NSW
A night to remember
AboutSeniors subscriber, and lucky competition winner, Lara Morello, shares with us her unforgettable experience and the generous hospitality of the staff at the Sydney Harbour Marriott on New Year’s Eve.
We most definitely enjoyed the whole experience.
The hotel was great, the room was awesome having a great view of the Harbour Bridge, the meals were delicious and the fireworks, as always, were incredible - to be so close to all the sights and sounds was truly amazing!
For most of the two days I sat on the window ledge watching all the happenings on both the land and the water as the city prepared for the major event. And it was so nice to walk around the area knowing we had the comforts of a beautiful hotel room to return to.
Our friends and family were most envious!
Thank you so much for this memorable opportunity! (Our only problem now is our New Years Eves will never be so good!)
Lara Morello
To make a trip to Sydney Harbour a memorable experience, why not experience the Sydney Harbour Marriott for yourself, with one of the special AboutSeniors’ deals.
Summer in the mountains
If skiing is not your idea of fun, then a visit to Australia’s ski resorts may not rank on your wish list. However, even when the snow is not around there’s plenty to do at Lake Crackenback.
Nestled between Thredbo and Jindabyne, andocated on the border of Kosciuszko National Park, the drive to Lake Crackenback resort is perfect in the summer and hints at the beautiful surroundings waiting at the resort.
The resort itself is made up of self-contained apartments and luxury chalets, and boasts and impressive on-site restaurant for those days when you can’t be bothered cooking. Surrounded by the Snowy Mountains, outdoor activities are in abundance all year round, not just during the ski season.
Within the resort there is a small lake, perfect for canoeing, mountain bike trails, with bike hire available at the resort, a nine-hole golf course and fishing. For those a little less adventurous, you can enjoy bushwalking, archery or perhaps a few laps of the indoor swimming pool and a relaxing spa treatment are more your idea of adventure. All activities, excluding spa treatments, are free with any accommodation booking, making Lake Crackenback the perfect spot for a family getaway.
Of course, with some of the most impressive mountains on your doorstep, you may choose a Kosciuszko Alpine Guided Walk. There are several to choose from but be warned, they’re not for the faint hearted. Expert guides will help you choose which walk is suited to your level of fitness and equipment can be provided if needed.
Lake Crackenback resort offers different packages depending on what you’re looking for in a holiday. For more information, visit Lake Crackenback.
Free Wollongong passport
If you’re visiting Wollongong before 30 April 2010, be sure to collect your free Tourism Passport.
Available from the Tourism Wollongong Office in the Southern Gateway Centre at Bulli Tops. The handy booklet has more than 40 discount coupons – including reductions on spa treatments, whale-watching cruises and even hang gliding!
Created so visitors can get more out of a stay in the region, find out more about the Tourism Passport by visiting www.wollongong.com.au.
Let the band play
Following a successful visit to Sydney in 2005, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo makes a return visit next year with Celebrating 60 Years of Celebrating 60 Years of Valour, Mateship, Glory.
Exclusive to Sydney Cricket Ground, the spectacular is expected to sell-out, bringing over 22,000 visitors to Sydney in February 2010. Over 1500 performers including military bands, pipes and drums and supporting performers will take part in this extraordinary event - the biggest in the Tattoo’s 60-year history. The central theme will be a celebration of the close relationship between the Australian and British Defence Forces who have fought alongside each other in numerous conflicts.
A range of packages to this event will go on sale to the general public from 6 July 2009 but you can beat the rush with an exclusive pre-sale via Showbiz, on now.
For more information, visit Showbiz.
Historic Australia
Australia is changing fast, with many places unrecognisable as the small mining or coastal towns from which they started life.
As major roads and cities expand, smaller towns become more accessible to tourists, and more tourists means a growth in the attractions on offer. Australia has an abundance of historical towns to visit so why not brush up on your local knowledge and see what’s in your own back yard. Some of our favourites are:
Silverton, NSW – once a thriving mining town of about 3,000, it is now a virtual ghost town with only 50 inhabitants. Visitors can wander around this desert town, and enjoy a drink at the historic pub.
www.silverton.org.au
Cooper Pedy, SA – to combat rising summer temperatures of up to 600C, 80% of this town’s inhabitants live underground, making the town and it’s people a little eccentric.
www.opalcapitaloftheworld.com.au
Greenough, WA – boasting some of the best preserved 19th century buildings in Australia, this small town has plenty to keep you busy all day.
www.ntwa.com.au/places/midwestproperties/greenhamlet.shtml
For other historical places of interest, visit
Australian Heritage.
Jenolans Lost Cave
After 74 years, the stunning Nettle Cave at Jenolan will be re-opened. See rare prehistoric life forms known as stromatolites, the oldest living organisms on the planet. Or learn all about the geology and history of the area by taking the self-guided audio tour, which incorporates the adjoining Devil’s Coach House Cave.
The Jenolan Caves have hosted visitors since the mid-1800s, and this new cave is the first to be opened to the public since the Ribbon Cave in 1931. Hard-to-find Sooty Owls can also be found in the Nettle Cave along with the stromatolites, which are shaped like the tail of a crayfish.
The Devils’ Coach House is so named because of a ghostly vision reported by a camper who claimed he’d seen the devil charge through it aboard a horse-drawn coach. The new tour has come about as a result of a $1.2 million investment, including new paths, boardwalks and railings, designed to have a minimal impact on the environment whilst making it easy to navigate.
At $22 for adults, $15 for children and $57 for a family (two adults/three children), a Jenolan pass is good value for money. You can book online.
Go there
