Jetsettersblog

Anticipating a rush on Australia travel after next week’s release of the movie “Australia,” Qantas Vacations is premiering an array of Outback-themed vacations, including an exclusive “Outback Airpass” for $1,199, which includes international air to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, plus three flights within the Outback, a savings of at least $400 per couple.

The company is featuring a comprehensive collection of experiences to the Outback in an exclusive 40-page glossy Outback brochure and website, www.qantasvacations.com/outback. More than 60 inspiring vacation experiences found uniquely in Australia’s legendary Outback are featured, ranging from cattle drives on remote stations in the Kimberly Region to luxury tented safari camps in the Northern Territory.

“Qantas Vacations is the first operator to launch a brochure and website dedicated exclusively to out-of-the-ordinary Outback experiences and remarkable places from many scenes in Australia the movie,” said Kieron Keady, vice president of sales for Qantas Vacations.

 “We wanted to ensure our travel agents had the right tools to translate the excitement created by the movie and deliver a truly exceptional Australian vacation for their clients.”
Qantas Vacations’ Outback experiences are offered throughout Australia and highlight not just the region’s distinctive landscapes but also the fascinating people who call the area home.

Travelers can explore ancient Dreamtime legend, culture and art with a member of a local Aboriginal community or enjoy “bush tucker” at a campfire with a “jackeroo” or “swagman.” And while most visitors fly between Outback sights, the Qantas Vacations website and brochure also feature transportation as varied as 4WD vehicles, camel safaris, rail journeys and luxury cruises.

 The movie, which stars Aussie icons Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, is set in Australia’s formidable Northern Territory in the years just prior to World War II. An epic love story likened to Gone with the Wind, Australia is set to open across the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 26 and is expected to create huge interest in travel to Australia. The Outback Airpass, which starts at $1,199, must be booked and ticketed before Dec. 31, 2008 with a minimum three nights’ hotel accommodation.

Land vacations start at $660 with prices valid through March 2009.

For more information and to order copies of Qantas Vacations’ Outback brochure, call 800-641-8772 or visit www.qantasvacations.com/outback