One can be romantic about the good old fashioned road trip. There are no plans, no timetables and no worries. Never knowing which outcome you'll be handed though is all part of the fun.

A lunar pathway leads to a town that is Australia’s ‘Pearl of the North’, writes Paul Rush.

Kate Roff sees the desert's bizarre yet spectacular formations in a new light.

Justine Tyerman apologises for praising the Aussies...

Forget the endless dust and the dead straight roads. Liz Light discovers the beauty of the Outback the fast way.

Kellie Blizard scales inner-city cliffs and surfs sand dunes in a Brisbane adventure.

Leah McLennan spends two nights sampling the array of relaxation options on offer at Sir Richard Branson's heart-shaped Australian getaway.

Sydney Harbour is one of the great travel icons but its islands are overlooked by most visitors, writes Tom Adair.

Victoria is a trove of Australian settler history. Phil Welch falls under the spell of its meandering Murray river.

Chris Pritchard hitches a ride on Sydney's last remaining riverboat postal service.

The waters off Australia's west coast are famous for whale spotting - with good reason, writes Doug Conway.

Bliss is on tap at a world-class retreat in a remote setting, writes Amanda Linnell.

The delights of cosmopolitan Byron Bay have Sheriden Rhodes and family making a return journey.

There is something both nauseating and exhilarating about reaching the dizzying heights of a 10-metre cliff, writes Mark Tadic.

The 1200km Heysen Trail offers a taster of South Australia's many glories, writes Pamela Wade.

A close encounter of the cetacean kind endears Paul Rush to a truly special place.

New South Wales' Perisher snow resort is the largest such operation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mountain homestead lets wealthy patrons plug into the wilderness, writes Kathy Marks.

A rejuvenated rail trip between Adelaide and Melbourne trumps flying, says Gregg Tripp.

Pamela Wade tracks along the shore of the turquoise Tasman as she walks the Bay of Fires.

Riding through Snowy River country feels like a return to early Outback days, says Kate Johns.

More interested in play than pinot? The Murray River is still for you, writes Rob McFarland.

The sight of a hairy-legged spider scuttling across the bonnet of the car might have been evidence we were in the great outdoors, but something still didn't feel right.

Heather Ramsay finds pelicans, parrots and dramatic formations in West Australia.

Eveline Harvey explores the Mandurah area in Western Australia.

Experience one of the world's best drives on foot, writes Josie Stanford.

Robin Esrock holds his nerve to conquer a forest fire lookout.

Greg Dixon ponders whether to climb - or not to climb - the sacred rock called Uluru.