If you are planning a trip to
An exhilarating 2 days of breathtaking scenery and invigorating challenges the
Check out Royal Coast Walks on http://www.theaustraliacard.com.au
Not only will you get a 10% discount with RCW but similar discounts on a variety of services all over Australia
The Australian Gourmet Traveller’s 2009 Traveller Awards has recently been published and you’ll find some outstanding attractions. The panel of travel experts comes up with a shortlist of nominations in each category then voting is open to Gourmet Traveller’s readers. An enthusiastic 33000 readers voted this year. We can offer you the best deals so please feel free to contact us : info@australiantravel.us
Here are the Winners and Runners-up;
Readers Choice Awards:
Best Eco-tourism experience:
Runners up: Freycinet Experience Walk and Maria Island Walk in Tasmania.
Best Family Experience:
Winner: Sea World Resort and Water
Runners-up: Sovereign Hill, (
Best Small Luxury Hotel:
Winner: Emporium Hotel, Brisbane
Runners-up: Islington,
Best Adventure Tourism:
Winner: Orion Expedition Cruises
Runners-up: Cradle
Best hosted accommodation ( B & B )
Winner: Hunter Valley Cooperage (
Runners-up:
Best indigenous tourism experience:
Winner: Anangu Waai,
Runners-up: Kooljaman at
Best Lodge:
Winner: Cradle Mountain Lodge,
Runners-up: Silky Oaks Lodge ( Cairns) and Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Isl.
Best Resort Accommodation:
Winner: Qualia, Hamilton
Runners-up: Emma Gorge Resort and El Questro in Western Australia.
Best Health/Spa Retreat
Winner: Salus Spa,Lake House, Daylesford
Runners-up: Qualia on Hamilton Island and Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, VIC.
Best Large Luxury Hotel:
Winner: Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast
Runners-up: The Langham, Melbourne and Park Hyatt, Sydney.
Best new Hotel/Resort/Lodge
Winner: Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island.
Runners-up: A tie for second place between Qualia on Hamilton Island and Emporium Hotel in
Best Eco Tourism:
Winner: Wild Bush Luxury
Runners-up: Maria Island Walk in
In 2006 the Australian Traveller published an article about a pub crawl which I thought I should mention here. It is a great adventure.
No-one’s averse to a pub-crawl. It’s practically what made this nation great. And forget riding through history on the sheep’s back – a South Australian tour operator has taken the Aussie Pub-Crawl and given it wings. As they rather accurately point out: “It’s 500km between hotels, so your ‘designated driver’ is a pilot.”
Taking in some of the iconic – as well as unheard-of – destinations in the deep outback, this is a four-day odyssey through spectacular scenery: the Flinders Ranges and magnificent Wilpena Pound from the air, over Lake Torrens and the opal mining area of Andamooka, on to William Creek and her famous Hotel, then into Queensland to Birdsville and her even more famous Hotel, as well as Innamincka, the Burke and Wills Dig Tree and heaps more – half from the air, half from the ground via 4WD, passing through three states in all.
It’s basically a four-day journey from remote pub to remote pub in your own private aircraft, with loads of rugged terrain, history and outback culture to fill in the gaps. A truly unique way to see Australia.
Book with us to taste the beers of outback Australia !
At one stage in 2008 the Australian dollar was on par with is American cousin. Now suddenly, you only pay 60 US cents to get an Australian dollar so the cost of visiting us has almost halfed!
This is indeed good news for any Americans planning to visit Australia in 2009. Add to this many special airfares both continental and locally.
We have been arranging tours in Australia and New Zealand for our US visitors since 1986 and there are two tours that remains the most popular. The first is the Australian Highlights Tour, the second the Australian New Zealand Highlights Tour. Both of them gives you Australia in a nutshell so to say and the advantage of any of these tours is that you can take them at any time of the year. There are no set departures as it is an individual tour.
Individual in that you travel between the centres in Australia by air and you are met by local representatives at each location and local touring is with local guides which is always an advantage.
To make it even more attractive for you in 2009 we will send you a box of two crystal wine glasses for each booking. Have a look at them on the website www.2ecm8.com/9.html. These glasses are designed in Australia then handcrafted and etched by master craftsmen and is an excellent gift for you to keep or give to some friend.
With the comparatively stronger US dollar,
The film by internationally acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann centres on Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman), an English aristocrat who reluctantly joins forces with a rugged cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to save the remote cattle station she inherited from the clutches of local cattle barons.
The
Australian Travel Services has produced a tour that will take in some locations where a number of scenes were taken and in addition enjoy one of the world’s great train journey on The Ghan between
Australia’s No. 1 national newspapers “The Australian” has just announced the winners of their Travel & Tourism Awards for 2007 and for anyone planning a trip to Australia this should be worth reading. Any bookings and further enquiries please contact us on info@australiantravel.us. Our website: www.australiantravel.us
Full results
For any visitor to Alice Springs in the center of Australia here is a somewhat unusual tour which involves camels helicopters and the Southern Skies.
Discover more of the camel history of Australia and get to know these gentle characters on a one hour ride.
Explore the Todd River with its varied plant and animal life, followed by a interesting visit to the Camel
Continue on with a complimentary glass of bubbly before taking to the skies in your own private helicopter. Fly to Honeymoon Gap, along Mt Gillen ridgeline to Heavitree Gap, taking in the spectacular views of Alice Springs as the sun’s rays light up the desert ranges.
Finally for a perfect end to a perfect day! Enjoy your pre-dinner drinks whilst watching the sun go down over the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges.
As the night sky unfolds above you enjoy a scrumptious 3 course dinner in the Milky Way Café and listen as our star presenter explains the star filled heavens above. Have a look through the high powered telescopes to see the wonders of the universe.
Price: AUD 320.00 per person until 31 March 2008. Check with us for cost after that date.
By the way; The first Australian camel was called Harry and arrived from the Canary Islands in 1840. He knocked his owner John Horrocks , who was loading his rifle at the time . John died from the resulting injuries, but note before asking that Harry be summarily executed.
The Gourmet Traveller Magazine in Australia has recently published their inaugural “Travel Awards” to celebrate the nation’s best experiences from finest five-star hotel to de luxe outback accommodation and the best in adventure and eco-tourism.
We recommend you email one of our staff on info@australiantravel.us for bookings and further information.
Best Eco-Tourism - Maria
When visitors depart Triabunna on Tasmania’s east coast, bound for the former penal settlement of
Fashioned as a modern-day Noah’s Ark, Maria is a national park and sanctuary for
at all times. Their consideration is rewarded not only with extraordinary wildlife experiences and gorgeous landscapes (the beaches are some of Tasmania’s loveliest), but with an understanding of the island’s prehistory, it’s fascinating French connections, and its troubled past as a convict settlement.
Guests stay in upmarket camps on the beach, as well as a restored colonial building, eating deftly cooked Tasmanian produce and quaffing fine local wines. A one-day tour, once upon Maria has also been introduced.
Runners up – Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology in Victoria and the Freycinet Experience in
Best Adventure Tourism – Orion Expedition Cruises.
“Orion Cruises make the inaccessible accessible and they do it in
supreme comfort.” Winner of the Gourmet Traveller award in
2007.
“Until Orion commenced cruising in 2004, it was almost inconceivable that you could explore the fascinating but remote Kimberley coastline without your own yacht and a sense of adventure.
Similarly, the Torres Strait
be off-limits to all but the most courageous travellers; now it’s possible to explore these demanding destinations with Champagne
in hand and expert commentary on tap. Zodiac excursions, sea-plane flights and outback sightseeing by 4WD offer further opportunities to experience areas off-limits to most visitors.
Onboard Orion’s custom-built craft, ocean views and internet access are standard in all suites, as are flat-screen televisions, gym and sauna, and ample staff to cater to the needs of a maximum
100 cruisers. With menus created by Sydney chef Serge Dansereau and five-star facilities at their disposal, the true explorer never had it so easy. “
Runners-up: Overland Track/Cradle Mountain Huts in Tasmania and diving with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
Credit: Australian Gourmet Traveller, June issue 2007.
For the best deal in Orion Cruises and pre- post accommodation and tours please contact our experts.
The Gourmet Traveller Magazine in
So, here is the first one, the others to follow.
Best Outback Accommodation – Longitude 131 NT.
Since opening in 2002 Longitude 131 has redefined the central Australian
experience by offering a sophisticated oasis in the midst of the endless
desert . Only 30 people at a time can enjoy the pampered luxury of Longitude’s
upmarket “tents” with catering and amenities pitched at the most discerning
travellers.
Ayers Rock is only about 10 kilometers away from the resort , and the Rock is
central to the experience here – you can join sunrise or sunset tours to marvel
at the monolith or simply admire it from your suite through windows angled
to provide every guest with a bulls-eye view of the national icon.
Visitors learn about the ecology and the environment of this remote region as
well as its significance to the local Anangu people. And at night they can dine
decadently beneath the brilliant desert sky at white clothed tables set on an
isolated dune. A heavenly experience.
