Dream Downtown Hotel - photo by Rob McFarland
The Sun-Herald, Australia – Dec 12, 2011
As I’m checking into Dream Downtown, a dozen beautiful, gazelle-like models sit clustered in the lobby, idly flicking through their portfolios. Sadly, despite sprinting to and from my room, I never see them again but it sets the tone for the sort of fashionable crowd you can expect to encounter in this stylish new hotel.
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Casa Marin vineyard near Santiago - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – Sep 11, 2011
Everyone told Maria Luz she was mad to try growing grapes in Chile’s San Antonio Valley.
The valley is just 4km from the coast and every morning gets smothered in a cold sea fog. They said the grapes would never ripen. Or they’d be killed off by the frosts. And what about the humidity?
She ignored all the advice and planted her first grapes in 2000. They did ripen, eventually, taking two months longer than everywhere else, and they had to use heaters and fans to combat the frost and humidity.
But in 2003, Casa Marin winery had its first vintage and Luz became Chile’s first female vineyard owner and winemaker.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Hiking in the Canadian Rockies - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – Aug 21, 2011
I’m huddled with a dozen others on an outcrop at 2500m in the Canadian mountains.
After a glorious morning of hiking along high ridges, meandering through an eerie burnt-out forest and zig-zagging down steep snow-covered slopes, the weather has turned.
The wind picks up, the temperature falls and fat raindrops are splashing insistently against our faces.
It’s not the ideal situation to be in when you’re a four-hour walk from your accommodation. But Dave, our guide, is unperturbed. A quick call on the radio and five minutes later we hear the welcome sound of our ride home. Chad deftly lands his Bell 212 helicopter 3m from where we crouch.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Bull riding at Calgary Stampede - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – Aug 21, 2011
I’m 2m away from a man with one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. A day in the office for 24-year-old J.B. Mauney involves hopping on the back of one tonne of muscle, hoofs and horns and trying his hardest to stay there for eight seconds.
After which he has to get off without being trampled or gored to death.
To psyche himself up, he’s hitting himself, hard and repeatedly, in the arms, legs and head. It’s an unusual but effective technique. He’s won the event for the past two days running.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Top of Toco Volcano in Atacama desert - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – July 31, 2011
“Go up like an old man, come down like a teenager,” advises Pablo. I’ll second that. I’m 200 metres from the summit of 5600-metre-high Toco Volcano in the Chilean Andes and I feel 108.
At this altitude, every step is a breath-sapping test of physical and mental endurance. I’d never understood why climbers sometimes turn back within a few hundred metres of the top. Now I do.
Read the rest of this story here: Breathtaking Chile (PDF)
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The Aubrey Hotel in Santiago - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – July 17, 2011
Chile’s capital tends to get a bad rap when compared with other South American cities.
It might not have Rio’s party atmosphere or the style of Buenos Aires but it certainly has enough sights and attractions to justify hanging around for a few days.
It’s also the main gateway to the country, so if you’re coming to Chile, the chances are you’ll be passing through Santiago. So before you go dashing off south to trek in Patagonia or north to explore the Atacama Desert, take a few days to live life like a Santiaguino.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Las Vegas - photo by Rob McFarland
KiaOra (Air New Zealand’s inflight magazine), NZ – July 2011
Las Vegas offers much more than blackjack tables, roulette wheels and slot machines. Visitors can also enjoy wonderful restaurants, shopping and shows or even hiking and biking amid stunning desert scenery. If you’re planning a visit to the city that bills itself The Entertainment Capital of the World, here’s a rundown on the latest hotspots and happenings.
Read the rest of this story here: Las Vegas Update (PDF)
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Overlook on Blue Ridge Parkway - photo by Rob McFarland
Open Road Magazine, NSW, Australia – July 2011
National Park Ranger Jan wasn’t going to let a spot of rain ruin the party. The ominous purple clouds in the distance were moving closer so it was time for Plan B. “Looks like we got some rain comin’ our way, so why don’t y’awl just come up here on stage.” So we did.
Packing up our camping chairs, we climbed onto the covered stage and joined a hundred or so other music enthusiasts in a tight semi-circle around the band.
The Red Stick Ramblers seemed completely unfazed by the invasion and immediately launched into an acoustic set of infectiously toe-tapping Cajun fiddle and Western swing tunes.
Two attractive girls in cowboy boots got up and performed an impromptu line-dance to riotous applause (particularly from the men) before three local musicians joined the band for a furious finale of guitar, banjo and fiddle playing. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to and the CD I bought from the band afterwards became the soundtrack for the rest of our trip.
Read the rest of this story here: Bluegrass bliss on the Blue Ridge Parkway (PDF)
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Grand Mosque in Muscat - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – June 25, 2011
When you walk through the streets of Oman’s vibrant capital, Muscat, it’s hard to believe that the country’s Ministry of Tourism was only established in 2004.
Even more difficult to comprehend is that 34 years before that, the nation had only three schools, two hospitals and 10km of paved road.
Oman’s transformation from one of the poorest nations in the Middle East to one of the most accessible is nothing short of astounding. The man behind this impressive feat is ruler Sultan Qaboos and you’ll see his revered image in practically every shop and restaurant in the city.
Today, Muscat is a lively city with a wealth of cultural attractions including old forts, palaces and traditional souks alongside some stunning newer developments such as the Grand Mosque. English is spoken widely, you can get a decent meal for about $10 and a can of Coke for 50c.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Graves in Arlington Cemetery - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – June 5, 2011
For the next two hours I will be Colin Walker, an 18-year-old British art student visiting Turkey on holiday. My assignment is to meet another undercover agent in Ankara and exchange classified information.
Unfortunately, I’m rumbled at immigration. When the officer asks me where I was born, I panic and blurt out Blockley. I should have said Broseley.
Clearly, I’m not cut out to be a spy, but if you think you are then the new Spy Museum in Washington DC is a fascinating place to learn about this most secretive of professions. I have a low boredom threshold when it comes to museums but this is a textbook example of how they should all be: interactive, informative and entertaining.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Visiting Aspen ski patrol - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – May 22, 2011
There are two versions of how I strained my back in Aspen.
The one I told friends involved a pregnant mother in the path of a runaway snowmobile with me as the heroic saviour who selflessly dived to her rescue.
The other, more accurate, version was that I pulled it while lifting my suitcase on to the hotel bed.
Either way, on my first day in arguably the world’s greatest ski resort, I found myself in the frustrating position of not being able to ski.
So what else can you do in Aspen? Plenty, as it turns out.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Riding through the Hollywood Hills - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – May 22, 2011
Lured by a weak US dollar and cheap airfares, more Australians than ever are heading to California, and in particular Los Angeles, for holidays.
So, if this is your second or third trip to the city, you’ve probably already done most of the big-ticket tourist attractions and are ready for something new. How about trying one of the following?
1. Saddle up, cowboy – it’s hard to believe one of the largest urban parks in the US is less than 5km from Hollywood Blvd. Griffith Park is a sprawling, 1700ha wilderness that engulfs a large part of the Hollywood Hills. It’s ideal terrain for exploring on horseback and Sunset Ranch offers guided horse rides through the park. The rides all leave from stables beneath the Hollywood sign and follow tree-lined tracks that offer unrivalled views of the city below. Choose from a one or two-hour day ride, a two-hour sunset ride or a four-hour dinner ride with a stop at a Mexican restaurant in the suburb of Burbank. See www.sunsetranch hollywood.com
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Pod Hotel Garden - photo by Rob McFarland
The Sun-Herald, Australia – May 22, 2011
Could I swing a cat? Probably not. Maybe a kitten. But I don’t care. I’m staying in a room that costs a fraction of what most New York hotels charge and I’ve got Manhattan on my doorstep.
The Pod Hotel is one of a growing number of New York properties that has tiny rooms at tiny rates. Offering “style on a shoestring”, it’s marketed as a hip and funky alternative to the big hotel chains. The rationale being, why pay a fortune to doss down in the city that never sleeps?
Read the rest of this story here.
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Monticello - photo by Rob McFarland
The Sun-Herald, Australia – May 1, 2011
America’s south – loosely defined as the eastern states below Pennsylvania – is often overlooked by visitors in favour of the sun-kissed beaches of California or the urban excitement of cities such as Las Vegas and New York.
But this is where many of the country’s most pivotal historical events took place.
One of the best ways to learn more about the region’s legacy is to visit some of the grand old houses that are scattered across the states of Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. Not only are they impressive from an architectural standpoint, they also provide a fascinating insight into the area’s culture and attitudes.
Here are three of the best.
Boone Hall Plantation
Twenty kilometres from the charming South Carolina town of Charleston, Boone Hall is one of the US’s oldest working plantations. Established by Englishman John Boone in the early 1700s, it evolved into one of the south’s biggest cotton producers, employing 325 slaves to work 1200 hectares. In 1743, Boone’s son planted two evenly spaced rows of oak trees leading to the house. This avenue of oaks, draped in Spanish moss, has become one of the most photographed driveways in the country.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Spa pool at Post Ranch Inn - photo by Rob McFarland
The Sun-Herald, Australia – Apr 17, 2011
It’s not often you feel like an eco-warrior when you check in to a resort but since arriving at Post Ranch Inn, I’ve been feeling positively virtuous.
After a welcoming glass of Taittinger, my car is whisked away and I’m ferried to my room in an eerily quiet Lexus hybrid. I’ve just learnt that 70 per cent of the electricity I’ll use will be provided by the vast bank of solar panels I passed on the way in and that the property pioneered the region’s first commercial grey-water system.
Now, as I explore my enormous ocean-front suite, I notice telltale touches that confirm the owners are serious about their environmental footprint: refillable containers of soap, shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom, reusable glass bottles of water by the bed and a stainless-steel water bottle that’s mine to take away.
It’s enough to make you want to hug a tree. And thanks to Post Ranch Inn’s extensive planting program, there’s an abundance of huggable giant redwoods on the 40-hectare property.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Chippewa Square in Savannah - photo by Rob McFarland
Escape travel section, Australia – Apr 10, 2011
Of all Savannah’s 22 elegant, park-like squares, there is one in particular tourists make a beeline for. It’s called Chippewa Square and the reason is because it’s where Forrest Gump sat on a bench and famously declared that, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Visitors to Savannah seem to have a pretty good idea what they’re going to get because 50 million of them have been to the city in the past 10 years. Lured by its rich history, graceful architecture and scenic squares, they descend on the region by the coachload.
Read the rest of this story here: Savannah (PDF)
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Horse riding on Moorea - photo by Rob McFarland
KiaOra (Air New Zealand’s inflight magazine), NZ – April 2011
Just the word “Tahiti” conjures up an intoxicating mental image of aquamarine lagoons punctuated by idyllic sandy atolls. A land of brochure-blue skies, bath-warm water and lazy days filled with massages and cocktails at sunset.
But what if you don’t want to lounge around all day gazing into the eyes of a loved one? What if you want to get active? Explore a bit. Damn it, you want to earn that frozen margarita.
Thankfully, there are other options. On a recent trip to Moorea, Bora Bora and the main island of Tahiti, I discovered three activities that should satisfy those with a more adventurous bent.
Read the rest of this story here: Land of Plenty (PDF)
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Downtown Toronto - photo by Rob McFarland
Ask most Australians what they know about Toronto and they’ll likely answer “not much”, which is surprising given it’s the fifth-largest city in North America. While it might not have the profile of LA or New York, it’s not short on charm. The world’s most multicultural city, Toronto boasts 200 different ethnicities and 130 languages. There’s a kaleidoscope of neighbourhoods including five Chinatowns, two Little Italys, a Little India and even a Little Poland.
Throw in a lakeside location, the nearby Niagara Falls and a thriving film industry and Aussies’ lack of interest seems downright ridiculous.
Read the rest of this story here: 24 Hours in Toronto (PDF)
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Highway 1 - photo by Rob McFarland
Luxury Travel Magazine – Autumn 2011
As I lower the roof on our convertible Ford Mustang, I feel that tell-tale rush of excitement that accompanies the start of something memorable. I’m about to tick off an entry on my all-time travel wish-list: driving Highway 1, the spectacular coastal route that winds its way from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Over the next four days a friend and I are going to tackle 700 kilometres of some of the world’s most scenic driving roads, stay in some of the country’s most awarded resorts and feast on California’s finest food and wine. There’s only one small problem: we have wildly different music tastes. I’m a Bruce Springsteen kinda guy whereas he (let’s call him Charlie to save embarrassment) has a curious penchant for 80s soft rock. We agree on a compromise. Whoever isn’t driving has control of the iPod.
Read the rest of this story here.
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Skydiving over Wollongong - photo by Rob McFarland
NZ Herald on Sunday, New Zealand
It’s not every morning I find myself sitting on another man’s lap. But Pricey asked so nicely it seemed rude to say no. While I try not to fidget, he tightens a series of straps and buckles that will hopefully ensure that for the next 10 minutes we are inseparable. We hit 14,000ft, the door opens and we’re out.
After 60 seconds of mind-rushing, scream-inducing freefall, he opens the chute and we glide down in a series of graceful arcs.
Compared with the mental assault of the freefall, it’s surprisingly serene. Pricey lets me take the controls and I steer down through a valley between two clouds. Wollongong and its beaches far below look breathtakingly beautiful.
When we finally hit the ground, I want to get straight back up there and do it again. Which is precisely what Pricey does. He jumps five days a week and then goes skydiving on his weekends off. And now I understand why.
Read the rest of this story here.
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