AUGUST 2017 AWW.COM.AU 189
WORDS BY SUE WALLACE AND MICHELLE ENDACOTT. GETTY IMAGES. ST JEROME’S PHOTOGRAPHY: TOM ROSS. MICHELLE BRIDGES: PHOTOGRAPH SUPPLIED AND USED WITH PERMISSION.
P
O
STCAR
D
FR
OM
..
.
Great
escapes
What will they think of next? For a camping experience
you will be telling your friends about, try Melbourne’s
St Jerome’s rooftop glamping. You sleep in a luxury tent
atop a city shopping centre. Prices start at $390 per night
but you do get premium linen and an esky of craft beer
and cider thrown in. Visit stjeromesthehotel.com.au.
Urban camping
The very best travel tips
from around the world.
Enjoy a rural
feeling beneath
the city lights.
How do I minimise the bill
when returning a hire car?
- Before driving off, photograph
any existing damage and get the
company to record it. 2. Be sure
your insurance covers you if
crossing borders. 3. Check how
tolls will be charged. 4. Fill the
tank before returning the car to
avoid paying inflated fuel prices.
GADGET
OF THE
MONTH
Did you know you can walk all the way up our
highest mountain? It’s a gentle 6.5km walk on
a metal path (to fight erosion) to the peak of
Mt. Kosciuszko (2228 metres). “This was an
incredible hike,” says Michelle. “We did it with
three kids and a teen! The kids still talk about
it.” Best between September and May.
Michelle
Bridges
Smart app “AroundMe” identifies where
you are and lists the nearest bank, bar,
petrol station, hotel, cinema, restaurant,
supermarket, theatre and taxi.
Clean, safe water is vital when
hiking. The LifeStraw filtration
system means you can drink
from any waterway without risk.
The steel version is $54.95 – and
LifeStraw donates to a water
project for children in developing
communities. Visit lifestraw.com.
On a wing and prayer
The Skip-the-Line tour at the Vatican has
just been named the world’s most booked
tour by TripAdvisor. It fast tracks you into
the Sistine Chapel and other wonders,
saving hours of waiting. Prices start at
$90 and it’s not a bad deal, considering
around 17,000 people visit each day.
[ Travel news ]