The land Down Under continues to change in exciting ways. Travelers have new possibilities for getting to and around the country. Hotel renovations and openings provide travelers with more options. Here's a brief summary of the latest happenings.
What Goes Up Must Evolve
The Australian skies have seen many changes in recent years, the most notable being the expansion and growth of new domestic airlines. No-frills carrier Virgin Blue (tel. 07/3295 2296; www.virginblue.com.au) now has competition from Qantas-owned Jetstar (tel. 13 15 38 in Australia; www.jetstar.com.au), which services the eastern states and Tasmania. Virgin Blue now flies to every capital, as well as Cairns, Townsville, Proserpine on the Whitsunday Coast, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, all in Queensland, Broome in Western Australia, Alice Springs in the Red Centre, Coffs Harbour, Ballina and Newcastle in New South Wales, and Launceston in Tasmania. Jetstar flies to Cairns, the Whitsundays, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine and Gold Coasts, Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Hobart, Launceston and Melbourne. Travelers on Jetstar from Melbourne should be sure to check which airport they are departing from -- the main international terminal at Tullamarine or the new Avalon airport, about 50km from the city.
Qantas began selling multistop air passes this month costing from $999 to $1,399 that allows multistop hopping to and across the contintent. You can get full details on this new scheme at www.qantasusa.com/webDeals/217.
New Qantas international subsidiary Australian Airlines (tel. 1300/799 798 in Australia; www.australianairlines.com.au) provides an option for visitors from Asia and links Cairns with Sydney and the Gold Coast. In late 2004 it is set to begin Perth-Bali services. Virgin Blue international subsidiary Pacific Blue (tel. 13 16 45 in Australia; www.flypacificblue.com.au) flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane to Christchurch in New Zealand and from Sydney and Brisbane to the New Zealand capital, Wellington. It also flies from Melbourne and Brisbane to Fiji and Vanuatu.
Regional Express (tel. 13 17 13 in Australia; www.regionalexpress.com.au), services regional New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and northern Tasmania.
Getting Around Australia
The opening of the long-awaited Alice Springs-Darwin railway line has given the Top End its first rail link. Great Southern Railway's The Ghan (tel. 13 21 47 in Australia; www.trainways.com.au) runs one weekly return journey between the two cities, leaving Alice Springs on Mondays and arriving in Darwin about 24 hours later.
Sydney
Newly opened in the five-star Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney is the Altitude Restaurant and the stylish cocktail haunt, Blu Horizon Bar. Located on level 36, the new restaurant and bar has spell-binding views over the city and harbor. The restaurant is open for dinner from Monday to Saturday and for lunch on Fridays, and the bar is open every day to at least midnight. Find the Shangri-La Hotel at 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks (tel. 02/9250 6000. www.altitudesydney.com.au).
Frommer's favorites ready to make their way into the next edition of the book include the Establishment, a four-level restaurant and bar venue where style is everything. Here you'll find Est, a restaurant that Sydney culinary luminary Peter Doyle has melded into a Sydney icon. Est won the ultimate score of three 'hats' in the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide 2004. Also on offer is the city's best sushi bar, called Sushi E, which is partitioned off from Hemmesphere -- a moody drinking place strung out with leather armchairs and comfy sofas. The ground floor bar -- a crowded, pick-up joint on weekend evenings -- offers a kind of "Sex in the City" experience. Find the Establishment at 252 George Street (opposite Wynyard CityRail station). Bookings tel. 02/9240 3040.
Another place making the grade is the trendy Orbit bar, on the 42nd floor of the Australia Square building, at 264 George Street. The views over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from are incredible, and the whole place slowly revolves so the scene is always changing. Cocktails are the specialty. Call tel. 02/9247 9777 for details.
Top marks also go to the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, on the cliffs overlooking Bondi Beach. After a recent reconstruction, this old Bondi Icebergs swimming club complex truly sparkles. The bar features wicker chair hammocks suspended from the ceiling and truly fabulous views across the beach and water. The watery outlook carries through into the lovely seafood restaurant too. Call tel. 02/9365 9000./p>
Bad news though -- the amazing MG Garage restaurant, which had impressed us so much over the last few years, closed its doors in September 2004.
Brisbane
Brisbane's newest attraction is the small but interesting Museum of Brisbane in the historic City Hall. It's a good starting point in discovering the city, and entry is free. Another popular attraction, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium & Cosmic Skydome (in the Botanic Gardens, Mt. Coot-tha Rd., Toowong tel. 07/3403 2578) has reopened after a major upgrade, with new seating and new digital multimedia systems, which present real-time digital star shows and computer-generated images.
A new "floating" River Walk winds more than 20km along the Brisbane River -- on the north bank between the University of Queensland at St Lucia and Teneriffe, and on the south bank from the West End ferry terminal at Orleigh Park to Dockside at Kangaroo Point.
Another of Brisbane's historic pubs has been given a new lease of life. The Story Bridge Hotel, (200 Main St., Kangaroo Point; (tel. 07/3391 2266), has undergone a A$3.2 million (US$2.5 million) refurbishment which included the creation of a new restaurant and bar built into the base of the bridge, and a new beer-garden under the bridge.
Brisbane's new Cultural Industries Precinct at Kelvin Grove, is the new home to the innovative La Boite Theatre (6 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, tel. 07/3007 8600; www.laboite.com.au). Performances are in the new 400-seat Roundhouse Theater.
On the accommodation scene, the smart, good-value Hotel George Williams (317-325 George St., Brisbane, tel. 1800/064 858 or 07/3308 0700; www.hgw.com.au) has added another 26 rooms, giving it a total of 81 for you to choose from.
Queensland
The latest place to stay in Cairns is the new Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina (Pierpoint Rd., Cairns, tel. 1800/333 333 in Australia or 07/4031 1411; www.shangri-la.com), formerly the Radisson Plaza hotel. After a A$25 million-plus renovation, the hotel has been rebranded and has a modern new look. Gone is the fake rainforest in the lobby, and an extra 36 contemporary style rooms have been built as part of the exclusive Horizon Club. Rates are A$396-A$437 (US$257-US$284) double; A$413-A$1,100 (US$268-US$715) suite. In nearby Palm Cove, the Outrigger Beach Club & Spa (99 Williams Esplanade, tel. 1800/134 444 in Australia, or 07/4059 9200; www.outrigger.com) has been completed, with 42 suites and a private rainforest pool the final touches to this 220-unit beachfront complex. Pampering awaits at the Sanctum Spa, which has seven treatment rooms. Rates start from A$270 (US$216) for a double room with Jacuzzi.
For those short on time, Cairns' latest attraction means you can discover rainforest wildlife without leaving the city center. Cairns Rainforest Dome (tel. 07/4031 7250; www.cairnsdome.com.au), a 20-meter high glass dome on the rooftop of the Sofitel Reef Casino Hotel houses about 100 species, including a huge saltwater crocodile called Goliath. Entry is via lifts in the hotel foyer, 35-41 Wharf St., Cairns.
Resort operator P&O Resorts has sold its seven Queensland properties -- as well as Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania -- to Voyages Hotels & Resorts. Silky Oaks Lodge, as well as Lizard, Dunk, Bedarra, Brampton, Wilson and Heron Islands join the Voyages portfolio but can still be contacted through their previous booking numbers, or through www.voyages.com.au. Voyages will also run the new Wrotham Park Station in far north Queensland, an outback property planned and built by P&O, which opened in September 2004. The acquisition will not affect bookings or resort operations.
The Top End
Darwin's popular casino, and its associated hotel, have both had name changes after their purchase by New Zealand's Skycity entertainment group (which also owns the Adelaide casino). The former MGM Grand Darwin is now Skycity Darwin (Gilruth Ave., Mindil Beach, Darwin, tel. 1800/89 1118 in Australia, or 08/8943 8888; www.skycitydarwin.com.au). The hotel underwent a A$10 million (US$8 million) refurbishment in 2004, including the addition of nine new 5-star Garden Rooms.
Saville Park Suites Darwin (88 The Esplanade, tel. 1300/881 686 in Australia, or 08/8943 4333; www.savillesuites.com.au) has refurbished a level of Premium Harbour View apartments, which now have an eclectic blend of Asian-style teak, mahogany and wicker furniture. The kitchens have been redesigned and feature new modern granite bench tops and stainless steel appliances.
The fabulous Deckchair Cinema (tel. 08/8981 0700; www.deckchaircinema.com) has a new home on the edge of Darwin Harbour (opposite Parliament House on the Esplanade). A smart new kiosk sells wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. In the Wet, the movies screen in the Museum Theatrette, Conacher St., Bullocky Point.
Perth & Western Australia
The newest and most stylish place to stay in Perth is The Sebel Residence East Perth (60 Royal St., East Perth, tel. 1800/999 004 in Australia or 08/9223 2500; www.mirvachotels.com.au), adjacent to the new restaurant precinct of Cove Promenade. The 57-unit apartment hotel is spacious and modern and boasts a fabulous heated infinity lap pool. You have a choice of studio or one-bedroom apartments, or can combine them to make a two-bedroom apartment.
Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (Monkey Mia Rd., Shark Bay, tel. 1800/653 611 in Australia, or 08/9948 1320; www.monkeymia.com.au) has opened a new beachside Dolphin Lodge and a new backpacker lodge. The 24 motel-style beachside units are located at the front of the Dolphin Lodge and offer a more up-market option than was previously available, each with a king size bed with ensuite. The backpackers lodge, with its own bar and communal kitchen, has 4 and 7 bed dormitories as well as shared and family rooms with ensuites.
At El Questro Wilderness Park, in the Kimberley, the new all-inclusive overnight Mt Cockburn Safari is designed to allow guests to take part in the cattle farming, which includes 7000 head of Brahman cattle in the far north of the park. The cost is A$900 (US$720) per person.
Cable Beach Club Resort Broome (Cable Beach Rd., Broome, tel. 1800/099 199 in Australia, or 08/9192 0400; www.cablebeachclub.com) has completed the first phase of a A$10 million (US$8 million) refurbishment. Studio rooms, restaurants and the family pool have been given a new lease on life, adding to the work done in 2003 on the luxury private villas and Pool Terrace studios, which have direct access to the adults-only pool.
South Australia
The really big news from South Australia is the upcoming Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive, being billed as "the ultimate Australian Outback experience in 2005." From the end of April to mid June, some of Australia's most famous and experienced cattle drovers are uniting to drive 600 head of cattle by horseback down the legendary Birdsville Track. The journey covers 514 kilometers of true Outback country. You can join the trip -- in the saddle -- for four to six days (or more) on any of four stages, (within each stage are two to three tours of varying duration), each with its own distinct highlights and experiences. You'll be sure to discover the secrets of horsemanship passed from generation to generation, hear stories of Aboriginal culture and life on an Outback station, and stay each night in a village of luxury tents -- complete with campfire cooking. Visit www.cattledrive.southaustralia.com for more details.
Victoria
Big Blue Air Touring, based in Melbourne, has recently attracted our attention with its latest tour, The Outback Explorer. The four-day experience gives you a wonderful airborne overview of the Australian outback. It covers four states in four days with Victorian highlights including Mildura, the Mallee and Big Desert in southwest Victoria. You stay at working-cattle or sheep stations, and because the company uses a small, twin-engine six-seater aircraft, you can get well off the beaten track. The tour costs from $3,400 (US$2,720) and is fully inclusive from Melbourne. Call tel. 03/9580 5880, or visit www.bigblueairtouring.com.
If you plan to see a lot and want a discount for the privilege then consider a The See Melbourne & Beyond Smartvisit Card. Melbourne's attractions pass includes free entrance to more than 50 popular attractions in and around Melbourne, as well as a free sightseeing tour around the city and up to the nearby Dandenongs. There are many more freebies and discounts too. Two-day cards cost $99 (US$79) for adults and $55 (US$44) for kids. Other multi-day options are available. Visit www.seemelbournecard.com for details, or pick up a card in Melbourne from the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square.
Visitors to Victoria's Philip Island, famous for its motorcycle grand prix and its penguins, can now enjoy the feathery attractions as part of the Ultimate Penguin Tour. The small-group event takes place at dusk on a stunning, secluded beach, and takes in troops of Little (or Fairy) Penguins waddling up to their roosting burrows in the sand. You even have the use of night-vision goggles. Visit www.penguins.org.au for details.
Tasmania
Sadly, Hobart's Antarctic Adventure in beautiful Salamanca Place has closed. There are no plans to reopen the museum.
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