Kate Bettes, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

2 weeks ago | australiantraveller.com | Kate Bettes

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge. Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.
No time to hibernate: experience the best of winter in NSW

2 weeks ago | australiantraveller.com | Kate Bettes

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW. When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows. Winter here isn’t for hiding away.
5 of the best Sunshine Coast day trips

2 weeks ago | australiantraveller.com | Kate Bettes

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips. When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you. Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging.
Eight of the most outrageously beautiful places to visit in Montenegro

1 month ago | watoday.com.au | Kate Bettes

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Eight of the most outrageously beautiful places to visit in Montenegro

1 month ago | smh.com.au | Kate Bettes

By Kate Bettes April 14, 2025 — 5.00am, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. You know what they say about the middle child. Sandwiched between Croatia and Albania, Montenegro’s got the striking good looks, but is often passed over. Montenegro is one of the world’s youngest countries, regaining its independence in 2006, and existing outside the EU despite its proximity.
Torres Strait, Arnhem Land and Cape York

1 month ago | australiangeographic.com.au | Kate Bettes

This article is brought to you by the Coral Expeditions. Hoarse honks of magpie geese echo across wetlands, while jabirus clack their beaks overhead. Saltwater crocodiles glide through tidal creeks. On a lonely beach, a green turtle hauls herself ashore to lay eggs by the light of the moon, before slipping back into the teal-blue sea like it never happened. Welcome to the Torres Strait, Arnhem Land and Cape York. This is northern Australia at its most untouched.
14 of the best Darwin cafes

1 month ago | australiantraveller.com | Kate Bettes

Once, it was hard to find a Darwin cafe that didn’t serve its coffee in a mug. Those days are long gone. Whether you’re after a slow brew, pour-over or a quick ristretto, you barely need to work up a sweat sorting out your caffeine and brunch fix (and that’s saying something in steamy Darwin) when it comes to finding the best Darwin cafes. Searching for dinner? We’ve lined up the best Darwin restaurants for that too. The Shortlist1.
Your ultimate guide to the Tiwi Islands

1 month ago | australiantraveller.com | Kate Bettes

The Tiwi Islands: a far-flung northern sanctuary where there’s art, footy and fishing fever abound. Until recently, the Tiwi Islands have been just a blip on the tourism radar. While barramundi hunters and football selectors have been pretty hush-hush about their fertile hunting grounds, interest in this fascinating area and the Tiwi people who call it home is on the rise.
9 of the best Darwin resorts for ultimate relaxation

1 month ago | australiantraveller.com | Kate Bettes

A tropical stay up Darwin way deserves a stunning resort to match. Want to soak up the Northern Territory sunshine in a poolside deck chair while in Darwin? We’ve put together the best Darwin resorts to keep in mind when you’re looking for accommodation outside the city centre, from budget-friendly options to some of the best luxury stays the Top End has to offer. 1. Mindil Beach Casino Resort DarwinA hop, skip, and jump away from Darwin, you will find the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
Artist Natalya Hughes Finds a Subversive Beauty in Patterns

2 months ago | qantas.com | Kate Bettes

Eschewing minimalism, artist Natalya Hughes finds a subversive beauty in patterns. A symphony of chaos, Natalya Hughes’s work depicts explosions of colour and fragmented patterns that collide with and conceal the sometimes delicate, sometimes outsized features of female figures. “Decoration is always deemed to be too much,” says the Brisbane (Meanjin)-based artist and academic, comparing it to minimalist aesthetics that society designates “smart” and “tasteful”.