I was fortunate enough to be invited by Travel Texas to experience a reverse sales mission in the Lone Star State, connecting with Texan travel partners while exploring both Austin and Fredericksburg.
The journey began smoothly with United Airlines from Brisbane, including a seamless transfer through San Francisco thanks to the MPC app, which allowed me to bypass general immigration lines.
From the moment we stepped off the plane at Austin’s airport, we knew we were in the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’. Oversized guitars lined the terminal and live music was playing.
We stayed at the luxury W Austin, a Virtuoso property, which had recently undergone a $40 million renovation.
The property is centrally located with direct connections to Austin city limits. We had just enough time to freshen up before meeting everyone and being whisked off to a mouth watering Michelin starred LeRoy and Lewis BBQ dinner.
We began our Austin experience with a guided city tour discovering hidden gems and a stop at the State Capitol building.
We then met up with our Texan colleagues in trendy South Congress Avenue and shopped till we dropped at Tecovas for custom cowboy boots.
A leisurely lunch followed to recharge before we slipped on our new boots for two step dance lessons at The White Horse, one of Austin’s most famous honky-tonks. It was a night full of music, laughter and a fantastic way to bond.
We finished off our Austin adventure with a scenic cruise onboard retro boats down Lady Bird Lake with views of the Austin skyline, then left the big city behind for Texas Hill Country arriving at Dripping Springs, affectionately known as ‘Drinking Springs’ by locals.
Dripping Springs was the first city in Texas to be recognised by the International Dark Sky Community – we were blessed with perfectly clear skies and were in awe of the millions of shimmering stars.
We stayed at luxury ranch, Camp Lucy, which felt like a destination in itself. The resort-style property spans 114 hectares and offers daily activities like guided hikes, yoga, history tours and vineyard experiences. It is also home to the largest state-of-the-art spa I’ve ever seen!
Camp Lucy provided the perfect backdrop for a day of presentations and updates and face to face meetings with our Texas reps. We spent the evening indulging in Texan BBQ and wine tasting.
After farewells, our wine‑country touring continued with tastings and vineyard visits, as well as a stop at the authentically Bavarian Altstadt Brewery.
This then brought us to Fredericksburg, a gorgeous town, with a charming German heritage.
Here, our accommodation was The Trueheart Hotel. We stayed in our own boutique cottages, individually designed complete with rocking chairs and just steps away from Main Street.
One of the most memorable experiences awaited us that afternoon: custom hat‑making at the highly Instagrammable Felt Boutique. Choosing styles, branding our hats and adding embellishments was a fun, creative adventure.
Adorned in our new gear, we wandered down Main Street in search of the perfect margarita before heading to Fischer & Wieser Culinary Adventure Cooking School.
There, we enjoyed a hands on, chef led class preparing a four course Texan feast paired with local wines and left with the recipes to recreate them at home.
The next morning was spent browsing the boutiques of Main Street, mimosas in hand, as public alcohol consumption is legal in Fredericksburg. In the afternoon, we visited Becker Vineyards, the most awarded winery in Texas, before boarding a luxury helicopter for a scenic aerial tour.
We landed at Slate Theory Vineyards to explore their extraordinary underground wine cave. The evening was capped off with a visit to legendary Luckenbach Texas, where live country music played under the open stars.
On our last day we set off for a guided hike at Enchanted Rock, one of the largest pink granite rock mountains in the United States. Reaching the summit for a group photo felt like the perfect finale to our enriching, exhilarating famil.
I didn’t know Texas needed a spot on my bucket list, but after this incredible teaser, I now know it absolutely belongs there. I can’t wait to return and explore even more of what this unforgettable state has to offer.
Main image: Zeena (far right)
