australiantravel.us

If you are planning a trip to Australia and

Sydney, I would suggest that you allow for an  extra 2 days and do something out of the ordinary, a walk. A coastal walk !

 An exhilarating 2 days of breathtaking scenery and invigorating challenges the

Royal

Coast Walk offers it all.  Located only 32 km south of

Sydney you meet up at Cronulla where you cross by scenic ferry to Bundeena and the start of your 2 day adventure. There are plenty of stops during the day to refresh, relax and take photos.  You swim at protected beaches and camp by the secluded beach and lagoon at the gorgeous Wattamolla.  Now, if you can only spend one day this is what you do; Walk from Bundeena to Little Marley via the Aboriginal carvings at Jibbon Point and return. Highlights include the Devil’s Dice ,White Cliffs and Marley Headland. For those with 2 days to spare see the entire Coast Track including  a night camping under the stars by the ocean and lagoon at Wattamolla. Highlights on Day 2 of the walk include Eagle Rock,

Garie

Beach, shack communities at Era and Burning Palms, Palm Jungle and Werrong Lookout.        Walking distances: (Day 1 – 14 km, 7 hrs; Day 2 – 16km, 8hr) The organiser,

Royal

Coast Walks supply, prepare and transport all your good and camping equipment leaving you free to experience the Coast Track in all it’s beauty.  The cost is AUD 239.00 and includes;  •

Royal

National Park entry and camping fees.• All camping equipment, transported and erected for youat our idyllic campsite• Expert Guide• All meals for the duration of the trip.  Scenic ferry ride from Cronulla to Bundeena.  • Specialty evening meal is BBQ’d marinated butterfly leg oflamb, grilled vegetable skewers, gourmet salad and traditionalAustralian damper. Beer and wine.• Lunches consist of freshly prepared ham/chicken and salad rolls.• Breakfast is bacon, eggs, fruit, cereal, juice, tea and coffee.• Daytime snacks are fresh fruit, nuts and dried fruits.* Alternative menu available on request** Breakfast and evening meals are for overnight packages only. 

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

Tasmania is the ideal destination for a self drive and part of the charm is to stay at one of the many Bed & Breakfast that Tasmania offers. To make it easy for you I have listed the best ones here

Bellerive House, 6 km from Hobart

Colonial Accommodation at Undine, 10 km from Hobart.

Elms of Hobart, 2 km from Hobart

Memory Lane Cottages, in central Hobart

Orana House, 5 km from Hobart

Roseneath Bed and Breakfast, 3 km from Hobart

Walton House, 1 km from Huonville

Waverley Cottages, located throughout Oatlands, centre of Tasmania

Laurel Cottage, in Richmond about 20 min. from Hobart

Mulberry Cottage, 300 m from Richmond village centre.

Norfolk Bay Convict Station,  10 minutes from Port Arthur

Platypus Park Country Retreat, 2 kms from Bridport

Airlie on the Square, in Launceston

Alice’s Spa Cottages and Hideaways, in Launceston

Edenholm Grange, Launceston

The Edwardian Apartments, 5 minutes walk to city centre. Launceston.

Plover’s Ridge, in Lily dale, 25 km from Launceston

The Racecourse Inn in Longford

Ross Bakery Inn in the charming village of Ross.

Westbury Gingerbread Cottages, 25 minutes from Launceston

Glen Osborne House at Burnie

The Duck House at Burnie

Winterbrook at Ulverstone.

Comstock Cottage at Queenstown.

If you would like to include Tasmania in your itinerary just send us an email and tell us how many days you would like to spend there and we’ll come back with suggestions on what to see and where to stay at one of the above depending upon your plans.

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:

Winner: Wilson Island in Queensland.

 

Runners up: Freycinet Experience Walk and Maria Island Walk in Tasmania.

Best Family Experience:

Winner: Sea World Resort and Water

Park, Gold Coast

Runners-up: Sovereign Hill, (Melbourne) and Australia Zoo ( Brisbane)

Best Small Luxury Hotel:

Winner: Emporium Hotel, Brisbane

Runners-up: Islington, Hobart and Lake

House, Daylesford.

Best Adventure Tourism:

Winner: Orion Expedition Cruises

Runners-up: Cradle

Mountain Walk in Tasmania and

Aurora Expeditions.

Best hosted accommodation ( B & B )

Winner: Hunter Valley Cooperage (

Sydney)

Runners-up: Cotterville, Victoria  and Ooraminna Station Homestead.

Best indigenous tourism experience:

Winner: Anangu Waai, Northern Territory

Runners-up: Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, Western Australia and Guurbi Tours in Queensland.

Best Lodge:

Winner: Cradle Mountain Lodge,

Tasmania

Runners-up: Silky Oaks Lodge ( Cairns) and Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Isl.

Best Resort Accommodation:

Winner: Qualia, Hamilton

Island

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

Brisbane.

Best Eco Tourism:

Winner: Wild Bush Luxury

Runners-up: Maria Island Walk in Tasmania and

Montague

Island in NSW.

 

The Southern Highlands Book Trail, only a couple of hours drive from Sydney,is the ideal get-away for the book-lover.

 Throughout the area are many delightful bookshops and you can spend a relaxing day browsing and finding unexpected treasures along the way.   First stop on the trail is Berrima, a heritage village which is bypassed by the highway and has retained it’s pioneer character. Not so much for the book-lover but if you want  a book beautifully restored or bound you should pay a visit to The Art of Bookbinding. Walk in and inhale the smell of leather, paper and glue. You also find papers, quills and notebooks, some of them too lovely to write in but a perfect gift to anybody or yourself.  Just out of town is Berkelouw Book Barn with over 250000 books!  You can get lost in the labyrinth of books, sit down in the café and browse some books before you take off for Bowral which is at the heart of Australia’s first Book Trail and Book Town project. Bowral is an official Book Town with an abundance of bookstores and literary history.
 Not only that, Bowral can claim to be the birthplace of Mary Poppins, the fictional character created by author, PL Travers, and made famous by the Walt Disney movie.   Bong Bong Street , a great name, is awash with stores peddling caffeine, books and antiques.   If you want some more time, why not stay overnight at Bowral at the Links House Small Hotel.  The second day you can spend visiting wineries and antique shops in the area. For further information about the Book Trail click on www.booktown.com.auor www.southern-highlands.com.au

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 !

Guests of Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort will now be given the royal treatment with the opening of The Spa at Lake Crackenback.Surrounded by the beauty of the alpine wilderness, the Spa at Lake Crackenback draws on nature as its inspiration for treatments with only pure and natural ingredients that restore and balance body, mind and spirit. Adjacent to the existing pool and gym facilities, it features five treatment rooms, each with contemporary furnishings, organic cotton sheets and soft bamboo robes. The spa’s full-length windows capture the ambience of the mountains, taking advantage of the stunning surrounds.The Spa uses only 100% organic products, including the Australian brand Kuush which is not tested on animals and is preservative free. All products are packaged in plastic-free containers to maintain purity so the spa’s therapists can provide the best and safest treatment possible and avoid harm to the pristine environment surrounding.

The spa’s signature treatment is the indulgent 24 Carat Gold Facial, utilising the most powerful anti-ageing component known to man, which was said to have been used by Cleopatra and has more recently been enjoyed by the likes of Madonna and Mariah Carey. Priced at $280, the 75-minute Royal 24 Carat Gold Treatment will leave your skin smooth, supple and superbly moisturised.

According to spa manager Nicola Johnson, the 24 Carat Gold Facial is the ultimate in luxury and beauty. “It’s exciting to have the Kuush pure 24 Carat Gold Facial for its natural healing and anti-ageing properties. Our gold facial is pure luxury offering a superior result for our clients.” Nicola brings a world of experience to Crackenback. She was manager for the spa at the famous Rimrock Resort, Banff, Canada and opened up the Spa at Robertson in Perth.

The gold facial is one of a myriad of decadent treatments available including a blissful soak in the luxurious infinity bath, relaxing hot stone massage and clay body wraps plus a selection of tailored and customised spa packages to suit even the most inexperienced spa novice.

To make a booking for the Spa at Lake Crackenback contact us at any time.

Discover the secrets of Sydney and it’s harbour on a spectacular 2 night weekend escape cruise with million dollars views .MV Captain Cook’s Explorer takes you off the beaten track to places only the locals know and up close to some of the most beautiful and famous aspects of Sydney Harbour. Regular shore visits include street markets, beautiful gardens and beachside Watsons Bay. The views are worth the journey alone - a breathtaking sunset over the sails of the Sydney Opera House to a sparkling dawn on the cliffs of the north shore. Evenings on board are a blend of top class food and wine, spectacular harbour sights, getting to know new friends and enjoying great entertainment .

Friday - Our friendly crew welcomes you at the  King Street Wharf at
Darling Harbour.

As the city lights begin to shine we depart for our dinner cruise. Tonight we anchor in Farm Cove by the shores of the Botanic Gardens, close to the sails of the Sydney Opera House. Saturday - Active types can board our tender for a quick trip to Man o’ War Steps beside the Opera House and a cool morning stroll through the Botanic Gardens. Once back on board, healthy appetites tuck-in to a hot buffet breakfast before we head for the upper reaches of the Parramatta and Lane

Cove

Rivers. See foreshores and bay sides packed with historic sites, trophy homes and prestige residential developments while your on-board commentator shares stories galore from the past and present. The afternoon brings us back to town for an on-shore exploration of

Sydney’s historic Rocks district. Among immaculately preserved colonial architecture, you will find fabulous market and retail shopping, corner pubs, top art galleries and plenty of busking talent. Then we set sail across the harbour and anchor off the northern foreshore for the Captain’s Dinner and an evening of live music and dancing.

Sunday - The early morning crew is out again, this time for a walk through the bush and the old artillery emplacements on Bradley’s Head. The hike is well worth it for the glorious harbour views from the headland. The mid-morning’s cruise takes us into the territory of

Sydney’s rich and famous – the eastern suburbs. Your commentator lays out their history and relates intriguing anecdotes as we sail past huge homes and glamorous yachts bobbing at closely-packed moorings. At beachside Watson’s Bay we head ashore to explore the charming old fishing village and historic naval establishments which make up this exclusive suburb. You can take a guided walk to The Gap, an optional sea kayak tour around the picturesque bays, or relax in the waterside pub. Once again on board, lunch is served al fresco on the top deck and we cruise back to

Darling

Harbour. Every cruise includes two nights cabin accommodation, all meals, use of all onboard facilities, 24 hour self service coffee bar, welcome fruit cocktail, guided foreshore walks, nightly entertainment and Australian GST at 10%. Price: AUD 590.00 per person in a twin outside cabin. If you prefer a double bed there is a 50 dollars surcharge  Prices exclude drinks, personal purchases, onboard charges and / or fuel surcharges. 

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.

Experience the beauty and solitude of the Kosciuszko National Park with one and two day guided treks featuring fully catered, in-field, star-covered, overnight campsites.

This means walkers are able to experience the beauty and wilds of the

Kosciuszko

National Park in comfort, with the luxury of local guides sharing intimate knowledge and the hassle and hardship of carrying equipment being tended to by the KOSCIUSZKO ALPINE GUIDED WALKS staff.THE EXPERIENCE
Envisage the sky turning into a palette of evening colour after spending a day ascending Australia’s highest peak and discovering pristine glacial lakes in remote areas of the Kosciuszko National Park.

FULLY CATERED
Your guide will lead you through outlying alpine terrain to a prepared campsite with creature comforts including personal tents, rolled out bedding ready for your weary body and a change of dry, warm, clothing. Don’t lift a finger, a hearty meal will be prepared while you relax, soak up the sunset and easy conversation around a star-covered campsite.

KOSCIUSZKO

NATIONAL PARK

The magnificence of the

Kosciuszko

National Park, located in the

Australian Alps, is unique to the world’s geographic alpine terrain and is internationally recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.Covering almost 675,000 hectares (1,485,000 acres) the Park contains the highest mountains and glacial lakes in

Australia. It also has plant species found nowhere else on earth highlighted by vivid fields of colourful alpine flora, nine wilderness areas, rare and indigenous Australian mountain fauna, tremendous vistas, historic huts, sensational walking tracks and is the source of the Snowy, Murray and

Murrimbidgee

Rivers

NOVOTEL

LAKE CRACKENBACK RESORT.Lake Crackenback Resort is your premier alpine experience, superbly located in the magnificent

Snowy

Mountains high country on the tranquil shores of

Lake

Crackenback. The Resort is a perfect home base for exploration of all the treasures the Snowy Region has to offer. The Resort also boasts such a variety of high quality facilities and activities you may wish to stay on site for your entire holiday or conference.

Lake Crackenback Resort allows you to relax in style, concentrate on business or indulge your taste for adventure, all year round For further information and bookings contact us on http://www,australiantravel.us

Australia, the much-anticipated action-adventure movie starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, alongside Australia’s Top End’s breathtaking scenery, is the inspiration for one of the more exciting tours in Australia during 2009/10.

With the comparatively stronger US dollar,

Australia offers an amazing value-for-money.

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 Northern Territory ( the Top End ) provides travellers with the real “Australia” The Movie experience – the dramatic landscapes, the spirit of adventure, a colourful cast of outback characters, abundant wartime heritage, rich indigenous culture and Darwin’s historic

Stokes

Hill

Wharf, the location for a number of scenes in

Australia the movie.

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 Adelaide and

Darwin. One of the advantages of

Australia – the Tour is that it can be taken at any time and it can be personalized as well.   With arrival in Sydney any day of the week you then spend two nights here which includes 4star accommodation, transfers and sightseeing before you move on to Adelaide, where a tour to the famous vineyards of

Barossa

Valley is included. Then, another highlight of your trip. Travel in Gold Class on The Ghan via Alice Springs to Katherine in the

Northern Territory. During the stop in

Alice Springs you will join a highlight tour of the town and a  cruise on the famous Gorge in Katherine, spend a day at an outback cattle station,dine under the stars and enjoy a Stockman’s dinner.  The tour continues to Darwin with a day trip into

Kakadu

National Park and a cruise on the Yellow Waters Billabong.  For more details of the tour please go to website www.australiantravel.us