Why: I first developed this romantic notion about a mythical Australian bush town when I was on a work/study placement in Melbourne in the 60s. We were there for three months and at the end of it had three weeks to spend the money we earned. I flew from Melbourne to Alice Springs and up to Darwin and the coast.

What really thrilled me was looking down from 30,000ft over the bush and the outback. I've been back on lots of occasions but most recently I went on assignment for the BBC and worked as a flying postman for a week. We were based in Cairns, and I went out on a five-seater Cessna delivering the mail to remote cattle stations and small towns. One particular town does not spring to mind; rather what I love about these places are the fact that they are working towns where not very much happens.

My ideal bush town consists of one street with a hotel, a bank and a betting shop. People drive in from miles around to see the doctor or change their library books, and life goes on undisturbed.

In the bar of the hotel, people stand around watching TV, usually racing, and are totally unconcerned with the outside world. They are fairly dismissive of strangers and are completely uninterested in where you have come from. That lack of curiosity is something I love and the fact they people are so relaxed.

The best thing: Sitting outside a hotel with my pint of beer watching the town going about its business.

My advice: Go to Cairns, hire a car and just pick a road out of town and drive along it to a small town and have a beer. Fall into the pace of the place and enjoy it. I know I have a romantic view of such places, but it is one that I have nurtured for more than 30 years.

How to get there
Qantas (0845 7747767 www.qantas.com) flies to Cairns from Heathrow for £739 plus around £50 in taxes.

• Himoff, The Memoirs of a TV Matinee Idle by Richard Whiteley is published by Orion at £16.99