EP 64 Australia's best islands, Brisbane booms and bypassing Bali belly

Love islands?  Australia has thousands of them to choose from, and Emma Shaw, author of Ultimate Islands Escapes (Hardie Grant), can help you find the island of your dreams. From such all-stars as Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays to the far-flung Cocos Keeling Islands, nearly 3000km north-west of Perth, there’s an island to suit every taste and every budget. See hardiegrantgift.com.au; @exploreshaw

Belle and Kirstie also chat about American Express Travel’s annual ‘Trending Destinations’ list – with the top global destination right here in Australia, americanexpress.com

Finally, keep your gut happy when you travel with this great tip. We’re talking the perils of earlybird dining in Spain, and at what time street eats become a bad idea, from Southern Cross Travel Insurance, scti.com.au 

And a few notes from the show this week - 

Brisbane: Gourmet Traveller magazine’s top restaurant is found in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley – visit Agnes for smoking hot wood-fire cooking,  agnesrestaurant.com.au/ More on Brisbane’s new ‘green’ bridges here smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/the-new-global-design-marvels-to-bucket-list-including-two-here-20240830-p5k6m7.html 

And Belle’s story on the ethics of swimming with whales here smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/i-swam-australia-s-humpback-highway-but-should-i-have-20240917-p5kbb7.html