Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and theancient Daintree rainforest, and this episode has everything you need to plan your trip. We had five wonderful days in Cairns and in this episode we share where to stay right on the marina, the best restaurants in the Pier and Marina precincts and why the Esplanade Lagoon is worth a visit even if you're not a local. We also break down how to actually get to Cairns, the islands you can reach by ferry, and our reef day with Reef Magic, which was honestly one of the best organised reef trips we've done. Find photos, maps and all our recommendations at www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/148/cairns

Australia’s oldest wine region is only a couple of hours from Sydney, but the Hunter Valley still feels like one of Australia’s best weekend escapes. In this episode, we head to the Hunter Valley in New South Wales for a private wine tour with our own sommelier, Matt from Sydney Privé, visiting some of the region’s most iconic wineries along the way. We stop at Tyrrell’s, one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries and home to the famous VAT 1 Semillon, before heading to Hungerford Hill for an incredible food and wine pairing featuring dishes like ocean trout roulade and venison sliders. Lunch is at Bistro Molines, perched above the vineyards with sweeping views and beautiful French-inspired food that completely lived up to the hype. Along the way, we also share where to stay, the best way to visit the wineries if you’re planning a Hunter Valley weekend, and a few things that might surprise you about the region. Keep listening to hear about hot air ballooning over the vines, why Hunter Valley Semillon is called Australia’s gift to the wine world, and the outdoor concert scene that has attracted some huge international artists over the years. If you would like to see all the pictures, the tour and an interactive map with all the places we mention and recommend then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/147/huntervalley

Underrated wine region, incredible scenery… and yes, Australia’s first nudist beach all in one day. In this episode, we are taking you to McLaren Vale on a relaxed day trip from Adelaide. We visit cellar doors in old stone churches, 5 story Rubik's cubes, country barns, spectacular gardens, and sweeping vineyard views surrounded by the Mount Lofty ranges. We take you to 5 different wineries, each unique in their own way. Our day even included an multi award winning gin tasting – have you ever tried oyster shell gin? Or what about a wine made from virus affected vines? Both delicious. If you want to plan your own day trip or, stay a few days then this episode has everything you need, but make sure to keep listening to the end to find out where that nudist beach is. If you would like to see all the pictures of the wineries we visited and a google map with all locations included then click www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/146/mclarenvale