Lara Picone

Sydney

Freelance Writer at Australian Traveller

Currently studying Graduate diploma in education, majoring in PD/H/PE at ACU.

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Articles

The walk to do when you're not sure you can hike

1 month ago | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

Not sure you’re built for a multi-day hike? This Bay of Fires walk eases you into an outdoor love affair with its bite-sized long weekend trip. There are a couple of misconceptions about a walking holiday and, in fact, they’re rather contradictory. It seems people either think that hitting the trail is for retirees reliant on walking poles for vertical propulsion or that a hike is an endurance test that demands months of training, a Camelbak, and an amplitude of mental fortitude.
10 of the best things to do on Lord Howe Island

2 months ago | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

From exploring misty peaks and underwater worlds to beach-hopping and fish-feeding, Lord Howe Island is a paradise for the adventurer and the nonchalant alike. Cast off from the New South Wales coast and voluntarily maroon yourself on a glittering island paradise. Lord Howe’s pristine waters backdropped by looming mountains somehow conjure the intoxicating feeling that you’ve stumbled upon a truly lost world.
16 of the best things to do on Magnetic Island

2 months ago | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

These are all the must-dos for a tropical island escape on Queensland’s Magnetic Island. A beauty spot fetchingly positioned off the Townsville foreshore, Magnetic Island is one of North Queensland’s most rustic and alluring gems. ‘Maggie’, as the island is affectionately called, lives up to her namesake of generating an inescapable pull toward her soft, palm-shaded sands, granite-strewn coastline and sheltered bays all set within the Great Barrier Reef.
22 of the best hotels in Sydney for your next city escape

Feb 25, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

These are our pick of the best Sydney hotels to complement your next city escape. Water-edged Sydney spoils her visitors with sunshine-filled days, sparkling beaches and a harbour flecked with white sails belonging to both bobbing boats and the Sydney Opera House. From Circular Quay to Chinatown, Surry Hills and Paddington, the city and her fringing neighbourhoods offer plenty of places for a restful and luxury-laced stay.
13 Sydney high teas that redefine afternoon elegance

Feb 23, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

A tea party is always a good idea and these are the best high teas in Sydney to fill your cup. No one needs an excuse to enjoy an elegant cup of tea, but if you’re looking for one, then here are 13 of the best high teas in Sydney that deserve to be tried for their sense of occasion and ritual.
15 of the Best Day trips from Sydney

Feb 11, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

When it comes to venturing beyond the city limits, these are the absolute best day trips from Sydney. Sydney’s captivating coastal beauty and vibrant personality has plenty to keep you occupied, but roam a little farther and you’ll quickly discover incredible, easy-to-reach destinations that easily fill a day’s itinerary (or more).
Here’s where to get the best coffee in Sydney

Feb 6, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

If coffee is non-negotiable to your daily existence, then you’ll want to read on for the best beans in Sydney. Coffee lovers understand the first question when one arrives in a new town is where to find the good stuff. Before a lack of caffeine impairs your judgement and panic sets in, get your eyes on this list. We’ve done a combover of Sydney and extracted the best places to get your nectar of the early morning gods. Deep breaths, it’s all going to be OK.
17 of the best Airbnbs in Byron Bay

Feb 3, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

For self-contained, boutique-style stays in the Bay, these are Byron’s absolute best Airbnbs. Enduringly popular, Byron Bay’s free-spirited appeal and high-definition natural beauty ensure this holiday enclave pops up on everyone’s travel agenda at least once in a lifetime. From five-star hotels to holiday parks, there are plenty of places to bed down beachside, but if you’re after accommodation with that extra bit of Byron magic, self-contained Airbnbs are the way to go.
12 of the best bathhouses in Sydney to unwind at

Jan 30, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

Ready, set, and rejuvenate at these beautiful bathhouses in Sydney. Whether you’re deeply invested in the health benefits of contrast therapy or simply love to submit to dedicated chill time in a steam room, you’ll find a Sydney bathhouse that fits your wellness style. From traditional hammams to fitness-focused health spaces, leisurely lounging and beauty-based freshen-ups, these are the top places to unwind both body and mind. 1.
inside one of Australia’s most unique stays

Jan 30, 2025 | australiantraveller.com | Lara Picone

Unwind within the astonishing beauty of Tasmania’s Lake St Clair when you stay at the historical Pumphouse Point. Reflecting a landscape of ethereal beauty at the southern culmination of the Cradle Mountain-Lake Sinclair National Park, shimmering Lake St Clair holds the title of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake. It’s on these enigmatic waters that you’ll find NRMA’s boutique Pumphouse Point.