Sitting beside the Mossman River, hidden amongst the thick rainforests of Far North Queensland, I’ve always loved the simple grace and spectacular surroundings of <a href="https://silkyoakslodge.com.au/?gclid=CjwKCAjwu5yYBhAjEiwAKXk_eADo7sLhgguTevQMl7Ft2Tsxo7R6aPkyQdcMf8hXh85CCEvXweZZqxoCHxwQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Silky Oaks Lodge</a>. But when hoteliers James and Hayley Baillie took over the reins and announced a $20 million revamp of this beloved lodge in the heart of Australia’s stunning Daintree Rainforest, I knew we were in for something special.&nbsp;This power-couple of Australian tourism has a seemingly innate ability to draw the most out of a region, crafting luxury lodges that combine a respectful sense of place, with understated luxury and innovative design. Silky Oaks is the latest gem in their curated collection of Australian lodges. With its open-air concept and unparalleled location between the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and the Mossman River, Silky Oaks is a tropical haven for travellers looking to slow down and truly feel one with mother earth.&nbsp;I sat down with Hayley Baillie, my friend and co-owner of&nbsp;Baillie Lodges, to find out how their touch has transformed this already-legendary rainforest sanctuary.

My husband James and I both had personal connections to the lodge from our time there in the 1990s: I was on holiday with my parents and James was formerly the Lodge General Manager when the property was owned by P&amp;O Resorts.&nbsp;&nbsp;When the chance arose to bring the property under Baillie Lodges, we saw an opportunity to offer guests a new experience of the world’s oldest rainforest through modern design, local artworks and food and beverages. It’s been our mission to partner with premium local tour operators, especially for First Nations Kuku Yalanji cultural tours.&nbsp;

The Daintree Rainforest and gently flowing Mossman River are the natural attractions that play centre stage. Our aim in commissioning a local, Cairns-based architect to revitalize the lodge was to preserve as much of the property’s heritage as possible, while also making the most of the landscape and enabling seamless interaction with the environment for our guests. This meant raising the roof to reach toward the rainforest treetops and adopting an open-air design to welcome the sights and sounds of the rainforest and river.&nbsp;

Yes, and this approach to working sustainably with the local community, its artists and producers is key to the way Baillie Lodges operates; and in turn, contributes to the guest experience and a real ‘sense of place.'We worked with the local First Nations Kuku Yalanji artists at the Yalanji Art Centre on commissions of ceramic tiles that represent the flora and fauna of the Daintree and align with the names of each suite. Guests see these tiles in the reception area on arrival and this installation sets the scene for an experience immersed in nature. The artworks by Australian artist Catherine Nelson seen around the lounging areas and in suites embrace the immersive and almost magnetic draw of the landscape which is so much a part of a stay at Silky Oaks Lodge.We also work with the region’s small-scale food and drink producers from the reef and the rainforest to the Atherton Tablelands food bowl to source local ingredients while supporting local farmers and producers.&nbsp;

It’s entirely possible for our guests to experience the Great Barrier Reef on half or full-day tours, plus take a First Nations Kuku Yalanji guided walk through the Daintree or Mossman Gorge and then float down the river on a magical tour with Back Country Bliss.&nbsp;&nbsp;My recommended must-do experience is both addictive and free: take the path to the Mossman River in front of the main lodge at Silky and dive in, head under! It’s refreshing, pure water—known as ‘healing waters’ by the region’s Indigenous community—and gives a wonderful welcome to the country. You can swim early in the morning, at lunch and before dinner. I recommend all three!

The Beach Billabong is a private swimming hole in the Mossman River, just up from the main lodge fringed with white sands just like a freshwater beach! If I’m feeling more adventurous and really want to go off-grid, I’ll hike to the Fig Tree Rapids where I can swim under a freshwater waterfall and have the waterhole all to myself!

On the lunch menu, my go-to is always the kingfish tataki which uses local ingredients from the new Kitchen Garden we’ve developed on-site.Sunset is a wonderful time to enjoy cocktails on the Jungle Perch overlooking the river. My pick is a local Gin and Tonic made on local Cairns distillery Wolf Lane Tropical Gin or the Atherton Tablelands Mount Uncle’s Botanic Australis Northern Gem Gin.

We’ve grown the Baillie Lodges portfolio from humble beginnings at Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island and have sought to grow our Australia-based collection of luxury lodges to enable enriching Baillie itineraries for our guests. So from the initial Lord Howe subtropical island destination, we added wildlife at Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island and then the outback experience with Longitude 131 at Uluru Kata Tjuta.Silky Oaks Lodge was the next Australian property with the Tropical North Queensland experience and reef and rainforest connection. We usually look for properties that are located in an extraordinary destination—often World Heritage listed—that are supported by an engaged local community around which we can offer our guests a real sense of place: a meaningful experience of the destination and connection with its people.&nbsp;

Don't just dream about it, see and stay for yourself! Get in touch with Annalise Andrews to reserve a spot at this incredible stay.

Inside Silky Oaks Lodge: An Eco-Conscious Sanctuary in Australia's Oldest Rainforest

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<h2>Cradle Mountain Huts Walk</h2>
What’s better than walking and wine? Walking and wine with friends, of course! On a recent trip with a few girlfriends, we decided to really challenge ourselves and strike out along a hiking route that bows to the majestic views of Cradle Mountain, in Tasmania. We spent six days ambling the varied terrain—a smattering of alpine meadows, dramatic moorland, lush pastures and temperate rainforests—all the while catching up on each other’s lives and getting our heart rate up.
At day’s end, we were nourished by hearty meals and cozied into our private rooms (two to a room) set a little way back from the main trail. Each day brings a new hut and a new location, but the guides manage the change seamlessly, with the smell of freshly-baked goods for afternoon tea wafting through the air on arrival each afternoon. While not as sparkly as the other luxury accommodation on the walks I’ve mentioned above—these lodgings still qualify as luxe lodges boasting hot showers and other coveted hiker perks, all the while functioning under a mandate of sustainability. Take for example the renewable energy design of the huts—rainwater is directed toward water tanks, the loos are self-composting, and gas and solar remain the only sources of power. This is remote Australia.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45436" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Cradle-Mountain-walk_friends600x500-361x300.jpg" alt="" width="361" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Cradle-Mountain-walk_friends600x500-361x300.jpg 361w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Cradle-Mountain-walk_friends600x500.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 361px) 100vw, 361px" />
While a tad more “rugged” than the other walks I’ve profiled, this is a truly enchanting experience made all the richer with a pack of good friends.
Depending on your desire for difficulty, the route can be complemented with add-ons. One such side trip takes you up to Mt Ossa—Tasmania’s highest peak.
6 days/5 nights
<h2>Twelve Apostles Walk</h2>
If you don’t hail from Australia, and only know a bit about our natural monuments, this walk may be the one that pulls you in. Set in the Great Ocean Road region—a national treasure that hugs the coast for more than 100km—this four-day hike traces the last 55 km of Australia’s Great Ocean Walk and reveals abundant wildlife.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45464" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Twelve-Apostles_600x500-360x300.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Twelve-Apostles_600x500-360x300.jpg 360w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Twelve-Apostles_600x500.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" />Walk highlights include the Twelve Apostles, a cluttering of limestone stacks just offshore; remote and beautiful beaches with evidence of ancient shipwrecks; sheer, brooding cliffs and Southern Ocean views that are entirely sublime. Yes, drink it in. (Then, obligingly, retreat to the creature comfort of your base lodge.
Each night you return to the same eco-luxe accommodation, The Twelve Apostles Lodge, where you can unpack once and then casually depart every morning with your daypack to amble along one of the great coastlines of the world, un-hindered. Come evening, hearty regional meals are paired with Victoria’s illustrious wines and a good dose of day-trip reliving. Earlier in the evening, I’d suggest checking out the foot spa—you deserve it!

<h2>Maria Island Walk</h2>
Another walk lovingly road-tested by my offspring, my daughter Charlotte joined me on this fabulous four-day walk when she was just nine years old, and it’s still one of her favourite travel memories three years on. This is my favourite walk if you’re keen to see wildlife, with plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with a huge range of our iconic Australian animals.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-45432 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Maria_walk510x425-360x300.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Maria_walk510x425-360x300.jpg 360w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Maria_walk510x425.jpg 510w" sizes="(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" />
Lying just off the coast of Tasmania, Maria Island (pronounced Mar-EYE-a) has a fascinating history of convicts, eccentric and enthusiastic Italian entrepreneurs, and wildlife conservancy. Its current conservancy status means that it’s become a refuge for endangered species from the mainland, and it’s absolutely replete with wildlife from wombats, to kangaroos, wallabies, Cape Barren Geese, and even the endangered Tasmanian Devil. For bird enthusiasts, you’ll find all Tasmania’s endemic species here, as well as the rare Forty Spotted pardalote and the Swift parrot.
Walks vary from long, white beaches, to bushlands and rocky mountains, with two hidden bush camps providing a simple but cozy refuge. On the final night, you’ll stay in a quaint heritage cottage in the historic Darlington settlement, once home to over 600 convicts in Tasmania’s penal days. Candlelit dinner at the dining table was the prelude for Charlotte and I to wander to a nearby hilltop to search the night skies for the lights of the Aurora Australis—we didn’t spot it that night, but the memories of gazing at the stars while sipping on hot chocolate stay fondly with us! <img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45434" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Maria_walk_daughter600x500-360x300.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Maria_walk_daughter600x500-360x300.jpg 360w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Maria_walk_daughter600x500.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" />
PS This walk dove-tails beautifully with a post-walk stay at the spectacular Saffire lodge on the Freycinet Peninsula. The perfect place to rest your feet and indulge!
On private, or selected departures, a ‘pack-free’ option is available to transfer your luggage between camps
<h2>Cape to Cape Walk</h2>
If walking and wine go together for you like peas in a pod, then the Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk in Western Australia might just be your thing! This civilized walk means you won’t be compromising any of your luxuries, with accommodation each night in private beach-side luxury villas, with your own plunge pool—naturally! Short drives each day bring you to a new section of the Cape to Cape Track, so you can stay based at the one lodge, and need only carry a day-pack each day.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-45447" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Margaret-River_vineyard600x500-360x300.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Margaret-River_vineyard600x500-360x300.jpg 360w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Margaret-River_vineyard600x500.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" />
Throughout the four days, you’ll be taking in spectacular views that vary from vineyards to coastal cliffs, long beaches, limestone caves and karri forests. There’s something really special about combining wine-tasting with whale-spotting, as you gaze out over the Indian Ocean!
Once again, this walk offers incredible food and wine, with a combination of fabulous restaurant dinners, winery lunches, gourmet breakfasts to have at leisure in your villa, and picnics of fresh produce to enjoy along the track. This is a great walk to combine with a visit to Perth, or time it (between March and July) to tie in with a trip up to stunning Ningaloo Reef to swim with the Whale Sharks—priceless!

Well-trodden: Annalise Andrews provides her take on Australia's Top Multi-day Hikes

Melbourne

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Australia Travel Expert (and born-and-bred Aussie)

<h2>3. Tantalizing Tasmania</h2>
Once considered the last outpost for England’s most destitute convicts, this island at the end of the world is now celebrated for its stunning scenery, delectably fresh produce, cool-climate wines and heart-warming whiskeys.
On this isolated island, the rugged and stunning scenery is showcased in the many national parks, reserves and the Freycinet Peninsula. With over 40% of the island&#8217;s inhabitants living in the capital, Hobart, the rest of the island is sparsely populated enhancing the truly remote feel.<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43470 size-thumbnail" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_Tasmania2-250x156.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="156" />
In the capital, colonial distilleries and historic buildings dot the cityscape, Mount Wellington looms and hotels are set overlooking the docks of the port.
As you stroll the pristine beaches keep an eye out for dolphins and other wildlife; or from the prow of a water vessel look back toward the craggy coastline where some of Australia&#8217;s highest sea cliffs dominate the horizon. Equally impressive are the deep-sea caves.
Word to the wise: in Great Oyster Bay you&#8217;ll find the freshest, most succulent oysters you&#8217;ll ever experience.
<h2>4. Diverse Landscapes</h2>
&#8220;Thrilling&#8221; landscapes may be the more apt descriptor. <img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-43421" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia-outback-263x300.jpg" alt="" width="263" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia-outback-263x300.jpg 263w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia-outback.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px" />
Once you&#8217;ve soaked up the charms of Australia&#8217;s urban centres it&#8217;s time to set your sights on the country&#8217;s rural exploits, though it&#8217;s hard to know where to start here, because let’s face it – we are talking about a whole continent!
We’re a modest, plain-speaking lot, so to us, it’s The Coast, The Bush and The Outback, but within that lies a host of understated marvels.
Take the ‘sapphire-misted mountains’ of the one million hectares Blue Mountains/Wollemi National Park, that form the living, western fringe of Sydney (special kudos to anyone who can pick the poetic reference).
Or the incredible orange and black, giant bee-hive domes of the Bungle Bungles that spread over 450 square kilometres (174 sq mi) in the Kimberley region and were known only to local aboriginals and stockmen until 1983. Well, I did say it’s a big country!
Add in the world’s largest living ‘thing,’ the 2,300 km stretch of vibrant corals known as the Great Barrier Reef; the endless swathes of red earth and desert in The Centre; and tropical rainforests like the Daintree – known as the oldest tropical rainforest on earth, turning a sprightly 180,000,000 years old any day now. Let’s face it – there’s a fair bit to see.
<h2>5. South Australia&#8217;s Self-Contained Beauty</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43445 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_vineyards.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_vineyards.jpg 500w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_vineyards-375x300.jpg 375w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />As I&#8217;ve said before, South Australia is a one-stop-shop for nearly all of the quintessential elements Australia is known for (though don&#8217;t let that keep you from the rest of the big, wide country!).
Your first stop should be Clare Valley and Barossa Valley, Australia&#8217;s most famous wine regions, where you&#8217;ll encounter fertile hills and valleys cloaked in endless rows of tidy vines. Some of our most interesting and promising wines are found here. Fancy a cool-climate Riesling?
The outback strikes a slightly different tone placing you in vast, empty stretches of land. It&#8217;s a harsh, extreme terrain that manages to capture your attention with its timelessness and grandeur (don&#8217;t even think you can imagine that night sky!).
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43447 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_outback.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="350" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_outback.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_outback-343x300.jpg 343w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />
My favourite place to bunk down here is in the cosy homestead at Arkaba, a 60,000 acre former sheep station turned nature conservancy, where home-style meals and warm hospitality rule by night, and the days are spent exploring the landscapes and wildlife with their fabulous team of Naturalists.
Just a hop away and you&#8217;re on Kangaroo Island, which brings you face-to-face with our most iconic animal, though it bears reminding that there are many many more curious species.
&nbsp;
Known as ‘the Galapagos of Australia’ it&#8217;s one of the best places to see koalas, echidnas, or marine animals like the fur sea colony that lives just off Cape du Couedic.
Want to get a little closer to the action? Then edge along the island by boat taking the opportunity to snorkel alongside dolphins.
<h2>6. North Queensland &amp; The Great Barrier Reef</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43454 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_rainforest.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="350" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_rainforest.jpg 500w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_rainforest-429x300.jpg 429w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />In Tropical North Queensland there’s a magical connection where the two World Heritage Sites of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest come head to toe in an environmental wonderland. It’s a playground of discovery, with great opportunities to explore.
The Great Barrier Reef is quite simply a masterpiece. It&#8217;s the longest coral reef system in the world and whether you snorkel, dive or simply sail over it you can&#8217;t help but be utterly impressed.
After you&#8217;ve had enough of the water activities, move inland toward the rainforest where you can &#8220;jungle-surf&#8221; amongst the tree-tops on zip-lines.
<h2>7. Melbourne&#8217;s Many Cultural Charms</h2>
Welcome to Australia&#8217;s fabulous capital of art, food, sport, culture – and attitude!
There&#8217;s much to be done in this cosmopolitan city but first let&#8217;s get to the coffee: this city has a coffee culture that is passionate and thriving. Wandering the city&#8217;s neighbourhoods you&#8217;ll have ample opportunity to indulge in the liquid gold.

The proliferation of cafes is in part due to Melbourne&#8217;s desire to be a destination for startups and entrepreneurs; and how better to foster that than with spaces that encourage people to connect. It&#8217;s also just a part of the DNA of the city: innovative coffee beverages (you&#8217;re welcome for the flat white!) and communal tables are a source of pride.
When you&#8217;re not chatting with a local roaster, you&#8217;ll want to get out and get moving as you explore the hip seaside suburbs of St Kilda, admire the city&#8217;s colourful street art, or pedal along the Yarra River.
Come evening, the night culture rivals the coffee culture (and likely has overlapping demographics) and there&#8217;s no shortage of places to go—it&#8217;s simply a question of where to go!
<h2>8. World-Renowned Wildlife</h2>
While you&#8217;ve likely heard a lot about the ubiquitous kangaroo (yes, it&#8217;s our unofficial national animal), it&#8217;s not as likely that you&#8217;ve seen one idly grazing, in person. The opportunity is not to be missed!<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-43461 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_kangaroo-308x300.jpg" alt="" width="308" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_kangaroo-308x300.jpg 308w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Reasons-to-Visit-Australia_kangaroo.jpg 410w" sizes="(max-width: 308px) 100vw, 308px" />
Other endemic animals to Australia include the Koala, mostly found in coastal areas; or the echidna, a spiny anteater that is considered the rarest animal in the world (also, interestingly, one of the egg-laying mammals); the platypus, that perplexing combination of duck, beaver and otter; as well as wombats, wallabies and dingoes (and who can resist saying those names out loud)—all of which are best observed in their natural, wild habitats.
It wouldn&#8217;t be a trip to Australia without seeing at least one of these fascinating, endemic creatures!

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<h2>The New Guard</h2>
<h4><a href="http://www.dormilona.com.au/store/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40706 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Dormilona-350.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="351" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Dormilona-350.jpg 350w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Dormilona-350-299x300.jpg 299w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Dormilona-350-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />Dormilona Blanco Vin 2018</a></h4>
Pure Semillon from the Margaret River, about as natural a wine as it gets. Small-batch, hand-made, biodynamic, etc. Dormilona means “lazy bones” in Spanish, a nod to a laid back approach to making wine.
<h4><a href="http://www.theotherrightwines.com/2017-spring-release/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Other Right “Love Potion” Shiraz 2017</a></h4>
The “new style” Aussie Shiraz from the Adelaide Hills is going to be hard to find, as everything this husband and wife duo makes sells out with speed. They also use “lazy” to describe their philosophy. This wine clocks in at just 13% alcohol, which is quite light for Aussie Shiraz.
<h4><a href="https://www.shobbrookwines.com.au/wines/tommy-ruff" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40708 alignleft" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tom-Shobbrook-resized.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="448" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tom-Shobbrook-resized.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tom-Shobbrook-resized-301x300.jpg 301w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tom-Shobbrook-resized-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />Shobbrook Tommy Ruff 2016</a></h4>
Natural wines made by Tom Shobbrook in the Barossa Valley from biodynamically grown grapes. Tommy Ruff is a blend of Syrah and Mourvedre designed for easy sipping.
<h4><a href="https://gentlefolk.com.au/product/forest-range-pinot-noir-2017/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gentle Folk Forest Range Pinot Noir 2017</a></h4>
Chosen from the best barrels of each vintage, the Forest Range Pinot is the flagship wine of this non-interventionist winery. The winery is located in the Basket Range of the Adelaide Hills. Only 1392 bottles made in 2017.
<h4><a href="https://macforbes.com/product/2016-woori-yallock-rose/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mac Forbes Woori Yallock Rosé 2016</a></h4>
A focus on terroir and, more specifically, coaxing amazing wines out of unsung plots of land in the Yarra Valley — that’s what drives Mar Forbes who’s worked in wineries around the world. Made from Pinot Noir planted in 1995 in the cooler zone of the Upper Yarra.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40712 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mac-Forbes-Winery-732.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="489" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mac-Forbes-Winery-732.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mac-Forbes-Winery-732-449x300.jpg 449w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

10 Must-Try Australian Wines

new zealand

<h4>Tip #4: Enjoy Every Day </h4>
As someone once said: life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.  Just a few days before I was guiding a B&amp;R trip in New Zealand, I was caught in the 2011 <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2017/01/18/things-to-do-in-christchurch/">Christchurch</a> earthquake with my co-guide, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/author/erin-reed/">Erin Reed</a>. Literally, chunks of buildings were falling all around us (including the building we had just stepped out of), we saw the top of the Christchurch Cathedral crash into Cathedral Square and people were running in the streets, with aftershocks continuing constantly—and that day, we were picking up a group of B&amp;R travellers. Needless to say, everyone was safe and sound and accounted for, and after some serious deliberation, we decided to run the trip. It was a hugely emotional experience for us all, which reminded each of us to be grateful for what we do have. We’ve got it all in New Zealand: glaciers, mountains, forests, the ocean, the beach, a thriving Maori culture, and the best people on earth. What more could you ask for?
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39575 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nz-maori-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="554" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nz-maori-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nz-maori-960px-480x277.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nz-maori-960px-768x443.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h4>Tip #5: Don’t Forget to Indulge</h4>
While your eyes are feasting on the mind-blowing scenery, don’t forget that we also have some of the best food (<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/04/15/the-10-best-new-zealand-wines/">and wine</a>!) in the world. From fresh seafood or something as simple as a steak or biting into a farm-fresh and flavourful apple, New Zealand’s food is something you’ll look forward to on the daily. (I also feel it is my national duty to mention our sweets: from Whittaker’s Chocolate to Jaffas to Pascal’s Minties and pineapple lumps, your active days will almost certainly cancel out these quintessential Kiwi must-try treats)!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39580 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NZ-wineland-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="487" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NZ-wineland-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NZ-wineland-732px-451x300.jpg 451w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h4>Tip #6: Embrace the Adventure</h4>
From meeting longtime sheep ranchers in the Canterbury region, to a thrilling jet boat ride with white-peaked mountains as your backdrop. To venturing into an icy blue glacier or simply relaxing at an off-the-grid luxury lodge and right down to stargazing in one of the dark sky capitals of the world, every day is an adventure waiting to unfold in New Zealand. I invite you to my wild and wonderful homeland to experience it all!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39632 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AK08-Abel-TasmannNP-Nelson-Gareth-Eyres960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="429" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AK08-Abel-TasmannNP-Nelson-Gareth-Eyres960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AK08-Abel-TasmannNP-Nelson-Gareth-Eyres960px-480x215.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AK08-Abel-TasmannNP-Nelson-Gareth-Eyres960px-768x343.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

A Kiwi's Guide to Enjoying New Zealand

Travel Tips

30 Best Hotel Bars Around the World

Spain

Rioja

<h3>Best Wines from Ribera del Duoro</h3>
<a href="https://www.cvne.com/en/ct-vino/imperial-reserva/"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38946 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/lady-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" /></a><a href="http://www.vega-sicilia.com/en/wine/234/unico">Vega Sicilia Unico 2008</a> 
The top wine from the legendary Vega Sicilia, founded in the Ribera region in 1864. This vintage is 95% Tempranillo and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Savoury with strawberry and blueberry, as well as prominent vanilla, it is drinking well now but will improve with age.
<a href="https://www.haciendamonasterio.com/vinosreservaespecial2012-eng">Hacienda del Monasterio Reserva Especial 2012</a>
This winery is relatively new, having established itself in the 1990s and quickly gaining fame. The Reserva Especial is a powerful wine made from Tempranillo blended with 23% Cabernet Sauvignon. Complex fresh and aged fruit notes, with a long and fruity finish.
<a href="https://www.emiliomoro.com/en/our-wine/#">Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero 2014</a>
The Moro family has farmed these vineyards since 1932 and are now making some of the most exciting wines in the region. This is 100% Tempranillo aged in French and American oak for 12 months. Flavours of black fruit, toasted oak and vanilla.
<a href="http://www.grupopesquera.com/index.php/en/vinos-pesquera"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38950 alignleft" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/diners-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="263" />Tinto Pesquera Crianza 2014</a>
An agricultural machinist named Alejandro Fernández helped propel Ribera del Duero to fame in the late 1980s with his high-quality wines. Tinto Pesquera is soft, plush and voluptuous — and very good value.
<a href="https://www.dominiodeatauta.com/vino/parada-de-atauta-2/?lang=en">Dominio de Atauta ‘Parada de Atauta’ 2015</a>
An age-worthy Ribera that will be at its best in a few more years. Lots of black fruit, ripe berry and plum. Big and brooding.

The 10 Best Rioja and Ribera del Douro Wines

<img src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/adelaide-les-haines-960c.png" />
Kangaroo Island 
Located around 113 kilometres (70 mi.) southwest of Adelaide with an area of 4,405 square kilometres (1,705 square miles—just a bit smaller than the state of Delaware), Kangaroo Island is a place full of wildlife (yes, kangaroos aplenty), rugged coastline, deep caves, crazy rock formations and some down-to-earth locals.
The origin story of its name comes from British Captain Matthew Flinders, who explored much of South Australia. After four long months at sea, Flinders and crew named KI (as locals call it) after the large number of kangaroos seen (and slaughtered for a meal) upon landing. After four months of sailing (and salt pork), he and his men were no doubt glad to have a fresh supply of meat; thirty-one kangaroos were shot, skinned and stewed, and kangaroo steaks were available for all to consume “by day and night”, the expedition&#8217;s repast was recorded as a “delightful regale”.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35006 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kanga-island-1600c.png" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kanga-island-1600c.png 1600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kanga-island-1600c-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kanga-island-1600c-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kanga-island-1600c-768x480.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/kanga-island-1600c-960x600.png 960w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" />
Colourful naming aside, this island is also notable for its honey, namely from the only surviving Ligurian honey bee population in the world. Originally stemming from Italy, a virus swept through the Italian Ligurian bee population and completely wiped them out so the Italian and Australian governments declared the bees to reside only on KI, for fear of them becoming totally extinct. Clearly, trying the honey on the island is a must!
Kingscote, the largest settlement on the island, was founded in 1836, initially as the capital of South Australia, but it quickly became apparent that there were insufficient resources to support such a large town, hence the formation of Adelaide.
Flinders Ranges
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35002 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders2-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="279" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders2-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders2-960c-480x140.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders2-960c-768x223.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The Flinders Ranges are, to many travellers, the epitome of outback Australia. It’s a superb area for bushwalks, wildlife and taking in the ever-changing colours of the outback. In the north, the mountains are hemmed in by barren salt lakes. The best-known feature of the range is the huge natural basin known as Wilpena Pound, which is ringed by 1,000 metre-tall (3,280 ft.) cliffs. Other attractions include Alligator Gorge in Mt. Remarkable National Park, Brachina Gorge, and the ironstone-capped ridge known as the ‘Great Wall of China’. Winter is probably the most pleasant time to visit, but the ranges are greenest and covered in wildflowers in spring.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34992 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders-davidboily-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders-davidboily-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/flinders-davidboily-732c-450x300.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
Alice Springs
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34990 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/alicesprings-richardfisher-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="234" />Often known as “The Alice”, or simply “Alice”, Alice Springs (population 20,000) is a pleasant modern town, smack in the middle of Australia’s Northern Territory, built on the banks of the usually dry Todd River. At first appearance, it’s so civilized that it can be a disappointment to those expecting saloons on every corner and colourful bush characters, but explore the area and you’ll begin to appreciate the flavour of this desert community. The town was founded as a staging point for the telegraph line in 1870, but its growth has occurred only in the last 30 years. The road south to Adelaide was only fully paved in 1987.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
The most iconic sight of the Australian outback, Uluru is a site of deep cultural and sacred significance to the Anangu Aboriginals. A pilgrimage to Uluru and the coronary-inducing scramble to the top was once an entrenched Australian ritual, but the Aboriginal owners strongly prefer visitors not to climb the rock and many visitors now respect their wishes. The 3.6 km (2.2 mi.) long rock rises 348 m (1,141 ft.) from the pancake-flat surrounding scrub, smack in the middle of the country, and is especially impressive at dawn and sunset when the red rock spectacularly changes hue. There are walks around the base of the rock, which pass caves, rock art and sacred Aboriginal sites.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34994 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uluru-robertyoung-960c.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="566" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uluru-robertyoung-960c.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uluru-robertyoung-960c-480x283.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/uluru-robertyoung-960c-768x453.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

South Australia & The Outback

Must Sees

See + Do

<figure id="attachment_33159" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-33159" style="width: 375px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-33159 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Devil.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="254" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-33159" class="wp-caption-text">The Tasmanian Devil</figcaption></figure>
This has meant that endangered species from other parts of Australia have been brought to Maria and set loose, with startlingly successful results. Visitors to Mari, share its idyllic walks with a plethora of Australian icons: wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, bettongs and pademelons to name a few.
The gravely endangered Tasmanian Devil – threatened by a severe facial tumour that is annihilating the mainland population – has found a refuge on Maria with an ‘Island Insurance’ population now thriving.
For birders, there&#8217;s a unique aviary to discover here, including Cape Barren Geese, rare pardalotes, swift parrots, Tasmanian native hens, parrots and eagles that make up a total of around 125 species.
<h3>Passing the Charlotte Success Test</h3>
<figure id="attachment_33163" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-33163" style="width: 375px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-33163 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Bernacchi.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="206" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-33163" class="wp-caption-text">Bernacchi House</figcaption></figure>
Needless to say, when Charlotte and I took the short boat ride to Maria, along with our two guides–Jo and Sharna–I knew we were heading for four days of spectacular walking in stunning environments, mostly shared only by the wildlife around us.
Although small groups of tourists do overnight in the northern part of the island around the old convict settlements of the early 1800s, we were staying immersed in the bush and wildlife as much as possible, with two nights spent in comfortable, custom-designed bush camps, before a final night in the lovely Bernacchi House at the tiny colonial settlement of Darlington, in the island’s north.
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-33161 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Charlotte2-400x300.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Charlotte2-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Charlotte2.jpg 509w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />So let’s get down to the meat of it. How did Charlotte do, and what did she make of it all? Short answer – she loved it!
Uncomplainingly, she followed me through the walks and loved the experience. Actually, that’s not entirely true. She’s 9 years old and her energy was boundless – so I mostly followed her! (As those of you with kids no doubt know, this tends to be how it goes.)
The walks are easy to moderate, with some challenging optional walks for those who want to push themselves, or go for those killer views. Overall, I think the best way to give you an idea is to share a few photos, along with some vignettes of our time on Maria.
<h3>“The Riviera of the South”</h3>
The Maria Island Walk is a three-night-walk, with the first two nights spent in separate wilderness camps that are discreetly hidden amidst the bush, each just behind a glorious beach. The camps are very cleverly designed, with separate twin-share bush cabins scattered through the bush for privacy.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-33167 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Camps.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="251" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Camps.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Camps-480x160.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
A cozy central lounge/dining/kitchen cabin beckons you to relax while browsing through the library of books as you sip on a glass of Tasmania’s finest (Charlotte chose a local ginger beer, I went for an East Coast Chardonnay). Three-course meals are prepared here by the guides, enjoyed in the hut, or on the veranda beneath the trees. Magical!
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-33165 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Beach.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="626" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Beach.jpg 1200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Beach-480x250.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Beach-768x401.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Beach-960x501.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
The final night is spent at Bernacchi House. This is the original and lovingly restored home of Diego Bernacchi, the larger-than-life Italian entrepreneur who tried to make Maria Island the “Riviera of the South”.
Tales of his grand plans pepper the story of Maria, and add to the colour of its diverse history. As for the experience? Local oysters on the verandah served with Tassie bubbles, and a three-course meal enjoyed in the dining room are a sublime end to several days of glorious and companionable walking.
<h3>Friendly Critters &amp; Stunning Views</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-33170 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-Charlotte3.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="288" />For Charlotte, a lot of the joy was about the wildlife.
In the photo included here, she’s having an in-depth (albeit rather one-sided) discussion with one of the many, many, many island wombats. As you can see, they’re more than used to people.
If you think I didn’t make Charlotte work for her free trip, you’re wrong! On our final morning, we took on the walk to the highest point on the north end of the island, to the so-called Bishop and Clerk rock formations.
Stunning views look out across to the Freycinet Peninsula, earned after a couple of hours of steady uphill trekking, followed by some scrambling and climbing. Well worth the view, and hey–even a 9-year-old can do it!
<h3>Slowing Down for Spontaneity</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-33172 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-frisbee.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="281" />Our trip even included one of those wonderful, completely unscripted moments in time that can only be realized when you “slow down to see the world.” It wasn’t anything particularly spectacular–but then again, it was very much so.
On a pristine white sand beach that stretched on for a mile or so, with not another soul to be seen, we decided to stop and enjoy some home-baked goods as a pause on our walk to Haunted Bay Lookout.
Before I knew it, a spontaneous game of beach frisbee broke out, which led to a wild dash into still somewhat chilly end-of-winter waters – and may or may not have involved a touch of skinny-dipping, too.
<h3>Magic in (and Under) the Sky</h3>
<figure id="attachment_33174" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-33174" style="width: 375px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-33174 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tasmania-hats.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="281" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-33174" class="wp-caption-text">Who but a 9-year-old would think to bring these hats on a Tasmanian walking trip?</figcaption></figure>
A trip is always all about the magic!
For us, a touch of that magic came on the last night as we heard reports that conditions in the southern night-sky were going to be perfect for a chance to spot the Aurora Australis – the southern hemisphere’s own, rarer version of the Northern Lights.
An impromptu and very excellent decision by our guides led to us stashing dessert in a hamper as we set off up the hillside in the dark with flashlights, thermoses and blankets.
And this is where Charlotte’s genius came into play, and why trip design should always be conducted by a 9-year-old. I ask you – would any grown Trip Designer have thought to bring along three hats shaped like a bear, a polar bear, and a wolf on a walking trip in Tasmania?!?
I think not, and yet what an excellent addition it made to the whole affair – a spontaneous late-night picnic of lemon tart with thick, fresh Tasmanian cream, consumed in disguise as the not-so-local wildlife.
In actual fact, the lights didn’t show themselves that night. But as you can probably tell from the smiles on our faces, the night still felt like magic.

Notes From the Road

France

Normandy

<h2>Bonjour, Georges</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-33021 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Georges.jpg" width="200" height="297" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Georges.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Georges-202x300.jpg 202w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
It’s an understatement to say it was a pleasant surprise when the guide deviated slightly from the day’s plans to visit Juno Beach, the location in the small town of Courseulles-sur-mer where the Canadians landed.
It was there that I came across Georges.
The guide had asked him where the closest washroom was, and 89-year-old Georges happily advised. The two got to talking, and our guide soon was listening to Georges retell his past in Courseulles-sur-mer, where he’s resided amongst the monuments of Juno Beach since his youth.
A mere teenager the day the Canadians dropped into Juno Beach in 1944, he told the guide that he remembers helping wounded soldiers in his own home and remembers his many Canadian friends to this day.
Upon learning I was the only Canadian in the group, his face lit up as he exclaimed “Une petite Canadienne!”
<figure id="attachment_33030" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-33030" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33030" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Courseulles-sur-mer.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="250" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Courseulles-sur-mer.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Courseulles-sur-mer-250x156.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-33030" class="wp-caption-text">Georges&#8217; hometown of Courseulles-sur-mer</figcaption></figure>
Georges came over to me and asked me to say “Bonjour à ses amis en Ontario!” (Hello to his friends in Ontario!), before proceeding to give me all of their names, accompanied by the cities they lived in.
He proudly told me about his visits to Canada to see them and marvelled over having been up the CN Tower and witnessed Niagara Falls.
I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but a language barrier and shortage of time intervened. He gave me a big hug and I thanked him before he rode off on his bike.
I realized that I had just met a part of living history; a generation that will soon be gone and unable to share their memories of such a prominent event in the world’s past.
<h2>Beyond History</h2>
It’s not all a history lesson, though.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33032" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Honfleur-960x600.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Honfleur-960x600.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Honfleur-250x156.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Honfleur-480x300.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Honfleur-768x480.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Normandy-NFTR-Honfleur.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The riding along the English Channel and past the classic timbered houses of the area lends to beauty and charm. The seaside town of <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/06/11/things-to-do-in-honfleur/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Honfleur</a> (pictured above), picturesque with its old harbour lined with buildings in perfect shades of sepia, makes for a perfect setting to grab a meal.
Much like the rest of France, food reigns supreme in Normandy, with local specialties such as creamy Camembert cheese and the freshest seafood. While in the region, be sure to try traditional <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/08/19/calvados-a-norman-tradition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvados</a>, an apple-based liqueur that serves as a delicious digestif or mid-bike-ride libation.
But it’s the people that make your travels so memorable, the connections you create and the lives you learn about.
When I think about Normandy, I always remember Georges and his friendly face, and the many others—both in Normandy and abroad—who have a story or two to tell of the history they’ve lived.
Update: Since this story was written, we have since learnt that our dear friend <a href="https://www.junobeach.org/remembering-georges-regnauld/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Georges has passed</a>, but his kindliness and friendship lives on in our hearts as a witness to history.

Notes From the Road: In Normandy, Living History

Hotels

Arkaba Homestead

<h3>A Wildlife Safari – Australian Style</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-31727 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-Kangaroos-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-Kangaroos-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-Kangaroos-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-Kangaroos.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />And why wouldn’t he? Located on the edge of the Flinders Ranges, identified as one of the oldest geological sites on earth, Arkaba is a farm so big it’s known by that most-Australian turn of phrase as a “station.”
Once home to many thousands of sheep, it’s now dedicated as a Wildlife Conservancy under the very caring and watchful eye of Brendon and his team, who have seen the abundant resurgence of many native species.
A drive through the property with the fabulous naturalist guides is a wildlife safari Australian-style, with emus, kangaroos, echidnas, quolls, enormous birds of prey and countless species of birds amongst the ever-changing parade.
<h3>Peace, Vastness &amp; Solitude</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-31729 size-medium alignleft" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-vastness-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-vastness-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-vastness-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Arkaba-Homestead-vastness.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />If you’re keen to try the walk, a day of hiking is an instant lesson on what The Outback is all about, with vast horizons, quintessential Bush landscapes, thousand-year-old river gums lining the creeks, abundant wildlife and… peace, vastness, solitude.
At night, eco-bushcamps provide a surprising element of luxury, fine food and hospitality, under a blanket of stars that defy the imagination.
And then, it’s back to that beautiful Homestead, lovingly restored to give you all the comforts of a boutique hotel, but oh-so expertly conceived as the relaxed, inviting home of some friends you haven’t seen for ages, and are thrilled to catch up with again.
Which all brings us back to that cheeky little red – and a fabulous night spent relaxing ‘at home’ with your new mates.
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<h3>Learn More About Arkaba</h3>
Check out the stunning video below to learn more about this incredible property. <iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-l4E-rKmrRU" width="752" height="423" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

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Top holidays for female travellers: How women travel differently

The Australian

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The insiders: Burgundy, France

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Experts + Insiders: Dane Tredway

Luxury Travel Magazine Australia

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Puglia

My Ride Through Puglia

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Forget Glamping, This is the New Luxe Adventure Trend

Best Wines of the World

Vines 101

Decades ago, there were about five labels and 30 hectares of producing vines in central Otago; now there are around 35 well-established vineyards, with a total of over 767 hectares of vines! More recently, about two dozen more vineyards have been started up, some by celebrities such as actor Sam Neill and director Roger Donaldson.
Demand for the best New Zealand wines is high and the wineries are small, so there is a limited volume for export. The quality is excellent and keeps getting better.
The four main grapes are sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon. Vineyards that achieve consistent 4- or 5-star labels, both in reds and whites, include Cooper’s Creek, Morton Estate, Hunter, Te Mata, Cloudy Bay and Babich. According to the wine maestro for New Zealand wines, <a title="Bob Campbell" href="http://www.bobcampbell.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bob Campbell</a>, the following are the top ten:
<h2>Whites</h2>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.saintclair.co.nz/news/112/Cuisine_Tasting_Discovers_Saint_Clair_Wairau_Reserve_Sauvignon_Blanc_2006_as_Top_Wine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.villamaria.co.nz/wines/product-details/_prod_/Villa-Maria-Single-Vineyard-Ihumatao-Chardonnay/?productlistPCMID=29536&amp;productListCategories=87" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2005</a></li>
<li><a href="http://airnzwineawards.co.nz/default,1501,astrolabe-pinot-gris-2006.sm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Astrolabe Pinot Gris, 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kimcrawfordwines.com/ca/our-wines/spitfire-sauvignon-blanc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kimcrawfordwines.com/ca/our-wines/unoaked-chardonnay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kim Crawford Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay, 2006</a></li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<h2>Reds</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.deltawines.co.nz/pressroom/readWineReview.asp?WiID=17&amp;L=2005%20Delta%20Hatter%27s%20Hill%20Pinot%20Noir" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delta Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2005</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.villamaria.co.nz/Modules/DocumentLibrary/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentId=72" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2004</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.wooingtree.co.nz/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wooing Tree Central Otago Pinot Noir 2005</a></li>
<li><a href="http://airnzwineawards.co.nz/default,2307,church-road-sv-cabernet-merlot-2004.sm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church Road SV Cabernet Merlot 2004</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.airnzwineawards.com/default,1100,ngatarawa-wines-silks-syrah-2004.sm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Silks Syrah, 2004</a></li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<h3>So, where can I go to stock up?</h3>
One good place in Christchurch to shop for wine is Liquorland (multiple locations), open Monday to Saturday.

Vines 101: The 10 Best New Zealand Wines

Profiles

Are there any destinations you haven&#8217;t been to, but want to visit? 
South America somewhere – anywhere. I’ve heard such incredible things about everything there. I also want to take that completely unoriginal photo of the really small people in the palm of your hand on the salt flats. Really.
What are your three most underrated destinations? 
Australia, Bhutan and my favourite book shop, Unity.
You guided for B&amp;R for yeas before becoming a Trip Designer. Can you pinpoint one moment that really leaps out at you? 
There have been great moments, and there have been scary moments… I think one that stands out was being caught with my co-guide in the middle of Christhchurch, New Zealand when the huge earthquake hit in February 2011, levelling many parts of the city. The streets and buildings all around us crumbled, people were killed and luckily we were unscathed.
We were getting ready to pick up a biking trip and a few of our travellers had already arrived and went through the ordeal too, so dealing with the emotions of that, coupled with what the travellers were all expecting, was a tough situation. Loads of travellers were delayed and re-routed to other cities as you can imagine and there was talk of cancelling the trip, however we all assessed the situation and as guides, decided to carry on. We all had the most amazing trip – the small things were completely irrelevant and everyone just focused on the positives of being alive, in a stunning place, experiencing an amazing trip and loving it. That was pretty cool.
Our co-founder George Butterfield tends to make a lasting impression on people. Do you have a favourite George moment? 
Standing on the top of Chelela Pass in Bhutan at a height of 13,000 feet, having just wandered up the ridge line with our prayer flags in tow, on the second-to-last day of our Bhutanese adventure. It was a magnificent Himalayan moment to share with a very contented George and crew.
What’s your most embarrassing travel story? 
For some reason on one trip, I thought it would be a good idea to attempt to take my camelback bag off my back while riding along at speed. Needless to say, things didn’t go according to plan; my pack swung into my spokes and I proceeded to ‘self-quake’ off my road bike (it was the Christchurch earthquake trip – hence the name) to the amusement of my travelers (after they made sure nothing was broken, of course). What a clever guide, leading by example as always.
What items are absolute musts on your packing list? 
A fantastic book, my noise-cancelling headphones for the plane and an open mind (but that doesn’t take up any space which is a bonus).
And finally, what&#8217;s your favourite trip you’ve ever taken? 
A superb birthday trip for a fantastic group of Canadian ladies around Australia. But then there was the Bhutan trip with George and company. Oh, but then there was…

Experts + Insiders: Rob Grieve

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Favourite trip you’ve ever taken? (I know, I know, but try to narrow it down to one!) 
In 2003 my wife and I kayaked the outside of the BC coast from the Alaska Border to Vancouver Island. Fifty-two days of pristine scenery, crazy weather, unforgettable wildlife sightings, huge ocean swells or mirror-calm seas, freeze-dried veggies (yuck!) paired with fresh fish and foraged berries, massive sand beaches and even bigger sea cliffs. Oh, and great company. Bliss and adversity—often on the same day. It’s a trip I revisit in my mind regularly.
Favourite trip you’ve ever designed? 
Impossible to answer, although I tend to really enjoy planning big rambling odysseys.  I’ve planned and researched  three  60-plus day trips in the USA and Canada in the last five years, which can be a bit harrowing but fun, and I’m working on a 40-day Himalayan journey for a couple right now. I’d like to go on that one myself, but I don’t think they’ll invite me. On the other end of the scale, I also planned a four-day Places on the Verge trip to the Alberta Oil Sands that was highly interesting and educational to research.
Food is such a gateway into a new region. What’s the most memorable meal you’ve had on the road? 
I was researching travel opportunities in Mongolia in 2006 or so. In the far west of the country there is an extensive population of expat Kazakh nomads, who live in yurts and follow their flocks around the open steppes and mountain valleys. I was lucky enough to meet a large extended family, who was celebrating successfully moving its herds to the summer pasture. They invited me for a meal, which consisted of five kinds of animal fat, boiled into submission, covered with a layer of homemade dumpling. I sat to the right of the headman, and after his wife placed the pot in front of him, he pulled a large knife out of his boot (honest), poked at the largest piece of Bactrian camel fat, identified by its luminescent yellow hue, and offered it to me. With 20 expectant faces watching every move, I managed to eat it, smiled at the cook, and settled in for a very long meal.
<h3>&#8220;I’d like to visit Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar&#8230; it will really annoy my friend Tyler Dillon if I get there before he does.&#8221;</h3>
What’s your most embarrassing travel story? 
I hate costume parties, dressing up etc. For the final night of a very fancy <a title="Bespoke" href="https://www.butterfield.com/private-travel/bespoke/" target="_blank">Bespoke</a> trip in Venice, I was coerced into wearing the most ridiculously foppish outfit of a baroque-era Venetian Prince. We had to walk through St Marks Square to reach the venue. There were four of us guides in period costume, and we must have been stopped by 100 tourists for photos. They thought we were street performers. However, luckily my embarrassment was upstaged by one of my co-guides, who stepped on the hem of her dress and went down in the middle of St Mark’s Square like a lacy sack of spuds.
You&#8217;re a B&amp;R veteran, you must have a good George Butterfield story. 
At the end of my very first guiding job for B&amp;R, I was sitting in the office in Beaune, labouring over my trip accounts. Sitting near me, also trying to balance his trip accounts, was an older guy. At one point he grumbled out to the rest of the office, “what happened to the days when we used to just hand the guides a pile of money and tell them to spend it and run a good trip? This paper work is killing me!” That was my introduction to George Butterfield. After that, I knew I’d be able to get along in this company.
And finally, in all your gallivanting around the globe, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or done while on a trip? 
Definitely classified information. First rule of guiding: what happens on a trip, stays on a trip. I can’t believe you even asked that!

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Travel Inspiration

<h4>It&#8217;s Progressive:</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-35869 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/kate-suffragette-NZ-350-flickr-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="223" />New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote (as this tribute to suffragettes in Christchurch attests). The Kate Sheppard National Memorial features the leading campaigner for women&#8217;s suffrage, along with Helen Nicol, Ada Wells, Harriet Morison, Meri Te Tai Mangakahia and Amey Daldy, who also were leaders of the cause. A great reason to raise a glass of award-winning Pinot Noir from the vineyard we just biked by.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35867 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iStock_000004991363Small_NewZealand-vineyards-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="487" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iStock_000004991363Small_NewZealand-vineyards-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iStock_000004991363Small_NewZealand-vineyards-732c-451x300.png 451w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
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<h4>Walking is an art form:</h4>
Thanks to the ever-wondrous, jaw-droppingly beautiful, diverse landscape of NZ, hiking—or &#8220;tramping&#8221; as it’s commonly known here—is considered the national pastime.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35862 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZLEB_02242011_RGR_016-WalkingPic-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZLEB_02242011_RGR_016-WalkingPic-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZLEB_02242011_RGR_016-WalkingPic-960c-480x270.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZLEB_02242011_RGR_016-WalkingPic-960c-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
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<h4>The sheep outnumber humans by approximately 12:1</h4>
OK, it’s just a number—but it’s still mind-boggling! Come meet some of my (warmly attired) neighbours.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35863 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZsheep-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="487" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZsheep-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NZsheep-732c-451x300.png 451w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

australia

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