FORGET those Aussie beer adverts, where the
landscape’s bare and arid and the nearest thirst-quenching
pint is just a mirage. Australia can meet the most pampered
traveller’s demands, with luxury product available in every
state.
Travel Weekly takes a look at the country’s finest
offerings.
| Western Australia |
Eco-spa in Margaret River
Hidden Valley is an aptly named spa resort set in 170
acres of forest, near Margaret River. It continues to win accolades
– the latest being the Australian Tourism Award for Best
Hosted Accommodation 2003/04.
The retreat contains five individually decorated suites, each with
outdoor plunge pool. The most luxurious, Deepwater, has a private
jetty to a secluded lake and a bridge connecting guests to the spa
area.
Gold Medal Travel offers one night’s accommodation from
£91 per person, twin-share.
What’s new? Perth’s new five-star
boutique hotel, Outram, offers guests a central location in a
French townhouse-style property. One night with Qantas Holidays
leads in at £93 per person, including breakfast.
Basildene Manor is a boutique country estate set in 14 acres of
grounds within minutes of Margaret River. Prices start at £48
per person per night with Qantas Holidays.
| Northern Territory |
Safari in Uluru
If your clients are partial to camping, and enjoy the sound of
crickets and lying under star-studded skies, but could do without
the hard ground beneath their Eurohike tent, then they should head
to Longitude 131, a luxury tented camp. Set atop an isolated sand
dune in Australia’s red centre, this deluxe camping
experience consists of just 15 tents, each with its own lounge and
telescope for close-up views of the setting sun over Uluru (Ayers
Rock).
One night with Thomson starts at £361 per person twin-share,
including transfers, all meals and tours.
What’s new? Feathers Sanctuary is a new
experience in wildlife and bed and breakfast. Located in a private
bird park near Darwin, guests can spot rare species from their
sleekly designed huts. Thomson offers a two-night stay from
£104 per person twin-share, including breakfast and champagne
on arrival.
Travel 2 offers three days in a luxury four-wheel-drive vehicle and
purpose-built safari tent in Kakadu National Park from £350
per person per night, twin-share.
| New South Wales |
Sydney in style
Fancy a few nights in a five-star hotel, private limousine
transfers, a chauffeured VIP sightseeing tour, a cruise around
Sydney harbour and a helicopter flight taking in one of the best
aerial views around? We thought so.
Travel 2 offers a four-day, three-night Sydney in Style package
which includes all of the above for £456 per person, including
accommodation.
What’s new? EastSail has a new Overnight
Indulgence experience. Guests start the evening with a private
twilight sail around Sydney harbour, followed by a seafood platter
and a night under the stars. Clients then tuck into a pre-prepared
breakfast hamper before returning to shore. Travel 2 offers tours
from £421 per person from April.
Following a dramatic overhaul, the Hilton Sydney is due to reopen
in May. New features include a better use of light and space in all
577 rooms and new relaxation rooms, perfect for honeymooners.
Prices start at £55 per person twin-share with Kuoni.
| Victoria |
Wine tasting in the Yarra Valley
Wine connoisseurs will love a day touring Victoria’s best
wineries and tasting some of the world’s finest vintages.
Guests take a tour of four wineries, before lining their stomachs
with a gourmet lunch and specially selected wines. The day ends
with a tour of the Domaine Chandon region and a glass of the
sparking stuff. Prices for a full-day tour including lunch start at
£36 per person with Travel 2.
What’s new? Australia’s largest day
spa, Qi – meaning life force – is due to open in
Melbourne in March. The 1,000 sq metre spa will offer
Turkish-inspired steam rooms and therapies from Polynesia and
Morocco. One night’s five-star accommodation in Melbourne
starts at £55 per person twin-share with Jetset. Qi Spa
treatments start at £50.
Formerly the Sheraton Towers, the new Langham Hotel and Spa has
been redesigned as a Victorian Mansion with marble staircases and
chandeliers. Prices start at £62 per person per night
twin-share with Travel 2.
| Queensland |
Yachting in the Whitsundays
Think Dead Calm before the appearance of Billy Zane: gently lapping
water and clear blue sky as far as the eye can see.
Madison is a luxury 50ft Beneteau yacht designed by naval architect
Bruce Farr. Catering for just six guests, it has two private double
cabins and a state room.
Gold Medal Travel offers three nights’ sailing from £333
per person twin-share, including all meals.
What’s new? Prosail is launching a new yacht
this month, Bliss, with three queen chambers, each with en-suite
and plasma screen TV/DVD. Three-night tours start at £729 per
person twin-share with Gold Medal.
Wrotham Park Station is a new experience in bed and breakfasts. A
working cattle station, Wrotham combines rural life with luxury
accommodation and leads in at £385 per person per night,
including meals, with Qantas Holidays.
| South Australia |
Ballooning over Adelaide
Vertigo aside, ballooning is a serene way to gain an unusual
perspective on Australia’s awesome landscape – and
where better than South Australia with its numerous villages and
vineyards? Guests greet the day with the sunrise over Tanunda
before enjoying an early-morning flight followed by a champagne
breakfast.
Thomson offers a four-day, three-night Adelaide and Barossa Valley
tour from £378 per person twin-share including three-star
accommodation, transfers and tours. Prices for ballooning start at
£106 per person.
What’s new? Clients who would rather be on
the water than in the air should try the Astra Nova houseboat. The
10 to 12-berth luxury vessel – moored on the Murray River
– features a heated spa on deck and a fully equipped cocktail
bar. Prices start at £873 per person for a three-night stay
with Gold Medal.
Qantas Holidays has a new Kangaroo Island in Style tour taking in
the best of Kangaroo Island by 4WD. A two-day tour starts at
£495 per person including flights from Adelaide, tours,
accommodation and all meals.
| Tasmania |
River hotel in Tasmania
If visitors took one step off their balcony at this five-star hotel
they’d be straight in the Tamar river. So close is the
Peppers Seaport Hotel to the water, it’s been designed to
resemble a boat. Each of the 60 rooms and suites have balconies
overlooking either the river or the town of Launceston.
Thomson offers one night in a River View room from £54 per
person, twin-share.
What’s new? January saw the launch of a
World Heritage Cruise to previously inaccessible parts of the
Gordon River. Turquoise Holidays offers a seven-night Tasmania tour
from £2,069 per person twin-share, including two nights on
board Discovery, flights, car hire, accommodation and all
meals.
Due for completion in March, Tasmania’s first Boutique Hotel
– the Cornwall – will offer self-catering facilities,
individual spas and a pillow menu. Prices start at £80 per
person per night twin-share with Turquoise Holidays.
