Our world abounds with travel opportunities. New hot spots must, dos & bucket lists pop up on all types of media every day. They tempt us to pack up & go. Silent sirens seduce us.
Some things stay the same. Some things change. It is possible for some destinations to do both simultaneously. Take South Africa for example, it is still a favourite for Australian travellers on the “Wallaby Route” flown by South African Airways for over 50 years, yet South Africa has changed remarkedly in that time.
South African Airways has been taking people to Africa for over 80 years & now fly daily from all Australian capital cities with Virgin as their partner. South African Airways daily flight from Perth to Johannesburg conveniently departs late at night which means you arrive early in the morning, so not missing anything.
South Africa has changed with Cape Town now a favourite destination for foodies or gourmet travellers from around the world. South African has its famous wine districts, the Garden route, the surfing coast, Durban & the magic wildlife of its parks. With the Australian dollar buying around 10 rand there has never been a better time for Australians to visit. Go to www.flysaa.com.au or call South African Airways on 1300 435 972.
Australians love exotic countries & ports. Our location at the bottom of South East Asia & the sub-continent makes travelling to mystical locales fairly easy.
Nina from Nina’s Pathways has 3 fantastic trips coming up to Sri Lanka, the island of spice & magic, beaches & mountains. In March 2017, there’s The Golden Triangle, in August 2017 the Kandy Perahera Festival & in October the Jaffna & newly opened North Tour.
Two weeks with train journeys, adventures, cooking classes, yoga in scenic locations, tea estate visits, fantastic beaches & stunning hotels. These small group tours are just perfect if you are looking to broaden your field of travel experience. Go to www.ninaspathways.com.au for all your information & details.
Nearby India is one of the most colourful vibrant original travel experiences available in the modern world today. Discover the back water ghats, the cool mountain outposts of colonial times, magnificent palaces, thriving & throbbing cities, palm fringed beaches & mysteries of time. There is no other place with the contrast & adventure, the wild life & the scenery, the wonder & intrigue of India & it is so close. Go to http://incredibleindia.org/ to explore your opportunities.
Travel & Taste can handcraft your trip to India. Try their Mystical Indian Desert Tour of 9 nights & 10 days or you can visit the Taj Mahal, the metropolis of Dehli, the other worldly Jaipur, Mandaway, Agra & Pushkar for only $999 for 9 days & 10 nights staying at Crowne Plaza, Four Points Sheraton & other deluxe hotels – a marvellous tour at a bargain price. Go to http://www.travelandtaste.com.au/ for more information.
China Garden
Asia has always been a popular source of rejuvenation for Australians. The home of sensual spices & spiritual delights, beckons us to visit her.
Asia Discovery Tours is a well-known specialist of the Far East, one of Australia’s favourites. They have a huge choice of sensational tours from a $2480 13 day Vietnam Holiday Tour to a 23 day China Silk Road Tour & Russia River Tour for $6,280. Destinations with great value packages include Sri Lanka, Mynamar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau & fantastic water & river tours of Russia & Scandinavia. www.asiadiscoverytours.com.au
Still in South East Asia, Indonesia’s more unknown islands offer a rare glimpse into a new & exotic region. A gastronomic paradise of forbidden magic.
Christine from Slice of Life will take you on a journey to this region known as the Island of the Gods. 14 nights of cultural & gastronomical excellence with a small group, expertly guided with English speaking hosts. You will sail for 3 days around the glistening island of Flores, take a tour of Komodo Island with its dragons, Rinca Island living on a full board Balinese vessel, attend the Ubud Food Festival, temples, spas & try an open air jeep tour. From 7 May-20 May 2017 for $6397 per person twin share. Christine also has more tours www.sliceoflifetours.com.au for more information.
Vietnam & Cambodia are increasingly attractive to Australian travellers. Close proximity & oriental culture appeal to the Aussies. CH Cruises & Travel have an 11 day river cruise with deluxe hotels, including all meals on board, local beers, soft drink & wine, served with lunch & dinner, extensive sightseeing, all transfers sailing from Saigon, Vietnam to Siem Reap, Cambodia including return airfares from Sydney at $3,599 per person. They also have a Luxury Burma 11 day river cruise. Go to mail@chcruises.com or 3969 4466 for more details.
Australian’s have a love affair with New Zealand. We are the largest group to travel to this dynamic wonderland with so much to offer, & so close.
Known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, Dunedin is the country’s city of the south, wearing its Scottish heritage with pride. Surrounded by dramatic hills & at the foot of a long, picturesque harbour, Dunedin is one of the best-preserved Victorian & Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Be sure to head out & explore Dunedin’s fantastic museums, discover scientific gems at the Discovery Centre at the Otago Museum, visit New Zealand’s only castle Larnach Castle & step back in time at Olveston Historic Home & Theomin Gallery. This pristine historic home has much to offer with its magnificent artwork in every room. Olverston reflects the wealth & influence of its founder; Dunedin businessman, collector & philanthropist David Theomin. Opened as a historic house museum in 1967, Olveston is an authentic & original historic home depicting the life of a wealth merchant family in the early part of the twentieth century http://www.olveston.co.nz
The Otago peninsula is home to Elm Wildlife tours, voted the best leisure activity in New Zealand. Get up close with all the New Zealand wild seals, penguins, sealions & seabirds on an unforgettable day tour. Plenty of options are available go to www.elmwildlifetours.co.nz
Here in Australia, tours, cruises & great accommodation are all available. Covering every mode of transport, all styles of lodging, breathtaking destinations & some of the world’s most beautiful waterways, Australia has it all.
Tallangatta Motor Inn can take you through the North East of Victoria like nobody else. Experts in the region they have a North East Blitz tour of 5 days & 4 nights for only $495, The Lakes & Valleys for $625 & Best of the Region for $685 for 7 days & 6 nights. They do tours to Canberra, the Great Ocean Road, Lake Entrance & Melbourne. All tours include breakfast, lunch & dinners, morning & afternoon teas, free pickups from Albury Station & accommodation. Email them at tallangattamotorinn@gmail.com
At Cooranbong in New South Wales, Ellen G Whites’ homestead “Sunnyside” is a must for all travellers through this region. A pioneer of the Seventh Day Adventists she travelled extensively through Europe, the USA & the South Pacific. She started the Avondale College of Higher Education in Cooranbong. An avid writer, her life’s work is on display here at “Sunnyside”. The South Sea Island Museum contains artefacts, a full sized war canoe & many indigenous objects. Open Saturday, Sunday & Wednesday from 2pm-4pm 27 Avondale Rd, Cooranbong.
Cruises are a booming part of the travel industry. Australians love a cruise & we are most partial to a nice day cruise. Blessed as we are with bays, rivers, harbours & ports, there is always somewhere to cruise. People of all ages are regulars on the popular Starship Cruises socialising on-board while taking the magnificent scenery around the Brisbane Waters & 4 Islands, just north of Sydney. These easy to get to cruises will surprise, excite & delight you.
The popular MN Lady Kendal, cruises the Brisbane Waters, leaving Gosford Public Wharf at 10.15am or Woy Woy at 10.40am every Saturday to Wednesday. This relaxing trip is a favourite amongst our loyal readers, many returning for this popular luncheon cruise. Starship Cruises run this & their 4 Island Cruise which takes in Broken Bay, Lion Island, Barrenjoey Head Land & sails through Pittwater to the Lower Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn & Dangar Island; a 6.5 hour journey of scenic wonderlands with morning teas, buffet lunches & is fully licensed www.starshipcruises.com.au
Senior Coach Tours have an outstanding range of tours from the Top End to the Alice, from Uluru to Broome, just about anywhere they have got you covered. Their new destination Australia 2017 Holiday Brochure has over 70 holidays to choose from. Go55 readers are offered a saving of $200 per booking. Go to www.seniorcoachtours.com.au or call 1800 815 906 to book your tour today.
For all travellers whether domestic or international, there is always the chance of something unpredictable happening. Being unprepared for hospital bills or evacuation is not good planning. With the ever present danger of accidents on the road, at sea, or delays & layovers for flights or connections, travel insurance is a necessity that must be included in all trip planning. The unwanted appointment in emergency or at the dentist overseas can cost a small fortune. For seniors, you can get your cover hassle free at Seniors In Sure – make sure you do – go two www.seniorsinsure.com.au for all your needs.
So get packing, start booking today, for life is not a rehearsal, it’s a chance to experience the world, a lucky place to be.
Main pic Great Ocean Road, Victoria
