The Australian Women’s Weekly — August 2017

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.

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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?

1. 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.

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