Jetsettersblog

With 74 glorious islands making up Queensland’s spectacular Whitsundays, there are just as many reasons to tie the knot in this perfect piece of paradise.

Located in the very heart of the Great Barrier Reef, it’s little wonder the region hosts more than 1,200 weddings a year.

Whether couples are seeking a formal ceremony or a relaxed gathering, the perfect wedding venue is sure to be found somewhere amongst the scenic beaches, clear waters and tropical rainforests of the Whitsundays.

A new website www.weddingswhitsundays.com is making the most of this wedding wonderland; and is designed to take the hassle out of planning wedding ceremonies with inspirations and ideas conveniently located in the one online directory.

From a barefoot harpist on the beach to a cellist in the rainforest, the site features over 60 of the best local businesses in floristry, marriage celebrants, entertainment, makeup, photography, decorations, music, cake and catering so couples can plan every detail for their special day in a one-stop shop.

The website also has a list of 74 tips – one for every island - to help couples plan for a ceremony in the Whitsundays. Practical tips to ensure your wedding goes off without a hitch include researching tide times, staying hydrated, dressing for the tropical climate and remembering sun safety in the days leading up to the ceremony to prevent a sunburnt bride. The tips also offer handy solutions to gift management, local attractions, relaxation, accommodation and weather conditions.

With a selection of resorts and services spread over eight of the islands and mainland, there is an experience to suit any style of wedding. Framed by lush rainforest gardens, pure white sand and absolute ocean front, many choose to tie the knot with the beach as the background.

The region also features a range of churches and chapels to accommodate the more traditional ceremony. Many resorts and reception venues also have areas suitable for a ceremony. Or visitors may even chose to combine the service and reception on board one of the many ocean cruises available.

As one of Australia’s premier holiday destinations, the Whitsundays is one region where couples are choosing to celebrate their marriage by spending a number of days with family and friends.

With idyllic warm weather and sunshine throughout the year, wedding guests can immerse themselves in a variety of exciting and relaxing pre or post wedding activities such as boat cruises, snorkelling, sky diving, golf, four wheel driving, sailing and winter whale watching.

The region also offers a range of fantastic options for hens and bucks parties. Whether you’re planning a wild night on the town, intimate sunset drinks or a day spa and catch-up with close friends the Whitsundays is the ideal location to celebrate the last few days of single life.

The perfect setting of the Great Barrier Reef combined with the ease of Weddings Whitsundays is sure to create a dream wedding experience.

For more information, visit www.weddingswhitsundays.com or www.thewhitsundays.com.au

IMAGINE getting away for a holiday by the beach this December.

The Plantation Resort is bringing tempting accommodation deals to the value-oriented traveller in the marketing push for the festive season.

To book a December getaway,The Plantation Resort at Rainbow Beach will offer special pre-opening specials allowing a 40% discount off the published rate for stays between 1st – 15th December 2008, but you need to book before
31 October 2008.

For a beach break from 1st – 15th December, there is a host of self contained options with a 1 bedroom apartment from $144.00 per night (usually starting from $240.00 per night), 2 bedroom apartments from $162.00 per night (usually starting from $270.00 per night) and a family 3 bedroom apartment at $198.00 per night (usually starting from $330.00 per night), a minimum 2 night stay applies for all bookings on this introductory rate.

Expected to open in late November 2008, The Plantation Resort provides 5 star luxury in brand-new, deluxe self-contained 2 & 3 bedroom apartments, but you also get the magnificent views from the resort to the northern side of Double Island Point, nestled just below the southern tip of World Heritage listed Fraser Island.

Boutique in nature with exceptional design features and located on an unspoilt sandy shoreline with proximity to a host of activities combine to make The Plantation Resort an ideal holiday base for families.

Guests will also be able to enjoy the casual and lively ambience of the restaurant and wine bar, making it the perfect spot to connect with friends or family, while enjoying live music and tasty food.

Book before 31st October on Toll Free 1800 556 423 or 0754868706, email joy@rainbowhotel.com.au  or visit www.theplantationatrainbow.com.au

Dragon Emperor LIVE! After 2000 years, a mystery lost in time is about to be unearthed when Lynton V. Harris, the man who scared America, is back to awaken The Mummy with a terrifying new attraction at Dreamworld.

After breaking attendance records at Dreamworld with the heart-racing The Mummy LIVE!, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider LIVE! and NIGHTMARES attractions; Harris is back for a fourth time to terrify guests with an interactive walk through attraction themed to preserve the look and feel of the mega blockbuster movie, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

The launch of the new haunt will follow the Australian Red Carpet Film Premiere of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor at Dreamworld.

Said Dreamworld CEO Stephen Gregg, “The attractions Lynton has created for Dreamworld in the past have dovetailed smash hit thrillers and provided extra traction for guests looking for the latest buzz.

“Add to this the fact that The Mummy movie is already breaking attendance records abroad, and the setting, China, is the ‘it’ destination of the moment, and we are really excited. There’s a huge fan base out there for The Mummy series and Dreamworld will be the only place where fans can extend the celluloid experience and actually live the adventure.”

By his own tally, ‘Master of Fright’ Lynton V Harris has spooked more than 10 million people world wide and is relishing the thought of once again startling guests to Dreamworld with labyrinths filled with sinister special effects, creepy live action characters and terracotta warriors.

Said Harris, “The “Mummy” franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the action shifts to Asia. Structurally this attraction is different to anything in the past and the change in setting gives us more to work with.

“Audiences expect an Egyptian Mummy, but China in the 1940’s raises the bar, adds the mystique of the orient and provides a rich tapestry from which to draw the design of the set. The context is extremely cool.”

Working closely with Universal Pictures, Lynton will preserve the look of the film creating an emotional connection with the movie that audiences are unable to experience anywhere else in Australia.

Added Harris, “Our goals are threefold; to respect the vision of the filmmakers, to be entertaining, and to scare the pants off people. This is a tactile experience delivered by well-trained actors who are taught to get within an inch of guests and it sure let’s them know they’re alive.”

“Fear is a basic human emotion with no language barriers and everyone’s fear barometer is different. You can watch a 10 year old giggle their way through the attraction and in the next breath, you can terrify a 100 kilogram man. It’s pure entertainment.”

Experience the Master of Scare’s very best at The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor LIVE! these school holidays, only for a strictly limited time and only at Dreamworld.

Qantas announced today it would grow its North American network with the commencement of expanded codeshare relationships with US carriers Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

Qantas Group General Manager Sales and Distribution, Mr Rob Gurney, said the airline would codeshare on Horizon Air services between Los Angeles and Flagstaff (Arizona), Boise (Idaho), Reno (Nevada), and Alaska Airlines services between Honolulu and Seattle (Washington) and Anchorage (Alaska).

“North America remains a key market for Qantas that continues to grow and we are always looking at opportunities to expand our network. We recently added new codeshare destinations operated by American Airlines from Los Angeles to Austin, Nashville, San Jose, Fresno, Santa Barbara and Monterey,” Mr Gurney said.

Qantas currently operates 47 return services per week between Australia and the US and from October, will add capacity with the introduction of the A380 from Melbourne and Sydney to Los Angeles.

“The extension of our codeshare partnerships with Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and American Airlines will provide our customers with new itinerary choices and seamless travel to these destinations in the USA.” “Australia is one of the biggest international markets for travel to the Grand Canyon and we are particularly pleased to now offer customers a service to Flagstaff, Arizona, the gateway to the Grand Canyon.” “Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air already offer onward connections for Qantas customers from Los Angeles to Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and Calgary and from San Francisco to Seattle, Portland and Vancouver.” Qantas now offers codeshare flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York to 25 cities in the USA as well as six cities in Canada.

Members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program can earn and redeem points on eligible Qantas, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights.

Virgin Blue is just days away from revealing a major upgrade of its check-in area at Brisbane domestic airport which will completely transform the area into a more spacious, modern and efficient operation for travellers.

The refurbishment includes the replacement of 19 check-in counters and baggage belts most of which have been in use in the terminal for over 20 years.

 Brand new flight information displays and an improved service desk will also be key features in the extensive renovation.
Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “With Brisbane airport being one of the busiest ports on our network this is a significant upgrade as our team processes up to 9000 departing Guests a day, with over 2.6 million outbound travellers making their way through our Brisbane airport check-in area in the last 12 months alone.”
There will be some long days ahead for Virgin Blue’s Brisbane airport team who will be working through many late nights to put the finishing touches on the check-in area so it’s ready to welcome its first official Guests early on the morning of Tuesday 26 August.

Every effort has been made during the redevelopment to minimise inconvenience to travellers however Virgin Blue suggest those Guests booked to travel from Brisbane airport on the change-over nights of 25 and 26 August are encouraged to ‘Web-Check’ via the internet before their flight or arrive a little early as some delays may occur.

Want to relax and unwind for a couple of days but strapped for time… then sail the Whitsundays with Sunsail Yacht Charters on a monohull charter in September and enjoy a special last-minute standby offer of a reduced minimum of only one night plus 20 per cent off*.

Sunsail Marketing Manager Kim Lehmann said now is the time for guests to soak up some savings before the end of Sunsail’s financial year on 30 September.

As an added bonus, Sunsail is also offering an additional 10 per cent loyalty discount for guests on repeat charters.

She said this special offer makes sailing days in September the ultimate getaway – a holiday which is both affordable and accessible for experienced sailors and novices alike.

“We normally have a five night minimum for charters but this special standby offer gives guests an opportunity for a great value last-minute weekend break,” she said.

“Guests can qualify for the special discount on monohull charter rates if they book for only one night - that’s why it’s particularly special.”

“Now is the perfect time to unleash the spirit of adventure and enjoy the Whitsunday’s glorious weather and idyllic sailing conditions, whether you can sail or not,” she said.

“For those not so experienced, skipper and crew are available to hire by the day.”

Sunsail Yacht Charters is based on Hamilton Island making it ideally located for sailors to explore the 74 Whitsunday islands lying off the coast of tropical north Queensland.

Sunsail operates a fleet of 40 high-specification yachts, which are tailored to the company’s high standards, meaning the best in safety, comfort and performance.

A free berth in Hamilton Island Marina is included with every Sunsail charter, allowing guests to take advantage of the many shops, bars, cafes and restaurants on the island.

Jetstar, Virginblue and Qantaslink flights arrive and depart from Hamilton Island’s Great Barrier Reef Airport every day from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns.

For more information about this fantastic offer, call (aus only) 1800 803 988 or visit www.sunsail.com.au

* This offer applies to new and direct bookings only.

spectacular gardens in World Heritage setting

Visitors to the Leura Gardens Festival in October will be able to visit several gardens new to the Festival for 2008, as well as the delightful National Trust property Everglades, all positioned within the stunning surroundings of the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains.

The leafy avenues of Leura village will host the Leura Gardens Festival from Saturday October 4 to Sunday October 12th, 2008, with the colourful Leura Village Fair transforming the village across the weekend of October 11 & 12.

Nine magnificent gardens, most of which are normally not open to the public, will participate in the 2008 Festival. These are Shenstone, Rustlings, Braebourne, Dead End House/Greenheys/Soleby (which are classified as one garden) Wai-ila, Tanglewood, Elouera, Everglades and York Fairmont Resort.

According to John Ewan, President of Leura Gardens Festival, it is difficult to pick a highlight of the 2008 Festival as each of the gardens is of such a high standard.

“Visitors should be sure the visit the two gardens which are participating in the Festival for the first time in 2008, Tanglewood and Wai-ila. These gardens are next door to each other on Craigend Street, each with its own distinctive character.

Garden lovers can expect to see a stunning collection of cool climate flowering plants including Dogwoods, Japanese Cherries, Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas, Tulips, Mountain Phlox and Lilacs.

All gardens are open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm every day. A multiple entry ticket, covering entry to each of the gardens for the duration of the Festival, costs Aud$18.00 per person. Entry to individual gardens costs Aud$5.00 per person

Garden entry tickets can be purchased at the Leura Gardens Festival stand, located at the top of Leura Mall; Festival Headquarters in Fitzroy St and at any of the gardens during the Festival.

Hop-on-hop-off shuttle buses will meet trains arriving at Leura station and run between the gardens throughout the day, departing approximately every 20 minutes. The bus costs Aud$5.00pp, per day.

Groups are well catered for with group tickets and a central meeting point for coaches.

The Leura Gardens Festival is a registered charity run by volunteers with the purpose of raising funds for the Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial Hospital, to purchase specialist medical equipment.

To request a Blue Mountains Accommodation and Experience Guide, or to use the free accommodation booking service, contact Blue Mountains Tourism on (Aus only) 1300 653 408 or visit www.visitbluemountains.com.au

For further information visit www.leuragardensfestival.com.au

To request a free brochure and Festival guide, contact +61(0)2 4757 2539 or email info@leuragardensfestival.com.au

The luxurious Quay West Suites Sydney is officially the ‘best of the best’ after taking out the inaugural 2008 MaXXotel Best Performing Australian Serviced Apartment Under 200 Rooms.

MaXXotel Best of the Best awards honour the best performing hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in Australia and New Zealand and these are the only hotel industry awards based on hotel operating performance.

Located in the historic Rocks precinct, Quay West Suites Sydney offers a unique and luxurious hotel experience including the choice of 106 luxurious 1 and 2 bedroom suites, boasting separate living areas, bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, laundry and spectacular views over Sydney Harbour or the city skyline.

The best is yet to come at Quay West Suites Sydney with the hotel currently undergoing refurbishments. LCD televisions have been introduced into all suites including a 32” screen in the living room and 28” in the master bedroom. The kitchen will also receive a facelift with new stainless steel appliances including Smeg oven, stove and range-hood. A soft refurbishment is currently being rolled out to give the hotel a more contemporary, streamlined feel and new plush new lounges will give the suites a polished yet comfortable look.

First class dining awaits at Harrington’s Restaurant & Bar on the hotel’s mezzanine level where guests enjoy contemporary Australian cuisine complemented by fine wines in a stylishly casual atmosphere.

Unwind in style at the hotel’s recreational deck on level 24 which boasts a spa, sauna, gymnasium, outdoor sundeck and stunning sunken Roman style heated swimming pool, which has also recently been upgraded and boasts spectacular views of Sydney Harbour.

Quay West Suites Sydney offers the comfort and space of apartment accommodation, complemented by 5-star hotel services and facilities, including 24 hour reception, room service, concierge, business centre and valet car parking.

Quay West Suites Sydney is part of the Mirvac group of 40 hotels and resorts in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, under such well known brands as Quay Grand, The Como, Sea Temple Hotels & Resorts, Cairns International, Sydney Marriott Hotel, The Sebel Hotels & Resorts, The Sebel Residence, Citigate and of course Quay West Hotels & Resorts.

For bookings or further information phone (AUS)13 15 15 or visit www.mirvachotels.com

Eyes glued to the horizon, our diligence was rewarded when a large flipper waved at us across the sea and minutes later an enormous white-bellied whale leapt sideways between the distant waves.

The whales were on the move – making their long journey from the south first to the Whitsundays before resting in the waters in the Hervey Bay Marine Park on the way home. Our welcome happened as we were driving along 75 mile beach to Kingfisher Bay Resort after a busy but wonderful day exploring the world’s largest sand island.

World Heritage-listed Fraser Island covers an area of 184,000 hectares and its mix of rainforests, wallum heaths, freshwater lakes and miles of beaches make it a self-contained wonderland complete with a wonderful mix of wildlife, including the famous dingoes, one of which was minding its own business on the beach when we arrived.

Thanks to our guide, nature photographer and Kingfisher Bay ranger Peter Meyer and his vast knowledge and obvious love of the island, we enjoyed a very personal and illuminating tour of the island.

Over the course of the day we said hello to the many tiny turtles living in Lake Allom and walked its perimeter, we stopped under the “Dragon Tree”, walked into Lake Wabby for a quick swim in its crystal clear water and then across to the beach for a picnic lunch to remember overlooking the Stonetool Sandblow. We drove along the beach and visited the famous Maheno wreck, a former trans-Tasman liner wrecked on Fraser during a cyclone in 1935 while being towed to a wrecking yard in Japan. Now a shadow of her former self, she is still an imposing sight.

Bouncing along sandy roads we passed other visitors like us, at afternoon tea we shared our food with international backpackers, and regularly throughout the day marvelled at how quickly the landscape changed on one island.

The wilderness of Fraser is carefully managed and at the same time provides visitors an impressive array of accommodation options. Allocated camping spots and private houses and small holiday resorts are dotted throughout the island including old-timers like Happy Valley, Eurong Beach and Kingfisher Bay.

We were guests at Kingfisher Bay Resort, a glorious eco-accredited getaway hidden amongst the wallum on the western side of the island. Hotel-style rooms and for larger groups, villas, are available for guests, there is a large day visitor area, a coffee shop and general store and a range of restaurants, including the delectable and award-winning Seabelle where bush-tucker is blended with other tastes to create dining delicacies.

Guests can take part in numerous island and resort based activities, all of which are based around the natural beauty of the destination and are generally hosted by the trained guides, and or they can just chill out by the pool, on the beach or in the lounge area of the main building.

Fraser Island is just offshore from Hervey Bay, home to the region’s whale watching fleet. It’s also the perfect place to hire the 4WDs necessary if you plan to make your own way around the island. They are also available on the island.

Novices should consider taking a brief training course before heading off. P7 Offroad run a range of courses on a property at nearby Childers teaching drivers how to handle their vehicles. Under the watchful and ever patient instructions of owner/instructor Dave Darmody, even the most tentative driver learns how to maneouvre their trusty mechanical steeds over lumps and bumps, both man-made and natural.

Male or female, Dave is happy to teach both, and while politically correct about who makes the better student, he did admit women tended to approach their driving obstacles with more care and less grunt. We put the lessons we learned in our hired Aussie Tracks vehicles into practice on Fraser and I’m pleased to report no-one got bogged or washed away, male or female!

Hervey Bay is a fast-growing centre and increasing numbers of visitors are heading to the southern end of the city to stay in a growing collection of stylish resort and self-contained apartments. They come to escape the southern cold, the rat race and between August and November to see the whales.

We stayed at Quarterdecks Harbour Retreat, luxurious and roomy self-contained accommodation with superb guest services. For an additional fee you can also bring your pet! There are 61 villas in the complex, some with private courtyards, others able to sleep up to eight guests comfortably. It’s also fabulously close to the waterfront, the marina and restaurants.

Hervey Bay is blessed with 40km of beachfront complete with 14km of paved walkways running adjacent to the beach under the shade of the trees. Walking is a favourite past-time but if you are feeling like a bit of a giggle, hire a four or six-wheeler bike from Aquavue and take a ride along the front. It’s a lot harder than it looks but is a fun way to exercise together as a group!! When you return, treat yourself to a coffee and a tasty lunch on the beachfront, again at Aquavue, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see some skydivers land in front of you. If you have time, talk to the staff about taking a jetski tour to Fraser or hiring a kayak for a few hours.

More information:
For information on accommodation, activities, things to see and do including whale watching visit www.frasercoastholidays.info  or call 1800 444 155.

Wilderness lovers can lose themselves in a world of indulgence and rejuvenation at the new O’Reilly’s Lost World Spa in the heart of World Heritage listed Lamington National Park.

Treatments at the popular mountain resort’s new spa utilise local indigenous plants and products from Sodashi, a West Australian company that supplies to some of the world’s best spas. Treatments include vino-therapy utilising extracts from grapes grown in O’Reilly’s own vineyard and containing some of nature’s most powerful anti-oxidants. The Spa is part of a $34 million Mountain Villas development which includes 48 luxury, fully self-contained villas and a purpose built Conference Centre.

The spa features seven treatment rooms, including two couples’ suites complete with a hydrotherapy bath and Rasul steam room. Guests also enjoy a relaxation room with stunning views and a fireplace.

Visit www.oreillys.com.au