Allison Wallace 9/21/22 Allison Wallace 9/21/22

Dog-friendly vineyards of Stanthorpe

In the middle of winter (or any time of year really…), does anything beat a high-altitude winery tour to warm your insides?

The Granite Belt – or Stanthorpe specifically – is one of the few wine regions in Queensland but it sure packs a punch. Even better, there are a load of vineyards that will welcome both you and your pup!

We tasted a lot of wine on our recent visit when we stayed at Merlot Mountain Retreat, but the best ones were where we could experience it together with our furry friend.

Ridgemill Estate

This was our first stop on arrival – just around the corner from our accommodation and with a wine club called Top Dogs, you just know these guys are dog-friendly!

Some more interested in wine tasting than others…

The vineyard at Ridgemill itself is amongst the highest altitude wineries in Australia at some 840 metres above sea level so we were so happy to be allowed inside to do our wine tasting with Falcor as the outside was definitely getting cold as the sun was setting.

Onto what we came here for – the wine!

Along with some old Aussie faithful varieties, we tasted a Saperavi that we just had to bring home with us – one glass was not enough.

Don’t forget to say hi to the very friendly goats that will race up to the feeding station near the cellar door!

If you want to stay longer here, you can. Ridgemill has eight onsite cabins that are dog friendly and a pet-friendly 3-bedroom house for families as well.

Book a tour here

Summit Estate

This was by far my favourite vineyard on this trip.

There’s a sign at the door at Summit Estate letting you know that they’re ‘fur baby friendly’ and to bring them in, AND a sign with dairy-free cheese tastings – perfection.

Add to this, the staff here could not be friendlier and will want photos of your dog at the vineyard – even down to the chat we had with the guy trimming the vines out the back!

There’s a $7.50 charge of wine tasting, which is waived in return for purchasing a bottle and we certainly nabbed a couple – along with some of the cashew-based cheese.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the estate stays open to let visitors enjoy the incredible sunsets over the vines. After our tasting, we sat our here and let Falcor sniff around while I warmed up with a mulled wine.

Balancing Heart Vineyard

Think wine tasting with sunset views and woodfired oven pizzas and there you have Balancing Heart Vineyard.

The cellar door is also the starting point for a stroll through the vines – dog in tow - taking in breathtaking views of the local area and, of course, the famous rock that gives the winery its name.

Dogs are welcome inside the cellar door but it was a little too busy in the small space for us so we spent the most of our time out on the verandah. There are picnic tables under the trees outside for those who want space and fresh air.

It is important to note that there are two (very) friendly German Shepherds on site so your dog needs to be ok with that. They were a bit too into playing for our fur baby at times.

There are seven wines on offer, and we tasted them all.

As the sun sets, the air cools down but these guys have you covered with outdoor heaters and blankets to borrow. The perfect end to a long day of tastings.

You will need to make sure you book to get a spot with the sunset dinners only running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

That is a just a small taste of the vineyards in the area – and there are also more dog friendly options like Hidden Creek Winery and Café, Jester Hill Wines and Symphony Hill Wines.

Something you will see and hear a lot as you visit the wineries of the region is Strangebirds. This is marketing term that was developed around ten years ago, it’s now become synonymous with the alternative varieties grown in the Granite Belt. To be called a Strangebird there must be less than 1% produced in Australia. It does mean you get to taste varietals you will never see in your average bottle shop!

If beer is more your speed, you can hang out at the Granite Belt Brewery. Dogs on a lead are allowed on the veranda of the brewery and restaurant – perfect for lunch or dinner.

Book a Stanthorpe stay of your very own here or book in for a full day private wine tour including lunch if you don’t feel like driving!

A beer tasting paddle at Granite Belt Brewery.

Allison Wallace 6/2/22 Allison Wallace 6/2/22

Wine tasting at Dingo Creek Vineyard

Wine among the vines, a grazing platter and space for my dog? Sign me up!

The cellar door at Dingo Creek Vineyard in the Noosa Hinterland offers just that – and all with a picturesque view of Mount Cooroora.

The tasting here isn’t free but for $20, you get to try six wines and take the glass home as a souvenir as well.

The vineyard stocks 14 different wines and the team there are knowledgeable and very involved in your tasting – no being left to your own devices here.

Aiden loved the Chardonnay but the star of the show for me was the Black Cockatoo Sparkling Shiraz. Some bottles of that definitely made their way into the car to be enjoyed again.

Enjoying an extra glass of the sparkling shiraz.

In addition to wine, these guys are also putting out tasty fortified drinks and we scored a bottle of their delicious port to take home.

There isn’t a full kitchen here, but we enjoyed a full glass of wine and a robust grazing platter out in the sunshine with Falcor by our side – the end of a fantastic day out and about.

The grazing platter was brimming with salami, prosciutto, ham, cheeses, vegetables, fresh bread, spreads and even chicken wings!

The location is divine, you really feel like you are away from it all and the rustic deck doesn’t intrude on the natural location at all. I can imagine it looks amazing all lit up after dark.

The open deck catches a nice breeze on a warm day.

To ensure you nab a spot (and don’t drive all the way without tasting the wine), make sure you book in advance. I know we will be when we visit again to restock the cellar…

Allison Wallace 4/28/22 Allison Wallace 4/28/22

A magical visit to the Harry Potter Studio in London

It’s officially called Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter but I just called it Harry Potter World – and it is a must for any fan who makes it to London.

Both my friend Mandy and I were low-key obsessed with the books before the films were even an idea - and the stories that captured our imaginations are no less magical as we made this visit to where much of the eight movies were filmed.

It is basically a huge ‘Harry Potter museum’, where you go on a self-guided tour of the backlot and go aboard the original Hogwarts Express, walk down Diagon Alley and see the Great Hall and Dumbledore’s office at Hogwarts.

You can see real sets from the films, costumes, props and creatures, you can take part in some interactive green screen fun - astride a broomstick of course!

Book a tour here

But what about the details?!

Well, luckily for us, we were staying with a friend in Watford on this London trip which happens to be right next to Leavesden where the studio is. Otherwise, it is about a 20min train ride direct from Euston Station and then a shuttle bus (included in your ticket) to the front door.

You need to buy your tickets online and plan in advance, you physically cannot buy tickets at the entry.

So, how much time do you need to see it all?

Well, we spent the best part of a day exploring, quite simply because there is so much to see! There is Malfoy’s Manor, Dolores Umbridge’s pink office, The Knight Bus, Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Bridge, Godric’s Hollow House, the Ford Anglia, Buckbeak, Aragog, the scaled model of Hogwarts Castle used in the films. Plus, thousands more animatronics, props and costumes!

There is even 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts itself. This is a massive construction that fills a whole room, and it is truly spectacular.

We stopped midway through our walk at the Backlot Café for a Butterbeer – a VERY sweet non-alcoholic drink but kept us going until the end of the day.

On the way out, you head through the store and buy all the Harry Potter merch you can get your hands on. Our visit was years ago, and I still have my Slytherin t-shirt in high rotation! Many wore her Gryffindor jumper that very day!

Of all the ‘worlds’ I have visited, this one was probably the most intriguing as it was the actual set for the movies and there is so much detail. Very different to seeing Jaws pop out of the water at Universal Studios in California that’s for sure.

Allison Wallace 3/15/22 Allison Wallace 3/15/22

Uncover the natural wonder of the Capricorn Caves

Nature is everywhere and it is freaking amazing. The existence of caves is particularly incredible.

Capricorn Caves is one such wonder.

Just outside of Rockhampton and within easy driving distance of Yeppoon, this above ground cave system is cut through a limestone mountain and has an extraordinary number of passages to explore.

The cave system gives us a glimpse into a prehistoric world. Fossils of marine sea life and mega fauna have been found within the limestone cave system, taking us on a journey of the past.

There are three tour options depending on your time and how deep into the caves you are prepared to go. The Cathedral Cave tour is the shortest at 45mins and shows off the biggest caves; the Capricorn Explorer lasts 90 minutes and goes more off the beaten track; and the Capricorn Adventurer tour goes for two hours and you will need to be prepared to get outside of your comfort zone on your belly as you navigate the remote parts of cave systems.

We only had the time (and inclination) to experience the Cathedral Cave tour and it was incredible. We were able to walk upright the whole way and didn’t have to wear helmets (read: no shuffling in the dirt!)

As you are guided through the chambers of the caves on the Cathedral Cave tour you’ll be asked not to touch the delicate walls as the oils in our hands and even delicate contact can cause damage to the limestone but you might wonder why no one is as bothered about the impact of hundreds of feet.

An interesting insight from our guide was that what we are walking on is no longer the delicate limestone but layer upon layer of dried and compacted bat poop (guano). In fact, at one point they decided to drill into the guano and they never reached the bottom of it. Just imagining the volume of poop required to build this firm floor through the caves blows my mind.

Despite this, we didn’t even see any bats on our visit.

As you wind your way through the caves, the obvious highlight is the Cathedral Cave. This space has probably the best acoustics of anywhere and they show it off by turning out the lights and playing an acoustic rendition of Cohen's famous song Hallelujah.

People love it here so much, they plan weddings that take place in the space!

One of the interesting aspects of this cave experience is the lack of water and moisture as they are surrounded by a dry rainforest. The caves are also mostly above ground, so no climbing down into the depths of the earth.

The cave ecosystem is fascinating and it’s always nice to be reminded how ancient our land is - definitely worth a visit.

Book a stay in Yeppoon or Rockhampton and explore them for yourself!

Learn more

Allison Wallace 1/19/22 Allison Wallace 1/19/22

8 things you must experience at Carnarvon Gorge

If you are looking for a place the literally feels out of this world, Carnarvon Gorge is it.

Carnarvon Gorge is truly a spectacular place, and you need more than a couple of days to truly take in all the beauty and appreciate the ancient landscapes.

In the gorge, the “bush” of Australia’s arid interior meets the lush jungle of the wet coastal tropics – a mind-blowing juxtaposition.

Aside from the timing exploring, it will take you some time to get there! Carnarvon National Park is about an 8-hour drive from Brisbane.

We drove up from the Sunshine Coast, taking the trip through Roma on the way there – making an essential stop for treats and coffee at Goomeri Bakery – and looped back via Rolleston to the north for a change of scenery. The journey was half the fun and we stopped for a hot lunch and a game of pool at the quirky Hotel Cracow on our way home.

Here are our 8-must-see adventures on your visit to Carnarvon National Park:

1. The Moss Garden

Most of the highlights in the gorge are side-trails that generally require some up-hill or stairs. Given we had our packs to camp at Big Bend before walking back out the next day, we left them at the turn off to save some energy and appreciate as much as we could. The main walk is just shy of 20km if you don’t do any of the side trails – which would be a mistake in our opinion!

The Moss Garden is the first side trail off to the left as you walk along the Canarvon Great Walk. You walk up a decent staircase to get there but about halfway up you can feel the temperature drop and the air becomes fresher.

When you get to the top, it is incredibly lush and green with loads of fern trees and a boardwalk right up to a small waterfall. You can see the moss on the rocks that gives this area its name.

2. The Amphitheatre

This was our second stop on day one, and it was probably my favourite. It is here, after heading through a deep gash in the gorge, that you will get the best views of the signature towering sandstone cliffs.

You will head up a steep but safe staircase but the climb is worth it, as you’ll be standing beneath 60-metre yellow sandstone walls, two million years in the making. There are some seats at the top where you can sit and really soak in the wonder.

3. The Art Gallery

A place steeped in history. There are more than 2000 engravings, ochre stencils and freehand paintings decorating the 62m-long sandstone walls of the Art Gallery. A site of deep cultural significance to Indigenous people, the local Bidjara and Karingal groups. You can learn about the meaning of the art as you walk along the boardwalk that runs along with it.

4. Camping overnight at Big Bend

Another highlight of this adventure. There are only 10 campsites at Big Bend so you will need to book in advance to make sure you get a spot. This also means there won’t be many people around when the sun sets! There were only six of the sites occupied when we stayed, and it was magical.

Big Bend is at the end of the main gorge walking track and most day-hikers turn around before they even make it there. We almost got lost after the main track ended on our way here – so you need to keep a keen eye out for the small orange markers on rocks highlighting the way to go.

There is a natural (very cold) waterhole with beautiful sandstone walls which was the perfect spot to wash off the day’s work and refresh our muscles.

There is a toilet at the campground and a picnic table which was nice as we hadn’t carried any chairs with us – the tent and water was heavy enough!

It’s actually the first camping area for those doing the 5-day Carnarvon Great Walk and we had a good chat with some through-hikers – maybe that will be another adventure!

5. Ward’s Canyon

Ward’s Canyon was our first detour on the walk out with fresh legs. A short flight of steps takes you 200m up into a little side gorge, where a small waterfall trickles down the rock wall.

Along with being one of the few places you can see the world’s largest fern, the king fern Angiopteris evecta, you’ll notice a rusty tinge in the water as you make your way into the cool gorge. This amazing hue is red algae.

6. Boolimba Bluff

This short hike is not for the faint of heart! We tackled this the day after our overnight camping trip, but the effort was worth the reward!

We had heard the best time to see the views from the top of the bluff was at sunrise so we got up at 4am, grabbed our head torches and headed back into the gorge in the dark and I am so glad we did.

The Boolimba Bluff just briefly starts on the main gorge track, but quickly detours into an extreme number of stairs which never seem to end – there is even a sign telling you there is a steep ascent ahead but don’t let that deter you. The views are amazing at 200 metres above the gorge floor, but we recommend you dress warmly as you wait for the sun to come up.

It was great to do this 7km return trip after our adventure in the gorge as it gives you an amazing perspective on where you hiked before.

7. Mickey Creek Gorge & Warrumbah Bluff

Well outside the gorge itself, there are still incredible sights to see. The day before heading on our overnight hike, we biked around and headed into Mickey Creek and Warrumbah Bluff.

It starts off as a level path leading through the bush, then it is not long before the track narrows and becomes steeper, at times climbing up the creek bank and then crossing to the other side.

There’s a well-worn path beyond it, following the creek further into the bush – we could only go so far without submerging our feet.

After heading up to Mickey Creek, do yourself a favour and take the fork in the road down the track to Warrumbah Creek Gorge.

You will find more of a scramble than a hike but walking over moss covered rocks and climbing makeshift log ladders just adds to the sense of adventure as you go deeper into a narrowing gorge. This was one of my favourite experiences of the trip.

8. A swim in the Rock Pools

There are only a couple of places you can swim in the National Park and the Rock Pools is one of them.

A short 400m walk (over rocks so wear shoes!) will take you to a deep pool that is the perfect spot to cool off in after biking and hiking.

You will need to be prepared for this water to be ICY.

Bonus tip: After hiking up Boolimba Bluff first thing in the morning, we decided to give our legs a rest but still wanted to see more. We managed to get a last-minute afternoon spot on a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight over the gorge and it was the best idea ever!

The helicopter doesn’t actually fly over Carnarvon Gorge itself (not allowed by Parks and Wildlife) but seeing the surrounding landscapes was incredible.

Our friendly pilot pointed out various rock formations including the Magnificent Three Sisters and deep narrow gorges filled with tropical plants before heading back to land in the blink of an eye.

Where to stay: We stayed at Takarakka Bush Resort (now known as BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks Carnarvon Gorge), camping in a larger tent and leaving it all set up while we walked with our light-weight hiking tent into the gorge.

The resort is about 3km from the entry to the Great Walk and has all the amenities you could want. There are also plenty of kitchen and BBQ shelters available so you don’t need to travel with all your cooking gear and it is nice to meet up with people preparing meals and sitting around a campfire.

There is also a creek that runs behind the resort. Apparently you might be able to spot a platypus here but we weren’t that lucky but we did manage to get a refreshing dip at the ‘beach’ end far from where the elusive creatures call home.

The hot showers are welcome on tired legs after days in the gorge too.

There is also a short walk from the camp grounds up to a lookout that is great for sunset. Take a drink and soak in the serenity!

On our last night, we even headed to the Bush Bar for a pre-booked communal roast dinner which capped of a great escape. Not sure if they still do this now it has converted to a BIG4.

Best time to visit: Summer would be a no-go! Aside from the heat, the Gorge itself floods during the wet season and can be closed. We went in mid-September and the daytime temperatures were in the 30s and the nights were cool.

Allison Wallace 12/6/21 Allison Wallace 12/6/21

Exploring Langford Reef by helicopter

There is nothing quite like seeing the Whitsundays from above. Even better when you get to land on a strip of sand and snorkel with some turtles.

That is exactly what you get to do on a Langford Reef Snorkelling adventure with HeliReef Whitsunday!

Given we didn’t want to spend a whole day leaving our dog behind but still wanted to see some of the Whitsunday Islands, travel by helicopter seemed like the perfect choice.

Langford Reef is a bit special being that it has its own island which no one on it. Perfect for a private escape. Even more interesting, at high tide, the land sand spit where the helicopter lands, completely disappears.

Not far from the luxurious Hayman Island, Langford is surrounded by fringing reef with good snorkelling off the beach. There are also plenty of small tropical fish and sea grass which attracts sea turtles to the area.

Our adventure started off from Coral Sea Marina as we boarded our helicopter for the short ride out to Langford Island. It was so amazing to see Airlie Beach and the neighbouring islands from above.

Even on a cloudy day, you could still see the reefs below, along with plenty of sailors making the most of the islands.

All we had with us was our towels, a camera and our GoPro! Snorkelling gear and a bottle of bubbly to share were provided by Helireef.

Flying over Langford Island, it was crazy to imagine that we were going to land on the tiny strip of sand attached but our pilot made it seem easy and we had the whole island to ourselves.

At low tide, the sand stretches for several hundred metres. From there you can just walk into a snorkeling wonderland.

Being keen water babies, we were straight into the water with our snorkelling gear and in less than a metre of water we met our first turtle!

Langford’s reef is only relatively small, but it does contain a huge number of small fish species.

The idyllic island would make a perfect spot for a picnic as well if we had longer. Unfortunately our adventure was only for two to three hours including the helicopter ride to and from Airlie Beach.

While the bubbles were supplied, Aiden and I spent all our time in the water and exploring the island so on the sage advice of our pilot, we took it back to our accommodation unopened. It will make a great memory when we enjoy it together and reminisce on our travel fun and underwater escapades.

Allison Wallace 11/9/21 Allison Wallace 11/9/21

A day trip to Great Keppel Island

I have visited a lot of Queensland islands in my travels but have focused on those further north in the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef. When it came to planning a dog-friendly holiday, it was a nice surprise to discover that Great Keppel Island welcomes pups – as does the passenger ferry to get there!

We visited on a daytrip from Yeppoon because while the island itself is dog-friendly, finding somewhere to stay there with our furry friend was a little harder.

Great Keppel is just a 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland, so we got on an early ferry to make the most of our day!

The ferry pulls up right on the beach, so sandy feet are the welcome mat. You’ll also be greeted by Fisherman’s Beach which is absolutely gorgeous.

The view looking west from the Lookout Trail.

On arrival at Fisherman’s Beach, we stored our snorkelling gear and decided to stretch our legs with a walk up the Lookout Trail. There are plenty of longer walks around the island but with only a day, we thought we would try just this one which is easily accessible from the beach.

The view looking east from the Lookout Trail.

This 2.6km trail didn’t take us more than an hour and it really isn’t that steep. We were rewarded with great views to the west of Great Keppel Island.

After working up a sweat on this walk, it was time to cool off. We asked where the best snorkelling was at the Water Activities hut and were told to head to Monkey Beach.

The walk to and from here would have taken us about 2 hours – time we didn’t have if we wanted to make the most of being in the water.

Luckily for us, the guys at the hut were super accommodating and took us – including Falcor – in the dive boat around to Monkey Point and promised to pick us up in time to get back on our 4pm ferry. What a treat for a dog that loves boat rides!

Setting up under a tree for some shade, we paddled out from the beach to the reef to admire all the fish! Falcor tried to swim and keep up with us so I headed back to the beach a bit earlier to relax and soak up some sun while Aiden snorkelled longer.

The water was crystal clear and warm so I could have spent hours exploring.

From Monkey Beach, there is a short inland track that takes you to Long Beach – voted one of the best beaches in Australia. We went and had a quick look before Aiden headed around the headland to try his luck at fishing.

There are only certain areas of the island where you can fish as the rest is protected marine park. Unfortunately for us, the tide really wasn’t right for fishing while we were there.

Given we spent the whole day on the beach at the mercy of the dive boat, we made it back to Fisherman’s and managed a beer and a snack at the Great Keppel Island Hideaway before dashing back to the ferry. We timed our return perfectly as a rain cloud opened up just before we returned.

After all that swimming and walking, we had one tired dog on the ferry home!

Great Keppel has 15 beaches to explore so we only saw a tiny bit of this island paradise. We will have to come back for a longer stay without the dog.

If you are looking for a personal adventure, Get Your Guide offers some great tours from Yeppoon.

Allison Wallace 10/17/21 Allison Wallace 10/17/21

Wallaman Falls: Australia’s tallest waterfall

When you go chasing waterfalls, finding the tallest single-drop waterfall in the country is pretty cool.

Staying in Townsville, we decided to take a day and go visit this impressive feat of nature - Wallaman Falls. It took us about 2 hours one-way, but it is an easy drive.

It was a little overcast as we headed north, but hopeful that it would clear we pushed on!

The final section of the drive is a windy, narrow road uphill and as we climbed, the cloud got thicker. We were inside it and had to take it pretty easy as it was impossible to see any oncoming traffic.

We saw a lot of signs saying to watch for Cassowaries but we weren’t lucky enough to see one.

As we reached the main carpark, there was drizzling rain but we were determined not to let that hamper our adventure. Leaving jumpers in the car so there was something dry on our return, we set off.

Measuring 268 metres from Stony Creek down into the Herbert River Valley, it would have been great to see it from the viewing platform, but it was not meant to be. You could hear the thundering falls but seeing them was impossible.

It may not sound like far, but it is about 1.6km to the bottom of the falls and remember, you have to come back up! There are signs saying it was very steep, needing a certain fitness level and notifying us that people had in fact died attempting to walk this path to the base.

The track begins as a sealed path before giving way to rocky and rooty, rainforest undergrowth. The cloud was still thick around us and our ears were heightened to the sounds of what felt like a jungle.

The further down we went, the wetter it got, with thick moss growing on rocks and tree trunks. Even without the cloud, we wouldn’t have been able to see the falls until we reached the bottom as the vegetation was thick and lush as we made our way down the path.

Eventually, nature’s majesty revealed itself to us. We were below the rain cloud and had a spectacular view of Wallaman Falls. We could feel its power and were amazed by its beauty.

Looking up, the mist from the falls creates a rainbow of colour – even on a day as grey as the one we visited on.

Apparently, you can swim in the 20m pool at the bottom of the falls. I am not sure how safe that would be given how slippery the large boulders at the base are and how powerful the falls sound. I was pretty happy to feel the spray on my face and soak it in from land.

Then it was time to head back up. I can definitively say that the incline is definitely more noticeable on the way back up, so we moved at a slower pace and worked up a sweat!

Back at the car and drying off for our trip back to Townsville, we stopped in Ingham for a late lunch. We couldn’t go past the Lees Hotel, better known as the official ‘Pub with no beer.’

The story goes that the song “A Pub With No Beer”, made famous by Slim Dusty, was first written as a poem in the original Day Dawn Hotel (now Lees Hotel) in 1943, by an Irish cane cutter Dan Sheahan, after some American soldiers drank the pub dry the previous night. Luckily for us, there was plenty of cold beer – and a giant pub meal – to revive us after our adventure to Wallaman Falls.

If you want to swap the inland tropics for the coast, Magnetic Island is not far away and makes a great escape!