Q&A: Journalist Sarah Harris

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Journalist and co-host of Network Ten’s Studio 10 and host of Shark Tank talks about her love of camping and how to hit Fortitude Valley.

1. As a child, our family holidays were always to…

Cheap and cheerful spots where we would pitch a tent and get back to nature. One of my favourite places to go as a kid was Second Lagoon on Bribie Island, where you can camp almost on the beach, just behind the dunes. Falling asleep to the roar of the ocean is heaven!

2. Now if I have time for a short break…

I love to pop down to the Gold Coast to unwind. Tallebudgera Creek and Palm Beach are gorgeous, easygoing places.

3. My local’s tip for my home town brisbane is…

To make sure you grab some brunch at a cool cafe in Fortitude Valley before taking a stroll along the Riverwalk in the sunshine. Finish the day with a cheap beer at Merthyr Bowls Club at New Farm on the river – they do great food, too.

4. My souvenir of choice is…

A fridge magnet. I’m a sucker for these from faraway places – the gaudier, the better.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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5. My carry-on is usually filled with…

A spare change of clothes, a book and a pack of cucumber and aloe make-up wipes, which are great for a quick ‘truckie shower’ if you want to feel fresh in a hurry.

6. My travel wardrobe always consists of…

A super comfy pair of walking shoes. I love getting to know new places on foot.

7. When I’m on the road, I’m listening to/watching…

A new podcast or documentary on my iPhone, but if I’m on a plane for any extended period of time then it’s trashy reality telly all the way!

8. My last holiday read was…

Murder in Mississippi by John Safran. It’s a murder mystery that I could not put down when I visited Positano in Italy a couple of years back. I was pregnant with my son, Paul, so I took that trip a little easier, soaking up the sun and reading by the beach.

9. I can’t leave home without my…

Cucumber and aloe wipes! The next time you’re on a plane for 14 hours, you’ll know why.

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10. My favourite Australian restaurant is…

A little Italian joint called Il Perugino in Mosman, Sydney. The staff are warm, the food is authentic and it’s a special place for my hubby and me – he proposed after dinner there.

11. The most adventurous thing I’ve ever done on holiday is…

Well, I’m actually pretty sedate on holidays. I’d rather chill out and recharge than chase an adrenaline high. While my husband has run with the bulls in Spain, the most daring thing I’ve done is get a fish pedicure in Thailand.

12. The last place I visited was…

Zurich, Switzerland (stunning place, so expensive!) for three days and we haven’t really had a holiday since having our son (born December 2015). I think we’re at that phase of our lives where our trips will be very kid friendly. I just have to convince my city-slicker husband to give camping a go.

 

Watch Sarah on Shark Tank, which airs Tuesday evenings on TEN.

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8 of Australia’s ultimate road trips

    Riley Wilson Riley Wilson
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    From the Kimberley to Cape York, explore Australia’s epic and varied landscapes on curated and all-inclusive, intimate adventures via custom-built all-terrain coaches with Outback Spirit.

    From the tip of the Northern Territory to the rugged coast of the country’s southernmost point, Australia is a continent ripe with diverse and distinct adventures that are captivating and inspiring in equal measure. Luckily, so many of them are accessible by car with epic road trips that showcase the journey as much as the destination. With Outback Spirit, the award-winning and eco-certified tour operator from leading experiential tourism group Journey Beyond, the road less travelled – accessible in custom-built all-terrain coaches chaperoned by expert local guides – is the only way to go.

    From the dramatic jewels of the Kimberley in Western Australia to the remote stretches of Savannah Way in the country’s far north, Outback Spirit does all the hard work on all-inclusive, small-group tours that pause at an exclusive network of lodges and safari camps – so you can just enjoy the ride.

    1. The Kimberley

    With an otherworldly ambience that must be experienced to be understood, the Kimberley is a cornucopia of breathtaking cliffs, stunning gorges and exceptional waterways. A highlight of the 13-day Jewels of the Kimberley adventure is the spectacular 18-minute scenic helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles. You’ll encounter a bounty of new perspectives elsewhere, too, between the astounding cruise through the Attenborough-approved Buccaneer Archipelago, humbling walks beneath ancient rock drawings, and evenings spent in the comfort of Outback Spirit’s exclusive-use, well-appointed Ngauwudu Safari Camp Safari Suites.

    Ngauwudu Safari Camp
    Relax in Ngauwudu Safari Camp Safari Suites.

    2. Arnhem Land

    The Traditional Lands of the Yolngu People reach into your heart and stay there. Outback Spirit’s 13-day Arnhem Land Wetlands & Wildlife tour was conceived in extensive consultation with Traditional Owners to guarantee a true immersion in Country. Explore the world’s largest outdoor rock art gallery; try your luck catching a metre-long barramundi; and discover pristine ecosystems from freshwater swamps to rocky escarpments. Relax each night in comfortable lodges exclusive to Outback Spirit, including the iconic Seven Spirit Bay Resort. Here, sophisticated luxury villas are perched on the bay’s edge overlooking clear, turquoise waters of Coral Bay.

    Seven Spirit Bay in arnhem land
    Enjoy the views at Seven Spirit Bay Resort.

    3. Cape York

    Travelling from Cairns to Cape York and back over 13 days, the small-group Cape York Wilderness Adventure tour runs from May to September, with unparalleled access to stunning sacred destinations and vibrant experiences on Thursday, Horn and Friday islands in the Torres Strait. The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is a star of the expedition, with the exclusive guided Dreamtime Gorge Walk with a Kuku Yulanji elder taking place beneath lush ferns, with the commanding rumble of Mossman Gorge in the distance.

    tour guide at Mossman Gorge
    Join the Dreamtime Gorge Walk. (Image: TEQ)

    4. Margaret River

    The nine-day Margaret River & Rottnest Discovery highlights fine wine, great food, art, music and local produce at Leeuwin Estate on the vineyard-packed banks of the Margaret River, pausing to explore the ancient underground caves and towering Karri timber forests. Start the journey with a ride on the iconic Indian Pacific and pop to Rottnest Island on the tail-end of the trip, with 10,000 quokkas to befriend and 63 gorgeous beaches to explore before lunch. With bubbles included, of course.

    food and wine at Leeuwin Estate
    Treat your tastebuds at Leeuwin Estate. (Image: Tourism WA)

    5. Savannah Way

    On this 15-day Leichhardt’s Savannah Expedition, Outback Spirit’s custom all-terrain Mercedes-Benz coaches cross two states from Cairns to Darwin. After visiting the most northerly camp of the Burke and Wills Expedition of 1860/61 and visiting the see-it-to-believe-it Millaa Millaa Falls (refreshing swim optional!), you’ll indulge in three nights at the million-acre Lorella Springs Station, a sunset dinner cruise on the Gulf of Carpentaria and a dip in warmed thermal pools in the middle of the wilderness.

    aerial of Millaa Millaa Falls
    Dive into Millaa Millaa Falls. (Image: TEQ)

    6. Central Australia

    The captivating splendour of Uluru is the central focus of the eight-day Red Centre Explorer tour, which includes Alice Springs and Kings Canyon among its stops. Hosted on the sacred lands of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Anangu, this itinerary is grounded in the landscape, with visits to the critically acclaimed Field of Light installation, a multi-course dinner under the stars at Ayers Rock Resort, and a didgeridoo performance to accompany bush-tucker-packed snacks all within the shadow of the sacred geological site. Awaken early for a sunrise over the pindan plateau, the image of which will remain in your memory for a lifetime to come.

    two people in front of the field of light
    Marvel at the Field of Light installation (Image: Tourism NT/ Lola and Jira/ Uluru Kata-Tjuta NP)

    7. Flinders Ranges

    The remote South Australian landscape is your playground on the 11-day Outback South Australia tour, which takes in the sights (including Wilpena Pound and beloved Lake Eyre), sounds and flavours of the ‘festival’ state. At Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, cosmos chasers will enjoy a tour of the stars at the accredited onsite astronomical observatory as endangered yellow-footed rock wallabies bounce in the dark. The next day, guests will take to open-air 4WDs with expert guides for the Ridgetop Tour to explore the breathtaking, unique 1600-million-year-old landscape within the Flinders Ranges.

    mist around Wilpena Pound in flinders ranges
    See the impressive Wilpena Pound. (Image: Emile Ristevski)

    8. Tasmania

    Take in stunning views from Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (or, afterwards, from the comfort of Cradle Mountain Lodge) on the 12-day curated Tasmanian Wilderness Explorer itinerary. Taste the incredible food on Bruny Island and wander Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park. Traverse the glacial-formed Dove Lake on a 5.7-kilometre hike; soak up sombre history at Port Arthur; and pose with penguins in Penguin before settling in for the night at Outback Spirit’s suite of exclusive partner lodges.

    Wineglass Bay in tasmania
    See the spectacular Wineglass Bay. (Image: Chad Dewson)

    Find your Outback Spirit with the 2026 season. Book now to receive Earlybird savings up to $2200 per person at outbackspirittours.com.au.