with
David Ellis
THREDBO'S NEW YEAR-ROUND, 365-DAY PASS
NSW's Thredbo Alpine Resort has a new Thredbo 365 Pass that gives visitors unlimited access to Thredbo for one whole year – that's 52 weeks, 12 months, 4 seasons, 365 days.
It means guests can combine the magic, activity and sparkle of winter, with the crisp, fresh, action packed 5-star outdoors of summer.
This summer all its resort activities are covered – ride the famous Thredbo Downhill on a mountain bike or take on the new intermediate track, have a blast on the bobsled, take a trip on the chairlift, have a hit of golf, a game of tennis or play in the Thredbo Leisure Centre
In winter 2013, the Thredbo 365 pass will give visitors unlimited use of the mountain to ride when they like and as often as you like. And when the day is done they can head to the Thredbo Leisure Centre for a different style of après, all on one pass.
"To be offering one pass that for only $699 includes Thredbo's wide range of summer activities and full mountain access for the whole of next winter, is our way of ensuring that everyone can enjoy a value and action packed Australian alpine holiday in any season", said Thredbo General Manager, Jordan Rodgers.
The offer has a strictly limited sale period that wraps up 1 October 2012 and includes unlimited skiing and boarding during winter 2013, full access to the resort this summer, year- round access to the Thredbo Leisure Centre, 50m heated pool and waterslide, gym, squash court, tennis, 9 hole AGU rated golf course, access to the Thredbo Bobsled, unlimited summer tourist chairlift rides, unlimited chairlift access for mountain biking.
Price: Adults $699; Children $399.This is a strictly limited offer available for purchase until October 1, 2012 from the Thredbo eStore or Thredbo Lift Pass outlets; Thredbo 365 pass validity dates 2 October 2012 - 8 October 2013.
FALLS CREEK'S SPRING PASS
VICTORIA'S Falls Creek's Spring Pass is back for Spring 2012, with the price $50 below what it was last year.
And although Spring is just days away, with the amount of snow that's fallen in the last week, skiing and boarding are both as good as they get right now.
The Falls Creek Spring Pass costs just $499 for adults and $299 for children, youths and seniors, and offers unlimited riding until season end. You only need to ski 5 days to get your money's worth, and with 5 weeks still left in the season there's plenty of riding to be done.
The Pass is valid for use from now until the last ride is called on the last chair in September.
For full details go to www.skifalls.com.au/Spring Pass
SEADREAM SAVINGS ROME, ITALIAN RIVIERA, MONTE CARLO AND NICE
IF you've a week up your sleeve in Europe in October, the world's #1-rated boutique SeaDream II is sailing 7-nights from Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, to Elba, Corsica, the Italian Riviera, Monte Carlo and Nice with prices starting from a low US$3426pp twin-share – around a third of the originally brochured price.*
It includes all 5-star dining, drinks from the open bars, wines with lunch and dinner, nightly cocktail gatherings, a 30-course golf simulator, power and sail watersports (where permitted,) mountain bikes for shore excursions, onboard gratuities and port charges and taxes; SeaDream II carries on average 100 guests in just 56 staterooms served by 95 crew.
For full itinerary and other details see travel agents or www.seadream.com
SeaDream II departs Civitavecchia on October 13 for Bonifacio on historic Corsica, Portoferraio on picturesque Elba in Italy's Tuscany region, Viareggio for Florence, Portovenere amid the serrated cliffs of the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera, Portofino also on the Italian Riviera, Monte Carlo for 24-hours and Nice.
*Originally brochured price was US$9327pp twin-share.
EXPLORA PAMPERS MARATHONERS
SOUTH American eco-adventure company explora is offering competitors in the upcoming inaugural "Patagonian International Marathon" special offers if they are staying at their Hotel Salto Chico on a four night package.
The only lodge in its class located at the heart of the National Park, named World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, it is the perfect place to prepare before the race and relax and unwind after competing.
For travelers enrolled in the race, explora will offer a four night program with a complimentary room upgrade, a courtesy massage after the marathon, a transfer from the hotel to the starting point of the race in the park and the presence of an explora guide and van during the race.
Additionally, for people who chose to combine this program with a second explora property either in the Atacama Desert or in Easter Island, a complete upgrade and the benefits of the explora passport will be granted.
The race is being held on September 23 in Torres del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia, surrounded by glaciers, valleys, mountains and the most exuberant flora and fauna.
For further details visit www.explora.com
BEST WAY TO 'SEA' NOVEMBER SOLAR ECLIPSE
P&O Cruises is offering its passengers the chance to view a rare total solar eclipse this November 14th during cruises by Pacific Dawn off the north-east coast of Australia, and Pacific Jewel which will be cruising the Pacific Islands.The cruise line will keep passengers informed with stellar documentaries on the ships' poolside Big Screens as well as lectures from some of Australia's best-known stargazers.
Brisbane, astronomy lecturer and member of the Queensland Astronomical Society, Peter Anderson will be onboard Pacific Dawn to share his lifetime study of solar eclipses, which he has viewed all around the world.
Fellow Queenslander Rodger MacQueen, who has been helping P&O Cruises' passengers understand the sky above for more than three years as well as working as an observational astronomy presenter with the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, will give talks on black holes, the Solar System and stellar evolution during Pacific Jewel's solar eclipse cruise.
The cruise line will provide eclipse shades allowing passengers to view the event safely.
Passengers onboard Pacific Dawn will be able to watch the eclipse from Port Douglas as part of a special seven-night cruise departing Brisbane on November 10 from $799* per person quad share.
Pacific Jewel will also offer a good vantage point during a 10-night Pacific Islands cruise departing Sydney on November 12, priced from $799* per person quad share.
The last total eclipse viewed from Australia occurred in 2002, while the next will not occur until 2028. For more information and bookings contact travel agents, P&O Cruises on 13 24 94 or visit www.pocruises.com.au.
