All aboard for ABTA
Along with thirty other travel agents, I met up with David Longmuir of Travel 2 and Marcello Di Virgilio, advertisement manager of Travel Weekly. We formed part of a contingent of 100 delegates sponsored by Travel 2 to journey to the ABTA Convention in Cairns, with stops on the way to sample some of the destinations covered by the Travel 2 Australia programme.
A stress-free British Airways flight took us to Brisbane via Singapore during which I sat beside Sue from Ickenham Travel. We made acquaintance within minutes of taking our seats, not simply through natural courtesy but because Sue’s arm brushed against the control panel on the arm rest between us and accidentally summoned the cabin crew to my seat!
A tired group of agents arrived at Brisbane to connect with our Qantas flight to Townsville where we were greeted by the Australian Outback team bearing garlands of flowers and glasses of mango liqueur. At this point the group split, with one party being driven off to a Sunday market while those remaining went in search of the nearest watering hole.
Our driver Ray, explained that Townsville is now competing with Cairns for pole position as the jumping-off point for visitors to the Barrier Reef. We found the shopping to be excellent value for money, a consideration which obliged us to stay longer than the one hour scheduled for the trip!
However, we did eventually make it to the Coral Princess cruise ship, where the crew welcomed us enthusiastically. We joined other passengers for a safety briefing after which we enjoyed a buffet lunch.
Glass-bottomed boat trips, snorkelling and scuba diving were all on offer for those with sea legs; unfortunately, a rough patch determined that some of us were better sailors than others so many of us could only watch with envy as the more seasoned sea-goers set sail on their Australian adventure.
Time flew and it wasn’t long before the barmaid reminded us that, with anchors away at 5.30am the following morning, a night’s rest might stand us in good stead.
Paradise found
Sure enough, I was woken up by the noise of things mechanical soon after 5am. A barbecue breakfast on the beach started the day after which we sailed to Dunk Island, a beautiful rainforest haven known locally as the Isle of Peace and Plenty – and so it proved. Here we met up with the Scottish contingent for dinner.
The following morning we split into two groups again. The Scots departed for the Coral Princess cruise while we sampled the delights of this little piece of paradise. There was so much to see and do: horse riding, nature walks, water sports, sky diving, even coconut husking! Those with itchy feet booked in for some strenuous activities while others either collapsed on the beach or relaxed with one of the therapeutic massages on offer.
A wonderful dinner ended our stay at Dunk Island Resort; the food was great and so was the entertainment, provided by Marcello di Virgilio who was an instant hit as he performed for our hosts, P&O Hotels’ Caroline Henry, Mary Harman, Judith North and the senior management of Dunk Island Resort.
We said goodbye to Dunk Island with sadness and boarded the water taxi which was bound for our coach waiting to take us to Palm Cove, via Wild World, the tropical zoo. This presented us with the opportunity to get close to crocs, snakes and koalas. I will never know how I did it but I had my photo taken with a snake around my neckÉso much more fetching than a feather boa!
Our guide, Larry, showed us around and went to great pains to reassure us that the ‘Cuddle a Koala’ corner, which produces souvenir photos of visitors nervously holding the animals and wondering whether or not they’d emptied their bowels recently, is far from exploitative as the bear works for only thirty minutes a day on a rota basis. Sounds like my kind of jobÉ
Queensland downpour
A short journey from the zoo and we checked in at the Novotel Palm Court Resort. The weather has been unpredictable, which is unusual for Queensland, but we have come to expect the unexpected.
In our rooms we found the Travel 2 missions for the next day. Throughout our adventure we have not known what will happen from day to day (or what to wear) meaning every day is a wonderful surprise.
Palm Cove Resort is most relaxing, with lots going on for those who want it. The Marriott Hotel in Cairns kept us entertained in the evening with a delicious dinner and a spectacular fireworks display, adding to the sense of occasion we all feel at being here.
The surprise for the following day was a trip to the Barrier Reef on Quicksilver. Our group assembled at the jetty and awaited its arrival. Before it reached us, however, the warm rains did! We’d all been given Travel 2 caps to wear but chic as they were, they offered little protection as the heavens opened.
A little bit of Reef relief
Spirits were not dampened as we clambered aboard. Soon the sun was shining and we were at the Barrier Reef deciding which of the activities to take up from the helicopter viewings of the Reef and the semi-submersible viewing of the coral to the snorkelling and scuba diving.
A party member made her first dive and was ecstatic while two others won BA tickets in the prize draw, giving us all plenty to celebrate over lunch. An informal barbecue at the Radisson Resort was the perfect way to end the day.
At the Cairns International Hotel, the following day we embarked on tropical training, workshop-style, aided by 20 of Travel 2’s top Aussie suppliers after which it was back to the Novotel Palm Cove to change into sarongs for the ABTA Welcome Party.
If I thought I’d seen fireworks already the ABTA delegates had more in store. Watch this space!
All aboard for ABTA
Along with thirty other travel agents, I met up with David Longmuir of Travel 2 and Marcello Di Virgilio, advertisement manager of Travel Weekly. We formed part of a contingent of 100 delegates sponsored by Travel 2 to journey to the ABTA Convention in Cairns, with stops on the way to sample some of the destinations covered by the Travel 2 Australia programme.
A stress-free British Airways flight took us to Brisbane via Singapore during which I sat beside Sue from Ickenham Travel. We made acquaintance within minutes of taking our seats, not simply through natural courtesy but because Sue’s arm brushed against the control panel on the arm rest between us and accidentally summoned the cabin crew to my seat!
A tired group of agents arrived at Brisbane to connect with our Qantas flight to Townsville where we were greeted by the Australian Outback team bearing garlands of flowers and glasses of mango liqueur. At this point the group split, with one party being driven off to a Sunday market while those remaining went in search of the nearest watering hole.
Our driver Ray, explained that Townsville is now competing with Cairns for pole position as the jumping-off point for visitors to the Barrier Reef. We found the shopping to be excellent value for money, a consideration which obliged us to stay longer than the one hour scheduled for the trip!
However, we did eventually make it to the Coral Princess cruise ship, where the crew welcomed us enthusiastically. We joined other passengers for a safety briefing after which we enjoyed a buffet lunch.
Glass-bottomed boat trips, snorkelling and scuba diving were all on offer for those with sea legs; unfortunately, a rough patch determined that some of us were better sailors than others so many of us could only watch with envy as the more seasoned sea-goers set sail on their Australian adventure.
Time flew and it wasn’t long before the barmaid reminded us that, with anchors away at 5.30am the following morning, a night’s rest might stand us in good stead.
Paradise found
Sure enough, I was woken up by the noise of things mechanical soon after 5am. A barbecue breakfast on the beach started the day after which we sailed to Dunk Island, a beautiful rainforest haven known locally as the Isle of Peace and Plenty – and so it proved. Here we met up with the Scottish contingent for dinner.
The following morning we split into two groups again. The Scots departed for the Coral Princess cruise while we sampled the delights of this little piece of paradise. There was so much to see and do: horse riding, nature walks, water sports, sky diving, even coconut husking! Those with itchy feet booked in for some strenuous activities while others either collapsed on the beach or relaxed with one of the therapeutic massages on offer.
A wonderful dinner ended our stay at Dunk Island Resort; the food was great and so was the entertainment, provided by Marcello di Virgilio who was an instant hit as he performed for our hosts, P&O Hotels’ Caroline Henry, Mary Harman, Judith North and the senior management of Dunk Island Resort.
We said goodbye to Dunk Island with sadness and boarded the water taxi which was bound for our coach waiting to take us to Palm Cove, via Wild World, the tropical zoo. This presented us with the opportunity to get close to crocs, snakes and koalas. I will never know how I did it but I had my photo taken with a snake around my neckÉso much more fetching than a feather boa!
Our guide, Larry, showed us around and went to great pains to reassure us that the ‘Cuddle a Koala’ corner, which produces souvenir photos of visitors nervously holding the animals and wondering whether or not they’d emptied their bowels recently, is far from exploitative as the bear works for only thirty minutes a day on a rota basis. Sounds like my kind of jobÉ
Queensland downpour
A short journey from the zoo and we checked in at the Novotel Palm Court Resort. The weather has been unpredictable, which is unusual for Queensland, but we have come to expect the unexpected.
In our rooms we found the Travel 2 missions for the next day. Throughout our adventure we have not known what will happen from day to day (or what to wear) meaning every day is a wonderful surprise.
Palm Cove Resort is most relaxing, with lots going on for those who want it. The Marriott Hotel in Cairns kept us entertained in the evening with a delicious dinner and a spectacular fireworks display, adding to the sense of occasion we all feel at being here.
The surprise for the following day was a trip to the Barrier Reef on Quicksilver. Our group assembled at the jetty and awaited its arrival. Before it reached us, however, the warm rains did! We’d all been given Travel 2 caps to wear but chic as they were, they offered little protection as the heavens opened.
A little bit of Reef relief
Spirits were not dampened as we clambered aboard. Soon the sun was shining and we were at the Barrier Reef deciding which of the activities to take up from the helicopter viewings of the Reef and the semi-submersible viewing of the coral to the snorkelling and scuba diving.
A party member made her first dive and was ecstatic while two others won BA tickets in the prize draw, giving us all plenty to celebrate over lunch. An informal barbecue at the Radisson Resort was the perfect way to end the day.
At the Cairns International Hotel, the following day we embarked on tropical training, workshop-style, aided by 20 of Travel 2’s top Aussie suppliers after which it was back to the Novotel Palm Cove to change into sarongs for the ABTA Welcome Party.
If I thought I’d seen fireworks already the ABTA delegates had more in store. Watch this space!