Quokkas & cocktails on Rottnest Island

We have been lucky enough to visit Rottnest Island twice in recent years, once on a day trip and more recently for a two-night sleepover. Our advice: treat yourself to a sleepover. Rottnest Island is located 30 minutes off the coast of Perth and famous for being home to the world’s largest quokka population. Quokkas are cute…

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Our Magnetic Island mini-break

Just off the coast of Townsville lies a low-key slice of paradise called Magnetic Island and it’s the perfect destination if you’re seeking a laidback mini-break. We chose the destination because we were seeking a budget-friendly Queensland island to escape the winter chill. We landed in sunny Townsville in the late afternoon, checked our bags…

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Entranced by glorious Narooma

After spending most of our lives driving north on NSW getaways, The Thirsty Travellers took a detour south over Easter to beautiful Narooma. The pictureseque town in the Eurobodalla region is around five hours south of Sydney, although you might have to factor in a little longer if you’re battling holiday traffic. However, it’s worth the…

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Cheers to the 100th birthday of the Southern Swan

Sydney delivered a stunning summer evening for the Southern Swan to celebrate its 100th birthday this week. Ships rarely survive 100 years and even fewer mark the milestone in active service, so it was a moving moment when the Sydney Harbour Tall Ship set sail from Campbell Cove on January 10. And The Thirsty Travellers…

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Sipping cocktails on Cloud 9

If you’re planning a trip to Fiji, there’s an experience you should add to your bucket list: an afternoon sipping cocktails on Cloud 9. Cloud 9 is a fabulous bar and pizzeria that floats off the coast of Malolo Island – on a crystal-clear lagoon that looks out at Fiji’s famous Cloudbreak swell in the…

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Mixing NOLA’s new house-blend whiskey

The Thirsty Travellers were given a unique opportunity earlier this month: helping to create NOLA Smokehouse and Bar’s new house-blend whiskey. In an Australian first, NOLA teamed up with US-based Reservoir Distillery and Sydney whiskey fans to add a new spirit to the mix. And The Thirsty Travellers – wearing our Drinks Digest hats for…

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Bucket list bar: Charlie Parker’s

The Thirsty Travellers have been eager to visit basement bar Charlie Parker’s since it opened in 2016 … five years later we finally wandered down the stairs to the intimate venue, located below Fred’s restaurant in Paddington. Charlie Parker’s is part of the Merivale group and it’s a gorgeous space that feels like a secret,…

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Is this Sydney’s best Mexican food?

The Thirsty Travellers are calling it: Esteban serves some of the most delicious Mexican food we’ve tasted in Sydney. After trying Esteban’s sister restaurant – Tequila Mockingbird, in Paddington – a few years ago, we finally got the chance to take a seat at the bar of the team’s new venue after being thwarted by…

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Stirring creativity at The Other Art Fair

If you like mixing your art with your cocktails then you’ll love The Other Art Fair Sydney. The Thirsty Travellers dropped down to The Cutaway at Barangaroo for opening night of the fair, which provides visitors the opportunity to discover and buy contemporary art direct from emerging artists, with 109 artists selected to exhibit across…

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Celebrating the Southern Swan’s 100th birthday

Maritime treasure the Southern Swan is celebrating her 100th anniversary in January 2022. Part of the Sydney Tall Ships fleet, the historic vessel will spend her birthday month hosting a series of events and cruises on Sydney Harbour. Ships rarely survive 100 years and even fewer mark the milestone in active service, but the Southern…

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