From coast to coast we’ve rounded up the latest and best travel news in Australia. From brand-spanking new glamping on one of Australia’s holiday playgrounds to outback partying, new bleisure digs in Melbourne and the first-ever Opera Australia performance under the stars at Uluru. Where will you travel next?
Glamping in the land of the quokkas: Discovery Rottnest
We first told you about the development of glamping on Rottnest Island in 2016 on Facebook. Earlier this week, 83 fully furnished world-class eco-tents became a reality behind the dunes of Pinky Beach.
Discovery – Rottnest Island is the first new accommodation built on the island in over thirty years. Built by Discovery Parks and Baileys Group, the development makes a welcome addition to Perth’s favourite holiday playground.
Home to world-famous quokkas and pristine beaches, the glamping tents make up just one part of the island’s 2.8hectare resort. The pool, pool bar and Pinky’s Beach Club are all linked to the accommodation via walkways and boardwalks.
Each eco-tent features a pillow-topped bed, furnished private deck and an en-suite bathroom. With four levels of comfort, some tents also include kitchenettes with the deluxe level offering beachfront views and walk-in robes.
Adina Apartments Northbank Melbourne has had a makeover
Making a particularly Melbourne statement, Adina Apartments Northbank has combined city chic with home-away-from-home touches in their recently revealed multi-million dollar makeover.
Conveniently positioned close to Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, making for seamless transfers from the airport via Skybus. Opposite Melbourne Aquarium, Docklands and the best of the southern city are virtually on the doorstep. It’s in the free tram zone too.
Adding a little more oomph to Melbourne apartment accommodation, Adina’s latest offering should appeal to both business and leisure travellers when they travel next. Black steel and timber lend a semi-industrial feel in the common areas while studios and apartments are all about comfort.
‘In Design International’ has created a communal business hub in the lobby that allows guests the advantage of high-speed Internet. The connectivity continues in the stylish apartments with Samsung Smart TV’s and digital headend for access to multiple television channels. Guests receive 1MBS for four devices per day free.
Close to Melbourne’s best eats, this like the other apartment properties in Adina’s Melbourne portfolio doesn’t make choice eating in or eating out easy. Queen bed studios include kitchenettes while the one and two bedroom apartments have fully equipped kitchens.
Dust off your RM’s – It’s Queensland’s Year of the Outback
Queensland might be best known for endless white sand beaches and warm, turquoise surf but there’s also a whole lotta outback. Everything is bigger in Queensland. Not including Australia’s Best Butt competition at the Dirt and Dust Festival.
April 12-14 sees the Dirt and Dust Festival take over Julia Creek (population 300) for three days of bog snorkelling, outback triathlons, nightly outdoor concerts and the Artesian Express Outback Horse Races complete with Fashions on the Field. BYO finest ‘boot scooting’ threads. Accommodation packages are available here.
No one place can claim to be the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party as the party sprang up in multiple places across our wide brown land, simultaneously. Barcaldine’s Tree of Knowledge earned its claim to fame as the centre of protests against poor wages and even poorer working conditions in 1891.
The once fatally poisoned Tree of Knowledge now takes pride of place in the centre of this Central West Queensland town under a timber canopy that is especially spectacular when lit at night.
The Tree of Knowledge Festival over the labour day long weekend, (May 3-8), celebrates Australian culture with entertainment, RevFest, a May Day Parade as well as many other family and cultural events.
Other festivals and events in the year-long showcase of rural Queensland’s best include everything from concerts to fireworks, yabby races to a Sunset Dinner Extravaganza.
Opera by the Rock – Opera Australia’s first ever performance at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Saturday, November 2, Opera Australia will take some of Australia’s finest singers to the Red Centre for a unique concert under the stars.
Conducted by Tahu Matheson, singers and the chamber orchestra will perform arias from Puccini, Rossini, Verdi and Bizet. As night approaches the performance will be illuminated by the spectacular Field of Light Uluru’s 50,000 twinklers.
Hosted by Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini, the event will be just one part of a 2-day experience. Options include the 3-course, Tali Wiru signature dining experience -Opera at Uluru Welcome Dinner on Friday, November 1. Held on Sunday night, The Opera at Uluru Starlit Dinner will be held on a remote dune-top with a three-course bush tucker-inspired dinner, indigenous performance and a star talk.
