Australia
Danielle is a freelance travel, lifestyle and content writer. Her work has been published in Escape, Jetstar Magazine, Pacific Island Living Magazine, Island Spirit, The Age/Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Traveller, International Traveller, Kidspot, Essential Kids, Weekendnotes, Good Food and Delicious Magazine.
Danielle is also a copywriter and has worked with numerous brands and small organisations to write stories, websites, grants and business documents.
Danielle teaches literature, literacy and cooking to secondary school students.
She has an Arts degree in Literature, Anthropology and Philosophy, a Diploma in Education and a post graduate certificate in Children's Literature.
In 2016, Danielle published a cookbook; 'Cooking with a Broken Heart'.
e:[email protected]
Melbourne is a fabulous city for dining and special events. Windowless private dining rooms around the top end of town have been popular for business lunches for decades - but for light, bright parties, keep these beauties in mind for your...
Jimi and Lucy Cordell were in search of a 'smaller' life when they bought a 330 square metre block in Torquay, Victoria.
Travel Stories
Building a new hotel in regional Albany during the pandemic wasn't easy. As well as the lack of building supplies and labour, Western Australia's closed borders locked out the overseas-based project manager, a hurdle on-site crew overcame by wearing GoPros to film their work.
From the wineries of the Yarra Valley to the beaches of the Great Ocean Road, the healing waters of the Daylesford region, to the mountain hiking trails of the Grampians, Victoria is a natural playground for locals and visitors alike. Great Ocean Road
Heads turn as the shining red Tesla pulls into the circular drive of the Sea Temple at Palm Cove, our accommodation for a week-long family holiday. Zac, from Cairns Luxury Car Hire, has delivered our car and is about to run us through the functions of the first electric vehicle (EV) available for hire in the region.
There are few occasions that aren't made better by Swiss chocolate. The Movenpick group incorporates this universal knowledge into each of their hotels, and their newest offering in Melbourne is no exception. Every afternoon a long grazing table in the lobby is laden with luscious treats for Chocolate Hour.
The confection of light, fluffy custard encased in thin leaves of crisp pastry with a fine layer of icing makes this the vanilla slice to beat. Bridgewater in central Victoria is one of the myriad reasons the Bendigo region was named a UNESCO city of Gastronomy in 2019. Take Bridgewater Bakehouse.
Joel moved to Badger Creek with his mum when he was 10 years old so the move back here is a move back home for him and he's back to exploring the bush walks of the region on his days off.
Helmet perched jauntily on my head, I squint into the sun and hope for the best. I am about to tackle Bangkok by bike. As I round a corner into the first narrow lane, I lose my balance, drifting perilously close to an open coal barbecue, a brush with disaster that leaves me hooting with laughter.
Immerse yourself in art at this inspiring stay in Bendigo. A large wooden sculpture of a chiselled, angular woman sits on the path at the entrance to the property, her casual pose setting the tone for your visit. The hotel's collection of bright yellow rental bicycles lines the walkway to where another sculpted gentleman guards the door.
You can't go to Chiang Mai in Thailand and not have a massage - the city is famous for them. But having a Thai massage in a prison will do more than ease your own aches and pains. Here's why.
We pump up the adrenaline to uncover the action-packed side to beautiful Bali. Keep teenagers entertained with quad bikes, water parks, surf lessons & more
When the winter weather comes blowing into Canberra, it's easy for couples to get warm and cosy on a romantic getaway in the capital. Late-morning lie-ins, champagne breakfasts, gorgeous galleries and boutique hotels welcome lovers with open arms. As the evening falls, Canberra offers fireside nightcaps and oysters - and the night, of course, is just what you make it.
If you dream of island hopping, this list of the world's most beautiful islands is for you, writes Danielle Norton.
Danielle Norton tries Tiny Away, 2020's take on downsizing your weekend in the country. With big dreams about living small, my daughter and I headed to a Tiny Away home at Gherang on the fringes of the Otway National Park, 35 kilometres west of Geelong.
The last time I took my kids on an international holiday a stranger approached me at the airport, gently squeezed my arm and said, "I hope you get a chance to have a break. You deserve it." She'd been on our plane and witnessed my struggles with the more anxious of my twins.
Is there anything more delightful than a flowering garden on a spring morning? How about your very own cosy miner's cottage set amongst 1,700 sustainably-grown heritage rose bushes on a micro flower farm? Sandy McKinley has designed her property, Acre of Roses, to be a true retreat from the busyness that infiltrates the lives of city slickers.
He's really enjoying the drive through the region and watching the vines changing colour, "the amazing yellows and reds," as the Summer transitions to Autumn. David has friends who have worked in the region who've given him lots of tips so he's looking forward to exploring and foraging for mushrooms in the near future.
Bali Zoo, home to over 500 animals of more than 60 species, is set amidst 10 hectares of cooling, verdant tropical gardens. We've come up with 11 reasons why you should visit on your next trip to our nation's favourite holiday destination.
Caroline remembers helping her mum create dinner parties from the Women's Weekly Dinner Party Cookbook. She also reminisces with fondness about her Nana cooking a lamb roast in the electric frying pan. Caroline's best friend's family owned an Italian restaurant in Lygon St, Carlton, and lived above it.
Melbourne's newest luxury hotel, Shadowplay by Peppers, is yet another drawcard for the Southbank precinct. Edwin, the stylish wine bar and restaurant located adjacent to reception on the ground floor, adds a new destination for food and wine buffs living in or visiting one of Melbourne's most sought after residential and recreational areas.
From the moment I set eyes on it, I knew we were destined to be together. The room around it was plush and palatial; floor to ceiling sheer curtains covered windows that looked out onto garden framed by magnificent eucalypts and rolling hills, the fireplace was set and the sofa plumped and ready to envelop me, but it was the well dressed bed that attracted my gaze.
Tearing down the slopes really builds an appetite. Here are options for pre- and apres-ski that go beyond hot choccy. Snowshoe to cheese fondue Is there anything better than a three-course French meal on a cold winter's night? Don snowshoes and trudge past snow gums at sunset and arrive at Alpine Nature Experience's hidden eco-village.
Don your winter woollies: it's road trip time, hibernators. When the cold winds start to whistle, the time is right to don your winter woolies and venture out of town. Just an hour from Melbourne, by car or train, lie the beautiful Macedon Ranges, writes Danielle Norton Learn Animus Distillery in Kyneton creates premium hand crafted gin.
It's one of Bali's most luxurious beach resorts, complete with butler service and a Sunday brunch that's the stuff of legends. So what's it really like to stay at the Mulia in Nusa Dua? Danielle Norton checks in.
He loves the flavours that emerge during the season and the vibrant colours. "If you think of the autumnal colours and beautiful pale oranges and light browns, it's just such a wonderful time. You still get some warm days and cold nights.
Once upon a time, drinking holes in Hobart pretty much served only Cascade beer and cool climate wines. Tasmania is now a haven for distillers. There are 37 registered distilleries producing gin, whisky and even apple-based spirits. To meet the demands of a new generation of spirit lovers, a range of elegant and interesting bars are popping up in the capital.
January 30, 2019 I'm spending the day fishing with a tour guide and Julius Kera, owner of the Agnes Gateway Hotel and an elder of the Munda community. Floating peacefully on the brilliant blue, gin-clear ocean in a banana boat, we watch a frigatebird soaring through the air, chasing a seagull with a fish in its mouth.
Danielle Norton Boasting a world-class art collection and wow-factor mountain views, the Islington Hotel is one of Hobart's most elegant - and surprising - boutique stays. The Islington Hotel 321 Davey St, South Hobart, TAS, 7000 Hobart's Islington Hotel, secluded behind high gates, gives the impression that it is an exclusive private home.
Danielle Norton checks into Honiara's Heritage Park Hotel and is understandably impressed, this central, clean and modern hotel ticks all the boxes. January 30, 2019 Rebecca Murphy January 30, 2019 The History In previous times, the Heritage Park Hotel was the site of the Governor's residence and the grandeur befitting a person such as this still exists in its modern reincarnation.
"My first food memory is making gnocchi with my mum at home. I was always in the kitchen with mum. I also have memories of my Nonna in Calabria, always with food, always a little sauce pot going with her little sugos and all of her interesting little things."
Australia is the land of plenty: plenty of beaches, plenty of space and plenty of amazing food, writes Danielle Norton. Here are some of the less obvious choices for long-weekend getaways when food is your focus.
Make the most of your chance to have clothes made just for you.
Yarra Ranges Tourism acknowledge's the Wurrundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges on which we live, work and play. We pay our deepest respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
Meet She grew up in Norway, living beneath the northern lights. Asta Lassesen, CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions, tells of their everyday magic. INTERVIEW & WORDS DANIELLE NORTON, JUSTINE COSTIGAN In far northern Norway from late November to mid-January, the shortening winter days announce the beginning of Mørketid (polar night).
Taste Preparing menus that warm and revive guests after exploring, is all in a day's work for chef Renate Røsten. WORDS DANIELLE NORTON When she was a child, Renate Røsten's father would regale her with tales about his time as a sailor, working in ship kitchens.
The Munda Airport is the cutest little timber shack I've ever seen. A small crowd hovers in the shade, waiting for us to disembark so they can catch our plane back to Honiara, from whence we came.
Ruff day? The Langham has opened its doors to our furry friends and we couldn't be more excited about a staycation in the heart of Melbourne, writes Danielle Norton. Last year's lockdowns led to a huge spike in pet ownership and now we all want to take our pandemic puppies with us when we holiday.
As a travel writer, I spend a lot of time away from my kids, exploring different corners of the world. Sometimes, I breathe in, relax and thank the heavens above that I'm there alone. There are times when I know that a certain destination is a place I will definitely return to with my family.
Adventuring around Australia in summer can be hot, sweaty work. We've found 50 natural pools around the country that will help you cool off.
There's no better way to experience a culture than through its cuisine. How people grow, prepare and enjoy their food gives a special insight into their lives, which is why so many travellers can't wait to get into the kitchen when visiting a...
If you're looking for an abode to call your own during your stay in Thailand, it can seem a little more than overwhelming. Thankfully Danielle Norton has done the "hard" work for us, reviewing a 'calm' hotel that doesn't accept guests under 10 years of age. The Sarojin, Khao Lak, Phang Nga Province, Thailand.
A road trip from Byron Bay rolls into Federal, a hinterland town en route to the walking tracks and waterfalls of the Nightcap mountains. As well as a Japanese inspired cafe, Doma, a general store, and a homewares emporium, this town is home to Moonshine Coffee Roasters. Words by Danielle Norton.
From spending the night in a rare exotic fruit orchard and tasting Davidson plum ice-cream to ziplining through the forest and horse riding on the beach, here's what not to miss when you visit Tropical North Queensland's Cape Tribulation. Cape Tribulation is a significant UNESCO World Heritage-listed site where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.
Savai'i, Samoa's larger yet less populated island paradise.
A story about a journey to Cape tribulation, inspired by Jeannie baker's book, Where the Forest Meets the Sea.
Danielle Norton finds those three things and tranquility when she sets sail on a day cruise on Havannah Harbour, where the water's as clear as a summer sky and alive with marine life.
For a fascinating pitstop on the way to the Grampians National Park, don't miss Seppelt's in Great Western. Words by Danielle Norton. Underneath the winery lies a network of drives, three kilometres long, similar to the mining tunnels that the area is known for.
An unexpected treasure trove of animals in the Grampians. The Grampians National Park is a well-known destination for families. There are endless campsites, bush walks, rivers and lakes to explore and for nature lovers it is ideal for native animals spotting.
Penguins, pancakes and flying foxes ... what's not to love? At Melbourne's Southern Cross Station, my kids and I stock up on Bean Boozled jelly beans from the Sugar Shack on the platform. We are excited to be going on our first rail journey to Warrnambool, on the south west coast of Victoria.
Copywriting
NAPLAN is a term that's thrown around school classrooms like tennis balls at recess. Teachers mumble it, kids worry about it, and education departments emphasise its relevance and importance. But do you know exactly what NAPLAN testing involves, who does it and why it gets so much airtime in schools?
Career Profile Stories for The Age/Sydney Morning Herald
Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Bendigo winemakers Paul Greblo, 73, and Karen Sorenson, 71, had a courtship that spanned a quarter of a century and the entire globe. Then Paul and the American-born Karen decided to actually meet in person.
Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Agriculture in Australia is a male-dominated industry. Women are either born or marry into the lifestyle. It wasn't until 1994 that women were able to tick the "farmer" occupation box on the Australian census.
Danielle Stewart's company My Word is on a mission to enrich connections between the elderly, their families and carers.
Andrew completed a diploma of community studies and outreach counselling and secured a job at Berry St as a residential care worker and an outreach worker in a youth program.
This educational change-maker thrives on connecting people through creativity.
When brothers Ali, Mohammad and Hussain Alamein fled Iraq as children in the 1990s, they couldn't have imagined the success they would find thanks to a scholarship. L-R: Mohammad, Hussain and Ali Alamein Article 26 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to education.
It was the purchase of her first labradoodle puppy, Flash, that set her on this remarkable journey of love and caring for the community. Flash's breeder directed Ms Rimes to Delta Society; a charity that facilitates volunteers (and their specially trained dogs) visiting hospitals and healthcare facilities.
A small business program leads to large success for refugee and migrant women, writes Danielle Norton.
Justin Bonavia was studying criminal justice at RMIT and working part time in the Juvenile Detention Centre at Parkville as a youth worker when he first started to think about the positive impact that adventurous outdoor activities had on young people.
EIGHT years ago, Chris Tabone was a 29-year-old backpacker on a pilgrimage to see the sights of Europe, like so many young Australians before him. After travelling solo for nine months, he ran out of money and was sleeping on a friend's couch in London.
Feature stories
Opinion Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Around the country, a swathe of teenage workers have been quietly going about their business as shelf stackers and cashiers at the nation's supermarkets. In better, pre-coronavirus times, parents encouraged them to find after-school jobs; to help them develop financial independence, self-esteem and personal maturity.
At dusk on a dreary afternoon, I pulled into a parking space at a shopping centre and, in a moment of unbridled stupidity, tiredness and distraction, I shut my heavy car door on my own fingers. Trapped, and unable to wrench them out, I had to twist my body around and open the door handle to release them.
This year, for the first time, my teenager wasn't excited about our annual family holiday. I, on the other hand, was thrilled to be taking my three children to one of my favourite places; Tasmania.
Opinion: it's not a 'sacrifice'. So often I have heard stories about women whose partners are depicted as heroes for being willing to "take them on" even when they have two, three or four small children.
Recently, my children have been very interested in gender diversity, equality and LGBTIQ issues. Now that school camp is on the horizon, the issue of gender equality is being explored even further in relation to the strong friendships that exist between children of different genders.
Did one of your children sleep like a dream and never fuss, and the other needed constant reassurance? This is the reason why. We all know someone who has an 'easy' baby. Their child sleeps at the right times, is always happy, comfortable and adaptable in new surroundings, and generally enjoys their life.
"The self esteem that we've been teaching for the past 40 years is a false identity." We've all chanted the mantra; Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.
Weekendnotes Reviews - Films, Restaurants, Events, Hotels
I'm a freelance travel, lifestyle and content writer based in Melbourne. If you need the right words, I have them. Feel free to connect with me or have a look at my site https://www.clippings.me/users/daniellenorton for examples of my published work Heading to Sydney any time soon?
I'm a freelance travel, lifestyle and content writer based in Melbourne. If you need the right words, I have them. Feel free to connect with me or have a look at my site https://www.clippings.me/users/daniellenorton for examples of my published work Angela and Sean Taylor, owners of Promhills Cabins and Eco tents, moved to South Gippsland from Sydney in 2007.
Meet Russ and Lorelle, owners of The Whiskery, the Bellarine Peninsula's newest, and only, gin and whiskey distillery.
Hire a Kombi - Step out of your comfort zone and into an adventure.
I wait in the long line snaking its way one large city block up Little Bourke St. It is dinner time and torture to stand here waiting, while the tantalising smells of Chinatown waft past. What I wouldn't give for a hot plate of fried noodles right now!
" Spare the rod and spoil the child", says the stern round schoolteacher, bonnet pulled tightly, framing her face. A teenager enters the school house and is asked her age. " 16! You should be married by now", the mistress pronounces. The poor child doesn't know what to say or where to look.
A story of love, cooking and other associated disasters.