Deals of the week, Feb 6: Hotel Indigo in Adelaide; Thredbo Resort; Silversea; Viking River Cruises
Sail in luxury from Darwin to Fremantle or take advantage of hotel deals in Adelaide and on the Gold Coast.
Wide west
Luxury line Silversea will sail a new 17-day itinerary from Darwin to Fremantle next year with multiple stops, starting with the far eastern Indonesian island of Matakus. Ningaloo Reef, King George Falls, and the Lacepede, Montebello and Abrolhos islands are also on the agenda for this epic voyage down the west coast. Departs August 3 next year on Silver Explorer; from $16,290 a person, twin-share.
16 of the best
Discounts of 20 per cent are offered for Trafalgar’s 16-day journeys to Spain, Morocco and Portugal. The adventure begins in Madrid before heading south to Granada and crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier. Highlights include visits to Seville’s cathedral, the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon and the Royal Palace of Rabat. From $3740 a person, twin-share; book by February 28; departures from September this year to November next year.
Market force
Adelaide’s Hotel Indigo, opening near the city’s Central Markets on March 1, is celebrating its launch with savings of up to 50 per cent on stays to June 30. The 145-guestroom property has a rooftop raw bar and swimming pool as well as a modern Australian restaurant on the ground floor. From $210 a night midweek in March; from $150 in April.
Golden days
Take in the autumn colours of Tasmania’s endemic fagus trees during a three-night stay at The Woodbridge hotel, overlooking the Derwent River in New Norfolk. Included in the package is a wilderness tour with picnic lunch, guided distillery and cellar-door visits, daily breakfast and dinner. Dining at the Agrarian Kitchen or nearby wineries is an optional extra, plus there’s the chance to see the Aurora Australis. Available select dates in March and April; from $1550 a person, twin-share.
Wind in the sails
The world’s largest sailing ship, the 272-guest Grand Horizons, will embark from Sydney on a 17-night voyage to Adelaide early next year. Powered mostly by wind, the vessel will call at Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay and Eden before heading to Tasmania, King Island, Melbourne, Victor Harbor and Kangaroo Island. Departs January 5 next year; from $9475 a person, twin-share, including one night’s pre-cruise accommodation in Sydney; book by March 31.
Paradise found
Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences has savings of up to $625 a person on five-night stays in deluxe rooms at the Gold Coast property. Daily breakfast, welcome drinks, $150 food, beverage and spa credit, and late checkout are among the inclusions. From $599
a person on select travel dates to December 23.
Send Great Escapes to travel@theaustralian.com.au
OUT + ABOUT
Virgin Australia’s sale of almost two million discounted fares between NSW and Queensland ends at midnight on Monday. Flights between Sydney and Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Cairns and Hamilton Island are priced from $75 unless sold out. The fares apply to select travel dates between March and September. The airline says it will increase services to make more than 40,000 seats available between the states by early March.
Thredbo Resort in the NSW Snowy Mountains region has been awarded a Gold EarthCheck certification for its efforts in environmental protection and sustainable tourism. The award recognises success in meeting standards on greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, conservation, land-use planning and waste management over four years.
Viking Cruises is building a new ship to sail the Nile River in Egypt. Viking Acton, which is due to launch in September next year, will accommodate 82 guests in a combination of staterooms and suites and will feature a pool, sun deck, lounge and al fresco dining. It will sail the line’s 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary. vikingrivercruises.com.au
The Langham hotel’s signature pink taxi is back on the road, offering jaunts within 20km of the Sydney property. The rosy-hued London cab will chauffeur guests around some of the NSW capital’s most Instagrammable sites (four hours, $495 for up to five passengers) or take couples for a one-hour picnic tour that includes a deluxe hamper and champagne (from $310).
