australiantravel.us

Get to know Australia’s newest major food and wine destination. The following information with the compliments of Queensland Travel and Tourism. For other details check their website on www.queenslandholidays.com.au

It’s no secret that Queensland now competes with the rest of Australia on its own terms, but the state now crackles with so much creative energy and so much going on that it can be hard to keep up.

The insider secrets on these pages are just a few highlights of the many good things Queensland has to offer to those who like to travel with fork and glass in hand. Are you ready for a taste of things to come?

BRISBANE

Australia’s most talked-about city shows no sign of slowing down: Hot nights and a cool scene make for unforgettable breaks and an idyllic base.

1. GoMA

Brisbane has become one of the nation’s arts hotspots, and the city’s latest claim to cultural fame is GoMA, the Gallery of Modern Art. Located on the South Bank of the Brisbane River, it ticks all the modern art boxes: dynamic design, a provocative collection and dining that’s all but a destination in itself. Winning casual options include the Watermall and River cafes, and for something more special there’s The Foyer Café. Queenslander Travis Grigg offers a menu full of fresh flavours. Dishes such as the wok-tossed yabbies, tiger prawns and scallops with green papaya and nahm jim are attracting a following - one you’re sure to want to join. www.qag.qld.gov.au/goma

2. FARMERS’ MARKETS

These popular events are growing all over the state. “Half the price and twice the flavour of supermarkets,” is the catchcry of the Brisbane Farmers’ Market founder Jan Power, and a visit to this event, held every second and fourth Saturday of the month, quickly proves the truth of her statement. Walking around the grounds of the striking Powerhouse building next to New Farm Park, you can pick your way through the freshest local produce, including fruit, great teas, mud crabs, prawns and much more. Shop for lunch, or just take a walk, eating as you go, and soak up the atmosphere. www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au

SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND COUNTRY

All the space you could ever need: the south-east is where wilderness connects with cultivation, drawing wine lovers and pleasure seekers alike.

3. PEPPERS SPICERS PEAK LODGE

On a mountain top on the cusp of the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park , just 90 minutes’ drive from Brisbane , Peppers Spicers Peak , an exclusive 10-suite lodge, has raised the bar for accommodation in Queensland . The setting is unique, and fine dining, naturally, is a key part of the package. The lodge’s restaurant presents a choice of degustation menus daily; chef Ben Lanyon teams the likes of asparagus, scallop and breadcrumb soup, verjus-braised pork with apple, celery and radish, and chocolate fondant with orange ice-cream. A fine selection of local and imported wines also impresses. www.peppers.com.au/spicers

4. QUEENSLAND WINE

“Southerners don’t rate our wine at all,” winemaker Mark Ravenscroft of Queensland’s Ravens Croft Wines told Melbourne’s The Age, “But then they didn’t rate our footy team either.” Recent vintages have confirmed what was once almost unthinkable: Queensland is home to some wine regions to be reckoned with. The state produces more wine than Tasmania. In the Tropical North you will find many specialty fruit wines, and the Granite Belt core production area’s 60-plus wineries are joined by ventures in Mount Cotton, Mount Tamborine, Toowoomba, North and South Burnett. Wine pundits are watching with great interest.

THE GOLD COAST

Sophistication meets sunshine and the heartland meets pure hedonism, all as naturally as the surf meets the sand.

5. ABSYNTHE

French chef Meyjitte Boughenout held two Michelin stars in Europe, and the experience he offers in his dynamic restaurant at the base of the towering Q1 skyscraper is every bit the gourmet extravaganza. Rev up your tastebuds and prepare for a wild ride with confit of vine-ripened tomato in vanilla oil with eggplant ice-cream, truffled egg mousse in its shell topped with gold leaf, or the simple luxury of Iranian caviar with potato blini. Throw a 600-bottle list of wines Boughenout has collected from around the world and you’re looking at a very worthy detour indeed. www.absynthe.com.au

6. CHEFS ON THE MOVE

Queensland is a magnet for professionals of all stripes, and chefs are no exception. The burgeoning culinary culture has drawn diverse individuals from around Australia and the world. Among those attracting the most interest are newcomers to Queensland like Nick Holloway of Palm Cove’s Nu Nu, who wows with his hot-smoked red emperor, pink pomelo, and green papaya relish on betel leaves, or Bruno Loubet, who maintains Berardo’s of Noosa’s reputation for excellence with dishes such as his veal sweetbreads and foie gras boudin blanc with corn custard. www.nunu.com.au;

SUNSHINE COAST

The Decadence of Noosa is just the tip of the iceberg for flavour-driven visitors to the Sunshine Coast, as the hinterland reveals its charms.

7. HINTERLAND COOKING SCHOOLS

Beachfront cafes are a familiar sight to many holidaymakers, but many of the region’s best kept secrets lie further afield. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland offer some of the country’s best cooking schools. The Tamarind, a luxe bed-and-breakfast operation in Maleny, has a year-round schedule of one-day classes and residential retreats with Darley Street Thai-trained chef Paul Blain. Thai is also on the menu at Yandina’s beautiful Spirit House Restaurant & Cooking School . For something a little more Western, Amytis Gardens Retreat specialises in Italian, French and - wait for it - chocolate at its classes. Learning never tasted so good. www.thetamarind.com.au; www.spirithouse.com.au www.amytisgardens.com

8. FOOD AND WINE EVENTS

Queensland is home to many gourmet events and one of the biggest dates on the food and wine calendar is Celebration of Australian Food and Wine Noosa Style held over three days each May. The city’s vibrant community plays host to a battalion of visiting chefs, winemakers, food media and food lovers for a mixture of fun, informed debate and plenty of good eating and drinking. Sumptuous banquets, food trails, cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and farmers’ markets take over the town in a distinctly Noosa-paced event. www.celebrationofaustralianfoodandwine.com.au

TROPIAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

With waters teeming with superb seafood and a lush abundance of produce on the shore, the tropical north is a sun-loving flavour-raiders dream.

9. THE AUSTRALIAN COFFEE CENTRE

Australia has been going through a caffeine revolution. We are now a nation dedicated to the ways of the short black and flat white, and boast the most sophisticated coffee-drinking culture of any English-speaking nation. The latest development has been home-grown coffee beans, and it’s here, once again, that Queensland leads the premium-produce pack. The Australian Coffee Centre, a two-storey timber complex high in the Cairns Hinterland, is just the place to get the full story. A 54-seat cinema gives you the local history of the bean in all its high-definition glory, while you can indulge your other senses at the coffee laboratory, restaurant and, of course, the shop, where you can buy all the pure Australian Arabica you need. www.skybury.com.au

10. FRESH PRODUCE

Queensland grows a greater diversity of tropical fruit than almost anywhere else in the world. And it’s not just fruit that grows in abundance; the region is home to some of Australia’s finest seafood, prime beef, exotic herbs, vegetables, spices, coffee and tea. Stop in at one of the roadside stalls that are a common sight throughout the state and try the fruits of local producers’ labours for yourself. www.australiantropicalfoods.com

 If you are planning a trip to Australia contact Australian Travel Services for bookings and advise. You find their website on www.australiantravel.us and email address is info@australiantravel.us

We have been dealing exclusively with incoming tourism to

Australia since 1988 and to celebrate we offer a very special deal for the coming Christmas Season and 2008.  

We  appreciate your business and to show it we will give away one of the fine crystal wine glasses featured on the 2ECM8 website; http://2ecm8.com  

You have a choice of  wine or beer glasses as well as the “cool” shot glass. All glasses mouth blown then hand cut and etched by master craftsmen.  

The retail price for the glasses are listed on the website.  

So just to make it clear you receive ONE glass per person so if there’s two in the party we’ll send  you two glasses.  

Have a look at our website; www.australiantravel.us and you’ll find a lot of ideas for your trip. However, we specialise in individual itineraries for our clients so normally we ask you to email us your proposed itinerary and we’ll take it from there.  

You want to talk to us? Sure !  Our Skype No. is hbsander, our US phone number is 415-508 5750 and our Australian number is 07 – 3102 549

From 15th October to 20th December you can enjoy some of Australia’s great islands at an extraordinary price. You save up to 25% off the current retail price when you book through us at Dunk Island or Heron Island.

 Here is the deal. Staying at Heron Island in a Turtle room you pay 119 dollars per person per day. A Reef Suite cost you 142.00 per person per day whilst a Beachside Suite goes for 214.00 per person per day. If you really want to splash out you should take advantage of the very special rate of 271.00 per person per day in a Beach House. All rates includes a daily breakfast. For detailed information about Heron Island please click here.

Heron Island is accesible by boat or helicopter from Gladstone.

Further north and accesible by air or car/ferry from Cairns is the lovely Dunk Island. Again we can offer you some dramatic rates like a Garden Room for 119.00 per person per day, a Beachfront Room for 169.00 per person per day or, why not a Beachfront Suite at 209.00 per person per day. Daily breakfast is included.  For further information on Dunk Island please click here.

With the compliments of Tourism Australia here is a list of the best diving sites in Australia.

With so much emphasis placed on enjoying the sun and surf on the Australian coastline, it can be easy to forget that there’s a whole world beneath the waves: a world of fantastic natural formations and colourful creatures; a world that can only be truly experienced by getting down there, scuba-style. But where does someone go to see the best that undersea Australia has to offer?Great Barrier Reef
Possibly the most well-known dive destination in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef, and for good reason. Of course, at almost 2000km in length parallel to the north-east coast, this isn’t a very specific destination. To make things easier, base yourself on Heron Island, a coral cay right in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. From Heron you have access to more than 20 amazing dive sites showcasing the extraordinary variety of sea life on the reef. Best of all, you don’t have to plan a day-trip to hit one decent spot; most are within 15 minutes of the beach so it’s not uncommon to get three good dives in a day.
Web site: www.heronisland.com Bougainville Reef
About 140km past the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef you’ll find Bougainville Reef — more of an oasis in the sea than the wall of the Barrier Reef. Built around the shell of an ancient volcano, Bougainville sports vast underwater cliff-faces and drop-offs coated in massive soft corals. Trips out are very weather dependent, but the effort is worth it. As a bonus you’ll probably spot the local ’security force’; grey reef sharks patrol Bougainville in abundance.
Web site: www.diversionoz.com Julian Rocks
About 2.5km off the coast of Byron Bay in NSW lies Julian Rocks. An ancient outcropping of metamorphic rock, Julian Rocks is a unique natural habitat for sea turtles, rays and more than 500 different species of fish including the occasional grey nurse and wobbegong shark. The sheer number and variety of aquatic creatures in this marine reserve is sure to impress even the most jaded of divers.
Web site: www.byron-bay.com

Seal Rocks
If you want to spot more of the fierce-looking, but surprisingly timid grey nurse sharks, head to Seal Rocks just south of Forster-Tuncurry on the NSW coast. The natural caves just off the coast under the famous Seal Rocks lighthouse are used year-round as a nursery by the sharks.
Web site: www.escapenorth.com.auNingaloo Reef
Over on the other side of the country is a spot that many divers consider even more spectacular than the Great Barrier Reef — Ningaloo Reef. Covering about 5000 square kilometres around the North West Cape from Exmouth to Red Bluff, Ningaloo is one of the few places in the world where you can get up-close and personal with the world’s largest fish: the whale shark. Ningaloo is also home to dolphins, dugongs, turtles and manta rays, as well as a popular stop-over for migrating humpback and southern right whales, whose songs can often be heard underwater during their migrating season.
Web site: www.westernaustralia.com Busselton Jetty
Also off the West Coast is the Busselton Jetty, Australia’s greatest artificial reef. The warm water combined with the shade and protection offered by the old timber supports has encouraged a forest of vivid coral to grow; and where there’s coral, there’s fish - more than 300 individual species, in fact. As if that weren’t enough, nearby at Dunsborough you can dive to the scuttled wreck of the HMAS Swan — WA’s first prepared wreck.
Web site: www.busseltonjetty.com.au Kangaroo Island
Just 110km south-west of Adelaide is Kangaroo Island, a must-dive spot for shipwreck lovers. Twenty-three wrecks skirt the island’s coastline, from the William, which sank in 1847 up to the Portland Maru, which went down in 1935.
Web site:

www.tourkangarooisland.com.au Bellarine Peninsula
More wrecks can be explored at the Bellarine Peninsula, accessible via the Great Ocean Road on the Victorian coast. More than 60 19th century shipwrecks and four WWI submarines can be reached from Bellarine, and many of the dive operators in Geelong and Queenscliff run organised tours to them.
Web site: www.greatoceanrd.org.au/bellarinepeninsula Port Phillip Heads Marine Park
Adjacent to the Peninsula is the Port Phillip Heads Marine Park, a huge marine reserve with six distinct areas to dive in. Each area is like another world, with dives ranging from 12 to 60 metres and displaying some truly incredibly underwater landscapes.
Web site: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au Port Lincoln
Finally, submarine thrillseekers won’t be able to go past Port Lincoln — one of the premier spots in the world for seeing perhaps the most feared creature alive, the great white shark. Just do yourself a favour and organise a dive with one of the companies that provide shark cages.
Web site: www.visitportlincoln.net Australia really is a diver’s paradise.If you’d like to it for yourself, diving and snorkelling tours can be booked in locations all over the country.

Tourism

Australia has nominated Ten Great Australian Bushwalks and for those interested; here they are!

From ancient valleys to craggy peaks, from harsh deserts to tropical rainforests,

Australia’s diverse landscape offers some of the best bushwalking in the world. Whether you’re an experienced trekker looking for a challenge or you’re just looking to get back to nature, you’ll find something in this list of great Australian bushwalks. For all your Australian bookings please contact Australian Travel Services

Larapinta Trail
Beginning at the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the Larapinta Trail winds its way through 223 kilometres of the

West MacDonnell Ranges, ending at

Mount Sonder. This long-distance walking track is divided up into 12 manageable one- to two-day walks, allowing visitors to choose key attractions to explore.

West MacDonnel National Park, NT Website: www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks Valley of the Giants
The Valley of the Giants is one of

Western Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, named after the red tingle trees that grow up to 75 metres tall in this area. Take the ground level walk to marvel at the height of these ancient trees, or the treetop walk 38 metres above the forest to experience life in the canopy.

Walpole-Nornalup National Park, WA Website: www.valleyofthegiants.com.au

Cradle

Mountain Summit
Dominating the landscape of the

Lake St Clair National Park is the jagged peak of

Cradle Mountain. Seen from across

Dove Lake, the mountain itself is a breathtaking vista, but for those willing to make their way to the top there are magnificent views over much of northern

Tasmania.

Lake St Clair

National Park, Tas
Website: www.overlandtrack.com.au

Fraser

Island Great Walk
From lush rainforest to clear lakes and coloured sands, the Fraser Island Great Walk offers glimpses of the natural wonders that make up this World Heritage Area. Following the pathways of the island’s original inhabitants, the Great Walk covers 90 kilometres of ground between

Dilli Village and

Happy Valley.

Fraser

Island, Qld
Website: www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/
Great Ocean Walk
Stretching 91 kilometres along Victoria’s coast, from Apollo Bay to G

lenample Homestead, is the Great Ocean Walk. The trail passes through

Blanket Bay, Castle Cove and

Wreck Beach, as well as some of the area’s most spectacular national parks.

Apollo

Bay — G

lenample Homestead,

Vic Website: www.greatoceanwalk.com.au Geikie Gorge
This remarkable landscape feature in Western Australia’s Kimberly region was carved over time by the waters of the

Fitzroy River. During the wet season the river rises to around half-way up the 30-metre walls, but during the dry season it’s a quiet stream, allowing visitors to walk along the base of the gorge.

Geikie Gorge National Park, WA Website: www.calm.wa.gov.au Heysen Trail
The Heysen Trail, 1200 kilometres long, is one of the world’s longest continuous footpaths and one of its greatest long-distance walks. Designed for both the casual walker and the serious trekker, the trail passes through a diverse range of landscapes, from farms to national parks and two of

Australia’s great wine regions. Parachilna Gorge —

Cape Jervis, SA
Website: www.heysentrail.asn.au

Namadgi

National Park
Just minutes from Canberra, and still within the ACT border, you can experience a sense of remote wilderness in

Namadgi National Park, the northernmost part of the

Australian Alps. Alpine environments are rare in

Australia and these parks contain plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world.

Nadmadgi

National Park, ACT
Website: www.environment.act.gov.au Bread Knife and Grand High Tops
Millions of years ago magma forced its way through a crack beneath Warrumbungle volcano. Over time the elements have shaped this ancient volcanic remnant into a narrow peak, now known as the Bread Knife. A short distance away you can find the Grand High Tops, a ridge which provides uninterrupted views of the Bread Knife and the surrounding Warrumbungles.

Warrumbunlge

National Park, NSW.
Website: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Wallaman Falls
At 305 metres high,

Wallaman Falls is the largest single-drop waterfall in

Australia. Taking a trek through the eucalypt forest and tropical rainforest of the

Lumhotlz National Park will deliver you to the foot of the falls, where you can watch the water cascade through a rainbow mist into a large pool below.

Lumholtz

National Park, QldWebsite: www.wettropics.gov.au

The Australian Traveller magazine has come up with a list of the 7 most luxurious bush camps in Australia and I thought it could be of interest to our readers and clients.

If you want to take your hairdryer and don’t want to fashion a peg out of some twigs when you camp, then lucky you’re in Australia. Blessed be the campers and credit cards that get you to these luxury sites . . .

1. Longitude 131 (NT)
It’s the granddaddy of stylish camping. Perched on a ridge overlooking Uluru, you can sit in your king-sized bed beneath the ubiquitous “crisp white linen sheets” and watch the colour show as the sun rises and sets over The Rock. Having celebrated its fifth birthday on June 10 this year, Longitude 131 deserves its reputation as one of the most luxurious experiences in Australia. From $990 per night twin share, min two nights. Check it out on http://www.voyages.com.au/infolink/l131/?773

2. Wilson Island (QLD)
Part of the same stable as Longitude 131 (Voyages Hotels and Resorts), Wilson Island is the Robinson Crusoe experience with a luxury bed, towels and toilet facilities. Accessed from Heron Island just north of Gladstone on the QLD coast with just six permanent tents on the island, so you have the run of the place. No electricity, though, so no hairdryers. $495 per person per night, min two nights. Check it out on; http://www.voyages.com.au/infolink/wilson/

3. Bamurru Plains (NT)
The closest and newest rival to the two Voyages properties (Longitude 131 and Wilson Island) for the luxurious outdoor experiences, Bamurru Plains launched in February 2007 and is more akin to an African bush camp than an Aussie campsite. Situated on a floodplain, the three (growing to nine by Feb ’08) corrugated iron and timber structures are purposefully built without the amenities of a five star hotel room, apart from very comfy beds and linen. The idea is to be able to experience the raw wilderness thrashing about in the water and woods just outside your door. Jump in an airboat to zoom across the floodplain, take guided bush walks or bump around the savannah in a 4WD – you’re there to get up close and personal with the bush in style. From $850 per night, min two nights.

4. Paperbark Camp (NSW)
The latest additions to this exceptionally lavish outfit set among paperbark trees on the outskirts of Huskisson in south coast NSW are its two new Luxury Tents, featuring deep, traditional bathtubs (below).

There are 12 raised safari-style tents in all, as well as a central “Gunyah” restaurant that’s famous throughout the region. For pampered camping in NSW, Paperbark is yet to be surpassed. From $200 per tent per night.

5. Extravacamps (NSW)
Well, that about sums it up. In the not-so-secret gem of Kangaroo Valley two hours south of Sydney, Extravacamps will set up your tent, install a double bed, then set up your second tent (that’s for dining) and tow in the amenities block. You’re in a field all of your own and free to do as you please. And to make it not completely blow the budget, you can either bring your own food to cook or have it supplied. From $205 per person per night, min two nights.

 6. Gunya Titjikala (NT)
Three platform tents on the fringe of the Simpson Desert make up Gunya Titjikala. With king-sized beds, crisp sheets, ensuite bathroom and meals provided by the locals, Gunya is a personalised experience. There’s no set itinerary, just whatever tickles your fancy. At the basis of it all is living like the local people, the Titjikala. Dig for grubs, eat a kangaroo and try the Indigenous skincare products. It’s exclusive, meaningful and very Australian. $1300 per tent per night, min two nights.

7. Freycinet Escape (TAS)
A three-day hosted journey into the most remote parts of the Freycinet Peninsula (you arrive by boat), these are tents, but not as you know them. The local Park Depts won’t allow the structures to penetrate the ground, so they’re weighed down by seawater. We don’t have space to do these design marvels justice here, but take our word for it. Explore the beaches, Wineglass Bay, hang out in your tent – it’s totally up to you. Remote, rugged and all very comfortable. Three-day packages from $1595 per person

As Australia’s third largest island,

Kangaroo

Island is 155km long by 55km wide.. The

Island boasts outstanding natural beauty and its relative isolation since European settlement has ensured an abundance of wildlife in a stunning and protected natural environment. With 21 national and conservation parks covering more than 30 per cent of the Island’s total area,

Kangaroo

Island has established itself as a premiere destination for nature lovers of all types.

With floor to ceiling windows offering panoramic views over the rugged island coastline, Southern Ocean Lodge, due to open in March, 2008  is the next big thing on the Australian tourism landscape. Southern Ocean Lodge aims to provide a level of style and sophistication not currently found on

Kangaroo

Island. Set in natural bushland overlooking a spectacular section of coastline, the organic luxury of the contemporary Lodge will ensure guests have every opportunity to relax and explore the

Island’s wonders with a dash of indulgence.An ideal venue for boutique meetings and incentives.

Perched atop a dramatic cliff location, twenty-one luxurious suites create the ultimate fusion between nature and luxury. Endowed with majestic views of the awe inspiring Southern Ocean and featuring custom designed interiors, every consideration has been given to navigating the fine balance between nature, comfort and contemporary style.All suites feature lavish king sleeping area/s, sunken lounge, dramatic glass walled bathroom with designer fixtures and outdoor terrace with occasional seating and daybed. Other features include; walk-in robe, complimentary room bar, twice daily housekeeping, optional climate control, heated floors, internet, music system (with MP3 input), premium amenities, safe & telephone (television in selected suites only).Signature design elements including local limestone and recycled timber blend seamlessly with the natural environs, harnessing the beauty of the landscape. A range of suite styles are available, with the premium Osprey Pavilion offering extra indulgences including open fire & private plunge spa.The private suites and retreats ensure guests have every opportunity to experience the coastal wilderness and abundant wildlife for which

Kangaroo

Island is renowned in impeccable style.

Southern Ocean Lodge Spa Retreat will be a private oasis of calm set amongst the coastal drama. Situated high on a dramatic cliff top, the day spa will be a destination in its own right, incorporating the unique landscape and location.A signature spa menu will offer a range of traditional and cutting edge treatments. A steam room, chill out lounge and spa cuisine program will complement an international spa design showcase. Combined with the cleanest air from

Antarctica highly oxygenised from the pounding surf, the spa will provide a pure natural environment in which to rejuvenate and relax.

Rates will be from AUD 900.00 per person, per night including breakfast, light lunch, four-course dinner, beverages, mini bar and local guided tours. For further enquires and bookings please contact  our office in

Australia on phone 61+7+55647585 or send an email to pgordon@aus-travel.com

All new bookings for the Southern Ocean Lodge made through us will receive a couple of the elegant Australian Wine Glass. For more details of the glass please visit http://2ecm8.com