By John Rozentals.
Intrepid Urban Adventures, the day tour arm of global tour operator Intrepid Travel, has launched online virtual experiences to give families a taste of travel during the pandemic.
These live and interactive tours—launched in response to the growing demand for virtual experiences amid the on-going global pandemic—connect Australian families with local tour guides and their families around the globe.
All tours are hands-on and offer families the chance to learn something new. Highlights include cooking pierogi with a family in Krakow, baking Anzac biscuits with a Melbourne mum, and creating a watercolour masterpiece inspired by the works of Frida Kahlo.
The new family tours are part of the wider Urban Adventures At Home range of online experiences, designed to support local guides whose livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic.
Visit www.urbanadventures.com.
Newport Mooloolaba, offers spacious apartment-style living in the heart of Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.
Boasting both ocean and wharf views makes it a breeze to enjoy a mid-week stay.
Book between February and June to save with a five-day getaway from $204 per night, three-day red-hot deal from $215 per night or a two-day escape from $239 per night.
There is free unlimited wifii and parking. (Excludes Friday and Saturday nights and not available school holidays, public holidays and event weekends and subject to terms and conditions).
Visit www.newportmooloolaba.com.au.
William Bay National Park, located near the southern West Australian town of Denmark, and home to picture-perfect Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks — has reopened to the public after receiving upgrades to the park’s infrastructure.
Sealed roads, additional car parking bays, new toilet blocks, picnic tables, bicycle racks and signage are set to improve the visitor experience.
Located a 4.5-hour drive from Perth, the national park is well known for its pristine turquoise water and white sandy beaches edged by granite boulders which create ideal swimming, snorkelling and diving conditions.
Canada does winter like no other destination, with residents eagerly embracing the cold and finding original ways to dive into the snowy white stuff.
Case in point: several local National Hockey League players, along with Olympic Gold Medallist ice skater, Patrick Chan, flew to the remote mountains of British Columbia to shoot pucks on a mountaintop rink.
Because, why not?
While Aussies dream and plan for their next North American winter adventure, some quirky off-slope frolics will pique your curiosity and spark your imagination.
As an example, at the sprawling Peller Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, liquid gold awaits at the igloo-like 10-below Icewine Lounge.
Constructed out of 13,607 litres of ice, including an ice bar and ice benches, the lounge is kept at a chilly –10˚C, the ideal temperature for harvesting ice wine grapes.
Here, visitors can sip on sweet nectar produced from grapes that have been frozen on the vine and learn fascinating facts about Canada’s ice wine industry (did you know Canada produces more ice wine than any country in the world?).
An exciting paddlewheeler journey along one of America’s great rivers and the thrill of the world-famous Kentucky Derby horserace will be paired in a special cruise through America’s heartland in May, 2022.
The American Queen Steamboat Company has released a new eight-night 2022 Kentucky Derby sail and stay package which includes VIP tickets to the famed horserace in Louisville, Kentucky.
American Queen Steamboat Company’s latest paddlewheeler, the newly launched, 245-guest American Countess, will take racegoers for a seven-night cruise along the legend-steeped Ohio River and even become a contestant in one of the Kentucky Derby’s colourful events itself — the 14-mile Kentucky Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race, with guests able to be ‘jockeys’ aboard the ship as it races other steamboats for the prized Silver Antlers trophy.
During the river cruise, guests can enjoy gourmet, locally-inspired cuisine, complimentary, unlimited beverages onboard, complimentary hop-on, hop-off shore excursions, live jazz and blues music as well as a panoramic lounge, fitness centre and free onboard internet.
Visit www.aqsc.com.au.
Luxury European river cruise line, Riviera Travel River Cruises, will debut a new VIP guest program in 2022 called Riviera Plus which offers premium suite passengers luxury additions designed to enhance the enjoyment of their five-star cruise.
From next year, guests booked in deluxe and superior suites and all upper-deck cabins will receive a host of complimentary benefits including use of a smart handset with maps, translator, currency converter, unlimited calls, text messages and internet service for use onboard or ashore.
Premium suite guests will also receive L’Occitane en Provence luxury toiletries, a bottle of chilled Prosecco on arrival, a platter of fresh seasonal fruits during the cruise and a refreshing aperitif each evening.
Visit www.rivieratravel.com.au.