YOUR WEEKLY TRAVEL TIPS for week beginning 18 February 2008
travellers good buys: with david ellis
WE JUST LOVE OUR CRUISIN'
OCEANIA Cruises whose 5-star Nautica has just sailed the company's
first-ever season in Australia and New Zealand, has revealed that to
meet demand its building two more ships that will each have double the
capacity of its existing 680-passenger Nautica, Regatta and Insignia.
The new ships will be launched in 2010 and 2011 with the company
hoping one will spend full southern summers in Australian waters; in
the meantime because of her popularity here this summer, Nautica will
return in December this year for two more 5-star sailings between
Sydney and Auckland, and then cruise from Sydney via five coastal
ports to Darwin and Asia. If you like to be pampered see travel
agents, phone (02) 9959 1370 or visit www.OceaniaCruises.com.au
SOMETHING different in holidaying accommodation at Victoria's Port
Fairy is a stay in early 1900s railway carriages. The carriages have
master bedrooms with queen bed, ensuite and air-conditioning, and
there's a 3-star kennel, dog run and minding for pets. The Codrington
Settlement & Gardens is 2km from the Great Southern Ocean, and has
National Parks and a Lake nearby for picnicking and fishing. Prices
start from $90 per carriage per night for minimum 5-night stays.
Details www.roamfree.com
COMBINE a holiday in the Philippines with volunteer work as a teacher,
doing building or maintenance work, or helping with health care at
local schools and day-care centres. Volunteers can also live with
local families to learn their culture and language; Overseas Working
Holidays has 2-week programs that cost from $1510pp and include
accommodation, meals, training, supervision, a pre-arranged volunteer
position, transport and discounted travel; longer 6-week programs
begin from $1874pp. Air travel is additional in both cases. Details
on 1300 651 639 or www.owh.com.au
A 3-HOUR New York TV & Movie Sites tour visits 40-plus locations used
for over 60 shows and movies including Will & Grace, The Cosby Show,
Ghostbusters, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Apprentice. It's priced
from $42 per adult and can been booked here through Explore Holidays
or travel agents. More details: www.exploreholidays.com.au
CASTAWAY Cove at Marcus Beach just outside Noosa offers a secluded
getaway behind forested sand dunes, yet only 7-minutes from
cosmopolitan Hastings Street. Individual luxury units have TV and AV
equipment, and most feature spas, private BBQs and ocean views;
there's 15km of ocean beach at the doorstep. Prices start from $140
per apartment per night. Details on www.noosa.com.au
TRUE: The popular Greek island of Mykonos has a permanent population
of 15,000, gets over 100,000 visitors a month during summer, but has
only 23 taxis.
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