A storybook hideaway reopens in Bowral after a multimillion-dollar transformation
Plus, three other things Explore is loving this week.
After a six-month closure for a multimillion-dollar revamp, Ardour Milton Park Bowral (pictured) has reopened this week in NSW's serene Southern Highlands. Check in to one of the 44 rooms - from the sage-hued Garden Terrace to the rose-coloured Garden Suite. Then, make your way to the luminescent Polo Bar for a refreshing cocktail, followed by a meal at Horderns, where you can enjoy flavoursome mains such as house-made pasta with Balmain bug and slow-braised Cowra lamb shoulder for two. A dedicated charcuterie room at The Polo Bar and an onsite spa with indulgent wellness rituals will open in March. ardourhotelsandestates.com
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Rare access for the curious
A tour of a 9th-century market in Fez with groundbreaking Moroccan chef Najat Kaanache and a meeting with specialists restoring stolen antiquities inside the limited-access Conservation d'Angkor centre in Cambodia are just some of the experiences you can enjoy on 32 new trips G Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions have co-launched. The educational and immersive seven- to 19-day tours unfold in 28 locations around the world, offering stimulating holiday packages to culturally curious travellers as well as meaningful benefits to local communities. gadventures.com; nationalgeographic.com
Bush guru takes the lead
Search and rescue leader Caro Ryan, who has just been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours for her contribution to bushwalking safety, will be leading a special departure of Tasmanian Expeditions' Flinders Island walking adventure. The six-day itinerary (from April 12-17) includes Ryan's Introduction to Navigation course, while taking a small group of just 11 guests through some of the island state's most spectacular walks. tasmanianexpeditions.com.au
A new way to do economy
Qantas customers will have more choice with the launch of the airline's Economy Plus seats, which give travellers 40 per cent more legroom, priority boarding and priority access to overhead baggage space. The new cabin product has been rolled out across Boeing 737, Airbus A321XLR and A220 aircraft. Read more about Qantas's Economy Plus on exploretravel.com.au
Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.
My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.
Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.
My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.
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