New South Wales
Take a dip in Sydney’s ocean pools
It’s a truth that’s universally underappreciated: in winter, the temperature of the ocean in Sydney is often warmer than the air (and certainly warmer than the inside of our poorly insulated houses). So when the days get chilly and the tourists disappear, I like to slip into my swimsuit and neoprene cap, pop in my earplugs (to prevent surfer’s ear), and slip into one of the city’s 30 or so ocean pools, which stretch from Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south.
There is an initial sense of numbness as you break the glass surface, then an inner warmth envelops you as you stretch out into the water, nothing but sea grass or sand or a straight black line beneath you. Then you feel cleansed, reset, superhuman.
Janine Israel
Breweries and thermal baths near Tumut
The Riverina region of New South Wales offers a cosy atmosphere during the colder months.
In winter, wrap up warm and take a brisk morning walk along the river with the ducks, grab a ginger beer at Tumut River Brewing Co or drive to the nearby mountain town of Batlow for a glimpse of the snow. Just over an hour away are the Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park, where you can swim in the 27C spring-fed thermal pool or walk along the meandering river all year round.
Emily Wind
Cold walks and hot baths in the Blue Mountains
You can’t go past the Blue Mountains for a winter weekend getaway. Every other hotel or restaurant has a special Christmas in July offer that runs well into August, but if you want to get away from the crowds, head to Mount Victoria. Hotel Etico is a delightful social enterprise set in an old Fairfax mansion, with a restaurant and bar that hosts live music on Fridays.
The Victoria & Albert Guest House and Cedar Lodge Cabins are also within walking distance of the train station and village centre. There are numerous walking trails or – in case of rain – Mount Vic Flicks should do the trick. It is only a 20-minute drive to the spectacular Japanese Bath House overlooking Lake Lyell – a perfect recovery from the thigh-breaking trek to Victoria Falls.
Gabrielle Jackson
Victoria
Three Dog Nights at Dinner Plain
As a non-skier, I have two requirements for my snow holiday: dog-friendly, with cosy places to sip mulled wine. Dinner Plain ticks both boxes perfectly. About 13km from Mount Hotham and 375km from Melbourne, the Victorian town offers plenty of opportunities for skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding. But it’s also extremely dog-friendly, with no permits required to bring your furry friends. It’s in the town’s DNA – the sled dog races, held over two days in August, have been an annual event for over 25 years, while the more ambitious can book their own husky sled dog tour.
Despite its small size, Dinner Plain is packed with restaurants, cafes and pubs, many of which have lovely open fires both inside and out in the cooler months. There’s nothing quite like a glass of red wine in a cosy chalet while watching your dog play in the snow.
Caitlin Cassidy
Related: A Rugged Guide: How to Travel Australia with Your Dog
It’s quiet on the Great Ocean Road
A man sits on a bench by the Lorne swing bridge as his lanky poodle gallops into the water where the River Erskine meets the sea. “Isn’t this just a Awesome “Where?” he says, waving a wrinkled hand through the cold air. The shoreline is empty, except for a few other dog walkers. “Yeah,” I answer.
It’s a stark contrast to Lorne in summer, when the surf town is packed with visitors jostling for space on the sand, in the waves and in the cafes. Winter reveals a calmer side. The ocean may be too cold for swimming (unless you’re looking for the benefits of an ice bath), but you don’t need beach weather to enjoy this stretch of the Great Ocean Road.
For me, the magic of Lorne lies in the surrounding Great Otway National Park with its giant eucalyptus trees, ferns, caves and waterfalls.
Bird lovers should keep their eyes peeled as they explore the many walking trails: the forest is teeming with robins, wrens, finches, parrots and kookaburras. Rick Goedman
Queensland
Underrated Food in the Sunshine State’s Cold Zone
Stanthorpe makes headlines most winters for its icy mornings and rarely-realized snow forecasts. But what this small Queensland town lacks in ski slopes, it makes up for in food. On the edge of town, in a renovated worker’s cottage, is Essen, one of the most impressive, delicious, and unknown restaurants in the Southern Hemisphere.
They change their set menu every week, serve seasonal, local produce and only serve 30 people at a time. Their current menu includes fried Port Lincoln sardines with khmeli suneli and nigella lavosh and a chocolate dessert that makes you wonder what South East Queensland has done to deserve this establishment.
While that’s taken care of for dinner, I’d suggest heading to the Granite Belt farmers markets for breakfast the next day. There are a number of small producers there, including Cam’s Bread, which serves bottomless filter coffee and the most incredible sourdough chocolate chip cookies. You can easily spend the rest of the day exploring Girraween National Park and then defrosting at one of the nearby wineries.
Molly Glasey
Waterfall Swimming in the Atherton Tablelands
While international visitors flock to the reef, less than an hour’s drive southwest of Cairns reveals a very different and no less wondrous side of Far North Queensland.
Although the daily high temperatures in the Atherton Tablelands often reach the high 20s in winter, the altitude is too high for saltwater crocodiles. This means that swimming in the region’s lakes and waterfalls can be invigorating, but it’s an experience that usually doesn’t instill fear.
For a day trip with multiple swims, take the Waterfall Circuit. This circuit takes you past three waterfalls where you can swim and through the clear waters of Lake Barine (there is a freshwater fish in the lake, but if you leave it alone, that’s fine too).
In the evenings and early mornings, temperatures drop and great wisps of mist rise from the steep green hills. Yungaburra has some of the best dining in the area, but on cold nights Queensland’s highest pub, The Ravenshoe Hotel, is worth a visit.
Atherton’s rainforests are home to elusive tree kangaroos and plants that have survived for centuries. I caught a glimpse of the former during my visit and got a good look at the latter during a visit to the astonishing Cathedral Fig Tree – which, at 500 years old and 50 metres tall, is as breathtaking as any church it’s named after.
For a dramatic change of scenery and much bigger kangaroos, head into the desert a little further west for a rustic spa day at Innot Hot Springs. If you’re willing to brave a muddy creek, you can soak for free, but the caravan park has six thermal pools that charge $10 for drop-in visitors.
During my visit I stayed at Usnea, an arty modern cottage in a private nature reserve bordering Herberton Range National Park. It is run by a couple of passionate environmentalists and is one of the most beautiful places I have stayed in Australia. Just be sure to check yourself for ticks if you happen to lie down in a clearing under the stars.
Alyx Gorman
Tasmania
Pull out for southern exposures
On the eve of winter, I shivered twenty laps in Launceston’s 50-metre outdoor pool. Set in the heart of Cataract Gorge and surrounded by dense forest, it’s so breathtaking you can’t stay in it. After your laps, head into town, just a 15-minute walk away. Grab a bottle of plonk at The Pinot Shop or stop for coffee at Stillwater. Eat kimchi pancakes at Harvest Market or warm up by the fire at Royal Oak, which now hosts regular queer nights.
Go wild in the nearby natural beauty – Cradle Mountain, Mole Creek or Liffey Falls. For those who like a sauna, there’s one floating on the lake at Derby that you’ll never forget. Skip Hobart, they only have a gallery – head north instead.
Cait Kelly