New Museums, Rail Journeys And Cycle Routes – Plus Crocodile Dundee!
2011 will be a big year for Australia with exciting new openings and anniversaries to celebrate – here are Austravel’s top picks
2011 is a fantastic year to visit Australia as the country celebrates numerous anniversaries and openings on a national, cultural, and historical scale. Here are the top picks from Australasia expert, Austravel:
Visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
For art and history lovers the fun continues in January 2011 with the opening of the MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, an AU$250 million collection of art. Located just outside Hobart, the MONA houses an astonishing private collection of art – the largest in the Southern Hemisphere – with works by Damien Hurst, Sydney Nolan and Wim Delvoye to name just a few. MONA amenities include accommodation, a lovely restaurant serving seasonal local cuisine, a winery, and Australia’s famous Moo-Brew organic brewery.
Austravel package from £1695
Departure dates: Selected departures in March 2011
Price includes: Return flights from London Heathrow, via Sydney, to Hobart with Qantas, six day Freycient Escape which includes 6 days car hire, a day sightseeing in Launceston, St Helen’s on George Bay, Freycinet National Park, Richmond, Port Arthur and Hobart.
To book, visit www.austravel.com or call 0800 988 4834.
All aboard for a NEW rail journey – The Southern Spirit
In January 2011, Great Southern Rail will be introducing a brand new route. The Southern Spirit explores the unique landscape of the Great Dividing Range and takes in the sights and delights of Australia’s southeast.
There are options to join at Adelaide for a six day trip or Melbourne for five days, journeying to Brisbane (or vice versa) and calling at: The Grampians, Albury-Wodonga on the Murray River, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, the Hunter Valley, Port Macquarie and Byron Bay. Austravel has launched a new Adelaide, Southern Spirit and Brisbane itinerary to incorporate the rail journey:
Price: £3259 – saving £345
Departure date: 22 February 2011
No of nights: 9 nights
Price includes: Singapore Airlines flights from London Heathrow to Adelaide and Brisbane to Heathrow, four nights’ four-star hotel accommodation (two nights in both Adelaide and Brisbane), five nights’ accommodation onboard The Southern Spirit in traditional twin cabins, including all meals and all off-train touring. Visit www.austravel.com or phone 0800 988 4834.
Cross Australia on the 150th anniversary of the first European crossing
2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the first crossing of Australia by a European explorer. Scottish-born John Mcdouall Stuart left Adelaide with his intrepid team on 26 October 1861, arriving in Darwin in April 1862.
Mcdouall Stuart ultimately paved the way for the famous Overland Telegraph Line. Follow in Stuart’s footsteps (well, some of them at least!) with Austravel’s new Down the Middle: Darwin to Adelaide itinerary:
Price: £2889 per person, based on two sharing
Departure date: Selected dates in May 2011
No of nights: 12 nights
Price includes: Qantas flights from London Heathrow to Darwin and Adelaide to Heathrow, seven nights’ hotel accommodation (three nights in Darwin and two nights in Alice Springs and Adelaide), a three-day camping safari in the Red Centre, a Litchfield and Jumping Crocodiles tour, overnight on the Ghan to Alice Springs traveling on the Gold sleeper Service, a half-day Alice Springs Highlights tour, then back on the Ghan to continue the ‘Pioneer’s’ route from Alice Springs into Adelaide.
Visit www.austravel.com or phone 0800 988 4834.
Mark the 25th Anniversary of Crocodile Dundee with a croc-themed trip
The milestones continue with the 25th anniversary of the release of Crocodile Dundee! Relive this quintessential Australian movie with a croc-themed trip worthy of Paul Hogan himself.
Austravel package from £1,799
Departure date: Selected dates in March 2011
No of nights: 10 nights
Price includes: Visit Kakadu National Park and the beautiful Gunlom Falls, both of which featured in the 1986 film, on this 10-night trip which includes: five nights at the Travelodge Mirambeena Resort, five nights touring the Top End, including an overnight stay at the striking crocodile-shaped hotel Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn, six days’ car hire and return flights from Heathrow to Darwin.
Visit www.austravel.com or phone 0800 988 4834.
For flights to Australia or to book any of these packages, visit www.austravel.com or phone 0800 988 4834.
About Austravel
Founded 32 years ago, the leading Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific specialist Austravel (www.austravel.com) is perfectly placed to introduce travellers to the superb diversity and attractions of these countries.
As well as providing great deals on holidays, cheap flights, hotels, cruises and organised tours, Austravel prides itself on its expert knowledge and always finding the right holiday for its customers.
In keeping with its strap line, ‘We don’t just go there, we know there’, Austravel has won the Australia Tour Operator of the Year Award three times out of the last five years at the Tourism Australia Awards.
Leading the way in innovative brochure design, Austravel won best Australia brochure in both the UK and worldwide categories at the International Brochure of the Year Awards. Austravel also recently won bronze in the Best Tour Operator category at the World Travel Awards and has been shortlisted for ‘best specialist tour operator’ for the Condé Nast Travel Awards 2010.
