How to enjoy some of Melbourne's secrets on foot

Melbourne is a city with lots of hidden secrets.

Laneways with impressive graffiti, tiny speakeasys with no signage, arcades offering gourmet treats and ethnic restaurants that fly under the radar. Until they don't.

There is one company that concentrates on showing off Melbourne's lesser-known charms to visitors: the appropriately named Hidden Secrets Tours.

Focussing on laneways and back alleys, this walking tour operator conducts small group walks in the urban centre with a focus on fashion, art, food, wine and urban design.

Guides offer a little history and architecture as guests descend into basements or climb discretely marked stairwells, to find the haunts locals love. 

You can do much of this on your own, of course, but there's lot you will miss, including context. 

The focus is on Melbourne-based businesses, and local design and the good news is that you will not be fleeced in some dodgy store selling expensive tourist tat.

"We take no commissions from any places we visit and ensure an authentic discrete local experience," Hidden Secrets promises. There is even a tour for French speakers on offer.  

Sounds like fun, Another one added to my Melbourne "to do" list. 

See https://hiddensecretstours.com

Image: Winsor Dobbin   

Discover the unique rural appeal of Stella the Stargazer

Here is an innovative travel promotion.

In a move aimed at showcasing the natural beauty of Victoria, a unique off-grid accommodation experience is set to travel around the state.

Aimed at inspiring Australians to travel into regional communities during off peak periods, Stella the Stargazer is a custom-built tiny home built by Port Fairy-based design and manufacturing business Ample.

Stella the Stargazer will be located at Delatite Winery in Mansfield from May 3-August 3 so guests can enjoy the Alpine scenery.

The environmentally conscious design features a roll-out sleeping platform for stargazing, an indoor/outdoor shower, wood-fired kitchen, as well as sauna and bathing tubs built into an outdoor deck.

A bespoke artwork by Taungurung woman, Aimee McCartney – founder of Aboriginal art business, Luruk-In – will help connect visitors to the culture, seasons, mountains and waterways of Taungurung Country.

Visitors will be encouraged to taste local food and wines and check out nearby attractions such as Swiftcrest Distillery, the Great Victorian Rail Trail, and local cafes and restaurants.



In 2023, bookings for the tiny home quickly sold out for all locations including in Gippsland, the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians.

After its stay in Mansfield, Stella the Stargazer is set to travel to a second location, to be announced at a later date.

Supported by Visit Victoria, it forms part of the Every bit Different marketing campaign which promotes Victoria to local, interstate and international visitors.

“Stella the Stargazer will showcase the natural beauty of our state to new audiences and help drive national visitation to our regions," says Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements

"Just like Visit Victoria's new Every bit Different campaign, this is another way we are promoting the best of regional Victoria to national audiences in a bid to boost tourism here.”

For more travel travel see www.visitvictoria.com

Seating free for all may be coming to an end

An American airline that is notorious for it's free-for-all seating policy is considering changes.

And the reason, you've guessed it, is money.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is known for its open single-class seating policy but could be changing, Travel Mole reports.

Southwest has one economy class cabin with no pre-assigned seating and mostly open boarding. 

Passengers are allocated to one of three boarding groups and it is then first come, first seated, unless you opt to pay a fee for early boarding.

Otherwise it is a bunfight as passengers try to save premium seats for their friends and anyone late boarding on a fuller flight gets a dreaded middle seat.

"Once onboard, simply choose any available seat and stow your carryon items in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you," the airline's website says

Now Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has said the airline is looking at changes.

“We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” Jordan said this week.

Although, it touts its "simple and user-friendly" seating policy, this restricts the carrier's ability to make more money from fees.

Jordan said a review of passenger seating has resulted in "interesting" results.

“Customer preferences do change over time,” Jordan said.

While rival US airlines, including Delta and United, have introduced fee-paying choices for priority boarding, extra legroom seating, exit rows and others, Southwest has remained steadfast in its simple seating policy with no premium options.

But money talks. Stay tuned.

New wine and food experiences in the Great Southern

It's a long drive from just about anywhere to get to Ferngrove winery in the Great Southern region of West Australia.

But visitors are promised new tasting experiences in this winemaking outpost

Located in Frankland River, Ferngrove Wines has designed three new tasting experiences to be enjoyed at the cellar door, along with new culinary options, Tourism Western Australia reports.



The tasting experiences include an Experience Ferngrove Tasting, a casual introduction to six wines from $10 per person; a two-hour Museum Tasting Experience of special back vintage wines; and a Bespoke Tasting Flight of 10 wines across the portfolio.

The new culinary options, meanwhile, include pizzas, charcuterie boards and barbeque facilities, with the option to purchase meat packs from the cellar door.

 
The large seasonal charcuterie board includes four cheeses, preserves, dried fruit, nuts, olives and crackers.

 
For those who want a remote experience, the Ferngrove chalets have a fully equipped kitchens, barbecue facilities, reverse cycle air-conditioning and a TV. But be warned: there is no wifi out here.

Frankland River is an hour away from the nearest shopping centre so it is recommended you take food with you. All linen is provided and the chalets can sleep up to six people.

Rates start from $140 per night for two. See www.ferngrove.com.au

 

   

All change for Sydney fish stars as they enter the pub business

Seafood restaurateurs and butchers Josh and Julie Niland are going into the pub business.

Their all-new Saint Peter Restaurant will open in July at The Grand National Hotel, Paddington, Sydney.

 
Saint Peter's new home is just down the road from its original location and the restaurant's opening in July will be the first phase for the refurbished 14-bedroom boutique hotel, with the rooms opening later this year.

Saint Peter at The Grand National will have a menu that reflects the ongoing journey of the owners.

From opening as a small fish eatery in 2016 on Oxford St, Paddington, the Nilands’ Saint Peter restaurant has provoked conversation around whole fish cooking, butchery, storing, and processing fish.

Saint Peter's new home will more than double the size of the original restaurant.

The new Saint Peter restaurant, bar, and private dining room are all located on the ground floor of the hotel.

The main dining room is flooded with natural light from an expansive skylight that frames the open kitchen and offers booth and banquette seating, along with a custom-made chef's table for six guests with front-row seats at the kitchen pass.

In addition to the capacity for 40 guests in the dining room and 30 in the bar, Saint Peter will have a private dining room offering bespoke dining for up to 15 guests.

This room will feature a restored heritage fireplace and have its own private entrance on Elizabeth St.

The Grand National Hotel has a rich history as one of Paddington’s favourite pubs.

The bar’s location at the front of the venue has been preserved to ensure that locals still have a welcoming place to meet.

The backbone of the bar menu will be Australian Rock Oysters with a list curated by Josh and the Fish Butchery team.



Lunch will be à la carte and change day-to-day, offering in-room guests, along with the local Paddington community, the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant more frequently.

“I don't want to lose what makes Saint Peter a special place, not only to eat and enjoy as a guest but also for me and our team to work,” says Josh Niland.

“We are excited about the challenge ahead of not just moving into a beautiful home for Saint Peter but also expanding our expression of hospitality to a wonderful bar and boutique hotel."

Julie Niland says: "We are working with some incredibly talented people to develop a world-class wine and cocktail offering. The luxury accommodation has been so beautifully designed that you will think you are in Paris - until you see the quintessentially Paddington rooftops and beautiful gum trees out your window.

"At the heart of Saint Peter remains a commitment to whole fish cooking, where the entirety of the fish is celebrated with Josh’s trademark respect and technique.

"With both a charcoal grill and rotisserie, fish will continue to be viewed and cooked in the same way as meat."

The Fish Butchery at nearby Waterloo will continue to be the processing kitchen for all fish for Saint Peter, while the beverage programme will be crafted by sommelier Houston Barakat.

Reservations for Saint Peter at the Grand National Hotel are now open for August and September. Reservations for July will be released closer to opening once dates are confirmed.

Opening times: Lunch Thursday-Sunday, dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

For reservations hit https://www.saintpeter.com.au/

Images: Christopher Pearce

New rule ensures children flying must be seated next to parents

We've all heard stories about children being allocated seats apart from their parents on long haul flights.

Booking systems are not flawless and parents are not always good at booking online.

Which can create stressful situations airports and on board flights.

In India, however, issues concerning child seats should be thing of the past.

India’s air regulator this week issued a directive to airlines to ensure young children are seated beside at least one parent free of charge.

They should not be required to pay for seat selection if travelling on the same booking, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

It follows consumer complaints that families were unable to book seats together, or had to pay for the privilege.

“Airlines shall ensure that children up to 12 years are allocated seats with at least one of their parents/guardians,” a new DGCA rule said.

Exactly how this will all work remains to be seen.

Image: Hanny Hsian, Scop.io