Julia Morris: A funny thing happened on my way today…

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Funnily enough, stand-up comedian, House Husband actress and Logies presenter Julia Morris is something of a travel expert, having spent the better part of her working life travelling around Australia’s far flung landscape. Here she shares the best and worst of her adventures with Steve Madgwick:

Any tawdry back-stage Logies’ goss that you can divulge?

I was only out until about 1am, which is when most of the parties started. My days of hanging out and fanging out are over – I get too excited about sleeping. There’s hardly any gossip anymore anyway because everything is leaked out by selfies.

You are a comedian, writer, actress, presenter etc – how do you describe yourself to people who haven’t met you?

Very down to earth – on every level… Oh, you mean my job description? I just turn up to entertainment, that’s all.

You must be on the road a lot for your various day jobs; do you enjoy travelling?

I do enjoy it – and I don’t travel just for my stand-up work either. I’ve lived in many, many different countries (UK, South Africa, Los Angeles, New Caledonia, Bali, Japan) so I’m not afraid of changing things around, learning about new places.

That sounds like a lot of long-haul flying – how do you handle that?

There are no bad bits of flying for me – except when people think the video in the back of the seat takes i-Phone pointing strength to make it work!

Is there a certain place in Australia that you’ve always wanted to see but haven’t yet?

To be honest, I’m one of the rare Australians who has travelled to the far-flung alcoves of this great nation. But I would like to see The Kimberley in greater detail – more than just the 48-hour turnover we have as performers coming in and out of places.

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AI Prompt

Is there a place in Australia you’ve been to that you wish you hadn’t – perhaps somewhere where your show didn’t get the best reaction?

I don’t think so. Having toured extensively as a stand-up for the best part of 28 years, I’ve been to so many places but each one brings up a certain kind of joy. Stand-up crowds just want a laugh and they don’t want you to be too up yourself.

All-time favourite place to stay in Australia?

Crowne Plaza at Terrigal (NSW Central Coast). I was a water aerobics instructor there during its early years and staying there makes me know I’m up on my beautiful Central Coast, docking back on my Mother Ship, in maximum luxury.

Where do you get your caffeine fix?

The airport cafes are my favourites – I use them a lot! There’s one place at Sydney airport, Trattoria Prego, that makes a sandwich out of this flaky pastry bread with little seeds on it. I wouldn’t pass through without going directly to it and buying one of those and a coffee.

I heard you were married in Las Vegas – why?

It just sounded fun. Dan’s from the UK and we had three countries where guests would have to come from so Vegas seemed like not only a half way point but a really fun point too. We did it on New Year’s Eve so we just had a massive party. Neither of us are gamblers, though, so I’m still not exactly sure how we ended up in Vegas.

What’s your ultimate holiday nightmare, real or imagined?

I’ve only just lived through it over the Christmas Holidays. I booked a holiday house online that looked amazing on the website. But it was possibly the dirtiest place I’ve ever been in. I couldn’t even turn a lamp off without going to the bathroom to wash my hands afterwards.

How is it travelling with your two young girls?

The girls have been looping around the planet since they were born – they are not going to appreciate their carbon footprint when I tell them the truth later. We have a real system in place, they are so used to flying now – and we don’t drug them! I like to joke when we get on the plane, and see people’s faces glaze over when they see they have to sit near to young kids; I say, “don’t worry, we’re going to drug them". They’re so well behaved after that people just assume we’ve drugged them anyway. It’s the only time they’re really sweet.

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Where did young Julia go for school holidays?

Both my parents worked full time so we didn’t go too flash. We would go to my parent’s friend’s place at McMasters Beach (NSW Central Coast). We would pack up the car like we were driving somewhere forever away and then just drive for 10 minutes and then immerse ourselves in Central Coast beach life. Those were the best holidays ever. Laugh, eat and get out on the beach!

How do rate Melbourne (since moving there last year for House Husbands) against some of the other cities you’ve lived in: Sydney, LA etc?

I never rate my cities against each other – because it allows me to have full love for every single city. I can’t turn my back on my own city though; every time I fly into Sydney, over that sexy old coat hanger, it makes me think “ohh, my city!". But now Melbourne is my city too – every city we live in we embrace like locals, as soon as possible.

What’s the tackiest souvenir you’ve ever bought?

I have a special gift in tacky souvenirs. I have a salt and pepper shaker which is a woman’s bust – it’s amazing. But there’s no such things as tacky – if it gives you joy and reminds you of a place then there’s always room for it in your home.

Absolute travel splash-out in Australia (time and money no object)?

The full top half, from Cairns and Port Douggy, all the way over to, and including and tickling, Broome. Just pop into Katherine, get Darwin involved, especially the wave machine pool.

That’s a long way – will you be doing the driving?

No, I think I’d have to be in some kind of a private plane situation, wouldn’t I. Never been in one but that’s how I see it.

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These winery experiences around Australia take you beyond the standard pour

Oenophiles and novices alike will relish these top-tier wine experiences that go beyond the standard pour.

From the Mediterranean-climate McLaren Vale to the robust Hunter Valley, Australia’s trailblazing wine regions are renowned for producing some of the world’s best drops. A simple cellar door tasting can help you choose your next bottle to take home, but truly understanding the region’s unique terroir and viticultural mastery means engaging all of the senses.

Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia goes beyond the ordinary to offer the best activities to deepen your palate at the country’s most celebrated wineries. Whether it’s an art and wine lunch or horse riding among the vineyards, these experiences make for an unforgettable day out.

Culinary

A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon paired with a beautifully plated gourmet meal at a winery restaurant.
Sip your way through Australia’s best winery experiences.

Epicureans are spoilt for choice with these fantastic gastronomic journeys. Explore Leeuwin Estate’s fine wine, food and commitment to the arts on their Seasonal Experience: Art, Wine & Farm to Fork tour.

Sample a line-up of cool-climate wines with The Art of Fine Wine and Gastronomy at Ten Minutes by Tractor on the Mornington Peninsula, before meandering through the rolling Gabrielle vineyard and feasting on a five-course tasting menu with matching wines.

Outdoors

Visitors riding horses through the vineyards at Jacob's Creek, enjoying a scenic wine country experience.
Ride through the vines at Jacob’s Creek.

Nature enthusiasts can seamlessly pair their love for the outdoors with their love for wine on the Cape to Vine Day Trip – a guided walking tour along the pristine Margaret River cape which ends with a private tour, then a food and wine pairing at the area’s founding wine estate, Vasse Felix.

If your preferred mode of transport is on a trusted steed, the Vineyard Horse Ride and Tasting experience takes animal lovers on a 60-minute guided horse ride through the picturesque vineyards of Jacob’s Creek, followed by a tasting of their cellar door wines.

Blending

Guests blending their own wines during an interactive winemaking experience.
Unleash your inner winemaker.

Curious learners can step into the role of winemaker with a hands-on masterclass. The Master Blenders: Blend your own Muscat class in Rutherglen is perfect for sweet-toothed guests, expertly guided by a Stanton & Killeen host to craft their own personalised 500ml Muscat blend. Or a bubbly affair awaits in Launceston with The Art of Sparkling masterclass hosted by Josef Chromy Wines to create a personalised bottle of sparkling. The experience also includes a tasting of the estate’s table wines and a two-course lunch with wine pairings.

Overnight

A cosy luxury stay at Ampersand Estates.
Pair luxury stays with exceptional wines.

An overnight wine experience allows you to savour every last drop. Live la dolce vita in the King Valley with the Pizzini Overnight Wine and Food Escape, a tutored wine tasting uncovering the delights of Italian food and wine pairings, followed by a four-course dinner with matching wines before bedding down at the charming Mountain View Hotel. For an ultra-luxe wine escape, make a beeline for Pemberton, where The Ampersand Estates Experience – A Marriage of Luxury & Nature offers discerning travellers a stay in a self-contained estate residence, with a private wine tasting and five-course degustation cooked by a chef exclusively for your group over an open-flame.

Culture

Aerial view of Pt. Leo Estate overlooking rolling vineyards and the coastline on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
Experience the perfect pairing of art and wine.

The art of hospitality can be taken to new levels on a cultural and culinary wine journey. The Discover Pt. Leo Estate Lunch, Art & Wine Experience indulges with a 3-course meal showcasing Mornington Peninsula’s produce paired with Victorian wines, plus a walk through the state-of-the-art sculptural park backdropped by the 50-acre vineyard and ocean. The Love on Mount Pleasant guided discovery invites wine enthusiasts to admire the cellar door spaces adorned with works from renowned artists, including Garry Shead, Archibald Prize winner and nephew of Mount Pleasant’s founder, Maurice O’Shea. Sip through a tasting of eight elegant wines paired with local and international cheeses.

Meet the makers

Visitors touring a vineyard alongside winemakers, learning about grape growing and the winemaking process.
Learn from the experts.

Who better to learn about wine from than the makers themselves? Join winemaker and vigneron Tom Ward on a private Immerse with Swinging Bridge tour of the Orange wine region. An informative morning is spent discovering the cool-climate vineyards used to create Swinging Bridge’s award-winning wines, before heading to the winery’s Hill Park Vineyard for a five-course degustation. And discover Queensland’s emerging wine scene with the Behind the Scenes Winery Tour and Premium Tasting, which takes visitors on a tour of Sirromet’s winery facility and a private tutored wine tasting of drops rarely available for sampling.

Helicopter experiences

A helicopter flying above sprawling vineyards.
Take your wine experience to new heights.

See things from a new perspective with an immersive, ultimate luxury wine adventure. Take to the skies on the Helicopter Tour & Blending Bench adventure, which includes a 30-minute scenic flight over McLaren Vale’s spectacular landscape before playing winemaker inside the d’Arenberg Cube to create your own blend from their unique bounty and exploring the building’s art-filled Alternate Realities Museum. Go behind the scenes of a working winery with the Helicopter Winery Tour and 4 course Lunch. Get picked up from your accommodation by a private chauffeur, then take to the skies via helicopter to Printhie Wines.

Heritage

Guests sampling wines beside oak barrels during a guided cellar tasting.
Explore the past, one glass at a time.

History buffs and seasoned oenophiles will delight in discovering the liquid lore of an iconic Australian winery. Savour a 100-year-old tawny with Seppeltsfield’s Centennial Cellar Experience in the Barossa Valley and go on a tour of the Seppelt family homestead, built in 1851 and the underground blending cellar. And it would be remiss not to explore Australia’s most iconic winery, Penfolds in Magill Estate in South Australia, where The Penfolds Heritage Tour & Taste includes a walking tour through the original working winery, lush vineyard and underground drives and a cellar door tasting of their exceptional The Penfolds Collection and covetable Cellar Reserve range.

Start planning an unforgettable wine journey at ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au