Mike Smith – TRAVEL WRITERS RADIO

Transformation of Iconic Watsons Bay Hotel Sydney -Mike Smith

Graeme Kemlo — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:11:13 +0000

Veteran travel editor Mike Smith, visits Watson’s Bay Hotel, a true Sydney icon that has undertaken a significant refurbishment, but still remains with its grandstand view…one of the best spots to take in the grandeur that is Sydney Harbour while enjoying a cool beverage and good company. Mike chats with hotel manager, Danielle Richardson.
Photo – Danielle RichardsonRead More

Colonial History at Windsor’s Gas Lamp Lighting Festival -Mike Smith

Graeme Kemlo — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:28:19 +0000

For Australian history buffs, Windsor – 50kms north-west of Sydney – can shed much light on the country’s colonial past. Don’t expect to see a giant majestic castle as found in the town’s namesake in the UK. Nor are there royal guardsmen. But only a few days ago, there was a professional town crier, Graham Keating, in strong voice to ring in the town’s annual Gas Lamp Festival. The world-renowned and former world champion Keating, a sprightly 84-years-old, was appropriately dressed for the occasion, while many locals dressed in period costume for a parade down George Street Mall led by a bagpipe band. As roving reporter MIKE SMITH discovered, the 215-year-old settlement – one of the oldest in Australia – prides itself on its historic roots through its own charming architecture, a pub that has been around since 1815.Read More

Mike Smith at Fine Food Australia Talks Cafe Culture with Ben Irvine

Graeme Kemlo — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:22:40 +0000

Reporter Mike Smith has more stories from Fine Food Australia, a culinary and hospitality expo in Sydney last week. There are some interesting results percolating about a coffee survey. He speaks with Ben Irvine of Seven Miles Coffee in Manly Vale.Read More

Postcard Perfect Interlaken is at the peak of Swiss tourism – Mike Smith with Renato Julier

Graeme Kemlo — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:49:29 +0000

To the people of Switzerland’s Interlaken, their home and the alps that shadow it are nothing less than postcard perfect. It’s more than a destination.
It’s an experience, all year round, with rail travel helping the tourist industry’s clockwork perfection.
Reporter Mike Smith catches up with Interlaken Tourism’s Renato Julier to find out what makes the Swiss centre and its surrounds – Grindelwald and Jungfrau included – so popular.Read More

Reporter Mike Smith Reveals His Favourite Hometown Secrets In Sydney

Graeme Kemlo — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:20:02 +0000

Sometimes you can spend so much time in a place that you end up not being able to see the forest for the trees. In other words, we don’t know all the amazing places in the city we live in. Sydney is truly one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and Mike Smith ventures beyond his home area to surprise us with some of his favourite places.
Photo: Spice Alley by Mike SmithRead More

Akira Miri 18th Generation Family Innkeeper at Ryokan Sakaya -Mike Smith

Graeme Kemlo — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:03 +0000

Akira Mori is 18th generation family owner of the historic Japanese inn – Ryokan Sakaya – which is ideally located in the mountainous Nozawa Onsen (hot spring) resort area – a haven for guests both in winter and the warmer months. It’s a town where visitors are often seen wearing traditional yukata robes on their walk to and from the hot springs. To stay at his ryokan is an experience in the true sense, far from the typical western style of accommodation. Guests can even help with the harvesting of vegetables for the dinner table as team member and veteran reporter Mike Smith Mike discovered during the interview.
Photo by Mike Smith – Akira Mori and daughter YukimiRead More