Adults-only Fiji resort offers holiday deal

Fancy a tropical pre- or post-Christmas escape?

If you are looking for a good deal on a luxury retreat, then one of Fiji's top adults-only resorts might be able to tempt you.

Stay five nights at Lomani Island Resort & Spa in Fiji's Mamanuca Islands and pay for four, saving 20% on your accommodation.

The offer includes daily breakfast, an outer-reef snorkelling trip, a dolphin safari, hand-line fishing, a village tour and kava tasting. Guests also receive free wifi, bottled water, evening turndown service and a Lomani beach bag.

The offer is valid for stays from November 1 to December 20, 2026, and January 4 to March 31, 2027. 

It costs from FJ$5440 ($3485) for five nights. But you'll need to book by August 31 using code LIR0726.

See www.lomaniisland.com

Chianti calls out to wine lovers

There can be little argument that Tuscany is one of the most beautiful wine regions on the planet.

Or that sangiovese-driven Chianti Classico is one of the most food friendly red wines.

Wine-loving travellers can experience both from September 10-13 when the delightful small town of Greve in Chianti welcomes the return of Expo Chianti Classico.

Held in the heart of Tuscany, the event is billed as one of the most important events dedicated to the iconic Tuscan wine, the Italian National Tourist Board reports.

Visitors are invited to meet winemakers from across the Chianti Classico territory, taste local wines and discover the vineyards, cellars and traditions behind every glass.

Throughout the festival, Greve comes alive with wine tastings, cultural events, local traditions and opportunities to meet the producers, all surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Tuscan countryside.

For more details see https://www.expochianticlassico.com/en

Image: Visit Chianti 

A by Adina offers tech-driven city centre living

 

Location is everything when choosing a hotel.

If you are planning meetings in the Sydney CBD then you probably don't want to be staying in Bondi, or Coogee, nice as those beach suburbs are.

If you want to enjoy Chinatown, the historic Rocks district and the Sydney Opera House, then a hotel in Parramatta is not appropriate.

A by Adina in Sydney is ideally located for just about all the city's main business and tourism destinations. 

It is directly opposite Wynyard station - a 15-minute train ride from the airport - within a short stroll of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay and The Rocks, and there is a light rail stop just 50 metres from the entrance. 

You'll enter via a walkway - with reception located on level 21 of the building. 

The accommodation is apartment style with our cosy, high-tech bedroom adjoining a living area with plenty of space to stretch out and enjoy a movie or a cocktail. We did both. 

The by A by Adina brand was launched by TFE Hotels in 2021 aimed at both corporate and lifestyle travellers. It's like having your own city crash pad. 

Team members are, sadly, known as curators, with each adopting a concierge approach. 

Very good most of them are, too, with the exception of the slow-moving and clearly uninterested breakfast room attendants. It's hard to be grumpy, though, after a night in one of the super comfy Dreamcatcher beds - and the a la carte breakfasts are very good.   

Rooms - ours was  a one-bedroom king apartment - are well thought-out with designer amenities, and clever interior design - you've got to love electric blinds and curtains. 

There's unlimited free wifi, a well-stocked mini bar, coffee machines & pods, a tea selection, Smart TV with Chromecast and plenty of power points and USB sockets. 

There is 24-hour reception, so someone is always on hand, in this case right downstairs from the excellent Dean & Nancy on 22 cocktail bar. 

There is also a swimming pool and fully equipped gym. 

In a first for TFE Hotels, A by Adina is using an integrated control system that seamlessly readies any one of its 194 apartments (82 studio, 104 one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom apartments) with air con and blinds the moment guests commence check in. Nice. 

A by Adina Sydney, 2 Hunter St, Sydney 2000. See https://abyadina.com/en/luxury-hotels/sydney

* The writer was a guest of TFE Hotels 

Perth Gin Festival returns for spirit lovers

 

Calling all lovers of spirits and cocktails. 

The Perth Gin Festival returns for the sixth time later this month, taking over the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30.

This year, distillers from around Australia will be bringing not only their gin but also a range of other spirits, including whisky, rum, vodka, tequila and liqueurs.

A ticket gives hundreds of spirit samples to choose from (be an adult please), a tasting cup, Long Rays tonic and soda mixer samples, and a tote bag. 

The event is an opportunity to chat and taste with 40 Aussie craft distillers who will talk about how they make their gin (and other spirits) while you taste. Bottles will also be available for sale to take home.

There will also be a selection of artisanal food samples to enjoy while you sip, plus other food options to purchase. Ticket bundles are available. 

The event features two specialty masterclasses from Adelaide distiller Heaps Good and Victoria’s Heathcote Gin, while the Long Rays mixers stand will give audiences a demonstration of how to best use tonic and soda in their drinks.

You can Book here.

Looking for a private Hunter Valley getaway?

 Looking for a private Hunter Valley vineyard getaway for a family weekend? 

Hunter Valley Stays has just added The White House at Pooles Rock in Pokolbin to its portfolio of wine region accommodation options. 

The cute property has three bedrooms. 2.5 bathrooms and is a short stroll from the Pooles Rock cellar door and the Hunters Quarter gourmet complex. It sleeps up to six people.

Described as "private wine country retreat", The White House is a restored Federation-style cottage "where classic country interiors are paired with relaxed, refined luxury."

The bedrooms offer uninterrupted vineyard views and the property is just a short drive from several of the Hunter's best tasting rooms and restaurants. It is fully equipped.

As the afternoon light fades, drinks on the private verandah sound like a good idea. 

Tariffs start from: Weekend - minimum 2 nights, six guests from $895 per night (Thursday-Sunday). Midweek - minimum 2 nights, six guests from $672 per night (Monday-Wednesday). 

To celebrate the launch of The White House on Hunter Stays, guests will receive a complimentary bottle of Pooles Rock wine on arrival, complimentary wine tastings at Pooles Rock cellar door, 15% off Pooles Rock cellar door experiences and free bottle of Hunter Valley olive oil.

You can find out more at https://www.huntervalleystays.com.au/hunter-valley-accommodation/the-whitehouse-at-pooles-rock-pokolbin

An authentic taste of Italy landed in Redfern

 

When a pizza joint is packed to the rafters on a chilly midweek evening that is a very good sign.

When you sit down and are surrounded by various Italian accents and dialects, that is almost certainly a harbinger of good things. 

And so it proves at Regina La Pizzeria, a candidate for Sydney's best pizza place, in the emerging foodie destination of Wunderlich Lane, where Surry Hills meets Redfern at the intersection of Cleveland and Crown Streets.

Earlier this year, Regina La Pizzeria was awarded 3 slices in the Gambero Rosso Pizzerie d’Italia guide, becoming the only Sydney venue to receive the publication’s highest recognition 

Co-owner Matteo Ernandez, originally from the island of Lampedusa, off Sicily, was the only Australian pizza chef included in the Best Pizza Awards 2026 - The Ones to Watch, announced in Milan in June.  

Co-founder Michela Boncagni, a qualified sommelier, oversees the broader guest experience at Regina, spanning an Italian-accented wine list, and very friendly service. There is genuine hospitality on offer here. 

Before Regina, Ernandez (above) led kitchens as head pizzaiolo at Da Orazio and Matteo Double Bay.

At Regina, he works with high-hydration doughs built on a blend of semolina, tipo 1 flour, and wheat germ, using a biga recipe to achieve what he defines as a “young but expressive” dough.

We perched at the bar table overlooking the open kitchen as Matteo and his team produced a formidable array of pizza styles. 

And while pizza remains the core of the offering, the venue has evolved beyond the traditional pizzeria format, with a broader menu of hand-made pasta and seasonal dishes supported by an Italian-focused wine and cocktail program.  

At the centre of Regina’s kitchen is a dough-focused philosophy, where hydration, fermentation and baking are carefully controlled to prioritise consistency, lightness and structure. 

A key part of this approach is Ernandez's use of Molino Casillo flour, chosen for its emphasis on preserving the character of the wheat itself. 

Regina uses Australia’s first Fazzone oven (above), a traditional Italian wood-fired oven built brick by brick in Naples, reassembled in Sydney and designed specifically for contemporary-style pizza.

There are traditional favourites, along with Pan Baked Pizza (padellino), cooked in small round metal pans rather than directly on stone. 

Twice-Cooked Pizza, meanwhile, combines frying and baking techniques to create a pizza that is crisp on the outside while remaining light and airy inside.

On Tuesdays, Regina hosts Scrocchiarella pizza nights, showcasing the traditional Roman-style pizza known for its signature crunch. 

The wine list focuses on Italian producers and native varietals. We tried a San Lorenzo di Vera Rosata, a montepulciano, sangiovese blend from the Marche, and a deliciously dry and savoury Emilio Schiacca Rossobrillo Nero d'Avola from the slopes of Mount Etna.   

The same dough style also carries through to Regina’s chocolate padellino dessert, combining chocolate chips, vanilla mascarpone, mixed berries and hazelnuts.

We were, sadly, pizzaed out by this time, but did find just enough space for some delicious Sicilian-style cannoli (above) with ricotta, chocolate, and candied orange. 

Easy to recommend this place.

 Regina La Pizzeria Wunderlich Lane, Redfern, Sydney. https://www.reginalapizzeria.com

* The writer was hosted by Regina La Pizzeria