Trafalgar has created a new series of journeys to complement its 14 existing trips through Australia and mark a restart of travel.

The Near Not Far Limited Domestic Trip Series aims to unearth the local characters of destinations and new-to-tourism experiences, while giving back to the people working in these communities.

On Trafalgar’s new ‘Majestic Tasmania’ from Hobart to Launceston, travellers will get an introduction to captivating locals such as Rodney and Severine from Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School and Eatery in the Derwent Valley, which was once the site of the Willow Court Asylum in 1827.

Clients will experience a true slice of history as they indulge in locally sourced ingredients fresh from their abundant kitchen garden and small community of local producers, farmers and fisherman.

The trip also includes a special stay in the renowned and luxuriously appointed Bell Tents at the Bay of Fires Bush Retreat run by Anna and Tom, as they share stories around a campfire.

Anna and Tom at their Bay of Fires Bush Retreat (image: supplied)

Trafalgar’s new ‘Ultimate Wonders of the West’ is not only unique in supporting areas beyond the typical tourist pathways, but will give guests a chance to visit Penguin Island, located 45 minutes out of Perth in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

On this seven-day trip from Perth through to Fremantle, clients will also enjoy the best of the iconic, with a magnificent seven-course degustation lunch with matching wines at (James Halliday five-star-rated) Hay Shed Hill winery in Willyabrup in the Margaret River.

Completing the limited trip series, the seven-day ‘Victoria’s Natural Wonders’ from Melbourne through to the Mornington Peninsula will visit the picturesque and historic Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, in the town of Daylesford – a place touched by the economic repercussions of the bushfires.

This trip will visit Greg, Sue and their two kelpies at the Green Olive Farm in Sorrento on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula for a true taste of rural farm life.

Clients will also explore the enigmatic town of Creswick to visit the only remaining woollen spinning mill of its kind – the family-owned Creswick Woollen Mills.

Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld in Victoria (image: supplied)

Trafalgar’s managing director for Australia, Jason Wolff, said the new series of trips was based on feedback from past guests, travel agents partners and local communities.

“We wanted to know what’s important to our guests, what’s going to help them travel with confidence and how we can continue to support small businesses and regional communities devastated by firstly the bushfires, and now COVID-19,” he said.

“We understand that many Australians believe they’ve already seen everything there is to see, but along with all of the highlights that you would expect to find in each destination, we’ve gone to great lengths to open up unique local businesses and the amazing stories behind them.”

Wolff said the wellbeing of guests post-coronavirus has been a huge focus for Trafalgar, having last week announced enhanced health and safety protocols such as smaller group sizes, social distancing measures and additional stringent sanitisation procedures.

Agents are invited to join the Travel Restarts Masterclasses to upskill on the new Near Not Far Limited Series on 1 July, with two sessions at 10am and 1pm to suit all time zones. Registrations for these masterclasses open on 22 June.

In recognition of the new way in which the industry will operate post-coronavirus, Trafalgar’s Stronger Together initiative for travel agents features a ‘Travel Restarts’ resource kit that will include a series of bite-sized ‘webisodes’ on each domestic trip, as well as a host of video content and educational tools.

In addition, Trafalgar’s new $99 reduced deposit offer is available for trips booked between 15 June and 1 September 2020, for travel between 1 September 2020 to 31 October 2021.

Trafalgar’s Near Not Far Limited Series trips kick off in September, and further information is available from local sales managers as well as online via the brand’s website.

Featured image: supplied by Trafalgar