Jetsettersblog

Virgin Blue travellers touching down at Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast airports now have a new streamlined fly/transfer option available to them for shuttle transfers to and from their hotel or resort accommodation.

Virgin Blue Group has joined forces with Gold Coast based company Con-x-ion to offer quick and easy airport transfers from the airports to local hotels and resorts to get holidays off to a smooth and stress-free start.

From May 6, Guests flying on either Virgin Blue or trans-Tasman on Pacific Blue will be able to easily book their ground transfer as part of their flight booking process on line at www.virginblue.com.au Con-x-ion also offers additional services on the Gold Coast including shuttle services to the world famous Theme Parks including Dreamworld, Movie World, Wet’n’Wild Waterworld, Sea World, Outback Spectacular and more. For those visiting the Gold Coast for the first time, there is also a 4 ½ hour sightseeing tour to introduce travellers to the highlights of one of the most famous Australian holiday destinations.

Mathias Friess, Virgin Blue Group General Manager Sales, said, “This is yet another value-for-money and convenient enhancement that we are pleased to offer our Guests to help with their holiday plans.

Con-x-ion is one of South East Queensland’s largest and most trusted ground transport providers with 20 years experience and we are confident the service will make life easier for those Guests needing to hitch a ride to their hotel, the airport or to check out the theme parks.”

The online booking process is simple and quick and involves printing out the emailed confirmation and presenting it to a shuttle coach driver who will greet

Guests as they land at the airport or out the front of the nominated accommodation.

Services available include:

•Airport transfers from Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Airport (Domestic and International)

•Transfer to Gold Coast Theme Parks

•Gold Coast City Highlights Tour

Green by Name, Green by Nature

Located in the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Green Island Resort is one of the world’s most eco-sensitive developments and is accredited with Advanced Ecotourism Certification. Just 27 km across the Coral Sea from Cairns, Green Island Resort is luxury on the Great Barrier Reef.

Nestled amongst the rainforest and secluded from the day visitor facilities, Green Island Resort offers a unique blend of 46 luxurious accommodation suites and unparalleled access to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, lush rainforest, and a spectacular array of bird and marine life.

AWARDED BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRATICE 2008

Behind the scenes of this luxurious eco-sensitive island resort, with self-sufficient power, water supply, waste management and recycling, Green Island Resort has set a benchmark in for its commitment to environmental practices and was awarded the 2008 “Best Environmental Practice” at the Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence.

Lisa Krause, Green Island Resort General Manager said “We face many special challenges being located offshore, and especially operating within a World Heritage Area. It is vital to our future and the health of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to ensure environmentally sustainable practices.”

As an example, through energy efficient systems, continual improvement to the island’s tertiary sewage treatment plant has reduced its carbon footprint in excess of 8 tonnes CO2-equiv in the past year.

TURTLES HATCHING

The green by nature theme was highlighted this year with the wonderful sight as around 100 young hatchlings, believed to be Green Turtles, emerged from their nests to scramble towards the water’s edge.

Some of Green Island Resort’s guests were thrilled to witness the spectacle during the guided evening nature walk.

Sue O’Donnell, Green Island Resort, Rooms Division Manager witnessed the event and exclaimed “ It was totally awesome and it would have to be one of the 10 best things I have experienced in my life. We lost count of the little turtles but we think there were at least 100 or more running for the water. House guests and staff were thrilled and the oohs and ahhs just showed the delight of everyone witnessing this very rare and special occasion on Green Island”.

Quicksilver Group Environmental & Compliance Manager Doug Baird said several other nests were also located on the island this season, and it is believed to be the first time in about six years that turtles have nested on the island.

For more information on Green island Resort visit www.quicksilvergroup.com.au

On the eastern most coast of Australia lies the Green Cauldron, now officially recognised by Tourism Australia as a National Landscape, which takes in much of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.

Within the ancient geology of this landscape are Wollumbin – Mt Warning – the first place in Australia to see the sun rise – and the magnificent Gondwanan rainforests, offering not only a world heritage wilderness experience but a proximity to a range of world class tourism experiences.

“The Northern Rivers, or the Byron region as it is more commonly known offers a truly authentic Australian holiday experience,” says CEO of Northern Rivers Tourism, Russell Mills.

Our delightful beaches and surfing lifestyle contrast with the tranquility and refreshing beauty of the rainforests, less than an hour away. We’re particularly proud of the fresh regional food, the arts and creativity of our residents, a strong health and wellbeing focus and a thriving market culture which often brings these all together.”

Presenting at ATE 2009 are some great examples of the experiences on offer in the Northern Rivers and Australia’s Green Cauldron

Mt Barney Lodge

Right on the rim of the Green Cauldron is Mt Barney Lodge, offering an ecotourism experience with a great diversity of attractions and accommodation styles.

For the adventurous there’s rock climbing, abseiling, night adventure, bushwalking, sunset ecotour and mountain guiding.

Others can sit and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding rainforests.

Santai at Casuarina
With its lush tropical gardens, lagoon style pool and Balinese inspired architecture; this resort offers a true luxury experience.

Santai Domain Resort is an award winning development, conveniently located 15 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport and 30 minutes away from Byron Bay.

Gold Coast Airport

Getting to the Northern Rivers has never been easier with 50 flights a day providing connection for international passengers either directly or from other major Australian airports.

Located right on the border of the Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast airport is undergoing major redevelopment, which will see it become a modern international gateway while retaining that friendly welcoming feel unique to arriving in regional Australia.

Byron Easy Bus

Byron Easy Bus services Gold Coast, Ballina-Byron and even Brisbane airports for visitors into the Northern Rivers.

As well as its extensive charter service for inbound travellers and the conference/meetings markets, they offer a wide range of tours encompassing the whole region.

Friday on the Beach – Byron Bay

Right in the heart of Byron Bay, a stroll from the beach is Friday on the Beach, one of the premier places to stay in this iconic Australian town. for Fridays and any other day of the week!

All nineteen lovingly refurbished rooms have ocean views across the rolling surf of Byron’s main beach and some have private decks.

Byron Bay Ballooning

A truly special way of experiencing the region is to fly above it and catch the sun as it rises over the ocean on an early morning balloon flight with Byron Bay ballooning. Chances are you will be among the very first in Australia to see the sun rise at this most easterly point in the country.

Byron Bay Ballooning offers views from the coastline to the rainforests and the rich farming lands in between, with a sense of style and of course, safety.

Gaia Retreat & Spa

Winner of the 2008 Conde Nast Award for Favourite Overseas Hotel Spa, Gaia Retreat is a special place where guests have the wonderful gift of choice. The best local organic produce is used by Gaia’s chefs to create superb dishes each day.

Gaia Retreat is in the hinterland of Byron Bay and Ballina and boasts a team of exceptional healers and therapists to cater for every individual need of its guests.

Ramada Hotel & Suites

Ballina is one of the major regional towns of the Northern Rivers and right where the mighty Richmond River meets the sea is the Ramada Hotel & Suites

This eighteen month young property offers high quality accommodation on the waterfront, with suites offering spectacular river or hinterland views. The Ramada is a perfect central base from which to explore the Northern Rivers.

The Byron region offers just about everything experience-seeking travellers could want. A mild climate all year round, natural coastal and hinterland beauty, easily accessible towns and villages and a wonderful sense of being able to live like a local.

“With Gold Coast Airport now officially recognized as NSW’s second international gateway we are delighted to be able to offer an expanded range of products and experiences to international travellers,” adds Russell Mills.

Top towns

The diversity of tourism experiences in the Northern Rivers region is also shown by two quite different towns being selected in the Top 10 for Australian Traveller magazine’s top 100 best towns in Australia recently. A third town in the region, Evans Head, also made the Top 100 in 95th position.

“It is great that Yamba was voted number one and Byron Bay number seven for different reasons reflecting the tourism experiences we have to offer,” says Russell.

At Yamba, a new style of tourist accommodation has emerged, that of the new look YHA. A 90 bed YHA hostel opened lat last year, bringing a new level of accommodation to the Clarence Coast and surrounding region and appealing to international travellers with a love of independent travel.

With roof top pool and modern café and bar, it offers state of the art accommodation catering for backpackers through to families and includes a variety of room styles ranging from multi share to family ensuite.

95% of the world’s precious opal comes from Australia.

Opal is formed from a solution of silicon dioxide and water.

As water runs down through the earth, it picks up silica from sandstone, and carries this silica-rich solution into cracks and voids, caused by natural faults or decomposing fossils.

As the water evaporates, it leaves behind a silica deposit. This cycle repeats over millions of years, and eventually opal is formed.

Yowah is a small opal mining town located 160km from Cunnamulla. The town is famous for the Yowah Nut Opal and Ironstone Matrix Opal, which are unique to the area.

Opal was first discovered at Yowah more than 100 years ago.

Yowah lies in the dry ancient seabed of the Eromanga Sea, which over 100 million years ago, covered much of inland Australia. The shallow waters, which ran from the Gulf of Carpenteria to the Great Australian Bight were brimming with spectacular prehistoric marine creatures, shells, crustaceans and plant life.

When these creatures died, their remains sank to the bottom of the seabed.

Their bones and hard calcium remains became buried under sand and silt and were preserved. With the build up of sediments over millions of years those remaining bony or shell parts became fossilized.

These fossils provided an ideal space and environment for precious opal to grow.

Western Queensland is famous for its fossils and dinosaur remains. The Eromanga basin as part of the Great Artesian Basin, is the only place in the world known to harbor animal fossils in opal.

It is extremely rare for conditions to be right for formation of fossils and even more rare for opalised fossils to form.

Opalised bones, teeth, shells and pine cones are dazzling reminders of the prehistoric past when dinosaurs and other strange reptiles ruled the land, waters and skies of Western Queensland.

Local Tour Operator Stephanie Mills Outback Tours conducts tours of the Yowah Opal Fields where tour participants can fossick for their very own opal and then have their find cut at Yowah Gallery. Yowah’s opals are very beautiful and stable and are considered by many to have the brightest and best appearance.

For more information contact your local travel agent or Stephanie Mills Outback Tours directly on +617 4655 1679 or visit www.stephaniemillsgallery.com.au

110 million years ago, the shallow Eromanga Sea covered much of inland Australia.

The outback town of Cunnamulla, today stands where the cold waters of the Eromanga once teemed with ancient marine reptiles and prehistoric creatures.

Deep below the town, lies remnants of the past. The world’s largest underground river, the Eromanga Basin, flows right beneath the dusty red streets of Cunnamulla. It provides the town with its only reliable water source.

The Eromanga Basin is a subdivision of the Great Artesian Basin, which collectively is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world, covering a total of 1,711,000 square kilometres (661,000 sq mi).

For over 100 years bores have been used to access the waters of the Great Artesian Basin. The area around Cunnamullla is dotted with free flowing bores, which use gravity to draw the water to the surface.

Water from the Eromanga Basin is rich in minerals.

Paleontologists have proven that much of the sediment deposited in the water supply originated from animal and plant matter that existed between 130 and 95 million years ago, a period when dinosaurs and their marine equivalents dominated the Western Queensland landscape.

Essentially water from the Eromanga Basin is saturated with microscopic fragments of Titanosaur Sauropods, Theropods, Plesiosaurs, Kronosauruses and Pliosaus (to name a few), which were all prolific in the area.

The area has international significance for its gas and oil deposits as well as magnificent fossils, footprints and relics. Charlotte Plains and Nardoo Station are two properties on the outskirts of Cunnamulla that boast large artesian bores.

At Nardoo Station, water from the bores spills into heated pools, while the free flowing bore at Charlotte Plains spills into the natural surrounds.

The bores maintain water temperature of 47 degrees Celsius year round.

Tourists can swim in the bores and soak up the
ancient minerals from some of our largest and fiercest predecessors.

Those who soak in the heated springs feel refreshed and energized afterwards. Many claim water from the Eromanga Basin has therapeutic or healing qualities.

The water in Cunnamulla is safe to drink. It is pumped to the surface and left to settle in the town’s water tower. When demand is high the water can run warm to hot around 50 degrees.

For the next two years Caloundra will be the place to keep in touch with.Queesland’s Tidiest Town will host the X-Blades National Touch League and National Youth Championships next year and the youth championships again in 2011.

Caloundra Tourism will sponsor the three tournaments to be held at Stockland Park, the Sunshine Coast’s premier sporting precinct.

The national titles will be held from March 10-13 next year and attract over 100 elite teams representing clubs across Australia with entries also from New Zealand and Singapore last year.

Based on the usual attendance of approx 2000 participants plus officials and organisers, the national titles are estimated to inject $2.7 million directly into the local economy.

The youth championships are held in September between teams from regions, states and the school system.

Caloundra Tourism president Mike Wilkinson said the sponsorship would provide the opportunity to promote the region to the Touch Football membership base of 380,000.

“The Touch Football demographic is ideal for Caloundra and supports our family image with age divisions through to 50 years with woman’s and mixed divisions making this a broadly appealing event, and cost-effective marketing strategy,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“Caloundra Tourism looks forward to working with Touch Football Australia to continue to grow the popularity of these events and showcase our beach and hinterland experiences.”

The national titles will also have international exposure via webcasting links to 28 national and international Touch Football organisations.

For great deals on accommodation and what to see and do in Caloundra visit www.caloundratourism.com.au  or phone 1800 700 899 to speak to a friendly local.

For further information about Touch Football at www.austouch.com.au  & specifically the NTL at www.nationaltouchleague.com

The extraordinary track which is Darwin’s Hidden Valley, is one of 2009’s
most difficult circuits. With the likes of world renowned drivers such as Winterbottom, Tander, Whincup and the amazing Kelly Brothers, the race is set to be the major highlight of the 2009 Supercar Challenge.

With just under 1 month until the V8 event extravaganza, Sportsnet Holidays are offering limited five night packages to the ‘2009 Skycity
Triple Crown Hidden Valley’ featuring entry aboard the Holden v Ford Battle of the Boats Fishing Challenge, exclusive entry to the V8 Drivers Forum, five nights accommodation, a three day weekend hot pass and a bonus
three day Supercar Paddock Pass.

The annual’ Battle of the Boats Fishing Challenge’ will see two teams of Holden and Ford supporters take to the high seas for a day of reef and game fishing, 50 nautical miles off the Darwin shoreline.

This is your opportunity to take part in the most prestigious ‘Fish Off’ of the year as you compete against your biggest rival’s for 12 months worth of supremacy and bragging rights, a title that can only be settled upon the high seas of Darwin!!!

Exclusive entry to the Sportsnet Holidays V8 Drivers Forum the following day, will see you let loose and party up with both Ford and Holden V8 Supercar drivers. You’ll be able to drink the hours away using your exclusive neoprene Stubby Cooler whilst quenching your thirst on a selection of domestic beer, wine or soft drinks.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to be a part of V8 history in the making! Book your ‘2009 Skycity Triple Crown Hidden Valley Fishing Adventure’ NOW!

Please log onto www.sportsnetholidays.com drop us an
email at travel@sportsnetholidays.com  or free call 1300 888 858 TODAY!

from French into English and from English into French

From SCRIBO EDITION, French publisher of bilingual gastronomic dictionaries since 1989

THE A-Z OF COOKING VERBS

Pocket Dictionary for cooks and pastry cooks

How would you translate a stew?

Hint: the French use 6 different terms according to the food that is stewed.

• What is the technique to spatchcock a whole chicken?

Hint: something has to be removed so that you can open up the chicken flat, like a book.

• What is the French translation for Blind-baking a pastry crust?

Hint: The English cook ‘blind’ ; the French cook ‘à blanc’.

If you have no clue how to answer the above, then you definitely need The A-Z of Cooking Verbs.

BOTH A DICTIONARY AND A FRENCH TRAINING MANUAL

• The A-Z of Cooking Verbs offers cooks and bakers the vocabulary and phrases that are essential in translating recipes.

• Students in catering schools will use the dictionary to learn the definitions of the cooking vocabulary in French and in English.

• Their teachers will discover resources for numerous thematic lessons in cooking vocabulary.

A MINE OF INFORMATION

In a compact, easy to use format The A-Z of Cooking Verbs covers a large panorama:

1. The 450 verbs most frequently used in cooking and baking.

2. Definitions for specific French terms (chiqueter, luter, lever un filet de viande, abaisser une pâte, etc.).

3. Practical examples of translations in the context of recipes.

4. Linguistic variations British English/American English.

5. Verb derivatives: adjectives, adverbs, nouns (Ice, ice-cold, iced, icing; Cook, cooked, cooker, cookery, cooking,cookware, etc.). For common names which are not derived from a verb, The A-Z of Cooking Verbs is best used with its complement, the pocket gastronomic dictionary The A-Z of French Food, in which you will find all ingredient related terms (meat, fish, vegetables, etc.), along with the explanation of all the dishes, preparations and ingredients of traditional and regional French cuisine.

Author : Geneviève de Temmerman.
Format : 9 x 19 cm ; 144 pages.
For sale at www.scribo.fr   and international bookshops.
Price : 34 euros (dispatching included).

Get Game and Fish Department information almost instantly

Want to know almost instantly once the big game draw has been completed?

Maybe you would like to get the latest fishing, hunting, off-highway vehicle or shooting sports information from the Arizona Game and Fish Department sent to your cell phone or other hand-held communication device.

Well, now you can. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is now using Twitter. You can follow the department and its activities at @azgfd or at http://twitter.com/azgfd.

What is Twitter? It’s a free social networking service that is a cross between blogging and public instant messaging. Basically, it allows users to follow and communicate using a wide range of devices.

Text posts, similar to blogging, are limited to 140 characters known as “tweets.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Twitter page provides a simple overview in one quick glance of department news and information, including What’s New, the Fishing Report, Hunting Highlights, Wildlife News, Blog Updates, and more.

To sign up for a free Twitter account and begin following the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit http://twitter.com/azgfd and click on “Join Today” in the green box at the upper right.

Just fill out the brief information to create your account. Once you’ve completed that, you should begin automatically receiving messages from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, but if not, click on the “Follow” button on the top left under the Arizona Game and Fish logo.

Then simply configure your “Settings” to receive cell phone text message updates or email updates.

To view two short introductory videos on what Twitter is and how to use it, visit  THIS LINK.

For more how-to guides, instructions and support,

visit the Twitter Support page.

an innovative roller coaster that combines hit music, breathtaking first-ever maneuvers and highly sophisticated audio and video.

The coaster features numerous world’s firsts, including a number of unique first-ever applications of technology to create an extreme ride experience.

We told you that we would regularly share details with you on our new roller coaster. Click here for the next piece of new information on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit – an animated video that showcases the coaster experience.

In addition, you and your readers can see a 3D interactive model of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s revolutionary ride vehicle and other videos on our updated attraction web site, at

THIS LINK.

Don’t forget to visit  THIS LINK TOO.

 and sign up for RSS feeds to continue to receive new details weekly on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit now through its opening in late spring/early summer.