Office News

• Our Managing Director Stéphanie Karst-McGrath will attend ATE (Australian Tourism Exchange) in Adelaide.  
• APTC is pleased to announce that we have secured a number of allocations at a selection of Sydney hotels on New Years Eve. Please contact our team for further information of if you wish to make a booking

Product of the Month

Down Under Tours are delighted to introduce new indigenous rainforest product: Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Walk.

One of the highlights of this tour is the inclusion of a 1.5hr guided walk with Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Walks at Mossman Gorge. The experienced interpretive Indigenous guides demonstrate plant use, identify bush tucker sources, share their dreamtime legends, explain the history of cave paintings and provide an enchanting narrative of the rainforest and their special relationships within this unique tropical environment. This truly is an uncontrived Indigenous experience through the beautiful world heritage rainforest of the Daintree.

Other quality inclusions of this tour is a delicious specialty Barramundi lunch at Silky Oaks Lodge overlooking the Mossman River, a cruise on the Daintree River and a stop at Scomazzon’s Fruit Farm for a tropical fruit tasting of fruits in season, before a short tour of Port Douglas.

your tour…

After arriving at Mossman Gorge, you will be treated to a guided rainforest walk along private, easy graded tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over cool rainforest streams. Your experienced interpretive Indigenous guides demonstrate traditional plant use, identify bush tucker sources, share their dreamtime legends, explain the history of cave paintings and provide an enchanting narrative of the rainforest and their special relationships within this unique tropical environment. After your 1.5hr walk, enjoy tea, damper and question time with guide.

At Mossman your guide will point out the highlights of Australia’s most northern sugar town; followed by a specialty Barramundi Lunch [alternate options available] at Silky Oaks Lodge.  Enjoy a fascinating Daintree River Cruise, cruising through this wildlife environment, which is home to birds, tree snakes, unique plants and the estuarine crocodile - a great photo opportunity. Visit Scomazzon Fruit & Cane Farm for tropical fruit tasting of fruits in season , or try an exotic tropical fruit ice-cream (own expense). At Port Douglas, enjoy a short tour of the historical township before returning back to Cairns.

What’s New

Australia wide

Savannah Way

• Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Outback Queensland Tourism Association have come together to launch a new website to promote the Savannah Way. The 3,700km track winds its way from Cairns across Queensland, the NT and WA to Broome, passing through 15 national parks and five World Heritage regions

New South Wales

Bayview Boulevard Sydney

• Effective from April 2010 Bayview Boulevard Sydney is a Non Smoking Hotel. Smoking will not be permitted in any guests rooms or public areas.

Queensland

Stardancer

• “Stardancer” is a luxury 44ft Beneteau yacht available for one day or extended charter for that special client wishing to experience the Great Barrier Reef aboard their own private vessel. Available for departures from Cairns.

Tropical Journeys

• Has presented three new products to the Calypso and Daintree Tours mix with Calypso

Pure Snorkel, Skyrail / Tablelands Tour and Aquarius Sail and Snorkel.

• Skyrail and Tablelands is the first of the Daintree Tours to travel south west of Port Douglas, presenting the “cooler side of Tropical North Queensland”. A day tour incorporating the award winning Sky Rail Rainforest Cableway, Jacques Coffee Plantation tour, Mt Uncle Distillery, Lake Mitchell and the historic village of Mount Molloy.
• Aquarius : By far one of the most grand and spectacular vessel of its kind in Port Douglas, the Lagoon 620 will operate sailing and snorkelling tours to Low Isles carrying a maximum of 23 guests. Aimed toward a more mid to high end market.

Oceans Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast

• Sunshine Coast’s newest luxury resort, 5-star
• Showcasing suites and penthouses with a warm yet minimalist design fused with state of the art technology.
• 46 exquisite suites and penthouses encapsulate state of the art facilities, cutting edge, smart technology and design details that re-define the words style and quality.
• All apartments are architecturally unique to allow maximum balcony area and exposure to the unsurpassed 180º ocean views, stretching from Point Cartwright to the Northshore.
• Stunning interior furnishings sourced from Europe and unrivalled resort features set Oceans apart from the rest.
• Rates for 2010/11 are available from our office

Northern Territory

Wayoutback Desert Safaris

• Wayoutback Desert Safaris is about to release some new and exciting product in the market.
• Customers can join and/or depart these new Safaris in Alice Spring or Uluru.
• Tours will be accommodated and cater to high end customers, and run as small groups with maximum 16 passengers

Alice Springs Desert Park

• Has launched a new Evening Product - ‘Nocturnal Tour Barbecue Dinner’
• Operating on Tuesday evenings from April to October
• Truly unique Central Australian experience at the Alice Springs Desert Park
• Includes a casual two-course barbecue with a native theme including soft drinks and coffee in a       desert rivers setting. Guided tour of the Central Australian desert at night by spotlight.
• See some of the region’s most rare and elusive animals while discovering the Mulga Walk

South Australia

Kangaroo Island Odyssey

• APT has taken the decision to sell its 4WD touring business APT - Kangaroo Island Odyssey to the SeaLink Travel Group, effective 01 June 2010.
• All current arrangements remain in place. It is business as usual with no operational or contract changes at this time.

Victoria

The Olsen  - Art Series Hotels

• The second hotel in Melbourne’s premium Art Series Hotel chain, The Olsen, opened on March 16 in Chapel Street, South Yarra.
• Honouring of one of Australia’s greatest living painters, John Olsen, The Olsen was designed by architects Rothelowman to reflect the master’s life and work.
• The hotel will be adorned with 492 Olsen prints
• The Olsen will also house numerous luxury retail spaces and restaurants, including BlueBottle Restaurant (featuring a calamari-shaped bar), Steer Bar and Grill, a steak restaurant and cocktail bar.

Western Australia

Pinctada Cable Beach, Broome

has become a member of the exclusive Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts programme. The 5* luxury

resort is one of only 20 Australian hotels to be included in this programme.

Kununurra Country Club Resort

• Has recently completed its million dollar refurbishment.
• The four star Resort’s 90 rooms have all undergone a total refurbishment, complete with modern manchester and furnishings, state of the art wooden plantation blinds, tasteful artwork, lamps, LCD flat screen television and in-house movies.
• The award-winning Kelly’s Bar and Grill’s has also been revamped with stylish décor and a new menu

Specials

New South Wales

Shangri-La Sydney

• Winter Offer, available from 01st May 2010 until 15th October 2010.
• Offers lower rates and attractive Bonus Offers
• Valid for new FIT bookings only
• Please refer to iCom for rates, or contact our office

Queensland

Daydream Island Resort & Spa

• Hot Winter Special
• 4 night special including Garden Balcony room Accomodation, return luxury transfers with Cruise Whitsundays, full buffet breakfast daily
• Bonus: $100 room credit per room per stay (conditions apply) plus a 25% discount voucher on Cruise Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef trip or Whitehaven Camira Sailing Adventure for the Daydream Island tour and activities desk.
• For Sale: until 27 July 2010, valid for travel before 31 July 2010    
• Contact our office for full details and rates

Coral Princess Cruises

• Single Travellers cruise at Twin Share Price on Great Barrier Reef cruises!
• Single Supplement abolished on the Great Barrier Reef cruise program (3,4 & 7 night cruises) for departures from 19 April 2010.
• Valid for new bookings only
• Genuine single travellers only are entitled to sole use of the room at the twin share rate.
• Guests travelling together on the same booking should book to share a twin-bedded room. If two or more guests travelling together elect to have sole use of a room a 25% single surcharge will apply on each single room occupied.
• A limited number of sole use rooms are available on each departure.

Mercure Port Douglas Treetops Resort

• Have lowered the rayes from 1 July to 30 September 2010 and 23 December 2010 to 3 January 2011
• Refer to iCom for updated rates

Northern Territory

Kings Canyon Resort

• Stay 2 nights/ Pay 1 night
• Travel Dates: before 31 July 2010 (and subject to availability)
• Minimum night stay: 2 night minimum stay

Changes & Refurbishment

Northern Territory Discovery Ecotours &  Odyssey Tours & Safaris

• The Tour Operator has gone into voluntary administration and as a result is no longer operating
• For further information please contact us as APTC can offer you other touring options and suggestions.

New South Wales

InterContinential Sydney

• Club InterContinential Refurbishmentwill be undertaken from the 11 -  16 July 2010, returning to operation on the 17 July 2010. 
• InterContinental will be relocated to the Harbour Room on Level 31, where guests will be able to access all of their amenities including deluxe breakfast, afternoon tea and twilight drinks & canapés.
• Guests who have booked a Club room will be notified of the change of venue upon check in.

Magistic Cruises

• Please note the following new schedule for Magistic Lunch Cruise timings from both King Street Wharf and Jetty 6 Circular Quay, effective 28 April 2010
• Departing King Street Wharf at 12.15 pm - Returning 2.00 pm
• Departing Circular Quay at 12.45 pm - Returning 2.30 pm

Northern Territory

Aurora Alice Springs

• The Northern Room (one level) renovation program at Aurora Alice Springs is fully completed.

Bullo River Station

• At the end of this year the accommodation will be undergoing an upgrade, and  the season will be ending  earlier than usual to facilitate this.

• It will be closed for bookings from 1 November 2010 (instead of the end of November),

reopening again on 1 March 2011.

Queensland

Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa

• Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa has reopened on 1 May, 2010 as a seasonal retreat. 
• While the resort was closed they completed various upgrades to the property including The Roundhouse has been entirely reconstructed and decked and is ready for use for events and functions; all boardwalks at the resort and around The Cape Restaurant, both pool decks and stairway timbers have been replaced.

Mercure Cairns Harbourside

• Refurbishments on the Mountain Tower and the Harbour Tower
• Completion date for all works: 17 July 2010

Tasmania

Gray Line, Tasmania

• Due to consistently minimal demand during winter, the following tours will not operate in June, July and August effective from 2010/2011 season:
• Tour 761 - Launceston City Tour
• Tour 772 - Launceston Highlights

Western Australia

Hyatt Regency Perth   

• Every room in the hotel is being upgraded with new doors and electronic locking system
• All rooms now have 40-inch flat-screen LCD televisions installed.
• Regency Club® rooms on floors 9 and 8, and guest rooms on floor 7 are being completely redesigned whilst floors 5 and 4 have received a soft refurbishment with more changes to come.  
• All works scheduled to be completed by September 2010

InterContinental Burswood, Perth

• The Atrium Restaurant at InterContinental Perth Burswood will be undergoing extensive refurbishment
• Commencing 10 May 2010 through to December 2010.