Where the travel experts go for an exceptional mini getaway

The people whose job it is to make us feel welcome have some surprising short-break favourite destinations.

Matt Cameron-Smith, Ayers Rock Resort, Northern Territory

Where I take a short break McLaren Vale, South Australia

Tell me more I’ve just got back from a weekend there and it’s now my new favourite destination. We started with a night in Adelaide – an incredible walking city for good food and wine – and then we drove 45 minutes to the beautiful lush green rolling hills and vineyards of McLaren Vale. We stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb, Ponderosa, with stunning views over vines, and had an outstanding meal at Maxwell Wines’ The Maxwell Restaurant. McLaren Vale is very compact and easy to get around. One day, we visited the Willunga Farmers Market/ for great fresh local produce, and we hadn’t realised that the beach was so close, at Port Willunga. There are so many good restaurants – such as d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant – great cellar doors and some of the oldest grenache wines in the country. It’s all well priced, too. It was just such an easy, relaxing weekend. It’s one of the best wine regions I’ve ever been to in the world and I’ll be going back soon.

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Don’t miss The d’Arenberg Cube has an excellent top-floor tasting room with great views. As well, there is its Alternate Realities Museum and a Salvador Dali exhibition.

Matt Cameron-Smith is chief commercial officer of Journey Beyond, owner of Ayers Rock Resort.

Jekah Cantara, Pumphouse Point, Lake St Clair, Tasmania

Where I take a short break Lord Howe Island, NSW

Tell me more It is a bit of a long way to go for a short break, but Lord Howe is perfect for four days, and so worth the effort. I absolutely love it. It has a beautiful beach and, unlike Tasmania, has no snakes, and, unlike the NT, where I also once worked in Kakadu, it has no crocs or poisonous spiders. I love to stay at Capella Lodge, where I also once worked, because the views from the rooms over Mount Gower are stunning and it’s so comfortable. The island is quiet and remote. You can stay in the lodge and read books, or go for long walks or bike rides, and there are e-bikes for the hills. The restaurant at Capella cooks with fresh regional produce or you can take a barbecue pack for a lunch on the beach. There are cafes and eateries in the main village, and even a new brewery. It’s the perfect break, but I know so many people in Australia are not even aware of it.

Don’t miss A swim at Ned’s Beach. There is snorkel gear to help you see coral, with an honesty box to pay, and you’re constantly surrounded by fish. There are sometimes juvenile reef sharks, but they’re not scary.

Jekah Cantara is general manager of Pumphouse Point.

Macey Matzig, Marlborough Boutique Hotel & Vineyard, Blenheim, NZ

Where I take a short break Christchurch, New Zealand

Tell me more I love a taste of city life, but Sydney and Auckland both feel so busy and, although I’ve lived in Europe and the Middle East, Christchurch, to me, feels perfect. It’s beautiful and big enough to see lots of people but never too frenzied. Everything is reachable and its wineries have made it the sauvignon blanc capital of the world. The food is really good, too. My favourite restaurant is the Euro-Asian King of Snake, which is fabulous; for breakfast or brunch, I love Miro, which is inside a 1934 building – with a fireplace. Markets pop up on the street and live music, too. For accommodation I like the Crowne Plaza. It’s a really comfortable hotel with great views over the city, and it’s right in the centre, opposite Victoria Square, and a short walk to New Regent Street where the heritage tram travels between rows of restaurants, bars and boutiques. My family and I never miss the Margaret Mahy Family Playground, with huge slides, a flying fox, climbing webs, and a splash pad.

Don’t miss There’s snow and little blue penguins at the International Antarctic Centre, as well as an immersive guided experience that recreates what it would be like to live in the coldest, driest and windiest place on Earth.

Macey Matzig is house manager, the Marlborough Boutique Hotel & Vineyard.

Shrikant Borishaha, Ramada Resort Phillip Island, Cowes, Victoria

Where I take a short break The Yarra Valley, Victoria

Tell me more I’m from New Zealand and have managed properties in Martinborough, a town famous for its world-class pinot noir and boutique vineyards. So, I have a natural affinity with wine regions, and I do love the Yarra Valley. I visited with friends and stayed at the Yarra Valley Lodge. We had beautiful long lunches, with great wines, looking out over picturesque landscapes. It’s an area that’s absolutely blessed with good food, good wine and sunshine.

I love hearing the stories behind the food and wine from the people who are passionate about producing them. That’s what turns a good experience into a great one. The Yarra Valley produces excellent chardonnay and pinot noir at beautiful historic estates such as Yering Station – it’s definitely a place worth revisiting with its heritage cellar door and lovely restaurant overlooking the Yarra Ranges. There’s also the TarraWarra Estate. We enjoyed the Yarra Valley so much, we’re planning to return later in the year.

Don’t miss Healesville Sanctuary is the place to see kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingoes and platypus in native bushland, up close and personal. On Sundays, there’s also a Wurundjeri elder telling traditional stories.

Shrikant Borishaha is general manager of the Ramada Resort Phillip Island.

Sherinah Peck, The Tiny Mile, Mid North Coast, New South Wales

Where I take a short break Newcastle, NSW

Tell me more Newcastle has changed so much in the past few years. It offers a real city trip without having to go to a much bigger city, and there’s so much atmosphere and character. It has amazing restaurants-bars such as Ginger Meg’s and the speakeasy cocktail bar Coal & Cedar, which is hidden away – you need a secret code to enter. There are so many heritage buildings throughout the city and along the coastline. Newcastle City Hall is beautiful and the restored Shepherds Hill Cottage, now a cafe called Eddie’s. There’s also a lot to do. We went to Escape Reality, an escape room. It was great. At the same place, there was also an interactive TV-gameshow-type experience that looked like a lot of fun – and karaoke. Next time! The QT Newcastle is the place to stay. It overlooks the harbour, right on the water, and is inside another heritage building.

Don’t miss The Newcastle Art Gallery has reopened after a major renovation and expansion for its $145 million collection alongside new acquisitions of art by First Nations people.

Sherinah Peck is owner-operator of The Tiny Mile.

Hayley Scott, The Sherwood Queenstown, NZ

Where I take a short break Auckland, New Zealand

Tell me more I love living in New Zealand’s Queenstown, but it is a small town and I miss the ocean. I love going to Auckland because you can look out at the harbour and visit gorgeous city beaches plus there’s a great busy-city vibe. The area by the water is so lovely now, and the fact that you can jump on a ferry and go to Waiheke Island is fabulous. In Auckland itself, I love staying at the Hotel Britomart, which is close to the waterfront and so cool. We love eating nearby at the restaurant Mr Morris and having breakfast just across from the hotel at Amano. We often walk into the viaduct for the modern-fusion restaurant Hello Beasty, which is lots of fun and has delicious food. Depot Eatery is great, too. The All Blacks Experience and Weta Workshop are fun, as is going up the Sky Tower with its panoramic views in every direction.

Don’t miss Exploring Ponsonby and Karangahape Road (K Road) for the galleries, lovely antique shops, boutiques, cute cafes and restaurants.

Hayley Scott is general manager, The Sherwood, Queenstown.

Peter Gee, Bowhill Grange, Tasmania

Where I take a short break Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Tell me more Rottnest is a wild and rugged beauty combined with the comforts of modern living and just a half-hour ferry ride from Fremantle. It covers about 20 square kilometres with lots of white-sand beaches and turquoise water, and about 20,000 quokkas. It feels like a different world. You can walk or cycle around or get on a hop-on-hop-off bus that will take you to the other end of the island where ospreys nest and there are seals. Samphire Rottnest is a lovely place to stay, right at the water’s edge on Thomson Bay. There are lots of places to eat and drink, including the Quokka’s Arms. I first visited Rottnest in 1976. Unfortunately, on the plane to Perth, they showed the newly-released film Jaws and I totally chickened out of going into the water. I have been back and forth to the island for about 25 years now and snorkelled quite safely!

Don’t miss Eating at the Samphire Rottnest. The food is by Quim Hernandez who learnt his art at some of the best restaurants in Spain and pairs that with South-East Asian flavours. It’s absolutely delicious.

Peter Gee is co-owner of Bowhill Grange, Tasmania.

Stephen Wills, general manager, Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury, NSW

Where I take a short break Port Stephens, New South Wales

Tell me more The beaches at Port Stephens are spectacular and there are so many beautiful walks. I love taking my dogs to the dog beach – which they love, too. It’s an area without any hustle and bustle, and there are some beautiful restaurants that serve excellent food. I stay at the Anchorage Hotel & Spa, which is right on the waterfront. I also love going to Mod Thai restaurant, which has authentic, beautiful Thai food. The Shoal Bay Country Club, which started as a seaside pub, has recently been upgraded and is now a really nice place. Originally I’m from England so going to Port Stephens always makes me feel that I’m really in Australia, especially when you see dolphins playing or whales cruising past.

Don’t miss A hike along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk. It’s a magnificent coastal walk that goes up to lookout platforms, with fantastic views of the coastline and islands.

Stephen Wills is general manager, Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury.

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Sue Williams is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer, author and journalist who’s filed for newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations around the world.Connect via email.AdvertisementAdvertisement