Jetsettersblog

Pterodactyl Helicopters may take their name from an extinct species, but their new wine tours of the Ipswich region and the Scenic Rim are anything but prehistoric.

The intimate tours for a maximum of three guests can visit up to six wineries over 100km apart, taste a selection of the latest vintages at each one, enjoy views of the vineyards from the air and still be back at base in time for lunch.

The four-hour Short Tours visit Warrego Wines and Woodlands of Marburg and then fly over the picturesque Fassifern Valley to Harrisville, home of Normanby Wines and Paradine Wines.

The six-hour Long Tours also include visits to Bunjurgen Estate and Kooroomba Vineyards, south of Boonah.

Lunch is included in both tours.

Prices for the short tour start from $455 per person for a minimum of two people and a maximum of three and $630 per person for the long tour, departing from Ipswich City helipad.

Other departure points are available including Woodlands of Marburg and Spicers at Hidden Vale.

Ph (07) 3201 0005 or visit

www.pterodactylhelicopters.com.au/wine-tours.html

Indulge yourself these school holidays with the Deluxe Starter Pack at BreakFree Alexandra Beach in beautiful Alexandra Headland – a Bed & Breakfast package favourite, the Deluxe Starter Pack includes bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, bread, butter, fresh milk, orange juice, cereal and fresh fruit. Priced from $154* per night with 1 bedroom accommodation.

Call 132 007 or visit www.breakfree.com.au

Central Queensland’s 1770 LARC! Tours has launched a Sandboarding Safari day trip aboard their famous pink amphibious vehicle.

The new 4WD adventure day trip travels to Middle Island, a sand island with 30 metre sand dunes located within Bustard Bay and only accessible by the ‘big pink boat with wheels’.

The journey includes three creek crossings and travel along the sandy beach of Eurimbula National Park. 1770 LARC!

Tours will initially run the Sandboarding Safaris on Thursdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Cost is $85 per person including the LARC journey, a picnic lunch and cold drinks, sandboarding, swimming, beachcombing and National Park fees.

For bookings call (07) 4974 9422 or visit www.1770larctours.com.au

The first stage of the Gold Coast’s first new five-star hotel in a decade – the $850 million Peppers Broadbeach – will open in October.

Comprising 505 residences in twin towers, Peppers Broadbeach will be the first five-star hotel to open on the Gold Coast since Palazzo Versace in 2000.

The resort will be the largest property within the Peppers portfolio and launched in three stages from next month (October) with the official opening of the full suite of Peppers’ services in March 2011. The one, two and three-bedroom apartments will also feature a pillow menu, gourmet minibar with local and organic products and a pre-order gourmet pantry delivery service. The resort is located in the heart of Broadbeach and bounded by Elizabeth Avenue, Surf Parade and Charles Avenue.

Reservations: 1300 987 600 or visit www.peppers.com.au

LATIN LOVERS: The Byron Latin Fiesta is set to sizzle from October 29 to 31 as Byron Bay hosts three nights and two days of all things Latin, including international, national and local teachers and performers, live bands and Latin DJs.

With a reputation of being one of the best Latin dance events in Australia, make the most of your getaway to Byron with a free night’s accommodation at BreakFree Eco Beach – the resort has a Stay 4, Pay 3 package on offer where guests can stay for four nights but only pay for three.

A Studio is priced from $185* per night, or 1 Bedroom is priced from $220* per night. Call 132 007 or visit www.breakfree.com.au.

For information on Latin Fiesta visit www.byronlatinfiesta.com

Shorter on time but not on thrills

The Gold Coast’s Movie Stunt Experience is now offering a condensed, but equally thrilling version of their popular full day action-themed adventure.

“Fight, Fall & Fire or Fly” is an action-packed, three hour programme which begins with a warm up on the obstacle course followed by the chance to act out a movie fight scene, frame by frame.

For an additional cost this can be filmed and professionally edited with sound effects onto a DVD to take home. Participants then plummet from a building into a giant airbag (you get to pick the height you want to jump from) and then choose a fire experience or the chance to fly.

For the fire experience, choose from being a human torch or part of the extinguish fire safety team.

The adventure wraps up with a glass of champagne, certificate presentation and photos with the Stunt Team. The half day programme costs $149 and runs between 8am to 11am including a free pick up and return.

No previous experience is necessary.

Movie Stunt Experience now caters for children aged eight and over who want a real “Show & Tell” Story.

The experience is designed for all fitness levels. Mob: 0415 999 626 or visit www.moviestuntexperience.com

A 12-night cruise from Shanghai to South Korea and Hong Kong that includes an overnight mid-cruise at the 5-star Raffles Hotel Beijing for tours of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and a drive-by of the 2008 Olympic Village, is selling through ecruising.travel in March of next year from $4,419pp twin-share if booked by November 1 this year – a saving of $2380pp on previously advertised.

This unique package is aboard the 690-passenger Azamara Quest and also includes 2-nights pre-cruise at the Hyatt on the Bund Shanghai, with a Shanghai Day Classic Tour, Night Highlights Tour with dinner, a river cruise and all transfers, and a night in Hong Kong post-cruise at the Peninsula Hotel including a complimentary Peak Tram Pass.

Return economy air and taxes from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide are also part of the package; Azamara Quest will sail from Shanghai on March 17 2011 for Qingdao in China, Tianjin for Beijing, Seoul and Jeju Island (South Korea,) and Hong Kong where there is a night aboard ship and another at the Peninsula Hotel.

Azamara Quest features complimentary wines with lunches and dinners, a choice of casual and more formal restaurants, any-time bottled water, sodas, and specialty coffees and teas.

There’s a choice of bars and lounges including a Piano and Wine bar, nightly live entertainment, enrichment programs, pool, jogging track, spa and casino.

For full details phone toll-free 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel

Plus, Stay for 3 Nights or More and Receive a Free De Bortoli Wines Bonus

Grand Mercure Apartments across Australia invite you to make yourself at home by offering better rates the longer you stay.

Grand Mercure Apartments can be found in 13 locations across Australia with rates starting from $108 per night for three to five night stays with further discounts applied for six night stays or more.

PLUS, book a minimum 3 night stay at any participating Grand Mercure Apartment before 31 October and you will receive a FREE De Bortoli Wines Triple Pack of Rococo Sparkling Blanc De Blancs, Gulf Station Chardonnay and Gulf Station Shiraz Viognier.

The offer is valid for stays until 10 December 2010* and available for booking via

www.grandmercureapartments.com.au

or 1300 65 65 65.

The choice to extend your stay is made easy with Grand Mercure Apartments offering all the comforts of home whilst allowing you to explore completely new surroundings in relaxing coastal destinations or exciting city locations.

The fully self contained facilities include full kitchens, laundry, ensuites, expansive living areas, all the latest in home entertainment features and the choice of one, two or three bedroom apartment configurations.

Follow the sun to tropical Cairns staying at Grand Mercure Apartments Palm Cove; explore the Whitsundays with Grand Mercure Apartments Azure Sea at Airlie Beach as your base; see the best of regional Victoria with a stay at Grand Mercure Apartments Forest Resort in Creswick, perfectly situated between the Goldfields region and spa country; or savor a Sauvignon Blanc overlooking the Hunter Valley vineyards from your balcony at Grand Mercure Apartments The Vintage and combine a little golf with your grapes on the Greg Norman designed championship golf course.

Grand Mercure Apartment guests can also access great car hire deals with Europcar – stay two or more nights and receive 15% off car hire per day.

Visit www.grandmercureapartments.com.au  for details.

*Subject to availability. Black out dates apply.

Offer available only at participating Grand Mercure Apartment properties in Australia.

KEA Australia is turning 10 and to celebrate, they’re paying for your groceries!

For all new campervan and motorhome rental bookings for travel completed by 15 December 2010, KEA will include a $50 grocery voucher.

In addition to groceries, KEA promises to take care of everything by including many items such as bedding & living equipment, extra driver fees, unlimited kilometres, gas bottles, cleaning and credit card fees in the rental rates.

With the temperatures warming up and summer just around the corner, there is no better time to take a break for an adventure in a campervan or motorhome.

KEA’s locally manufactured vehicles are decked out with all the comforts and features, including full entertainment system with HD compatible flat screen televisions and DVD players, and air conditioners throughout to maintain constant, comfortable temperatures and humidity levels.

Every vehicle uses solar panels to keep its auxiliary batteries charged, providing greater fuel efficiency and the ability to travel without having to rely on powered camp sites – allowing travellers to park in even more remote and breathtaking locations.

For the ultimate holiday experience, whether it’s heading north to the beaches or south to some of Australia’s best wineries and historical towns, KEA has it all taken care of, right down to the supermarket run.

To book a KEA campervan or motorhome from AU$195.00 a day and receive the Birthday Special, simply visit

www.keacampers.com.au

or phone 1800 252 555.

This offer is valid for all new bookings made for travel in October and November from all of KEA’s nine depots Australia-wide.

Stay in luxury at the only Resort in Broome overlooking spectacular Cable Beach, with this fantastic offer from Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa.

Stay 5 nights for the price of 4 from $594 per person* this summer and enjoy bonuses including; full buffet breakfast daily, welcome drinks overlooking Cable Beach at the Sunset Bar and Grill and return Broome airport transfers.

Plus as a special offer for families, kids can eat for free.

Valid on all room types the offer is perfect for a summer break to the Kimberley.

Couples looking for a romantic getaway can choose from the Resort’s intimate studio rooms, or for ultimate seclusion the luxurious Villas come complete with private plunge pool and butler service.

Families looking for a summer escape can choose from one of the Resort’s Broome style Bungalows with spacious open plan living and kitchen area, they are more like a home away from home.

A tropical oasis set amongst 26 acres of magnificent landscaped gardens, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is just minutes away from the multicultural pearling town of Broome and offers a truly unique experience for guests travelling to the Kimberley region.

The influence of Broome’s multicultural melting pot is evident with a choice of restaurants and bars available at the Resort. Enjoy your complimentary cocktail overlooking Cable Beach at the Sunset Bar & Grill or for the ultimate in Broome fine dining visit the Club Restaurant where traditional dishes including pearl meat and barramundi complement an extensive wine selection.

Guests can enjoy the near-perfect tropical weather and relax around the Resort’s two swimming pools, one for families, and the other a tranquil haven reserved solely for adults.

For total relaxation guests can unwind at Chahoya Spa – Broome’s little piece of heaven on Earth. Complete with seven luxurious treatment rooms and a double Vichy shower room, Chahoya Spa is the perfect place to restore body and mind.

Blessed with warm temperatures, luxurious facilities, friendly staff and numerous adventures on your doorstep, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa in Broome is perfect place for your summer break.

To make a booking visit www.cablebeachclub.com  or call reservations on 1800 199 099.