By John Rozentals.
Big gets small this summer at Melbourne Museum. Image: Benjamin Healley.
This summer at Melbourne Museum, next to the city’s Royal Exhibition Building, big gets small and small gets big.
From a giant wasp to a miniature Colosseum, find out why humans are fascinated with replicating real things when the doors open to the hugely imaginative and unapologetically strange world of ‘Mini Mega Model Museum’ on December 7.
Delightfully quirky and irreverent, a model of a museum that is a museum about models is built for curious kids big and small to engage with the familiar, exotic and offbeat.
Showcasing a miscellany of models and miniatures that have been a part of Museum Victoria’s State Collection since its founding in 1854, ‘Mini Mega Model Museum’ invites visitors to slow down, zoom in and look a little closer at the world around them.
With more than 300 objects on display, gander through the undersized, life-sized and oversized galleries and investigate incredible model specimens in the Zoomological Laboratory, drool over the deliciously real looking wax delicacies in the life-sized cafeteria and peek at the marvellous rooms of Pendle Hall — a fully furnished mini-mansion so intricate it took over 40 years to make.
Opera Australia’s Angela Hogan.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia will host Opera Australia to Uluru from December 11-13.
Guests will be able to curate their own operatic experience from the program, choosing one or multiple performances depending on their own preferences.
The weekend commences on Friday night with the Marriage of Figaro Poolside Dinner set in the luxurious poolside surrounds of Sails in the Desert.
Opera Australia will present a performance of the joyous final act of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, playfully staged under majestic ghost gums with ornate costuming and atmospheric lighting.
Guests will then enjoy a three-course dinner inspired by the award-winning Tali Wiru.
The main event, Opera at Uluru, on Saturday evening will feature some of Opera Australia’s finest singers performing under the stars, accompanied by a chamber orchestra, marrying sublime art with a uniquely Australian setting.
As the sun sets over the desert backdrop, the performers will be illuminated by Field of Light Uluru.
Packages start from $725 per person and include twin-share accommodation at Desert Gardens Hotel plus entry to the Opera at Uluru Gala Concert.
Visit www.ayersrockresort.com.au/OA.
Veriu’s planned Punthill Caroline Springs property.
The Veriu Group will launch four properties in the coming 24 months.
The roll out of the four new additions — Punthill Essendon North, Punthill Caroline Springs, Punthill Oakleigh Central and Punthill West Gosford — is scheduled to start early 2021.
Together, they will increase the group’s Punthill apartment-hotels collection to 18, and boost the Veriu Group’s overall portfolio to over 1700 rooms and apartments operating or in development across 25 sites under the combined Veriu Hotels & Suites and Punthill Apartment Hotels brands.
Positano, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Next year will see more travellers opting to embrace the journey and take it slow while travelling, according to On Foot Holidays, which specialises in the ‘art of slow travel’ by offering 31 self-guided walking tours across 12 European countries.
As travellers become more environmentally conscious and tired of the tourist traps, self-paced, immersive walking tours through some of the continent’s finest countryside continue to grow in popularity.
Among On Foot Holidays’ most popular walks is a seven-night journey through the wild mountains, craggy scenery and remote vineyards of Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
The ‘inn-to-inn’ walk takes walkers through old fishing towns nestled on the water’s edge, secluded beaches on the San Costanzo Peninsula, and along the Path of the Gods, high above the sea.
The seven-night hike begins at Amalfi, with the following days featuring two walking circuits, including visits to the tranquil Villa Cimbrone Gardens and Torre dello Ziro, a castle overlooking the bay. Walkers will then journey westwards along old medieval pathways, visiting the towns of Praiano, Positano, Sant’ Agata, as well as the now uninhabited monastery of San Domenico, and finish at Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples.
The walk costs approximately $1950.
Visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk.
Visit puffins at some of Europe’s largest seabird colonies.
Cruise in the wake of bygone kings to discover coastal cliffs, timeless castles, and legacies of old on a breathtaking 15-day Irish adventure.
Join archaeologist, Peter Smith, through the British Isles and discover preserved stone-age villages, magnificent estate gardens and the balsalt wonder of UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway.
Spend 12-nights aboard the purpose-built expedition ship Le Dumont d’Urville and discover the historically rich Ballinskelligs Priory, tasting authentic Scotch at the Ardbeg Distillery, and marvelling at some of Europe’s largest seabird colonies — puffins, gannets and guillemots.
The tour includes all onboard meals and group meals ashore. All accommodation, transport, listed activities and an expedition tour leader are provided throughout.
Book before December 20 and save $4680.
Visit www.exodustravels.com.au.
SpiceRoads offers plenty of traditional Japan.
SpiceRoads Cycling has a new seven-day cycling tour departing from Kyoto and exploring the city’s icons and some of Japan’s most valuable cultural heritage.
Riders will cycle through backstreets and into the Kyoto countryside, dotted with hidden temples and Shinto shrines in the mountains, and past waterfalls and hot springs.
Evenings will be spent at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Enryakuji temple, accessible only by cable car.
Riders will be able to take part in the century-old morning ceremonies before cycling into Uji — Kyoto’s picturesque tea country, before witnessing the fascinating historical landmarks and architecture, not to mention home to a city-roaming population of white-tailed deer.
Priced from US$3900, the tour includes accommodation, an experienced cycling guide and full support team, refreshments while riding, and most meals.
Visit www.spiceroads.com.
All things ‘Doraemon’: Odakyu’s Noborito Station.
Still in Japan, connecting Tokyo with some of Kanagawa Prefecture’s most loved locations such as Hakone and Enoshima, the Odakyu Railway lines have some of the most interesting stations in Japan, proving transit can be just as fun as the end destination.
Odakyu’s Noborito Station, for instance, is the ideal place for lovers of classic Japanese animation ‘Doraemon’ as the entire station is decorated in its theme.
A nearby museum further showcases the world of ‘Doraemon’ and its creator — making it a must visit for children and adults alike.
The facilities include a theatre where you can see exclusive short films, a room displaying 150 pieces of original artwork, as well as a café and museum shop.
Four nights of cruising is a highlight of Wendy Wu Tours’ 14-night ‘Majestic Yangtze’.
Often referred to as four cities in one, Singapore is a melting pot of cultures.
From the buzz of Little India, to Chinese temples and the Michelin-star hawker food, it’s a great city to break up a tour with a stop-over.
Wendy Wu Tours customers flying Singapore Airlines on their group tour in 2020 can add a two-night Singapore stopover from $99 per person on twin-share and save $336 per person.
There are over 40 tours featured with the Singapore stopover, including the 14-day ‘Majestic Yangtze’ – a fully inclusive tour priced from $4580 per person twin-share.
Admire Shanghai’s bright lights, walk on the Great Wall, cruise the Yangtze River for four nights, watch giant pandas play, marvel at the Terracotta Army and discover ancient Ciqikou
Visit wendywutours.com.au.
Dawson City: full of character.
With its fascinating goldrush history, rich First Nations heritage and pole position under the aurora oval for some of the best northern lights viewing in the world, it’s little wonder Canada’s Yukon Territory in the north-west is no longer dubbed a ‘hidden gem’.
It’s safe to say the secret is out!
With droves of travellers from Australia and around the world flocking to explore Yukon each year, new hotels and wilderness lodges are popping up at an unprecedented rate.
They include the Midnight Sun Hotel in the Klondike Goldrush town of Dawson City.
It offers 21 newly renovated rooms, a lounge, tavern, an abundance of traditional goldrush charm, and is renowned for exceptional hospitality and quintessential Yukon atmosphere.
For more information about Yukon visit www.travelyukon.com.
SO/ Auckland’s new Club Signature lounge.
SO/ Auckland has opened an exclusive new Club Signature lounge, a luxurious and vibrant space with VIP services available for guests.
WORLD design director Benny Castles has contributed his artistic design expertise to this private haven drawing inspiration from the city’s volcanic landscapes and furnishings with rich textures and bold avant-garde designs.
Located on the second floor of SO/ Auckland with its own bar and balcony, Club Signature is a tranquil and relaxing retreat offering breakfast, a signature afternoon tea and evening canapés along with refreshments available all day long.
The Club Signature lounge is accessible exclusively to SO Club and Suite guests with an array of complimentary Club Signature benefits.
Visit www.so-auckland.com.
