Justine Costigan

Season 4: Ep 2: Learning from Le Corbusier

Listen to this episode from Light, Cities + Architecture. on Spotify. Le Corbusier's Unité d'habitation in Marseille remains one of the most polarising architectural landmarks of the 20th century. A bold experiment in modernist housing, it envisioned a radical new way of urban living, one that was both efficient and communal.

This Italian city's love affair with chocolate runs deeper than you think

Dive into Turin's 400-year chocolate legacy at the Choco Story museum.

Melbourne for beginners: How to spend your time in Australia's second city

Tapping into the things that locals love is the key to making the most of Australia's second city, suggests Justine Costigan

Separated for decades, these reunited towns are now the talk of Europe

Italy's Gorizia and Slovenia's Nova Gorica are primed and ready for their year in the spotlight, and there's no better time to visit.

The beautiful, 200-year-old French store where you can stay the night

If you love this traditional and beloved store's aesthetic and philosophy, an apartment stay is the ultimate immersion.

Campervan in NZ with kids: Why it rates as one of our best family holidays ever

If a holiday can be judged by the retelling of memories, this North Island road trip gets five stars, writes Justine Costigan. My children have seen a lot of...

The laid-back Greek island that locals love - and tourists miss

Discover Poros, a serene Greek island near Athens with stunning beaches, charming town life, and rich history.

This jet-lag cure may be a little bit indulgent but it's 100% effective

Facing an extreme long-haul flight home ? Build in a nature-focused stopover to banish the jet lag, writes Justine Costigan Fifteen minutes after arriving on...

Italy's coffee capital? It's hard to go past this cafe-loving city

The baristas have the timing and grace of ballerinas, and even the coffee at the railway stations is great.

The highlight of my visit to Italy was somewhere totally unexpected

I've needed a haircut for months, but as usual, I've been putting it off. I'd been butchered before when travelling.

Not Florence: Italy's other beautiful Renaissance city (with no tourists)

Overshadowed by its more famous neighbours, Ferrara has something those cities don't - no signs of overtourism.

These 7 travel essentials saved my six-month European trip

Discover the must-have items for a seamless long-term trip, perfect for making anywhere feel like home while exploring multiple destinations.

What would you do for cheap lodging in Italy? I spent a night with nuns

I have a fantasy of staying somewhere like the abbey in The Sound of Music. But my last-minute monastery stay reminds me of school.

Guide to Le Panier, Marseille

A guide to Marseille's oldest and most intriguing district.

Are black, boggy peatlands home to a new type of eco-tourism?

People have long dug up this black boggy soil to burn for heat and cooking. Now, peatland habitats are getting the attention they deserve.

Adriatic ambling

With eight national parks and many more protected areas, Croatia offers a wealth of options for hikers and nature-focused travellers eager to soak up the sublime surrounds.

The secret Swiss valley only locals know about

Near the Italian and Austrian borders, there is an exquisite region Australians have yet to discover.

Slow sailing on the Croatian coast

Instead of hopping from country to country, consider immersing yourself in a slow sailing experience by cruising the Croatian coast.

Away from the tourist hordes, this might be Europe's best swimming spot

The Mediterranean has no shortage of beautiful locations, but this 20-kilometre coastline on France's Cote Bleue is different.

Computer says no

Buying a train ticket is not always as easy as you think.

Introducing Wilsons Promontory National Park

Wilsons Promontory National Park is on a path to become a conservation sanctuary to preserve and protect flora and fauna and serve as a climate change refuge.

Creative locals are putting this Victorian town back on the map

Dimboola in regional Victoria was once a dying town but it has defied the odds to become a regional success story.

'Time caught up with his visions': Friedensreich Hundertwasser's New Zealand legacy

A series of unfortunate events led to muted coverage of the architect's eye-opening gallery in regional New Zealand. But 24 years after his death, Hundertwasser's work is more prescient than ever

This airport aims to have no one wait more than 10 minutes. It succeeds

Marseille in France has more than 10 million passengers a year, but its setup looks well-equipped to handle many more.

The brilliance of language lessons in Italy's most misunderstood city

Studying Italian in Naples is about more than mastering grammar and vocabulary. It's a rare chance to peek inside the city's soul.

Travelling with a chatterbox

It's all about the journey, not the destination, when you travel with a friend who likes to chat.

A fairytale stay in an Italian castle

It would be challenging to find a more theatrical hotel arrival. First there is the boat trip to Ischia across the azure waters of the Gulf of Naples. Then, a 10-minute ride from the port on a small bus through the island's narrow cobblestone streets.

I lost my passport overseas. Here's how I got home without it

As I sit here writing this at my desk in Melbourne, my passport is stuck at Auckland Airport Police Station...

Experience a different side of Rome on two wheels

Roma StarBike's Ancient Appian Way e-bike tour takes in a large part of the famous road, ancient monuments, and some of Rome's most beautiful parks and gardens.

This is why you should always skip the hotel breakfast

Forget the bain Marie, bland international cuisine, and high prices, and follow the locals.

Born to run: A surprising snow holiday in Australia's Victorian alps

Meet the rescue dogs offering the Victorian Alps' wildest rides.

Shuck and awe on the Sapphire Coast

From ancient middens to award-winning estuaries, oysters are the jewels in the Sapphire Coast’s crown.

Back to school: Sign up for immersive language classes in Italy

How learning a new skill overseas gets you closer to living like a local.

Insider's guide to vintage shopping in Paris

It's not just the runways where the best Paris fashion can be found. Parisians have their own shopping secret - the city's treasure trove of vintage stores.

Feel pampered, relaxed and totally at home

Soho House Mumbai is the newest property for the Soho House group, which owns 23 private clubs across the UK, Europe, North America and now, India.

Airport review: This giant new airport is beautiful - and quiet

Forget the shopping centre model, this beautiful new airport puts traveller comfort at the centre of its design

Art and stroll

A walking tour of Mumbai's UNESCO World Heritage listed Art Deco precinct

Mumbai's Moderne Moment

A street photographer is determined to give Mumbai’s Art Deco treasures their due

Go with the flow

Beautiful, laid back and uncrowded, Thailand’s north-west offers a serene alternative to the beach and party scene.

The Power of Paradise

Laid-back luxury and wellness? How to combine the two on a Bali escape

A Tesla road trip on the Mornington Peninsula

Tesla Model X 100D road trip

Red centre stargazing

The night sky reveals another, fascinating side to Uluru's ancient culture

The Place Economy® - Hoyne

Managing editor of The Place Economy® by Hoyne, a book showcasing the link between visionary placemaking and better-performing economies, higher profits, and healthier communities.

When I needed a doctor in Italy, I discovered what good healthcare looks like

Imagine being able to see a doctor as soon as you wanted to or, even better, seeing a specialist for a non-urgent consultation straight away. In Italy, this is the reality I found.

This French city was once a crime hub. It could teach Melbourne how to green its laneways

Melbourne spent millions in a failed attempt to green its grey laneways. A successful scheme shows the better way to beautify the city comes from empowering residents.

'What the hell, Mum?' The parents who keep their children's baby teeth

For some, they are morbid curiosities. But for many mothers, their children's milk teeth are treasured mementos that might find their way into custom-made jewellery

On the mean streets of 1970s Fitzroy, even the trees looked like they wanted to die

The Fitzroy of today - filled with bars, cafes, markets and designer boutiques - was unimaginable. But back then, locals loved the cheap rent and "anything goes" attitude.

'Oh my god, I am beautiful': the people who pay to have their portrait painted

It's never been easier to take a flattering image of yourself. So why do people commission professional portraits of themselves or loved ones?

Help! Why does my cat love my partner more than me?

Do some cats just hate women? Or am I doing something very wrong?

Megacities: life in the cities home to more than 10 million people - photo essay

From Tokyo to Cairo, 10 photographers around the world have captured a snapshot of life in their cities for the National Gallery of Victoria's Triennial

The joy of a frightful night out: every month is Halloween at Australia's horror clubs

Far from being an unwelcoming or male-dominated community, Australia's horror fanatics are 'some of the sweetest, nicest people'

Blades of glory: Inside Melbourne's rollerskate revival

From roller rinks to roller disco, roller skating is enjoying a radical revival

The man behind Rosati brings his fine eye for design to Fitzroy

Experience a little bit of Milan in Melbourne

Serially stylish

Fifteen years after Sex and the City first appeared on HBO, the love for the iconic TV show and its costumes is as fervent as ever.

The fabric of collaboration

Magic happens when designers collaborate with dancers

From hill to vine

Hike your way to the Italian flavours of the high country

All chooked up

What other pet will keep you company and feed you at the same time?

Bread but not butter: which foods are worth making from scratch?

Three Australian food experts weigh in on which kitchen essentials are worth trying at home - and which should be bought off the shelf

How to make passata

Our favourite Italians share their passata making secrets

The cake makers' tool kit

Insider tips from Australia's best bakers

Pleasure island

An island in the South Pacific is enjoying the sweet smell of success with an aromatic crop

Buried pleasure

Meet the growers supplying the growing desire for Victorian truffles

Paddock to paddle to plate

A mighty river, local growers and great food combine to make Mildura a must-see city

Shelving the subcontinent

Where to find the ingredients to recreate your favourite Indian foods at home

Coming to grips with grappa

Backyard booze or fine tipple? Grappa's no longer the rough heart starter of old

The new roast of the day

Post-war Italian and Greek migrants helped transform Melbourne's coffee and cafe culture

Angels at our table

The Italians influencing how we eat in Melbourne

Season 4: Ep 1: Ayn Rand and architecture

Listen to this episode from Light, Cities + Architecture. on Spotify. Ayn Rand's philosophical novel The Fountainhead is one of the most-read and most and quoted books of the 20th century. Dismissed and loved in equal measure, it polarised critics and readers.

Evenings - ABC listen

I chat to ABC Radio Melbourne host David Astle about my Guardian Australia story about the people who keep their children's baby teeth (including me).

Season 3: Ep 2 The impact of war on cities by Light | Cities + Architecture

Architect Antony DiMase and I explore the impact of war on cities and the people who live in them. From current battlegrounds in Gaza and Ukraine to historical conflicts, they discuss what happens to cities when buildings and infrastructure is destroyed, the different approaches to rebuilding, and why we need to be talking about this right now.

Season 3 Episode 1 by Light | Cities + Architecture

In a new format for Season 3 - Antony and Justine explore the recent announcement by the State Government to demolish the Housing Commission Towers in Melbourne.

New book: London: Through a Fashion Eye by Megan Hess -Justine Costigan by Travel Writers Radio

Megan Hess left our shores as many young Australians did to head over to the old dart in the 70s and 80s to try their hand in the big league.

Journalist Justine Costigan On What's New In Noosa...by Travel Writers Radio

As the Melbourne nights and mornings get chillier by the day, there are thousands of southerners just waiting to escape to the Sunshine Coast in general, or Noosa in particular. Which is where Melbourne reporter Justine Costigan escaped to a week ago to research what's new in this popular Queensland getaway.

Justine Costigan On Visiting Dimboola - Now A Far Cry From The 1979 Hit Movie

Justine Copstigan loves to spend time in regional towns and most has recently visited Dimboola, which has come a long way from the days when in 1979 it was the subject of a comedy movie set around a about a wedding reception, Justine was researching a story about regional towns and was fascinatred to discover Dimboola had fallen in love with Steam Punk that has now become the theme of an annual local festival.

Australian and New Zealand road trips

A guide to the best art-focused road trips in Australia and New Zealand

The delicious. guide to Noosa: where to eat, drink, stay and play

The delicious. guide to the best places to eat, drink, stay and play in Noosa.

Lace up your boots! Here are 16 of the best hikes in Australia

If there's one thing Australia has in spades, it's vast expanses of the great outdoors - just perfect for hiking.

The latest and greatest dining destinations in Noosa

What's new, Noosa? Just a host of new bars and eateries to electrify your taste buds.

5 European train journeys that'll make you rethink air travel

Criss-cross Europe on these popular rail routes for an experience that is far more enjoyable than air travel

5 of the world's most Instagrammable libraries

More than just a place to read, libraries offer some of the world's most beautiful and innovative architecture.

Tiny train trips: some of the world's best train journeys take no time at all

Journeying fast doesn't mean missing out - and these train rides prove it.

Melbourne's best bike trails

From beachside paths to bush sanctuaries, explore these five easy-to-ride urban bike trails

Songs about Aussie towns we sing on every road trip

How to score the hottest tickets in the world right now

So you want a coveted front row seat at the hottest show in town? Here's all the info you need to score tickets to world's most in demand events

Beyond the Falls: What to do after you've visited Victoria Falls

From the World Heritage Listed sites to the Whawha beer, Zimbabwe offers rich rewards to adventurous travellers

Escape the city at 11 of the best beach towns in Victoria

Victoria on two wheels: five great regional bike rides

Make a bike trip part of your next Victorian holiday with five of the most picturesque pedal-powered destinations

Hungry? The 10 destinations every Aussie foodie needs to visit

Do you travel with your next meal always on your mind? Me too. Here's my guide to the best places for a fabulous food-focused holiday in Australia.

We've found the 10 best beach towns in South Australia for your next summer road trip

Along the way with...Emma Isaacs

The inspirational Australian entrepreneur shares her thoughts on staying grounded, making the hard decisions and why we need more women in business.

12 short breaks near Melbourne for your next long weekend escape

There's nothing like a short break from the city to refresh and reconnect.

Along the way with Dr Judith Neilson

In conversation with the woman behind Sydney's acclaimed White Rabbit Gallery

The 11 best short breaks near Adelaide for your next long weekend

From remote wilderness to wine country, beach breaks and more, South Australia has loads to offer city-dwellers...

We've found 9 of the best day hikes and walks from Melbourne

Throughout Melbourne 's inner and outer suburbs, wild and wonderful pockets of nature offer...