Best splurge: Sail into the sunset on the luxurious motor yacht, Merdeka. Lounge back and sip cocktails as the sun sinks below the horizon, enjoy an onboard massage and savour a delicious Thai dinner before sailing slowly back to base. About 2,000 Baht (AU$72).

FIND IT

Banyan Tree Phuket
33, 33/27 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherngtalay, Amphur Talang Phuket, tel: +66 (76) 324 374

Sala Bua
Impiana Cabana Resort & Spa 41 Taweewong Rd, Patong Beach, Phuket, tel: +66 (76) 340 138

MY Merdeka
www.spaboat.com






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