With everything going on in the world right now, and much of it driven by the White House, we wondered what the average man in the street in USA worries about. So we checked in with New York correspondent, Phil Brown.Read More 

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When predictions come true! Our wine expert Tyson Stelzer has consistently picked the House of Arras sparkling wine as one of the world’s best – even up against French champagnes. Recently, a vintage magnum of Arras sparkling was given the first perfect score by an international wine critic – a score f 100. We now wonder if Tyson is as good at picking this year’s Melbourne Cup winner?
Image: Houe of Arras Late Disgorged SparklingRead More 

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Timing is key to every great holiday … especially when you’re hiking. Knowing where to go and what you can see and do is important. But, knowing when to go is crucial. Lonely Planet’s new book: Where to go When – Hiking has it all sorted. Carolyne Jasinski speaks with the authors Sarah Baxter and Paul Bloomfield.Read More 

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This is music to your ears! Carolyne Jasinski and Graeme Kemlo update listeners on the new musicals showing now and coming to a live theatre near you in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Image: Natalie Bassingthwaite premiered in Waitress last weekend in Melboune. It will then tour other states.Read More 

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Melbourne journalist Emily McAuliffe takes us “home” to Far North Queensland to see Australia’s largest monolith … and it’s not Uluru. Come on a trip to remote Mount Mulligan, a three-hour drive (by 4WD preferably) west of Cairns. It’s so isolated, not many people really know about the monolith that dominates the landscape and dwarfs Uluru – or about the indigenous-owned cattle station with a five-star, 28-guest luxury lodge.
Photo: by Emily McAuliffe shows Mount Mulligan in the backgund viewed from the luxury lodge pool.Read More 

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Karin Avila, our Spain-based correspondent talks to people who, like her, are expats … strangers in a strange land. This time she speaks with Ken Thompson who, in 1982, joined the Royal Observer Corps to help serve the Royal Air Force. With Cold War tensions high and in pursuit of purpose and camaraderie, there was an opportunity to serve his fellow countrymen as an observer. Ken shares that it’s never too late to try something new and a sense of belonging goes a long way. There’s also a comical encounter with Queen Elizabeth.
Photos Karin Avila and Ken ThompsonRead More 

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The ;attest tyrae; and ;ifety;e news from the auspices of Trave; Writers Radi produced and presented bym Helen Hayes and Graeme Kemlo.
T submit your news item, a few tips: Be brief, be accurate, be interesting/newsworthy. And remember No AI and Np BS. Email: infp@travelwrtersradio.cpmRead More 

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Graeme Kemlo was invited by the Gold Coast Convention Event Centre at Broadbeach to witness the Arena at work, hosting Guy Sebastian’s concert. It seats 4000 in concert style, but 6000 in the round. GM Nick Jeffrey said he was proud to show guests the capabilities of the venue with the added enjoyment of a a first class musical event. Acoustics were great, sight-lines perfect from elevated seats in what works well as an intimate performance space. Jeffrey points out that not all convention centres have the benefit of an arena like Gold Coast. Graeme stayed at The Dorsett, which is adjacent to the Centre at Broadbeach.Read More 

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A PORT FOR ALL SEASONS
A 2hr 30 min drive north of Sydney is a blue water paradise that only 12 months ago was labelled by online travel app Wotif as Aussie Town of the Year.
Port Stephens is more than a town though. The blue water hotspot comprises a cluster of townships which make for a quintessential Aussie coastal holiday – all year round.
Whether you throw a prawn on the barbecue or picnic on local oysters or fish and chips on the water’s edge, Port Stephens is as relaxing as it is energising.
And it’s about to get busier with the arrival of the annual whale watching season attracting hordes of tourists from here and from overseas, reports travel writer MIKE SMITH

Points of interest:
10 things to see and do –
1. The vast open sands of the Stockton Bight Dunes (Worimi Regional Park).
2. The blue waters of the port, by taking a dolphin or whale watching cruise (May – November). Home to around 140 bottlenose dolphins.
3. Embrace nature on a walk along a series of marked trails. Of note is Tomaree National Park, including Mt Tomaree for those fit enough to challenge.
4. Where to dine, day or night – Little Beach Boathouse, Inner Lighthouse (for scones and jam), Aussie Bob’s Fish and Chips, Crest Birubi Beach Café, Shoal Beach Country Club, etc
5. Dine out on local oysters. Or try one of around 45 different pie selections at Red Neds I Nelson Bay.
6. Try your skills at some more strenuous activities like quad biking on the dunes or joining Sand Dune Safaris sandboarding down the slopes. Toboggan Hill Parkis another family favourite.
7. Family attractions such as Oakvale Wildlife Park, Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and the Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters.
8. Fighter World Museum near the airport at Williamtown.
9. Drive to Lemon Tree Passage for a walk-through bushland at Tanilba to spot koalas in the wild.
10. We have stayed at a series of alternative forms of accommodation, the past two at the Mantra Nelson Bay. Of course, you have hot spots such as Bannisters at Salamander Bay, The Anchorage at Corlette, Shoal Bay Country Club, The Landmark at Nelson Bay (near the golf course),
Ph0to: Mike SmithRead More 

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Heen Hayes interviews Jane Lawson, an Australian travel writer who has written several books on Japan. A former chef, Jane has studied Japan over the past 40 years, and her latest book, Secret Japan, is an insider’s guide. She speaks with Helen Hayes.
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