By John Rozentals.
Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa: enjoy the balmy weather in a 3000 square-metre lagoon pool.
Accor properties feature pools ranging from sandy-beach lagoons to rooftop pools in the city and infinity swimming pools perched above the beach.
At the Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa, for instance, enjoy the balmy weather in tropical North Queensland for a minimum stay of five nights in a two-bedroom plunge-pool apartment during the Sptember-October school holidays for from $529 per night.
The lagoon pool spans over 3000 square metres and is a perfect place to pull up a sun-lounge and quench your thirst with some tropical cocktails.
For those who like to roll out of bed and slide into the pool in just a few steps, the resort also offers a range of swim-out apartments, plunge pool apartments and three-bedroom villas with private plunge pools.
Accor’s fully flexible rates are available at a range of Accor brands, including SO/, Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, Tribe, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis Budget.
Visit all.accor.com.
Brisbane: a big city with a world of natural wonder on its doorstep.
Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane is an urban metropolis and a top base for those who want a holiday with all the excitement of a big city with a world of natural wonder on its doorstep.
In the heart of the city discover restaurants, new five-star hotels, cultural experiences and exciting urban adventures.
Within an hour of the city, visitors will uncover World-Heritage rainforests, majestic mountain peaks and a pristine bay.
Brisbane has made the cool lists in travel publications around the world.
Now it’s time to find out why by experiencing Brisbane through arts, sports and must-do experiences first-hand.
Great Southern Nights: a ground-breaking music event.
An NSW ground-breaking music event is tuning up for a spectacular month of gigs with over 50 Australian artists and eight regions confirmed for the Great Southern Nights lineup, which forms part of the NSW Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan.
Ocean Alley, AB Original, Julia Stone and Kasey Chambers with Troy Cassar-Daley are among the feature artists who will perform as part of the 1000 covid-safe gigs across NSW this November.
Great Southern Nights is a NSW Government initiative delivered by its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association, and was created to kick start the NSW entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries in response to covid-19.
All 1000 gigs will take place in NSW during Australian Music Month — November — culminating in the annual ARIA Awards held in Sydney.
For more information visit www.greatsouthernnights.com.au.
Kyle Torney’s new silo art in St Arnaud.
Grampians Tourism is excited to unveil new silo art situated in St Arnaud in Victoria’s northern Grampians.
The project is the work of local artist Kyle Torney who spent around 800 hours creating the masterpiece which depicts the gold-mining history of the town.
The process involved around 30-40 trips a day up and down the silo to check the artwork from a distance to ensure the image was in proportion.
The artist is a sixth-generation resident of the town and the work focuses heavily on people and telling their story through his ‘narrative portraiture’.
His murals can be found across his hometown, which have become a destination for art lovers to the area.
Visit www.visitgrampians.com.au.
Morgan: was one of the world’s richest gold mines.
Once teeming with hard workers from one of the world’s richest gold mines, Mount Morgan, located 32 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton on the Dee River, a seven-hour road trip from Brisbane, was a town that made a significant contribution to both Queensland and Australia’s economy.
Approximately 50 tonnes of silver, 360,000 tonnes of copper and 250 tonnes of gold were extracted from the mines in the 108 years of mining operations that occured during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Originally named Ironstone Mountain before Ned and Tom Morgan made a claim in 1882, renaming the town Mount Morgan, the historic destination is filled with history, culture and discovery.
Step back in time at the Railway Museum and experience how life and travel used to be.
Through audio-visual displays and 3D presentations, get a sense of the history of rail in Queensland and what it was like aboard the old ‘rack’ system, hauling trains up the steep inclines.
Visit www.visitcapricorn.com.au
Murujuga National Park: a new walking trail.
Visitors to Murujuga National Park in the Pilbara now have improved access to viewing culturally significant rock art with a new walking trail and signage.
The $1.3 million Ngajarli Trail helps showcase the national park’s array of rock art – with some estimated to be more than 45,000 years old.
Interpretive signage has also been added to educate visitors on the cultural importance of the area to traditional owners.
The 700-metre trail is designed for universal access, ensuring this facility can be enjoyed by all members of the community.
The national park can be reached in a half-hour drive from the city of Karratha.
Visit www.westernaustralia.com.
Rockingham: promotion spearheaded by a competition.
Rockingham is encouraging Western Australian adventure seekers to visit the area this spring, with the ‘Rediscover Adventure, Rediscover Rockingham’ marketing campaign officially launched on September 1.
Throughout spring the campaign will promote a range of active outdoor experiences and adventure activities that are available within the Rockingham region.
The campaign is spearheaded by the Rediscover Rockingham Adventure Holidays competition, with a prize pool worth more than $3500 available.
Prizes include accommodation and meals, as well as opportunities for skydiving, wakeboarding, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, kite surfing and an aquatic wildlife cruise.
Local tourism and hospitality businesses are keen to welcome adventure seekers from across state, especially those wanting to find out why Rockingham is known as the place where the coast comes to life.
Visit www.rockingham.com.au.
Salamanca Wharf Hotel: three nights for the price of two.
This spring the Salamanca Wharf Hotel is offering the chance of booking two nights and getting three in either a Premium Apartment or a Loft Penthouse.
The Salamanca Wharf Hotel is in the historic heart of Hobart near restaurants and the famous Salamanca Market.
Enjoy the stunning Royal Botanical Gardens, and have Mt Wellington, Port Arthur, Richmond, Bruny Island and the Huon Valley all within easy reach.
As well get a late check out at 1pm.
Applicable stay dates for the ‘Spring Alive Special 2020’ are until November 30.
Intrepid Travel: discounts on Antarctic adventures.
A select range of Intrepid Travel’s Antarctic adventures for the 2021/22 season can be had for up to 40 per cent off.
The offer is available until September 30 on a range of over 10 Antarctica departures including the 11-day ‘Best of Antarctica’ and the 15-day ‘Journey to the Circle and Giants of Antarctica’ in partnership with WWF.
While these departures are still over a year away, they will all operate under Intrepid’s new Safe Travel protocols.
The trips will be fully run by Intrepid Travel, on the Ocean Endeavour Expedition ship. Antarctica, a vast wilderness far from the crowds, has been identified by Intrepid as a destination that will be highly desirable for people’s first overseas trip.
Visit www.intrepidtravel.com or phone 1300 458 437.
NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.
