POSTCARDS EXPLORES NSW
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
Brodie Harper and Kris Smith from the Postcards team head to NSW to explore the best the state has to offer, in partnership with Destination NSW, this Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Brodie starts by exploring Parramatta (Dharug Country), Sydney’s second CBD, a melting pot of cultures with a vibrant arts scene and plenty of natural beauty. The heritage-listed Parramatta Park, an 85-hectare treasure, is home to beautiful gardens and Australia’s oldest surviving government house. Tucked in the park, Brodie enjoys a spot of lunch at MISC., a breezy all-day diner that puts a modern spin on Mediterranean flavours. She wraps up her tour in the foodie hotspot, Parramatta Square, at LilyMu, a sleek and stylish restaurant specialising in pan-Asian share plates and creative cocktails.
Kris digs the relaxed urban vibe of Wollongong (Tharawal Country), the third largest city in New South Wales, blessed with golden beaches and a thriving arts scene. In the heart of town he finds the Wollongong Art Gallery, one of the largest regional galleries in the country, with free entry for all. Next he checks into Hotel Totto on Market Street, the perfect base to explore from, with a minimalist style, onsite trattoria, and new bunk rooms for families. Kris ends his day with a world-class meal at Babyface Kitchen.
Brodie discovers the vast and rugged beauty of the Blue Mountains (Dharug Country), a magnificent World Heritage Site just a 90-minute drive from Sydney. First up, she visits Scenic World, taking in the incredible views of the Jamison Valley from the unique Skyway, the world’s first rooftop cable car experience. She then explores the region on foot with a guide from the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, along the Grand Clifftops Walk, one of the seven NSW Great Walks. Brodie winds up with an overnight stay at Chalets at Blackheath, where there are four luxurious, freestanding chalets featuring fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, and a communal fire pit to fully relax in the beautiful surroundings.
To finish, Kris takes the famous ferry ride across Sydney Harbour to Manly (Kuring-gai Country), the world-famous beach renowned for its surf and scenery. After getting out on the water with the Manly Kayak Centre, he soaks up the beach vibes at Manly Pavilion, a magnificent building that has been beautifully restored. It now serves a Mediterranean-influenced menu, with stunning harbour views. And for an overnight stay, Kris checks into the five-star accommodation of the beachfront Manly Pacific Hotel.
SHELLEY CRAFT SHOWCASES DAYLESFORD
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
This week the Postcards team welcome guest presenters Shelley Craft and Sammy J to showcase the best of Daylesford and the Melbourne CBD, Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
With The Block calling Daylesford (Dja Dja Wurrung Country) home this year, Shelley explores some of her favourite places in town. She starts with brunch at Cliffy’s Emporium, a local treasure on Raglan Street that’s been serving the community since the 1950s with warming meals and shelves full of local produce. From there it’s off to visit one of the region’s most significant properties, Wombat Park Estate, a private residence dating back to the 1850s that opens its magical historic gardens to the public at different times during the year. Shelley wraps up her tour at The Farmer’s Arms Hotel, where you can choose from a menu full of classic and modern dishes at the oldest pub in Daylesford.
Sammy J embraces the Big Apple, finding the best of New York scattered around the Melbourne CBD (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country). On Oliver Lane, Bowery to Williamsburg appeals, a diner-style cafe offering famous American fare like loaded Reuben sandwiches and bagels. Next, he gets a taste of Broadway at the Princess Theatre with a visit to Annie the Musical, the legendary heartwarmer starring Anthony Warlow and Deb Krizak. The curtain falls for Sammy with a post-show bite at the late-night Pizza Pizza Pizza on Meyers Place, where he grabs a delicious slice.
Meanwhile, Madeline Spark treats herself to a city staycation to soak up the electric atmosphere of the Melbourne CBD. Across the river at Arts Centre Melbourne, the nation’s largest performing arts venue, a guided tour gives her renewed appreciation of the wonderful landmark, as it takes visitors through Hamer Hall and the three theatres under the famous spire. To stay in the heart of it all, Madeline checks into the Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne on Flinders Street. This grand, heritage-listed 1913 building has been beautifully restored, blending historic charm like soaring ceilings and marble staircases with modern comforts and the stylish lobby bar, Ms Ava.
And this week Kris Smith pops up in the rainforests and mountainside villages of the Gold Coast hinterland (Bundjalung Country). He checks out the sprawling Gold Coast Motor Museum, which showcases a diverse collection of cars and bikes from throughout history and then also takes a look at the latest Mater Cars for Cancer prize package. He tops off his day at the base of Tamborine Mountain with a feed at the Fox & Hounds Country Inn, an authentic British pub where the beers on tap and even the interiors have been imported from the UK.
SHELLEY CRAFT SHOWCASES DAYLESFORD
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
PUBS, PREMIER LEAGUE AND A BRAND NEW MUSICAL
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
This week the Postcards team explore more of Melbourne’s best food, wine and entertainment, Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
With the Premier League season just around the corner, Englishman Kris Smith is on the hunt for a good old English pub in Melbourne (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country) to talk all things football. He catches up with Stan Sport football expert and Manchester United legend Mark Bosnich at The Mitre Tavern, which has been serving Melburnians for over 150 years. Then they head to The Imperial Hotel at the top of Bourke Street, official home of the Melbourne Liverpool Supporters. Mark and Kris preview the upcoming EPL season and its new home on Stan Sport, where every match will be available live and on-demand from Saturday, August 16.
Livinia Nixon is off to the theatre to see the new joy-filled musical, Kimberly Akimbo, running at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. The five-time Tony Award winner is a mix of comedy, heist caper and unlikely love, starring Marina Prior, Christie Whelan Browne and Casey Donovan. For a post-theatre bite, Livinia crosses the river to Flinders Lane and Elio’s Place, an all-day European bistro and bar perfect for dinner. She wraps up her city visit directly across the road at Melbourne Winery, the city’s first urban winery, which features 32 wines and a special strawberries and cream trolley for Saturday brunch.
Meanwhile, guest presenter Nick Cody takes viewers on a personal tour of his local suburb, Ascot Vale (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), starting at Little Byrd on Union Road. This cosy café has a warm community vibe, top-notch coffee and Mediterranean-inspired brunch dishes. Next he heads to Luke’s Banh Mi, where family recipes and fresh ingredients have earned this Vietnamese bakery a cult following and a lunchtime queue to match. Nick wraps up his tour at The Union Hotel, a no-fuss pub with a beer garden, live music and a menu stacked with comfort-food classics.
And this week Lauren Phillips explores Middle Park (Bunurong Country), five kilometres south of the CBD. She drops into Jack the Geezer, a cool café on Armstrong Street that serves as a second home and creative space for its regulars. A few doors down, Lauren finds the brand-new Middle Park European, a neighbourhood bistro and wine bar with a warm atmosphere and a menu of Italian and French-inspired dishes. She finishes up on the green at the historic Middle Park Bowls Club, where punters have been having a roll since 1903.
PUBS, PREMIER LEAGUE AND A BRAND NEW MUSICAL
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
FOODIE HEAVENS AND COUNTRY GEMS
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
This week the Postcards team explore more of Melbourne’s best food precincts and country towns, Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Shane Delia is in Chadstone (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country) at the brand-new fresh food and dining precinct, The Market Pavilion, a marketplace experience with more than 50 traders. His first stop is Flowers Vasette, whose beautiful seasonal bouquets are a feast for the senses. Next he visits Melbourne favourite That’s Amore for their deli of award-winning Italian cheeses, and sits down for their famous porchetta roll. In the dining laneway, Shane tries a sweet treat from Homm Dessert, a popular Thai cafe known for its shokupan and bingsu. He wraps up his tour in the heart of the market at the Champagne & Oyster Bar with freshly shucked oysters and a glass of bubbly.
Livinia Nixon spends a cosy day exploring the local favourites of Carlton (also Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), a neighbourhood famous for its cultural roots and vibrant food scene. She starts at Cafe Carlton on Swanston Street, known for its delicious sandwiches and bread baked in-house, before popping by Poppyshop, the toy and gift store on Lygon Street that has sparked joy for generations of families for more than six decades with its focus on play-based learning. Livinia winds up at Good Measure, a unique Lygon Street venue that operates as a cafe by day and a cocktail bar by night, and is the original creator of the cult-classic coffee drink, the Mount Blanc.
Meanwhile Madeline Spark is exploring the pretty village of Warrandyte (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), a bushy riverside suburb that feels a world away from Melbourne. She begins at Field Day Pantry, a newcomer that already has built a buzz around its barista skills and tasty takeaway options. A short stroll away on the riverbank she finds Yarra Cottage Books, an historic building that was transported from Bendigo in the 1860s and is now a reader’s haven crammed with nearly 40,000 secondhand books. Madeline closes it out with a long lunch at Ember Social and Dining, a restaurant described as a “big cosy hug” with outstanding food that aims to bring destination dining to the suburbs.
And Kris Smith takes a day trip to Healesville (also in Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), a favourite Yarra Valley destination less than 65 kilometres from the city’s CBD. First stop, The Pink Gallery, a bright and bold space opened by local artist Cherie Brown in 2023 to showcase the region’s creative talent and host painting workshops. For lunch, Kris chooses No. 7 Healesville, a European-style restaurant and wine bar housed in a renovated factory that celebrates local and seasonal ingredients. He calls it a day at Cavanagh’s Whisky & Alehouse, where owner Brendan Cavanagh is shaking things up in wine country with a selection of over 100 whiskies, craft beers, and a hidden private dining experience called Emerald City.
FOODIE HEAVENS AND COUNTRY GEMS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
GUEST PRESENTERS JULIA BUSUTTIL NISHIMURA AND CHRIS KOHLER JOIN POSTCARDS
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
This week the Postcards team are joined by two guest presenters, Julia Busuttil Nishimura and Chris Kohler, as they explore more of Melbourne CBD’s best eateries, Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Cook and author Julia Busuttil Nishimura explores a CBD precinct brimming with world-class eateries (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country). Starting on a hidden mezzanine behind 500 Bourke Street, she finds SilkSpoon, a casual canteen from Victor Liong with a menu inspired by the flavours of the Silk Road. Also on the terrace is the refurbished MoVida Aqui, the roomiest of Frank Camorra’s Spanish eateries, which features big rice dishes cooked over fire and charcoal. Down on William Street, Julia visits Tomm on William, a Tom Cooper venue dedicated to the art of cold-smoked fish, with dishes like the salmon sausage roll. Her tour ends at Rosa’s Canteen, where wholesome home-style Italian cuisine is served in a sleek corporate setting.
9News Finance Editor, Chris Kohler is on the hunt for the city’s best lunch spots that are quick, tasty and good value for money (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country). He starts at the TikTok-famous It’s Bagel on Queen Street, where nine types of fresh bagels can be loaded with 11 different fillings. A 10-minute walk away on Little Collins Street, he visits the booming Remo’s Pasta and Tiramisu, a new spot serving simple, authentic pasta and four types of gluten-free tiramisu perfect for a takeaway office lunch. Then at the Golden Coffee & Toastie Bar in Collins Place, Chris sees where a cheesemonger has elevated the humble toastie to a decadent sensation, with options like the Triple Cheese Truffler.
Meanwhile, Brodie Harper is exploring beautiful Noojee in Gippsland (Kurnai Country), an alpine country town about 130 kilometres east of Melbourne, known for its green space and fresh air. She takes a walk through towering gums and lush tree fern forests on the 1.5-kilometre return trek to the stunning Toorongo Falls. Next, she visits an unmissable local attraction, the family-run Noojee Hotel, an historic pub built in 1925 that sits in a beautiful spot right by the Latrobe River. Brodie wraps up with an overnight stay at The Toolshed Bar, Bistro & Cabins, a rustic venue on acreage offering a unique place to stay just a minute from the pub.
And this week Madeline Spark takes an antique road trip to Central Victoria, heading to the historic goldrush town of Inglewood (Dja Dja Wurrung Country). First stop is the nearby town of Bridgewater for a treat at the Bridgewater Bakehouse, an award-winning bakery that has won the award for Australia’s best vanilla slice two years in a row. She then hunts for treasures in Fusspots at Inglewood, an antique store on the main street that’s a feast for vintage lovers. Madeline’s day ends with a study of the town’s past at the Eucalyptus Distillery Museum, a fascinating heritage-listed site that celebrates the history of the eucalyptus oil industry which flourished in the region after the goldrush.
GUEST PRESENTERS JULIA BUSUTTIL NISHIMURA
AND CHRIS KOHLER JOIN POSTCARDS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
AN ITALIAN CITY TOUR AND COUNTRY ESCAPES
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
This week the Postcards team explore more top foodie spots from the Melbourne CBD to country Victoria, Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Kris Smith gets to know the locals along the quiet but vibey Gilbert Road in West Preston (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country). He starts at Joey’s Boys Bakery, an authentic, family-run Lebanese bakery. A few doors down he grabs a treat from Gelato Papa, where Italian family recipes that go back generations are used to make gelato from scratch. Next, Kris gets a spruce-up at the Northern Barbershop & Shave Parlour, before wrapping up at the neighbourhood local, The Merri Bar, which specialises in independent beers and hosts trivia, live music and open mic nights throughout the week.
Madeline Spark explores tiny Romsey in the Macedon Ranges (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), a classic country town that flies under the radar. At Romsey Ecotherapy Park, she finds an amazing community green space on the site of the old primary school, the result of over a decade of grassroots planning and creation. For lunch, Madeline heads over the road to The 1860 Romsey, a beautifully restored pub dating back to the goldrush that serves up a cracking menu with cosy country charm. She completes her day trip just ten minutes up the road at Hesket Estate, a cellar door offering tastings of cool-climate wines and cute on-site accommodation.
For a perfect day of wining and dining, Livinia Nixon heads to the bustling Church Street village in Brighton (Bunurong Country). Her first port of call is Bakehouse by Vic, a sweet, New York-inspired cafe conveniently located on Railway Walk next to the train station. A short stroll away, behind Dendy Plaza, she finds one of Brighton’s hot new restaurants, Henrys, a breezy split-level establishment that’s become a neighbourhood hit. To cap it off, Livinia returns to Railway Walk to visit the popular cocktail and wine bar, La Petite Societe, a cosy slice of Europe serving tasty share plates, with live music on Saturdays and $15 mid-week margaritas.
And Lauren Phillips is embracing all things Italian in Melbourne (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), starting with a classic espresso at the bar of Pellegrini’s, a Bourke Street institution that has been serving honest Italian food and coffee since 1954. Around the corner on Meyers Place, she visits another slice of old Melbourne, The Waiter’s Restaurant, an unpretentious 80-year-old haunt serving big bowls of pasta from authentic family recipes. Lauren then enjoys a modern take on Italian-American dining at Pepe’s Italian & Liquor on Exhibition Street, before winding up in Carlton at the famous Cinema Nova to chat about the annual Italian Film Festival, which celebrates the best of Italian culture on the big screen.
AN ITALIAN CITY TOUR AND COUNTRY ESCAPES
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
A SMORGASBORD OF DELUXE FOODIE SPOTS
THIS SUNDAY AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
This week the Postcards team celebrate a deluxe smorgasbord of foodie spots around suburban Melbourne, Sunday at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Livinia Nixon uncovers the heart of Camberwell (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country). She starts at a local favourite, Our Little Secret, a community cafe in the Middle Camberwell shops that’s been serving amazing coffee and a delicious brunch menu since 2012. At the Camberwell Petanque Club, Livinia meets a friendly group of locals who welcome anyone to try the game they describe as “less formal than bowls but way more stylish than bocce”. Her day finishes with a short drive to neighbouring Glen Iris for a meal at Grazia, an Italian restaurant with a stellar ambience and food made with a whole lot of heart.
This week Kris Smith explores the vibrant vibe of Peel Street in West Melbourne (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country), a strip across the road from the Queen Vic Market with plenty of great places to eat. His tour begins at Kare Curry, a Japanese eatery dedicated to bold new curry creations. A few doors down is the second outpost of Windsor favourite Lasagnalab, a venue that puts an inventive spin on the Italian classic with dishes like the deep-fried lasagna sandwich. Kris wraps up his night at The Drunken Poet, an authentic and cosy Irish pub, a local favourite since 2006 known for avoiding clichés and hosting live music throughout the week.
Madeline Spark is deep in the cosy urban scene at Geelong (Wathaurong Country). Just off buzzy Pakington Street at At Randy’s, she enjoys coffee and cake before a short drive to Mano Deli, a relaxed cafe on Shannon Avenue. There, she meets the team from Buddiup Geelong, who help people with disabilities connect with their local community. Madeline finishes down the road at Yarns On Shannon Avenue, a knitting supply store that brings the community together with “Sip & Stitch” sessions.
And Shane Delia is enjoying the international flavours of Spotswood (Bunurong Country). First stop is the Creme de la Creme patisserie on Hudson’s Road, where a passionate young couple blend Lebanese family traditions into unique pastries, like the Knafeh croissant. A short walk to Union Quarter, Shane finds Ama’s Grill & Bar, where a vibrant feast of African cuisine awaits from owner Ama Baidoo. She started her business as a food truck with a mission to introduce Melbourne to the flavours of her homeland. Shane bows out at another Union Quarter venue, Odette House, a three-storey establishment with a ground-floor cafe, an Asian fusion restaurant, and a cracking rooftop bar with live music and spectacular city views.
A SMORGASBOARD OF DELUXE FOODIE SPOTS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, AT 5.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
