World Journeys launches The Best of Southern Africa

World Journeys have just released their small group hosted journey “Best of Southern Africa” for 2017.  Director and Africa specialist Ange Pirie says “This is by far one of our most popular small group journeys, which we put down to it capturing the essential highlights of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, all in one seamless experience.”

For 2017 World Journeys have reduced the maximum group size from 24 to 18, just to make it a more personal experience – there is still the enjoyment of sharing the experience with your travelling companions, but the group size allows you more space while travelling, and the ability to stay at smaller more boutique properties.

Commencing in Johannesburg on 2^nd May 2017, the 19 day “guaranteed to go” itinerary kicks off in style aboard the luxurious Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town where sightseeing includes a full day in the Winelands.  You then fly to Namibia, and a fabulous luxury lodge in the Sossusvlei Desert for the spectacular dunes and starry night skies.

Back to South Africa you enjoy a safari in the Sabi Sands area of Kruger National Park, staying at Kirkman’s Kamp and enjoying daily game drives.  Next up is Victoria Falls, staying at the legendary Victoria Falls Hotel before heading out on safari again in Chobe National Park with its vast herds of elephants, finishing with an absolute highlight – three nights in the wildlife rich Okavango Delta.

Priced from $18,675 per person share twin, this includes 5-star hotels and safari lodges, The Blue Train overnight journey, transfers, transport, some meals and beverages, sightseeing and entrance fees, and gratuities which are handled by the host.

Book before 30 Nov 2016 to save $400 per couple (or $200 per person), and those who have travelled on a World Journeys small group hosted journey before enjoy a further $400 per couple (or $200 per person) “welcome back” saving.  For further details see the itinerary at http://worldjourneys.com.au/our-journeys/hosted-travel/

Trafalgar brings European winter to Sydney

Trafalgar is promoting the Autumn Winter Spring brochure by giving Sydney a feel for a European winter, complete with Christmas music, Christmas trees, elves and the main event-a giant snow globe.

Pictured, from left to right, Carla Troisi, an Elf (not part of Trafalgar) Stella Hritis and Conrad McCall from the Trafalgar Sales team.

Free Entry For Kids At Featherdale Wildlife Park

To celebrate the start of the July school holidays, Featherdale Wildlife Park, home to over 2,200 Australian native animals is offering free entry to all kids up to and including 15 years of age.

This WILD offer only gets better, as it continues to run for the whole month of July, providing families with flexibility and time to get out to the park to see one of Australia’s largest collections of native Australian wildlife.

Chad Staples, General Curator at Featherdale, said: “Offering free entry for all kids during school holidays and extending it for the month of July means the public have an increased chance of getting out to the park. We are committed to conservation and education and providing our kids with the opportunity to see the animals up close and personal is an integral part of their education. We hope free child entry encourages more families to come out to park so we can share our knowledge.”

APT Hosts Symphony in the Kimberley

APT is hosting Symphony in the Kimberley – an exclusive live performance by a quintet from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) beneath the sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle’s Cathedral Gorge this September.

As a proud sponsor of the SSO’s Master Series, APT has invited a musical ensemble to perform exclusively for guests travelling on its tours. Performing at the private event are Janet Webb, Principal Flute; Diana Doherty, Principal Oboe; Francesco Celata, Acting Principal Clarinet; Matthew Wilkie, Principal Bassoon; and Ben Jacks, Principal Horn.

A natural amphitheatre within the remote World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, Cathedral Gorge offers the perfect stage for APT’s Symphony in the Kimberley, both acoustically and visually.

Snow comes to Sunshine Coast

As the coldest weather of the year descended on south-east Australia, even Queensland’s Sunshine Coast wasn’t spared, with an ‘Ice Age’ descending on the normally tropical Australia Zoo…and it is guaranteed to last for the next two weeks.

Visitors to the Sunshine Coast will be able to enjoy a surf in the morning and snow toboggan in the afternoon thanks to Australia Zoo being transformed into a winter wonderland to celebrate the launch of the film Ice Age Collision Course.

The team at Australia Zoo, with the Irwin family at the fore, were busy making ice over the weekend in preparation for the launch.

In partnership with Visit Sunshine Coast and Fox Studios, Australia Zoo is offering visitors the chance to experience real-life snow and snow themed activities such as toboggan rides and snow-ball making.

The Ice Age activities will be in place at Australia Zoo from June 27 through to July 10.

Scenic sponsors Taste Le Tour with Gabriel Gaté on SBS

Award winning luxury tour operator Scenic is, for the third year running, the primary sponsor of Taste Le Tour with Gabriel Gaté – part of SBS’s coverage of the 2016 Tour de France.

Scenic will join French chef Gabriel Gaté on his gastronomical journey in each region of the famed cycle race as he traces the 21 stages of the Tour de France. Along the way, he will learn about the gourmet specialties of the area from talented local artisans, stopping to prepare a number of enticing dishes.

Scenic is sponsoring Taste Le Tour with Gabriel Gaté with 10 second opening billboards for each episode, 30 second TVCs adjacent to each episode, plus ads will also run in the morning updates at 7am, the live stage replays at 1pm on SBS and 3pm on SBS 2, and the 5pm highlights.

A winery getaway with a twist

With winter now well and truly underway, Adelaide residents are invited to indulge in a truly unique winter getaway amongst the vines with Maui Motorhome’s Winery Havens experience.

As the temperatures begin to drop, Adelaide’s surrounding vineyards are looking stunning in the cool air, as city residents continue to escape to their grounds for a well-earned city getaway.

Maui’s unique Winery Havens camper experience allows guests to sample regional wines whilst tasting South Australia’s finest produce at five of South Australia’s premiere wineries within driving distance of Adelaide – Hahndorf Hill, Lake Breeze, Rymill Coonawarra, Caudo, and the newest member into the Winery Havens fold, Seppeltsfield. With a proud legacy dating back to 1851, the Barossa Valley winery is an exciting addition to the Maui Winery Havens network.

During the Winery Havens experience, travellers spend their days enjoying the region’s blends of Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and cool-climate Shiraz, enjoying intimate cellar-door experiences and sampling the local offerings of fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese and meats.

Travelmarvel Launches China 2017 Program

Travelmarvel has announced it is once again expanding its China portfolio. In 2017 the premium travel operator is increasing departures of the 13-day Imperial China tour, introducing three new tours and offering a Fly Free deal across a range of itineraries.

Travel agents can offer clients a choice of seven itineraries from the new Travelmarvel China 2017 brochure, which features river cruise, rail and land journeys including combination departures to Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The best-selling itinerary, Travelmarvel’s 13-day Imperial China tour, has proven so popular that two extra dates have been added for 2017, taking the total choice of departures to 14. Priced from $4,795* per person, twin share, the trip includes three nights in Beijing, a four night Yangtze river cruise aboard the MS Victoria Selina, MS Victoria Lianna or MS Victoria Anna, two nights in Xi’an, a night in Wuzhen and two nights in Shanghai.

New journeys include the 29 day Iconic Asia, a combination tour of Vietnam, Cambodia and China that starts in Hanoi and ends in Shanghai; the 14 day Across the Roof of the World rail journey featuring China’s high speed trains and Tibet’s overnight heritage sleeper train – the highest rail journey in the world; and the 24 day Kingdoms of Asia which travels from Beijing to Osaka, taking in the highlights of China and Japan.