Travel

Is the Yarra Valley overrated compared to the Mornington Peninsula? That question always comes up in the first five minutes of just about every planning chat I have with travellers, and the honest answer is this: sometimes, depending on how you go about it and what you’re expecting. I’m Paul, and after years ferrying people […]

Is winter in the Yarra Valley right? – A question I get asked every June When the frost sets in on the vines, and it’s time to weigh up wine flights against warm socks, and I get asked that question by here, not before June, that’s for sure. And fair enough – winter does make

What first-timers get wrong about Yarra Valley wine trips usually boils down to treating the area as a last-minute spin from Melbourne, rather than the full-on day it deserves. I’m Paul, and after years of guiding people around Victoria‘s wine-producing regions, I can vouch that the Yarra Valley really does repay those who take their

G’day — I’m Paul Beames, and I’ve spent a few summers cruising the iconic coastal drive. If you’re thinking of taking the Great Ocean Road over New Year’s, you’re in for something very different to a mid-week visit in May. The pace, the crowds, the heat, the camping — everything shifts. Let’s get into the

Diving into the scented pathways of What Is The Best Time To Visit The Warratina Lavender Farm?, I can tell you that getting the timing right when you visit this gorgeous boutique lavender farm in Wandin North is what makes all the difference. I’m Paul Beames. Over the years, while running around the Yarra Valley

Letting the Coral Sea sunrise nudge us towards How is the Great Barrier Reef Best Accessed Internationally?, I can tell you – getting to the reef from overseas is a heck of a lot easier than most people think. You don’t need to navigate through all sorts of confusing airport transfer mazes or trek halfway

That’s the question most people don’t ask until they’ve already driven up from Perth and realised the Pinnacles Desert is just as alive at night as it is in the harsh WA sun. I’m Paul Beames, and I’ve been guiding people through Australia’s backroads for years, including this lunar landscape in Nambung National Park, Western

“Are the Pinnacles a Wonder of the World?” I’ve been asked this more times than I can count while leading groups through Nambung National Park in Western Australia. Standing among the limestone formations, with the Indian Ocean breeze blowing sand across the Pinnacles Desert, it’s easy to see why people think they should be in