Essentials The Old Clare Hotel, 1 Kensington St, Chippendale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (00 61 02 8277 8277; theoldclarehotel.com.au). Doubles from £185, room only. Wi-fi: Free ...

Renowned as the opal capital of the world, Australia's national gemstone has been mined here for more than 100 years. The mounds of loose stones left over from excavations dotting the opal ...

My InsiderElly Grace Rinaldis, a 26-year-old concierge at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane, Australia, gave Insider a behind-the-scenes look at what the mystical job actually entails. Turns out, it's ...