escape to luxury

There’s nothing quite like devouring a few well-chosen book on holidays, especially in an inspiring setting and curling up on the window seat overlooking the Great Ocean Road, might just be the perfect spot for a bit of drama or romance…

Choosing which books to take on holidays is a serious business, one that gives pleasure and angst in equal measure. Do you take the weighty tome you’ve started, or pack the iPad full of options? While electronic readers make sense when travelling, I still love curling up with a real book. Then having crammed the entire Miles Franklin literary award list into your luggage, I’ll buy the latest travel or a gossip magazine and spend the holiday happily reading the latest on Kimye and more often than not the books will return home unread.

We recently hosted journalist Jessica Jane Sammut and her family at Beach Suites Byron Bay. Jessica reveals where to dine and what to do in Byron Bay and having young children didn't slow down this stylish mum to enjoy a luxury holiday and relax and lose yourself in Byron Bay. Read the full article here.

Before heading on my road trip to the Granite Belt, most people I mentioned the pending trip to fell into two camps – either they luuurved the Granite Belt or simply hadn’t heard of it. That’s it secret, the Granite Belt is a real hidden gem, where you’ll discover fresh local produce, excellent wine, divine dining, country hospitality and surprisingly great value accommodation compared to more established tourism wine regions.

During a coffee catchup, a friend reveals that while her recent camping holiday was fun, the whole tent setup extravaganza was bothersome, tedious and tiring and perhaps they should have stayed longer to make the effort worthwhile. Days later, I was off to the Granite Belt to experience “glamping”, the answer for those looking for some outdoors action, but without the fuss.

I am wearing tight pants - jeggings and a floaty top that I think are country chic for my Scenic Rim sojourn. I’m concerned about this ensemble from the moment I arrive and am offered afternoon tea. Such tempting delicious morsels can't be ignored and so the weekend of indulgence begins and my clothes get tighter.