Jetsettersblog

Peregrine will venture into Greece and ‘Green’ Spain for the first time in its European Program for 2009. To launch the 2009-10 Europe brochure, covering walking, cycling and cultural adventures across Eastern and Western Europe, Peregrine is offering an Early Bird discount of 10 per cent off the tour price for all new bookings made and deposited by December 12, 2008.

The eight-day Highlights of Greece tour follows in the fabled footsteps of ancient gods and mortals – from Zeus to Aristotle. It explores the historic sites of mainland Greece, from the Acropolis in Athens to ancient Olympia, home of the gods and the first Olympic Games. It visits the gravity-defying mountain-top monasteries of Meteora, built by hermit monks in the 14th century, and the Oracle of Delphi, proclaimed by Zeus as the centre of the world. In the Peloponnese Peninsula, there are two relaxing days in the medieval village of Dimitsana, the base for exploring the Lousios Valley – one of the most beautiful in Arcadia - before returning via Mycenae to Athens.

Prices for Highlights of Greece start at AUD$2750 per person, twin share, land only and include a local tour leader, accommodation, breakfasts, transport and entrance fees. There are regular departures between May and September and the trip can be combined with the eight-day Crete and Santorini Explorer (AUD$2675 per person).

Peregrine has also introduced new tours in Spain, from ‘Green’ Spain in the north to the mountainous Pyrenees separating Spain from France, and a combination Spain-Morocco trip.

The eight-day Green Spain & the Pilgrims’ Way begins in contemporary Bilbao, then detours to explore the deep forests, mountains and tiny fishing hamlets of the north western corner of Spain. There are gentle walks in the Picos de Europa National Park and along parts of the renowned Primitivo pilgrim route. There’s time to wander the cobbled streets of the brightly-painted villages along the Cabo de Peñas coast – and to sample the local produce. The journey ends in Santiago de Compostela, site of the Catedral de Santiago – the centuries-old destination for pilgrims from across Europe and the world.

Prices for Green Spain & the Pilgrims’ Way start at AUD$3195 per person twin share and include a local tour leader, accommodation, breakfasts, transport and entrance fees. There are five departures from Bilbao between May and September, 2009.

For more information contact your travel agent or Peregrine Adventures on 1300 854 500 or visit www.peregrineadventures.com

Behind this secret curtain, nature has flourished, resulting in a vast and pristine wilderness described by Lonely Planet as ‘one of the world’s most beautiful regions’.

Fire-spitting volcanoes cloaked in ice dominate the landscape; remote indigenous tribes live as they have done for centuries, while rivers filled with salmon attract the highest concentration of brown bears on the planet. Teeming with an astounding diversity of wildlife including whales, sea lions, otters and birds, against a backdrop of wildflower-filled meadows, verdant valleys and towering mountain ranges - the Russian Far East is an adventure lover’s dream.

Australian-owned expedition cruising company, Aurora Expeditions, invites you to uncover the majesty and mystery of this remarkable region on one of its three voyages departing in 2009.

Travelling aboard the ice-strengthened 100-passenger Marina Svetaeva, the three expeditions will explore secluded islands and sites that would be impossible by any means other than by ship.

The 14-day ‘Ring of Fire’ expedition to the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka departs on 11 July 2009 from Sakhalin Island in Russia and travels through the islands that lie like stepping-stones between Japan and Russia ending in the town of Petropavlosk.

The second 14-day ‘Bering Sea Explorer’ expedition to Kamchatka and Chukotka departs from Petropavlosk in Russia on 24 July and visits the Commander Islands, Karaginsky Island, the Chukotka Coast and Arakamchechen Archipelago, and some of the least visited wilderness areas on Earth.

The final 13-day ‘Arctic Ocean Discoverer’ voyage explores the Bering Straight and remote Wrangel Island, travelling high above the Arctic Circle where few have ventured. The voyage departs on 6 August 2009 and begins and ends in Nome, Alaska.

Prices for all three voyages start at US$5,490 per person and include accommodation and use of all public areas on board the ship, all meals, guided shore excursions, lectures with expert naturalists and historians, and all port taxes. Sea kayaking is an additional option.

For further information and bookings call 1800 637 688 or visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au

Fly for Free to Orpheus this Christmas & New Year Christmas & New Year at Orpheus is not for everyone. However, this year you can be one of the selected few to spend this special time of year away from the daily stresses of work, traffic, smog, friends, family, day trippers, noisy children and world events. Rest assured, this doesn’t mean that the festivities and great food of the season will be bypassed. Far from it….every detail will be taken care of in true Orpheus style.

For a limited time, Orpheus is offering FREE return scenic flights ex Townsville for any booking of five nights or more over the Christmas and New Year period – offering a saving of AUD$900. This special offer is valid for travel only from 21 December 2008 – 31 January 2009.

Escape to the sophisticated seclusion on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, to one of the last remaining privately owned island retreats in the world. Surrounded by 1,300 hectares of pristine national park, Orpheus is an exclusive hideaway for those seeking a natural, relaxing and rejuvenating environment of palm fringed bays and enticing translucent waters.

Strictly limited to 42 pampered guests, Orpheus offers premium services and total seclusion. The island is an idyllic haven for escaping the frenzied pace of modern life with no telephones, televisions, day-trippers, nightclubs or children under the age of fifteen.

Awaken on Christmas Day to spend the day however you please. Escape to your own private beach, take part in a local snorkel exploring the 1,100 types of tropical fish and abundant coral life in our surrounding waters, or simply relax by the pool and waste away the hours – it’s your choice. Experience the award winning dining at Orpheus and join our Chefs for a gourmet Australian BBQ lunch, followed by a traditional five course degustation Christmas Dinner that evening with all the festive trimmings – and all tailor made to your individual dietary requirements!

Plans are underway already for New Years Eve and it is sure to be a night to remember. The evening will begin with sunset drinks and canapés, followed by a dining extravaganza guaranteed to tantalize the tastebuds. This exquisite evening is further complimented with your own exclusive band – Mirasole. The acclaimed duo will bring in the New Year with laughter, dancing and spectacular dining.

Priced from AUD$3625 per person (based on double/twin share), the five night package includes:

• FREE return scenic flights ex Townsville
• 5 nights private beachfront accommodation in an Orpheus Retreat
• Meet & Greet with fresh fruit cocktail
• All meals – including a la carte breakfast, alfresco dining or gourmet seafood picnic hamper and seven course degustation-style menu each evening
• Christmas & New Year inclusions
• Unlimited use of motorised dinghies, paddle skis, catamarans, canoes, snorkelling equipment, local snorkel trips, light fishing gear, pools, gymnasium, recreation room, tennis court, bushwalking and selected interpretive activities.

Fraser Island’s iconic Cool Dingo group tour takes the hard work out of managing tides and navigation on the world’s largest sand island, and puts the enjoyment back in to touring.

These popular two and three-day group tours for 18 to 35-year-olds, were named Best Experience in Queensland for 2007 by some of the toughest travellers on the island’s sand tracks – international and domestic backpackers – and are equally appealing to locals.

Fraser Island is well known for beautiful, fresh-water lakes, lunar-like sand dunes, ancient rainforests and the spectacular 75-mile ocean beach, which comes complete with a shipwreck – all of which are discovered on tour.

Tours regularly from Hervey Bay or Brisbane and take in Fraser Island’s top beauty spots including stunning Lake McKenzie.

“Forget fidgety nights with tents and sleeping bags… these fully guided and all-inclusive Cool Dingo Tours promise a good night’s rest on Fraser Island, with comfy lodge accommodation, hearty buffet meals, air-conditioned 4WD tours and return catamaran transfers,” Leisure Sales Manager Joe Currenti said.

“Cool Dingo tours are a great way to experience the world’s largest sand island - Fraser Island - and to meet like-minded travellers from around Australia and indeed all over the globe.”

“There’s plenty of 4WD action, great value and fun to boot – and best of all no tents, no sleeping bags, no cooking, no driving and no worries.”

Cool Dingo ‘Two-day, One-night’ packages start from $289 per person, ‘Three-day, Two-night’ packages from $359 per person and ‘Five-day, Four-night’ packages from $457.

For the more adventurous, five-night Lady Elliott ‘Coral Reef and Cool Dingo’ packages are also available, with prices starting from just $799.

For more information on Cool Dingo tours visit www.cooldingotour.com

Glamorous glasses and purple rinses will be in evidence at Auckland Airport today as Pacific Blue begins its new daily service to Melbourne with an inaugural flight that pays homage to one of Australia’s megastars*.

Pacific Blue announced the new service in July, becoming the first low-cost carrier to fly the route. Commenting on today’s launch Pacific Blue’s General Manager, Commercial, Adrian Hamilton-Manns said that once again the airline’s entry to a new market was lowering the cost of air travel for all Kiwis.

“After announcing six weeks ago that we would begin flights from Auckland to Melbourne and Sydney, our competitors have been falling over themselves to try to match our lower fares,” said Mr Hamilton-Manns. “This is exactly what happened when we launched our affordable domestic fares last year, so their efforts have again proved that Pacific Blue is the low-fare leader and shows what real competition can achieve.” Today’s launch flight from “the City of Sails to Moonee Ponds” takes off at 6.30am (NZST) from Auckland and will arrive in Melbourne four hours later at 8.30am (AEST). The return flight will leave Melbourne at 9.30am (AEST) and touch-down at Auckland Airport to a water-arch welcome at 2.45pm (NZST).

Mr Hamilton-Manns said Pacific Blue was excited to be offering an affordable travel option for Aucklanders to visit Melbourne. “Melbourne is a hugely popular destination for Aucklanders for business and leisure, and now they can visit this cosmopolitan Australian city without paying a fortune.” Auckland Airport CEO Simon Moutter said that today’s launch flight is a welcome addition to Pacific Blue’s services at Auckland Airport. “It’s great to see Pacific Blue providing more options to travellers who are keen to get across the ditch. Australians and New Zealanders love exploring both countries and we relish the opportunity to welcome more trans-Tasman travellers through Auckland Airport,” said Mr Moutter.

Pacific Blue will be operating one of its brand new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation jets – “Maiden New Zealand” – on today’s launch flight. “We’ve recently taken delivery of two brand new 737-800 jets to support our trans-Tasman and Pacific Island growth,” said Mr Hamilton-Manns. “These new aircraft bring our fleet number to nine and our average fleet age to just over three years.” In recent months Pacific Blue has announced a range of new routes including Auckland to Melbourne and Sydney, Sydney to Vanuatu, and Brisbane to Port Moresby.

Guests on today’s launch flight from Auckland will be hosted by several Dame Edna lookalikes and will enjoy Pacific Blue’s traditional launch flight celebrations including a glass of bubbly, a slice of traditional Kiwi-Aussie pavlova, a special limited edition launch flight t-shirt giveaway, as well as an in-flight auction and fundraising efforts with all proceeds donated to Variety, the Children’s Charity.

Guests on board the return flight from Melbourne will enjoy similar celebrations on a “Pasifika Style” themed flight, including an innovative partnership between Pacific Blue and Tourism Auckland. Two Tourism Auckland i-Site team members – renamed “Fly-site” for today – will be aboard the flight from Melbourne to promote Auckland to Melbourne Guests and answer questions about visitor attractions in the Auckland region.

* Pacific Blue appreciates that Dame Edna is a megastar, and while we’re delighted to pay homage to her on these flights, we’d like to point out that neither Dame Edna, Barry Humphries nor any of his other characters are associated with us, nor has any licence been given to us to use any of Barry Humphries’ characters. Unfortunately, the megastar herself will not be present on the inaugural flights or at associated celebrations. About Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue, Virgin Blue and V Australia Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue, along with Australian domestic airline Virgin Blue, operate a fleet of 72 modern Boeing 737 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to 25 Australian and eight international destinations including New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. Virgin Blue Group’s newest airline, V Australia, is set to commence flights between Australia and the USA from December 2008.

Summer is finally here and to celebrate Captain Cook Cruises is letting the second person cruise for half price on any of its 3, 4 or 7 night Murray River Cruises.

The sale starts 20 September 2008 and ends 15 January 2009 and passengers can cruise between 01 November 08 and 28 February 09.

The historic cruise starts with the ship itself, PS Murray Princess. Finished with polished wood and gold trimmings and featuring a winding staircase, full-length windows and a paddle wheel encased in glass, these features help replicate the paddle wheelers that first cruised the Murray in the 1800’s.

It’s then full steam down the Murray between the Blanchetown area and Murray Bridge for 280kms of incredible terrain, wildlife and Australian history and culture.

The Murray Princess cruises past towering limestone cliffs, through picturesque gorges and along riverbanks lined with mallee scrub, red gum forests and century old stone causeways.

The wetlands attract an amazing array of Australian wildlife and over 350 species of birds. Led by on-shore guides, passengers can enjoy nature walks, nocturnal eco-tours and learn about the ecology of the river.

Each day features exciting day trips to historic ports, sacred Aboriginal sites, a sheep station and woolshed and a native wildlife shelter.

There’s a food and wine trial that enables tasting at a number of vineyards and cellar doors, and in the evening, an Aussie-style campfire barbecue on the river bank.

All cruises depart from Mannum. The three nights Wetlands Discovery Cruise departs every Friday at 4.30pm and prices start from AUD$775 for the first person and from AUD$388 for the second person. The four nights Outback Heritage Cruise departs every Monday at 4.20pm and prices start from $999 for the first person and from AUD$500 for the second person. The seven nights Murraylands & Wildlife Cruise departs every Friday and Monday at 4.30pm and prices start from AUD$1596 for the first person and from AUD$798 for the second person.

Prices include all meals, accommodation, onboard facilities, most tours, scenic coach transfers from Adelaide or onsite car parking.

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises toll free from Australia on 1800 804 843; Int +61-2-9206 1100, Email: murray@captaincook.com.au  or visit www.captaincook.com.au

Luxury accommodation marketing brand, Select Hotels & Resorts International offers sensational package deals this Spring from several Member Properties across Asia-Pacific. See below for packages from a diverse range of Select experiences including the family friendly Couran Cove Island Resort, Queensland, Spring skiers choice Edgewater Resort, Lake Wanaka and Thailand jewel Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, Phuket.

Couran Cove Island Resort, Sth Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia
Couran Cove Island Resort, located just 40 minutes by ferry from the Gold Coast mainland, is an idyllic holiday destination where you can find your space… your time… to escape, explore, relax and unwind.

Select Special:
Stay for 3 nights and receive a AU$150 cash-card to spend at the resort.

Package Inclusions:
3 nights accommodation in a Marine Deluxe Room
Full buffet breakfast daily
Return ferry transfers
Daily Bike Hire
AU$150 cash-card to spend

Valued from AUD$555.00 per person/twin share.

Terms and conditions:
Promo valid from 01 April - 26 December 2008 and 05 January - 31 March 2009.
Subject to availability at the time of booking.
AUD$150 cash-card is non-transferable and can not be redeemed for cash

Bookings: www.selecthotels.com or charlotte@selecthotels.com

Edgewater Resort, Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
The days are longer, sunnier and warmer, just perfect for a September ski holiday in Wanaka. Enjoy the spaciousness of our one-bedroom suites for almost a week. Check the snow reports daily from the comfort of your phone and choose where to ski. Not a skier? No problem in Wanaka with its choice of attractions, boating, walks, golf and fun activities.

Select Ski Package

Package includes:
Six night’s accommodation in a one bedroom suite
2 continental breakfasts per day package
Children 12 and under stay FOC when using existing bedding.

Price: NZ$1,600.00 per suite includes GST

Terms and conditions:
Valid until 31 October 2008.
Subject to availability at the time of booking.

Bookings: www.selecthotels.com  or charlotte@selecthotels.com

Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, Phuket, Thailand
The elusive pleasures of traditional Thai calm and elegance are often advertised and rarely found. But cordoned off from the crowds of Phuket is an exception, a true sanctuary of Thai style: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale

Platinum Royale Package

Package includes :
8 days 7 nights Accommodation in our Beach Wing Suite
Airport round trip transfer by a private limousine
A complimentary Villa Royale selection Wine in suite
Daily Royale breakfast
Two Thai set dinner per Guest at Mom Tri’s Kitchen
Two hours of Villa Royale Thai massage per Guest at Mom Tri’s Spa Royale

Price: THB 48,500 (double)

Terms and conditions
Valid until 31 October 2008.
Subject to availability at the time of booking.

Bookings: www.selecthotels.com or charlotte@selecthotels.com

For Media Information:

Kate Gilfillan
kate@davcomm.com.au
+61 (0)2 9907 0020

Celebrate Spring with Select Hotels and book today!

Select Member properties for 2008 are:

AUSTRALIA: Q Station, Sydney; The Observatory Hotel, Sydney, NSW: Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, Katoomba NSW; Tower Lodge, Hunter Valley, NSW; Kims Beach Hideaway, Toowoon Bay, NSW; Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island, NSW; Meadowlake Lodge, Milton, NSW; Hotel Lindrum, Melbourne, VIC; Select Burnham Beeches, Dandenong Ranges, VIC; Hotel Pension Grimus, Mount Buller, VIC; Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, Kangaroo Island, SA; The Lodge at Tarraleah, Tarraleah, TAS; Couran Cove Island Resort, South Stradbroke Island, QLD; Paradise Bay Eco Escape, Whitsundays, QLD; Lindenwarrah, Milawa; Lindenderry

NEW ZEALAND: Carrington Resort, Karikari Peninsula, Northland; Kourawhero Country Lodge, North Auckland; Mangapapa Petit Hotel, Hawke’s Bay; Select Braemar Lodge and Spa, Hanmer Springs; Grasmere Lodge, Arthur’s Pass; Huntley House, Christchurch; Millbrook Resort, Queenstown; Fiordland Lodge, Te Anau; The Points Villas, Lake Taupo; Queenstown Park Hotel, Queenstown

PACIFIC ISLANDS: Toberua Island Resort, Fiji;

ASIA: Saman Villas, Bentota, Sri Lanka; The Regency Wing of Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, Phuket, Thailand; Veranda Resort and Spa, Hua Hin, Thailand; Wanakarn Beach Resort & Spa, Phuket, Thailand

CHINA: 88Xintiandi Executive Residences, Shanghai

MIDDLE EAST: Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE

Choice Hotels Australasia (CHA) will introduce Econo Lodge as its new economy brand in Australia to meet the need for a more affordable accommodation option in the CHA portfolio.

Announcing the new brand at CHA’s annual conference in Sydney today, Managing Director David Bayes said Econo Lodge was one of the leading economy brands in North America, with almost 1000 properties open or under development.

“We are bringing Econo Lodge to Australia to complement our existing Comfort, Quality and Clarion brands at a time when challenging economic times are encouraging many travellers to look for broader accommodation options,” Mr Bayes said.

“Our Econo Lodge hotels will typically offer between 15 and 30 rooms and be 3 or 3.5 star rated.

They will not directly compete with our existing brands, for facilities, standards, services and rates.”

Mr Bayes said the first Australian Econo Lodge is expected to come online early next year. No plans were in place to launch the brand in New Zealand at this stage.

Reviewing the year, Mr Bayes stated that properties in the CHA network continued to outperform properties outside the group, due to the group’s diverse distribution channels and significant growth in internet bookings.

“Latest figures show that online bookings are accounting for almost 20 per cent of all CHA accommodation revenue in Australia, well ahead of the reported industry average of 13.2 per cent,” he told more than 300 delegates at the three-day conference at Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

“Another measure of our ongoing success is the number of properties we are continuing to sign to our three key brands in this region.

Since our last conference in Cairns we have added 29 new properties, giving us a total portfolio of 280 hotels in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.”

Themed Charting Your Course to Business Success, the conference includes a range of keynote speakers and business workshops, and a Market Place of more than 60 preferred suppliers showcasing products and services available to CHA franchisees.

Caption: CHA Managing Director David Bayes launches the Choice Annual Conference at Darling Harbour today.

The most widely heralded ship to enter the cruise market this year, Celebrity Solstice, departed Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday in Papenburg, Germany, as the largest ship ever built by the longtime shipbuilder. In a milestone event known as “The Conveyance,” the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice made its way down the River Eems, as tens of thousands of area residents lining the river banks cheered and photographed the historic event.

“This is a very momentous occasion for Celebrity Cruises,” said the brand’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Celebrity Solstice is the perfect manifestation of what the Celebrity brand is all about: extraordinary service, spectacular dining, and fabulous style and design. And as the first in a series of five Solstice-class ships, it’s a vivid example of the growth and momentum of the Celebrity brand, and our commitment to meet our guests’ and travel agent partners’ demands for more vacation options with Celebrity.”

Among the wealth of attributes guests will find only on Celebrity Solstice are:
• The industry’s first Lawn Club, a lush, half-acre recreation area with real, growing grass.
• The industry’s first Hot Glass Show, with live glassblowing demonstrations presented in association with The Corning Museum of Glass.
• Larger staterooms, with design inspirations offered by a panel of five women, hand-picked for their unique travel and hospitality insights.
• 10 varied restaurants, ranging from the dramatic, two-level “Grand Epernay” main dining room with a sweeping wine tower, to four exquisite specialty restaurants, to several stylish, casual venues.
• An entirely new category of accommodations, “AquaClass,” designed to offer a spa vacation experience at sea rivaling the best of those on land.
• A state-of-the-art theater and stage design, with three new leading-edge shows custom-designed for Celebrity with Poet Theatricals, in their first cruise line partnership.

“There also is the intangible attribute which is consistent across the Celebrity fleet, and that’s the extraordinary, anticipatory service our phenomenal staff offer our guests every day,” said Hanrahan.
Celebrity Solstice will be berthed in Eemshaven, Netherlands, from September 29 to October 24, with two separate sea trials planned during that period, in addition to crew arrivals, training, provisioning and finishing work onboard. The ship will depart Eemshaven October 24 on a transatlantic voyage, with arrival in Fort Lauderdale planned for early November, followed by a series of promotional cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries. The ship will be named in formal ceremonies on November 14, and will begin its maiden season November 23, with a series of alternating 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, calling on San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and Tortola during this Fall and Winter. Celebrity Solstice presents a series of romantic 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises from Rome beginning in Spring 2009.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top ten “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012.

Romance and adventure, the two star qualities of much-anticipated cinematic release Australia, have always shared top billing at award-winning wilderness retreat Peppers Seven Spirit Bay.

And as the curtain prepares to lift on Baz Lurhmann’s sweeping epic showcasing our mystical Top End to audiences world-wide, travellers can capture its unique spirit first hand by escaping to Australia’s most secluded lodge.

The essence of Dreamtime and grand panoramas of an ancient land, which are soon to pan out on the silver screen, are an essential part of the real-life guest experience for visitors to Peppers Seven Spirit Bay, in the heart of Aboriginal Arnhem Land.

The area of myth and magic that Peppers Seven Spirit Bay calls home has belonged to the Aboriginal people for more than 25,000 years. Visitors are granted special permits by Tribal Elders, arranged by the lodge, which are bestowed on those individuals who recognise the calling to rediscover the spirit of the wilderness.

Just as tribal ancestors were entranced by this extraordinary land thousands of years ago, modern visitors will be mesmerised by Peppers Seven Spirit Bay’s mosaic of sandy beaches, open woodlands, coral reefs and unique rainforests.

Peppers Seven Spirit Bay is a delicious tapestry of natural beauty, unspoilt wilderness and complete isolation blended with luxurious accommodation, exceptional food, exemplary wine and the local charm for which Peppers is renowned.

Nestled amongst tropical forest, Peppers Seven Spirit Bay hovers on the edge of the Arafura Sea in Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, on the remote northern most point of the Cobourg Peninsula.

The property offers 23 habitats, six Premium Habitats and 17 Tropical Habitats where guests are privately lodged in stand alone bungalows, nestled in the natural environment with bush or water views allowing for complete retreat, comfort and relaxation.

Guests can savour award winning dining at Oasis restaurant featuring succulent seafood caught in nearby waters and nourish the mind, body and soul with the soothing treatments offered by the Wilderness Day Spa.

Visitors can experience the timeless land at the heart of the new film Australia for themselves with packages to Peppers Seven Spirit Bay available from $2470* per person twin share including:

• 45 minute scenic flight over the Arafura Sea, skirting Melville Island
• 30 minute land transfer to Peppers Seven Spirit Bay
• Arnhem Land entry permit
• 4 nights accommodation in a Tropical Habitat
• All meals prepared by award winning chef Luke Smith
• A selection of complimentary walks and 4WD activities
• Return land transfers and flights to Darwin

The lodge also offers accommodation packages from two nights up plus a daily schedule of activities and tours for adventurers and romantics.

These include a Champagne Sunset Wildlife Safari, clifftop dinners overlooking Coral Bay, guided wetland walks, coastal exploration trips, visiting Aboriginal rock art, discovering colonial ruins in the Top End wilderness and mingling with unique wildlife such as water buffalo, wild ponies and the only wild bantang cattle herd in the world.

For reservations please contact Peppers Seven Spirit Bay on +61 8 8979 0281, by emailing sevenspirit@peppers.com.au or book online at www.peppers.com.au
About Peppers:

 Peppers manages a collection of premium retreats, resorts and hotels in beautiful locations throughout Australia and New Zealand, including NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS, NT and the North and South Island.

About the movie:

Australia is Baz Luhrmann’s first feature film since the 2001 musical success Moulin Rouge.

 
It centres on an English aristocrat in the 1930s, played by Nicole Kidman, who comes to northern Australia to sell a cattle property the size of Belgium. After an epic journey across the country with a rough-hewn drover, Hugh Jackman, they are caught in the bombing of Darwin during World War II.

Filming began late April 2007 & concluded December 19th 2007.

The film is slated for a November 13 2008 release.

* Valid until 31 March 2009 subject to availability, (Property is closed 01 December 08 -14 March 09). Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. For direct bookings only.