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Craig Tansley

Craig Tansley

Travel writer

Craig Tansley is a Gold Coast-based freelance travel writer with a specialty in adventure, and a background in the South Pacific.

Epic views … Newlands Cricket Ground is one of the world’s most beautiful.

Partner loves sport, but you don’t? Five great destinations you can both enjoy

As the world’s eyes turn to North America for the World Cup, here are five great sports-loving destinations you can still enjoy even if you’ve got no interest in it.

  • Craig Tansley
Cefalu, Sicily.

The best island in each of the world’s 10 greatest island destinations

Which islands do our experts rate the world’s best? Whether close by like Tasmania, or further afield like Sicily, here’s where to go next.

  • Ben Groundwater and Craig Tansley
The Via Ferrata course includes an 80-metre-long suspension bridge walk over an abyss.

New ‘world first’ Gold Coast attraction wants to freak you out. It works on me

You don’t need any special skills to enjoy the thrills and views of this new park, just some common sense.

  • Craig Tansley
The temptation of a Thai beach proved too much … and proved costly.

I went for one last holiday swim. When I got back, all my stuff was gone

I needed to get to Bangkok in order to obtain a new passport. The only problem? To get there, everyone wanted to see my ID.

  • Craig Tansley
The Montage.

I last visited this US ski resort pre-COVID. I barely recognise it now

A new brand of luxury is creeping its way across what used to be one of America’s most laid-back ski locations.

  • Craig Tansley
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Marine Parade is now one of Australia’s most exclusive residential streets.

I grew up in Byron Bay. It was nothing like you might imagine

Byron Bay was the epitome of small town, blue-collar Australia, albeit one with very nice beaches. And no one was rich.

  • Craig Tansley
There’s no rooms in Biarritz.

No plan, no bookings: How my spontaneous travel backfired spectacularly

“Please do not stay in Hossegor,” a nice woman with a friendly smile says. “Hossegor is full. There are no beds for you in Hossegor.”

  • Craig Tansley
The Calile Hotel Brisbane – a frequent award-winner.

An insider guide to the best places to stay in Brisbane

If you haven’t been recently, you won’t recognise Brisbane – this former big country town is now one of Australia’s most sophisticated cities.

  • Craig Tansley
Mondrian Gold Coast’s seafood diner, Haven.

The Gold Coast’s best places eat and drink

The Gold Coast’s dining scene used to revolve around surf clubs. Now a throng of talented chefs has turned the region into a genuine foodie hot-spot.

  • Craig Tansley
Colourful harbourside homes dominate the barren landscape.

The most British place on Earth is almost 13,000km from Britain

As I sit down to a breakfast of black pudding and a pot of English breakfast tea, paid for in British pounds, the contrast with my last destination is shocking.

  • Craig Tansley