An up-close and personal encounter with sea lions at sunrise is the latest way to start the day for guests at Southern Ocean Lodge.
The luxury lodge on Kangaroo Island’s remote south-west coast has a new, exclusive experience offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime private moment with these impressive mammals as the day breaks over Seal Bay.
The encounters can be booked on a private basis for solo travelers, couples, families and small groups, with a guarantee of private access to the Seal Bay Conservation Park.
Around a thousand sea lions live in the sand dunes at Seal Bay, making it Australia’s third-largest sea-lion colony.
Indigenous tourism operator Lirrwi Tourism has released its calendar of itineraries to the East Arnhem Land Yolngu Homelands for the 2018 season.
Developed by Yolngu traditional owners, with multiple family generations participating, these immersive tours provide an economic base for Yolngu to remain on country and maintain their culture, while offering visitors a cultural adventure and the chance to experience the Yolngu way of life.
Multi-day itineraries include a crossing-country tour, a women’s tour and a photography tour and provide a rare and often life-changing chance for visitors to take time out from Western routines and ‘go with the flow’ in Australia’s Indigenous heartland.
A genuine adventure in culture, the five-day crossing-country tour, for instance, visits remote Yolngu communities across East Arnhem Land with overnight stays at beautiful Bawaka Homeland.
Rates are $2399 per person twin-share and include accommodation, meals, transfers and touring.
Visit www.lirrwitourism.com.au
Discover the best of South Australia with Captain Cook Cruises new six-, seven- or 10-night Adelaide-sightseeing and Murray Princess cruise packages.
All packages include a three-night stay at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, Adelaide, a half-day Adelaide city-highlights tour, a three-, four- or seven-night cruise aboard paddlewheeler PS Murray Princess, and a day trip to the Barossa Valley.
The Adelaide city-highlights tour features expert commentary by a local driver and explores its main attractions, including the cultural boulevard of North Terrace, home to the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, The University of Adelaide and the National Wine Centre. Then visit St Peter’s Cathedral, historic North Adelaide, the famous Adelaide Oval and Haigh’s Chocolates for a factory tour and tastings.
The six-night package is priced from $1320.50 per person twin-share, the seven-night package from $1639.50 and the 10-night package starts from $2465.
Phone 1300 729 938 or visit www.murrayprincess.com.au
Templers Mill Hotel has officially been rebranded as Mercure Orange and joins Accor’s growing network of regional New South Wales hotels.
The hotel’s facilities have undergone a recent transformation and each of the 77 guestrooms has been refitted with new joinery, state-of-the-art interactive guest services (with the ability to order room service via TV), king-size beds and photography featuring the history of Orange.
The hotel is located within the Orange Ex-Services’ Club, and recent refurbishments also include the addition of The Greenhouse of Orange, which showcases regional food and wine.
Visit www.accorhotels.com
North Stradbroke Island’s Minjerribah Camping will launch 12 new permanent Island Eco Tents from December 11 at picturesque Adder Rock Camping Ground near Point Lookout, on the north coast of the island.
The high-quality, low-impact, tents blend harmoniously into the camping ground’s natural bushland setting, sheltered behind native tea-tree and pandanus forests. The tents are just a short walk to a patrolled beach (during holiday periods) and have direct access to Home Beach and Adder Rock surf beach.
There are nine tents for couples and three family tents that include an annex with bunk beds for the children. Opening rates for the new tents start from $149 per night.
All feature quality queen-size beds and linen, exterior decking with an adult-size freestanding hammock, large fly windows and doors, canvas shutters that can be opened or closed, ceiling fans, tables and chairs, full electric powering, refrigerator and storage facilities.
Guests have access to Adder Rock campsite’s communal bathroom and cooking facilities. Adjacent to the campsite is a general store and scuba dive centre. Shops, restaurants and tour operators are located a short drive away in the Point Lookout village.