Adriatic Cruise - Barossa Valley - Fiji Cruise - European Walking Tour - Rocky Mountaineer - more

Cruise Express will include complimentary shore tours in its new 16-night ‘Highlights of the Adriatic’ cruise tour in May 2016, with onboard drinks also included if you book an ocean-view cabin or above.
The package is priced from $7990 per person twin-share ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, and incorporates a 12-night voyage from Venice to Rome aboard Celebrity Constellation.
The cruise will include visits to the medieval Slovenian city of Koper, Ravenna in Italy, the Croatian seaside city of Zadar, Split on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and the fjord-lined, old-world town of Kotor in Montenegro.

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort … refurbished spa suites with king-size beds.

Phone 1300 764 509 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au. 

 

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort has unveiled 24 newly refurbished studio apartments and 10 spa suites in response to the demand for premium-quality accommodation in one of the world’s most famous wine regions.
The studio apartments feature new bathrooms with large walk-in rain showers, kitchens and laundry facilities complete with state-of the-art appliances, providing long-stay guests with the convenience and comforts of apartment-style living.
The spa suites feature king-size beds and come with complimentary water, newspapers, in-house movies, wifi internet access as well as a Nespresso coffee machine and a selection of Dilmah teas.

Pullman Danang Beach Resort … great base for exploring nearby historic cities.

Central Vietnam’s Danang combines beachside relation with the chance to do some serious cultural and culinary exploration in the nearby historic cities of Hoi An and the ancient capital of Hue.
Recent upgrades to the international airport have increased access and allowed the likes of Singapore Airlines Holidays to package deals such as seven nights in the Pullman Danang Beach Resort from $1925 per person twin-share ex Australia.
The resort, right on Bac My An Beach, features newly renovated rooms with private balconies overlooking the beach, infinity pool or tropical gardens.
Phone 1300 728 998 or visit www.siaholidays.com.au/vietnam.

 Cruising the Yasawa Islands on Blue Lagoon’s Fiji Princess.

Couples cruising around Fiji’s Yasawa Islands on Blue Lagoon’s Fiji Princess can extend their holiday with several free on-shore accommodation offers.
When two adults sharing a cabin book a seven-night cruise, for instance, they receive two free nights at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa at Denarau.
A three-night cruise for two around the Mamanuca and southern Yasawa islands comes with two free nights at Novotel Nadi Hotel.
The offer is valid for cruises taken between November 1 this year and March 31 next.
Visit www.bluelagooncruises.com.

 Brufe … one of northern Portugal’s many charming villages.

Want to take a European walking tour but feel a bit navigationally challenged?
On Foot Holidays has added a service offering local guides for the first day or two of several itineraries in Portugal, England, France, Spain and Italy.
A seven-night inn-to-inn hike through the wild hill country of northern Portugal, for instance, is priced from about $1260 per person twin-share, including breakfasts, six picnics, one evening meal and transfer of luggage. Add the services of a first-day guide for about $245 regardless of group size.
Visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk.

 MSC Mediterranean cruising … a good fit for European train travel.

Melbourne-based International Rail has diversified its product portfolio with the launch of International Cruise, a new cruise-booking division that will allow customers to better integrate travel arrangements.
For instance, a seven-night MSC Mediterranean cruise departing from Venice can be paired $1020 per person twin-share with a three-day-in-one-month Eurail Italy Rail Pass.
Products range from traditional ocean cruises to small-ship adventures to European river cruising.
Phone 1800 793 431 or visit www.internationalcruise.com.au.

The Rocky Mountaineer … a legendary Canadian experience.

Book by December 1 for one of ecruising.travel’s 15-night Canadian Rockies and Alaskan Adventures packages and you’ll get a free upgrade from inside cabin to ocean-view cabin on the seven-night Alaskan cruise component aboard Holland America Lines’ Nieuw Amsterdam.
The price of from $8499 per person twin-share also includes an eight-day land component that takes in a Lake Louise tour featuring a helicopter ride, Banff tour with gondola ride, a glacier experience and a two-day journey on the legendary Rocky Mountaineer train.
Phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel/rockymountaineer.

The ancient city of Bukhara.

 

Beyond Travel’s new 17-day ‘Central Asian Odyssey’ focuses on the legendary Silk Road cities of Khiva, Samarkand and Bukhara.
The journey begins in the capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, and is priced from $6995 per person twin-share, including daily breakfast and a large selection of other meals.
Highlights include exploring Tashkent before joining a high-speed train to the ancient city of Samarkand, an important part of the ancient traders’ route.
A four-day Turkmenistan extension, featuring the Darvaza ‘Gates of Hell’ and Ashgabat is available after the main tour.
Phone 1300 363 554 or visit www.beyondtravel.com.au.

An African highlight … Tinga Lodge in the Kruger National Park.

Get a companion-flies-free deal on APT’s 27-day ‘African Journey with East Africa’ package, which includes 10 days exploring South Africa, two days in Botswana, spotting game on the banks of the Chobe river, three days in Zambia, eight days in Tanzania and four days in Kenya.
Pay from $21,995 per person twin-share.
Includes a two-night visit to Victoria Falls, staying at the Royal Livingstone Hotel on the edge of the falls.
Book for December 30 for departures next year.
Phone 1300 196 420 or visit aptouring.com.au.

InterContinental Sydney Double Bay … family breakfast in Stockroom restaurant.

Take the family for a bayside getaway at the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay.
Pay from $350 per night, including buffet breakfast in Stockroom restaurant and valet car parking.
Bondi Beach is a 10-minute drive away and the city a short ferry ride from the wharf 200 metres from the hotel.
Valid for stays until 11 October.
Phone 02 8388 8388 or visit www.intercontinental.com/doublebay.

Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens … great views of the Melbourne skyline.

Save 25 per cent on a stay at Melbourne’s Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens.
Pay from $149 per room per night.
Melbourne’s oldest park is on your doorstep and the rooftop gymnasium offers great views of the city skyline.
Book and stay by 30 September.
Phone 1800 687 236 or visit hotels.com.

Peppers Parehua … set among some of New Zealand’s best vineyards.

Get special midweek rates at Peppers Parehua, set among the rolling green hills of New Zealand’s Martinborough region.
Pay from $139 per night for a Winemakers Cottage or from $189 per night for a Garden Cottage.
Located an hour from Wellington among some of New Zealand’s best vineyards.
Valid Sunday to Thursday nights until 30 October.
Phone 1300 987 600 or visit www.peppers.co.nz/parehua.

Borneo Tour - Long Paddock - Mantra Christchurch - Diamond Princess Japan

Backyard Travel has added the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo to its portfolio, offering travellers an array of intimate and adventurous experiences among untouched rainforests, pristine coastlines, remote villages and bustling towns.
Lowland and mountain rainforests are home to a myriad of animal species, including orangutan, proboscis monkeys and a spectacular array of birdlife. The coral reefs are the most diverse in Malaysia and the highest peak — Kota Kinabalu — boasts UNESCO World Heritage billing for its incredible topography.
From modern, multicultural Kuching — ‘Cat City’ — to the remote longhouse villages of the Iban people, the diverse communities of East Malaysian Borneo each offer their own traditions, their own cuisines, their own architecture and their own unique charms for travelers to discover.
Visit www.backyardtravel.com.

Life on the Long Paddock … a very different kind of adventure for intrepid travellers

Limited to just 40 adventurers on two journeys in May and costing $2500 per person, the Long Paddock Cattle Drive will offer a new kind of adventure for intrepid traveller — the chance to help move a mob of 500 cattle across the Hay Plains over the course of a weekend while enjoying an unprecedented level of luxury.
The ride will begin at Wanganella, 40 kilometres north of Deniliquin in southern NSW, and riders can expect to do about 10 hours of riding over two days.
With an instructor for every four riders, it is expected that guests will develop their riding skills over the course of the weekend, while more experienced riders will rise to the challenge.
Visit www.thelongpaddock.com.au.

 So good to see Christchurch’s resurrection … architect’s rendition of the reconstructed BreakFree on Cashel

It’s just so good to see the continuing renaissance of charming Christchurch following its earthquake devastation.
Now the Mantra Group has announced it will manage the fully reconstructed 263-room hotel located at 165 Cashel Street when it reopens in April as the BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch.
Formerly the All Seasons, the hotel was the largest property on the South Island and occupies a prime central-city location.
Visit www.breakfree.com.au.

douro.jpg — Douro … a bright, sophisticated Portuguese city

Scenic Tours has unveiled plans for its latest vessel, Scenic Azure, to launch on Portugal’s Douro River in April 2016 and undertake 11-day journeys between Porto and Vega de Terron.
The 80-metre Scenic Azure will offer all-inclusive luxury such as private butler service, unlimited complimentary beverages including restocked mini-bar, and full-size private-balcony suites.
Scenic Azure joins the Scenic fleet of 14 luxury river cruise ships throughout Europe, Russia and South-East Asia.
Visit www.scenictours.com.au.

One of Japan’s ‘diamonds’ … a centuries-old traditional teahouse

Cruise Express’s new 39-night ‘Diamonds of Japan’ tour this August includes an escorted six-night land tour in Japan and a 33-night voyage on Diamond Princess to Sydney visiting five ports in Japan before heading to China, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.
The all-inclusive itinerary begins with two nights in Tokyo, rides on three bullet trains, a cruise on Lake Ashi at the foot of Mt Fuji, and visits to the grand imperial palaces, temples and exotic gardens of Tokyo and Kyoto.
Prices start from $8990 per person twin-share, including the flight to Tokyo.
Phone 1300 764 509 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au.

Europe’s highest peak … hiking in the shadow of Mont Blanc

On Foot Holidays’ new self-guided seven-night ‘Chamonix and the French Alps’ hike takes walkers through the French Alps in the shadow of Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, and features charming French hamlets, dark pine forests, refreshing brooks, spectacular suspension bridges and stays each night in small, family-run B&Bs or chalets where they meet up with their luggage each day.
Daily breakfasts, two dinners and two picnics are included in the package, with walkers able to sample the Chamonix region’s famous gourmet cooking and a range of French wines.
Prices are from £805 (about $1505) per person twin-share.
Visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk. 

Running next to a real Australian icon … the Australian Outback Marathon

Central Australia has a spectacular line up of major events this year for guests at Ayers Rock Resort.
Things kick off in April with the Tjungu Festival, meaning “meeting together” in local Anangu Pitjantjatjara language — a celebration of the best of Australian Indigenous culture, featuring an array of experiences encompassing film, art, sport, music food and fashion.
This is followed by the Uluru Camel Cup in May, the Australian Outback Marathon in July, and the Uluru Astronomy weekend in August.
Visit www.ayersrockresort.com.au/events.

Trekking in the Himalayas … a specialty of Wandering the World

Former Peregrine Adventures gurus Glenyce Johnson and Jane Reed have launched Wandering the World, a specialist travel company dedicated to tailoring exceptional walking, trekking and touring holidays.
Trips organised so far include journeys to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Portuguese Camino and French Camino in Northern Spain.
Visit www.wanderingtheworld.com.au or contact Glenyce Johnson on 0402 910 552.

Plenty for everyone … the water-play park at Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ Caloundra property

Cuddle a koala, visit the world’s busiest wildlife hospital, enjoy a ‘splashtacular’ water-play park and stay within a tranquil oasis on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Pay from $189 per night for two adults and two children to stay in stay in a newly refurbished Executive Family Room at Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ Caloundra property, including free wifi, noon checkout, bottle of sparkling wine, access to discounted Australia Zoo tickets, and a free ‘Sneak Peek’ pass into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
The multi-level, on-site water-play park comes with water slides, fountains, a giant tipping bucket and interactive activities.
Valid for travel until November.
Visit www.oakshotelsresorts.com.

The vast Australian wilderness … heading through the Outback on the Indian Pacific

Save up to $819 per person on an eight-day Perth and Margaret River package during Great Southern Rail’s ‘Journey Beyond’ sale.
Pay from $1230 per person, including three nights in a Gold Service cabin aboard the Indian Pacific, three nights in Perth, and touring in Margaret River, Fremantle and the Barossa Valley.
Fare includes restaurant-quality regional cuisine, a range of Australian beverages and a selection of off-train excursions.
Valid for sale until February 28 for travel from May 1 this year to March 31 next year.
Phone 132 147 or visit www.greatsouthernrail.com.au.

The dunes at Port Stephens … a delightful stretch to stroll along

Save up to $120 on a stay at The Retreat Port Stephens, nestled in natural bushland 10 minutes from Nelson Bay.
Pay from $387 for three nights in a two person self-catering cabin, including a breakfast-and-coffee voucher for Crest Birubi Beach.
The property includes barbecues, camp fires, a pool, a games room and a playground area.
Valid for stays until May 30.
Phone 02 4982 1244 or visit www.theretreatportstephens.com.au. For general information on attractions, dining and events in Port Stephens, www.portstephens.org.au.

Who’s looking at whom … close encounters with whales on Tonga. Image: Brandon Cole.

Save up to $940 per couple by getting two nights of free accommodation and two free day tours on Majestic Whale Encounters’ nine-night Tongan whale-swim holidays.
Pay from $3900 per person twin-share, including five days on the water with the whales, seven nights in casual beachside fales on the idyllic coral island of Foa in Tonga’s Ha’apai group of islands, and two nights on Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island.
Groups of eight swimmers are accompanied by an experienced guide, with cost including whale swim equipment, all transfers, and return airfares from Tongatapu to Ha’apai.
For sale until February 28 for holidays starting July 28 to August 20.
Phone 0405 594 253 or visit www.majesticwhaleencounters.com.au.

Africa Cruise - Germany tour - Extreme bike tours - Palaces of Rome - Sail Amsterdam - Melbourne Staycation

Aurora Expeditions’ 2015-2016 Expedition Guide features for the first time journeys across all seven continents.
It contains, for instance, a new 15-day ‘African Cruise Safari’ to some of the most concentrated wildlife regions of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Highlights include a four-day cruise on the Chobe River on board Zambezi Queen, with game viewing from special excursion crafts, as well as nights in traditional safari lodges and game drives through Chobe and Hwange National Parks.
Prices start at $7990 per person twin-share.
Phone 02 9252 1033 or visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au.



Lose yourself on Germany’s Romantic Road with Back-Roads Touring’s 11-day journey from Frankfurt to Vienna.
The itinerary includes the idyllic, terraced vineyards of the Wachau valley, tours through some of Europe’s most beautiful castles, and the architectural dream of Rothenberg, with its twisting cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses.
You will also discover sweeping views of the Wipptal Valley at Munich and be enchanted by Mondsee, one of the prettiest towns in Austria.
Prices start at $4745.25 per person twin-share, including a 5 per cent earlybird saving if booked by December 14 for departures April-October next year.
Phone 1300 100 410 or visit backroadstouring.com.



Get two free nights at India’s Taj Lake Palace and free return flights from Delhi to Udaipur when you book with Extreme Bike Tours on four Himalayan motorcycle tours that will take licensed riders and pillion passengers along some of the world’s highest roads.
The offer is available until December 1 on 15-day ‘Mighty Himalayas’ tours departing Delhi on June 20, July 7 and 24 and August 10 next year.
A stay in the lavish Taj Lake Palace will provide riders and pillions a luxurious ending to an adventure which will see them spend nights amongst the world’s loftiest peaks in tents, rustic guesthouses and hotels along the road.
The 1300-kilometre journey will be undertaken on classic Enfield Bullet 500 motorbikes and is priced from US$4750 per rider or US$3950 for pillion passengers sitting behind crew or in the support vehicle.
Visit www.extremebiketours.com.




Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent is confident enough in the Egyptian situation to resume tours to the country.
To kick off its return, A&K has launched an eight-day ‘Glimpse of Egypt’ journey, with attractions including highlights of Cairo and a four-night Nile cruise aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, taking in the ancient temples, tombs and riverside life between Luxor and Aswan.
Travel before December 31 and pay $3830 per person twin-share, saving $1660 per couple.
Phone 1300 590 317 or visit www.abercrombiekent.com.au.



Latest luxury accommodation offering in the Blue Mountains is the totally refurbished and historic Parklands Country Gardens & Lodge at Blackheath.
Set on a 28-acre heritage property adjoining the Greater Blue Mountains World, Parklands is reminiscent of a grand European estate and sits on 28 acres of manicured grounds overlooking lush gardens lined with old pines, cypresses and Japanese maples planted more than 100 years ago.
Opening rates start from $269 per room midweek and $399 on weekends. Book two nights or more and get a 20 per cent discount.
Phone 02 4787 7211 or visit www.parklands.com.au.




Peter Sommer Travels’ 2015 program including its first dedicated adventure amid the ruins and palaces of Rome.
Archaeologists Paul Beston and Dr Michael Metcalfe will lead the eight-day encounter with the Eternal City, taking travellers on a journey from Rome’s humble beginnings as a small settlement on the River Tiber through its rise to an imperial power controlling the entire Mediterranean.
Highlights include the Roman Forum, the port of Ostia and Hadrian’s Palace at Tivoli.
Prices start at approximately $5330 per person twin-share.
Visit www.petersommer.com.




Cruise Express is offering the chance next August to join the world’s largest nautical event, the once-every-five-years Sail Amsterdam, on board one of the world’s biggest sailing ships, the 162-metre Wind Surf.
Its 16-night package is priced from $7999 per person twin-share, including return flights from Australia to Oslo, three nights accommodation in the Norwegian capital, an eight-night voyage aboard the 310-passenger Wind Surf from Oslo to Dover, and three nights in London.
Ports of call include Kristiansand in southern Norway, Amsterdam, and the Belgian ports of Vlissingen and Zeebrugge.
Phone 1300 764 509 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au.



Wendy Wu Tours has expanded its product range in Indochina to include a fully inclusive tour that focuses on Laos and Cambodia.
The 16-day ‘Laos & Cambodia Unveiled’ itinerary next year will encompass in-depth aspects in areas not found in a traditional mainstream group tours to this region.
It is priced from $5160 per person twin-share, including return airfares, with highlights such as the vibrant Laotian capital of Vientiane, Vang Vieng, UNESCO world-heritage-listed Luang Prabang, Siem Reap and the famous temples of Angkor, Battambang, Kampong Chnang, Udong and Phnom Penh.
Phone 1300 727 998 or visit www.wendywutours.com.au.




Fly to Europe and take a break in Abu Dhabi with Creative Holidays and Virgin Australia.
Pay, for instance, from $1895 per person twin-share ex Sydney or Perth, including return flights to Europe and three nights at Abu Dhabi’s Centro Yas Island Rotana.
Includes breakfast daily and a city tour.
Book by October 31 for travel February 1 to March 25.
Phone 1300 301 711 or visit www.creativeholidays.com.



Get an early taste of the warmer weather with a ‘Spring into Summer’ deal at Melbourne’s Adina Apartment Hotel South Yarra.
Pay from $145 per night for a one-bedroom apartment.
Includes a complimentary bottle of wine, free parking and late check-out.
Book and stay before November 30.
Phone 13 8642 or visit www.tfehotels.com.



Celebrate a special anniversary or enjoy a second honeymoon at the 4.5-star Seahaven Noosa, one of the Sunshine Coast’s premier beachfront resorts.
Pay from $1599 for three nights in a one-bedroom rooftop penthouse, including a hamper with wine, cheese and chocolates, and noon checkout.
Features direct beach access to Laguna Bay.
Phone 07 5447 3422 or visit www.seahavennoosa.com.au.



Celebrate Sofitel’s 50th anniversary worldwide with a champagne-and-oysters package at Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach.
Pay from $650 per couple per night, including accommodation in a Luxury Ocean Spa room, valet parking, breakfast and a champagne-and-oysters dinner in Sofitel’s restaurant, Room 81.
Features lobby exhibition of Iconic Paris, evocative images of Paris by Jon Rendell.
On sale until October 31 for stays until November 9.
Phone 1800 074 465 or visit www.sofitel.com.

Danube Cruise - 4WD Safari - Turkey - Mantra Brisbane - Ambassador Hotel Waikiki - Frankfurt

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Nature lovers can now bring their tents and swags to a new camping ground next to the platypus-viewing area at Broken River in Eungella National Park, 80 kilometres west of Mackay.
The new grounds include 10 bush camping sites suitable for family-sized groups and two campsites to accommodate larger groups and vehicles.
Rates are $5.75 per person per night or $23 per family group per night. Bookings are essential.
Visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.

Take an eight-day Travelmarvel ‘Delightful Danube’ river cruise sailing between Budapest and Vilshofen on April 20 or 27 and you’ll pay $1995 per person twin-share if you book by November 30, saving $1500 per person.
Cruise highlights include a private ‘Oktoberfest’ with the locals in Vilshofen; the chance to explore Vienna; a guided tour of Melk Abbey; and a traditional Slovak folklore demonstration in Bratislava.
Phone 1300 196 420 or visit travelmarvel.com.au.

Sacred Earth Safaris if offering a small-group 4WD safari through the South Australian outback.
Its 10-day Legendary Outback Tracks combines cultural Indigenous and European history with stunning landscapes and native wildlife in iconic locations such as Cooper Pedy, Lake Eyre, Innamincka and the Flinders Ranges.
Visit www.sacredearthsafaris.com.au.

Brisbane’s new Mantra on Edward is a fully serviced apartment hotel that boasts some of the city’s largest rooms, due to its original design as the residential Observatory Tower.
Rates start from $189 per night for a one-bedroom apartment.
Facilities include balconies with city views, a large lap pool that overlooks the streetscape below, a fully equipped gymnasium, spa and sauna.
Visit www.mantra.com.au.

Abercrombie & Kent has launched a new, hosted small-group journey in November next year to Turkey, led by Kenneth Park, an accomplished curator, lecturer and arts consultant.
Major highlights include the important attractions of western and central Turkey, from Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to the rock-cut churches of Cappadocia and the extraordinary exhibits of Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.
Prices start at $9695 per person twin-share.
Phone 1300 590 317 or visit www.abercrombiekent.com.au.

Stay at the Ambassador Hotel Waikiki, in Honolulu, before December 3 and pay from $130 per room per night, a saving of up to 35 per cent.
It’s just a short stroll from one of the world’s most famous beaches, and features include an outdoor swimming pool, full kitchenette, flat-screen TV and free wifi.
Phone 1800 687 236 or visit www.hotels.com.

Worldwide Cruise Centres 54-day ‘Tahitian Palms and Hawaiian Charms’ next April combines three ocean voyages so that guests can travel to and from Sydney without any flights.
The itinerary begins with a Radiance of the Seas cruise to Hawaii, followed by a Pride of America cruise around Hawaii and a Legend of the Seas cruise back to Australia.
Prices start at $7699 (valid till end of November), including 10 nights in Honolulu.
Visit www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au.

Walking Tasmania’s iconic Wineglass Bay is one thing, but retiring at night to the exclusive 23-metre luxury yacht Lady Eugenie makes it quite a different journey.
The Tasmania Walking Co is offering a new Wineglass Bay Sail Walk over four or six days, with luxuriously sleeping and eating on board while exploring the bay, Maria Island and Tasman Island.
Prices start at $2990 per person twin-share.
Visit www.wineglassbaysailwalk.com.au.

Save up to 15 per cent with Auto Europe car and motorhome rentals in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Switzerland next year.
Other earlybird enticements include free ferry crossings from Dover and Calais return, free European insurance cover, and free GPS.
Book by February 28 for vehicle collection between April 1 next year and March 31 2016.
Phone 1300 656 601 or visit www.autoeurope.com.au.

Get package deal through Direct Flights to historic Frankfurt, Germany’s financial centre.
Pay from $2250 per person twin-share ($2233 ex Melbourne, $2239 ex Adelaide, $2232 ex Perth, $2251 ex Brisbane, $2244 ex Darwin), including flights with Singapore Airlines and five nights in the three-star Holiday Inn Express.
Includes a daylong castle tour which takes in spectacular Heidelberg Castle.
Book by November 17 for travel June 8 to September 30 next year.
Phone 1300 234 909 or visit www.directflights.com.au.

Save up to 25 per cent with an earlybird booking for an apartment in Japan’s Niseko skifields.
Pay, for instance, from $688 per person quad-share at Yotei Cottage (one bedroom plus loft), including six-day, all-mountain lift passes, return airport transfers and airport meet-and-greet.
Get free equipment rental for kids aged 2-14 when each parent rents skis or snowboard.
Book by October 30 for travel December 1-12 and March 1 to April 24.
Phone 1300 137 411 or visit SkiJapan.com.

Save nearly $6000 per person with ecruising.travel and experience Quantum of the Seas, the latest addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Pay from $9599 per person twin-share, instead of $15,459 for a 30-night cruise from Barcelona to Singapore.
Onboard attractions include the North Star, a jewel-shaped capsule which ascends more than 300 feet above sea level and offers 360-degree views of the ocean.
Book by December 2 for a May 10 sailing.
Phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel.

Luxury India Tours - Hungary - Archaeological tour - Travelling with Children - Blue Mountains - more

Turbaned Chauffeur at Maharani Bagh Orchard
Retreat. Image: Tony Sernack.

  New Australian tour company, Nomads Secrets, aims to take small groups of travellers beneath the skin of exotic cultures by combining the finest hotels and eco-resorts with guidance from world-leading experts in culture, photography, food, wildlife, festivals, and history.
Its 17-day exploration of Rajasthan this October, for instance, will be led by New York Times photographer Tony Sernack and will include the ancient Bateshwar Fair.
Prices start at $14,869 per person twin-share.
Visit www.nomadssecrets.com.

Hotel Boscolo New York Palace ... five-star
luxury in the heart of Budapest.

Beyond Travel is offering a wellness-spa package at one of the most opulent and elegant hotels in Hungary - the five star Hotel Boscolo New York Palace, located in the heart of Budapest on Grand Boulevard.
The three-night holiday is priced from $600 per person twin-share, including unlimited use of the hotel's spa facilities, an essential-oil massage, facial massage, daily buffet breakfast, return airport transfers and local taxes.
Phone 1300 363 554 or visit www.beyondtravel.com.au

Archaeological tour specialist Peter Sommer Travels will explore some of the most remarkable ancient sites of the Mediterranean this September during a series of four eight-day yacht expeditions in Turkey.
Each expedition will cater to no more than 16 guests, travelling along Turkey's south-west coast and hosted by expert guides with academic backgrounds in history, art and archaeology.
Cost is £2125 per person twin-share (approximately $3870). Visit www.petersommer.com.

When Ingrid and Paul Sanders became tired of negotiating their way through the minefield of

Baby & Toddler Travel Co ... taking the worry
out of travelling with young children.

travelling with kids, they took things into their own hands. The result is the Baby & Toddler Travel Co, which specialises in organising travel for people accompanied by ankle biters.
They've kicked the business off with packages to Bali - each one including such things as a child-friendly villa, access to a nanny, high chair, cot, car seat, fast track through airport and a specially fitted pool fence.
A five-night package in a three-bedroom villa in Canggu, for instance is priced from $1995, including breakfast daily and complimentary wifi.
Visit www.babyandtoddlertravel.com.au.

P&O Cruises has expanded its child-free Oasis retreats across two decks on each of its ships.

Adults only ... the child-free Oasis
retreat on Pacific Jewel.

Holidaymakers can chill out on new pod-style lounges for two, as well as plenty of cushioned lounges and sun beds.
Situated at the rear of Pacific Jewel, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Dawn, the Oasis retreats also feature a bar. Pacific Pearl also offers two whirlpool spas.
Visit www.pocruises.com.

Before you throw a lazy grand or two at the internet renting a place, sight unseen, for your next holiday, it may well be worth throwing $55 to the Go To Guys to see if it really has those splendid water views and a working jaccuzi.
Garry Harding and Greg Rawlinson have set up an Australia-wide network of 350 inspectors who will take photos and check if what you're really getting measures up to the hype.
And they can also check on prospective real-estate investments and even that blind date you're considering.
Visit www.gotoguy.com.au.

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Centre, located at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, will be given a $100,000 upgrade.
The Exhibition Centre opened in 2010 with the aim of providing information on, and communicating

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah ...
due for a $100,000 upgrade.

the values of, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. It provides interpretation on the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to encourage respect for and protection of this special environment. The plan focuses on interpreting the northern Blue Mountains, the route known as the Botanists Way as it was first crossed by botanist George Caley, and on showcasing the world class canyons in the area, such as nearby Claustral Canyon, within the context of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The upgrade is expected to be completed by 2015.
The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area covers 1.03 million hectares and includes seven national parks and outstanding examples of ecological processes, natural habitats and cultural associations. It is home to primitive species with Gondwanan affinities, including the Wollemi pine, and is a centre of the diversification of eucalypts. Phone 02 4567 3000 or visit www.mounttomahbotanicgarden.com.au.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is offering a 'First Class Family Getaway' package priced from

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa ...
first-class family getaway.

$158 per room per night, including accommodation in a garden-view room for two adults and two children under 12. Also included are complimentary daily breakfast, free dining for kids with two paying adults and access to the kids' pavilion.
Visit www.jwmarriottphuketresort.com.

Save 15 per cent on all room types at Broome's boutique Pinctada Cable Beach Resort.
Pay, for instance, from $239 per night for a Shinju Studio room September-October, from $187 per night from November.
Also receive 10 per cent discount on pre-booked transfers and spa treatments at the Pinctada Spa, including the Kodo Massage, which is inspired by traditional Aboriginal techniques. Available until further notice. Phone 1800 746 282 or visit www.pinctadacablebeach.com.au.

The Great Wall ... a must-see on
any Chinese itinerary.

Save up to $1000 per couple on select Helen Wong's Tours' group excursions to China later this year.
Pay, for instance, from $3480 per person twin-share ex Shanghai for the 14-day 'Yangtze Wonders' itinerary.
Includes a cruise on the Yangtze, visits to Shanghai and Beijing, including the Great Wall, and to the home of the Terracotta Warriors, Xian.
Book by August 8.
Phone 1300 788 328 or visit www.helenwongstours.com.

Absolutely treat yourself and save 65 per cent on a Garden Terrace Suite at Bali's Semara Luxury

'It's All About Me' package.

Semara Luxury Villa Resort Uluwatu ...
join Bali's A-listers.

Villa Resort Uluwatu. Pay US$419 per couple per night, including butler service, private chef, airport transfers, daily car service with driver, 20-minute spa treatment, free Wi-Fi, Semara gift pack, daily entry to Finns Beach Club plus free gym, tennis and use of the putting green.
Retreat offers a helipad, private beach, two tennis courts, putting green, fully equipped gym, pampering spa.
Until August 31.
Visit www.semarauluwatu.com.

Save an extra $200 off already discounted rates at Solar Springs health retreat in the Southern Highlands at Bundanoon.
Pay from $920 per person twin-share for a five-night
Includes all meals and activities, plus an 85-minute Solar Serenity Facial, pedicure and a one-hour massage of your choice (Swedish, remedial, shiatsu, lymphatic drainage or reflexology). Available until August 4. Phone 1800 044 944 or visit www.solarsprings.com.au.