Orange FOOD Week will run in the Central Western NSW city and surrounds from April 5-14, highlighting the region’s reputation as one of Australia’s outstanding sources of premium food and wine.
Among more than 90 scheduled events, a stand-out should be a contest, over lunch of course, between wine and cider at the Old Convent, in the village of Borenore, on Saturday, April 6.
Ticket cost of $95 includes a three-course meal from local legend Josie Chapman, drinks on arrival and with each course of Small Acres Cyder and local wine.
To book, phone (02) 6365 2286.
For festival details, visit www.orangefoodweek.com.au.
Nagambie Brewery and Distillery… water views and a homely feel. Image: Gareth Sobey.
The multi-million-dollar Nagambie Brewery and Distillery has opened on the edge of Lake Nagambie in the regional town of Nagambie, 90 minutes from Melbourne.
The former police camp has been transformed into a modern brewery and distillery featuring water views, craft beverage and wood-fired eats.
A concrete-steel-and-brass bar and panelled doors open to a deck.
Inside, the space is flanked by two closed combustion fireplaces, offering a homely feel that will be warmly welcomed in the cooler months.
Phone (03) 7019 8170 or visit www.facebook.com/pg/nagambiebrewery/about.
Qualia … exclusive packages for Hamilton Island Race Week.
One of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest offshore keel-boat regattas, Hamilton Island Race Week, will return for its 36th edition from August 17-24.
Qualia has released a small number of three-night Race Week packages, allowing guests to experience the ultimate in Australian luxury.
All Qualia packages include access to one of Qualia’s Race Week events, including the Showcase dinner, The Heidsieck Champagne Lunch and the Paspaley White Luncheon.
Guests on the packages will have the opportunity to see the on-water action up close on board luxury superyacht, Quantum, which will travel from Sydney especially for the event to host daily spectator cruises.
Qualia’s Hamilton Island Race Week packages start from $5990.
Visit www.qualia.com.au.
Stay at Metro Mirage Hotel Newport and receive a free Hone and Away Summer Bay tour.
Stay at Sydney’s Metro Mirage Hotel Newport for from $199 per room per night and receive a free adult ticket for the official Home and Away tour to Summer Bay.
Operated by Flamin’ Galah Sydney Tours, this tour to Palm Beach visits the stunning location of the Home and Away set, offering an insightful and authentic brand experience.
Fans will be able to capture once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, whilst expert guides share their Home and Away knowledge.
The tour runs every day except Thursdays and Sundays and departs from Dearin Reserve bus stop, about 100 metres north of the hotel. It concludes at Manly Beach.
The package also includes free wi-fi and guaranteed 11am check-out for web bookings.
Booking requires a minimum 10-day advance purchase and additional tour tickets can be purchased.
Visit www.metrohotels.com.au.
One of Tiny Away’s small holiday houses … a chance to escape from a hectic, digitally-laden lifestyle.
Tiny Away continues to expand its range of small holiday houses in Australia, offering city dwellers a chance to escape from a hectic, digitally-laden lifestyle.
It now has 12 houses placed across Victoria, and has just added eight houses throughout NSW, including in the Hawkesbury, and at Braidwood and Picton.
The tiny-house concept embraces sustainable living by reducing the size, and therefore the resource consumption, of homes without sacrificing quality of life.
The Tiny Away houses can sleep up to four people and include a convertible double sofa bed in the lounge area, a queen-size loft bed in the bedroom area, a kitchenette with toaster, kettle and induction cooktop, minimalist sliding table top which serves as a dining space, and a bathroom with a composting toilet and hot shower.
There is an air-conditioner and heater, as well as an outdoor deck providing additional space for relaxation.
The six-metre house is built and mounted on a trailer, allowing it to be moved from property to property, any time.
The cost is $150-$250 per night.
Visit www.tinyaway.com.
Romantic Milan … also a fashion, design, shopping and financial centre
Take in the wonders of Asia and the Middle East, and then cruise through to Europe with MSC on a 51-night fly/stay/cruise package from Cruise1st.
Fly from Australia in February next year to Shanghai for two nights of accommodation and time to explore a fascinating city.
Then embark on MSC’s Splendida for a 44-night cruise from to Italy, taking in highlights that include Okinawa, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket’ Colombo, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the Suez Canal, Rhodes and Rome, before disembarking in Genoa for a one-night stay and catching a first-class train to Milan.
Three nights in Milan will give travellers a chance to explore this fashion, design, shopping and financial centre in Italy’s northern Lombardy region before catching a return flight to Australia.
Prices are from $6299 per person twin-share.
Phone 1300 596 345 or visit www.cruise1st.com.au.
Norway … a land of unspoiled beauty.
Up Norway is a bespoke travel service based in Oslo.
Its itineraries take travellers beyond the standard tourist trails and closer to the heart of Norway, with an emphasis on quality, sustainability, value and ease of use, with the highest levels of personal service.
One of its most popular experiences is the ‘Discovery Route Adventure’ which comes in three forms, including the 11-day family adventure.
The trip includes venturing on to mountains, glaciers and rivers and is priced from about $2659 based on two adults and two children travelling together.
It includes accommodation with breakfast, two three-course dinners, a range of activities, and nine days rental-car hire.
Visit www.upnorway.com.
Palatial elegance … Seven Seas Splendor’s Regent Suite.
One of the world’s most luxurious residences at sea will be perched on the deck 14 of the Seven Seas Splendor, above the bridge and overlooking the ship’s bow, when it sets sail in February next year.
Claimed to be the largest suite ever constructed on a luxury cruise ship, the Regent Suite offers 412 total square-metres of palatial elegance at sea, complete with an in-suite spa retreat featuring a personal sauna, steam room and treatment area with unlimited spa treatments, unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow from the 120 square-metre wrap-around veranda, and a glass-enclosed solarium on top of the bridge with a captain’s view of the world’s most beautiful destinations.
Guests in the Regent Suite also enjoy a dedicated personal butler, a personal car with driver and guide in every port, and the exquisite comfort of a custom, hand-crafted bed.
And I’m sure that you’ll pay plenty for the pleasure.
Scenic … offering new experiences in North America.
Scenic has a range of pre-release offers on its 2020 Canada, Alaska and USA touring program, including savings of $1500 per couple on any journey of 26 days or longer.
The program also includes a range of new ‘Enrich’ experiences, including a dark-sky experience and twilight supper in Jasper National Park where guests will join astronomers for a private exploration.
One-night stops have been removed wherever possible in favour of longer stays at each destination, providing guests more time to relax, take in their stunning surroundings and get the most out of each stopping point.
The Scenic program features stays in Canada’s most iconic hotels, including The Fairmont Empress, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
Phone 138 128 or visit scenic.com.au.
Tivua Island … two chances a day for Fijian bliss.
Captain Cook Cruises Fiji have added a second daily departure for its Tivua Island day cruise and from April 1 the seven-hour adnture will depart Denarau Marina at 11.30am as well as 10am.
The 11.30am sailing offers the same inclusions as the 10am departure, including a tropical buffet lunch, all activities and the option to go diving or have a spa treatment.
Both Tivua Island day cruises are seven hours long and the same price —$153 for adults and $89 for children (3-15 years).
The Tivua Island experience begins the moment the magnificent tall ship Ra Marama or luxurious sleek sailing catamaran Fiji One set sail from Denarau for the tiny island of Tivua — an atoll surrounded by a circle of white sandy beach and 500 acres of coral gardens.
On arrival at Tivua guests take part in a traditional welcoming Kava ceremony and then spend the day doing a range of water and land activities or simply relaxing on the beach.
Visit www.captaincookcruisesfiji.com.
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