Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Harbour Rocks Hotel

• After 2 years of careful research, meticulous study and thoughtful planning, restoration and refurbishment is well underway
• Elements of the improvements: beautiful sandstone walls on the lower ground floor restaurant, historic timber supports throughout, restoration of the original brickwork in the ground floor bar and lobby, thoughtfully executed modern touches of soft furnishings and furniture
• Completion date is set for 5^th December 2011

Northern Territory

Wildman Wilderness Lodge - 2012 Season expanded

• Wildman Wilderness Lodge will re-open 1st March 2012, a month earlier than originally advised.
• The contracted and published rates for next year have been extended to include March, allowing a full 9-month season of operation.

Novotel Darwin Atrium

• The Novotel Darwin Atrium is currently undergoing a full guest room and corridor remodel.
• Expected date of completion: March 2012
• There will be very light noise from time to time associated with this works between 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 4pm on Saturday

Queensland

Australian Pacific Touring - Cape Tribulation & Daintree Safari - Itinerary change

• Mossman Gorge is no longer an inclusion on this tour effective immediately.
• All other touring inclusions remain the same and the only change is a picnic lunch replaces the previous lunch at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge.
• Also some amendments to hotel pickup times.
• All existing bookings will be contacted the day prior to tour and advised of the new pick up time

Thrifty Cairns Airport - Updated Hours of Operation

New Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday from 5:00am to 23:59pm

Tangalooma Island Resort - Gold Coast Coach Transfers

• Effective immediately, coach transfers to and from Tangalooma Wharf are no longer available to and from hotels on the Southern Gold Coast.
• The most southern pick up / drop off point for the Gold Coast will be Turtle Beach Resort at Mermaid Beach (2346 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach).
• Existing bookings will be honoured.

Dreamworld & SkyPoint Deck - Closure Update for December 2011

Deck closure of SkyPoint for private functions coming up next month - no bookings are made over these times:

• 9^th December 2011 - last tickets sold 14:30 hrs for a 15:00hrs closure
• 25^th December 2011 - closed
• 31^st December 2011 - last tickets sold 15:30hrs for a 16:00hrs closure; ticketed event from 19:30hrs - details online

Wooroonooran Safaris - Wooroonooran Rainforest Safari Update

• Due to increasing dissatisfied comments about the damaged state of the rainforest at Mamu, and the cyclone damaged tower that is STILL awaiting work to be done on it, the Wooroonooran Rainforest Safari will no longer include Mamu Walk (unless specifically requested).
• All other attractions will still remain part of the itinerary.
• Instead of Mamu Walk they offer the customers the chance to take binoculars for bird watching back at Eubenangee Wetlands. Here customers get the ultimate thrill, of seeing crocodiles in the wild!

Daydream Island Resort and Spa

Soft Refurb almost complete

• A soft refurb commenced earlier in the year starting with the Coral Wing with the other wings to follow.

• The rooms have new linen, runners, cushions and valances.
• Suites have new under-lays and duvets and will now include some extra touches such as complimentary bottled water, daily newspaper and coffee plunger with complimentary coffee.
• In addition - all rooms now have fluffy new towels!

New improvements on Daydream

• Gilligan´s Health Hut and Bar on the south end of the island was closed for refurbishment and re-opened in September.
• Extensive painting and tiling has been undertaken to many parts of the Atrium, the transit lounge and Mermaids restaurant.
• Lighting throughout the Resort has been upgraded including the impressive tree lights around Mermaids Restaurant and Splashes swim up pool bar.
• A new pontoon was installed on the north end jetty and the ´Welcome to Daydream´ sign has been upgraded.
• There has been a major focus on landscaping throughout the Resort - all gardens have been newly mulched, manicured and are looking terrific!
• New air conditioners and LCD TV´s have been installed in a number of rooms.
• Mermaids Beach has been re-shaped and there is new sand on the Volley Ball court.
• There is now a children´s play area in Waterfalls buffet restaurant which is proving to be extremely popular during meal times!

Developments at the Living Reef:

• Construction has been completed on a grandstand around the ´main arena´ in the Living Reef lagoon. This will provide more comfortable and effective viewing for the 10am fish feeding show as well as for school or other groups.
• Lighting has been improved in the lagoons with a view to holding evening fish feeding shows down the track.
• In addition - all the signage around the Living Reef has been upgraded to help identify the different features of this amazing spectacle - for example “Nemoville”, “Lion’s Den”, “Main Lagoon” and “Stingray Splash”.

Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise

• Change of management of Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise to Outrigger Tuesday 10 January 2012
• IHG reached a commercial agreement with the receivers to relinquish its management rights of the hotel. 
• IHG will continue to manage the operation as it has throughout the receivership, until such time as the sales process is concluded on the 10 January 2012.

Ramada Resort Port Douglas

• Ramada Resort Port will shortly be commencing some interior works within the resort owned hotel rooms
• They anticipate these works will commence on the 5^th December 2011 and be completed by May 2012.
• There will be no works between Friday 23/12/11 and Sunday 8/1/12.
• They will be completing one accommodation block at a time to minimize the interference with all guests and any excess noise will occur between 9am and 4pm.

Tasmania

Federal Group

• Gordon River Paddle and Piners and Miners Experiences are no longer in operation
• They do, however, have the West Coast Wilderness Railway, Gordon River Cruise and Bonnet Island experiences available

Victoria

Mercure Melbourne Spring Street

• Mercure Melbourne Spring Street will be named Mercure Melbourne Treasury Gardens with immediate effect

Thrifty office at Melbourne Airport

• Due to renovations at Melbourne Airport, the main Thrifty office at Melbourne Airport is currently closed. Renovations are expected to take approximately another two weeks.
• In the interim period, Thrifty staff will be manning the Virgin and Qantas counters and customers will need to attend the desk in the relevant terminal to the airline they are flying.
• Staff will also be operating in the car park itself from 7.30am - 8pm. Customers returning vehicles outside of these hours will need to return keys to either the Virgin or Qantas counters.

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

• The historic Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne is well underway in the planning stages of a significant restoration and refurbishment program as part of a multi-million dollar re-branding initiative announced by Rendezvous Hospitality Group (RHG).
• The refurbishment will rejuvenate the historic 1900’s building and include a range of modern facilities for discerning travellers for both business and leisure. Yet the restoration and redevelopment will preserve the historic charm, intricate heritage detailing and interiors that showcase the quintessential personality of this historic Hotel that has a special place in the city of Melbourne.
• Upon completion, Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne will be renamed Rendezvous Grand Hotel Melbourne, offering superior accommodation for upscale, discerning travellers.
• The completion of the refurbishment of Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne will be mid 2012, when part of the original building will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Western Australia

Sullivans Hotel

• Sullivans Hotel will be receiving a makeover
• Exterior of the building will be repainted from the 12^th December 2011 - est. 12 days to complete
• minimum disruption to all guests - the contractors have been instructed they can only work between the hours of 10am to 4pm

<< back to News