Away with Heather Ewart: ‘An outback pub was the last place you’d expect a gourmet meal’

Back Roads host Heather Ewart advises that when travelling, ‘Don’t be in a hurry or tied to a rigid schedule. You can miss a lot of good sights and characters that way’ Photograph: Supplied

When it comes to travel, Heather Ewart is a pro. In her early career Ewart worked as a foreign correspondent, hopping everywhere from Belgium to the United States. And for the past decade she has hosted Back Roads, the beloved ABC program that ventures to Australia’s small towns to meet the colourful characters who inhabit them.

Along the way, Ewart has eaten unforgettable meals, learned what to pack when you’re roughing it – and witnessed great tragedy. Here, the journalist and TV host tells us about the highs and lows of her time on the road, as well as the tricks she’s learned for making every trip run a little smoother.