Australia & NZ Archives

4 Top Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Sydney, Australia

December 14, 2019

Top Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Sydney Australiaa

Headed to the land down under? Sydney, Australia is known for its strong plant-based dining scene, with vegan and vegetarian restaurants rampant around town. From burgers and pizzas to sushi and fine Thai food, whatever your’e craving, Sydney’s range of vegan restaurants will have you covered. Here are just 4 of our picks alongwith their signature dishes, so check out these 4 Top Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Yellow, Sydney, NSW

Kohlrabi, Enoki & Fermented Apple

Plum & Fennel Ice Cream (left) | Press Curd, Charred Leek & Black Garlic (right)

Yellow is a vegetarian bistro in Potts Point from the award-winning team behind Bentley Restaurant + Bar, Monopole and Cirrus. It is inspired by the European dining scene where contemporary food and wine are served in an informal setting at affordable prices. Recognizing a demand for vegetarian and vegan dining in Sydney, Chef Brent Savage and his team have created a plant-based menu with a focus on interesting and heirloom vegetables, grown by local suppliers. Yellow is open seven nights a week, with brunch offered on weekends. On Saturday nights they offer tasting menus only, including a vegan tasting menu.

Signature Dishes: Parsnip Pappardelle with Yolk and Ricotta, Plum and Fennel Ice Cream, Yellow Bean with Pickled Brassica and Yoghurt

Address: 57 MacLeay St, Potts Point NSW 2011, Australia. Website.

Bodhi Restaurant Bar, Sydney, NSW

Bodhi is a purely vegan restaurant that uses no animal products or by-products in its food or beverages, which includes yum cha at lunch, tapas and shared mains in the evening, and an extensive beverage list including coffees, teas, mocktails, cocktails, local vegan and organic wines and craft beers. Its menus also follow a Buddhist cooking philosophy in that dishes are free from the five pungent vegetables– onions, garlic, green onions, chives and leeks. Bodhi is a female-led business with owner/operator Heaven Leigh at the helm, and Kitty Hong Xiao and Brooke Ng heading up the kitchen.

As a third-generation restaurateur, hospitality is in Heaven Leigh’s blood. Her grandparents ran Chinese takeaway shops in Dundas Valley and Chatswood in the 1970s and 80s called Lady Jade, and her mum, Lee-Leng Whong founded Sydney’s first vegan yum cha restaurant in Chinatown Sydney.

Signature Dishes: Braised Japanese Mushroom Tataki With Wakami & Mushroom Floss, Roasted Teriyaki Cauliflower with Nashi Pear, Fig, Pomegranate, Tofu crumble, Pumpkin Puree & Pomegranate Molasses

Address: 2/4 College St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Website.

Peppe’s, Sydney, NSW

Located along Bondi Road, Peppe’s is a relatively new and intimate restaurant with a simple pasta menu and natural wines by the glass. Produce is locally sourced and the pasta is made in-house daily. The all-vegan restaurant opened in 2019 this year and was conceptualised by Joe Pagliaro and Grace Watson – the brains behind Waterloo’s Paperback. The 40-square metre enclave boasts rustic, homely interiors and its kitchen is helmed by chef Joel Bennett, who had previously worked at the two-hatted Gastro Park.

Signature Dishes: Peppe’s is highly regarded for its gnocchi dishes

Address: 261 Bondi Rd, Bondi NSW 2026, Australia. Website.

Vina Vegan, Sydney, NSW

Family owned and operated since 2009, Vina Vegan was brought to life simply to share traditional Vietnamese vegan recipes with people who simply want to eat better with food that is 100% vegan, gluten-free and MSG-free. The quaint and cosy restaurant on King street serves an abundance of fresh vegetables and flavourful faux meat, as well as mouthwatering plant-based renditions of classic Vietnamese dishes that cater to everyone’s tastes and preference. The restaurant is also known for its amazing customer service, and is a neighbourhood favourite.

Signature Dishes: Vina Spring Rolls with Mungbean, Carrot, Tofu, Mushroom, Taro and Vermicelli; Vina Pho Noodle Soup with basil, vegan beef or vegan chicken; Wok Tossed Red Curry Sauce with Broccoli, Mushroom, Capsicum, Potato and Snow Peas

Address: 395 King St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia. Website

The Truffle Festival, Australia (Canberra Region, June to Aug 2017)

May 24, 2017

(Image: Truffle Festival – Canberra Region)

In its ninth consecutive year, the Truffle Festival in Canberra is the first and largest festival of its kind in Australia. Each year from June to August, more than 250 individual events are held across the Canberra region, showcasing the region’s Black Winter Truffles. Events range from truffle hunts and forages to degustation dinners at venues across the city.

WHAT’S ON

Eat & Drink

Enjoy Meals Highlighting Truffles (Image: Truffle Festival – Canberra Region)

The major draw of the Truffle Festival, Canberra is the food. To give you a glimpse of what’s on the plate, venues like Pod Food, Piallifo Estate, Redsalt Restaurant, Bentspoke Brewing Co. and many more will be serving local black truffles throughout the season. At Blackfire Restaurant, you can enjoy a special four-course truffle dinner. At Mount Majura Vineyards, you get to taste a flight of three wines matched with truffled brie, complete with a truffle hunt at a neighbouring truffle farm. To see a list of other restaurants hosting course meals highlighting truffles, click here.

Cook & Forage

Be a Master Chef – Learn to Cook with Truffles (Image: Truffle Festival – Canberra Region)

Join them dogs on a truffle forage (Image: Truffle Festival – Canberra Region)

Want to learn to be a master chef in the kitchen with truffles? Attend one of the truffle festival’s cooking classes where you can learn how to cook with truffles, and how to purchase a good quality truffle. You can even join an event where you can learn to forage for truffles, by accompanying the dogs hunting for this elusive black gold. Not just that, you can also shop for a range of truffles and their products during the three-month long festival.

Stay

The Accor Hotels Group in the Canberra Region are the exclusive accommodation partner for the festival, with a range of accommodation options to suit truffle travellers. Their properties are scattered throughout the lovely region and include Novotel Canberra, Mecure Canberra, Ibis Styles Canberra and Ibis Styles Eaglehawk.

For more information about the festival, to make reservations or to book a hunt, visit The Truffle Festival’s website.

Know more about What Truffles are and What Makes Them So Expensive.

Perth with Kids – Animal Encounters in Perth and Surrounds

May 12, 2017

Animals. The one word that never fails to get children excited! So for a recent getaway, we decided to do away with the beach resorts and head to Perth and Surrounds to give the twins an animal-centric vacation. Turned out to be a great decision and our most “successful” vacation with the children – easy to plan, easy on the pocket and easy on the parents (the children were just too happy to be cranky). Perth with kids has become a touchstone for all future vacations with kids.

The City and Nature

King’s Park and Botanic Garden

View from King’s Park

Because of our original flight being cancelled, our trip to Perth had to be cut short by almost 2 days. Unfortunately, this meant that we ended up missing most attractions in the city.

But one attraction not to be missed is King’s Park and Botanic Garden, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. It overlooks the city and there are several vantage points from where you can get stunning views – of the city, the Perth Hills in the distance, and the sailboats bobbing on the beautiful blue waters of Swan River.

There are a few playgrounds within King’s Park, we went to Synergy Parkland which had manicured lawns, a dinosaur themed playground, ducks swimming around in a pond, and a café – so adults and children were all well catered to.

The Marine Life

The morning after our arrival, we headed to Rockingham city, about 40 kilometers from Perth. While Rockingham offers activities like kitesurfing and ‘skydive the beach’, what most interested us was the dolphin cruise.

Cruising Around

Expect views like this one

We opted for the 90-minute Dolphin, Penguin and Sea Lion Adventure Cruise (offered by Rockingham Wild Encounters), prepared to see some wild dolphins in their natural environment. What we weren’t prepared for was the extreme drop in temperature and the chilly winds that accompanied. Thankfully, we had spare jackets for the kids (the ones the paranoid mom carries everywhere, although they’re never used) and they saved the day, and the cruise.

The first half-hour of our cruise wasn’t too successful because of the weather. But just as the sighs and the grumpy voices started, we came across a small colony of dolphins diving playfully in and out of the water, and the sighs were replaced by frantic digs for cameras.

Seal Island & PEnguin Island

Look at them lazy Sea Lions

Having sighted dolphins, we headed to Seal Island, where we saw some extremely lazy, rare Australian sea lions enjoying their afternoon naps, with not a care in the world. Perth with kids is undoubtedly a wonderful experience for the entire family.

Penguin Island Discovery Centre

: Penguin Island – The Beach

: Happy Twins at Penguin Island

: Penguin Island – Nesting Penguin

Next up was Penguin Island. Besides being home to the world’s smallest penguins, it also provides a predator-free protected area for birds, and as such it is home to breeding colonies of pelicans and several other shorebirds. Seeing all these creatures in their natural environment is truly an experience. Although, we saw just one nesting penguin (besides the rehabilitated ones at The Discovery Centre), it was a much better experience than seeing several in enclosed quarters in a zoo.

Penguin Island – View at the entrance

Penguin Island also has beautiful views, white sandy beaches and limestone reefs. You’re even allowed to bring your equipment for snorkeling or scuba diving.

As it is a conservation park, there are no shops or cafes. You can carry your own food and drinks (there is a small picnic area), but make sure you clean up after.

The Wildlife & the Wineries

Swan Valley has it all – wildlife, wineries, chocolate factories, art galleries, breweries and distilleries. And when you visit a winery that not only has great wine but also a playground and kids’ menu, the world just makes perfect sense. Another great reason why Perth with kids comes highly recommended.

Swan Valley

Swan Valley – Food & Wine Trail

While on the topic of wineries, know that Swan Valley is the oldest wine region of Western Australia, viticulture started here about 180 years ago. The Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail is a scenic loop with wineries, restaurants and cafes on it. We didn’t do the full loop but used the map as a guide and visited the few wineries that our B&B host recommended (read the ones with playgrounds). My favourite was the The Laughin’ Barrel, which has a kiddy playground in sight of the outdoor seating. Need I say more? Besides their Rosé, also worth trying is the Dukkah (a blend of toasted crushed seeds and nuts).

Caversham wildlife park

The twins warming up to the joeys

Day 2 in Swan Valley, I woke up to a little voice asking, “What animals are we going to see today mama?” A couple of hours later, we set out for Caversham Wildlife Park, which has enough animals and shows to keep little ones busy for several hours. My favourite part of Perth with kids (probably of any vacation ever) was feeding the Kangaroos at Caversham. It was endearing how the hungry ones held my hand with both of theirs while they gobbled up the food in my palm. The twins, albeit a bit wary at first, were soon running around with handfuls of kangaroo-food, trying to find hungry joeys to feed.

Snuggly Koalas at Caversham Wildlife Park

We also got lucky at the Koala enclosure, where we met Sunshine, an adult male Koala being carried by one of the volunteers, not unlike a toddler. We were told that Koalas are not normally brought out or carried to meet visitors, they come to the keepers on their own when they want a cuddle. This was my first time seeing a Koala and I was surprised by how big they are, Sunshine weighed over 10 kilos.

Ponies, wombats, emus and peacocks are some of the other animals you’ll see. We had a Kodak moment when we came across a peacock sitting surrounded by a dozen white kangaroos, talk about living in harmony. Unfortunately, I was too mesmerized to take out my camera.

While at Caversham, catch as many shows as you can. Most shows are interactive – kids can volunteer to bottle-feed lambs or milk a cow at the Farm Show, younger children can step inside the rabbit enclosure at Molly’s Farm, and at Meet the Wombat show anyone can hold a snake, anyone brave enough that is.

The Farm-stay

Keller’s Bed and Breakfast (Image credit: Keller’s B&B)

A newly born calf (Image credit: Keller’s B&B)

Swan Valley is close enough for a day trip (or two) from Perth, but we chose to stay there for 2 days because I was intent on having the twins experience a farm-stay to complete the animal encounters. Mind you, I’m not talking about one of those touristy places with a dog and 2 pigs, Keller’s B&B is a real working farm. In fact, if it hadn’t been for some hardcore googling, I never would have found the place.

On our first morning there, we were up early enough to watch our host Philipp milking the cows. Philipp then took us for a ride on the tractor, to feed the cows and pigs and to collect eggs from the chickens – quite an experience for the kids.

By the time we got back, our wonderful hostess Marija had a lovely breakfast spread out for us – freshly baked bread, fresh eggs, fresh juice, fresh milk, homemade jams and preserves. While my daughter dug wholeheartedly into the chocolate milk, my son decided that no one except him was even allowed to touch the jams.

The Kellers’ very friendly dog Rosie and their 2 cats, completed our animal experience and the huge trampoline at the back of the house ensured that the parents enjoyed multiple cups of hot coffee, uninterrupted!

Memories for a Lifetime

Although, it has been a few months since we got back, the twins still remember the kangaroos and the dolphins fondly (poor Sunshine seems to have been forgotten though), and “When are we going back to Perth” has been a frequent question in our house. What was the twins’ favourite part of the vacation, you ask? After writing a whole article on animals, when I asked them this question, they both insisted it was the “standing” tractor ride.

Fitzroy Island Resort on the Great Barrier Reef – Nudey Beach, Secret Garden, a Lighthouse & more

April 21, 2017

Aerial View of Fitzroy Island

Ever dreamed of waking up to the sound of waves crashing on the Great Barrier Reef? Or lounging on a tropical beach almost all to yourself? Or enjoying a family dinner with cocktails on a beachfront cafe?

A trip to Fitzroy Island will ensure that you get to do all these, and more. The Fitzroy Island is no less than a paradise on the Coral sea. Located on the Great Barrier Reef, this unspoilt tropical paradise abounds in marine life, local wildlife and spectacular beaches and walking trails.

I was fortunate to spend 2 days in this idyllic destination and I loved every minute of my stay in the beautiful island resort.

Getting There

Aboard the Fitzroy Ferry

Located 45 minutes from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, Australia, Fitzroy Island is easily reached by regular ferry transfers. You can hop aboard the Fitzroy Island Resort ferry from the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal Marina. The 45 minutes long ferry ride, that passes along inhabited islands and rain forest is worth the time and money.

Exploring the Island – So Much to See and Do

Welcome to Fitzroy Island Resort

Once we reached the island, we were greeted by the hotel staff and handed the Fitzroy Island map, that came handy while exploring this 339-hectare continental island. With towering rain-forest mountains, a lighthouse, fringing tropical reefs, a turtle rehabilitation center, virgin beaches, along with several dining options, this island resort has a lot to offer.

Click here for Fitzroy island Map

The Beach and the White Corals

As we were travelling with our 3-year-old, the first thing we did after checking in was to hit the beach. The island beaches are made of coral rocks and are not quite comfortable to walk around, so make sure you wear shoes. We could hear a clinging sound when the waves hit the coral rocks on the shore, I thought the sound was quite musical.

Snorkeling

We spotted colourful fishes and turtles while snorkeling. The corals around the islands are mostly white and off-white in colour, but if you dive into the deep sea, you might be lucky enough to spot colourful corals and sea cucumber. It’s always advisable to wear sting suits as Jellyfish can be rampant depending on the time of the year. If you do wish to explore the deep underwater world, there are shops on the beach itself where you can rent water sports equipment and special diving trainers.

Nudey Beach – Don’t go by the name!

On Day 2, after breakfast, we headed over to explore Nudey Beach on the other side of the island. Do not go by the name though, keep your clothes on! A 25-mins trek through bushes and rain forest brings you to this secluded beach. We trekked with our 3-year-old and it wasn’t as tough as we thought it would be. I loved lazying around the Nudey beach and getting clicked, the place is too beautiful for not being photographed for memories.

This is a sandy beach in which one can snorkel and swim too unlike the other beaches on the island, at low tide one can get an easy view of the corals too.

If you happen to have a day tour, I would recommend that one should venture the Nudey beach instead of going to other beaches on the island, totally secluded and you have a whole private beach to yourself and your family, isn’t it amazing?

Next, my little one was extremely excited to see the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where injured and old turtles are housed. I must admit that we loved it as much as she did.

There are 2 tours that runs through the day and the cost of the tours are like 8.5AUD/person and 5AUD/Child and the kids totally love this place, so did we.

The Fitzroy Island has another little island located adjacent to it, that houses a small lighthouse. There isn’t much else on this baby island and the only way to get to it is to swim.

Also, worth a visit – if your kid can trek the 30-40 mins – is the Secret Garden, a beautiful garden with wild flowers.

Resort Accommodation and Facilities

Fitzroy Island Resort Pool

The Ocean Suite

Fitzroy Island Resort is the only resort on the island. It offers several types and sizes of rooms – a total of 99 rooms – ranging from a 32 sqm Studio to a 120 sqm 2-Bedroom Cottage.

The facilities, which include a resort pool, spa, general store, in-room and poolside massage services, a movie theatre, games room, table tennis and kids’ playroom, are only available to hotel guests.

Foxy’s Bar

For your dining needs, the resort has a restaurant and a pool-bar on site.

After our water activity on day 1, we headed to Foxy’s Bar, which is situated right on the beachfront. Foxy’s has an excellent casual cafe style food menu including kids’ meals and provides a wide range of beers, wines and cocktails. The bar pool has a kids’ section too, so while you enjoy the island cocktails, your children can enjoy their own splash time.

Breakfast with a View

Day 2 on the Island started with a sumptuous breakfast next to the beach. Their hot breakfast is a must-have, and at 22 AUD/person, it is worth every penny, especially since it comes with a view! Besides the daily buffet breakfast, Zephyr Restaurant also offers a modern Australian a-la-carte menu, using locally sourced ingredients, with nightly specials available. On some nights a seasonal buffet may be as offered as an alternative to the a-la-carte menu.

As it was time to catch the last ferry of the day, we set sail back to Cairns city, bidding adieu to this paradise, as we watched the sunset while relaxing on the deck with our evening cocktails.

I still feel 2 days is quite short to enjoy this tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef, but I surely look forward revisiting this island once again very soon.

Cairns: Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef

April 19, 2017

The Great Barrier Reef has been on my bucket list since long. So a few months ago, I decided it was time to head to Cairns. Cairns, in north Queensland is a gateway to the spectacular coral reefs, that stretch across 2300 kms.

This remarkable natural wonder comprises of thousands of reef systems and hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches. Scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, cruising and island hopping are just a way of life here.

Our 6-day long itinerary was planned to soak up some of the beauty of The Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns City

Cairns City Centre

Cairns Esplanade

We started our trip with some sightseeing. We were staying at the Hides hotel, which is centrally located at the Hides corner.

The Esplanade is at a walking distance from the Hides corner, so we headed there first. The Esplanade has a lagoon and a man-made sandy pool for kids to jump in and have loads of fun. Adjacent to this lagoon is a small summer market that sells handmade crafts. My 3-year-old enjoyed her water splash, while I explored the other side of the lagoon. There are cafes and restaurants along the lagoon, making it a perfect hideout from the city chaos, especially on a lazy afternoon.

I would highly recommend the Woolshed Pub, it’s the number 1 party joint in the city and we simply loved the variety of cocktails it had to offer.

Cairns Waterfront

We then headed to the Cairns Waterfront, which has gorgeous scenic views to offer. The waterfront is located at the Reef Fleet Terminal, the berthing dockyard for all the cruises and ferries that take off for the Great Barrier Reef. We enjoyed dining at Mondo – a fine dining restaurant, which famously claims to have the best views. Yes, indeed it did and we were just mesmerized.

Fitzroy Island

Aerial View of Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island Resort

A trip to Cairns would be incomplete without a stay at the Fitzroy Island Resort, an ultimate destination for all tropical island lovers. We hopped on the early morning ferry from the Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns city, cruising through scenic rain forest and abandoned islands to reach this beautiful coral island.

Our 2 day stay in this island on the Great Barrier Reef was a dream vacation. With towering rain-forest mountains, a lighthouse, fringing tropical reefs, a turtle rehabilitation center, virgin beaches, along with several dining options, this island resort has a lot to offer.

We spotted colourful fishes and turtles while snorkelling. We explored Nudey Beach, Secret Garden and a Lighthouse. My little one was extremely excited to visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where injured and old turtles are housed.

I have so much to say about Fitzroy Island that it deserves a whole separate feature. So check out my review of the Fitzroy Island Resort here.

Palm Cove

Palm Cove Shoppping Village

As much as we wanted to extend our stay at the Fitzroy Island Resort, it was time to head to the next spots on our itinerary. Therefore, we spent a free and relaxed day on the gorgeous beaches of Palm Cove – a unique, relaxing village by the sea. Palm Cove lies 27 kms North of Cairns, just 45 minutes drive by car – a perfect family getaway to sit back, relax and enjoy the palm trees that line up the sandy beaches. It isn’t advisable to venture out in the waters due to the jellyfish, however, there’s a barricade made by the Queensland beach authority for families to swim within the restricted area.

There isn’t any dearth of beach shacks, pubs or restaurants here – we chose to try the local branded beer at a pub while enjoying the breath-taking sunset views.

The Palm Cove Shopping Village is a small, cosy shopping paradise, definitely worth a visit. Public buses run to-and-fro until late at night, so there is no hurry to get back to the city even if you’re not driving.

Green Island

Green Island (Photo Credit: Tourism Australia)

Day 5 involved us cruising again on the blue waters, to explore yet another island on the Great Barrier Reef. Green Island is the smallest habituated island in this region, and the Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruise connects this tiny island to Cairns.

Aboard the Green Island Ferry

Green Island

A bumpy ride of an hour and 15 minutes in an open top luxury cruise, brings upon you this colourful coral experience.

Soak in the waters, or take a beer and chill at the Green Island Resort pool bar. The beaches are sandy and the water is very clear – while snorkelling, we could spot turtles and sea cucumbers.

You could also walk through the National Park, and have a trail of water guiding you along as you explore the island. We took this trail and reached the other part of the island in less than 15 mins. The beaches at this end are cleaner and less explored. There’s a Crocodile Farm, a small souvenir shop and the water activity centres. While exploring the National Park in the Island you will get to read about the aboriginals natural and cultural heritage and how they evolved.

A day trip to Green Island is good enough, I wouldn’t recommend an overnight stay. Our tour included a Semi-Submarine ride to the deeper part of the reef, which enabled us to capture the diversity of the corals and the abundant sea life through the clear glass bottom of the sub. This tour is a must-do, especially if you can’t swim or dive deeper into the coral sea.

The Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge

Daintree Rainforest (Image Credit: Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree

The last day of our vacation was spent in the wilderness of the Daintree Rainforest – believed to be one of the three oldest rain forests in the world – and Mossman Gorge, which is just one section of this vast forest.

You can get to Daintree via Port Douglas, which is just an hour’s drive from Cairns via a spectacular coastal drive – Great Barrier Reef Drive. We had pre-booked a day tour though, almost all travel agents run similar tours daily.

Mossman Gorge (Photo Credit: Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree)

We explored Mossman Gorge, which is an accessible and very scenic section of the Daintree Rainforest, and a portion of the rain forest as well. You can explore this part of the Daintree Rainforest in less than 6 hours, inclusive of several walking trails. The fresh water gorge is worth a dip and a change from all the sea water, my daughter enjoyed this part of the gorge to the max.

After the dip, I proceeded to explore the remaining part of the rainforest and the walking trails. The sound of the shimmering water from the gorge kept me company all along. Make sure to have your walking shoes and drinking water with you, as the trails are more than 5 kms long each way.

With that, our visit to the Great Barrier Reef ended but we will be back to explore other parts of the reef. The Great Barrier Reef should definitely be on your bucket list as well.

Fremantle Prison – Get a Taste of Western Australia’s History

August 25, 2016

Travel-O-Meter – 4.5/5

A trip to Western Australia wouldn’t be complete without a taste of its history. The port city of Fremantle, a half-hour drive from Perth, is an ideal place to get not just a taste, but a big bite of Western Australia’s history and culture. Freo, as it is called by the locals, boasts of a few attractions, the most notable being the Fremantle Prison.

Freemantle Prison

Fremantle Prison has a brutal, fascinating history. This high security gaol was used as a place of incarceration for almost 140 years. It was built by the convicts and housed 350,000 prisoners from 1855 to when it was decommissioned in 1991. During the convict era, punishments included hard labour in leg irons, solitary confinement, floggings and restricted diets. Apart from leg irons, these punishments continued well into the 1900s. Between 1888 and 1984, Fremantle Prison became the only place of legal execution in Western Australia. During that time, 43 men and 1 woman were hanged there.

In 1992, the prison was opened to the public and since then it has been a top tourist attraction. It is the only World Heritage listed building in Western Australia, and has also been ranked as one of the Top 10 Landmarks in Australia by TripAdvisor 2016 Travellers’ Choice.

Entry to the gatehouse is free of charge but for a full experience, you should without doubt, opt for one of the various tours that they offer. Doing Time Tour is the only one that can be done with toddlers, so we opted for that.

Before & After – Inside Main Cell Block (Pic from Fremantle Prison’s Website)

My husband and I were fascinated by the prison tour. Our guide, Steve knew his stuff and had the entire group enthralled by his narrative, and entertained by his many stories, as he took us around the tiny cells, the massive kitchen and the courtyard where the prisoners spent 8 hours every single day. We also saw the whipping post, the gallows and the solitary cells, which gave us an insight into a system of punishment that is uncomfortably recent. Many of the tour-guides are ex-wardens, ex-guards and even ex-convicts; so each of them should have their own perspective and experiences to share, just like Steve.

Another popular tour is the Great Escapes Tour, where you can join the guides to see where many daring escapes were attempted by prisoners, and be entertained by the many stories and folklore about successful and unsuccessful escape attempts – these despite the shackles, the high walls, the gun towers and the razor wire. For a prison adventure, opt for the Tunnels Tour, to descend 20 metres into the depths below and explore the labyrinth of tunnels on foot and boat. If you’re feeling particularly brave, then explore the darker side of the prison at night, via an eerie Torchlight Tour.

The Fremantle Prison also conducts a special Art Tour every first Saturday of the month, which showcases a variety of prisoner and convict artwork including Aboriginal and European Landscapes, Dot Paintings, Graffiti and Tattoo Art, as well as ‘hidden’ art from the convict era. Yes, amidst the lashings and the prison riots, some of the convicts spent their time honing their artistic skills by painting the walls of their cells and exercise yards.

Whichever tour you opt for, you can be sure you won’t be disappointed.

Other Attractions in and Around Fremantle

After Freemantle prison, head down to Cappuccino Strip which is renowned for its many outdoor restaurants and cafes, and wash down the heavy dose of history with some Western Australian wine or an icy craft beer. Also pop by the Freemantle Fishing Boat Harbour to indulge your taste buds or simply to soak up the atmosphere. The Fishing Boat Harbour is a unique attraction, home to hundreds of fishing boats and surrounded by boardwalks, cafés and restaurants, some of which serve fish straight off the boats.

If you’re one of them beer-lovers, check out Little Creatures Brewery while you’re exploring the town. With plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces and brewery tours, Little Creatures is a destination in itself. Unfortunately, we missed this, but from what I hear, it’s a must-visit!

Other Fremantle attractions include Fremantle Arts Centre, The Round House, Fremantle Markets and the Maritime Museum.

A popular attraction just a 25-minute ferry ride from Fremantle Harbour is Rottnest Island. Rotto, as the locals call it is a popular destination for Western Aussies and visitors alike. Go swimming or snorkeling in the azure waters, or rent a bike to go looking for the native Quokkas – cute little, brown marsupials who were originally mistaken for cat sized rodents.

With so much to see and do, Fremantle should definitely be on your must-visit list anytime you visit Western Australia. In fact, Fremantle, especially Fremantle Prison is worth planning a trip around.

Skydiving in New Zealand: The Most Exhilarating Experience Ever

July 2, 2016

Strap yourself to a beautiful stranger… Standing inside the hangar of Skydive Wanaka, as I read these words plastered across the wall, the enormity of what I was going to do sunk in. I was going to jump off a perfectly good plane soaring 10,000 ft off the ground.

We had arrived in Wanaka the day before and had instantly fallen in love with the beautiful town. Wanaka is the perfect location for skydiving. During the flight and the jump, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of lakes and mountains, if you don’t shut your eyes out of fear that is.

Now, if you’re thinking that I’m an adventure seeker or an adrenaline junkie, you’re dead wrong. On the contrary, I’m more like the scaredy bear. But as we planned that trip to New Zealand, I just knew that I had to skydive – call it conquering your fears if you will. Despite all the hesitations and second thoughts, I did manage to pull through. (Check out also – New Zealand with Kids: A Road Trip Through the Scenic South Island).

Skydive Wanaka & The Process

Suited up for the dive

Since 1995, over 85,000 people have tandem skydived with Skydive Wanaka, the oldest being 92-years-old. According to their website, Skydive Wanaka has the best tandem skydive safety record in New Zealand.

The staff at Skydive Wanaka were friendly and made us feel at ease. Before your dive, you will watch a safety briefing video, after which you’ll be asked to sign some forms/disclaimers. You’ll then be escorted to an outdoor waiting area with comfy bean bags, where you can watch other skydivers while you wait your turn.

Then, it’s payment time. In all fairness to Skydive Wanaka, they don’t ask you to pay till it’s almost time for your flight, so you do have plenty of time to change your mind. As I paid the non-refundable amount of 478 ND, I remember thinking that it was an incredible amount of money to pay for doing something so incredibly foolish (not really). By the end of the dive though, I was ready to change my statement. Far from being a folly, I count this as one of my best travel experiences ever – I’ve never felt more alive.

Once you’ve paid, you’ll be escorted to the hangar and helped into a jumpsuit and harness. I had managed to stay calm so far, but as I donned my jumpsuit and saw the bright orange plane outside, I found myself having some serious second thoughts.

Just as I was contemplating making a run for it, a stranger walked up to me and introduced himself as Ingemar, my instructor and tandem diving partner. This was the guy I was going to be strapped to when I jumped. This was the guy who would open the parachute and make sure that I landed in one piece.

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The Flight and the Fall

: Boarding the plane with butterflies in my stomach

: The view of Wanaka from the plane

: Jumped and hurtling down

: Fly, fly into the sky

: Vinay dove after me

: Enjoying the views from 1000s of feet above the ground

: About to land

: Walk of victory..

The plane flight to altitude is about 15-20 minutes and is spectacular, with views of majestic mountains, glaciers, valleys and lakes. It can be hard to enjoy those views though, with the thought of the upcoming jump occupying your mind.

I remembered one of the staff mentioning that in 18 years of operation, they’ve had 4 people who decided not to jump after they got on the plane. At one point, I was sure that I was going to be the 5^th one. What did not help were the extremely loud screams of the first diver as she proceeded to the gate of the plane.

Just as the screams grew fainter, I found myself perched at the open plane door, my heart in my mouth and Ingemar asking me to tilt my head back and assume dive position. And then I found myself hurtling into space, Ingemar repeatedly asking me to smile for the camera (seriously?).

When you’re freefalling at a speed of 200kmph, 45 seconds can be a very long time. The first few seconds of freefall were terrifying, but as the thought that I was alive sunk in, I was able to smile and even talk. Then the parachute opened and I experienced the most blissful seconds of my life. Floating peacefully over Wanaka, I finally got to enjoy those unrivalled 360 degree views of the Lord of the Rings country.

By the time we landed, not only did I have a big smile on my face, I also felt like a million bucks. I might still not be willing to attempt the reverse-bungee in Clarke Quay, but I’d like to return to Wanaka and dive from 15,000 feet some day.

*(A version of this article was originally published on Urbandesis.com in 2014)

New Zealand with Kids: A Road Trip Through the Scenic South Island

July 2, 2016

Originally Published in Expat Living Singapore in March 2014, and Expat Living Hong Kong

I now consider myself to have entered the ranks of adventure travellers. Not because I went to New Zealand to bungee jump or sky dive, but because a 12-day self-drive holiday with 20-month-old twins is nothing short of an adventure. As I realised during our trip, sky-diving is probably easier than spending 5 hours in a car with two toddlers, on a drive that would have normally taken 3.

This was going to be our second vacation with the kids (the first being to Japan when they were 14-months-old, but that’s a story for another day), so we had no illusions about being able to do or see a lot. Our goal was to take in the scenery and landscape of one of the most beautiful places in the world, leaving the adventure and activities for when the kids are older.

Our Route: Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo

After spending several hours on the TripAdvisor forums, we planned our itinerary and booked the tickets for the 10 hour long flight from Singapore to Christchurch.

We decided that we would drive from Christchurch to Queenstown, stopping en-route at Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mt Cook and Wanaka. To go from Christchurch to Queenstown, you can either drive via the West Coast or via Lake Tekapo. At one point, we were ambitiously considering driving via the West Coast and returning via Lake Tekapo, but good sense prevailed and we decided to leave west coast for another time.

Christchurch

: At the Botanic Gardens (within Hagley Park)

: Container Mall in Christchurch

Friendly Kiwis and beautiful weather greeted us in Christchurch. The city is still reeling from the effects of the massive February 2011 earthquake.

The Cathedral Square, housing the iconic Christchurch Cathedral was hard hit. The 131-year-old neo-Gothic style cathedral was so badly damaged that it had to be demolished. A transitional ‘Cardboard Cathedral’ is now under construction and is expected to be completed in April 2013.

Within Christchurch, a trip to the Botanic Gardens (within Hagley Park) is a must for those with children. The twins loved running around on the open grounds, and were overjoyed to see ducks and birds everywhere.

We also took a trip to the container Mall, which marked a kick-start to the regeneration of the devastated city centre and has been built using shipping containers. Definitely worth a visit, and perhaps lunch inside one of the containers!

Canterbury

: Sea gulls at Akaroa & the Bays

: En route from Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch

While there is plenty to see in Canterbury, we based ourselves in Christchurch and took two day-trips, the first of those to Akaroa and the Bays.

Akaroa, with its French and English history, is a beautiful little town that has an enormous range of activities to offer – cruises, kayaking, sail-boating, cycle tours and walking tracks. We were hoping to spot dolphins and penguins on the Nature Cruise, but it took us forever to get organised in the morning – often the case when travelling with children. By the time we reached Akaroa, the cruises had departed.

Instead of sailing, we walked. We were disappointed at missing out on the dolphins, but for the children, the seagulls sufficed. The twins thoroughly enjoyed jumping and walking along the wharf, watching and feeding the birds. We browsed the galleries and boutique shops and then walked into town to look at the charming buildings.

The walk worked up our appetite for a snack, and Akaroa’s waterfront restaurants are perfect to enjoy a flat white while watching sailboats out in the water.

Our second day-trip, to Arthur’s Pass, was less successful since we weren’t interested in navigating the walking tracks with kids in tow. Still, the scenery on the drive back was breathtaking – completely different from what we had seen driving in the other direction. While I was taking picture after picture, the landscape got even more stunning as 2 parallel rainbows came into view – something the kids had only seen in books till then – with their ends so clearly visible, that for a moment I considered going for the pot of gold.

The TranzAlpine train runs daily from Christchurch to Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass; the ride is supposed to be one of the most scenic train trips in the world.

Lake Tekapo

: The stunning turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo

: Church of the Good Shepherd

The name Tekapo derives from Maori words Taka (sleeping mat) and Po (night). Finely ground rock in the glacial melted waters gives Lake Tekapo a unique turquoise colour.

The iconic Church of the Good Shepherd is a must see while in Tekapo. With the turquoise waters and surrounding mountains as its backdrop, it has become (arguably) the most photographed church in New Zealand.

Although, we wanted to take the Twilight Stargazing Tour (local business Earth and Sky offers a variety of stargazing and astronomy tours, http://earthandskynz.com), toddlers aren’t allowed on it so we had to give this a miss. Instead, we drove up to the Mt John Observatory the next morning. The 20 minute drive up the mountain afforded us magnificent 360 degree views of the Mackenzie Basin, highly recommended.

The glass-walled Astro Cafe atop Mt John has been reviewed by Lonely Planet as “possibly one of the planet’s best locations for a cafe”, so grab a cuppa while you’re there.

Mount Cook

: Aerial view of Mt Cook National Park

: Above the clouds and Mt Cook

: Heli snow landing

Mount Cook National Park is home to New Zealand’s longest glacier, the 27km Tasman Glacier. At 3,754 metres, the mountain is New Zealand’s highest. There are 27 other mountains in this alpine backbone which peak at over 3,050 metres, and hundreds of others, together making up the famous Southern Alps. Add to these, the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki nearby, and we decided that this was the perfect backdrop for a helicopter ride.

We were not disappointed. Flying over the clouds, literally, was one of the best experiences of my life. The 45-minute flight (extremely expensive: $415 per adult) takes you over all three glaciers (Fox, Franz Josef and Tasman) and includes a snow landing. Toddlers are allowed on; but despite the kid-sized earphones, the helicopter noise can be unsettling, so it might be wise to carry along a favourite toy (or phone). My usually fearless daughter was teary the entire ride.

Wanaka

: The world from 10,000 ft above

: Preparing to land

: Holding up the Leaning Tower of Wanaka

Another spectacular place, Wanaka was the highlight of our vacation. Our stylish two-bedroom apartment at Criffel Peak View had lovely vistas of the mountains, and our balcony was the perfect place to enjoy a glass (or three) of wine. Caroline and Suzie, excellent hosts, welcomed us with fresh home-baked cookies.

When my husband brought up the topic of skydiving, Caroline lost no time in getting on the phone. Luckily, Skydive Wanaka was able to accommodate our requirement of diving separately the next day, so that we could take turns watching the kids. You can read here about my experience Skydiving in Wanaka New Zealand.

The next morning, we woke up to a beautiful day and a quick weather check confirmed that conditions were perfect for jumping off planes. So well, that morning, I jumped off a plane (maybe I was pushed) soaring 12,000 ft off the ground. After the first few terrifying seconds of freefall, I was able to force a smile for the camera. And then the magic happened, the parachute opened and I was floating peacefully over Wanaka with incredible views of the lake and mountains. Beats flying in a helicopter any day! My husband, who dived an hour later, agrees.

Afterwards, we visited Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World, a unique attraction specialising in puzzling eccentricity. On Caroline’s recommendation, we also drove to the picturesque Rippon Vineyard, the most photographed vineyard in the world.

The next morning, we enjoyed a yummy breakfast of Caroline’s blueberry pancakes in peace, thanks to Suzie who took the twins out to play with the cat.

In winters, Wanaka offers New Zealand’s best skiing and snowboarding. It has been voted by National Geographic as one of the ‘World’s 25 Best Ski Towns’.

Queenstown

: Walter Peak High Country Farm with TSS Earnslaw

: Loving the animals at Walter Peak

: Loving the animals at Walter Peak

: View of Queenstown

‘Adventure Capital of the World’ is a title well deserved by Queenstown, home to adventure activities like Skydiving, Bungy Jumping, White Water Rafting, Jet Boating and many others.

Queenstown also has a lot to offer to those not looking for adventure. The Skyline Queenstown offers plenty of family fun, including a Gondola trip, Kiwi Haka Maori culture performances and a Luge ride. While I was perfectly happy sipping coffee and enjoying the views from the scenic restaurant (you can also enjoy their award winning cuisine), my husband decided to go for paragliding, immensely enjoyed it and commented how easy it was for someone with ‘sky-diving experience’.

For some more family fun, a ride to the Walter Peak High Country Farm, aboard the 100-year-old TSS Earnslaw (built in the same year as the titanic) is in order. Walter Peak is a working farm situated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Although, the ship is nothing spectacular, you can visit the engine room to see the giant steam engines at work. The twins enjoyed the ride, especially being out on the deck. Once we reached the farm, they were overjoyed to see all the animals (sheep, dogs, alpacas, red deer, Scottish Highland cattle and even hens and ducks) and enjoyed feeding the sheep and the deer. This was followed by a lovely morning tea and then watching ducks on the shore.

While in Central Ottago, let’s not forget the wineries. The region is famous for its Pinot Noir, which represents 70% of all plantings there. Queenstown and nearby Gibbston Valley are home to over 75 wineries, we visited 3. Gibbston Valley Winery is the only one that offers a unique wine tasting tour through New Zealand’s largest and most innovative wine cave. We also visited Chard Farm and Peregrine Wines, all located within a few minutes of each other. While I’m mostly a red wine drinker, I loved Peregrine’s Rosé and bought a bottle to enjoy later.

On the way back, we stopped at the site of the world’s first Bungy, the Kawarau Bridge. The bungy was closed for the day, so we walked to the bridge. As I looked down, I decided that sky-diving would have to suffice for this lifetime.

The wineries marked the end of our sightseeing in New Zealand but the next morning was the most relaxing of our trip. After lunch near the wharf, we enjoyed a glass each of the Rosé while watching a Kiwi teenager dance to ‘Gangnam Style’. By some miracle, the twins napped peacefully in their stroller. The weather was cool and sunny and perfect for lazing around on the lush green grass – sipping wine, watching the ships out on the lake and the para-gliders in the skies. Having lived in Singapore for 8 years, this was a fairly novel experience.

Getting there

Singapore Airlines flies daily from Singapore to Christchurch. The 10-hour flight departs at 7.45pm, perfect for a toddler to get some sleep. The return flight departs Christchurch at 11.55am. There are no direct flights from Singapore to Queenstown. SIA flies to Queenstown via Christchurch or Auckland. British Airways and Qantas fly via Sydney.

Where to stay

Criffel Peak View, Wanaka
We paid $250SG/$1535HK a night for a spacious, well-equipped apartment ($1,600SG/$9826HK per week in the winter ski season).

Garden Court Suites and Apartments, Queenstown
We paid $180SG/$1105HK a night for a quality one-bedroom apartment

Travel Tips

If you’re hiring a car, book car seats in advance. Ask if you can get car seats that recline well, so that the kids can nap comfortably during the long drives.
If you’re driving in Christchurch, get directions from the hotel before you leave. Since some of the roads are still closed, the GPS can be pretty useless.
Most places that we visited had vegetarian food options. Out of all the countries that I have travelled to (barring India), it was easiest being a vegetarian in New Zealand. Even the ships had a few choices of vegetarian sandwiches.
Almost all Motels/Apartments/B&Bs will provide cots and high chairs. Enquire and book when you book the room.

Category: Australia & NZ