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On track to open in mid-2021, Sofitel Adelaide will be a world-class hotel exuding a refined and understated sense of modern luxury with a touch of Sofitel’s renowned French decadence.

Located in Currie Street in the city’s CBD, the hotel is the first internationally recognised five-star hotel to be built in Adelaide in 30 years.

The hotel will be part of a 32-storey mixed-use tower, which in addition to being a hotel, will also house the tallest residential development in South Australia.

Of the 32 stories, the first 24 will be dedicated to the hotel, with a total of 250 guestrooms and suites, together with leisure and business facilities, which will include a restaurant, four bars, ballroom, swimming pool, health and fitness centre, meeting and conference rooms and a Sofitel Club Lounge.

 Avoca: a top Central Coast location.

The NSW Central Coast is shaping up to be this year’s ‘it’ summer destination, with border closures forcing jetsetters to holiday at home instead of the traditional Christmas break in Bali or Aspen.

Conveniently located only an hour’s drive north of Sydney, the Central Coast is preparing for its busiest summer on record and while most accommodation has been booked out for months, Belle Escapes – the holiday arm of Belle Property – has been busy transitioning newly purchased prestige property into holiday homes ahead of the peak season.

With a portfolio of the most expensive and exclusive homes on the coast, Belle Escapes has the kind of ultra-luxe waterfront homes that are luring A-Listers, like model Elyse Knowles, to the coast in droves to spend their summer social distancing in style.

These are priced from $525-$2500/night.

Visit www.www.belleescapes.com.au.

 Horizontal Falls: a Kimberley highlight.

Ponant will extend its 2021 Kimberley luxury expedition season of 16 departures between May and September with three new departures onboard Le Soléal, now offering a choice of 19 voyages across a range of itineraries.

“In response to increasing demand for local exploration, we are delighted to announce an extension of our 2021 Kimberley season with the introduction of three new luxury expeditions being available for Australians to explore their own backyard,” said Deb Corbett, the company’s General Manager Sales and Marketing Asia Pacific.

For example, an itinerary beginning 30 June next will stretch from Darwin to Broome and feature 10 nights onboard Le Soléal.

Highlights include King George River and Falls, Vansittart Bay, Swift Bay, Hunter River and Mitchell Falls, Talbot Bay, Raft Point, Montgomery Reef and The Lacepedes.

Visit https://au.ponant.com/.

 Q Station: treat the family to an adventure-filled holiday.

With Christmas and school holidays around the corner and the smell of summer in the air, it’s time to treat the family to an adventure-filled holiday they will never forget that’s just 30 minutes from Sydney’s CBD.

Located at Manly’s picturesque North Head, Q Station is offering possibly the most interactive and exciting school holiday schedule of any property this year.

Designed to keep the parents happy and the kids entertained, from 19 December to 11 January, there will be daily sandcastle-making competitions on Quarantine Beach, a giant outdoor cinema, inflatables  races, family yoga, and kids music shows as part of a special Kids Only Sunset Sessions, daily happy hour for the parents and activity packs for all children.

Q Station’s Summer School Holiday package includes overnight accommodation (minimum two-night stay), breakfast daily, a bottle of wine on arrival, $20 credit to use at the Visitor Centre Café, 10 per cent off all dining, retail and tours and late check out – plus access to all the school holiday activities.

Prices start from $339 per night in a Queen Deluxe Suite which can sleep 4 guests. The package is available from 18 December to 31 January 2021. To book, call (02) 9466 1500.

With 30 hectares of rolling hills, open space and paved tracks Q Station is perfect for kids to zoom around on their bikes, skateboards or scooters and with its own private Quarantine Beach by Sydney Harbour, there is so much to uncover.

With Manly Kayaks providing standup paddle boards and kayaks, Quarantine Beach comes alive over summer as the turquoise glow of Sydney Harbour lures guests young and old into the water. Bring your buckets and spades and set up base on your very own protected, private beach from sunrise to sunset.

Bushwalks that go along Sydney Harbour’s stunning coastline are all accessible from the grounds of Q Station and on the way, see if you can spot Billy, Q Station’s friendly echidna. From kookaburras, bandicoots, fairy penguins and frilly lizards, Q Station is teaming with wildlife and truly is a nature lovers paradise.

Visit www.all.accor.com.

 ‘Troll-tastic Adventure’: embrace your inner superstar.

Whether you’re a pop diva or a rock superstar, enjoy an all access pass to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre’s ‘Troll-tastic Adventure’ during the summer school holidays.

From 19 December to 27 January can join the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground in celebrating the release of Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s movie, Trolls World Tour, along with the colourful LEGO Trolls sets by embracing your inner superstar.

Come and learn how to perfect your air guitar skills, dance like a diva or build a LEGO instrument. The Troll-tastic LEGO Adventure will have a host of activities including:

  • Build your own Troll-tastic instrument: Are you excited to make some Trolls tunes? Create and build your own Troll-ified LEGO music instrument in your favourite genre. So, whether you’re a techno head or a pop diva come down and make some Troll-ific anthems!
  • Create your own hair-raising music video: Be the star of your very own LEGO Trolls music video! From a rock n’ roll ballad to a funky melody, test your skills by using stop motion to create a chart-topping music video on the movie maker
  • Spot the Trolls World Tour in Melbourne: See if you can find the Trolls touring around MINILAND Melbourne. Look closely for the Trolls characters on the LEGO streets of Melbourne for your chance to win a LEGO Trolls prize pack!
  • Selfie time: Now it’s your time to shine and take centre stage – pick a LEGO instrument and be part of the band…the crowd is waiting, don’t forget to show us your rock star moves!

After enjoying the Troll-tastic Adventure in the attraction, you can stop at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre’s retail store where you’ll find imaginative LEGO sets inspired by the Trolls World Tour film.

Located at Chadstone Shopping Centre, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is home to a LEGO model of Melbourne, various build and play zones, two rides, a 4D cinema, retail store and much more! The attraction is designed specifically for families with children aged 3-10. Adults must be accompanied by a child (except when visiting the retail store or attending Adult Night events).

The attraction is open seven days per week during the school holidays. Guests must pre-book their tickets online.

Visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com.au.

 American Queen: free drinks.

The American Queen Steamboat Company has fast-tracked the release of its 2022 program of paddlewheeler cruises in America, with savings of up to US$2000 per couple for bookings made by March 31.

And drinks will be complimentary all day on future cruises.

The free drinks are in addition to the complimentary pre-cruise, one-night hotel stay, hotel-ship transfer, hop-on-hop-off shore excursions, with prepaid gratuities and specialty coffees, soft drinks and bottled water that AQSC already included in fares.

The new 2022 program for AQSC features 163 cruises on five of America’s most iconic rivers — The Mississippi, Ohio River, Tennessee River, Snake River and Columbia River.

The 2022 season will also feature AQSC’s new, 245-passenger paddlewheeler, the American Countess, which joins the American Queen, American Duchess and American Empress to give guests an authentic, elegant and modern American river cruise experience.

One of the company’s most popular cruise itineraries for Australians is its classic, seven-night paddlewheeler journey along the legendary Mississippi River between Memphis and New Orleans.

Reflecting the colourful history, culture and music of heartland America, the cruise brings to life the scenery and river life made famous by author Mark Twain in books like Huckleberry Finn.

The Mississippi journey also celebrates the music, southern belles and drawls, majestic colonial mansions, cotton plantations, Civil War battlefields, the Southern hospitality and the Cajun and Creole cuisine that the Mississippi riverlands are famous for – as well the iconic Graceland home of Elvis, the ‘king of rock ’n’ roll’.

Cruise Traveller is offering an eight-night package in 2022 that includes a seven-night cruise between Memphis and New Orleans, one night’s accommodation pre-cruise, onboard beverages, guided, hop-on-hop-off shore excursions and onboard gratuities.

Fares are available from US$2235 per person, twin-share in an interior cabin.

Visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au.

NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.