By Rama Gaind.
Daydream Island.
There isn’t much time left to book your special holiday, but good savings are available on exclusive packages that will leave you in a quandry: about what to choose!
Discover specially chosen vacation packages across a range of some of the best destinations both in Australia and overseas including Bali, Singapore and Fiji.
Explore destinations on sale, starting with closer to home in Cairns and on the Gold Coast. Palm Cove is a suburb of Cairns. Even without leaving this tiny coastal village, Palm Cove offers plenty to fill your days. The uncrowded beach beckons with its idyllic coconut palms, locals fishing off the jetty and stinger-resistant swimming net for safe dips year-round. The five-star, award-winning Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa, Palm Cove, is where you can relax in style with daily breakfasts, complimentary activities, resort credits, spa treatment and more.
Daydream Island Resort & Living Reef is ideally located in the heart of Queensland’s Whitsundays Islands and the gateway to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
Cairns, another gateway to GBR, is a city in tropical Far North Queensland. It’s worth a visit: the world’s largest reef system comprises more than 2,900 individual reefs. People flock here to swim, snorkel and dive with the more than 1,500 marine species that call the reef home.
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, is a luxury beachfront escape complete with daily breakfast. Compromise on price, not quality and enjoy superior inclusions at Crystalbrook Flynn.
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast.
If your preference is for an overseas location, the choices are endless. Is Singapore an attraction? Known as the Lion City, Singapore is without question one of the world’s most exciting destinations. Gleaming skyscrapers, luxury hotels, parks and boulevards filled with air-conditioned malls — Singapore truly has it all. An economic powerhouse with spectacular food, high-end shopping and an idyllic tropical setting, there’s something for everyone in Singapore. As well, there are loads of attractions and great things to do to keep everyone occupied.
Bali is unmatched. It’s a magical blend of culture, people, nature, activities, weather, culinary delights, nightlife and comfortable accommodation. Whatever your age, background, budget or interest, there is something for everyone to explore and discover here.
The Thai capital of Bangkok offers so much more than The Grand Palace, tuk tuks, Pad Thai, floating markets and special massages.
Exotic getaways
Fiji puts all the blissful benefits of an exotic South Pacific getaway within easy reach with sparkling water as far as the eye can see. Tropical island getaways with a superb climate, secluded white sand beaches and crystal-clear water, there’s nowhere quite like Fiji. With more than 320 islands to explore, world-class resorts and a relaxed and friendly vibe wherever you go, Fiji offers the ultimate island holiday. Choices are sensational: from secluded palm-lined beaches, luxurious private islands, spas, resorts and so much more.
It could well be time to discover New Caledonia. Beautiful, stylish, relaxed and welcoming, Nouméa has appeal. With chic cafes, white sandy beaches, ancient culture, world-class shopping and soaring mountains as a backdrop, you’ll never want to leave. Only a few hours’ flight from Australia’s east coast, Nouméa is the perfect destination for a short break, a long weekend or relaxed family holiday.
Mercure in Bali.
You don’t have to look far in Nouméa to find something to see or do on your holiday, but here are some must-see attractions to get you started. One of the Pacific’s largest capital cities with 100,000 people, Nouméa is the heart of New Caledonia and contains almost all the nation’s galleries, cinemas and museums.
Nouméa sits at the southern end of the largest island in the New Caledonian archipelago. With the ocean right there at every turn, take some time to explore the beaches of Baie des Citrons and Anse Vata Bay, such as Plage du Méridien and Plage de l’Aquarêve or head further out of town to Kuendu Beach for some true relaxation.
Centre Culturel Tjibaou is an art museum like no other — literally. Created in 1998 to celebrate the artistic and linguistic heritage of the Kanak people, the traditional owners of New Caledonia, the centre was designed by world famous architect Renzo Piano.
The museum, with an exterior crafted to resemble a line of 10 traditional village huts, is set on a peninsula just 8km from downtown Nouméa. Its architectural silhouette makes it one of the world’s most imaginative buildings.
Given that it’s a French colony, it’s no surprise that Nouméa offers shopping that includes some of France’s biggest fashion names. From fragrances, shoes and jewellery to haute couture clothing and accessories, Nouméa offers the perfect place to pick out a memorable souvenir or to renew your wardrobe. Be sure not to miss the Promenade, Alma or Sebastopol Street when shopping up a storm.
It’s well worth getting outside Nouméa and exploring the local countryside. Whether it’s a quick boat ride to some of the smaller Islands just off the coast (Amedee Island, around 18km from Nouméa, has one of the best beaches in the country) or a longer side trip to such tremendous destinations as the Loyalty Islands or Ile de Pins (Isle of Pines) with their breathtaking snorkelling and deserted white sand beaches. The more adventurous should also find time to climb the nearby Monts de Koghi, which offers spectacular views across the city and surrounding bays. Remember to take water — as it’s a steep hike up into the clouds!
These incredible offers, with a choice of accommodation that is limitless, are available through Qantas Holidays. Sale ends 12 December.
DETAILS BOX
Qantas Holidays
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