Michelin Guide coming to Australia: but only one state

The world-renowned Michelin Guide is coming to Australia - but only to the state of South Australia.

The inaugural restaurant selection will be revealed in October and will span the region.

The Michelin Guide was created in 1900 by the Michelin tyre company to support the growth of automobile mobility, guiding travellers and foodies to the best restaurants. 

The restaurant selection in South Australia will be made according to the guide's historic methodology  

“South Australia offers an impressive diversity of culinary expressions within a single destination,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide. 

“The strength of its identity lies in the freedom chefs enjoy defining their own voice, guided by outstanding produce, a strong relationship to the land and a confident openness to global influences. 

"Our Inspectors were struck by the authenticity and personality of the region’s dining culture, and we are delighted to spotlight South Australia on the Michelin Guide stage.”

The arrival of the Michelin Guide in South Australia is supported by the Government of South Australia. There is always money involved. 

“We are proud to welcome the Michelin Guide to South Australia,” said the state minister for tourism Emily Bourke. 

‘Today’s announcement is a fantastic recognition of what we already know: our state sits atop the nation’s foodie must-visit list. 

"With its mix of culture, food, wine, and natural beauty, South Australia offers a vibrant calendar of food festivals and wine events, celebrating culinary excellence, from city dining experiences to regional gourmet celebrations, and we look forward to sharing this with Michelin Guide readers around the world’.

Also, South Australia does not have the long established Good Food Guides, published by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Image: South Australian capital Adelaide. Supplied. 

Sri Lanka to offer free visas to visitors from 40 nations

Sri Lanka is poised to expand its tourism appeal after its parliament approved new regulations granting free tourism visas to travellers from 40 countries.

The initiative, approved under the Immigration and Emigration Act, is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen international tourism and attract more visitors to the island nation, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Speaking in Parliament, Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, confirmed that travellers benefiting from the new free entry arrangement are from the following countries: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand.

Previously, the free visa program was limited to only seven countries: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand.

Under the new rules, eligible visitors will receive a complimentary 30-day Sri Lanka tourist visa. 

Travelers will still be required to complete all standard entry formalities, including obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), but the visa fee itself will be waived

The government says the measure is expected to result in an estimated loss of around US $75 million in visa fee revenue but officials believe the policy could attract an additional 247,000 tourists and generate roughly US $317 million in tourism earnings. 

The move comes as Sri Lanka continues efforts to strengthen its tourism recovery and position itself as one of Asia’s most accessible and attractive long-haul travel destinations.

Image: Kalkudah Beach House by Teardrop Hotels

Sunshine Coast welcomes new international hotel

Tourism continues to boom on the Sunshine Coast.

Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel opened its doors this week, marking the arrival of the first internationally branded new-build hotel in the region in more than four decades.

The opening signals a new phase for Mooloolaba, as growing domestic and international demand reshapes one of Australia’s most established coastal destinations.

Positioned on Mooloolaba Esplanade overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the 180-room hotel features open social spaces. 

Scott Wright, the hotel GM, said the opening marks the culmination of a long-term vision to elevate the Sunshine Coast experience.

“We are thrilled to welcome our first guests and deliver on our promise to bring a new level of accommodation and dining to the Sunshine Coast,” Wright said.

“Our team is ready to help guests settle in, explore the hotel and experience everything this destination has to offer.”

Craig Hooley, Chief Operating Officer of Minor Hotels Australasia, added that the opening represents a significant milestone in the group’s regional expansion strategy.

“The opening of Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel marks an important step in the continued growth of our premium brand portfolio across Australasia,” Hooley said.

"Avani Mooloolaba’s rooftop pool and terrace anchor the experience, while AvaniSpa and AvaniFit offer space to reset. 

"An Avani Experience Host is available to tailor each stay, connecting guests with curated experiences across the Sunshine Coast, from ocean activities and coastal trails to local dining and cultural touchpoints."

Dining experiences are headed by Sully’s Rooftop, the hotel’s signature restaurant under executive chef Marky Godbeer. There is also the Lobby Bar at street level. 

The timing aligns with broader investment across the region. The Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project is set to enhance the beachfront with expanded parkland and improved access, while the $170 million redevelopment of Sunshine Coast Airport will strengthen connectivity from key domestic and international markets including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland, Denpasar and Singapore.

Opening rates start from $319 per night, based on two adults sharing a deluxe king room on a bed and breakfast basis, inclusive of taxes and service charge. 

For more info see www.avanihotels.com/en/mooloolaba-beach-hotel 

Where to join Maggie Beer for a weekend of food and fun

Calling all fans of artisan food producer and cook Maggie Beer.

The kitchen veteran will host a weekend of gathering, cooking and feasting in the Barossa Valley later this month.

From May 22-24, guests at luxury The Louise retreat will share farmers market visits, cooking and hands-on food experiences with executive chef Sam Cooper and Beer in the region she calls home, while the Maggie Beer Foundation.

Maggie Beer’s Table for All will place her flavour-first philosophy at the centre of the experience, from a hosted welcome dinner at Appellation to a full day at the Maggie Beer Farm Shop and Eatery.

Guests will visit the Barossa Farmers Market, enjoy cooking demonstrations and shared lunches, and spend unhurried time in conversation with Beer, hearing stories from her early Pheasant Farm days to her current work as an advocate for better food in aged care.

‘We’re very proud to partner with Maggie Beer for the Table for All weekend, which brings together everything we love about the Barossa Valley: fabulous seasonal produce, generous hospitality and the simple joy of sitting around a table with like-minded fellow guests," says The Louise general manager Hannah McCormick.

"To be able to share this special weekend in the Barossa, and support our charity of choice, The Maggie Beer Foundation - helping fund vital work in improving food and dining in aged care through education and training - is incredibly meaningful for our team and our guests."

The experience can be extended with an optional cocktail masterclass at Barossa Gin Lab, created by Maggie’s daughter Elli Beer.

For more info check out thelouise.com.au.

Get ready for Alan Joyce in his own words

 

Love him or hate him, former Qantas chief Alan Joyce knows how to command attention. 

Now Joyce is preparing to release his autobiography: Riding The Jetstream in August. 

"Some exciting news I've been waiting a long time to share," Joyce announced on LinkedIn.

"For the past year, I've been working on a book - a memoir of my life and career. Today I can finally tell you it's real and that you can pre-order it.

"When I sat down to research and write it, I had two motivations.

"The first was to set the record straight on what actually happened during my career: the Global Financial Crisis, the grounding of the Qantas fleet in 2011, the industrial battles, the unrelenting public scrutiny, and the period that brought global travel to a standstill: COVID-19. So much was written and said in real time. I wanted to tell it as it actually unfolded, in the room, under pressure, with every decision carrying enormous consequences for tens of thousands of people.

"The second reason was more personal. I wanted to encourage young leaders to learn from my successes and my failures,  because I think that's where the real lessons sit. I grew up in a working-class home in Dublin, the son of a cleaner and a factory worker, and I found my way out through numbers: mathematics, then management science, and eventually into the complex and volatile world of aviation. Aer Lingus. Ansett. Founding Jetstar. And then, at 42, being appointed CEO of Qantas. The path from there to here was never a straight line, and it certainly wasn't easy.

"This book is also about resilience, what it actually feels like to lead through a crisis when there is no playbook. It's about leadership under genuine pressure, the kind that doesn't relent. And as one of the few openly gay CEOs in corporate Australia, it's also about what it took to use that platform for something bigger than the bottom line, including the campaign for marriage equality.

"During nearly three decades in aviation leadership, I had the privilege of working with some of the giants of the industry. And as CEO of Qantas, I worked alongside some extraordinary people whose advice, courage and commitment I will always cherish. This story belongs to them too."

Details here: https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/alan-joyce-by-alan-joyce/9781761452277

When wine goes Vivid in Sydney CBD

Sydney's winter Vivid Festival is best known for its spectacular light shows but there is also a major wine and food element to the celebrations.

The Wine Bar at The International is being billed as "the CBD's ultimate urban cellar door" over the June long weekend.

Presented by Mike Bennie, P&V Wine+Liquor Merchants and The Wine Bar's food & beverage director Alex Kirkwood and award-winning sommelier Jacqueline Turner, the one-day event brings together more than 30 winemakers and importers from across the state.

With more than 100 wines on pour in the heart of Martin Place, Cult & Classic on June 6 is all about discovering the diversity, energy and personality of contemporary NSW wine from across the state without leaving the city.

 
Expect cult producers, emerging labels, established icons, great music, immersive light installations and a festival-like atmosphere.

To keep the party going, Hey Rosey from Orange - an acclaimed regional wine bar awarded one Chef’s Hat in the 2026 Good Food Guide - will join forces with The Wine Bar’s head chef Gabriel Del Conti for a one-day-only menu of snacks and dishes not to be missed.

Carrying through from afternoon into late evening, wine lovers can then enjoy a rooftop afterparty at Panorama Bar, featuring immersive light installations and live DJs.

Wineries confirmed include: Brokenwood, Tyrrells, Vinden, Margan, Mount Pleasant, De Iuliis, M+J Becker, Sabi Wabi, Usher Tinkler, Charteris Wines, Thomas Wines, Colmar Estate, ChaLou, Mortimers, Canobolas, Mount Majura, Nick Spencer and Gilbert Wines. 

For more info see https://www.vividsydney.com/event/food/cult-classic-a-nsw-food-wine-party

Meanwhile, at its new waterfront home in Barangaroo Reserve, Vivid Fire Kitchen takes shape as one of the centrepieces of Vivid Sydney 2026 with an expanded program that brings together more than 45 culinary voices and marks the arrival of two new focal points, The Vivid Fire Pit and the Food for Thought stage.

Running every night of Vivid Sydney from May22  to June 13, 6–11pm and free to enter, Vivid Fire Kitchen is a vibrant, casual dining hub inspired by the great Aussie backyard. It will feature open-fire cooking demonstrations, talks, tastings and live music.