EAT
There’s almost a guarantee that everything pulled from the waters around Kimberley Coastal Camp is going to taste delicious.
But when you’re able to match the huge freshly caught tiger prawns, pacific oysters, mud crabs and barramundi with the sublime cooking of the camp’s manager Jules Van Duuren, you get an unrivalled sea-to-table experience that just doesn’t exist anywhere else in Australia.
Thankfully, Jules and her husband Tubs have decided it is time to let us all in on a few of their kitchen secrets with their newly released cookbook, Cooking in Thongs.
WHY?
Because fish and prawns always taste better with sand between your toes.
HOW MUCH?
AU$95.
SLEEP
If you had to condense all your wildest fishing charter, luxury holidays and foodie dreams into a single experience, this new seven-night liveaboard on the 80-foot Savannah expedition ship in the Torres Strait can do it all.
Cruising around Ashmore Reef in the remote Coral Sea, a mere 15-kilometres from the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea, this new Mothership charter from East Coast Angling sleeps up to nine guests with a crew of six. Want for nothing with your five-star chef and experienced guides. But the key standout of this new experience is the type of fishing you'll do. East Coast Angling Founder, Nick Milford, recognised that the bottom fishing which other charters were offering on the Great Barrier Reef was not sustainable, so these trips focus on only top water and saltwater fly fishing, ensuring the best post-capture fish survival rate.
WHY?
It’s not often you can get pure luxury with a sustainable heart.
HOW MUCH?
From AU$7,950 per person.
CHARTERS
The famous flats of Hervey Bay and it’s unique surrounding topography make it one of the only known places in the world where you can actually see juvenile black marlin cruising in a calm, pristine wedge of turquoise sea.
It’s quite the sight and in a spot better known as the gateway to Fraser Island - only 300 kilometres north of Brisbane - it is also home to the new Hervey Bay Sport Fishing Charters. The customisable trips allow you to fully explore the birthplace of flats fishing in Australia and in the summer months. Along with the aforementioned juvenile marlin, you’ll also head out with experienced local guides along the Fraser Coast to tail golden trevally, queenfish and longtail tuna. This really is the epicentre and the unofficial crossover point of Australia’s southern and northern fish species.
WHY?
Nowhere else can you get such a truly diverse and affordable charter experience with so many different species.
HOW MUCH?
Charters start from AU$450 per person.
GEAR
BUILT FOR THE LONG CAST
There are some cameras you take on holidays, others you might take to a party, but there’s only one camera you should be taking with you on your next fishing trip to Tasmania’s central lakes or Victoria’s wild alpine region.
VIDEO BY MICHAEL HURREN
The OM-D E-M5 Mark III is built to withstand even the toughest and wettest outdoor conditions. Don’t let the lightweight and compact design fool you, there’s a whole lot of gadgetry packed into this pint-sized machine. The auto focus of the E-M5 Mark III rivals Olympus’ higher end camera models and with the ability to also record video in 4K, you won’t feel like a complete fish out of water when it comes to documenting your weekend fishing adventure. So whether you’re wading up a tight river or shooting a brown trout launching itself for a fly, you’re going to want this piece of kit in your tackle box. After all, if there is no photo, did you even catch anything?
From AU$1,549
KEEN SOLR
Sea. Ocean. Lake. River. The SOLR sandals are one of our favourite water-babies and go all in on your adventures. This high-performance water sandal has serious grip with KEEN’s Aquagrip outsole to help keep things less slippery when wet. That means, when you’re trying to catch a big one, you’re not held back by a slippery boat deck. The SOLR has also been consciously constructed with webbing that has recycled plastic fibres. We give this shoe an A+ for its all-day, guaranteed comfiness. The EVA Footbed promises you arch support and the midsole is designed with lightweight cushioning, a.k.a., when you’re not sitting down, you’ll be downright comfortable standing up.
From AU$79.99
OLUKAI HOKUA
The Hokua is a shoe we want you to get wet. At OluKai, our origins are in crafting shoes that combine durability for the those who love water and the ocean lifestyle. We believe no matter where you are, everybody can live aloha (love and fellowship). The Hokua brings this to life, inspired by the strength of the sea and is tough enough to take on any water adventure. The upper is designed with water-resistant materials and quick-drying jersey knit lining. The Hokua has also been crafted so you can easily transition from a day on the boat fishing, to enjoying drinks by the water with family and friends.
From AU$71.99
BLACKWOLF COOLER
With over 20 years of experience, the team at BlackWolf know how to make outdoor gear that lasts. Newly released, the hardside coolers have been built for the Australian climate and tough conditions. They've also been put to the test to make sure no matter how hot or where you are, they’ll live up to your adventure. All coolers are built fully insulated and guaranteed to keep everything cold - whether that’s your food and drinks for the day, or what you catch! Not only that, they're developed from high quality materials for people who only want to buy once and not contribute to landfill with cheap, throw-away products.
From AU$254.99
KNOG BILBY
The Bilby headlamp, designed by Knog in Australia, is considered the world's most powerful silicone headlamp. It's not just marketing lingo either - it's backed up by the tech. With an output of 400-lumens, five hour runtime on full power and five LEDs, it's for your serious outdoor enthusiast. Your choice of lights is really what makes this headlamp a standout (literally). You get your classic high, mid and wide angle beams plus a red light for your adventures at night - because we know the best experiences happen when you least expect it. You can also use Knog’s own app to purposefully customise your Bilby mode, so you can create a headlamp that is built exactly to your needs.
From AU$99.99
GREAT FISHING ADVENTURES OF AUSTRALIA
The diversity of Australia’s fishing experiences is as vast as the country itself
