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The Next Story Group has marked the addition of funky Ink Hotels to its brand portfolio with the opening of the 15-storey, 162-room Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank in the heart of the city’s hip waterfront hub.

The brand believes that life is better when people colour outside the lines and do things differently.

Ink hotels are vibrant, playful and comfortable places to stay and hang out with locals and travellers. They are designed to host, connect and inspire a new wave of curious, plugged-in explorers who thrive on new experiences.

The hotel features a fun and playful design which creates many Instagram moments for its guests.

Guests can enjoy an opening of Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank rate from $119 for bookings made before January 31 for stays until June 30.

Visit www.inkhotels.com.

 Enjoy perks this summer at Pan Pacific hotels in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Pan Pacific Hotels Group is encouraging guests to celebrate summer their own way in its Sydney and Melbourne properties as part of its ‘Perk Up Your Vacation’ package.

Guests can save 10 per cent on the best-available rate and receive a choice of two perks from:   complimentary daily buffet breakfast for up to two; special amenities including a complimentary bottle of wine and chocolates; welcome cocktail for up to two at each participating hotel’s bar or lounge; food and beverage savings of up to 30 per cent.

Visit www.panpacific.com.

Paperbark Camp’s new king deluxe safari tent.

Paperbark Camp on the NSW South Coast, has capped its 20th birthday year by unveiling a luxe new makeover for its biggest tent.

The King Parrot king deluxe safari tent – one of 13 deluxe eco tents at Paperbark Camp, which decribes itself as Australia’s first ‘glamping’ retreat – now boasts a striking, sleek Moroccan ambience with black-and-white interiors, plush king-size bed and two single beds, deluxe interior bath tub with bush views, private, open-air ensuite with hot shower, quality furnishings and linen, polished hardwood flooring, large wrap-around deck with outdoor setting, hand-made soaps and lotions and solar lighting.

The new-look King Parrot tent is available from $785 per night per couple, including breakfast and dinner at Paperbark Camp’s restaurant, Gunyah, elevated amongst the gum trees.

Paperbark Camp is nestled discreetly in bushland at Jervis Bay, just over two hours south of Sydney, with the 13 raised tents camouflaged amongst spotted gums and paperbark trees along the banks of Currambene Creek.

Visit www.paperbarkcamp.com.au or phone 02 4441 6066.

 Veriu’s new Green Square hotel.

Veriu opened a new hotel in what it decribes as Sydney’s newest urban town centre – Green Square.

The launch marks Veriu’s fifth property in Australia — joining those in Camperdown, Broadway, Randwick and Central Sydney.

The hotel is at the convergence of Alexandria, Rosebery, Zetland, Beaconsfield and Waterloo, and offers spaces for sleeping, sitting, a kitchenette and shelving for storage.

The new 144-room hotel has an on-site Italian restaurant and is built on the original Australian store site of Mercedes-Benz, close to the heart of the new town centre.

It is located two train stops from Sydney Domestic Airport Station.

Visit www.veriu.com.au.

 

 

PIC: From Amazing Boat Journeys … drifting down Madagascar’s Tsiribihina River.

 

From salt breezes to river safaris, Lonely Planet has left no hull unturned to collect 60 of the world’s greatest water adventures for Amazing Boat Journeys.

The book features accounts of some of the world’s most unforgettable voyages over water, accompanied by beautiful photographs and practical details to assist travellers in planning their own memorable trips.

With a foreword by round-the-world Australian sailor Jessica Watson, Amazing Boat Journeys celebrates a slower, more romantic and rewarding way of travelling — from sailing the Nile by felucca and cruising the Canadian Arctic, to reaching the Pitcairn Islands by cargo ship and exploring Halong Bay in Vietnam.

Sydney’s Manly Ferry, Kimberley Coast cruise, and sailing Ningaloo Reef are the Australian boat journeys featured.

The book features 304 pages in hardcover format and is priced at $39.99.

Visit www.lonelyplanet.com.

 Manitoba: learn how to attach a tiny identification band to a live bird before setting it free.

Aussie travellers seeking those spine-tingling wildlife encounters in Canada are spoilt for choice in Manitoba.

Its diverse habitats, ranging from grasslands to boreal forests and sub-arctic tundra, make this central-Canadian province a mecca for bird and wildlife lovers.

While the majestic polar bears of Churchill are a huge drawcard for visitors to Manitoba, there are equally incredible wildlife experiences available for visitors who wish to stay close to the capital city of Winnipeg in the south.

Manitoba is positioned, for instance, within three migration corridors where more than 390 species of birds have been recorded.

One of the best places to witness the birds and learn about these winged creatures is Oak Hammock Marsh, 20 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

During peak migration season, around 100,000 waterfowl descend here per day, with a further 300 species of birds travelling through the Wildlife Management Area.

Paddle your way through the wetlands in a canoe, or become a scientist for a day and learn how to attach a tiny identification band to a live bird before setting it free to continue its journey.

Visit www.travelmanitoba.com.

Japan: a vibrant and captivating destination.

A 19-night cruise-tour, ‘Autumn Colours of Japan’, will enable guests to immerse themselves next November in the rich traditions, colourful customs and inspiring icons that make Japan one of the world’s most vibrant and captivating destinations.

As part of the itinerary, guests join tea ceremonies, learn to make sushi, watch a sumo wrestling display, meet authentic Geishas, ride Bullet Trains, view iconic Mt Fuji and visit the country’s lavish palaces and temples – all backdropped by the colourful hues of autumn.

Including return flights from Australia, the escorted cruise-tour is available from $9790 per person, twin-share — a saving of $200 per person if booked by January 14.

Phone 1300 766 537 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au.

 Georgia: an A&K small-group highlight.

Travellers booking on select Limited Edition Small Group Journeys with Abercrombie & Kent will receive a $500-per-person credit for use on flights booked with A&K.

The special offer applies to bookings made by January 31 on a selection of journeys to Namibia, Zimbabwe, West Africa, Iran, South Korea, Central Asia, Mongolia, Central Europe, the Caucasus, Turkey-and-Malta, Argentina and Brazil.

The itineraries are designed for intrepid, yet still refined, travellers heading to more off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Each one includes immersive encounters which allow the traveller to get under the skin of a destination, fascinating insights from and interaction with a resident tour director and local guides, a fine balance of guided activity, educational elements and time at leisure with group sizes capped at 18.

Visit www.abercrombiekent.com.au.

The Kansai region: the middle of Japan.

The Kansai region in the middle of Japan is home to some of its most iconic cities — Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.

These cities are abundant with rich history and culture that has been delighting the influx of tourists over recent years, yet by venturing off the beaten path, visitors will find that this vibrant region has so much more on offer.

Nara, for instance, was Japan’s capital city in the early seventh century and is home to countless ancient structures and artefacts.

Among them is one of Japan’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Todai-ji Temple, where visitors can see the 16-metre Great Daibutsu Buddha statue, situated in Nara Park which is famed for its wild deer.

But there is so much more to explore aside from these tourist hotspots.

Just a 10-minute walk south from Kintetsu Nara Station, visitors can find the traditional district of Naramachi.

Step back in time and admire the atmosphere and traditional architecture that the district is overflowing with history.

The Kintetsu Rail Pass gives travellers unlimited rides on all Kintetsu Railway lines for five days and is available for visitors from overseas at a discounted price of 3700 yen.

Visit www.kintetsu.co.jp.

 Silver Origin: A desirable home on a Galapagos journey.

If cruising the Galapagos is on your ultimate travel bucket list, Latitude 33 could answer the call next March with its 20-guest ‘Hidden Wonders of Life & Galapagos’ journey.

The itinerary takes in Chile’s Santiago, the Ecuadorian city of Quito and the Mashpi Reserve in the upper Amazon, culminating in a seven-night Galapagos cruise onboard Silversea’s new ultra-luxury expedition ship, Silver Origin.

Cruise highlights include: stopovers in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands, located on the south-western tip of San Cristobal; Playa Espumilla on the north-western side of Santiago Island, home to a variety of wildlife; and the spectacular lava-forged coast of Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, with the gentle slopes of La Cumbre volcano rising in the distance, where hundreds of marine iguanas can be found resting on the black rock of recent lava flows.

Cost is from $21,699 per person twin-share, including return international economy-class airfares from Australia, all accommodation, return airport transfers in Australia, all flights within Chile and Ecuador, all touring, all meals at Mashpi Lodge, all cuisine and select fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits and specialty coffees on board Silver Origin, all transfers and baggage handling and a Latitude 33 Tour host.

Visit www.latitude33.travel.