26 September 2023

America, Japan and more…

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By John Rozentals.

Bells at Killcare: a five-star boutique resort on the NSW Central Coast.

Bells at Killcare, a five-star boutique resort on the NSW Central Coast, offers a new look and feel to its restaurant from December. The restaurant will be named ‘The Wild Flower Bar and Dining’ with the new direction reflected in menu and interiors, while welcoming Sean Connolly to the Bells team to help oversee this culinary change.

The restaurant’s Italian dining style will be broadened to a modern-European approach in a casually chic setting with a little ‘theatre’ adding to the energy of the dining space.

Bells’ dining room style will transition toward a casually-luxe aesthetic that complements its location surrounded by the Bouddi National Park and the region’s vast coastal waterways.

The ‘Bouddi by the sea’ inspiration will include commissioned Kate Swinton wallpaper and screen-print cushions, and local artisans will also be incorporated into the setting.

Located at the heart of the hotel, The Wild Flower Bar and Dining commands a prominent position in the Manor House, with its elegant dining room, bar, private dining room, alfresco enclosed balcony overlooking the immaculate gardens and The Conservatory, an event space capable of holding 220 people for a cocktail function.

Visit www.bellsatkillcare.com.au.

Groote Eylandt Lodge.

Experienced anglers and novices can enjoy some of the world’s most exciting sports fishing Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Owned by the Anindilyakwan people, Groote Eylandt is known for its isolated and protected pristine marine environment, spectacular scenery, Aboriginal art and culture … and some of the most amazing fishing in the world.

It is peak season for giant deep-water marlin and sailfish, bluewater queenfish and giant trevally, golden snapper and red emperor around the extensive coral reefs, with the world-renowned barramundi teeming in the tidal estuaries and mangrove rivers.

Groote Eylandt Lodge is offering a two-day/three-night ‘Fishing Safari’, priced from $3700 per person, including (for a minimum of two guests) return airfares from Darwin, twin-share accommodation, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, two days of guided fishing, and all transfers on Groote Eylandt.

Visit www.metrohotels.com.au.

Norwegian Jewel in Sydney.

Having undergone a bow-to-stern refurbishment, Norwegian Jewel has commenced a 2019/2020 Australasian cruising season that will see the vessel visit ports-of-call such as Milford Sound, Akaroa, Picton, Wellington, Eden, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Joined in local waters by Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Jewel will provide access to dining, entertainment, itineraries, extensive on-board activities and a wide range of accommodation options.

On-board amenities include 16 dining options, ranging from teppanyaki and sushi to French, Italian, Brazilian and pub classics, as well as a choice of 15 bars and nightclubs, boutique shopping, a library and video arcade.

Outdoors, there are swimming pools, hot tubs, jogging tracks, a basketball and tennis court, as well as the Mandara Spa and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.

Phone 1300 255 200 or visit www.ncl.com.

Tones of Home: two living spaces.

Private Properties has listed seven new holiday homes in Western Australia’s Margaret River region, allowing holidaymakers to choose from homes by the ocean and amongst the trees, from brand-new builds to a character 1970s beach house that will have them reminiscing about childhood holidays on the coast.

New listings include Tones of Home, between Dunsborough and Yallingup.

Breathe out and completely relax at this a holiday home which provides a great combination of Australian country and beach holiday on five acres.

There’s plenty of space for kids to explore, and views across Geographe Bay to Busselton and beyond.

The five-bedroom home has two living spaces, cathedral-like windows, a huge alfresco balcony, and a spa bath off the master bedroom.

Phone 08 9750 5444 or visit www.privateproperties.com.au.

American Countess: due to be launched next April.

A new seven-night cruise next July on the Ohio and Mississippi Rvers will take guests behind the scenes of Kentucky’s bourbon region, to see where bourbon comes from, how it is made, learn about its history and sample some straight from the distilleries.

The cruise will also feature live Blues performances, cooking demonstrations, special guest historians who will tell about the heroic Lewis and Clark expedition, and a visit to New Madrid – a quaint river town originally founded by a Spanish Governor. The cruise also includes several hop-on, hop-off shore excursions.

Travel will be on board the new American Countess, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat to be launched next April and fitted with wifi and other modern conveniences.

The price is from US$2135 per person, a saving of US$200 per person for bookings made by December 31.

Phone 1800 507 777 or visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au.

Le Lyrial: exclusively chartered by Abercrombie & Kent for the eclipse.

Abercrombie & Kent is offering an expedition cruise designed around the total solar eclipse on December 4, 2021, which will fleetingly plunge parts of the Southern Ocean into complete darkness.

The path of the eclipse moves from east to west, and the best place to witness it will be the rarely-visited South Orkney Islands northeast of the Antarctic peninsula where A&K’s expedition team has selected the ideal location for its ship to be positioned to allow guests a viewing time of approximately one minute and 40 seconds.

Towering icebergs, massive glaciers and penguin colonies set the stage for this rare astronomical spectacle, with experts joining A&K’s expedition team.

Former astronaut Kathy Sullivan, a crew member on three Space Shuttle missions and the first American woman to walk in space, joins the expedition and will share her extraordinary experiences in on-board lectures.

The 15-day voyage is aboard the exclusively chartered luxurious mega-yacht Le Lyrial which will explore the Antarctic Peninsula and its rare yet abundant wildlife, ranging from humpback whales and orcas to colonies of penguins and seals.

Prices are from $29,685 per person twin-share, reduced from $34,910.

Phone 1300 590 317 or visit www.abercrombiekent.com.au.

Everest Base Camp. Image: Michael Zanon.

World Expeditions reckons it was the first Australian company to offer commercial treks in Nepal back in 1975 and to celebrate the 45th anniversary is launching four unique treks in the Everest region next year.

On November 21 the four celebratory treks will converge in the region’s most important spiritual centre, in Thyangboche, for a banquet dinner, to be attended by Australian mountaineering legend, Tim Macartney-Snape, and a special mystery guest.

The most comprehensive, and toughest, trek of the four, the 22-day Everest Circuit and the Cho La 45th Anniversary Trek, departs Kathmandu on November 4 and costs $4950 per person.

Phone 1300 720 000 or visit www.worldexpeditions.com.

Fiji’s Castaway Island.

Castaway Island has partnered with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji and Pacific Island Air to create the seven-night ‘Mamanuca Magic’ package incorporating some of the best of Fiji on land, sea and in the air.

The package will include a complimentary helicopter transfer for two adults from Nadi Airport to Castaway Island and pick-up by the ship’s tender from Castaway Island to join Reef Endeavour.

MV Reef Endeavour will take the guests on a three- or seven-night voyage through the Mamanuca and Southern Yasawa Islands before reaching the final destination of Port Denarau Marina where a complimentary airport transfer will take guests back to Nadi.

Prices for the seven-night package start from $5356 per person twin-share.

Visit www.outrigger.com.

Japanese calligraphy: learn the stylistic nuances in Kinosaki Onsen.

Japan is known and appreciated globally for immaculate precision, high detail and unique presentation, so it’s not surprising that Japanese arts and crafts are some of the world’s finest.

In the traditional hot spring town of Kinosaki Onsen, traditional Japanese culture can be found at every turn and the town is home to an array of traditional arts and crafts experiences that bring you back to the Edo era.

Delve right into the heart of Japanese tradition with calligraphy, for instance, and learn how to write traditional Japanese calligraphy, known as shodo.

Guests will learn the correct stroke order, as well as the stylistic nuances.

Visit www.visitkinosaki.com.

Within two hours of Auckland: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’ house from Lord of the Rings. Image: Matt Munro.

With the publication of Three Hours From…, Lonely Planet presents a series of excellent day and weekend trips within three hours of 60 some of the world’s top cities, from Amsterdam and Běijīng to Marrakesh and Rio de Janeiro.

Australia is represented by short escapes from Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, as well as the breakout lists of ‘Australia’s best food & drink escapes’ and ‘Oceania’s most fascinating indigenous experiences’.

The book is packed with ideas for city escapes and long stopovers, as well as new experiences to discover in a person’s own backyard.

Each of the 60 global cities in this book is presented with a map of the surrounding area, pinpointed with up to 18 of the most exciting, in-the-know things to do within three hours.

The hardcover book has 340 pages and is available for $29.99

Visit www.lonelyplanet.com.

Mantra on Salt Beach Kingscliff.

Accor will launch its largest-ever Boxing Day Sale this year, with savings of up to 25 per cent at more than 120 hotels, resorts and apartments, for bookings made December 26-31.

The sale will offer deals at Art Series, Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree properties across Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Mantra on Salt Beach Kingscliff, for instance, is offering hotel rooms on the NSW North Coast from $119 per night (Sunday to Thursday) with a minimum two-night stay.

The deal includes two-for-one full buffet breakfast vouchers, a 25 per cent Season restaurant dining voucher (one per stay valid Tuesday to Saturday), selected in-room movies, wifi and car parking, and is valid for travel from January 27 to December 17, 2020.

Phone 1300 987 603 or visit www.all.accor.com.

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