Postcards Summer Series: 14 December

Tonia Todman
In order to complete her lessons as a homemaker Suzie is off to Kyneton to attend one of craft queen Tonia Todmans new workshops at her beautifully renovated country home. Tonia is well known for making stylish cooking, craft, décor and gardening and she has opted for the country life at her beloved heritage home Highbank at Lauriston. Tonia is now teaching and imparting her passion for beautiful living, in small, intimate hands-on classes. With the help of visiting experts she conducts master classes in the home-making arts in the ideal, unhurried country atmosphere of Highbank. Enjoy small, one day group classes with lots of personal attention, complete with delightful morning and afternoon tea and lunch.

Tonias Classes at Highbank
Ph: 5422 2388
www.toniatodman.com

Hip Hotels
The Hip Hotels guide book has put together a list of ultra stylish hotels which fit the criteria of being, as the books states, highly individual places that make travel memorable. And according to this, weve got two of those, right here in Melbourne. First up theres The Prince - a luxury boutique hotel in cosmopolitan St Kilda. The incredibly cool premier suites are individually designed with an eclectic mix of furniture, lighting and objects. Up next on the hip parade is the very swish Adelphi Hotel. You might know it for its rooftop pool that hangs over the street and although it may seem like a bit of a gimmick, its just like the rest of the hotel, adventurous and unconventional. The rooms reflect a generous minimalism, spare and calm in design, yet every modern comfort is generously provided for.

The Prince
2 Acland St, St Kilda
Ph: 03 9536 1111
www.theprince.com.au

The Adelphi Hotel
187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph: 03 8080 8888
www.adelphi.com.au

Aspect Villas and Aboriginal Art
Some people want everything from a holiday they want somewhere thats contemporary but still rustic, luxurious, but still cosy, private but still close to everything. Well at Aspect Villas you can have it all. These 5 star villas have all the secret ingredients for the perfect escape. You can sit in the spa, snooze in the king size bed, curl up on the large leather lounge or just take in the scenery. And when you feel the urge to venture outside, take a look at the local aboriginal rock art. The Bunjil Shelter depicts Bunjil the traditional creator of the land and his two dingos. The very heart of the Grampians is the aboriginal presence which has been here for over 22,000 years and still going strong. To open your eyes further to the magic of this unique land and its indigenous people, pop into Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre.

Aspect Villas
Valley Drive, Halls Gap
Ph: 03 5356 4457
www.aspectvillas.com.au

Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre
Grampians Tourist Road, Halls Gap
Ph: 03 5661 4000
www.brambuk.com.au

Lovick's High Country Adventures
Glens winter getaway takes him to a beautiful property on the Howqua River just outside Mansfield around two and a half hours from Melbourne, where he is saddling up with legendary horseman Charlie Lovick. The property is owned by the Lovick family and sits opposite the state forest near the Alpine National Park. It provides some of the best horse riding scenery in the country. After a few hours in the saddle with Charlie and his team youll be riding like a pro before sitting around the fire and listening to one of Charlies many stories at days end.

Lovick's High Country Adventures
Ph: 03 5777 5510
www.lovicks.com.au

Kate Ceberano
Suzies catches up with one of her favourite singers Kate Ceberano on todays show, and visits three of Kates favourite places around town. Starting with a chat and some bay side dining at Elwood Beach House onto the wonderful Spoonful in Prahran where the girls got stuck into some good looking Pavlova. Then to work it off they dropped into Dance Dynamics on Glenferrie Rd, Malvern where Kate showed Suzie some of her moves.

Elwood Beach House
63a Ormond Esplanade, Elwood
Ph: 03 9531 7788
www.elwoodbeachhouse.com.au

Spoonful
543 High St, Prahran
Ph: 03 9521 5212

Dance Dynamics
142 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern
Ph: 03 9500 1005
www.dancedynamics.com.au

What's On

Sensation New Year's Eve Party
On New Year's Eve Telstra Dome will play host to the world's biggest dance event: SENSATION. It's the first time we've seen it in the Southern Hemispheres.
Where: Telstra Dome
When: 31 December
More: Visit www.ticketmaster.com.au

Highland Gathering
If you're up for something to do on New Year's Day, why not head to the Goldfields and join in the festivities of the Maryborough Highland Gathering, celebrating all things Scottish.
Where: Maryborough
When: 1 January
More: Ph 03 5461 1904

Alpine Valleys Gourmet Weekend
If you plan to holiday in the high country be sure not to miss the delicious regional food and wine on offer at the Alpine Valley Gourmet Weekend in early January.
Where: Bright
When: 10 - 11 January
More: Ph 03 5755 0520 or visit www.visitalpinevictoria.com.au