0 4 5 PeR - Capella Lodge

speedy
Getaways
Tired of the long haul? No matter where
you live in Australia, there’s an express overseas
escape less than five hours away.
by Chris Urankar
Supertrees in
Singapore’s
Gardens by the Bay.
LIFE etc.
Singapore
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A food-lover’s haven, this constantly
evolving metropolis is a melting pot
of cultures and a hive of activity.
Highlights: Singaporeans live and breathe
cuisine and the city does hawker and haute
equally well. Tuck into Hainanese Chicken Rice at
the Maxwell Road Hawker Centre (1 Kadayanallur
St) or indulge in European fare at Iggy’s (iggys.
com.sg), the city’s first addition to The World’s
50 Best Restaurants list. Also a must-see is Marina
Bay, home to the annual F1 Singapore Grand Prix
in September (Rihanna performs this year). Stop
by the lotus-flower-like ArtScience Museum and
shop your heart out at designer boutiques such
as Dior and Saint Laurent.
Stay: In Chinatown, opposite Hong Lim Park,
Parkroyal on Pickering is the city’s latest luxury
stay—and one of its greenest. The hotel has
earned accolades for its environmentally friendly
design; alongside 367 wood-and-stone-finished
rooms, it boasts 15,000sqm of manicured
greenery, vertical gardens and waterfalls.
while you’re there: Stay on theme with
a visit to the 22-metre-high aerial walkway in the
Gardens by the Bay (18 Marina Gardens Drive;
gardensbythebay.com.sg)—101 hectares of
plants, steel Supertrees and evening light displays.
Rooms from approx. $299 per night (incl. taxes);
parkroyalhotels.com. Singapore Airlines flies direct
to Singapore from Darwin (via SilkAir), Perth, Adelaide,
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; singaporeair.com.
A pool with
a view at
Parkroyal.
The eclectic shutter
facade of Potato
Head Beach Club.
Lagoon Access Rooms
at Le Méridien Bali
Jimbaran.
Bali
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More than 750,000 Australian visitors a year can’t be wrong. And
thanks to a host of new must-sees, Bali is more popular than ever.
Highlights: A celebrity magnet (Mila Kunis holidayed last year), Bali offers serenity
and nightlife in equal measure. By day, visit mountain village Ubud for views of
terraced rice paddies or go to Tabanan to see majestic Tanah Lot, one of the seven
sea temples dotting the island. Come nightfall, hit the cosmopolitan hub, Seminyak.
Stay: Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran, which opened in May, is a designer stay on the
peaceful south-west coast. The 118 rooms and suites blend batik motifs with plush
bedding, marble bathrooms and modern art by German artist Markus Reugels.
while you’re there: Snorkel Lembongan Island’s coral reefs and feast on
fresh seafood under the stars at Jimbaran’s famous beach restaurants. For
nightlife, sip cocktails at the Potato Head Beach Club (Jln. Petitenget, Seminyak,
ptthead.com) and dine at hot spot Mejekawi (Jalan Kayu Aya No. 9, kudeta.net).
Rooms from approx. $254 per night (incl. taxes); starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien. Virgin Australia flies direct
to Denpasar from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; virginaustralia.com.
InStyle / AUGUST 2013
187
Lagoon Beach,
Lord Howe Island.
Lord Howe Island
This pristine subtropical paradise offers a total
escape—and you won’t need your passport!
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Highlights: The remnants of a volcanic eruption more than seven million years ago, Lord
Howe has earned a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and a reputation for seclusion,
attracting celebrities like Eric Bana. Walk the island’s lush forests or take a two-hour glassbottom-boat tour (Islander Cruises, $60; 02-6563 2021) and snorkel the crystal-clear lagoon.
Stay: At the foot of a dramatic rocky alcove, Capella Lodge is the island’s premier luxury stay.
With just nine suites, it’s ideal for romantics and those seeking five-star privacy. The lodge
also boasts a spa and fine-dining restaurant. On the beachfront, family-friendly Pinetrees
Lodge runs specific packages, such as wellness and cookery weeks.
while you’re there: Cycle the island (Wilson’s Bike Hire, $10 per day; 02-6563 2045).
At 11km long and 2.8km wide, it’s an easy ride for the less athletically inclined and the reward is
an ever-changing view of the striking scenery. —BRITTANY HENDERSON
Lidgbird Pavilion,
Capella Lodge.
188 InStyle / AUGUST 2013
Capella Lodge suites from $650 per person per night (incl. breakfast, sunset drinks and canapes, dinner with selected wines
and airport transfers); lordhowe.com. Pinetrees Lodge rooms from $395 per person per night (incl. meals and airport
transfers); pinetrees.com.au. Qantas flies direct to Lord Howe Island from Brisbane and Sydney; qantas.com.
LIFE etc. travel
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Caledonia S Y D
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This heavenly slice of France in the Pacific
is also infused with indigenous culture.
Highlights: Surrounded by the world’s largest lagoon,
New Caledonia is a hit with the likes of TV presenter Natalie
Gruzlewski. Its beaches are impossibly azure, with the most popular
spots, Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons, located in the capital,
Nouméa. For a quieter experience, take a water taxi to the whitesand islets surrounding the mainland. On dry land, the iconic Tjibaou
Cultural Centre (Rue des Accords de Matignon, Tina; +687 41 45 45)
showcases a fascinating collection of art by the local Kanak people.
Stay: Suites at the Ramada Plaza Noumea in the heart of
Anse Vata offer sweeping views of the clear lagoon waters.
The 188-room hotel has luxuries such as in-room jacuzzis and
also houses an excellent French restaurant, Le 360°.
while you’re there: Indulge your Gallic spirit with a visit
to iconic gourmet store Comtesse du Barry (1 Rue Jules Garnier
Baie de l’orphelinat; comtessedubarry.com). Also stock up on
Parisian designer goods on Rue Georges Clemenceau.
Suites from approx. $189 per night (incl. taxes); ramadaplaza-noumea.co. Aircalin flies
direct to Noumea from Sydney and Brisbane; au.aircalin.com.
Tjibaou Cultural
Centre in
Nouméa.
Guam
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Micronesia’s largest island (and a US territory) offers
a surprising blend of leisure and culture.
The lush pools
at Guam’s
Hyatt Regency.
Highlights: A favourite with Anna Kournikova, Guam is also
a diver’s paradise, thanks to the island’s warm waters and famous
dive sites, including Blue Hole and the Tokai Maru and SMS
Cormoran wrecks. Keen golfers are spoilt for choice, too, with
more than five courses, while The Chamorro Village Night Market,
in the capital Hagåtña, offers an insight into the Chamorro
culture with handicrafts, traditional dancing and barbecues.
Stay: Opt for beachfront bliss at the five-star Hyatt Regency
in Tumon Bay; there are 450 ocean-facing rooms and suites,
four restaurants, three landscaped pools and a spa.
while you’re there: Guam has an ample selection of
designer boutiques so there’s no better place to indulge in
luxury labels. The “Pleasure Island” shopping strip of Pale San
Vitores Road in central Tumon is the place to pick up Vivienne
Westwood, Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Prada.
Rooms from approx. $244 per night (incl. taxes); guam.regency.hyatt.com.
United Airlines flies direct to Guam from Cairns; united.com.