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Postcards - Season Episode 15 - Season , Episode 15
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00:00Hello and welcome to Postcards. Today I'm in Hillsville exploring the beautiful Yarra Valley.
00:06More on that later, but first let's check in with the team and see what they're up to this week.
00:11Madeline is up north soaking up some Queensland sunshine and sugary treats.
00:15We take a foodie tour of St Kilda and Sammy J is back, this time taking in the sights and
00:21lights of Mildura.
00:32Whether it's a holiday, a sea change or a tree change, the draw of sunny Queensland is undeniable.
00:41And while I'm all about the beach, it's the hinterland perched high above the Sunshine Coast that really shines.
00:48With panoramic views and the stunning Glasshouse Mountains, this area is dotted with dozens of charming villages,
00:55just like Mullaney, 40km inland from Maroochydore.
01:00Like so many rainforest villages, Mullaney is full of artsy cafes and cute boutiques,
01:06and there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat.
01:10But if you're a sweet tooth like me, I hear wit and whimsy is an absolute must.
01:15As the name suggests, this adorable cafe is a whimsical slice of hinterland heaven.
01:23It's a simple but stunning little menu full of snacks and sweets,
01:27all served up with a delightful side of sunny coast smiles.
01:32It smells amazing in there and it feels so welcoming.
01:36You can always tell a place is great when it's buzzing like this.
01:40It is a hit with the locals, so when in Rome, or Mullaney, girls, can I please have a piece
01:46of this one?
01:49But Mullaney's just one of many hinterland villages that are full of charm and surprises.
01:54Montville is 17 minutes north and a peaceful place you could be calling home
01:59if you're lucky enough to win the latest draw from Marta Prize Home.
02:04The location of this home is pure magic.
02:08It seems like a pretty big property.
02:10This is a Montville masterpiece.
02:12You walk through the door and you instantly feel so relaxed.
02:16We're in the hinterland here.
02:17It's such an expansive escape, really.
02:20And this is part of a $6.7 million prize package.
02:24I promise, Maddie, this house has everything.
02:26There are four bedrooms.
02:28You've also got this 25-metre lap pool.
02:31It's so tranquil out here.
02:32They also all come with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
02:35And if that's not enough, the home also has its own office and cinema room.
02:40And have you checked out the full retreat over here?
02:43It's separate to the home, but it's perfect for multi-generational living
02:47and subject to council approval.
02:48You could even rent it out.
02:50In addition to the home, you get not one, but two cars,
02:54a Toyota Land Cruiser GR Sport, a Lexus RX 450H, a Cub Cadet ride-on lawnmower,
03:02and $200,000 in gold bullion.
03:05Okay.
03:05It just gets better and better, doesn't it?
03:07It really does.
03:08Winning this would obviously be a dream come true,
03:11but buying a ticket helps out so many other people as well.
03:14It really does.
03:14People like our friend Jan, who she'd just become a grandmother
03:18and then was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer,
03:21given just one year to live.
03:23But thanks to a clinical trial at the MARTA,
03:26now, eight years later, she's still enjoying life with her grandkids.
03:31That's an incredible story.
03:32It's obviously helping out such a great cause.
03:34How can people enter?
03:35Well, tickets are just $2.
03:37You can head to martalotteries.com.au to purchase yours,
03:40help others and give yourself a chance to change your life.
03:45This is a hard home to leave,
03:47but I'm not done with the hinterland just yet.
03:50Ten minutes north is Mapleton Public House,
03:53a much-loved pub that's all about paddock to plate.
03:57Built in 1909, but didn't open until 1910,
04:01and was originally called the Ocean View Hotel
04:03because of this beautiful view in front of us.
04:06I've really tried, with the interior design of this place,
04:10to really stay true to the heritage
04:12and kind of strip it back to what was here when it was first built.
04:16We're first-generation farmers.
04:17We are a regenerative farm,
04:19and that leads to really delicious food,
04:22but also food that's very good for you.
04:24I mean, this does not look like typical pub food.
04:27No.
04:27It looks so gorgeous and presented so beautifully.
04:30I mean, I think that's easy
04:32when you're growing such seasonal produce.
04:34Our kitchen team come out to the farm,
04:36and they help us pick, and they know what's coming,
04:39and so the menus are always designed
04:40around what's growing in the garden.
04:42We try to create food
04:44that makes people feel welcome and at home,
04:47and it is accessible still,
04:49but always elevated and always cooked with love,
04:52and I think that's what people can taste.
04:54So if the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is calling
04:57and you can imagine living life right here,
04:59get your tickets for this latest Marta Prize Home Package
05:02at martalotteries.com.au.
05:04Tickets are just $2,
05:06and you could win this phenomenal $6.7 million first prize package.
05:10And learn more about the other places I visited
05:13at the websites on screen.
05:15There are not many places as iconic as the Espy in St. Kilda,
05:19and after the break,
05:20I'm heading upstairs for a taste
05:21of some of the best Cantonese going around.
05:23Catch you soon.
05:37Now, I have to admit, I'm more of a Westside guy,
05:39so it's been a while since I've been here to St. Kilda,
05:42but this place definitely still has a buzz.
05:45Everywhere you look, there's something going on,
05:46and there's some unbelievable places to eat.
05:49So come with me, and let's check it out.
05:51One of the best things about Melbourne is our coffee culture.
05:54No matter the suburb, you'll find a great cup
05:57and someone behind the machine who loves what they do.
06:01That's exactly the vibe here at Goose
06:03on the corner of Nepean Highway and Inkeman.
06:06These guys run a subscription coffee business
06:09called The Daily Drip.
06:10They deliver coffee beans straight to your door,
06:12but if you want to taste the coffee before you order it,
06:14you can do that here,
06:15and they've also got a place out in Collingwood.
06:18And the best bit is they donate
06:19a percentage of their revenue every month to a charity.
06:22So it tastes good, and it also feels pretty good too.
06:26From here, it's only a short walk up to Fitzroy Street.
06:30There's a lot of history steeped into this sidewalk,
06:32but today it's all about the food.
06:35So I'm headed to Tacorilla,
06:37a family-run restaurant serving up authentic Mexican flavours.
06:43We were looking for something a bit more authentic,
06:45a bit more like our style
06:47from the part of Mexico that we're on,
06:49and we saw the opportunity with this restaurant,
06:53with this list that I love.
06:54It looks kind of like a house in Mexico City.
06:57Now, when people come here, what are they ordering?
06:59Because there's, like, so many things
07:00that you've got on the table here.
07:01Are these some of the favourites?
07:03Yes, I think that's a hard question for me,
07:05because I love everything.
07:06So, but this is the ones we sell the most
07:09and the ones people, you know, praise the most.
07:11Like, for example, the birria,
07:12I think it's something classic in Mexican restaurants.
07:14I think it's something that people look for.
07:16It's one of my favourites.
07:17Yeah, yeah.
07:18We got the charred corn, which is our elote,
07:20our version of, like, a street card corn.
07:23We have the tuna tostada,
07:25which is from Sinaloa, from the north of Mexico.
07:28And we have the cochinita tacos.
07:29These are pulled pork tacos.
07:31They've been in the oven for around eight hours, nine hours.
07:33The flavours of Mexican food, you know,
07:35it can be so bold and spicy and interesting.
07:38I mean, does that translate into the cocktails as well?
07:41Because I can see a good cocktail by buying.
07:42The margaritas, they're classic.
07:44We have a few options of them.
07:46We have the classic, we have the spicy margaritas,
07:47which are really, really nice.
07:49I never had such a spice.
07:50Like, as a Mexican, I can actually, like,
07:52I wouldn't handle, like, one of those, you know?
07:56Now, you can't finish a day in this suburb
07:58without visiting the ESPY.
08:00It's one of Melbourne's most iconic venues
08:02and the beating heart of St Kilda.
08:04There are four levels of music, drinks, food and fun.
08:07And right at the top of this institution
08:09is Cantonese restaurant Maya Tiger.
08:13The vision was to create an escape within the ESPY.
08:17So, walking away from the cows from downstairs
08:20in the casual pub to a much more elevated space
08:23and an iconic, beautiful space.
08:26You have the nice view around there
08:27and some amazing food too.
08:29So, I mean, but how does it change up?
08:32I mean, obviously, there's lots of different places
08:33throughout the ESPY.
08:34How is this restaurant different from the other restaurants?
08:37Yeah, of course.
08:37Well, downstairs, it's more like a grab a drink
08:40and see what happens.
08:42You know, you can be here for one drink,
08:43you can be here for 45 drinks.
08:45Nothing wrong with that, to be honest.
08:46But here upstairs, it's more sit down,
08:50settle down and we do the rest for you.
08:52You know, we have an amazing front of us team.
08:54They are passionate about the job
08:56and they give the best personalised service.
08:59But also, then, we have a fantastic menu
09:01that sort of elevates the whole thing
09:03so that does the heavy lifting for us.
09:05How does it feel working in such an iconic Melbourne venue?
09:08I mean, it's such an exciting business.
09:10I think we're all really proud of working here.
09:12You know, I love giving a tour around the place
09:14and having customers saying,
09:16wow, you're so lucky to work here.
09:18I do feel this way too.
09:19That's awesome.
09:20Pretty iconic and lucky.
09:21I want to get started.
09:22Yeah, 100%.
09:23But before we get started, we have to have a drink.
09:25Yeah, of course.
09:26Cheers.
09:27Cheers.
09:28Great coffee, bold flavours
09:29and that classic St Kilda buzz.
09:31What more could you want?
09:33All the details are on the screen.
09:36I'm here in Mildura, where it's very dark,
09:39but thankfully, there's a gorgeous installation
09:41lighting up the Murray.
09:42And I'll show you around after the break.
09:54A six-hour drive from Melbourne,
09:56Mildura sits on the banks of the mighty Murray River.
09:59With endless natural beauty,
10:01incredible local produce
10:02and a relaxed riverside lifestyle,
10:04it's a pretty easy place to switch off.
10:07Now, where else in Victoria
10:08can you get 300 days of sun
10:10every single year?
10:12Granted, I appear to have arrived
10:13on one of the 65 days,
10:15but look, even the Mediterranean
10:16has clouds sometimes.
10:18And just like the Mediterranean,
10:19we've got citrus,
10:20we've got olives
10:21and we've got wine
10:22and so much more.
10:23So let's go check it out.
10:27Now, you might not expect Mildura
10:29to have a thriving art scene,
10:30but this town has been quietly building one
10:32for decades
10:33and I'm diving right into it
10:35at the Mildura Arts Centre,
10:37just a stone's throw away
10:38from the heart of town.
10:39Tell me the history of this place
10:40because it's got a lot of history to it.
10:42It's not some new modern building.
10:44It started with the Chaffey Brothers.
10:46The Chaffey Brothers were born in Canada,
10:48came to Mildura
10:49and set up the first irrigation colony in Australia.
10:52Ria Vista Historic House,
10:54which is now Historic House,
10:55at the time was the home of the Chaffey's.
10:56In around the 1940s,
10:59Senator in Victorian Parliament,
11:00R.D. Elliot and his wife, Hilda Elliot,
11:03bequeathed a substantial collection of artworks
11:06to the city of Mildura.
11:08Ria Vista was purchased by the council in 1950
11:10and then eventually opened
11:12as Mildura Art Gallery in 1956.
11:14During the 60s,
11:15right through to the 80s,
11:17Mildura was known
11:18as the site of the Mildura Sculpture Triennials,
11:20where artists from all over Australia
11:22would travel up to Mildura
11:23and those people went on
11:25to become very well-known artists
11:27in their own right.
11:27For those arriving here
11:29at the Mildura Arts Centre for the first time,
11:30where should they start?
11:31Well, you can go through Ria Vista Historic House.
11:34The house has three levels
11:35for you to have a look at.
11:36The theatre,
11:37we have local and touring performances
11:39almost every day.
11:40We have our sculpture park out the front.
11:43Walk around and have a look
11:44at some of the legacy sculptures
11:46from that Mildura Sculpture Triennial event.
11:48And, of course, the galleries.
11:50Right now, we have worked by local artist,
11:52Fiona Merlin.
11:53That exhibition is called Local Inspiration,
11:55so taking inspiration from the local environment,
11:58some beautiful landscapes,
11:59and still lives, so interiors as well.
12:02In this space,
12:03we have the Mildura Arts Centre collection,
12:05Mungo and Country.
12:06All these works have been inspired
12:07by Mungo National Park.
12:09If anyone's watching
12:10and wishes to bequeath the Mildura Arts Centre,
12:12an entire estate like happened 75 years ago,
12:15please do it,
12:15because look what it leads to.
12:20There's plenty out here
12:21in the Mallee region to explore,
12:23including the historic town of Wentworth,
12:25a 30-minute drive northeast.
12:27This was the country's busiest
12:28inland port back in the day,
12:30and it's where the Murray meets the Darling.
12:32On the outskirts of Wentworth
12:33are the Perry Sandhills.
12:35These ancient dunes create a landscape
12:37that feels more like the Sahara
12:38than regional New South Wales.
12:40Back in town,
12:41things are a little more laid-back,
12:43and for a proper country pub experience,
12:45you can't go past
12:46the Captain's Dirt Hotel.
12:48This pub's been here for 140 years,
12:50and it's still doing what it does best.
12:52Classic meals,
12:53local stories,
12:54and no fuss.
12:56One of the owners is a commercial fisherman,
12:58so there's a bit of a yabby theme to the menu.
13:00We've got yabby schnitzel,
13:01yabby cocktail,
13:03and yabby soda.
13:04Just kidding.
13:06I also heard that the Friday Night Meat raffle goes off,
13:09so make sure you get here early
13:10for your shot at glory.
13:15Back in Mildura,
13:17the magic continues after sunset
13:18with one of the region's newest experiences,
13:21the Trail of Lights.
13:25We're on Lock Island in Mildura,
13:27and we're lucky enough to have Trail of Lights,
13:29designed by Bruce Munro.
13:30Bruce is the visionary behind the Field of Lights in Uluru,
13:34and they've just celebrated their 10th year,
13:36so we're hoping that we might be lucky enough
13:38to hit the 10-year mark at some point.
13:40It's a really quiet, contemplative, meditative walk.
13:4312,500 fireflies on a beautiful little piece
13:46right in the heart of Mildura,
13:47so we're really lucky.
13:49The trail varies in length for accessibility.
13:52You can do a really short walk,
13:53or you can get lost on the island
13:55and go for as long as you want.
13:57I want to ask you about the sibling
13:59to these lights that cross the river.
14:00We've just opened FOZO,
14:02or Fibre Optics Symphonic Orchestra.
14:04FOZO is 80 Hills Hoist Clotheslines.
14:07They light up to a symphonic score
14:09from an Emmy Award-winning composer,
14:12Nanita Desai.
14:13The Trail of Lights and FOZO are complementary,
14:15and people come and experience them together
14:17as a dual experience.
14:19You do the stillness one night
14:20and the symphony the next,
14:21so spend a few extra days
14:23and really see what our region's got to offer.
14:25So get out here to explore Wentworth and Mildura.
14:28To plan your trip, head to the websites on screen.
14:32I'm just outside of Healesville,
14:34where I found a very unique place to spend the night,
14:37here in this off-grid luxurious mirror house,
14:40and I'll show you around after the break.
14:55As the temperature drops and the coats come out,
14:57the perfect destination has to be the Yarra Valley.
15:01With misty rolling hills and bright autumn colours,
15:03it's a visual feast,
15:05and Healesville, less than an hour's drive from Melbourne,
15:08is a great place to start.
15:10One place you must visit is Healesville Sanctuary.
15:13Now, you might have been here before, many times perhaps,
15:17but there is always something new
15:19that makes dropping by worthwhile.
15:23Healesville Sanctuary has been at the forefront
15:26of the conservation and protection
15:27of Australian wildlife for more than 90 years.
15:30It's a vast bushland haven for some 200 native species,
15:35including many that are rare and endangered.
15:41Close-up animal encounters are a big part of the zoo experience,
15:45including meeting the koalas or seeing a kangaroo up close.
15:49A real highlight is the Spirits of the Sky presentation,
15:53where today we're catching up with the keepers
15:55before The Daily Show.
15:58So, this is Millie.
15:59Millie is a barking owl.
16:00She's 20 years old,
16:01and she's been participating in the Spirits of the Sky presentation
16:03for most of that time.
16:05How do you train an owl?
16:07It's all based on choice and control.
16:09So, we offer her certain behaviours that we'd like,
16:12and if she chooses to participate in those behaviours,
16:15we'll offer her a food-based reward,
16:16and Millie's favourite is mouse.
16:19What's she like around people?
16:21She's grown up around people,
16:23so she's very relaxed and she's very calm,
16:25she's happy to participate in the Spirits of the Sky presentation.
16:28We fly a range of different birds,
16:31from parrots to birds of prey,
16:32and every presentation is different.
16:34It's all based on choice and control.
16:35With the birds, they all get to pick and choose
16:37whether they would like to come out on any given day.
16:39Now, Millie's a bit of a hit, isn't she?
16:41Because I experienced how close she flies to your head
16:44during the training practice before.
16:46She's one of the more exciting birds in the presentation.
16:48She's a very low flyer,
16:50and she's not afraid to get nice up and close to people.
16:52What I enjoy most is seeing the faces on children
16:56and the next generation.
16:57It wasn't that long ago that I was a kid in the audience
16:59being inspired to work with these beautiful animals,
17:01so to be doing that for the next generation is really rewarding.
17:08With so much beauty and adventure in the Yarra Valley,
17:11why not stay the night and extend the fun?
17:14Nestled in lush gardens just five minutes from Healesville
17:17is Destination's Mirror Home,
17:19an off-grid, secluded, tiny home
17:22that offers the ultimate nature escape.
17:25So this is Destination's first mirror home.
17:28It's the first of its kind in Australia,
17:30and it's designed to reflect the natural landscape.
17:33We've also got the beautiful deck
17:35and the bathtub that fits two people,
17:37and then we've also got the fire pit area
17:40where you can have a barbecue,
17:42roast some marshmallows,
17:43and you can even set up the projector outside
17:45and watch a movie under the stars.
17:48And what about inside?
17:49Because it looks like you've thought about everything.
17:51The inside is very intentional,
17:52from the furnishings to the materials that we used.
17:56We've got luxury bed linen,
17:58we've got the doctor's mattress,
18:00the robes, the slippers,
18:02the leaf products,
18:03the marble,
18:04and then we've got the beautiful shower
18:06that has a glass window,
18:07so it kind of looks like you're showering outside.
18:10Are there other destination locations people can visit?
18:13We've got two of our halo homes
18:16in the Heathcote Wine region,
18:18and we've also got two in Byron Bay of the Mirror Homes.
18:21We're also looking to expand as well,
18:24so we're always looking for people
18:25that have beautiful plots of land
18:27that we can partner with.
18:30From this magic spot and just minutes away,
18:33there's a huge variety of world-renowned wineries.
18:37Too many, in fact, to visit them all,
18:39so I'm heading to Giant Steps on Healesville's Main Street.
18:43We're famous for single-site expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot,
18:46and we've got vineyards scattered across the region.
18:49We really wanted our tasting room to be a place
18:51that you could enjoy them in one spot,
18:53and it made so much sense to be in Healesville.
18:55This town is the beating heart of our region.
18:58This place is cool not just because of the wines we make,
19:01but also because of the community and the culture
19:03we have here,
19:04there's a lot of interesting and unique personalities
19:08whose wines and produce is just as expressive
19:11as the people behind it.
19:12So you can go on a real journey through the producers
19:14and get to understand the uniqueness of this valley
19:16through the wines that come out of here.
19:19How can people enjoy the space?
19:20There's lots of different pockets in this tasting room,
19:22which I love.
19:23So you could go upstairs into our single vineyard lounge
19:26and do the single vineyard tasting experience,
19:28it's really nerd out on the differences between sight guided
19:31by one of our great staff.
19:33Come down here into our little wine bar,
19:35have a salty snack,
19:36taste a few of our introductory wines.
19:39We've got a beautiful outside courtyard as well.
19:41For me,
19:42my favourite way is to have a bottle of wine
19:44out the front with my dog,
19:46watch the world go by on the terrace.
19:48It's really good fun.
19:49Embrace the beauty of the Yarra Valley
19:51at this stunning time of year.
19:53All the details are on the screen.
19:55Back for its second year,
19:57the very appealing Showbiz Trivia Fundraiser
20:00is a night of celebrity fun not to be missed.
20:03Join your host, Michael Pope,
20:05along with a bevy of stars for trivia,
20:07games and rare auction items,
20:09all in aid of the Victorian Actors Benevolent Trust.
20:13Book your table or make a donation via the website.
20:16Bendigo's beloved electric wonderland
20:19is back this school holidays.
20:21With interactive exhibits,
20:22immersive light installations
20:24and mesmerising projections,
20:26this sound and light show
20:28is for the young and the young at heart.
20:30Rug up and get on out
20:31for an unforgettable winter evening
20:33and head out to Heathcote
20:35for a long weekend of exclusive wine tastings
20:38and gourmet food at Heathcote on show.
20:40With more than 20 venues across town involved,
20:43local wineries, breweries, distilleries
20:45and musicians are ready to host and entertain.
20:49Find out more at heathcoteonshow.com.
20:51Thanks to Visit Victoria, every bit different.
20:55Join us again next week
20:56for a wander around the grounds
20:58at Como House in South Yarra.
21:00Anthony Kalia makes a guest appearance
21:02finding some Italian flavour in Yarraville
21:04before she braves diving with sharks.
21:06Ariane Titmutz braves Melbourne's hottest noodle soup
21:09and we check out some of the newest hospital venues
21:12in the CBD.
21:13Well, that's all we have time for tonight.
21:15I hope you've enjoyed the show
21:17just as much as we enjoy bringing it to you
21:19each and every week.
21:20Thanks for watching
21:21and we'll see you again next time.
21:23you
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