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Following the completion of multi-million dollar renovations at the Powerhouse Hotel Tamworth by Rydges to deliver what is believed to be the first five-star hotel to the New England, hotelier Greg Maguire has rounded out 2020 with his two regional NSW hotel properties earning a coveted two-glass rating in the prestigious Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

The Workshop Kitchen at Powerhouse Tamworth by Rydges and Azka Restaurant Wine & Tapas Bar at Powerhouse Armidale by Rydges have both been celebrated in Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards in 2020, the only restaurants in the New England region to be awarded.

The win was the fourth for Powerhouse Tamworth, coming on the back of three consecutive years  in Australia’s Wine List of the Year.

The judges recognised sommelier Daine Cooper again in 2020 with a wine list that celebrates the local region as well as a strong vegan, organic and biodynamic offering, well-known international makers, rare Australian icons and a selection of Penfolds Grange.

In a first for Powerhouse Armidale, the work of sommelier Monty Maguire in Azka Restaurant Wine & Tapas Bar was also awarded with the judges impressed by the range and dimension of offering in a remote country locale – from established international winemakers to modestly-priced lesser known gems.

Visit www.rydges.com.

 Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain: already heavily booked.

Tasmanian Expeditions reports strong bookings across its entire range with many guided, self-guided and family trips quickly filling, since border restrictions lifted.

According to General Manager Michael Buggy, booking levels are very encouraging and demonstrate returning confidence in domestic travel.

“After a horror year for travel due to covid-19, it’s heartening to see such strong interest in summertime Tasmanian travel across our entire range,” Mr Buggy said.

“It means we can employ guides and support all the communities we visit across our itineraries.

“The Overland Track in the Cradle Mountain National Park, which is undisputedly one of the country’s finest and best known walks, is already heavily booked, as are walks in nearby Walls of Jerusalem National Park, including the six-day guided Walls of Jerusalem Circuit.”

Visit www.tasmanianexpeditions.com.

Fairy Village at Victoria’s Otway Fly Treetop Adventures: built using recycled timber recovered from the Otway Ranges.

Families can explore the enchanted Fairy Village at Victoria’s Otway Fly Treetop Adventures during the summer school holidays.

Created by volunteers from Men’s Shed Colac, the whimsical Fairy Village is made up of 20 little wooden homes and tiny fairy residents for children to discover.

The magical structures have been built using recycled timber recovered from the Otway Ranges.

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures gives people of all ages the opportunity to reconnect with nature and immerse themselves in a serene outdoor environment.

Guests can discover some of Australia’s best rainforest scenery from the incredible 25m-high Treetop Walk and go on an eco-wilderness adventure with the Zipline Tour.

All visitors much pre-book their tickets online in advance.

Visit www.otwayfly.com.au.

 Cairns & Great Barrier Reef: plenty to do in summer.

Summer has arrived in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef and with it will be the best adventure rainforest experiences of the year.

Canyoning, white water rafting, mountain biking and tubing are among the adrenalin-fuelled water options in the world’s oldest rainforest.

Join Cairns Canyoning, for instance, in the spectacular Crystal Canyon to abseil 30 metre heights, rock jump, zipline and swim in a rainforest setting refreshed by warm summer rain.

The Behana Gorge tour is ideal for families.

Experience the extraordinary white-water action of the Tully River with Rapid Boarders.

Individual boards are used to ride a 7.5km section of the mighty river, which hosted the 2019 World Rafting Championships.

Try white water rafting on a half-day trip on the Barron River or take the plunge with a full day on the Russell River with the Cairns Adventure Group.

They have family options for younger children and a gentler, white water experience tubing through the rainforest.

For more information go to cairnsgreatbarrierreef.com.

 Mount Logan Lodge: overlooking the vast wilderness of Kluane National Park.

With its fascinating goldrush history, rich First Nations heritage and the best northern lights viewing in the world, this latest collection of new hotels and wilderness inns in Canada’s Yukon Territory is just one more reason why Aussies are dreaming of the time when they can plan their trip of a lifetime to Canada’s vast north-west wilderness territory.

Mount Logan Lodge, for instance, overlooking the vast wilderness of Kluane National Park, has added a Mongolian-style yurt to its accommodation offering, with an additional two cabins set to open soon.

Relax on the deck and watch the sun set over the tallest mountains in Canada.

After dark, take a seat in the outdoor spa for a front row view to the greatest light show on Earth.

Spend long summer days hiking and fishing and, during winter, try your hand at the new on-site ice climbing tower, go snowmobiling or learn how to mush your own team of sled dogs.

Whatever the season, unforgettable adventures await.

Visit www.travelyukon.com.

 The Perfect Shot: in stores now.

Discover the determination and persistence required to take the perfect travel photograph.

The Perfect Shot is not just a collection of amazing travel photography.

It also gives the photographers a voice, so in their own words they can tell the backstories of these incredible images.

Matt Phillips, who assembled the collection for Lonely Planet, says of the photographers: “Their passion and dedication to the visual world are beyond anything I could dream of, as are their photographic skills, patience and persistence.”

These illuminating tales of how the photographer managed to capture the perfect shot adds depth and context to each image.

From snapping farmers on Madagascar’s Avenue des Baobas as they walk to the fields at sunrise to marvelling at an aerial shot of the turquoise hued Heart Reef on the Great Barrier Reef each stunning photograph has an equally compelling story behind how it was captured.

Visit www.lonelyplanet.com.

NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.