Where have you just been and why?
“Coming off my latest Tension tour – taking in 54 cities over more than six months – was quite emotional. By the time I began the European leg in Finland, I was thankful for my room at Hotel St George in Helsinki. Even though it’s in the heart of the city, it was the perfect calming tonic. It has a spa and there are covers over the TVs, so I wasn’t hit with a media wall unless I actively wanted it.”
What was the most unexpected moment during your tour?
“We toured through Europe in a heatwave last summer, which was more than we bargained for. I almost fainted in Paris and Antwerp. During sound check at the Plaza de España in Seville I was juggling an umbrella, a fan and a microphone. But by showtime, the venue was bathed in beautiful golden light.”
Name a place that lived up to the hype
“The audience volume in Latin America was off the charts. As we walked onto the stage in Mexico City, one of my backing vocalists said, ‘Something magical always happens here.’ And she was right. The people, the venue – it really did live up to the hype.”
Where is the craziest place you’ve played?
“In 2010 I performed in front of the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx in Egypt. It was totally surreal and so moving. We were all completely in awe and kept wanting to turn around to admire them during the show. The desert breeze made my chiffon dress dance around me. Being out in the elements with that energy was utterly next level.”
What memories do you have from your childhood holidays?
“Trundling along with Mum, Dad and my siblings, Dannii and Brendan, to Phillip Island off the southern coast of Victoria with our second-hand caravan. Three kids in the back, asking ‘Are we there yet?’ long before the two-hour drive was up. I have such fond memories of the beach, playing table tennis and all of us piling into this tiny caravan.”
Where did you go on your first holiday without your parents?
“It was the classic 1980s Australian trip to Bali with my then boyfriend and Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan. I confess to arriving back home with plaits in my hair, some tropical earrings and a bootleg cassette tape of Janet Jackson’s Control, which I played obsessively on my Walkman.”
Which is the smartest hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
“The Carlyle in New York in 2022. I was playing at Café Carlyle to celebrate the launch of Kylie Minogue Wines in the US. Having heard so much about this legendary club, performing there in such an intimate space, accompanied by a grand piano, was out of this world. And then, later, ordering a glass of my Kylie Minogue Prosecco Rosé in Bemelmans Bar while a jazz trio played was glamour on glamour, but with a homely embrace.”
Where in the world do you feel happiest?
“My family are all based in Melbourne, and spending time with them there is very precious. It’s one of the only places I’m truly able to switch off. The big Aussie sky, the scent of eucalyptus and the vibrant flora and bird life are deeply soulful. But the real treats are home-cooked meals, sitting around a campfire and enjoying movie nights with my nephews.”
What are some of the most exciting things you’ve done while travelling?
“I’ve canoed in Laos; heli-boarded in Vail, Colorado; driven across the United States in a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am T-Top with no air conditioning during a hot summer; marvelled at Uluru; stayed on a sheep station in outback Australia; caught a wave in Costa Rica; and journeyed on the Orient Express in the early ’90s on a romantic discovery of Italy and the South of France. Seeing, feeling, discovering somewhere new – or meeting new people, especially in this digital world we live in – is always inspiring and I come home richer for the experience.”
