Touring the beautiful beaches, interesting cities, wonderful theme parks and, of course, the amazing variety of food in Australia with my HUSBAND CHEF SANJEEV KAPOOR
BY ALYONA KAPOOR
very time we plan a vacation, the first thing we Google is places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is all about the food.
Before the world was hit by the Covid crisis, Sanjeev (Kapoor) and I got back from what we would describe as “one of the best trips ever”. We spent almost two weeks in Australia and managed to make our way to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as well as our memorable Gold Coast stay at Ruby Collection which is family friendly and hospitable. We couldn’t describe how happy we were and our pictures can’t justify the beauty of the places we went to eat.
Sanjeev was invited to be the speaker of the Destination Australia Conference being held in Brisbane and to attend the full-day conference participating in networking sessions with Australian tourism industry delegates who took us on an extraordinary journey to explore Australia.
Melbourne – foodie’s paradise
Melbourne is a foodie’s paradise. Not only is it known as the coffee capital of the world – and you must try the many different coffee places there – but it also has food joints galore. One of our favourites was the Lune Croissanterie where we were confronted with an inevitable queue, but it was worth the wait.
Upon entering, we felt like we walked into a viennoiserie. Enclosed by glass walls, the chefs there methodically laminate dough and precisely roll out pastry for their world-class croissants in the open. We also happened to meet Chef Ranveer Brar in Melbourne and we had the best time together eating croissants. He wanted to take Sanjeev and me to a famous food joint, so we picked a box of croissants to go and polished the box clean before we got to the next food spot.
Melbourne is Australia’s capital of food and the country’s greatest walking cities, so we had to tie up our laces for endless exploring. From trendy night markets and quirky pop-up shops to airy rooftop bars and live performances, we discovered something new around every corner.
To discover regional treasures outside of Melbourne, we set a course out of the Victorian capital. We took a tour to the south of Melbourne and just as the suburban landscape began to turn green, we arrived on an outcrop of land with Port Phillip Bay on one side and Western Port Bay. This was definitely a place to visit since we love beaches.
The highlight, however, was the Penguin Parade – a magical procession of black-and-white waddlers returning to their sand dune homes after a day of fishing which is the island’s most famous attraction.
We also visited the iconic Chandon for bubbly tasting. The sparkling wine varietals here are made using the ‘traditional champagne method’ and it is considered to be one of the best vineyards in the Victoria region. The place also allows visitors to learn more about the wine-making process through an immersive tour of the vineyard’s facilities, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
We were amazed looking at the rich land of the peninsula’s interior with vineyards criss-crossing rolling hills and small farms producing all types of fresh food – from strawberries to goat cheese.
Another major attraction was the road trip down the Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives at 150 miles long. We passed picturesque surf breaks, the iconic Twelve Apostles, waterfalls, and Loch Ard Gorge.Adventures in Sydney
Sydney was our second stop and it was nothing short of mesmerising. The beaches were downright gorgeous and the turquoise colour never got old. Even on a crowded day, we found a spot on the iconic Bondi Beach to hear the waves lash the shore. Crowded, loud, full of tourists, lined with eateries, home to strong currents and rough seas, Bondi Beach was still amazing. With the sand, the water and the breath-taking displays of colour during the sunset, we couldn’t help but love everything about the place.
Though beautiful beaches are a dime a dozen in Australia’s coastline, Blue Bay is unarguably our favourite. For one, it’s postcard-perfect, with its golden shore, turquoise waters and swaying palms. We could easily spend an entire day there doing nothing but sunbathing on its sweeping, sun-kissed shore.
We also spent hours outside the Sydney Opera House. The landmark structure dominates the harbour, is backed by the city skyline, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and sparkling blue water. We, being camera-snapping tourists, devoted our time just admiring it from afar, not very keen to discover details.
Melbourne might have the coffee but Sydney owns breakfast and brunches. Bright and typically clean in their presence of produce, Sydney does the most important meal of the day in a special way. Aussies are also serious bread lovers, and we got a little overexcited when we stumbled across a fine bakery not surprisingly, in Sydney, the list of good bakeries is endless.
Vibrant Brisbane
Brisbane was, well, cool. Talking about the best experience in Brisbane, we cannot miss out mentioning the vibrant cafe culture, whimsical and uniquely Australian street art and an exciting restaurant and nightlife scene.
If you are like us who can’t do without your morning cup of joe, Brisbane is the place to be because the city is serious about its coffee. Queensland’s capital also has a flourishing restaurant, bar and cultural scene. Lapping at its eastern fringe is Moreton Bay, where low-lying sandy isles beckon with turquoise waves and the passing parade of whales, turtles and dolphins. The ultra-modern cityscape also has a striking contrast of historic laneways, riverside dining and wildlife sanctuaries.
Adventurers have a lot to do in Brisbane. From scuba diving to snorkelling, and swimming in the clear blue waters surrounding this picturesque island and witnessing the underwater life for real, the list does not end. For less adventurous travellers like us, you could relax at the pristine sandy beaches or watch humpback whales in action from Cape Moreton lighthouse site.
Go for Gold Coast
Pictures can’t do justice to how beautiful Gold Coast really is – you have to experience it yourself to believe your eyes. It isn’t called the Gold Coast for nothing!
The area is home to dozens of powdery beaches and we had the best time just strolling on the beaches. The sky was pink one minute and orange the next. The golden light of the sun outlined the clouds.
There were dozens of birds lapping up the water while surfers tried to tame the waves. All around us locals were going about their exercise routines. But we just sat there, admiring the sunrise. Sunrise at Surfers Paradise is an experience that is etched in our memory forever.
With breath-taking views overlooking the ocean from our room, our stay at The Ruby Collection in Gold Coast certainly the highlight of our trip. Located close to Surfers’ Paradise beach, it was the perfect place to unwind. Within walking distance from the beach, the space combined sophisticated design and resort-style amenities which were perfect for a staycation of any kind.
By all accounts, the Ruby Collection experience is ideal for those who love the sun, sea and the great outdoors. And being the foodies that we are, how can we forget our dining experience at Ruby Collection which included several meals that we loved to bits. A variety of dining options at Stones Bar and Grill that offered the best of Australian delicacies for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. If truth be told, we loved the casual dining atmosphere.
Of course, any trip to the Gold Coast is never complete without a visit to its iconic theme parks. Not surprising then that a customised tour was planned for us to the Dreamworld which is one of Gold Coast’s favourite theme parks with an Aussie twist. In addition to a thrilling line-up of roller coasters, live shows and movie characters, the park hosts many native Australian animals and offers close-up experiences with crocodiles, tree kangaroos and dingos. Since we are massive animal lovers and not much into rides, we made it a point to visit Sea World, where we enjoyed an amazing the dolphin show.
Of course, no visit to Australia can be complete without seeing kangaroos right so we headed to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary which was the perfect place to witness kangaroos and koalas in their habitats. From pristine beach offering stunning views of Surfers Paradise to Dreamworld to Sea World to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to the overnight cruise, our visit to Gold Coast was the stuff of unforgettable holidays.
