Favourite retreat in OZ?

[horrie hastings]

Good stuff Backwards and Turk...I love to go to WA and go from Albany and go all the way up to somewhere like Broom and see Margaret River and the wine country, Freo, Perth, Kalbarri, Coral Bay up to Broome one day.

Also Backwards the Great Ocean Road is as the name suggests Great....just be prepared for a much cooler climate if you go between late March and November.

On another note fellas, Happy Mothers Day to your wives and mothers respectively......

Loved the Margaret River , last trip to WA stayed in Perth for a few days then drove down to Albany and worked my way back up to Perth, was planning to stay at Albany for two nights but one was enough then stayed at nearby Denmark for a night, the coastal formations around there were beautiful, then went onto the Margaret River, Pemberton and Busselton[cant remember the exact order, it was back in 2006 I think], the pier and aquarium at Busselton were great, the tall timbers around Pemberton were amazing.Do want to go back again, also Fremantle was a great spot also and a trip to Rottnest Island is a must do.

[Andrew Walker]

Im a big fan of Rainbow Bay on Gold Coast I also like Woolgoolga and Bonny Hills

[horrie hastings]

Im a big fan of Rainbow Bay on Gold Coast I also like Woolgoolga and Bonny Hills

Often have lunch at this place situated in the Bonny Hills surf club.

http://www.thefatfish.com.au/

[horrie hastings]

I always like getting away to the little triangle on the south coast which includes Milton, Mollymook and Ulladulla.

Milton has a few little antique and home ware shops and I often stay at a b&b called Mrs Top, nice accommodation and really fantastic dinners.
http://www.mrstopatmilton.com.au/

Not much at Mollymook apart from the beach and a golf club but Bannisters is great place to stay for something special and to chill out and not do much at all, great pool, wouldn't bother with Rick Steins restaurant but the pool bar has great cocktails and food and views over the water http://www.bannisters.com.au/

Not much at Ulladulla apart from the boat harbour and the usual splattering of shops but the co op does a reasonable fish feed and the Burrill Lake fish and chip shop just south does great fish and chips.Haydens Pies is a must do,best pies I have had overall.Cupitts winery is also worth dropping into, restaurant looks good and the wines are good.http://cupittwines.com.au/

Just a nice little area for a short break with plenty to do and about a 3 hour drive from Sydney

[horrie hastings]

It's a damn shame cos Byron is a beautiful spot ruined by commercialism

Yes wouldn't even bother anymore with Byron, it was nice back in the 70's but blahh now, I have a friend who has houses and splits his time between Kingscliff and Pottsville, I love staying there at either place just to chill out in the pool or go fishing in some of the local creeks.Still love going to Bangalow when the markets are on and Brunswick Head is a beautiful spot too, love sitting in the pub there looking out over the river.
This place is worth a look at if you are around the Kingscliff area, fantastic tour last time I was there
http://www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au/

also want to try out this place next time and maybe stay a night
http://www.maviseskitchen.com.au/

[Guest]

Revisited a property in far west NSW over the long weekend, Always great food etc. Has an Artesian bore to enjoy the evenings in with a few 101's and a bonfire, the days are spent enjoying all the relaxation and activities 40,000acres has to offer with family and great company..

[stephenj]

after travelling the worlde in 5 star hotels as a Qantas steward my favourite is my shack at era beach in the royal national park, a set of solar panels, some Telstra batteries and a few water tanks provide the necessities of life, fishing rods and mask and fins provide the rest with a handspear or a knife for abalone
its just a bit of a challenge carrying in all that grog! but well worth it when you get there
got a slow combustion stove inside for this time of year too! even the tv works on 12 volts