Spoil your senses, indulge your taste buds, and get up close to the magnificent wildlife, while exploring some of Kangaroo Island’s much-loved attractions on SeaLink’s new ‘Kangaroo Island Sip & See Day Tour’.
Operating every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday until March 2021, this fun-filled tour is priced from $256 per person twin-share.
This tour can be experienced as a day tour as a day-night package or as part of the two-day ‘Ultimate’ tour.
All tours include return ferry transfers and air-conditioned coach touring with a local Kangaroo Island driver/guide who will provide an informative and fun commentary throughout the day.
The overnight option includes the one-day tour plus pre-tour overnight accommodation and a buffet breakfast at Kangaroo Island Seafront Hotel Penneshaw, overlooking the magnificent Backstairs Passage.
The tour also includes enjoy a two-course pub lunch in the soldier settlement township of Parndana.
Visit www.sealink.com.au.
Mary Valley Rattler: dates back to 1924.
Two para-athletes qualified for next year’s Paralympic Games launched the Mary Valley Rattler’s new ‘all access’ carriage, providing special facilities for wheelchair- and other assisted-access passengers.
Steven Elliott and Hannah Dodd were meant to have been returning from the Tokyo Paralympics at this time, after representing Australia in the Rollers and Gliders wheelchair basketball teams, but covid-19 resulted in the postponement of the Paralympics to August 2021.
The railway carriage dates back to 1924 and required extensive renovation and upgrading to make it rail-worthy for the Mary Valley Rattler steam train.
Internal and external panelling has been replaced, while windows, frames, doors and floors have been repaired, sanded, painted and varnished. The sympathetic restoration has been designed to preserve the changes throughout its history, while adding new access ramps to ensure an even wider cross-section of people can experience the historic steam train’s journey through the Mary Valley.
While built originally to house up to 90 passengers on cross bench seats in nine compartments, the new configuration is a far more spacious 56 seats, with four dedicated and fully equipped wheelchairs spaces.
The restoration was undertaken in the Old Gympie Workshops by a local carpenter, with the assistance from a wide range of volunteers.
Visit www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au.
Star Flyer: the world’s largest fully-rigged sailing ship.
Fly free to Europe in 2022 and sail the turquoise-blue waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean on three back-to-back cruises aboard two of the world’s largest sailing ships as part of three new fly-triple-cruise-and-stay packages released by Cruise Traveller.
Offering savings of up to $8380 per couple if booked by November 30 this year, the three new packages in June and September, 2022, will see Australians sail with Star Clippers, which operates three deluxe and modern sailing ships.
The vessels include the elegant, 170-guest Star Flyer and the mighty 227-guest Royal Clipper which is currently the world’s largest fully-rigged sailing ship, with five masts, 42 sails, 1765 square-metres of open deck space and three pools.
Two of the packages feature the Greek islands of Skopelos and Skiathos where the hit Abba music movie, Mamma Mia, was filmed in 2007, starring Meryl Streep.
Visit www.CruiseTraveller.com.au.
Extreme WOW Suite: live it up.
Experience extreme luxury dining with an edge at W Brisbane.
Live it up and take your next party to new heights with a penthouse takeover at W Brisbane.
An entertainer’s dream, the expansive Extreme WOW Suite on Level 33 can now be booked for an exclusive long lunch or boozy dinner amplified with the addition of a live DJ and the Spritz Cart for next level celebrations.
‘Once Upon a Suite Time’ will give the host some serious street cred as guests experience a four-course plated menu and three-hour beverage package with a fully stocked bar and Spritz cocktail on arrival.
Panoramic views will be the backdrop of every photo, where guests can sit back and soak in the sunshine state of mind during the day or the dazzling lights of BrisVegas by night.
Visit wbrisbane.com.
Nazuna Kyoto: renovated from an entire L-shaped alleyway of machiya.
Whilst Kyoto has not been spared from the challenges brought on by the global health crisis, the cultural capital of Japan is set to charm visitors with a range of exciting new accommodation options once international travel resumes.
From international hotel brands through to arty-chic lifestyle hotels and traditional ryokans, the latest additions to Kyoto’s thriving hotel scene truly offer something for every taste and budget.
Nazuna Kyoto, for instance, features from traditional Japanese townhouse (“machiya”) to luxury ryokan.
This unique property was renovated from an entire L-shaped alleyway of machiya built over 110 years ago, and combines the fine “omotenashi” hospitality of a ryokan, traditional machiya buildings and inspiring contemporary interiors.
Visit www.kyoto.travel.
For the first time in its 26-year history, Wendy Wu Tours will be leading tours to the Middle East in 2021.
For the first time in its 26-year history, Wendy Wu Tours will be leading tours to the Middle East in 2021.
Featured in its new ‘Central Asia + Middle East’ brochure, the product offering includes a range of fully inclusive tours to Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Oman, plus new tours to Georgia and Uzbekistan.
In addition to its expansion into the Middle East, the leading tour operator will also offer a 14-day fully inclusive tour to Ecuador, as well as Antarctica cruises which can be done as either a pre or post-holiday extension.
Visit www.wendywutours.com.au.
NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.
