Short Breaks: A Mighty Wine Country

Think you know the capitals of Australia? We're not talking about the likes of Sydney and Melbourne here, but the destinations that are known and loved for their top notch products. Tara Harrison takes an enticing look at Australia's wine capital (the Barossa), honey capital (Mudgee) AND pearl capital (Broome)

HONEY CAPITAL: Mudgee

The speciality: In Mudgee, golden dripping honey comes as close to the bee hive as you can get without a mesh helmet and a white bodysuit. At Mudgee Honey Haven you can taste test different types of honey and one of the most popular flavours is the rather misleadingly named Paterson's Curse, which comes from the nectar of a purple weed. Visitors can also watch the bees plug away at honeycomb through a glass window.

The setting: Mudgee means a "nest in the hills" to the native Wiradjuri people and this town is as cosy and enveloping as the hills that surround it. The town has historic facades that house boutique shops and gourmet restaurants along wide tree lined streets. The product of fresh country air is not limited to honey; the local wine and cheese is equally well regarded. If all the foodie indulgence has you seeing stars, head to the real thing at the Mudgee Observatory which is open every night from 7pm.

The sample: Evanslea by the River has a mid-week special, with three nights' accommodation in a luxury spa cottage priced from $600. For more information, visit www.evanslea.com

WINE CAPITAL: The Barossa
The speciality: Since 1842 the greatest wines in the country have come from this valley in South Australia, where you can witness the journey from vine to barrel to bottle. You will find some of the oldest Shiraz and Cabernet vines in the world and with over 150 vineyards and more than 70 cellar doors, your palate will be spoilt.

The setting: Only an hour's drive from Adelaide, this area has preserved its history thanks to the success of its vintages. The region is littered with storybook images such as tall spire churches, old-fashioned barns, sandstone cottages and steep roofed farmhouses. Were it not for the thick trunked gum trees that line the road you could mistake it for Tuscany. Precisely planted vines create stripes in the landscape that remind you that this is a community driven by the pursuit of a great drop.

The sample: Lyndoch Hill has a rose garden room package for $159 per night including a wine and cheese plate on arrival and buffet breakfast, for a minimum two-night stay. For more information, visit www.lhretreat.com

PEARL CAPITAL: Broome
The speciality: Broome is the place to be if you are in the market for pearls. The exotic town famous for camel rides down Cable Beach is a twin-set wearer's delight. The search for shiny spheres has happened here for more than 150 years. Pearl diving has involved many nationalities, evidence of which is found in Broome's buzzing China Town where historic corrugated iron huts now house pearl showrooms.

The setting: Beyond Cable Beach other shorelines in Broome offer quirky delights. 130 million years ago dinosaurs walked at Gantheaume Point and by some fluke of preservation, their footprints remain and can be seen when the water dips below two metres. At Town Beach there is a spectacle seen once in a full moon between March and October. As the moon rises over tidal flats, the shimmering reflection creates the illusion of a staircase to the moon.

The sample: Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa Cable offer a package of four nights, a fusion stone massage and a sunset helicopter flight from $1396 between July and October. For more information, visit www.cablebeachclub.com

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