It has been one long year in which ‘armchair travelling’ has taken on a whole new meaning.
But as we ease out of captivity, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s Good Weekend will declare the era of the mini-break has begun, with its annual 52 Weekends Away edition this Saturday, October 23.
After nearly two years of travel plans being in a holding pattern, Australian tourism is soon to be back in business, with regional NSW set to open to greater Sydney in November, and Victoria slowly easing restrictions in the weeks ahead.
Published by Good Weekend in association with its stablemate Traveller and set against the logistical nightmare of reviewing locations amid COVID-19 lockdowns, the 31st annual edition runs at 68 pages and features mini-escape and staycation ideas from every state and territory, with a skew towards NSW and Victoria.
The 31st edition of 52 Weekends Away is available in the October 23 edition of Good Weekend. Featuring reviews of accommodation from luxury adults-only to family friendly, 52 Weekends Away is the perfect impetus to plan a summer holiday and 2022 mini-breaks.
In a year that’s seen most states cut off from each other, or regional travel restricted, supporting our home-grown tourism sector has never been more important.
“One of the silver linings of this pandemic has been rediscovering our own backyard, and judging by this year’s listings, there are plenty of stunning places whose owner-operators are busting to welcome us all back,” said Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.
“It was fiendishly tricky putting this year’s list together, with more than a few last minute cancellations and changes, but as serendipity would have it the issue is being published just as we’re all preparing to head out on the road again.”
The cover features a painting by celebrated Mudgee artist Guido Maestri.
Titled ‘The Road To Nowhere’ and inspired by Brett Whiteley’s paintings of the road to Bathurst, the former Archibald Prize winner says the scene depicts a section of a backroad to Mudgee.
The edition also features a barn door centrespread advertising execution and eight pages of sponsored content from Destination NSW, which highlights some of the hidden getaway gems of the state, a Kia gatefold cover and seven pages of sponsored content by MLC.
