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The latest travel buzz words are all about eco-friendly travel, responsible tourism and reducing your carbon footprint on the environment. 

Responsible tourism takes into account your impact on the environment and encourages you to interact with the local communities culture and traditions.  Perhaps plant a tree or contribute to a local environmental program.

There are many Eco-Resorts which have been built encompassing these philosophies.  Take the Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village on Fraser Island for an example.  They are a leader in eco-tourism trends and have won numerous awards for eco-tourism and development.  The accommodation is designed to minimise the effects on the surrounding environment, to conserve energy and to minimise waste. 

The buildings are built up high so as not to damage the sand dunes.  The Queenslander style buildings with open verandahs and curving tin roofs in natural colours blend into the surrounding environment and reduce the need for airconditioning as they are cooled by the afternoon breezes.   The buildings are no more than 2 levels and below the natural tree line minimising the resorts visual impact. 

There will be no stealing the little soaps and shampoos either as they use refillable dispensers in the bathrooms to eliminate packaging waste.  They even have an onsite worm farm which turns waste into compost for the resort gardens. 

There are many eco-friendly tours from Fraser Island.  Sail out on a catamaran on a dolphin watching tour or even fly a microlight!

Domestic airlines within Australia are now offering to off-set your flight carbon emissions.  So if you are flying with Virgin Blue into Hervey Bay you can purchase a ‘carbon credit’ to offset to ensure the impact of your flight is ‘carbon neutral’. 

When you plan your next holiday, think about how you can travel green and love the planet!

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With so many grape varieties grown in Australia, you can enjoy many different styles of drinking. Don’t be locked into buying “the big reds” in winter to match a lamb roast or a semillon/sauvignon to go with your bbq fish in summer. Branch out in taste and style with a visit to the lesser known wine regions. With fewer crowds, larger-than-life local characters and carefully crafted wines, you’ll be pleasantly surprised…

Pipers River & Tamar Valley TAS – The first vines were planted in Tassie in 1823, making it the oldest wine producing region in Australia. Pipers River has a climate similar to the Champagne area in France, whilst the Tamar Valley specialises in Pinots & Rieslings. Stay in Launceston to be central to both wine regions.
Try: Sparkling wines, Pinot Noir
Stay: Peppers Seaport Hotel Launceston

Canberra ACT – Most of Canberra’s wineries are small, having grown from hobby farms started by academics and public servants. The wine styles vary considerably due to Canberra’s climate extremes. There are plenty of other attractions here too – Questacon, NASA Deep Space Centre, National Gallery, Old Parliament House, Royal Australian Mint, the War Memorial… who’d have thought our capital could be so interesting?!
Try: Riesling, Chardonnay
Stay: Medina Classic Canberra

Mornington Peninsula VIC – With around 200 vineyards and 50 cellar doors, the Mornington Peninsula is no small player in Australia’s wine industry. It has a reputation for premium wines and outstanding regional cuisine, but is also known as the seaside playground for Melbournians (just an hour away) with its calm bay beaches, natural beauty, heritage trails and world class golf courses.
Try: Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
Stay: Peppers Moonah Links Resort

Pemberton WA – Pemberton lies in the heart of Karri country. The Karri eucalypt is one of the largest trees found on the planet and driving through the Karri forest is certainly a dwarfing experience! The boutique wineries, national parks and leisure activities all add enormously to the tourism platform of this region.
Try: Chardonnay, Merlot
Stay: Best Western Pemberton Hotel

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With a Public Holiday long weekend coming up in most Australian states, it’s a great time to check out some of our great last minute hotel deals. 

You don’t have to travel too far, why not head into your nearest capital city or regional area.  Do some fun activities with the family – check out the zoo, cruise on the local ferry, go to the movies or just walk around the local parks and gardens.

I think we might head for the Goldfields area of Victoria – I have been waiting to check out the facilities at the new Novotel Forest Resort in Creswick.  It is located partway between Daylesford and Ballarat and less than a 90 minute drive out of the city of Melbourne.  A beautiful new 4 and a half star resort on 150 acres in Victoria’s Spa Country complete with Robert Allenby designed championship golf course; tennis courts; fitness centre and outdoor children’s playground.  All the rooms have balconies and spa baths and chic, modern furnishings. 

The kids will love Ballarat and the Underground Goldmine Adventure Tour.  I can head to my favourite retreat at Hepburn Springs for my ‘Revival Pamper’ – a 20 minute aroma spa, 45 minute massage followed by a 45 minute facial. Hepburn Springs Tours and spa packages.

I wonder what you might plan for the next long weekend?

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If you are into art, theatre, sport, shopping, gardens, architecture anything really – Melbourne is the place to be.  And now there is a FREE Tourist Shuttle to get you around town to all these attractions.

The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle is a FREE bus network, servicing major attractions in and around the city of Melbourne.  With 11 stops you can hop on and hop off at your leisure throughout the day.  The service runs every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day from 9.30am until 4.30pm.  With shuttles every 15 – 20 minutes you can stop to take a quick photo, or spend some time exploring the area before hopping on the next shuttle.

The main stops and attractions are:-

1.      Arts Precinct – The Arts Centre; Performing Arts Museum; NGV International; Malthouse Theatre; ACCA Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

2.      Federation Square – Melbourne Visitor Centre; Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia; ACMI Australian Centre for the Moving Image; Champions: Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame; National Design Centre; Birrarung Marr; ArtPlay kids’ playground

3.      Exhibition Street – theatre district; Fitzroy Gardens; Chinatown

4.      Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens – IMAX Theatre; Royal Exhibition Building; Old Melbourne Goal

5.      Lygon Street – heart of Melbourne’s Italian community, restaurants and cafes

6.      University of Melbourne – Ian Potter Museum of Art

7.      Queen Victoria Market – Flagstaff Gardens

8.      William Street – legal precinct, Supreme Court; County Court; Immigration Museum

9.      Southbank and Southgate – riverside chic, Crown Entertainment Complex; Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre; Eureka Skydeck 88 and The Edge

10.  Sports and Entertainment Precinct – Melbourne Park including Rod Laver Arena; Olympic Park; Melbourne Cricket Ground (The G!) and Yarra Park

11.  The Shrine and Royal Botanic Gardens – King’s Domain; Sidney Myer Music Bowl; Government House

At the end of the day you have seen all the major of sites of Melbourne for FREE!  What a great day out!  Additional charges may apply to enter venues.

Need a place to stay in Melbourne? – view our range of hotels here.

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Outback Northern Territory is brimming with life, beautiful and dangerous, it offers a desert adventure filled with wildlife, world heritage wonders and indigenous culture.  A little more care is needed in planning your holiday in such a harsh environment.  Because of this, we are often asked the question, when’s the best time to travel there?  Well that depends on what sort of adventure you’re after… The winter months have the most comfortable daytime temperature, but beware of the night frosts. Winter is also high season in the outback, with the tourist season officially open in April.  From June to August the crowds can be unbearable, especially during school holidays.  By October the masses have vanished, but by then it’s hot and coming into wet season. I’m not helping, am I? 

In summary the best time to visit Ayers Rock and Alice Springs is April.  It’s green, there’s less people and less temperature extremes between day/night. For Kakadu, many people recommend travelling there in the wet season, October to April.  However during the dry season, May to September, most roads are open and the weather is more reliable.  May to mid-June is the best time to avoid the crowds, the weather is not too hot, rain is unlikely and there’s still plenty of water coming down the waterfalls.  The late dry season (September/October) is the best time to see wildlife.  Go early September if your heat tolerance levels are low, by October it gets uncomfortably hot. Now cast your eyes down for our outback adventure suggestions…

1. Jewels of the Outback
You’d be spot on for thinking “what the devil is this picture of?”… it’s the Devils Marbles in Northern Territory, a group of boulders perched precariously on top of one another. You can see this eerie collection of granite mass and learn about their formation on our 13 Day Outback Gorges of Kimberley tour, which includes all the jewels of the outback between Broome and Darwin. The tour costs just AU$2550 per adult.

2. Darwin
If there’s one place to see a croc, it’s northern Australia, where they lurk in the swamps, creeks and billabongs. But if a chance encounter doesn’t thrill you, then head to Crocodylus Park for some “controlled” adventure. For non-croc activities, check out the Museum & Art Galleries of NT, Aquascene or the Mindil Beach Markets. Self-cater at the Saville Park Suites Darwin.

3. Alice Springs
No less grumpy than the crocodile, but a little less scary, camels are also a common sighting in the outback. Take our Camel Ride to Dinner tour from AU$110 pp ex Alice Springs. Or learn about the natural and cultural significance of Uluru on our Spirit of Uluru Tour just AU$85 pp. Stay in a Mountain view room at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs.

Offers are subject to availability and may change without notice.