Travelling Simply

Travel recommendations, ideas and observations from two simple travellers

Category: Where to stay (Page 1 of 2)

Beachside at Kingscliff, New South Wales
Beachside at Kingscliff

The best places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales

23/04/2023 / / 1 Comment

Our love of leisurely road trips allowed us to break the 10-11 hour drive from southeast Queensland to the Blue Mountains with some stops and a couple of overnight stays. Below are our suggestions for places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales.

Route options

With several route options available, our road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales was to be on the inland route with two overnight stays. The first was in the inland Scenic Rim town of Stanthorpe, and the second was in Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth.

Our plans rapidly changed when an oil tanker rollover blocked the highway. After sitting in a traffic jam for several hours, a quick decision was made to re-route and take the coastal road.

Phone calls were made on the go to cancel and make new accommodation bookings. We were glad to have taken the “Free cancellation” option on our original bookings

More traffic delays and we finally arrived at our overnight destination seven hours after leaving home. The drive would usually take two hours!

Hint: Travelling teaches you to be flexible and agile and enjoy the experience, even if it’s not what you expected.

The best places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales

An overnight stay in Kingscliff

Only a couple of hours of relaxed driving from Brisbane and just over the Queensland border is the coastal town of Kingscliff.

Kingscliff is not just a place to stop over on the way south, it’s a beautiful holiday destination in its own right and perfect for short or long stayovers. We have enjoyed short stay breaks in the laidback atmosphere that comes from one street town.

Kingscliff
Pretty parklands across from Kingscliff’s main street

The “welcome drinks” at Peppers Salt Resort were extremely welcome and within moments of check-in, we had put the day behind us, were relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening.

A short stroll to the adjoining Salt Village and we are spoilt for choice by the dining options: Asian, Mexican, Italian, or simple fish and chips. For those staying for a few days, treat yourself to the spa or shop in the boutiques. Then, of course, there’s the beach!

Beachside at Kingscliff, New South Wales
Beachside at Kingscliff

Our misfortunes of the day changed to a fortune of a relaxed evening at the resort.

Hint: When you leave Kingscliff, drive south along the scenic coast road through Cabarita Beach, a small beachside village.

Stretching out legs at Nambucca Heads

The highway has dramatically improved. over the years. There is no longer the need to drive through small towns at limited speeds. Now you can pick and choose which towns you wish to detour into or turn on cruise control and keep driving.

We choose to stop at the scenic Nambucca Heads for lunch. We discover Gordon Park on the river. It’s a peaceful spot to stretch your legs and grab lunch and coffee—a fantastic place to take a break.

Gordons Park, Nambucca Heads. New South Wales, Australia
Tranquil Gordons Park, Nambucca Heads

Overnight stay in Port Macquarie

We arrived in Port Macquarie with fond memories of a stay during another road trip many years ago when we had arrived fresh from New Zealand to make our home in Australia. Arriving in the early afternoon allowed us time to do a little exploring. The best way was on foot.

We began our brisk walk from the town centre along the Coastal Walk. The painted rocks at the breakwall capture our intention. The painted rocks started as an art competition in 1995. and have become a gallery of sorts: tributes to loved ones who have passed away; celebrations of love and; anniversaries amongst others. Our walk is slowed down to a stroll as we stop, read, and admire the artwork.

At Town Beach, the artwork ends and our pace quickens. We aim to walk to the Lighthouse, but time is not on our side and we turn back at Nobby Head after a walk of breathtaking rough and rugged scenery.

Views on the Coastal Walk, Port Macquarie, Australia
Views on the Coastal Walk

After several hours of exploring we are back at our hotel to shower and enjoy a drink at the bar before walking the short distance into the town centre to choose somewhere for dinner. Again, we are spoilt for choice and decide on a simple pizza dinner.

The Blue Mountains

A World Heritage area, Blue Mountains National Park is one of Australia’s icons. You’ll be enchanted by its natural wonders. Explore the endless hiking trails around cliffs, canyons, waterfalls and lush forests of the national park by spending a few days in the area.

Views from the Skyway across the Jamison Valley, Blue Mountains
Views from the Skyway across the Jamison Valley, Blue Mountains

Read our post for more details on the things you can do in the Blue Mountains.

Other places to stop on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales

Of course, depending on how much time you have, there are numerous stops and stays to make on a road trip from Brisbane to New South Wales. A few suggestions are below. We stayed at a couple on our return journey.

  • Byron Bay
  • Ballina
  • Yamba
  • Coffs Harbour
  • Port Stephens and Nelson Bay
  • The Hunter Valley

Why you shouldn’t leave southern Spain without visiting Ronda

06/01/2023 / / 2 Comments

Planning on visiting Malaga or Seville? Read on to find out why you shouldn’t leave southern Spain without visiting Ronda.

Southern Spain is speckled with pueblo blancos (white towns). Each has its own character and it’s hard not to get caught up visiting all of them. If you’re short on time, Ronda is the one town to visit.

Why you shouldn’t leave southern Spain without visiting Ronda

We chose Ronda as our base for several days because of its point of difference from the other white villages.

Steeped in history, the city sits on two sides of a deep gorge connected by a fantastic bridge—the bridge, Puento Nuevo (new bridge) was built in 1793.

Our apartment was located in Plaza Espana next to Puento Nuevo, with an added “wow” factor. Our expansive patio looked out over the magnificent Sierra de las Nieves! The Tourist Office around the corner from our apartment armed us with a map and options on how to spend our time in the town.

Views to the Sierra de las Nieves from Ronda
Views of the Sierra de las Nieves from our apartment patio

We were fortunate to arrive on a Saturday when a free flamenco concert was being held in Ronda’s Old Town.

A summer evening in Ronda

The views from both sides of the bridge are dramatic, and it is the first place to stop to soak in the scenery before you explore the old town.

In the Old Town, we followed the sound of music down some cobblestone alleys to appear at an open-air area where the rehearsal was in progress. Moving on, we stopped in a pretty square to visit the cathedral, Santa Maria de la Mayor. An added pleasure was watching a wedding party emerge.

The plaza offers several restaurants if you’d like to eat in the quiet precinct. We opted for the low-key garden restaurant to try a few of the local dishes on offer. The food portions are large and delicious.

Back at the concert venue, we found the seats were filling up fast. Instead of sitting down with the audience, we decided to sit on the ledge above to watch people and observe. By 10:00 pm, the arena was full. Concertgoers came dressed for the occasion and the atmosphere was jovial as the concert commenced.

We left after an hour, wishing we understood the language better so we could have enjoyed the music, singing and dancing as much as the locals did.

The Cathedral was spectacularly lit up as we passed by on the way back to our apartment. At 11:30 pm. townsfolk were still out and about in droves, and the town was buzzing. Just one of the benefits of visiting in the summer months.

Things to do in incredible Ronda

Enjoy the dramatic views from Mirador Aldehuela

Mirador Aldehuela is on the Old Town side of Puento Nuevo and directly opposite Plaza Espana. We recommend that it’s one of the first things you do. The dramatic views down to the Guadelevin River flowing at the bottom of the gorge surrounded by the cliff formations are jaw-dropping.

Views of the gorge, Ronda, Spain
Views of the gorge from Mirador Aldehuela

Take in the evening views of Puento Nuevo

For another perspective of Puento Nuevo, stroll along Mirador de Aves via the pathway from Plaza Espana in the evening.

It’s a great place to linger as the sun goes down. As darkness falls and the lights around the gorge turn on, highlighting the bridge. The bridge looked spectacular, and the gorge seemed rather eery.

Puento Nuevo, Ronda at night
Puento Nuevo, Ronda at night

Take a hike in the El Tajo Gorge

Morning dawned with hot air balloons hovering over our balcony. They skimmed across the sky to hover above the gorge and valley. The views must be unique from above.

The Tourist Office recommended hiking the Molinos del Tajo route, which leads down from the Old Town into the El Tajo Gorge. This would be the best way to experience the town’s distinctive qualities. We took their recommendation and were not disappointed.

Views of Ronda's Puento Nuevo from the El Tajo Gorge
Views of Ronda’s Puento Nuevo from the El Tajo Gorge

The main path takes you to the waterfall just below the bridge with some viewpoints providing breathtaking views of the bridge. You can then walk some of the quieter paths leading further downhill to capture bridge views from different angles before circumnavigating to the other side of town towards the old Roman bridge and visiting the Arab Baths. We returned to the township via Jardines de Cuenca, and the spectacular viewpoints spread at intervals across the gardens before emerging in Plaza Espana from the other end of the Puento Nuevo.

The early morning is the perfect time to do the two-hour walk, especially if you are visiting in summer. The temperature is cool, and, at this time of the day, there are not many people on the trails. It provides a wonderful opportunity to savour the views from the lookouts and take unobstructed photos.

Step inside the Arab Baths and walk over the Roman Bridge

If you follow the walking route around to the eastern side of the town, you’ll end up at the Arab Baths.

Relatively intact, the baths provide a peek into the Moorish heritage of the town. This part of town was originally the main entrance into Ronda, and the baths sat just outside the city walls and next to the Mosque. Locals and visitors would stop to cleanse their bodies at the baths before going to the Mosque

A little further around the corner, you’ll find more another remnant of old Ronda with the Roman Bridge at the original entrance to Ronda.

The Roman Bridge, Ronda, Spain
A couple look over the Arab bath site from the old Roman Bridge

Visit the Plaza de Toros

One of the oldest in Spain, Ronda’s bullring stands as a centrepiece as you enter the Old Town. Two statues honouring two sons of the town stand at the entrance. Statues honouring two of the town’s famous matadors, a father (Antonio Ordonez) and son (Cayetano Ordonez) stand proudly at the entrance. With bullfighting falling out of favour in recent times, the bullring serves mainly as a museum these days. Bullfighting is, however, embedded in the culture of the town and once a year in September, the Plaza de Toros truly comes to life when the Feria de Pedro Romero is held along with several others in southern Spain.

The bullring, Plaza de Toros, Ronda, Spain
Ronda’s bullring, Plaza de Toros

Mirador de Ronda – scenic lookout of the gorge and mountains

A few minutes’ stroll from Plaza Espana, and through the flower gardens is another lookout to the amazing mountain ranges and the gorge. For spectacular sunset views, take a seat on the steps of the rotunda from where you can watch one of the world’s best sunsets.

Visit Setenil de las Bodegas

The small white village of Setenil de las Bodegas is a twenty-minute drive from Ronda and worth a visit whether you are staying in Ronda or just hopping from one white town to another on your way through southern Spain.

Why? Setenil is not just another white village and is unique in its own right for the town’s hilltop castle, which was once an Arab fortress. Even more, it is famous because of the village houses built into the rock and cliffside.

Setenil de las Bodegas
Dwellings built into the cliff face in Setenil de las Bodegas

The village is very popular for its culinary fare. The original houses built into the cliff are now mostly tavernas or restaurants serving the chorizo sausages that the village is famous for. We arrived in the village for a late afternoon visit to find the village still brimming with tourists.

Once you’ve had a wander around the area below, follow the steps up to a small lookout to take a seat and survey the pueblo from above. You’ll find it a great vantage point to view the castle/fortress.

Setenil de las Bodegas lookout, Ronda, Spain
Views of the castle and township from the lookout

Shopping on Carrera Espinel

Carerra Espinel is a one-kilometre pedestrian street with shopping for all budgets. However, Carrera Espinel is worth a walk down for its festive spirit. Part of the way along veer into the pretty Plaza del Socorro, where you’ll find a few dining options and the Inglesia del Sirocco. It’s a pretty square in an incredible town!

Plaza del Socorro, Ronda, Spain
Plaza del Socorro, Ronda, Spain

Our conclusion

Steeped in history and jaw-dropping scenery, Ronda was true to all that we had read about the town and the amazing photography we had seen when researching places to visit in southern Spain. Ronda did not disappoint!

You simply should not leave southern Spain without visiting Ronda!

One more thing

Looking for more pueblo blancos to visit. Click on the link below to read more.

See the unique and stunning white villages of southern Spain

Visiting Croatia? Be sure to include Zagreb in your itinerary

14/07/2019 / / 0 Comments

We clear Croatian border control and follow our trusty GPS, acres of fields and pastures flanking us on both sides of the road. The signage is clear and we continue our leisurely pace enjoying the scenery.

We know we are close to the city as the traffic becomes heavier but are surprised when the GPS suddenly comes to life, reminding us that our turn is up ahead. Why are we surprised? We have booked to stay in the centre of the city and there is no sign of city life even though the GPS tells us we are only a couple of kilometres from our destination!

“You have arrived at your destination on your right”, says the confident voice of the GPS as we pull up in front of a small farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. The address list is retrieved from the bag. Yes, we have plugged in the right address! If all else fails, enter the GPS coordinates and this confirms our suspicions; we are still another 30 minutes from our destination!

The Croatian capital city, Zagreb, is often bypassed by travellers who are lured to the popular cities of Split and Dubrovnik and an island or two off the coast for the ultimate Croatian experience.

We second guess ourselves as we drive into the city passing row upon row of utilitarian apartment buildings from the communist era. The roads are wide and easy to navigate but there doesn’t seem to be any old-world charm in sight.

Early impressions are quickly dispelled when a turn or two later, we are in the heart of Donji Grad, Zagreb’s historic Lower Town. Our host, “call me Porchca” is waiting to guide us into the no access area and into the apartment’s private parking area. We are not disappointed by our choice of accommodation, it is a spacious and cosy apartment just metres away from cafes and restaurants and beautiful green spaces. Bustling Jelacic Square is only a few hundred metres further.

Our highlights (in no particular order):

  • Enjoying outdoor music and activity in Park Zrinjevac, a beautiful green space in the Lower Town and just metres from our apartment which has been transformed into a night festival with food stalls and live music. No crowds and very family-friendly.

Park Zrinjevac

Summer festival in Park Zrinjevac

  • Watching international performers entertain larger audiences with classical concerts and dancing on the main stage in Jelacic Square.

Jelacic Square, Zagreb, Croatia

Evening entertainment in Jelacic Square

  • A morning walk to the expansive Maksimir Park in the middle of Zagreb through the streets and local markets peeking into doorways and shops along the way. An opportunity to observe the people of Zagreb go about their daily business. We remember a lovely older woman stopping to make sure we were okay as we tried to reorientate ourselves in a marketplace. She spoke no English and us, no Croatian.
  • An afternoon exploring Gornji Grad (Upper Town), strolling along the almost empty cobblestone streets and similarly empty St Mark’s Square allowing us to appreciate the beautiful St Mark’s Church and its multi-coloured tiled roof.

St Mark's Church, St Mark's Square, Gornji Grad, Zagreb,Croatia

St Mark’s Church with its distinctive tiled roof

  • People watching around the vibrant Dolac fruit and vegetable market.

Dolac Markets, Zagreb

The wonderful array of fresh produce at the markets

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  • A visit to the Museum of Broken Relationships. Set in a baroque palace in the Upper Town. The brainchild of a couple who remained friends after their own relationship had broken down, the couple started collecting anonymous donations of relics from Zagreb residents whose relationships had suffered a similar fate and created this interesting concept. Sounds a little quirky but well worth a visit.

Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb, Croatia

For a capital city, Zagreb still maintains a small-town feel and without the usual summer crush of tourists, we were able to wander about the Lower and Upper Towns freely.

All in all our time in Zagreb was a greater pleasure than Split or Dubrovnik.

P.S. – Our recommendations:

Located in the heart of the Lower Town, Apartment Atrium Plaza was the perfect place to stay. Newly renovated, clean and spacious, within walking distance of all attractions, numerous dining options outside the secure compound and superb hosts.

Exploring the streets a short distance from Park Zrinjevac, we found a wonderful place to have dinner. Heritage serves traditional Croatian food in the form of street food. Their menu offers the opportunity to try dishes from all the regions in Croatians accompanied by local wines and craft beers.

Have a spare day to kill? Take a day trip to the charming city of Ljubljana in Slovenia only two hours away by car and about the same by train. Explore the old city known for its beautiful bridges, green spaces, lively marketplace and Romanesque architecture. Then, take a leisurely drive back to Zagreb on the back roads which wind through some of the most picturesque scenery we have seen in Europe.

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Treviso, the “little Venice” of Italy

19/01/2019 / / 1 Comment

We are winding our way to Milan in the dying weeks of our holiday. Do we visit Venice on our way?

We have appreciated and enjoyed its uniqueness on a previous visit when it was early summer and already busy with tourists and holidaymakers.

Were either of us keen to go back? The answer is a resounding “no”. It will be more fun to explore unknown territory to see more of what Italy has to offer “off the beaten track”.

We settle on spending a few days in Treviso; a pleasant day’s drive from Pula in Croatia via Trieste. “Nothing to see there but the airport!” advised a kind-hearted colleague when He shared this plan. This immediately prompted a Google Search; a closer look at our trusty Lonely Planet and DK Eyewitness travel books. Everything looked okay and we decided to take the risk.

From Trieste, our mostly reliable GPS (programmed to avoid toll roads) took us to Treviso on the quieter and more scenic route, the food bowl of northern Italy. We leisurely drove kilometre after kilometre along roads surrounded by vineyards and farmland trying to distinguish what the crops were.

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The ornate entrance to the walled Italian city of Treviso, also known as “Little Venice” because of its canals.

It was late afternoon when we entered the walled city of Treviso, completely unaware of what was in store for us!

Treviso is not just another quaint Italian city. Treviso is:

  • the home of the Luciano Benetton, the founder of the fashion brand United Colors of Benetton – visit their flagship store in the central piazza (I have a number of Benetton items in my wardrobe)
  • the home of the highest quality Prosecco wines. The region is renowned for the highest quality Prosecco wines and only wines grown in the area can claim to be Prosecco (we love our Prosecco)
  • the home of Pinarello bike (cycling enthusiasts will know what this means)
  • the birthplace of one of Italy’s most delectable of Italian desserts, Tiramisu.
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The flagship store of United Colors of Benetton in Treviso’s Piazza Indipendenza

Treviso has more to offer! The city is the little-hidden treasure that few tourists have discovered. Known as the “Little Venice”, Treviso has none of the grandeur of Venice but is equally enticing for those who have already visited Venice and are looking for a more tourist-free experience. Instead of over-priced coffee, the Veneto tourist traps and throngs of tourists queuing for photo opportunities wander along Treviso’s more quaint canals, cobbled and narrow winding streets, wander into the churches and cathedrals, enjoy a coffee or pre-dinner aperitif in the central piazza and watch the locals living life! And, if you want a photo opportunity, stroll to Dantes Bridge.

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Dantes Bridge and the canals of Treviso

There’s an added bonus for us. We have arrived during one of the highlights of Treviso’s summer, the “Suoni Di Marca” – 18 days of concerts, performance, markets, food and wine on the city walls are held every summer. Free outdoor concerts are common in cities and towns throughout Europe over the summer months.

Each evening after dinner, we joined the locals milling about on the ramparts until late evening waiting for the concerts to start on the large stage set up on the corner tower. The Bueno Vista Social Club had the crowd (including us) jiving to their catchy Cuban salsa music one evening.

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Grup Compay Secundo (the Buena Vista Social Club) performing at Suoni di Marca in Treviso, 2018

For those of you who disembark at Treviso’s airport and rush straight to Venice, plan to stay a day two in Treviso next time to enjoy the charm of this under-rated city and the hospitality of its citizens. If you are arriving in Venice, then at least make time for a day trip before the secret is out.

P.S
We stayed at Brick House. Our apartment was well appointed inside the walls of the medieval city, clean and spacious with generous amenities. Our host, Alberto was very gracious and a mine of information sitting down with us on our arrival to consider our interests and share ideas on what we should see and do during our stay in Treviso, including providing options on local restaurants where we could appreciate local cuisine.

On our first evening, we enjoyed a delicious pizza and pasta meal at La Giaconda on Viale Frà Giocondo located not far from the Brick House in front of the city walls. Alissia was very helpful by translating the Italian menu for us and very accommodating to our dietary requirements.

On another evening, we enjoyed cocktails and a pasta dinner at a trattoria recommended by Alberto of the Brick House, Trattoria Hesperia. The trattoria is well-known for its simple but tasty traditional Apulian dishes which are made with fresh local produce.

La Beccherie is the birthplace of the Italian dessert, Tiramisu. Unfortunately, it was closed for a much deserved holiday break during our visit. However, I am sure we will be visiting Treviso again to make sure we taste the real thing. If you visit Treviso and try their tiramisu before we do or been there and tried it before, leave us a comment below and tell us what you think.

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