Tasmania will host a bevy of feasts and arts-and-music festivals this winter, led by events such as Dark Mofo, in which Hobart’s famed Mona will bring centuries-old winter-solstice rituals to life in various locations across the city from June 8-21.
Other highlights include the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival on the state’s East Coast from June 9-12, and the Festival of Voices in Hobart from June 30 to July 16, a series of magical nights of song, fire, light and warmth.
And don’t forget the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest from July 14-16, when the region will celebrate its apple-picking heritage with rustic food and cider by the fireside and the centuries-old tradition of wassailing — a method of scaring any bad vibes and nasties from the orchard’s cider-apple trees to ensure a bumper crop.
Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays will bring forward its planned 2018 refurbishment in the wake of substantial damage caused by recent Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
The resort will now stay closed ahead of a continuing clean-up and the beginning of works later this year, with an estimated reopening time of mid-2018.
The resort will spend more than $50 million on significant refurbishment, including accommodation upgrades, renovations to existing attractions and installation of new features which will transform it into 4.5-star resort.
Major works will include redevelopment of the arrivals pavilion, reception area, main atrium area, Waterfalls restaurant, Lagoons bar, all room types and Mermaids Restaurant.
Additionally, the Lovers Cove function area will be expanded and a new Asian-inspired restaurant will be built overlooking Mermaids Beach.
Succumb to the lure of a romantic rail journey, with Flight Centre offering a choice of deals through Australia’s red heart on the iconic Ghan.
Jump, for instance, aboard The Ghan as part of a five-night getaway to South Australia and the Outback from $1,159 per person.
The offer includes three nights for the price of two in Adelaide, a tour of the Barossa Valley and Hahndorf, a night aboard The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs in a Gold Service twin cabin with meals and drinks, a night in Alice Springs and a day tour of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Departing January 18 next year, the special offer is valid for sale until May 21.
Another option is the seven-day ‘Top End Explorer’ package, taking in Adelaide, Darwin and Kakadu for from $2,149 per person.
Departing February 3, this package is also valid for sale from May 21.
- Phone 1300 939 414
- www.flightcentre.com.au
Trackers Mountain Lodge, located in the heart of Falls Creek Alpine Resort, is offering a kids-stay-free deal between June 10 and June 22, and again from September 22 until the resort closes its lifts.
The ski-in-ski-out lodge is also offering kids a 50 per cent discount on ski-lift passes during those periods.
Family packages are priced from $1,599, including four nights quad-share accommodation, continental breakfasts, plus four full-day ski-school programs for two children.
The same package in August peak season costs $4,598.
- Phone 03 5758 3346
- www.trackers.com.au
After one of the wettest wet seasons for years, Kakadu is looking in perfect condition for the forthcoming peak ‘dry’ season, with several new developments in place.
The famous Crocodile Hotel … aka ‘The Croc’ or the Mercure Kakadu … has followed up earlier refurbishments with a further upgrade of 51 rooms and the addition of distinctive Indigenous styling in all rooms.
Cooinda is also upgrading both its lodge accommodation and its camp ground, with safari-style tented accommodation being made available from late June for the dry season.
Special Yellow Water fishing charters will be available throughout the season, and conditions for barramundi fishing have been described as “brilliant”.
Kakadu National Park is also offering visitors a chance to explore Indigenous cuisine and influences during the first ever ‘A Taste of Kakadu’, an interactive food festival which will be held between May 12 and 21.
The festival will showcase Kakadu’s most famous produce, including barramundi, magpie goose, and one of the world’s first super foods, the Kakadu plum.
John Rozentals is a freelance writer whose passions are travel, food and wine. He lives at Molong in the Central West of NSW, from where he hosts Oz Baby Boomers, a lifestyle-resource for mature Australians, and Molong Online.