The wide world of travel never fails to surprise. It seems someone is always dreaming up a fabulous new tour or a more luxurious way to experience bucket-list destinations. Glamorous new hotels pop up weekly while cruise ships get both bigger and smaller. Here are just a few that have hit This Magnificent Life’s desk in the last 24 hours.
Lirrwi Tourism
As a nation of travellers it’s ironic we often overlook the most rewarding cultural experiences in our own backyard. This new tour series from Lirrwi Tourism in the Top End not only gives Aussies a chance to experience traditional indigenous ways it also opens up the breathtaking East Arnhem Land’s most remote destinations.
2019’s itineraries have been developed and are operated by the Yolgnu people. Guided, single-day and multi-day tours are authentic, cultural adventures. Tours might include an introduction to bush foods and traditional remedies or a stopover at a beach to catch fish or mud crabs and learn traditional cooking methods. Staying at Yolgnu homelands, guests connect with the people and learn the significance of this enchanted part of Australia.
Departure dates for the 5-day Women’s Tours and Crossing Country Tours run from April through October. A dedicated Photography Tour will run over seven nights – May 12-18.
Celebrity Flora
The Galapagos is one of those places so unlike anywhere else on earth that is on most adventurous traveller’s wander lists. Celebrity Cruises will launch the 100-passenger Celebrity Flora next year to cruise these alien islands. Perfect for those who can’t wait to get up close to those magnificent creatures most of us will only ever see courtesy of Sir David Attenborough.
The all-suite luxury yacht – Celebrity Flora has been created with the long-term sustainability of the islands in mind, including integrated drinking water filtration systems in every suite. Specifically designed for cruising the Galapagos, its outward facing design makes for perfect viewing and simpler boarding to the state-of-the-art tenders.
Guests over the 10 or 11-day cruises will see sea lions, pelicans, flamingos, blue-footed boobies and the Galapagos ‘Big 2’ – marine iguanas and giant tortoises. Shore excursions include walking the red sand of Radiba Island, snorkelling, swimming and much more.
Celebrity Flora is the first ship to offer Galapagos Glamping – top deck cocktails, campfire cuisine and sleeping under the million-star sky.
Nature Bound Australia
In case you hadn’t noticed the over-55 travel sector is booming. It’s not only Grey Nomads who want to see this wide brown land. Nature Bound Australia specialises in 7-15 day nature walks and scenic tours designed to embrace the environment.
Destinations include the Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre, Fraser Island, the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Centre and Tasmania’s National Parks. All tours are eco-friendly and give guests access to areas that most tourists can’t get to.
The Outback to Reef tour moves from the age of dinosaurs in Queensland’s dramatic, outback landscapes to the pristine waters of Lady Musgrave Island.
voco Surfers Paradise
Australia’s hotel boom isn’t stopping anytime soon. Independents and the bigger players have all played their part with new builds, boutique operations and brands aimed to entice the Airbnb generation.
The world’s first voco opened yesterday on the Gold Coast. Part of the IHG group, voco provides a new style of luxury. Right in the centre of Australia’s holiday playground the resort is only steps to Surfers Paradise beach. 389 rooms have expansive views of both the ocean and hinterland. And with a nod to sustainability, voco is one of the first luxury hotels to opt for refillable soap dispensers, and natural high-end, Aveda products.
The Gold Coast’s silly season will be boosted by the addition of three new restaurants. Waves, Clifford’s Grill and Lounge and Social House will fulfil all your food fantasies 24/7. And what sort of Gold Coast resort would voco be without a rejuvenating spa? L’Aqua Day Spa features hydrotherapy and steam bathing.
Chinchilla’s Big Melon
The Warrego Highway will never be the same again. Yesterday, the good folk of Chinchilla and Wotif unveiled Australia’s next Big Thing. The Big Melon is the result of a keenly-contested competition to determine what Australia needed next in the way of ‘Big’.
The centre of Australia’s melon industry and home to the bi-annual Melon Fest, the Big Melon will hopefully provide a tourism boost to the Western Downs region.
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