with
David Ellis
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| Solar Springs |
IF YOU think the mind and body need a Spring clean, head to Solar Springs Health Retreat at Bundanoon in the NSW Southern Highlands this Spring where all-inclusive pampering packages have been discounted by 20 per cent.
A new, three-night midweek 'Seriously Spring Time' deal offers accommodation, all meals, three spa treatments – a spring-scented facial, foot therapy and all-over Body Blitz – plus daily activities such as guided bushwalks, health talks and fitness, yoga and meditation classes. The deal is available from $1540 per couple, $820 per person if sharing with a friend in a twin bed room and $920 for single guests.
The luxurious facial features the spring scents of rose, jasmine and lavender while the foot treatment includes the use of cinnamon, ginger and mint, with the feet exfoliated, moisturized, massaged and wrapped in paraffin sheets. Meanwhile the Body Blitz sees the whole body buffed with exfoliating mitts, rinsed under a multi-head vichy shower and moisturized with rich body butter to leave guests feeling squeaky clean from head to toe.
The package is available between Sunday and Thursday. Stays over a weekend cost $30 extra per guest. Shorter or longer packages are also available.
Rooms at Solar Springs Health Retreat are devoid of televisions, phones or other multi-media gadgets to help guests relax and there is a no-talking 'Quiet Room' to help people unwind, read in peace or enjoy a cat nap.
An iconic but affordable health haven for over 30 years, the Solar Springs Health Retreat 670m above sea level overlooks the rugged cliffs of Morton National Park and offers tranquil gardens, an indoor heated pool and spa overlooking the wilderness, steam room and sauna, gym, fitness classes including yoga, meditation, pilates and boxing, activities such as archery, tennis, cycling and bushwalking and sessions with personal trainers, naturopaths, dieticians and life coaches who help guests make sustainable lifestyle changes.
Call 02 4883 6027 or visit www.solarsprings.com.au
THREE CUNARD QUEENS TO VISIT AUSTRALIAN IN 2014
CUNARD Line will send all three of its Queens to Australia in 2014 as part of a world voyage program spanning six continents and almost 80 destinations.
The visits by Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 will take place during February and March 2014, and will be the first time all members of the royal triumvirate have visited Australia in the same season. Between them, the liners will make 17 calls at Australian ports, with Sydney and Brisbane both welcoming all three ships during their voyages.
The 2014 program goes on sale at 10pm on September 5
Options range from the three full world voyages through to more than 180 shorter sectors, with fares starting from $2329 for an 8 night leg.
Highlights include an extended trip around South America by Queen Victoria, which will make eight maiden calls to ports there as part of her 116-night voyage.
Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth will circumnavigate the globe on a 118-night odyssey which will feature her maiden visit to Japan, while Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 will sail on a 116-night voyage that will include her second circumnavigation of Australia.
Voyages in the new program include:
· Full world voyages priced from $33,289* per person twin share for Queen Mary 2
· A 28-night voyage on Queen Victoria from Sydney to San Francisco, visiting seven New Zealand ports as well as Tonga, Samoa and Hawaii, priced from $7449* pp
· A 17 night voyage on Queen Elizabeth from Sydney to Kobe, Japan, visiting Papua New Guinea and three other Japanese ports enroute, priced from $4569* pp
· 15 nights cruising from Cape Town to Fremantle, calling at Durban, Mauritius and Western Australia on Queen Mary 2, priced from $3669* pp
Guests who book a world voyage sector of seven nights or more before December 31, 2012, excluding the Australian circumnavigation, can also enjoy an onboard credit of up to US$900 per person.
For more details and bookings call Cunard on 13 24 41 or visit www.cunardline.com.au *Subject to availability, conditions apply. Fares are per person twin share.
NISEKO – SOME OF WORLD'S BEST AND MOST CONSISTENT SNOW
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| Niseko |
And apart from the unbeatable powder snow of Niseko, SkiJapan.com is offering 10 per cent off numerous accommodation properties in Niseko if booked by 30 September 2012.
Niseko, it says, is regarded as one of Japan's top 5 resorts with a lift system comprising mostly gondolas and covered chairlifts, so that even on the most extreme blizzard days, you can ride in comfort. The resort also has an abundance of tree runs, and being low in altitude rarely experiences true whiteout conditions that are often found in North American or European resorts of higher altitude.
And, says SkiJapan.com, it offers some of the best and most consistent snow in the world, a first-class ski school, off-piste guiding (to take advantage of the dry powder) and has a variety of snow skis for hire, including the fatter, wider, variety that make skiing in powder so much easier.
Book now through SkiJapan.com on 1300 137 411 or visit www.skijapan.com
TWO NIGHTS WAIKIKI , 16 NIGHTS LUXURY CRUISING TO SYDNEY: $2,925
An amazingly low $2,925pp twin share through Cruiseco in September of next year includes one way Economy Class airfare from Sydney to Honolulu, two nights in an Ocean View Room at the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach hotel with breakfasts daily*, transfers from airport to the hotel and from the hotel to join the 78,500 tonne Rhapsody of the Seas for a 16 night luxury island cruise to Sydney, even your onboard gratuities and all government charges and taxes.
Plus you will enjoy all dining and entertainment aboard Rhapsody of the Seas as you sail to Pago Pago in American Samoa, Apia (Samoa,) Suva in Fiji, Vila (Vanuatu,) and the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia.
And during ten full days cruising at sea you'll find your ship a virtual destination in itself with a choice of seven restaurants and cafés, four lounges and bars, a casino, Broadway Melodies Theatre, spa and fitness centre, solarium, Jacuzzis, indoor/outdoor pool, jogging track, outdoor movie screen, video arcade, Teen Centre, Adventure Ocean centre, a rock climbing wall and online internet centre.
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Honolulu on September 18 2013 with packages on sale until 10 June 2013 unless sold out earlier; *the Honolulu stay can be extended up to 6 nights at additional cost, but flight schedules from major cities other than Sydney may not allow a 2 night stay with the base package.
For full details and the name of your nearest Cruiseco cruise specialist travel agency visit www.cruising.com.au. Air taxes can change without notice.
SPRING INTO THE SUNSHINE COAST
LOCATED on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Novotel Twin Waters is enticing families to take a break, soak up the sun and enjoy a head start on Summer during the Spring holiday break.
The Resort's Family Package is the perfect solution to keep the kids busy while parents escape into the Sunshine State.
From $254 per room per night, the package includes daily breakfast for two adults and two children, a welcome gift for children on arrival, a three hour Kidz Cove Kids Club voucher for two children aged 2 - 12 years, and push bike vouchers for an hour for two adults.
Guests also have free use of resort facilities including the catamarans and kayaks on the resort's lagoon which also features a huge water trampoline. Other features include a swimming pool, restaurant and bar options and over 40 free kids' activities including beach volleyball, putt putt mini golf and cricket sets.
Paid activities include Kids Club and babysitting services, kids' and adults bicycles, Cirque Espace trampoline and trapeze classes, Lagoon Day Spa and golf at the nearby 18 hole Twin Waters championship course.
Rates are subject to availability and minimum length of stay may apply over some dates.
To book or for more information email stay@twinwatersresort.com.au, phone 1800 072 277 or visit www.novoteltwinwatersresort.com.au
