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Nusa Penida’s Remarkable Clifftop Escape
After a private car up a goat track of a road through rubbish-strewn scrub on Nusa Penida, you arrive somewhere that has no right to exist…
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Recipes
Cook Islands Ika Mata with taro chips
Rarotongan (Cook Islands) Ika Mata is an effortless dish but is a great refreshing snack or side. While ultra simple in ingredients and direction, it is a true reflection of using natural foods in abundance within the Rarotongan lagoon environments.
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Travel
Two Roads to Eildon: One of Victoria’s Great Day Trips
Two routes in. An ancient forest. One enormous dam wall, a waterfall and lunch at Pixies. Eildon makes a remarkably good road trip from Melbourne —…
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Food
3 of the Best: Anchovies
These three brands of delicious fishes are a world away from the sharp little hairy strips found on top of suburban pizzas. These are packaged umami,…
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Inflight Airline News
Virgin Australia Named Australia’s Most Trusted Travel Brand for Fourth Year
Essentials remembers the wonderfully irreverent airline of the mid-2000s particularly well. At the Virgin Blue Hangar Ball in 2005, we rubbed shoulders with then CEO Brett…
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Inflight Airline News
QantasLink E190 Regional Expansion
Australia’s regional aviation landscape has changed considerably over the past two decades. We still fondly remember the smaller names that once stitched regional cities together —…
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Inflight Airline News
Qantas Extends Brisbane–Palau Flights to 2027
If Palau isn't yet on your holiday radar, it probably should be. Scattered across the western Pacific, east of the Philippines and north of Papua New…
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Places
The Whitsundays: Ocean Rafting, Hill Inlet & Whitehaven Beach
One of the Whitsundays’ most celebrated and long-established businesses is Ocean Rafting. It was the first to operate return day trips cruising the north side of…
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Luxe Lifestyle
Why Gold Coast’s Sanctuary Cove Marina is Home of the Superyachts
Gold Coast destination Sanctuary Cove Marina recently launched its superyacht ready, $3.5M Pier C development.
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Art
Australian Story: Eugene Von Guérard’s Kosciusko
The sky had a ‘threatening look’ about it when Georg von Neumayer and his party reached the summit of Mount Kosciuszko on the morning of 19…
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Art
Australian Art: Asher Bilu, Revisiting Cosmotives
Asher Bilu's Cosmotifs exhibition (2013), in many ways, created a journey into the unknown and a journey that took us through a warm, comforting world.
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Dessert Recipes
Haupia – Hawaiian Coconut Pudding
Suppose you're perhaps going a little troppo with all the Australian state lockdowns but would prefer a tropical holiday instead. In that case, we're here to provide the next best thing - a series of tropical desserts and lighter dishes to lift your mood, starting with this easy to make, flavoursome Haupia (Hawaiian Coconut Pudding).
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Breakfast Recipes
French Toast (Sourdough) with bush honey, lemon ricotta, spice-poached blackberries and pawpaw ribbons
Going troppo with all the Australian coronavirus lockdowns? So are we! On that note, to lift spirits, here’s a tropical breakfast idea to help lighten your mood.
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Artisan
Forget the Old Rules: How 23rd Street Made One of the World’s Best Whiskies
23rd Street Distillery’s Australian Single Malt has just scored 96 points and Double Gold in New York. But perhaps the more interesting story is how a…
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Artisan
Jamaica’s oldest rum Appleton Estate & female Master Distiller, Joy Spence
Jamaica’s history is both colourful and dark. Voodoo witches, pirates, slave traders, Spanish conquistadors and English invaders are all woven into the fabric of this tiny…
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Artisan
Decoding the Craftsmanship of Lyre’s White Cane Spirit: A Deep Dive
In the realm of non-alcoholic spirits, Lyre's White Cane Spirit is a unique creation born from the discerning choices made by David Murphy, the Flavour Architect…
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Food
Three of the Best: King Island Dairy Cheese
Choosing three of the best King Island Dary cheese was never going to be a simple task, however, we've decided upon three consistent award-winners of exception quality within their class.
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Food
The Ultimate in Antioxidants: Queen Garnet Plums
If you're a lover of plump, ripe and juicy Australian Queen Garnet plums, then now's the right time to indulge in this high-in-antioxidants, versatile fruit. Perfect…
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Artisan
The Artisan Roaster
With more than two decades of experience in the coffee industry, Sydney based coffee aficionado and book author David Rosa has crafted what can only be…
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BBQ Recipes
BBQ Corn with Coriander and Lime Mayonnaise
It's one of the best best BBQ recipes we know and is incredibly simple to put together. Its winning secret ingredient: the added premium smoked paprika.…
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BBQ Recipes
Crayfish Tail Brioche Slider Recipe
It's the perfect luxe Aussie BBQ recipe - perfectly designed for spring and summer season celebrations: Crayfish Tail Brioche Sliders. Simply grab some crayfish tails from…
Read moreMeet our writers
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Jamie Durrant
EDITOR/PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographer, publisher and long-time travel storyteller, capturing Australia and the world through a distinctively local lens.
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Megan Chalmers
CHEF CONTRIBUTOR
The artist behind Essentials' gourmet recipes. Megan styles her plates with finesse to match the perfected flavours.
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Belinda Jackson
INFLIGHT & TRAVEL
An award-winning travel writer exploring the world’s most inspiring destinations, from boutique stays to global airlines.
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Richard Cornish
FOOD EDITOR
One of Australia’s most respected food writers, bringing insight, curiosity and a passion for the people behind it.
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Ivan Durrant
CONTRIBUTOR
Painter and contributor. ‘Art is about being human. We can survive without it but we need it to live.’
Breakfast Recipes
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Breakfast Recipes
Millet Porridge, Cardamom, Cacao & Coconut
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Breakfast Recipes
Melon Caprese with green tomato, baby bocconcini, basil and mint
Travel isn't always about where you go, but how it makes you feel.