Office News

• All three Managing Directors (Stéphanie Karst-McGrath, APTC Australia; Stephan Wendler APTC New Zealand & Monika Oldenburg, APTC Fiji) will attend the ITB Germany next year in March 2010
• We hope you all had a beautiful Christmas and enjoyed the festive season with your beloved ones.
• APTC’s Christmas party was a huge success and everyone enjoyed a beautiful day at the harbour.

APTC wishes you all the best for the New Year!

Product of the Month

SHARK BAY WORLD HERITAGE DRIVE

Shark Bay is testimony to the wonders of the natural world. So significant is its natural beauty that the region earned a prestigious World Heritage listing in 1991.

Shark Bay is famous for its friendly Monkey Mia dolphins, yet the dolphins are only one part of the remarkable Shark Bay story.

Celebrating its World Heritage status, Shark Bay now offers the Shark Bay World Heritage Drive, a 130km drive commencing at the Overlander Roadhouse on the North West Coastal Highway through to Monkey Mia.

The Drive encompasses the most fascinating features of the area. Here you can get in touch with the Earth’s evolutionary and biological history, its unique natural formations and seek out habitats where threatened species survive.

Attractions include the ancient stromatolites giving us an insight into the evolution of our world, Shell Beach, well named for its brilliant white beach made entirely of shells, and Eagle Bluff where you may spot some of Shark Bay’s amazing array of marine life including dugongs, turtles and manta rays.

Then there’s man made attractions such as the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre telling the whole story of the area with stunning visual, audio and interactive displays.

There are few places in the world that offer so much. Discover it all on the Shark Bay World Heritage Drive.

What’s New

Australia wide

Thrifty Car Rentals

• Effective from 07 December 2009,Thrifty introduced a Credit Card Fee of 1.5%.
• This fee will be applicable to all credit card types.

Rail Australia

• Problems are still arising with guests arriving with luggage to be checked into the Luggage Car that exceeds the 20kg luggage limit.
• Guests who have luggage over this limit will NOT be able to make use of the checked luggage facility and will be required to carry their luggage onto the train themselves.
• For guests utilising the checked luggage facility, access to these bags during the journey is not possible. It is important for guests to take onboard the train a small overnight bag containing ‘must have’ items.
• Please ensure guests are made aware of these restrictions.

Choice Hotels Australia

• Choice Hotela Australia has new propteries in:
• Darwin - Comfort Inn Vitina
• Sydney - Econlodge Sydney South
• Philip Island - Comfort Resort Kaloha
• Noosaville - Quality Suites Ivory Palms
• Gold Coast - Comfort Inn & Suites Mari Court

Queensland

Hamilton Island Yacht Club

• Hamilton Island Yacht Club has opened its doors to visitors and members
• The Yacht Club venue offers first-class dining and leisure facilities

Brampton Island

• Previously owned by Voyages, Brampton Island will be sold.
• The new owner will be United Enterprises, an independent Australian-based investment company.
• The sale is currently planned to take place in mid to late February 2010.
• As with prior sales, Voyages will continue to operate Brampton on a ‘business as usual’ basis up until completion and will manage allreservations, enquiries, billing and marketing until that date.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa

• Daydream Island Resort and Spa has a new exclusive agreement with Cruise Whitsundays to provide an island transfers for guests between Daydream Island and Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI), Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach
• Daydream guests will have access to a greater range of transfer times and a more seamless guest experience in reaching and departing Daydream.
• This arrangement with Cruise Whitsundays will commence on Monday 1st February, 2010

Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane  

• Upon completion of the refurbishments at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane several new features were added.
• All rooms now feature a full 32″ LCD television
• A complete transformation has taken place on the rooftop at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane.
• The spa has been upgraded and the decking around the pool and spa area has been replaced, creating a resort style ambiance to the area.
• New equipment has also been installed in the rooftop gym.

Northern Territory

Longitude 131°

• Longitude 131° has been awarded the “Best Unique Accommodation” accolade at the 2009 Brolga Awards, the Northern Territory’s Tourism Awards
• Longitude 131° is a luxury wilderness camp adjacent to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, featuring 15 white elevated tents dotted amongst the Australian desert landscape.

Victoria

Philip Island Nature Park

• Educational and informative MP4 Self guided Audio Tours will be available at Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade from the 1st October 2009.
• During New Year the following languages will be newly introduced: German, Spanish, French, Italian and Hindi
• On 4th December the new Koala Conservation Centre at Phillip Island was opened.
• The new Centre boasts new exhibits featuring large interpretive and interactive displays. There is also an alfresco dining area with a sunny deck area for visitors and locals.
• Elevated boardwalks allowing visitors to walk amongst the gums and be face to face with the 40 or so koalas roaming in their natural habitat.

Portland helicopter Blue Whale watching

• Portland helicopter Blue Whale watching eco-tour company Heli-Explore has started the summer season with a bang!
• That’s because 21 Blue Whales were sighted in 22 minutes just inside the continental shelf
• From November to May, Heli-Explore offers Australia’s only summer whale watching with the 30-minute “Premium” & “Ultimate” flights.
• All flights depart from Portland Airport at the end of The Great Ocean Road in western Victoria.

Western Australia

Perth          

• Perth will be the host city for the ISAF Sailing World Championships in 2011
• The dates for this event are 03 - 18 December 2011

Perth City Shuttle           

• Perth City shuttles have changed name and ownership
• They are now called Connect Bus

Specials

Australia wide

The Ghan

• Due to high success of this offer the Ghan has extended its free Upgrade campaign for travel aboard the Ghan and Indian Pacific in 2009 to 2010
• This extension offer is valid for bookings made up until 31 March 2010 (no change with the sale date), however the travel date has been extended from 30 April 2010 to 31 August 2010..

Queensland

Fantasea Cruises

• From 26 December 2009 - 31 March 2010, Fantasea offers a special rate on the Great Barrier Reef Experience to Reefworld
• Valid for sales and travel from 26 December 2009 to 31 March 2010
• Child and family rates remain the same.
• For further information please contact APTC office directly

The Sundlander

• The Sunlander and Spirit of the Outback now offer Promotional Fares
• A special discounted fare is available for travel in Queenslander Class on The Sunlander and First Class Sleepers (single and twin) on the Spirit of the Outback for travel to 31 March 2010.
• The offer is also being extended to include travel from 1 November 2010 to 31 March 2011.

Northern Territory

 Ayers Rock Resort

• Ayers Rock Resort currently offers as Stay 3 nights and pay for 2 nights special
• Bonus Children 12 years and under stay and eat free (conditions apply).
• Now valid for bookings for sale and travel until 31 March 2010.

South Australia

Wilpena Pound Resort

• Wilpena Resort is offering the opportunity to stay an extra night free-of-charge in combination with the 2 night Escape package.
• In all cases the bonus night is on a room-only basis.
• Valid for travel 1 January - 31 March 2010.
• For further information please contact APTC office 

Changes & Refurbishment

QueenslandRydges Esplanade Resort Cairns

• Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns is currently undergoing a refurbishment and the timeline for the work program has been extended and the expected date of completion will now be 28 February 2010.
• The hotel will be fully operational and it is anticipated the refurbishment program will cause minimal disruption and noise disturbance to guests during their stay
• The scope of the refurbishment works will include:
• Work will be carried out on Monday to Friday from 08.00am till 05.00pm
• All exterior walls and fixtures of the hotel will be affected
• Machinery used will be exterior swing stages from the room of the building to action painting of surfaces. Swing stages will only affect 10% of the building at any one time
• While the swing stages are in operation, no activity will be permitted underneath the work area and this area will also be barricaded from access by the guests

Northern Territory

 Holiday Inn Darwin

• Holiday Inn Darwin is undergoing a complete refurbishment of all its guest rooms and lobby.
• The floor by floor refurbishment is set to start in January 2010 and will finish by the end of April 2010.

Lasseter Hotel and Casino

• In January 2010 Lasseter Hotel and Casino will start a 18months refurbishment and extension program with spending of approx $40M
• the upgrades will include:
• 60 new premium hotel rooms
• New resort style pool
• Day spa and gymnasium - public and guest use
• New hotel reception (separate from Casino)
• New breakfast restaurant
• Gaming floor make over and expansion.
• An exact time-line of construction will be published once it has been finalised