Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Tank Stream Hotel’s new Sydney ‘Weekend Staycation’ package offers a 10 per cent discount off the rate of the day and includes breakfast for two in Le Petit Flot restaurant.
The offer is valid for stays from Friday night to Sunday night and until June 30.
There is also a special deal for extended stays. Take 20 provides a 20 per cent discount for stays of two nights or more. Bookings must use the Promo code TAKE20 to access the special rate.
In addition, guests at The Tank Stream Hotel enjoy a range of complimentary extras including high-speed wi-fi.
The Tank Stream is located in the heart of the Sydney CBD, a two-minute walk from Wynyard Train Station, a five-minute walk to Pitt Street Mall, and under 10 minutes to Circular Quay, The Rocks and Sydney Opera House.
Visit www.tankstreamhotel.com.
Vivid Sydney: Would have been in its 12th year.
Unfortunately, Vivid Sydney 2020 has been a victim of coromavirus and has been cancelled on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people. Organisers promise that the event will shine brighter than ever in 2021!
Visit www.visitnsw.com.
Yanks: played an important role in Brisbane during WW2.
Discover the hidden histories of over 80,000 American soldiers stationed in the city during World War II with a new two-hour walking tour, ‘Americans in Wartime Brisbane’, presented by Museum of Brisbane and MacArthur Museum Brisbane.
Learn about the important role of City Hall during World War II and Brisbane’s war brides at Albert Street Uniting Church, uncover the past at ANZAC Square Memorial Museum, explore Customs House, hear about the explosive Battle of Brisbane and visit General MacArthur’s office at MacArthur Museum.
Visit www.museumofbrisbane.com.au.
Sydney Harbour YHA: panoramic views.
Stay at one, two or three different YHAs across Australia for just $23 a night in dormitary-style digs (or $93 for private or family rooms) with three-night vouchers valid until December 20 at 70 properties.
Choose from going on an adrenalin-fuelled abseiling adventure based out of Blue Mountains YHA, or get locked up overnight at Fremantle Prison YHA.
Or choose boutique properties in the bush such as Grampians Eco YHA, or admire the city lights and panoramic views of the Opera House from the rooftop at Sydney Harbour YHA.
Every YHA is unique, and there’s always a buzzing social atmosphere centred on communal lounges, self-catering kitchens and activities for guests.
Visit www.yha.com.au.
The Illawarra Fly: get the blood pumping.
Take a tree-top walk in the Illawarra this year.
Guests can be an exhilarating 30 metres above the ground on the steel walkway of the Illawarra Fly.
This 1.5-kilometre walk begins on the rainforest floor and leads up to a tree-top canopy, where participants will get a bird’s-eye-view of the Royal National Park, Lake Illawarra and South Pacific Ocean below.
To really get the blood pumping, they can even fly through the trees on a zipline.
Visit www.visitnsw.com.
Rockhopper penguins at Macquarie Island. Image: CruiseAlong.
CruiseAlong is offering a birdwatching tour to the sub-antarctic islands priced from $14,990 per person twin-share.
The 17-day trip runs from December 19 this year and includes return economy airfares from any Australian airport, two nights’ accommodation in Dunedin pre/post cruise, including breakfast, airport transfers in Dunedin and a 15-day expedition cruise on Silver Explorer.
The cruise component includes unlimited free wifi, shore excursions, expert lectures and guides, and an open bar, as well as a parka and gumboots.
The cruise itinerary features the seven groups of New Zealand sub-antarctic islands as well as a two-day visit to Australia’s Macquarie Island, offering endless opportunities to take in the incredible diversity of wildlife of the “Galapagos of the Southern Ocean”.
Phone 1300 662 002 or visit www.cruiselaong.com.au.
Queenstown: boasts stunning snow-capped mountains.
Queenstown, nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, can be an ultimate spot for snowboarders and skiers of all levels.
It boasts stunning snow-capped mountains, four world-class ski fields and a long ski season.
STA Travel has an offer providing seven nights and flights from $1079 per person.
When guests book the OzSnow Double or Twin Room at Reavers Lodge, they receive a free upgrade to a self-contained loft.
The offer includes a free set of JBL headphones for early-bird bookings, lift passes, continental breakfast daily, a group dinner and return airport transfers or car-hire pick up.
Visit www.statravel.com.au.
Sea lions at Pikaia Lodge in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
Discover the world’s best eco-conscious getaways with Lonely Planet’s Sustainable Escapes.
From eco-lodges with cutting-edge sustainability, to tours designed to protect wildlife and empower communities, the book will make travellers feel better than ever about getting away.
It curates the world’s best eco-conscious travel experiences and places to stay — off-grid camps, community stays, responsible wildlife encounters, cultural immersion tours, conservation opportunities, green hotels, and more.
Australia is represented by the Alex Hotel, Clean Coast Collective, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Longitude 131°, Swell Lodge and Wukalina Walk.
Five chapters will help readers navigate the vast choice of sustainable escape out there.
The hardcover book has 256 pages and is priced at $29.99.
Visit www.lonelyplanet.com.
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp: luxury in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
For a truly sublime wilderness escape, it is hard to surpass Uganda, the undiscovered pearl of Africa.
A lush landscape of deep lakes, glacial alpine mountains, wide-open savannah and dense rainforests, the country boasts wildlife not found anywhere else.
Uganda is perhaps best known for its concentration of primates, including its most celebrated residents — half the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population.
And one of the places to see them is Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp located in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a Unesco World Heritage Site in the country’s south-west.
Featuring just 10 luxury tents tucked away on a on a flat ridge deep within the heart of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is one of the most remote and atmospheric in Africa.
And its unique location means the camp is frequently visited by gorilla families, making it the perfect base for a once in a lifetime encounter with Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas.
Visit www.sanctuaryretreats.com.
Pimalai Resort & Spa: will host the second annual Zenergy wellness festival.
Pimalai Resort & Spa, a five-star retreat on the shores of Thailand’s Koh Lanta, will host the second annual Zenergy wellness festival from July 24-29.
The event promises an extensive schedule of yoga and fitness classes.
These include ‘Yin Yoga’ and meditation, which focus on passive poses and breathing exercises, and an alignment-based class which enhances strength and flexibility.
Each day starts with a healthy breakfast overlooking the ocean at Spice & Rice, the resort’s Thai restaurant, while lunch is served at Seven Seas, the elevated fine-dining destination.
Then in the evening, guests can come together and reflect on their day over a nutritious meal.
Visit www.pimalai.com.
Written by John Rozentals
.jpg){kind=tracking}