By John Rozentals.
The Capricorn Coast: great snorkelling territory.
Located 600 kilometres north of Brisbane and 30 kilometres from Rockhampton, the Capricorn Coast is an ideal holiday destination for families.
Visitors can, for instance, dive straight into some of the world’s best snorkelling as they experience the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
With protected bays that provide safe swimming all year round, guests can create their own snorkel adventure, or join a guided tour with Keppel Explorer to show them some of the hottest places to spy colourful coral, curious turtles, inquisitive sharks and loads of other amazing underwater life.
The Keppel Islands, including Great Keppel Island and Pumpkin Island, offer fine basecamps to begin a snorkelling journey.
Visit www.visitcapricorn.com.au.
Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders: special school-day arrangements for families.
Families staying at Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders during the school holidays will be greeted with a surprise in their room or suite, adding an extra dose of Holiday Inn’s ‘Joy of Travel’ to their experience.
Families with a hotel reservation between September 21 to October 11 will find either a unicorn or dinosaur balloon set up in their room, together with a scavenger hunt.
Upon check-in each child will receive a free ‘Little Big Travellers’ package which includes a Melbourne guide that can be used to discover the city during the school holidays.
Or ramp it up with the family ‘Glamp-in-experience.
Parents will receive the comforts of a refurbished hotel room, while the kids have their own teepee filled with pillows and blankets, toys and books to keep them occupied.
And buffet breakfast is included for two adults, with kids under-12 staying and eating free.
Phone 138 388 or visit holidayinnmelbourne.com.au.
Victoria’s High Country: perfect for some serious spring walking.
Spring in Victoria’s High Country is always a dazzling time to visit.
Sign up for the new Festival of Short Walks, a curated program of short walks with a story in Beechworth, Rutherglen, Chiltern and Yackandandah, and combine locally produced food and wine, local craft beer, cultural heritage and arts of national significance.
Or get fit, and find your Zen at a Park Trek Walking Holidays fully guided, pack-free four-day hiking and yoga tour at Falls Creek from 16-19 November.
And if it’s all about the bubbles in the King Valley, there’s a raft of delicious experiences, including a brunch at Brown Brothers, a yoga-and-prosecco breakfast at Dal Zotto, and a pairing class at Pizzini Wines.
Visit www.tourismnortheast.com.au.
Metro Hotel Perth: pay from $159 per night.
The Metro Hotel Perth has deals valid until September 30.
Pay from $159 per night for a standard room.
The deal includes buffet breakfast daily for two, welcome drink for two (house beer, wine or soft drink), and complimentary wifi and car parking.
The Optus Stadium bus service is located 100 metres from the hotel.
The deal is valid for stays Thursday-to-Sunday.
Visit metrohotels.com.au.
P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn … will be painting the sea red.
An army of Maroons fans will be cheering on their team during rugby league’s fortieth-anniversary State-of-Origin season when P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn cruises to Sydney next year.
More than 2000 guests will join supporters at ANZ Stadium next June when Queenslanders hope to take back the trophy from New South Wales.
The footy fans will be joined on board by a selection of former Blues and Maroons greats who have all made their mark in Origin history.
Past players, referees and commentators will host an itinerary of rugby-league-themed activities including Origin trivia, Q&A sessions and photo-and-autograph opportunities.
The cruise will arrive in Sydney ahead of the second clash of the series, and all guests will receive transfers to the stadium and entry to the game as part of their cruise fare.
Fares start from $619 per person quad-share for the four-night itinerary.
Phone 132 494 or visit www.pocruises.com.au.
The roof of the world: Namche village. Image: Amanda Fletcher.
World Expeditions has changed all of its Everest-region itineraries in response to Nepal’s decision to close Kathmandu airport to flights to-and-from the country’s most popular trekking region.
In a bid to reduce congestion at Kathmandu airport, Nepali authorities have replaced Kathmandu with Ramechap as the departure-and-arrival point for all flights to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest trekking region.
There remains one operational flight from Kathmandu to Lukla each day, which is reserved for Nepali locals, and airlines are forbidden selling any tickets to agents or to individuals who are not Nepali citizens.
The new routing, which affects all tour operators in Nepal, is in place until end November, with authorities assessing whether to continue after December 1.
Unlike many tour operators whose clients will depart Kathmandu by vehicle at 2am, to reach Ramechap in time for the first morning flights to Lukla, World Expeditions’ clients will stay overnight in Ramechap to ensure they get a good nights’ rest before they begin trekking.
Phone 1300 720 000 or visit www.worldexpeditions.com.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast: a special Oceania feature.
Oceania Cruises 2021 Europe & North America Collection of voyages features 70 overnight stays, with destinations including tucked-away neighbourhoods, tavernas and piazzas across the Mediterranean; hiking, fishing and glacier adventures with local experts in Alaska; and the a blend of hidden seaside retreats and cosmopolitan pleasures in Canada and New England.
Highlights include some of Europe’s unique treasures — the dramatic fjord of Eskifjördur, Iceland, the UNESCO-protected town Alberobello, Italy, and the gourmet pintxo bars of San Sebastián.
Included in the Olife Choice program are free internet and pre-paid gratuities, plus one of free-beverages package, free shore excursions and shipboard credit.
Phone 1300 355 200 or visit www.oceaniacruises.com.
Cruise Express’s ‘British Isles Rail and Sail’ tour: will feature historic steam locomotives.
Cruise Express’s 26-night ‘British Isles Rail and Sail’ tour next May will take travellers through some of the most remote and beautiful countryside in Britain by historic steam and diesel locomotives before they board Regal Princess for a circumnavigation of the Isles.
Guests will spend a night in London and then embark on an eight-night heritage rail tour of England and Wales, travelling in luxury Pullman Class carriages and staying in character-filled accommodation each night.
The circular route will take in Salisbury, Dartmouth and Gloucester in western England, the heart of Wales including Snowdonia National Park and back to London through northern England via Carlisle and Skipton.
The itinerary showcases some of the UK’s most spectacular railway lines, with passengers enjoying panoramic views of classic moors and dales, mountains, streams, coastlines, quaint villages and travelling over historic and majestic viaducts.
After a night back in London, guests will board the 3600-passenger Regal Princess in Southampton for a 12-night circumnavigation of the British Isles, including visits to the Channel Islands, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and France.
Including return flights from Australia, fares are from $13,990 per person twin-share.
Phone 1300 766 537 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au.
Abel Tasman National Park … boldly go where no boat or walking track can take you.
Kaiteriteri and Marahau, in the Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, are also known as the ‘gateways to paradise’ and are bustling all year round with water-lovers heading out on their days of adventures aboard sailing boats, kayaks, paddleboards and scenic cruises.
Boldly go where no boat or walking track can take you, with a guided waka or kayaking trip, suitable for the whole family — with grandma in the back, and baby in the front, if necessary.
Paddling the pristine coastline, visitors will discover an array of hidden coves, secluded beaches and granite ocean-carved archways just perfect for gliding through.
Let the gently rolling tide lead the way for a few moments as kayakers take a look around at the idyllic scenery that surrounds them, watching playful seal pups as they frolick around in the water nearby.
They’re guaranteed to leave the coastline of this extraordinary national park with a smile on the face and a wealth of memories to reminisce on for years to come.
Visit www.abeltasman.co.nz.
Part of the Wendy Wu’s new Korean offering: Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
Wendy Wu Tours has launched its 2020 Japan program, which includes two new destinations for the company — South Korea and Taiwan.
Explore the vibrant city of Sapporo, soak up the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, discover volcanic springs of Hakodate, learn about the way of the samurai in Kakunodate, visit ancient shrines, ride the bullet train, taste sake, try a hand at making washi paper or soba noodles, take part in a tea ceremony and discover Japan’s spiritual heart in Kyoto.
Visitors never have to travel far in Japan to get out into nature, be mesmerised by the tranquility and mystical Arashiyama bamboo forest, explore forested mountains or sit and watch the snow monkeys bathe in hot springs surrounded by snow.
A 14-day ‘Scenic South Korea’ holiday is priced from $8990 per person twin-share.
Discover dazzling Seoul, take part in a Korean cooking class, ride a cable car to Dolsan Island, explore Gyeongiu, the museum without walls, visit a green-tea plantation and embark on an adventure to DMZ, the buffer zone between the Koreas.
Bookings made before 27 September will save up to $300 per person.
Visit www.wendywutours.com.au.
