Motorcycle Touring: On the road with the ‘Mild Hogs’

The vision of scores of thundering Harley-Davidson motorcycles, line astern and dominating the highway is a vision few of us will forget.

This intimidating apparition, straight out of countless movies, has served to place this venerable US motorcycle brand at the forefront of all things wicked and dastardly. Even so, the ‘don’t mess with me’ persona of the ‘hog’ has ensured Harley-Davidson is the first thing you think of when ‘bad boy’ bikers come to mind.

Living the Life in Lyon

World traveller, Ros Freeman spends four days discovering Lyon’s secret traboules, celebrated food culture, hilltop views and old-world charm in a city that quickly exceeds expectations.

There’s nothing more exhilarating than arriving in a city and knowing so little about it. Especially when that city happens to be Lyon. Jane and I are here for four days, soaking up all this elegant city has to offer.

An African-Style Safari, Just an Hour from Adelaide

An African safari sits high on many travellers’ bucket lists, but reaching the great reserves of Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa requires considerable time, planning and money. Fortunately, it is possible to enjoy a surprisingly convincing taste of the experience much closer to home.

Just an hour’s drive from Adelaide, Monarto Safari Park offers wide-open landscapes, encounters with remarkable animals and the opportunity to stay overnight at either the plush Monarto Safari Resort or the luxury tented Safari Lodge.

Pakistan: Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.

Celebrated author Catherine DeVrye is about to publish her tenth book, Beyond Timbuktu. She captures her experiences in vivid, visceral detail, like this encounter in Pakistan.  

Pakistan prejudiced my impressions long before I visited. I pictured poverty, terrorism, female oppression. Now I think of glaciers, apricots – and love.

After escaping the 2024 riots in Bangladesh, I posted: “Rested and relieved to be safely in Pakistan … words I never thought I’d utter.”

Towering Toronto

Toronto is Canada’s biggest city and offers a wide range of fascinating experiences, Winsor Dobbin reports. 

Fancy a vibrant North American experience but are keen to avoid the madness of the US? 

Toronto, the vibrant Canadian city just across Lake Ontario from the US, might be the destination you are looking for.

Amazon Express

Venturing into the Amazon basin is like exploring the heart and lungs of the planet. With one in ten known species on Earth and 1.4 billion acres of dense forests, the Amazon contains half of the planet's remaining tropical forests. Listen, and you can hear the world breathe.

Words and images Roderick Eime

Additional images as noted

I know that look. It’s that kind of cheeky half-smile, half snarl, like when you’re handed a peanut tin with a spring-loaded fake snake coiled inside. And like the 8-year-old sucker all over again, I fell for it.

Going Sleepless in Seattle

Twenty-four hours in the Emerald City keeps Ros Freeman wide awake.

It’s easy to be sleepless in Seattle. There’s so much to do in this fair city, stunningly situated between mountains, forests and water. The city is only a short flight from Alaska, which is why I’m here . . . but only for 24 hours.

Marnong Estate: Killing time

If you ever find yourself with a few hours to kill before flying out of from Melbourne Airport, then Marnong Estate is a name that should be on your radar, writes Winsor Dobbin.

Just a short drive from Tullamarine, Marnong is a popular destination for Melbourne wine and food lovers. 

It is also a delightful destination for anyone who might enjoy a day or two away in the vineyards.

Northwest Passage: Ice Would be Nice

A changing climate has turned the treacherous Northwest Passage into a pushover, discovers Roderick Eime

We’re all crowded on the bridge, at least 20 of us, peering out to the horizon with powerful binoculars and telephoto lenses. Surely we’ll see something soon.

Under the Shade in Belize

On the cayes and lagoons of Belize, Ros Freeman finds a Caribbean country rich in wildlife, colour and easy charm, where the greatest travel dilemma is whether to explore or simply do nothing at all.

I’m running late! Two weeks late, to be precise. Legend has it that if you swim on Good Friday in Belize, you could turn into a mermaid. Imagine that? Passports wouldn’t be a travel requirement, though sharks could pose a bigger problem.

Finniss River Lodge: Is this where Crocodile Dundee goes on vacation? [video]

Australia’s Northern Territory really is an untamed land. And with these massive carnivores lurking in the shadows, no one is going to try.  

“Be careful not to get too close,” warns Chase, “they can be a bit unpredictable.”

Steel and Stone: Yorkshire’s Great Railway Journey

John Newton returned to his roots in northern England to board the Settle to Carlisle railway, a journey that traverses a spectacular viaduct and takes in the unforgettable landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and neighbouring Cumbria.

From the soaring arches of Ribblehead to the windswept heights of Dent, the Settle–Carlisle line remains one of Britain’s most compelling rail journeys—saved from closure and now firmly back on track.

Grand Hotel and Casino in Port Vila: A Warm Island Welcome

A landmark return to Port Vila’s waterfront, the Grand Hotel and Casino reopens after extensive restoration, pairing sweeping Pacific views with refreshed interiors, renewed dining and a steady sense of local continuity. Sandip Hor investigates.

“Wow” is exactly the word that sprinted out of my mouth the moment I entered my room at the recently reopened Grand Hotel and Casino in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu. The 270-degree scenic views of the Pacific Ocean through the floor-to-ceiling high glass windows surrounding the round-shaped floor space, simply mesmerised me.

Libya Uncovered: Ruins, Realities and a Return to the Map

After decades of isolation, Libya is cautiously reopening to travellers and revealing extraordinary Roman ruins, layered history and a complex modern identity. World traveller, Ros Freeman, fulfils a promise to herself.

There can be no better place in Libya than sitting atop a Roman amphitheatre, gazing out over the clear blue Mediterranean. In the distance, ancient galleons once traversed these waters, sails billowing. In the foreground, orchestras played as masked mime artists danced across the stage before enthralled audiences.

Jericoacoara: Pleased to meet you - finally

Drawn by the laid-back beach vibe, Robyn Smith fulfilled a long-held dream of visiting this seaside paradise in Brazil

Many, many years ago, I saw postcards of Jericoacoara, and its unique colourful hand-crafted fishing boats called jagandas on the beautiful sandy beaches. I thought – I have to go there one day! It took me about forty years, but I finally did get there last October.

Salzburg: The Music is still playing

Few jaw-dropping travel destinations in Europe can boast little or no change to their beauty spots over more than two decades. The Austrian city of Salzburg is one of them, as John Newton was relieved to find on a recent visit to Mozart’s city after a 25- year gap.

There are cities that never sleep but, more importantly, Salzburg is one that never loses its rich historical and picture postcard lure.

Vanuatu's Land Divers

There’s something almost suicidal about Vanuatu’s famous land divers. Bungy jumpers have the benefit of an elastic cord to cushion their fall, but not so the legendary N’Gol (land-diving) natives of Pentecost Island.

Words: Roderick Eime || Listen

The origin of this dangerous ritual is clouded in tantalising mystery. One of the more romantic tales tells the story of the abusive husband Tamalie who, in pursuit of his recalcitrant wife, followed her up a tall tree as she fled from him. She, whose name seems to have been mislaid in the passage of time, refused to come down knowing that another beating was in store. Driven by pride and rage, Tamalie lunged at her, but she jumped. Tamalie, intoxicated by fury, lunged after her not knowing she had tied vines to her legs and he plunged to his death while she survived.

Iceland: Trolling About

Be sure to pay your respects to little invisible Icelanders or your journey may end abruptly. Roderick Eime treads carefully.

“If you go walking, be careful not to kick around rocks and things. You could disturb a troll or an elf,” my guide tells me, and I turn to share in the joke. But he’s not laughing.

Liberia, Land of Freedom

'Unique' is an overused term to describe almost anything, but world traveller, Ros Freeman, found it perfectly appropriate to describe this African republic.

In 1821, the American Colonisation Society established the West African country of Liberia. The name means ‘Freedom’. An idealistic notion became a reality, returning African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans to Africa. 18,000 previously enslaved people elected to return to Africa, developing an Americo-Liberian identity. They brought their culture and traditions, and, along with the indigenous people, they founded Liberia. It became the first African republic to gain independence and is Africa's oldest continuously independent country. 

Intriguing Istanbul: A quick guide for first-time visitors

From domes and bazaars to ferries across the Bosporus, here’s how to navigate Istanbul’s essential sights, neighbourhoods and transport without losing your way.

 If Istanbul is not on your bucket list for 2026, I want to know why. Straddling Europe and Asia, it’s one of the world’s most storied cities, a place where Roman roads, Byzantine churches, Ottoman palaces and modern cafés coexist in a daily, lived-in way. For first-time visitors, the scale and intensity can feel overwhelming, but with a little planning, the city will reveal itself to the patiently curious.

The Elusive Enigma of the Adelaide Hills

Acclaimed author and journalist, Bruce Elder, tackles a gnarly South Australian question

For years I used to fly to Adelaide to report on the Womadelaide festival. In the early years it was beyond magnificent. Superb international acts – particularly from Africa and the Indian subcontinent. A sublime setting – the Botanic Gardens. Weather that was idyllic – Adelaide at that time was warm, balmy and dry. And the best food stalls of any festival in Australia. It was a rare case of a festival where the word “unforgettable” could never be overused.