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48 delicious hours in Melbourne

We’ve been on two whirlwind 24-hour trips to Melbourne in the past few months, where we sipped and supped our way through the city’s bars, restaurants and markets. Here’s our round-up of some of the foodie highlights from our trips … The first stop during our June visit to Melbourne was South Melbourne Market. The…

Cruising the Yasawa Islands

If you’re an Aussie, there’s a very good chance you know someone who’s been on a Blue Lagoon Cruise in Fiji’s Yasawa Islands and loved it. It’s been a favourite with honeymooners for more than 70 years and while The Thirsty Travellers are not the marrying kind, we’ve had our eye on the itinerary for…

Expedition cruising from Cairns to Bali

A 1200km strip of road connects Cairns and Cape York – a journey that takes around seven days in a 4WD. The trip has been described as “dry, dusty and often rough as guts”, but the jewel at the final destination is the northernmost point in Australia. It’s a bucket list spot for selfies and…

Cruising to Australia aboard Scenic Eclipse II

When our Canadian cousins announced they were planning a trip to New Zealand and Australia, we suggested the perfect way to travel between the two countries was aboard a luxury cruise ship … with us! They loved our left-field idea and within days of spotting a Scenic Eclipse II discovery cruise from Auckland via the…

Following the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

When we spotted last-minute availability on a Coral Expeditions cruise that followed the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race to Tasmania, we couldn’t resist signing up for the adventure. The cruise departed on Boxing Day and returned on January 2, dovetailing perfectly with our respective office shutdowns, so we thought “why not!” We embarked at Sydney’s…

Cruising through the Japanese subtropical islands

One of our favourite things about expedition cruising is that it provides the opportunity to explore remote locations that are off the beaten tourist track. Our latest adventure saw us cruise through the Japanese subtropical islands aboard Ponant’s Le Soleal. There were 198 passengers on board the stylish ship, which featured 11 zodiac boats that…

Our favourite moments in Maui

The Thirsty Travellers jumped at the opportunity to visit Maui recently on a bleisure trip. Hawaii was a favourite destination pre-COVID-19 and we were eager to return to some of our old haunts. Bleisure is our new favourite holiday term – it’s when you combine business trips with leisure ones. These days it’s about much…

Tasting nostalgia at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre

The Thirsty Travellers swung by The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre on Saturday for a Chinese feed with friends. Hawke’s Brewing, the beer company co-founded by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, opened the doors to the venue in 2022, inside its brewery in Sydney’s Marrickville. While we drove to the brewery for lunch, it’s…

Sunset canapes aboard a tall ship

We love any opportunity to be sailing, especially with a glass of bubbles in hand, so we were thrilled to board the Coral Trekker earlier this month for a Wine & Canapes cruise at sunset. Coral Trekker is part of the Sydney Harbour Tall Ships fleet. She’s a square-rigged, wooden tall ship with distinctive red…

Cruising New Zealand aboard Le Laperouse

Stepping aboard a Ponant small ship for the first time is an unforgettable moment. Waiters line the stylish reception area holding trays filled with glasses of champagne and the pampering continues until you disembark at the end of your adventure. We fell in love with luxury cruising during an unforgettable trip to the Kimberley in…