Hi, I'm a full-time freelance writer in the leisure and lifestyle industries. I believe in embracing every available opportunity to live life to the full - and hope my stories encourage you to do just that.
Love walking into a quality clothing store where nothing is over $30? Love environmentally-friendly clothing that feels ... [more]
The biggest, best spring picnic is almost here. Stretching across the glorious lawns of Werribee Park on Sunday the 27th... [more]
It's ghosts galore in Sorrento's main street on the first Saturday night of each month with Sorrento Ghost Tours.
The... [more]
Our top Aussie music legends and an
idyllic location make Legends on the Lawn, held on Sunday March 18th at Werribee P... [more]
Be uplifted and inspired by lively, groovy soulful beats at the Karavan International Gypsy Music Festival, one of this ... [more]
Fabulous food, wonderful wines, groovy beats, and an exhilarating location combine at the iconic Harvest Picnic at Hang... [more]
"Into your hand straight from the land." That's what you get from Caulfield Farmers' Market and other authentic In Seaso... [more]
While there are many alternative healing modalities available to us, some have been successfully practised for centuries... [more]
The 2011 Melbourne Bead Expo is on Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of November at the Kingston Town Hall in Moorabbin... [more]
Stretch the comfort zones, have yourself a tonne of fun and learn more about how to preserve and protect our precious e... [more]
The most happening place to be this pre-Melbourne Cup long weekend is the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues. You c... [more]
Almost 13 million people across the Horn of Africa are currently facing desperate food shortages after the worst drought... [more]
The excitement's building as the 15th annual Queenscliff Music Festival edges closer. Thousands will flock to the pictur... [more]
I love Anglesea. I love music. When the two combined in October 2010, the first ... [more]
Hungry for something different? Then the newest Foodie Trails to bless our culinary curiosity will not only whet the app... [more]
Bring it on - a great food show with a gluten-free difference. The Irresistible Gluten Free Show, Australia's biggest g... [more]
Please hit Play on the video clip on the bottom right of screen before reading on – and make sure your volume's up high... [more]
I love 'the show' Just writing this story's got me all excited. The Royal Melbourne Show is on from Saturday the 24th of... [more]
I thought I'd done a tour of Melbourne from almost every perspective possible, but a Moonlight Kayak Tour (or any of Kay... [more]
Melbourne food tours just got more exciting with the addition of Masala Meanders Melbourne City, exciting Indian food to... [more]
One of Melbourne's premier food and wine events, Taste of Melbourne, has shifted seasons. After several years as a wi... [more]
One of the biggest (and, in my opinion, best) annual music festivals in Victoria has just released its early bird ticket... [more]
The beautiful Bayside suburb of Carrum will erupt with harvest foods, country and blues, and bundles of fun at the Kings... [more]
Fancy yourself an artist behind the camera lens? Enjoy taking the time to savour the beautiful and slower things in life... [more]
Few food events excite me as much as the Good Food & Wine Show, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre f... [more]
Every now and then someone says to me, "You're really lucky to live near the beach". It's like a prod, a sudden reminder... [more]
I recently had a party at which I resurrected a few of the party games we use to play as kids. At first I was a bit nerv... [more]
Get ready as the legendary Carlos Santana and his incredible musicians prepare to raise the roof at the Acer Arena on Fr... [more]
Okay, Brisbanites, it's time to pull out your dancing shoes and get grooving to the infectious sounds of Carlos Santana,... [more]
Whether young, old or somewhere in between, most people love the sound of the legendary Carlos Santana. Well, you can gr... [more]
Food and wine tours just got even more exciting. While winery-hopping is a whole bunch of fun, winery-trotting, or meand... [more]
Who are the legends? Iconic Australians Vika & Linda Bull, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson and Mark Seymour, and thei... [more]
Dig out your bangles and dress up in your frilly finest for the Karavan! International Gypsy Music Festival 2011. This... [more]
Dig out your bangles and dress up in your frilly finest for the Karavan! International Gypsy Music Festival 2011. This... [more]
Food, music and adventure are some of my favourite things in life. The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock, held on Sunda... [more]
Melbourne is renowned the world over as a food capital with good reason. Whether north, south, east, west, or smack-bang... [more]
Melburnians are lucky enough to live a short drive away from two of the state's premier food and wine regions, the Morni... [more]
Whether your thumb is green or just regular skin-coloured, a day out at Gardenworld in Braeside, just 40 or so minutes s... [more]
Swimming with dolphins is, without doubt, the experience of a lifetime - one not to think about doing some day, but one ... [more]
Chocolate lovers, prepare yourselves for an inner-city chocolate experience that will leave you with sweet memories – bo... [more]
Most of us are now familiar with Farmers' Markets. If not, I suggest you get to know a bit about them here because they ... [more]
The northeast of the state is renowned, amongst other things, for its fine food and wine. Lush valleys, fertile soils an... [more]
This popular little gem has been a true 'warung' for well over 20 years. A warung is a public, casual place to eat, ofte... [more]
Shake out the picnic rug, bring an appetite and head to The Age Spring Harvest Picnic at Werribee Park on Sunday 28th of... [more]
The Queenscliff Music Festival descends on the Bellarine Peninsula's picturesque shores on Friday 26th to Sunday the 28t... [more]
Federation Square explodes into colour and culture at this year's fifth Polish Festival, on this Sunday from 10am to 5pm... [more]
It's time to get your toe-tapping shoes on, with the Phillip Island Jazz Festival jazzing it up at the lovely Phillip Is... [more]
For lovers of murder mysteries – and for those who love an exciting night out with a difference – Murder on the Puffing ... [more]
Those with a palate for some of the state's finest food and wine will be heading to our most picturesque valley for Yarr... [more]
Grab a sun hat and some good friends or loved ones and leave your troubles behind! The Queenscliff Music Festival on the... [more]
Easter is nigh and maybe too the time to bring a few basics back to a special celebration at risk of being engulfed by c... [more]
Not a weekend goes by in Melbourne without a cultural festival to celebrate. Festival Indonesia explodes into vibrant co... [more]
A unique and fabulous new attraction, bound to become one of our state's most popular, has opened in beautiful Belgrave ... [more]
It's up, up and away (well, not literally away), but definitely up – 88 floors up to be exact. It's all aboard a lift th... [more]
Do you enjoy the arts? Are you inspired by innovation, creativity – or something a little out of the ordinary? Offering ... [more]
When's the last time you had fun? I mean real fun – just for fun! While Funfields in Whittlesea will have the kids whoop... [more]
Have you heard of the Melbourne Festival? I hadn't and wondered if we'd been blessed with another great Melbourne event.... [more]
See Mother Nature in all her magnificent glory at the world-famous Jenolan Caves, 75 minutes from Katoomba in the Blue M... [more]
If you – or anyone you know – have ever said you can't afford to go out and have fun, sorry, but it's a big lie. We live... [more]
Need a little inspiration to help shake off any remaining winter blues? While travelling the world to view Mother Nature... [more]
Jive to some upbeat jazz or cruise to some very cool crooning at this year's Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
... [more]
The Studley Park Boathouse in Kew combines some of life's loveliest pleasures. It's nestled amongst beautiful bushland t... [more]
Time out. It's a wonderful thing in what seems to be a faster, busier world. There's something special about art and nat... [more]
Getting in amongst nature of the cutest kind – with the littlies or without – is a fabulous way to enjoy a relaxing day ... [more]
There are markets galore in our fair city, with each one bringing something unique to Melbourne and its people. Prahran ... [more]
Spring has sprung. It's time to bung on some gardening clothes and get out in the sun. Don't have a green thumb? Are you... [more]
Whether you’re a well-published writer, an occasional scribbler with a book busting to get out, or you simply love the w... [more]
When's the last time you went to 'the show'? Many haven't been to the Royal Melbourne Show since they were kids. Others ... [more]
With tough liquor laws challenging many of Melbourne's music venues in recent times, it's encouraging to discover that a... [more]
Olives are an acquired taste. You’ve either acquired the taste or not – yet!
Either way, there is an inspiring day t... [more]
Love to sip and sup some of the world’s best wines and food? Who doesn’t! The Hunter Valley’s month-long celebration of ... [more]
The weather's fine and now's the time to get active. When's the last time you rode a bike? For some, their bike is like ... [more]
If you seriously love good food (and who doesn't?), I seriously suggest re-scheduling any prior arrangements to make roo... [more]
You think you know your own neighbourhood like the back of your hand? I thought I did. After living in the same neighbou... [more]
Care for a taste of the sweet life? Then La Dolce Vita is for you. Held on November 14th and 15th in the beautiful King ... [more]
Being an adult has its benefits – but it sure has its challenges too. In the serious adult world of responsibilities, ca... [more]
Given TV and technology are kings of the entertainment arena for many, it's easy to forget some of the games many of us ... [more]
Fancy celebrating our state's fabulous wines and associated joys on one of the most glorious coastlines in the country? ... [more]
Get ready for the biggest and best flower and garden display in the Southern Hemisphere. The Mitre 10 Melbourne Internat... [more]
This year Anzac Day falls on a Sunday, with the following Monday the 26th a national public holiday.
Anzac Day comme... [more]
When was the last time you went to ‘the show’, which is what most of us grew up calling it as kids? For many adults, the... [more]
It's time to spring into spring - well almost - with the Herald Sun Home Show & Garden Expo Bursting with ideas and insp... [more]
Many people here the word 'meditate' and conjure up weird and wonderful images of sitting in contortionist positions and... [more]
Like to liven up your latte with a cultural experience amidst some fascinating contemporary art? Fancy a spot of boutiqu... [more]
If there's a prettier town in country Victoria, I want to know about it. Bright – set amidst the picturesque alpine land... [more]
Fancy a fabulous feast washed down by some of the Gold Coast’s best wines amidst superb scenery? If that sounds like you... [more]
Hands up if you love cheese? Not the stuff you find in the supermarket, but specialty cheese made by small, artisan prod... [more]
So, what exactly is a degustation dinner? The term 'degustation', according to Wikipedia, is a French culinary term "mea... [more]
It’s time to get your hiking boots on. The weather’s ideal and the Sunshine Coast Great! Walk through the Blackall Range... [more]
Art and culture lovers, get your walking shoes on! Sydney's Self-Guided Arts Discovery Trail meanders through the heart ... [more]
Got anything on tomorrow night? Hope not because the Herald Sun Camberwell Rotary Art Show is poised to inspire and upli... [more]
Time to put your thinking caps on for a free public lecture series in the spirit of philosophical questioning – with a c... [more]
I can think of no better way than spending an autumn day in the glorious Dandenong Mountains. Como Gardens, a beautiful ... [more]
More fondly known as 'The Prom', Wilson's Promontory is probably the most-loved national park in Victoria. Many of us wo... [more]
Love the hustle and bustle of a good market? Well, the famous Queen Victoria Market isn’t just a good market, it’s the ... [more]
Add a little sparkle, and lots of blooming colour, to your weekend. The Victorian International Orchid Fair, running fro... [more]
It's coming to the end of winter – thank goodness! I can think of no better way to welcome in the upcoming spring season... [more]
Love reading? Or maybe regular get-togethers to 'supposedly' discuss the book you’re all 'supposed' to have read over th... [more]
There’s something very special about historic steam train rides. They’re all about nostalgia, history and child-like goo... [more]
Love the outdoors and our native flora and fauna? Well, Eco-Adventure Tours give you the opportunity to enter nature's t... [more]
Here's a great opportunity for young and old to explore the amazing world of science, and learn a fascinating fact or tw... [more]
Most of us love catching up with good friends over coffee or, better still, over lunch or dinner. Well, why not go to a ... [more]
A play 'n' stay at one of the peninsula's luxurious golf retreats gives friends and families a fantastic opportunity to ... [more]
It's so easy to forget some of the beauty we have virtually in our own back yards, but tourists from all over the place ... [more]
Well, you can hop if you feel so inclined, but you can also walk, cycle, or maybe even horse ride or skate on some! So, ... [more]
While budgets might be tight, there's still loads to see and do for next to nothing - less that a cup of coffee in fact.... [more]
With milder weather and cooler evenings upon us, we're craving more comfort foods. One of the best to wrap your lips aro... [more]
A very famous corner of Melbourne comes alive every Wednesday evening over the summer. The Suzuki Night Market, at the i... [more]
Pucker up! The Marysville Trout and Salmon Ponds, a premier Victorian tourist attraction, is up and running and open for... [more]
Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant and Villas, set high in the Otways in Apollo Bay and offering panoramic views of Bass St... [more]
Don't you just love living in a city with a festival to celebrate just about every interest and quirk we fascinating hum... [more]
Whether you're into religion, architecture or all things beautiful, checking out the stunning St Mary's Cathedral is a m... [more]
If you haven't yet discovered the fresh seasonal produce, relaxed community atmosphere and delights of your local farmer... [more]
It's on our doorstep. I can hardly contain my excitement. Why? Because the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival dishes up 25... [more]
The sun is shining and the birds singing as spring bursts forth with beauty and colour. What better way to celebrate tha... [more]
Are you ready for a dining experience to remember? If not, it's time to get ready. The Melba Restaurant experience is li... [more]
The Great Ocean Road is a renowned, must-visit tourist destination, so I'm always stunned to come across Victorians who ... [more]
Bayside, stretching roughly from St Kilda to Frankston along a sparkling Port Phillip Bay, offers much more than beautif... [more]
Australia Day is a fabulous day, one to celebrate the fantastic country we're lucky enough to live in. Call me biased if... [more]
Melbourne is such a vibrant city. Not only is there lots to see and do, but plenty of it's free. Did you know, for insta... [more]
Did you know that the simple act of writing down your thoughts and feelings is very therapeutic? Writing therapy, more c... [more]
Time to get creative! The 2009 Melbourne Bead Expo showcases all that's bright and beautiful in beads and jewellery from... [more]
It's easy to imagine you're in romantic, faraway Italy when you step onto Carlton's colourful Lygon Street. The traditio... [more]
Okay, folks, it's time to tantalise the tastebuds in a little cultural hotspot that's hot not only because of its spices... [more]
Shake out the picnic rug and grab your picnic basket! No need to fill it though; The Age Spring Harvest Picnic will be b... [more]
When was the last time you headed to the healing waters of Hepburn Springs? While some of you might have bathed in them,... [more]
‘Tutto il Mondo é un Paese’ or ‘The Whole World is one Big Town’ – and this reflects the warm community spirit you’ll so... [more]Well, you can hop if you feel so inclined, but you can also walk, cycle, or maybe even horse ride or skate on some! So, ... [more]
Do you deserve some pampering? Perhaps at a seaside playground with plenty of relaxation as well as entertainment option... [more]
It's time to whet the appetite! Tastebuds will be in overdrive at this year's four-day Taste of Melbourne at the Royal E... [more]Love to sip and sup some of the world’s best wines and food? Who doesn’t! The Hunter Valley’s month-long celebration of ... [more]
Okie dokes, folks, I'm excited! I hope you are too – by the fact that there's a brand new festival about to hit Melbourn... [more]
If you've not yet had the good fortune of discovering the relatively little-known Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden in Mary... [more]
It's easy to accumulate endless amounts of stuff which we don't use. Clearing out brings a bunch of great benefits, incl... [more]
Feeling hungry? Does fresh-caught Southern Rock Lobster cooked in your favourite style rock your boat? Does getting up c... [more]
More farmers' markets are popping up all over the country, which is good news for everyone given they provide fresh, sea... [more]
Cheese lovers, get ready for a creamy, oozy afternoon to tantalise the tastebuds.
The Melbourne Specialist Cheese Sho... [more]
Are you into the freshest food you can get, bar growing your own? Do you care about supporting local food growers and pr... [more]If you haven't yet discovered the fresh seasonal produce, relaxed community atmosphere and delights of your local farmer... [more]
Cooking – it's the sort of thing that's fun when you have free time and a royal pain in the proverbial when time is of t... [more]
Pucker up and don't delay. Valentine's Day is on the way. Sunday February 14th is the day lovers all over the world expr... [more]
The wonders of our world never cease to amaze. Visiting the incredible Buchan Caves, near the township of Buchan, is a j... [more]
The 12 Apostles are well known worldwide - and they're beautiful, even if there are only 8 left. But if you really want ... [more]
If you've been honing your skills as a couch potato, a venture into the sensory delights of Melbourne's Chinatown will d... [more]
When's the last time you went to - or had your very own - dinner party? For most people it's been a long time. Why? Good... [more]
Enthusiasts of the glorious vine and its wine might like to partake in a 3-day tour on the Great Grape Road, a scenic ci... [more]
There's a spa – and then there's a spa destination. While hopping into the spa at your local pool is all well and good, ... [more]
Sometimes we forget about what's in our own back yard. Take Southbank, for instance. I live all of half an hour away, h... [more]
It’s slow. It’s sumptuous. It’s a sensational way to warm up winter while savouring some seriously good food, wine and f... [more]
Chocoholics, it’s time to lavish yourself in all things sweet and oozy at the Chocolate Rush Festival. The luscious, wee... [more]
The Sunbury Wine Region Festival rolls out across the picturesque Sunbury landscape mainly on Saturday the 29th and Sund... [more]
If you've not been to Sydney Road in Brunswick lately, you simply must. It's a unique part of Melbourne that captures mu... [more]
The Kingston Farmers' Market, diagonally opposite Southland in Highett, is such a fun foodie venture.
Sure you can p... [more]
Love browsing seemingly endless market stalls on a lazy Sunday? At your leisure in an inspiring environment? And, of cou... [more]
We are in the midst of a food obsession fed by a gluttony of cooking shows and a surplus of celebrity chefdom. Isn't it ... [more]
Victoria is often referred to as The Garden State with very good reason, and the lesser-known Royal Botanic Gardens Cra... [more]
Digger's is a garden club like no other. Not into gardening? Don't worry – and don't stop reading. The Digger's Club's h... [more]
It's been around for thousands of years for very good reason. Yoga
is about much more than the stereotypical view of tw... [more]
I love nothing more than meandering down a vibrant street dotted with cafes, interesting people and shops on a lazy Sund... [more]
Beautiful Bayside, skirting Port Phillip Bay, is well known not only for its beaches, but also for its many significant ... [more]It's easy to accumulate endless amounts of stuff which we don't use. Clearing out brings a bunch of great benefits, incl... [more]
I love the beach in the cooler months. Not only do you not have to jostle with crowds for a car park, the rugged-up soli... [more]
There are a couple of truly idyllic little hideaways in our lovely state. One of them is the Churchill Island Heritage F... [more]
Get ready for a good dose of the creeps. If you're a fan of hair-raising horror, you need to take this two-hour walking ... [more]
Love your morning coffee or that lift-me-up-latte in the afternoon? I sure do and most Melburnians seem to love it too.
... [more]
Need a little winter inspiration? Got a creative itch just waiting to be scratched? Then a meander through a designated ... [more]
Are You Sports Mad? Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at your favourite sporting venues?
Then this one's ... [more]
Café culture, while pumping north of the Yarra particularly in Gertrude Street and Fitzroy Street, is hotting up in Bays... [more]
The wonders of nature never cease to amaze. The Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves, while technically man-made construct... [more]When's the last time you went to - or had your very own - dinner party? For most people it's been a long time. Why? Good... [more]
History, elegance and charm abound at Sunbury's Rupertwood Mansion, just a short 30-minute drive from the city along the... [more]
Transport yourself to the fishing villages of Greece – albeit minus the water – amidst the cafés and restaurants of Oakl... [more]
It's fun for young and old at Rain, Hayne and Shine Farmyard in Balnarring, just over an hour from Melbourne on the Morn... [more]Most of us love catching up with good friends over coffee or, better still, over lunch or dinner. Well, why not go to a ... [more]Love reading? Or maybe regular get-togethers to ‘supposedly’ discuss the book you’re all ‘supposed’ to have read over th... [more]
A relatively new concept, Kids at the Arts Centre is a fabulous program of activities exposing kids aged between 3 and 1... [more]
Melburnians have the opportunity to fall in love with contemporary art at the 2010 Melbourne Art Fair. Anyone from the s... [more]
The beautiful Mornington Peninsula, just over an hour's drive from Melbourne, provides endless opportunities to sip, sup... [more]
Grab your enviro-friendly shopping bags – or maybe a trolley for filling with fabulous fare! South Melbourne Market is p... [more]
Many of our city's public buildings have a rich and fascinating history. The Melbourne City Baths, amidst it's first-cla... [more]
Have you been The Tesselaar Tulip Festival? If the answer's yes, you've probably already pencilled it in. If the answer ... [more]
Okay, I confess. I'm pretty weak when faced with well-made French pastries or cakes – and absolutely hopeless when faced... [more]
I think picnics are under-rated. They're free, fun and a fabulous way to unwind and enjoy our great outdoors. One of my ... [more]
This is indeed a picnic of gastronomic proportions. The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock brings together over 100 Vict... [more]
Parlez vous Francais? Come stai? Guten morgen! If you don't 'entiende' (understand) what I'm on about, then maybe its ti... [more]
Need a new outfit, a new wardrobe or maybe just one special item to jazz things up a bit? Well, whether you need anythin... [more]
It's amazing what little treasures you can find tucked away in the suburbs. This one's a gem. Schwerkolt Cottage is a f... [more]
Trendsetter or not, you just gotta love Chapel Street. The Windsor/Prahran end, say between Dandenong and Commercial Ro... [more]
