Office News

APTC’s Christmas party was a huge success and everyone had a great time on our harbour cruise.

APTC wishes you all a wonderful Christmas and the best for the New Year!

Product of the Month

Canons Day tours

Canons Shuttles & Sydney Day Tours started operation in 2005 with one small mini bus servicing the needs of the Sutherland hire residents with an airport shuttle service. In 2008 they expanded their service area, now including the CBD and has started Day Tours of the Sutherland Shire - the Birth Place of Modern Australia & Sydney’s Best Kept Secret according to many.

Canons Day tours are a small personalized operator and the tours operate on a daily basis with minimum 2 passengers. Please contact APTC for rates and more information.

Tour C1 Discover the Shire:

Depart Sydney travelling south. After passing Botany Bay you will visit Symbio Zoo for a morning with kangaroos, koalas, emus and Sumatran Tigers. At Bald Hill lookout there is a stop for morning tea. Then, a visit to Royal National Park, including stops at Governor Game lookout and Audley visitor information centre. Enjoy lunch at the beachside suburb of Cronulla, followed by a leisurely walk along the beach. The afternoon takes in Bass & Finders Point and Hazlehurst Art Gallery. Before returning back to Sydney, stop at Camellia Gardens for Afternoon tea and a pleasant stroll around the beautiful gardens.

Tour C2 Cruise the Shire:

After passing Botany visit Kurnell, Botany Bay National Park, and Captain Cooks’ landing site and reconciliation walk, and easy stroll along the shore of Botany Bay. Travel onto the beachside suburb of Cronulla, with its famous surfing beaches. Board your vessel for a spectacular cruise on Port Hacking River, including morning tea and lunch. Learn about the local Aboriginal communities and how they lived. After the cruise rejoin the vehicle and travel through the Royal National Park stopping at Governor Game Lookout and on to Bald Hill for afternoon tea. The last stop of the day is Symbio Zoo for an encounter with the native Australian animals.

Tour C3 Cricket Legends Tour:

This tour is one for the cricket enthusiasts… Start the morning with a visit at Symbio Zoo for the chance to meet kangaroos, koalas, emus and Sumatran Tigers. The next stop is Bald Hill lookout for morning tea. Travel over the Sea Cliff Bridge and the Grand Pacific Drive taking in the spectacular views of the coastline on the northern beaches of Wollongong. Leaving the coast behind, you will continue up the historic Macquarie Pass to the small township of Robertson. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the old Cheese Factory before the last stop at Bowral, boyhood home of Sir Donald Bradman, and a visit to the Cricket museum and the International Cricket Hall of Fame.

All tours include meals as mentioned above, park and/or museum entrance fees.

What’s New

Australia wide

iVenture

• Smartvisit Solutions has changed its name into iVenture effective immediately.

New South Wales

Art Gallery of New South Wales

• Their new exhibition “The First Emperor’ showing China’s entombed warriors has opened on 2 December 2010.

Sheraton on the Park, Sydney

• Sheraton on the Park Sydney will become a Non Smoking Hotel effective on 24th December 2010, some areas provide outdoor smoking.

• In addition to the above, there is a penalty should guests continue to smoke in our smoke-free rooms.  This is AU$200 per day, as a cleaning fee. 

All Seasons Harrington

• Accor has added another All Seasons hotel to the Australian network.
• All Seasons Harrington is an existing hotel with 22 rooms which has a restaurant, separate bar, function room and a swimming pool.
• The hotel is located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales in a quiet resort town approximately 40 minutes drive from Port Macquarie.

Sydney Opera House

• The Tourism team at Sydney Opera House has announced that from 1 December there will be some changes to the check-in process for bookings. They also have some fantastic Red Carpet packages available for the upcoming Le Grand Cirque season in January 2011.

Park8 Hotel

• Park8 nestled in the heart of Sydney’s CBD on the doorstep of Hyde Park is now open.
• Comfort, space & tranquility, this intimate 36 room boutique hotel features generous hotel rooms and split level loft apartments with flat screen TV’s, iPhone Docking Stations, Wifi & Kitchenettes.
• Interiors are inspired by the city of Sydney. Natural beauty surrounded by contemporary ambience.

Queensland

Hayman Beach Villa

• The current scheduled date for 8 new Beach Villas located on Hayman’s beachfront opening is now 20 December 2010.
• The 2011/12 rates will apply for all categories from 07 January 2011 for new bookings.
• They also introduced the stand alone Beach House.
• Pool Room category will replace Retreat Room as the lead-in room category from 07 January 2011.
• A la Carte dinner-inclusive rate available in all restaurants including La Fontaine (supplements apply for specialist menu items).
• Introduction of length of stay discount rates with a 1-3 Night Stay rate and a reduced 4 Night + Stay rate.
• Please contact our office for further information.

Qualia

• Qualia has  advised that effective immediately all non alcoholic drinks, including mini bar, will be included as part of all rates within qualia at all times. Previously, non-alcoholic drinks were only included during dining periods. 
• This will include:

                1. All Soft Drinks

                2. Juices and Mocktails

                3. Sparkling and Still water as well as Coffee and Tea.

Quay West Resort Noosa

• It was recently announced that the Victorian Auto Club (”RACV”) had purchased the resort as an owner/manager. As a result of the sale, Mirvac Hotels & Resorts no longer manages this hotel as of from midnight 29 November 2010.

iVenture

• iVenture Australia announces the launch of the Great Sunshine Way Pass 26 November 2010
• Available for sale from 1st December 2010, the pass will feature entry to over 40 top travel and leisure experiences from Queensland’s Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane including Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Paradise Jetboating, Tallship, Underwater World, Buderim Ginger, Aussie World, Kookaburra River Queen, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Moreton Island Adventures and many more.
• The Great Sunshine Way Attractions Pass offers real savings with up to 40% off admission prices and customers can choose from 3 packages all loaded on to a single smartcard - 3 Ticket Pass or 5 Ticket Pass (valid for 3 months) or 5 Day Unlimited Pass.
• The 5 Day Unlimited Pass allows customers to visit as many attractions on the pass as they wish in 5 calendar days.

Victoria

Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens

• Melbourne City Council has announced that the New Years Eve Fireworks display will no longer be taking place in the Flagstaff Gardens.
• Fireworks festivities will continue to take place at both Docklands and along the Yarra River, with both venues easily accessible from the Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens.
• The hotel has also announced the following new developments in the accommodation rooms:

• Televisions in all Guest Rooms have been updated and feature High Definition LCD TV’s
• As of 1 December 2010 all Premium Rooms will offer a guaranteed Flagstaff Gardens view, additional bathroom amenities has also been introduced including a dental kit and shaving kit, and their Premium rooms are located on the higher floors of the hotel on levels 6 - 9
• As of 1 December 2010 all rooms on the 10^th floor - the top floor of the hotel, will become a Business Class category room including complimentary Buffet Breakfast and offer either a garden view or city view
• They still have availability over the entire Ashes period, 25 to 31 December inclusive, and there are also still rooms available for New Years Eve 2010.

Heron Island

• They wish to advise price increases to the current 10/11 regular scenic helicopter air transfers and private charter rates to/from Heron and Wilson Islands. 

• The new rates will apply to all new bookings received effective 01 December 2010.
• Please contact our office for detailed information and rates.

Restaurant at Citadines on Bourke Melbourne

• The onsite restaurant at Citadines on Bourke Melbourne will now be open in January 2011.
• In the interim, charge backs for breakfasts  with local restaurants have been arranged for the guests convenience.

Tasmania

Grayline

• Their ‘Tour 786 - Bruny Island’ now departs from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Booking Centre located next to Elizabeth Street Pier and Constitution Dock Lifting Bridge (just a short walk from the end of Argyle Street).
• Slight itinerary change for their ‘Tour 734C - Cadbury Tour with Harbour Cruise’ due to the harbour cruise time being changed by our supplier. This alternate itinerary will be in effect until Monday, 24th January 2011. The owners of HABA are in negotiations with receivers and as further information comes to hand, LTM will continue to update the industry. Unfortunately ‘Tour 776 Hobart Deluxe’ is also affected and therefore will not be available until Tuesday, 25th January 2011.
• ‘Tour 773 Huon Valley’ will operate on Monday, Wednesday & Friday only until Sunday, 26th December 2010. After this date, operational days will revert back to what is listed in the brochure.
• ‘Tour 785 Mt Wellington’ will operate on Friday & Saturday only until Sunday, 26th December 2010. After this date, operational days will also revert back to what is listed in the brochure.
• Please contact our office for further information.

SpecialsQueensland Daydream Island Resort and Spa·                                 Daydream Island has a new offer in the marketplace called “Summer Getaway”. ·                                 The package includes: • 3 nights’ accommodation in a luxurious Garden Balcony room• Scrumptious full buffet breakfast daily • Children aged 0 - 14 years inclusive free of charge when sharing a room with adults and using existing bedding, cots can be provided free of charge. • Over 20 FREE guest activities including non motorised watersports, open air cinema (Mon, Wed, Fri) wild fish feeding, gym, rainforest walk and much more.• BONUS applicable for stays of 5 nights or more·         This offer is valid for sale from now until 31 January 2011 and valid for travel from now until 31 March 2011. Thala Beach Lodge·                                 They have decided to extend the following offer for Stay 4 / Pay 3 in their Coral Sea Bungalows and Eucalypt Bungalows. ·                                 This offer includes new bookings only, is non-combinable with any other value add and is valid for sale and travel until 30 June 2011. ·                                 Please contact our office for further information. Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas·                                 Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas has announced their Villa Special Offer including full Buffet Breakfast daily in Lagoons Restaurant plus 15% off Food & Beverage in Resort Restaurants. ·                                 Valid for sale and travel from now until 31 March 2011. ·                                 Blackout Dates are 23 December 2010 to 05 January 2011 (Inclusive). ·                                 No minimum night stay required. ·                                 Please contact our office for further information.  Northern Terretory Ayers Rock Resort·         Voyages has announced a new two night tactical special, ROCKAWAY, at Ayers Rock Resort (excluding Longitude 131).·                                 This offer is valid for sale from now until 31 January 2011 and for travel from now until 31 March 2011. ·                                 Minimum night stay is 2 Nights. Victoria Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens·                                 Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens has announced their ‘January Special’ with a apecial rate for the Guest Room. ·                                 This offer is available for new bookings from 01 January 2011 to 16 January 2011.

Changes & Refurbishment

Northern TerritoryAyers Rock Resort

• As the purchase of Ayers Rock Resort by the Indigenous Land Corporation is expected to be completed at the end of March 2011, they are already developing plans to improve the resort.
• One of their priorities will be to complete an extensive renovation of Sails in the Desert as soon as possible. At the same time they will also finalise a complete renovation of, and possibly an addition to the Conference Centre.
• The ILC board has allocated $50 million for renovation work over the next few years.

Novotel Darwin Atrium

• Apartment development in the adjacent block to the hotel is currently in the construction phase.
• Site will be fully fenced and all vehicle access will be away from the hotel boundary.
• They have negotiated late start times to minimise any noise impact and rock breaking has concluded at the site
• These works will only impact a minimum number of rooms in the hotel.

Queensland

Q1 Resort & Spa

• The Indoor Pool at Q1 Resort & Spa, Surfers Paradise will be closed immediately until 03 December 2010 (inclusive) for repairs and painting.
• The Indoor Spa, Gymnasium and Games Room are not affected.

Haba Great Barrier Reef Adventure

• Haba Great Barrier Reef Adventures regrets to advise that they are unable to operate their own vessel in the short term.
• It was moored at Marina Mirage when an unknown mechanical fault has caused severe flooding of all machinery spaces and the main Interior Saloon.

• Due to this unfortunate incident, Haba’s boat Evolution is not able to operate their reef tour services for the foreseeable future.

Rydges Tradewinds Cairns

• A refurbishment program has begun at Rydges Tradewinds Cairns.
• This program is being undertaken to revitalise the bedding concepts within selected room categories.
• At this time, the expected date of completion will be 31 January 2011.
• During this time, the hotel will be fully operational and it is anticipated the rejuvenation program will cause minimal disruption and no noise disturbance to guests.
• The scope of the refurbishment works will include installation of new Rydges Dream Beds, installation of 32 inch LCD Televisions and installation of the new linen concept throughout all rooms.

Leisure Inn Plaza Hotel Townsville

• With effect from 01 October 2010 Staywell Hospitality Group will no longer be managing the Leisure Inn Plaza Hotel Townsville.

South Australia

Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Hindley

• The new renovation program is being administered in phases including the upgrade of 72 Superior Rooms, plus an additional 26 newly built Superior Rooms, commencing on level twelve down to eight.
• In addition to this we will be upgrading the outdoor swimming pool area.
• Rooms completion date will be mid-late 2011 and the swimming pool completion date late 2010.
• Guests may experience some light noise throughout the construction period, however can be assured of a restful nights are invited to use the swimming pool & spa facilities at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Currie, located 4 minutes walk from our hotel.