LyLo in Auckland is a new kind of stay that straddles the line between cost and radness.
At LyLo you’ll be sleeping in futuristic, private pods that are surprisingly spacious and offer a surprising amount of storage, plus everything you need to recharge—both physically and electronically.
There’s a bar on site so you can hang out with other travellers, plus work and chill areas as you need. It’s the perfect scene for those looking for a social travel experience, but are wanting something a little more upmarket than a hostel filled with teenagers on their first trip away.
It doesn’t compromise on position either; located right at the heart of Auckland, you’re near the city’s underrated nightlife and in a great place to begin your North Island road trip.
Beers in the west have sure come a long way from the humble bush chook.
Busselton’s locally owned Shelter Brewing Co is a recent addition to the thriving West Australian beer scene, joining stalwarts like Little Creatures, Colonial and Bootleg from that part of the world.
As well as producing an array of epic froffies, Shelter run an insightful brewery tour that also happens to be pretty laidback – like everything else here.
Seagulls, the smell of salt and probably a fair amount of sun are likely to be what greets you at Shelter, and it’s difficult to escape the feeling of that you’re in a Tim Winton novel. The brewery itself is humungous, with an arched roof that is typical of the architecture in this part of the world. Out the front is green lawn that leads up to the beach, and the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere.
Inside, the brewery has a capacity of about 800, and has bands playing occasionally. Tom from Shelter takes us around and tells us that 80% of the building’s power comes from the sun, the same ample sun that shines in through the gigantic wall to floor windows in the north-facing building, creating the pleasant aesthetic of drinking a beer in the sun whether you’re sitting inside or outside. He explains Shelter’s philosophy when it comes to brewing beer, which is typically laidback; “we brew beers that we want to drink”.
We walk along a platform, past a row of truly enormous vats while Tom explains the brewing process, made easier to understand with brewers brewing away right in front of us. Magic right there in front of our eyes.
There’s seven beers on tap – ignore any misgivings you might have when you hear the name of the brand-new and limited edition Beetroot Stout. It’s a smoky type of operation that is (thankfully) more stout than beetroot, and it’s delicious. The Indian Pale Ale is great too.
Shelter generally brews seven core beers, and you can get them from from bars and bottle shops around Western Australia, and available to order online for the rest of Australia.
The Metung Hot Springs is a $12 million complex open now in Victoria’s far-east, comprising of natural thermal springs and luxurious safari-style glamping tents.
There are ten opulent lagoon-side tents, each with a king-size bed and private ensuite. These tents also contain private bathing barrels, meaning you’ll be able to soak in solitude around the clock.
Several of the tents back onto a lagoon, and will provide a view of the terraced amphitheatre that is set to sit near the front of the site and is slated to host live music, movies and other entertainment.
During the day, treat yourself at the geothermal pools (of varied depths) or bathing barrels, elevated massage tents, and for the brave, fire and ice therapy: an icy cold-plunge tub located right next to a steaming hot Scandinavian sauna.
There are also plans for a floating sauna on the lagoon, and while the complex is open, some of the build is yet to be completed.
Just when you think they couldn’t do anything cooler up at Uluru, they go and drop this on us.
Wintjiri Wiru is the name of the extraordinary, brand-new light and drone show above Uluru, coming next week.
It brings to life the ancient dreamtime story of Mala via 1,000 luminous drones taking flight each night to lift the ancient images above Uluru and into the sky. Exquisite choreography and visual artistry is accompanied by a narration in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara languages, and a soundtrack with traditional inma recorded with members of the local Anangu community.
The number (1,000) of drones involved makes it the largest drone show of it’s kind on earth.
The result is a pretty cool marriage of technology and the world’s oldest continuous culture.
Two Wintjiri Wiru sound and light shows will run every night, until December, beginning next Thursday, 11 May in 2023. One show a night will take place in the months of January and February.
A three-hour sunset dinner precedes the experience, which includes welcome cocktails and canapes while the sun sets over the bloody serene setting of Kata Tjuta and Uluru. Once darkness has settled the dramatic sound and light show will begin.
Ever feel like you’re just floating along in life? Metaphorically drifting aimlessly, without direction while getting inebriated every weekend with your mates who are doing the same thing?
Well, now you can do that for real, and your mates can come too! Bóia is the Perth-based brand selling water-based products like the Harbour: a horseshoe-shaped floating chill area that is absolutely made for summer.
Imagine jumping on a Bóia with a few friends, and having either your own private island party or the ultimate place to relax, out on a lake or an ocean. Not bad.
Don’t have any friends? Say no more fam, just set your Bóia up at Cottesloe Beach or similar, and let the friends come to you (see below).
They’re perfect for bad bóis, good bóis and sk8r bóis alike.
There are a variety of different products available from $1,075 – get one here.
Into the Wild Escapes are a set of tiny homes that seem to be multiplying faster than Catholic rabbits, with 45 now dotted around Australia.
Their concept is fairly simple: make a bespoke, very small home, and plonk it somewhere beautiful with a guarantee you will not come into contact with another human being or building.
The co-founder of the Into the Wild movement says they plan to open more than 500 around the country at some stage, which sounds like a lot.
Some have outdoor bathtubs and fireplaces, all have an economy of space on the inside which you probably wouldn’t want for more than a week, but feels novel and cosy – especially when you’re sipping a coffee and gazing pensively out the window, a requirement of the stay.
They are not to be confused with the movie Into the Wild, where the main protagonist never makes it out after disappearing into the bush to live in a bus, which is kind of like a tiny home, when you think about it. This is unlikely to happen however, it’s not a guarantee we’re willing to make.
Tiny Homes have been around a while now – long enough to be experiencing a renaissance.
The Into the Wild concept is a smart one: the majority of these homes are within two hours of capital cities around the country, so they’re an easy get-to.
The idea that you can guarantee not seeing anyone, and having only the company of your partner and/or kids is either paradise or horrific, depending on where you stand. But trading your iPhone and traffic for fresh air and some of the brightest stars in the world is attractive to all.
Typing Yasawa into a search engine is enough to work out that this remote archipelago in the west of Fiji is an absolutely stunning patchwork of beaches, coral and dormant volcanos.
What a Google search won’t do is satisfy your quench for the ultimate beach holiday. For that you’ll need to head to Oarsman’s Bay Lodge on the northern tip of the islands, an impossibly attractive resort with recently renovated, simplistic ‘Bures’ and the happiest of Fijian smiles.
Turquoise waters and white sand beaches back up against volcanic peaks, with the tough decision of swimming, snorkelling, diving or laying in a hammock with a book. For about AU$160 you can even rent out your own island for the day – ideal for honeymooners and lovebirds, or extreme introverts.
Dad’s shed, but get rid of the tools and put in a bed. And make that bed slide out, so you can lie outside beneath the stars at night.
That’s Stella the Stargazer in a nutshell, A brand new, epic off-grid stay that is being shifted around the Victorian countryside this summer.
The idea that spawned Stella came from the designer’s childhood, in which his family would move a double bed into the middle of a paddock so that they could stare up at the stunning night skies southern Australia is blessed with.
The home is made out of corrugated iron salvaged from central Victoria, that is “at least” 60 years old, according to the makers. The kitchen is centred around a woodfire oven that also functions as a hotplate, with glass sliding doors that open out onto a modular deck. There’s also a bush TV (firepit) for you to talk shit around.
The house has been touted as a tiny home but we think this doesn’t quite encapsulate it. There almost needs to be a more niche category: outback-corrugated-iron-astro-stay is probably more it’s vibe.
The first activation will take place at Blue Gables vineyard in Maffra, with two more locations to follow which get lost aren’t allowed to tell you yet. But we can tell you, they’re really bloody beautiful and full of that fresh country air.
We’ve all had a cabin dream at some point, and we’ve found one in the southern reaches of Australia that wouldn’t look out of place in those dreams.
On the edge of a picturesque gully overlooking the coastal cliffs of the south coast of the Eyre Peninsula in southern Australia, is Maldhi, a brand-new, off-grid cabin of exquisite simplicity. Sun, which there’s plenty of in these parts, powers the place completely.
The cabin makes the most of this desolate, barren, beautiful part of the world by taking up minimal space, letting the location do the work.
There’s surf down below and there’s trails to explore, but when it comes to cabin life, it’s all about getting away and taking it slowly with the special people in your life.
Ever wanted to be James Bond for a day? In the Northern Territory, you can.
00Seven are a Darwin company offering epic Bond-themed adventures, on both water and land.
get lost took on the Casino Royale tour – a jet-ski adventure at full throttle along Darwin’s waterfront.
Fly along at long sun drenched, unspoilt coastlines while spotting marine life, feeding fish and enjoying the thrill of the pristine, open water. The tour goes over World War Two shipwrecks, and past Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach Casino, making it feel as if you’re in hot pursuit of Le Chiffre following a high-stakes poker game.
All of the jet skis are named after Bond girls (get lost found itself on Pussy Galore) with the best tours running at sunrise and sunset, with the stunning ambience of Darwin’s famed red skyline providing the perfect backdrop.
As well as Casino Royale, other excellent picks are Golden Eye (an amateur photography class, by jet-ski) and Espresso Martini tour (an express session, with a ‘secret’ mission).
Back on land, the Moonraker, Licence to Thrill and Skyfall four-wheeler tours through Charles Darwin National Park are epic adventures in their own right, taking in wild trails, World War Two ammunition storage spots, bunkers and more.
The company is a well-oiled machine, with free photography and videos a part of the tour at the end of the day, and knowledgeable guides providing information along the way.
All skills and experience levels are welcome – you don’t have to be a Bond-level marksman, and doing a flip on a jet-ski that’s on fire as you chase a bad guy is not expected.
Darwin
Darwin can be visited at anytime, but is definitely best during the dry season, from May to October each year.
Temperatures are generally in the late 20s and the Top End’s famed humidity is more than manageable during this time.
(
