The Tablelands Folk Festival will be held at Yungaburra, near Cairns, on October 23-25.
Celebrating music, friendship and cultural understanding, the Tablelands Folk Festival is the longest running folk festival in Queensland.
Held in Yungaburra heritage village, surrounded by rainforest, it features family entertainment over three days.
Visit www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org.au.
The Johnson Brisbane: a dose of culture as well as sport.
With Queensland winning the opportunity to host the 2020 AFL Grand Final at the Gabba in Brisbane on October 24, a bout of footy fever is spreading throughout the Sunshine State.
Accor has a selection of hotels conveniently located nearby and they’re calling all fans to take advantage of their winning rates for the event.
For a dose of culture as well as sport, for instance, stay at The Johnson Brisbane Art Series for two nights and enjoy 15 per cent off.
Prices start from $347 per night in a studio for the footy final weekend (minimum two-night stay).
Set in Spring Hill, just a 10-minute drive from the Gabba, The Johnson takes its design cues from celebrated Australian abstract artist Michael Johnson.
Visit www.all.accor.com.
Queensland’s Scenic Rim: summer hiking has never been so appealing.
Skip the heat, and helicopter to 1000m above sea level where the temperature hovers around 26 degrees.
With high altitude, rainforest canopy and helicopter transfers, summer hiking has never been so appealing.
Spicers Retreats has released its first summer walk program … a five-day Scenic Rim Trail.
Start a summer walking adventure with lunch at chef-hatted Homage Restaurant, at Spicers Hidden Vale, before flying by helicopter to Mt Mistakethe night.
Then spend the next three days walking through some of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes and staying in purpose-built accommodation, including a version of a “Spicers treehouse”.
Finish the experience with a night at Spicers Peak Lodge before a helicopter trip back to Spicers Hidden Vale where, along the way, guests will be immersed in stunning views of the Great Dividing Range, Moogerah Dam and the Condamine Gorge.
Prices are from from $3629 per person twin-share, including all meals and beverages, and helicopter transfers.
Visit www.spicersretreats.com.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour: family package is valid to October 11. Image: Jaime Joy.
It’s playtime in Darling Harbour.
A five-star city resort, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, is welcoming local families to explore their own backyard for the spring school holidays.
The hotel’s family package is valid to October 11 and includes 50 per cent off a second adjacent room, a personalised welcome by the hotel’s resident Kids’ Concierge, and treats for little ones such as unlimited PurePops icy poles, kid-sized slippers and bathrobes, a furry wallaby plush toy and The Little Prince colouring books and dinnerware.
On Friday and Saturday evenings during the school holidays, children under 12 also enjoy free dining in restaurant Atelier by Sofitel, when accompanied by a paying adult.
It’s an ideal time to experience everything Darling Harbour has to offer, including Sealife Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds, the Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour playground, Powerhouse Museum, the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Chinatown, Chinese Garden of Friendship and Darling Square dining district — which are all within walking distance of the hotel.
Prices start at $220 per night per room, inclusive of 50 per cent off a second adjacent room when rooms are booked together.
Visit www.sofiteldarlingharbour.com.
Kinosaki Onsen: one of Japan’s best hot spring towns.
What better way to practice social distancing than by taking a private hot spring bath in a quaint countryside village of Japan?
In one of Japan’s best hot spring towns, Kinosaki Onsen, you can do just that.
Known for its seven public hot springs (onsen) spread out through town, Kinosaki Onsen also has around 40 private onsen inside various accommodations.
The private hot spring baths inside ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) can be used per reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis, sometimes for an extra charge.
That way, guests can enjoy a relaxing soak either by themselves or with their friends, family, or partner, away from other guests.
There are three different ways to enjoy a bath privately: a private onsen in a ryokan, a private session in one of the public onsen, and a private bath inside the guest’s room.
Visit www.japan-guide.com.
Great Walks of New Zealand: varying degrees of challenge.
World Expeditions Travel Group has launched a new Great Walks of New Zealand brand, comprising 21 self-guided and guided walks of varying degrees of challenge and duration on New Zealand’s South Island.
Great Walks of New Zealand is World Expeditions’ third New Zealand brand, joining the long established cycling brands, Adventure South and Trail Journeys.
The concept for the range of New Zealand walks came about around the time the company became a founding member of the Great Walks of Australia for its Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort.
Great Walks of New Zealand is the twelfth member of the World Expeditions Travel Group.
Other brands include Tasmanian Expeditions, Australian Walking Holidays, Australian Cycle Tours and the Blue Mountains Adventure Company.
Visit www.worldexpeditions.com.
Wendy Wu Tours: has released its 2021/2022 Japan brochure.
Wendy Wu Tours has released its 2021/2022 Japan brochure consisting of inspirational tours, new cultural experiences, two new tours and solo departures on best-selling tours.
To mark the launch of its 2021 Japan brochure, Wendy Wu Tours is offering a return upgrade to business-class flying Singapore Airlines for $999 per person.
Available on selected departures, the offer is valid till September 30 this year.
Visit www.wendywutours.com.au.
An American highlight: Nottoway plantation decked out for Christmas.
Pull out your stockings and put on your Christmas sweaters, and float down America’s iconic rivers of rhythm to the sound of your favourite Christmas carols in 2021.
The American Queen Steamboat Company and Cruise Traveller are offering boutique cruise packages on four Christmas-themed river cruises aboard an authentic steamboat paddle-wheeler.
The eight-night Christmas-themed cruise packages are on the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers.
Travellers receive savings up to US$1800 per couple if they book by September 30 this year.
Guests will travel aboard the 166-passenger American Duchess or the 417-passenger American Queen — uniquely American, iconic paddlewheel riverboats, decked out with modern amenities and Christmas decor to get everyone aboard in the festive spirit.
Fares start from US$2035 per person twin-share.
Visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au.
NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.
