Jetsettersblog

This year Festival Cairns begins a new chapter in its 47 year history.

For the first time in many years it will be managed and directed by its founding organisation, Cairns Regional Council; who have unveiled details of its vision to deliver a reinvigorated, brighter and bolder event program.

Taking its cue from this year’s theme, “Telling Our Stories”, Festival Cairns’ will start with a bang and end on a high – rolling out over 16, action-packed days from Friday 21 August to Sunday 6 September 2009.

Festival Cairns top five highlights will be its Grand Parade and Tropic Wave Festival with special guest headliner, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (one of the largest regional indigenous art fairs in Australia), Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival, Reggaetown and Father’s Day favourite, Carnival on Collins.

A stylised sun inspired by the licuala palm of Cairns Regional Council’s logo is the basis for this year’s ‘look’.

A bright palette of colour gives life and movement to this graphic device while relating to the sensory feel of Festival Cairns.

“Our new identity has been chosen to be a fun and fresh representation, symbolising the revitalisation of Festival Cairns and the vibrant new programming our in-house ‘Festival’ team is creating.

While at the same time, being respectful to the city’s event tradition - dating right back to the original grand parade and Fun In the Sun,” said Councillor Schier, Mayor of Cairns Regional Council.

According to Festival Cairns Coordinator, Belinda Griffin this year’s ‘look’ and ‘theme’, have evolved from community engagement undertaken last year as part of Cairns’ new Regional Cultural Plan.

“Over 1000 members of the community gave us a good dose of local perspective on their thoughts about many issues, including Festival Cairns – and this reinvention is our response to that feedback,” said Mrs Griffin.

The opening of a new Green Island jetty on 26 May, 1962 was established as the first annual Cairns Tourist Festival, and renamed ‘Fun In The Sun’ the following year.

Since then Tropical North Queensland’s most significant annual celebration, now in its 47th year/

It has experienced a number of changes including its re-launch in the early nineties as ‘Reef Festival’ before its dynamic incarnation in 2002 as ‘Festival Cairns’.

Summer never really ends in the Whitsundays, and the region is currently enjoying the best sail & cruise season of the year.

Now is the perfect time to go explore this magical island group and its abundant nature on a sea based getaway onboard the 20-meter luxury cruiser DescaradA.

To get the full feel of the great many things that the area has to offer, why not combine a range of experiences with your exclusive cruise and discover the best of the Whitsundays all in one holiday.

The island escape may start from Airlie Beach which is considered the mainland gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

You can stay in a pleasant, fully serviced hotel conveniently close to the town centre or one of the luxurious holiday apartments that offer great views from the hillside over the ocean, before heading for your DescaradA cruise the next day.

The DescaradA crew take guests around the amazing island areas on scheduled two-day and three-day tours as well as extended stays on private charter.

The cruises take in some of the most beautiful areas of the Whitsundays, such as Nara Inlet with its extraordinary rock faces, pure white silica sands of Whitehaven Beach, stunning scenery of Hill Inlet from Tongue Point lookout and fabulous snorkelling spots off northern Hook Island.

While basking in the breathtaking beauty of the Whitsundays the guests are treated to wonderful service with fine food, fun activities and moments of sweet relaxation.

Speed boat trips to beaches, walks in the nature, snorkelling, jet skiing and kayaking are all included activities within the DescaradA cruise package.

On request, scenic flights over the marvellous Great Barrier Reef can be organised directly from the vessel with the thrilling seaplane landing as part of the fun. Guests get the best views of the reef area high from the sky on an hour’s flight, and then return back to their private ocean oasis on DescaradA.

Once the vessel returns to the marina and the unforgettable cruise comes to an end, your holiday can still continue with a relaxing stay in one of the exquisite Whitsunday Island resorts.

Whether you want to experience something private, secluded and romantic or something social, fun and active, you can always find the right island to suit your preferences. Poolside daydreaming, rejuvenating spa treatments, candle lit dinners, and waking up in fresh ocean air that one more last time really do seem like the best ways to take your Whitsundays holiday to an end.

Airlie Beach is the departure and arrival point of all scheduled DescaradA cruises. Proserpine airport is only 25km away and has daily flight connections from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Hamilton Island Airport has daily direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane and regular flights from Cairns and Melbourne.

There is a convenient ferry connection from Hamilton Island to Airlie Beach several times a day. DescaradA Charters organise transfers from local accommodation to the vessel and private charter pick ups directly from island resorts. Contact the DescaradA team for great Whitsunday package ideas and start dreaming of the perfect island escape in one of the renown boating destinations of the world.

The accolades continue for Brisbane’s Emporium Hotel - the boutique property has won the Best Small Luxury Hotel title in the prestigious Gourmet Traveller Awards announced last night.

Emporium Hotel topped the best in the country to take the title including The Lyall and The Adelphi in Melbourne, the Islington and The Henry Jones Art Hotel both in Hobart and The Lake House in Daylesford Victoria.

The award is the latest in the Emporium Hotel’s string of prestigious titles and will take pride of place alongside the recent Queensland Tourism Award for “Best Luxury Accommodation”; the two Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence 2008 for “Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation Five Star” and “Best Marketed Hotel”; the 2008 HM Award for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence for “Best New Hotel” and of course the prestigious title as one of the world’s best hotels in the International Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2008.

The Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards, now in their third year are a tribute to the finest operators in the country. Gourmet Traveller’s award winners are not decided solely by industry experts or by members of the public. Instead, knowledge of both camps is drawn on to get the broadest perspective possible.

The judging panel includes dozens of travel writers, editors, photographers, TV types and industry heavyweights. They nominate their favourite new and enduring Australian holiday experiences, a high-calibre shortlist is developed and then readers are asked to vote.

Emporium Hotel General Manager, Mr Peter Savoff said the award was a tribute to the staff of the hotel, and to the vision of the owners.

“This award is especially significant for the team of dedicated staff at the Emporium Hotel, many of whom have been with the property since it opened two years ago. Current economic trends have made the hotel industry even more competitive and it is a huge tribute from the readers of Gourmet Traveller, who continue to recognise the outstanding service our entire team aspire to provide.”

The Emporium Hotel was developed by the Anthony John Group, driven by the architect/design team of Tony and Fran John. A second Emporium Hotel is in the planning stages, part of the $650million Southpoint at South Bank. It is scheduled to open in 2011. Brisbane’s only boutique luxury hotel, has made an important mark on the Brisbane and the Australian leisure and corporate travel market over the past 18 months, cementing itself as a benchmark in design and service and launching a number of innovative packages and products.

Emporium Hotel - 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006

PO BOX 2600, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006 - Phone: (07) 3253 6999 or 1300 883 611 Fax: (07) 3253 6966

www.emporiumhotel.com.au

Winner: Best Luxury Accommodation, The Australian Travel & Tourism Award 2008

Winner: Best Luxury Accommodation, Queensland Tourism Awards 2008
Winner: Best New Hotel, HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence 2008

Winner: Best Marketed Hotel (1-99 employees), Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence 2008

Winner: Best Deluxe Accommodation Five Star, Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence 2008

Finalist: Award for Business Innovation, Lord Mayor’s Business Awards 2008

Finalist: Best Luxury Accommodation (100 rooms and over), The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards

Named one of the world’s best new hotels in the International Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2008

Animal surf girl Easkey Britton is joining a 10-day surf trip around Sumatra and the surrounding atolls in search of surf, adventure and sunshine.

Great travel piece for the more adventurous reader - with strong imagery/video footage.

Surfing in Sumatra: Easkey Britton swaps Ireland for Indonesia

Exploring the Indonesian Atolls is not your average trip away in the sunshine, but Animal surf girl Easkey Britton, current Irish Champion, swaps her native Ireland for Indonesia each year to explore the islands around Sumatra aboard the 84ft Mangalui sloop yacht on the hunt for perfect waves.

The 10-day trip takes you round some of the least explored areas of the world searching out and surfing new waves, snorkelling on untouched coral reefs and spending the evening on deck sampling what the ocean has offered up to the boat’s chef that day.

The trip is for the adventure-hungry and offers a chance to push yourself, experience a whole new world and return to the UK with some amazing experiences under your belt.

This time Easkey is ready to rock the boat in the company of seven other surf girls in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. The actual route of the trip is loose, however they will go where the waves take them – planned destinations include Sumatra, Nias Island, the Mentawi Islands and a look-in at Banda Aceh (one of the worst places hit in the 2004 tsunami ), which has some of the best waves in the world.

Easkey, born into Ireland’s oldest surfing family, has made a name for herself by reaching a number of milestones in her 23 years. Named after an Irish surf reef, Easkey became the first woman to surf big-wave surf spot ‘Aileen’s’ off the coast of West Ireland last year, and lists Kelly Slater as one of her surf companions.

She’s also recently starred in her own section (surfing Aileen’s) in a surf film, Waveriders, alongside Mr Slater himself, that is currently showing in UK cinemas.

The Mangalui is fully equipped with everything you need – from the local Indo beer ‘Bintang’ to internet access and satellite phone.

For a 10 day trip the cost is approx £1,600 depending on your trip, which includes all food, drink and transfers.

LOS ANGELES – It’s never been a better time to visit Los Angeles than now through the end of summer with the unveiling of LA Inc.

The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new “Top 100 Vacation Deals.”

The sizzling summer offers are available through August 31, 2009.
For a complete listing of hotel offers, visit this  link

Stay in the middle of the action and save up to 40 percent with a Hollywood Getaway at Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel or Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.

Choose from online exclusive getaway packages including two nights of accommodations, a seven-day unlimited ticket to enjoy all the new entertainment at Universal Studios Hollywood, complimentary breakfast for two, complimentary parking and roundtrip transportation between your hotel and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Wind down with a midweek or weekend stay at a choice of 16 Westside hotels.

Escape to The Sofitel Los Angeles, where visitors who book a guestroom by July 5, 2009 get their fourth night free, in addition to a sumptuous picnic basket. If performing arts or a studio tour is on your travel itinerary, visit Inter Continental Los Angeles Century City, where guests who stay a minimum of two nights receive breakfast for two, complimentary parking and a tour of Sony Studios or two tickets to Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Rates start at $269.

In Beverly Hills, The Residence Inn treats travelers to an American Express gift card valued at $50, complimentary AMC movie tickets for two, free WiFi and complimentary breakfast for two starting at $229. At the Holiday Inn Century City, travelers who book two nights obtain the third night free.

For the ultimate ocean-side retreat, take advantage of beachside getaways at Hotel Casa Del Mar with rates starting at $395 per night based on space availability, Le Margot, A JW Marriott Beach Hotel & Spa highlighting two Swedish massages with guestroom rates starting at $459 based on space availability, or Shutters On the Beach which offers a $50 hotel credit and guestroom rates starting at $525 per night based on space availability.

Discover culture in the heart of downtown Los Angeles with Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s “I Love (Downtown LA)! Package for two which highlights a one night stay priced from $179 per night based on space availability, breakfast and tickets to the Museum of Contemporary Art, tickets to the Grammy Museum and vouchers to visit the ESPN Zone.

Other attractive downtown hotel deals include Wilshire Grand Los Angeles’ “Beat the Heat,” whereby the guestroom rate is based on the high temperature of the day of your stay with a $20 room upgrade and 20 percent off hotel dining.

At the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, guests relax in a deluxe guestroom, savor a three-course pre-fixe dinner for two at LA Prime Restaurant and obtain complimentary overnight parking.

In addition to these exclusive packages, travelers can obtain up to 50 percent off on LA’s top cultural, dining, entertainment and other top attractions.

Head to Hollywood for a night at the theatre with 35%-50% off theatre tickets to Dirty Dancing at the Pantages Theater, Hollywood. While in the area, enjoy $5 off regular Adult/Child admission to Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood Wax Museum, or treat yourself to a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée when dining at the renowned Geisha House on Hollywood Boulevard.

While in downtown, embark on a larger-than-life feature film adventure with $2 off Adult admission and $1 off Children’s admission to an IMAX movie at the California Science Center IMAX Theater, or enjoy $3 off admission to the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live. Stop for lunch at Zucca Ristorante, an upscale Italian establishment, currently offering a $19 lunch special and $5 parking for guests of the restaurant.

Chill out on the Westside with a complimentary appetizer while dining at Crustacean, one of Beverly Hill’s finest eateries, or experience 2-for-1 general admission to the Skirball Cultural Center.

Soak in the sun at the city’s top seaside eateries with offers including 15% off the total bill at I Cugini’s in Santa Monica, or a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée at Geoffrey’s Malibu.

Take in the sites and sounds of the Santa Monica Pier boardwalk with 15% off an unlimited-ride wristband at the popular weekend beachside destination, Pacific Park.

The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Though not part of city Government, LA INC. is recognized as the city’s official tourism marketing organization.

For more information about “Los Angeles Top 100 Vacation Deals,” visit the official visitors information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com

Beachcomber Launch Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Weddings in Paradise

Beachcomber Hotels is delighted to announce the launch of their fabulous new Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen Weddings in Paradise packages, offering couples the chance to plan for a wedding simply exuding elegance and sophistication in their very own tropical paradise!

Each wedding has been glamorously designed in association with the renowned interior designer and his wife Jackie, author of Debrett’s wedding guide and acclaimed spokesperson on the history of weddings.

The couple, who are both exceptionally well-travelled designers and stylists have recently become great friends of Mauritius after experiencing the warm welcome, exceptional service and fantastic facilities the island has to offer, citing it as the perfect place to get married.

Beachcomber offers a host of beautiful settings for weddings in Mauritius and Seychelles. A one wedding a day policy to ensure it is the couples unique special day and to maintain the high standards of privacy, service and hospitality. Each hotel has their own dedicated wedding co-ordinator with fabulous contact books with a host of florists, photographers and musicians to help make the wedding day special.

For many couples an elegant wedding in Mauritius may seem a million miles away; but this need not be so. Beachcomber Hotels are true to their motto “dream is a serious thing”. For those Brides who are looking for something fresh, stylish and not over-priced, the new Beachcomber weddings could be the answer.

Laurence has designed a new wedding gazebo and his wife Jackie, wedding etiquette author, has provided the operational guide for Beachcomber with some fun new tips for weddings.

Laurence and Jackie are firm believers in the institution of marriage - especially in the strength and support it can provide in more trying times, such as the recession today. Laurence said: “Marriage is the greatest tool that we have at our disposal to tackle these difficult times. It is vital that couples are given the opportunity to begin their commitment to each other in the manner that it is sure to continue in, brimming with style and adoration surrounded by the people closest to their hearts.

“The Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen Weddings in Paradise at Beachcomber Hotels offer exactly this at a fraction of what it would cost in the UK but with the addition of the outstanding service and beautiful tropical surroundings for which Mauritius and Seychelles are famous.”

For Beachcomber Hotels the exclusive packages mark an exciting partnership with the Llewelyn-Bowens. The weddings will be available at seven of Beachcomber Hotels in Mauritius including Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Shandrani Resort & Spa, Le Victoria, Le Mauricia and Le Canonnier in Mauritius and Sainte Anne Resort & Spa in the Seychelles.

To cater for all budgets and tastes Beachcomber Hotels offer two styles of Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Weddings in Paradise Packages:

Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Weddings in Paradise, Classic Wedding from £380
The Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen Weddings in Paradise Classic Wedding incorporates everything couples could wish for on their Big Day including a dedicated wedding coordinator, transfers to and from the registrars office, bridal hair and make-up (and trial session to make sure it is just right), celebratory in-room breakfast and a stunning bridal bouquet.

Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Weddings in Paradise, Luxury Wedding from £850
Couples wishing for a slightly more extravagant affair can opt for a Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Weddings in Paradise, Luxury Wedding and will be whisked to the registrar’s office in a stylish BMW X5 (for guests staying at Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club and Shandrani Resort & Spa) and pampered with a selection of spa treatments. The luxury wedding also guarantees that the romance will continue at the end of the Special Day with chilled Champagne, scented candles and petals scattered across the newlywed’s bed.

Both options include use of the exclusive Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Wedding Gazebo, a luxury gazebo designed by Laurence especially for Beachcomber Hotels which can be easily adapted to accommodate different sized weddings and can be positioned in a selection of wonderful locations.

Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Wedding in Paradise, Classic Wedding includes: a dedicated wedding coordinator, decoration and styling of the wedding location, celebratory in-room breakfast, bridal bouquet and Groom’s button hole, bridal hair and make-up including a trial session, a separate room for the bride before the ceremony (subject to availability), wedding cake for 10 people, wedding music, transfers to and from the registrar General Civil Status Office, legal costs (Affidavit & Supreme, Civil Status, Administrative charges), one wedding per day. The Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Classic Wedding costs from £380 at Le Victoria, Le Canonnier and Le Mauricia and £460 at Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa and Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Shandrani Resort & Spa and Sainte Anne Resort & Spa. Prices include all government taxes.

The Laurence & Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen’s Weddings in Paradise, Luxury Wedding includes: all inclusions from the Classic Wedding, BMW X5 transfers to and from registrar (only at Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club and Shandrani Resort & Spa), pressing and framing of bouquet and button hole floral arrangements, bridal spa treatments (luxury manicure, pedicure and massage), Groom’s spa treatments (body polish and massage), champagne and canapés following the service for two people, special four course wedding dinner in a private location, romantic room escapade (champagne, candles, petals on Newlyweds bed and luxury bubble bath), framed congratulatory certificate on behalf of Beachcomber hotels and 50 wedding photographs and album.

The Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Luxury Wedding costs from £850 at Le Victoria, Le Canonnier and Le Mauricia and £1200 at Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Shandrani Resort & Spa and Sainte Anne Resort & Spa. Prices include all government taxes.

Make an early escape plan if you book by 31st October 2009 for travel from 4 January to 30 November 2010 and receive a 20% special saving and a 10% honeymoon offer, allowing you to save a total of 30%. With this special offer prices start from:

Le Mauricia – Prices from £1149 per person for 7 nights in a Standard Room on a Half Board basis with Honeymoon lunches, return economy flights with Air Mauritius and transfers.

Le Canonnier – Prices from £1175 per person for 7 nights in a Standard Garden Facing Room on a Half Board basis with Honeymoon lunches, return economy flights with Air Mauritius and transfers.

Le Victoria – Prices from £1265 per person for 7 nights in a Superior Room on a Half Board basis with Honeymoon lunches, return economy flights with Air Mauritius and transfers.

Shandrani Resort & Spa – Prices from £1529 per person for 7 nights in a Superior Room on Serenity Plus, return economy flights with Air Mauritius and transfers.

Paradis Hotel & Golf Club – Prices from £1515 per person for 7 nights in a Deluxe Room on a Half Board basis with Honeymoon lunches, return economy flights with Air Mauritius and private transfers.

Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa – Prices from £1709 per person for 7 nights in a Junior Suite on a Half Board basis with Honeymoon lunches, return economy flights with Air Mauritius and private transfers.

Sainte Anne Resort & Spa – Prices from £2479 per person for 7 nights in a Garden Villa on a Half Board basis with Honeymoon lunches, return economy flights with Air Seychelles and private transfers.

To book simply call Beachcomber Tours on 01483 445 685 or visit www.beachcombertours.co.uk

Reykjavik - Certified plungers that have yet to put a notch in their belt for Iceland’s coveted Silfra Ravine are invited to join a group of fun-laden Entrepreneurs that will descend on the small Icelandic lake that is famous for the clearest water in the world, being on two continents at once, and oh ya – having up to 300 small earthquakes a day.

Maverick Business Adventures, which is a group of business owners seeking to be empowered and further educated in business while reaching out to help others through philanthropy, wants more people to join them on their 23-person quest to work hard, play hard and contribute to financially struggling Iceland.

The $13,695 trip includes business seminars, diving deep, Super Jeeps, ice climbing, and encouraging/contributing to a group of Icelandic youth entrepreneurs.

“We will have multi-millionaires speaking that both have been hit and are unfazed by the global recession,” says Yanik Silver, Founder Maverick Business Adventures.

“We also expect our collective minds and actions to inspire these Icelandic youth to take specific advice we will give on how to not be recession casualties.”

The current recession has caused Iceland to be one of the hardest hit countries in the western world, as the small nation struggles with a crippling debt load and a severe drop in tourism – their bread and butter.

“The systems we use to give advice always help young business owners,” Yanik says.

“I have coached dozens of kids, some who now make more than their parents. Teen entrepreneurs are fearless, but they obviously need help steering.”

More about Silfra Ravine: Tectonic plates are pushing the ravine apart at about 2cm per year.

The ever-clear water, which is about 1/3 glacier water and 2/3 rain water has a constant temperature of 2-4 degrees because it is heated from lava below.

It takes little effort to swim through the ravine because of a constant current that pushes people along. World renowned divers describe the experience as ‘surreal’.

Past Maverick Business Adventures groups have included dune buggying through the Baja with Monster Garage’s Jesse James, and golf cart racing with Richard Branson on his own Caribbean getaway, Necker Island. Maverick Business Adventures® is an invitation-only membership exclusively for successful entrepreneurs, CEOs and business owners who want to live life to the fullest, create business breakthroughs and give back through charity and education to empower future entrepreneurs.

www.maverickbusinessadventures.com/iceland

From Calypso Star Charter

South Australia (www.southaustralia.com)  based adventure operator Calypso Star Charter has teamed up with the Eyre Peninsula’s Port Lincoln Hotel to offer a new two-night accommodated shark diving package.

This two-night diving package, which includes accommodation in a deluxe ocean view room in the Port Lincoln Hotel (www.portlincolnhotel.com.au) , is priced at AUD$1,320 (approx £656) for two people (twin-share) and includes a full-day shark diving excursion for two, return transfers from the hotel, wetsuit hire and buffet breakfast on the day of departure.

Travellers short on time can opt for a one-night package starting at AUD$1,115 (approx £554) for two people which includes accommodation in a superior town view room and a full-day shark diving excursion.

Shark diving takes place 80km (2½ hours) south of Port Lincoln near the Neptune Islands, one of very few places in the world that boasts great white shark activity all year round, and with excellent visibility.

Here the adventurous don full length wetsuits, hook up to a respirator (a scuba mask connected to an air supply on the boat) and climb into the cage where up to four people are lowered under the surface to experience the thrill of meeting a great white shark first hand. No diving experience is necessary.

South Australia (www.southaustralia.com) is one of only three places in the world where cage diving with great white sharks is possible.

ONE DAY SHARK DIVING TRIP FROM AUD$495 (approx £246)

For travellers who purely want to dive with sharks, Calypso Star Charter (www.calypsostarcharter.com.au)  offers a selection of options.

The one day tour normally lasts 7-8 hours, is fully catered and includes breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

There is also the opportunity to swim with sea lions in shallower waters close to Port Lincoln.

The one-day tour runs from July to September and costs from AUD$495 (approx £246) per person.

Meanwhile, the cost of a four-day shark dive trip is AUD$2,300 (approx £944).

Calypso Star Charter, in conjunction with local environmental authorities, tags and records shark sightings so that their movements can be tracked around Australia.

SWIM WITH TUNA

For an alternative underwater experience, Calypso Star Charter also offers swimming with tuna. Port Lincoln Bay is home to small tuna (about 15kg), and, from within the confines of a pen, swimmers can have an exciting experience as the fast, energetic tuna can swim excitedly close. The two-hour tuna swim costs from AUD$30 (approx £12) per adult and AUD$15 (approx £6) per child.

The luxurious Pinctada Cable Beach opened this and now Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat  opeed its doors.

Eco Beach, which was closed by cyclone Rosita in 2000, is set on the stunning and untouched coastline in the Kimberley, just one hour’s drive south of Broome.

Guests can choose between 25 cyclone-proof luxurious self-sustaining eco villas and 30 demountable safari style eco tents for a glamorous wilderness experience.

Visitors in June will get 50% of normal rates which start from $184 per tent per night

www.ecobeach.com.au

These latest offering in Broome are part of a $100 million bed boom in the town and are in response to the town’s rising popularity. Broome’s beach-to-wilderness buzz and mix of indigenous, Malaysian, Chinese, Anglo and Japanese cultures has drawn in visitors from around the world and visitor numbers for January and February this year are up by 6 per cent to 8 per cent, compared with the same months last year.

For those looking to keep track of all things WA while on the move, Tourism WA has created a new podcast channel in iTunes, delivering the latest audio and video podcasts direct to your desktop or mobile mp3 device.

Podcasts currently playing on the channel include:

• Explore El Questro Wilderness Park in the Kimberley with local guide Chilli Chilcott

• Hear what it’s like to swim with the world’s largest fish – the whale shark – which visit Ningaloo Reef each year

• Walk through the Valley of the Giants, the ancient forests in Australia’s South West

• Find out what Perth’s best beaches have to offer