escape to luxury

We asked Wendy Hanson, Business Development Manager at Hotel Urban Brisbane to share her insider tips on what she loves about Brisbane.

If fine food and wine are on your getaway menu, then we’ve found a great escape for you in the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula is a mecca for foodies, with wineries, restaurants, markets, art galleries, boutiques and beautiful gardens easily accessible and just one hour from Melbourne.

With the focus firmly on Brisbane this weekend for the G20 Leaders Summit, our world leaders will come together for a G20 reception, working dinner and cultural performance at the Gallery of Modern Art.

Arriving at Long Island via Cruise Whitsundays on a quiet Monday afternoon, only myself and another couple depart at the ferry terminal. There is an eager young man ready to greet the other party, he’s all clean cut and his monogrammed polo shirt reveals he’s from the chain hotel on the island. As they head off I see a little dingy pull up and a Robinson Crusoe-esque man leaps out with jagged shorts, no shoes and a wide straw hat – this is definitely more like it!

Long Island is one of the 74 islands of the Whitsundays. From interstate, fly into either Hamilton Island or Proserpine Airport, the resort is then easily accessible by Ferry from either Hamilton Island (30 minutes) or Airlie Beach (45 minutes) or more glamorous transport options.

Before we scoot into a new month, we decided to reflect on some of the great new additions to the alluxia collection.  You many not be aware, but alluxia exists to supports small, independent business and unearth the hidden gems and unique getaways from across Australia. We also build relationships and partner with owners and operators and visit the establishments to verify their quality to ensure you have a fabulous holiday.

As it's shop small month in November, you might like to consider these fine establishments!

Aside from being the capital of cool, Byron Bay is also home to some damn fine breakfasts.