Designer newbie on the Gold Coast is this luxury brand's debut in Australia
Plus, three other things Explore is loving this week.
Mondrian hotels are found in locales such as Cannes, Bordeaux, Ibiza, Hong Kong ... and now Queensland's Burleigh Heads, which is host to the designer chain's Australian debut. The Mondrian Gold Coast, which opened last week, rises 24 floors and has 208 rooms and suites with views of the pine tree-framed beach, or you can splash out on the Beach Houses with private plunge pools. mondrianhotels.com
Triple gong for the flying roo
Qantas has been named the world's safest airline by ranking platform 42kft.com, which called its performance "simply unmatched" and its pilots "the best trained, most disciplined, and most professional in the industry". It's also won Best Airline in Australia/Pacific at the Skytrax World Airline Awards as well as Best Cabin Crew in the region.
Mini show-stoppers in Sydney
Lego Masters favourites (and 2020 winners) Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler have spent years building a major immersive exhibition, opening at the Australian Museum in Sydney on August 16. Using thousands of Lego pieces and a strong sustainability message, the pair created detailed dioramas inside salvaged items sourced from across Australia. The exhibition, Relics: A New World Rises, features objects such as a 300-year-old grandfather clock, a VW Beetle and a piano, all turned into miniature worlds populated by more than 2000 Lego figurines. Pre-sale tickets are available now. australian.museum
The largest suite at sea
Regent Seven Seas says its new ultra-luxury Seven Seas Prestige ship will offer the largest all-inclusive cruise ship suite in history, at 817 square metres over two levels. It features a wraparound balcony, two bedrooms, formal dining area, personal gym and sauna, and private elevator, starting - wait for it - from $40,000 per night. Elsewhere on the 822-passenger ship are more affordable options - like the Deluxe Veranda Suite, which starts from $10,400 per person, with sailings ranging from 10 to 15 nights to destinations including the private island of Harvest Caye, Belize. rssc.com
My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me.
Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life.
My top travel tip is … Don’t plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what’s within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
My all-time favourite destination is ... Sri Lanka. It was two decades ago, but I still haven’t forgotten the smells, sights, sounds and tastes, plus the wonderful people, of that diverse country. Closer to home, the coastal town of Yamba never fails to please.
Next on my bucket list is …The Galapagos or Greenland - both evocative countries that will expand the mind!
My top travel tip is … Get lost! Take the unexpected path - you never know what you’ll find.
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