Celebrate the magic of our own backyard with the 32nd iteration of Good Weekend’s annual 52 Weekends Away edition, on sale this Saturday, October 8 in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and online at smh.com.au/goodweekend and theage.com.au/goodweekend, as well as on the BrisbaneTimes and WAtoday.

While international borders have largely re-opened, Australians haven’t lost their love of a local escape which was reignited during the pandemic, and Good Weekend has been celebrating the domestic travel sector longer than anyone else. 

This special annual edition of Good Weekend, produced in partnership with its SMH/Age stablemate Traveller, features new or revamped places to stay in every state and territory, for every weekend of the year. Special highlights include the opportunity to enjoy your own surf shack on NSW’s laid-back north coast, sleep under the stars in a luxury bubble tent in rural Victoria, rug up in a cosy alpine-style stone and timber cabin in Tasmania’s Bay of Fires, or escape on a city break with your furry friend at Sydney’s latest pet-friendly hotel. 

“The short break has changed markedly since our first 52 Weekends Away issue in 1990, and in recent years we’ve taken this much-loved edition national in recognition of the fact that it’s increasingly easy to get on a plane and go interstate for a long weekend – or even a short one,” said Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.

“Australians rediscovered their own backyard during COVID-19, and whilst we’ve started travelling abroad again, that renewed love of our own country has not diminished.

“It’s wonderful too, to see so many new places springing up around the country, and the attention to detail of their hosts, whether in the local gin they supply for the mini-bar or the work by regional artists on their walls, or simply their friendly, personal service. It’s honestly one of the best things about putting this issue together, seeing that level of loving care and attention to detail.”

The edition is also chock-a-block with travel and luxury advertisements, including a nine-page Destination NSW reverseback and advertising from the likes of Audi, Hermes, Smeg and Breitling as well as travel clients Flight Centre, Holland America Line, Journey Beyond, Ignite, Spicers, Intrepid, APT, Ponant, Travel Associates, NRMA and numerous hotels.

“We have partnered with Destination NSW on this issue for three years now, and it’s terrific to have a commercial partner who is as invested in the traveller experience as we are, and busting to tell readers about all the great things to do and see in their state,” said Strickland.

As is tradition, every cover of the 52 Weekends Away edition features an artwork by a local artist. This year the Good Weekend team selected a beautiful photograph by Tamara Dean, taken in her studio in regional NSW. 

“As soon as we saw this image we knew it was the one,” said Strickland. “To me, it evokes the feeling of freedom, joy and playfulness that travel inspires.”

Good Weekend 52 Weekends Away edition will be available in this Saturday’s edition of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and online at smh.com.au/goodweekend and theage.com.au/goodweekend, as well as brisbanetimes.com.au/good-weekend and watoday.com.au/good-weekend.

For more information:
Caitlin Lynch 
Senior Communications Manager, Nine
clynch@nine.com.au 

Friday, October 7, 2022