Holiday ideas: Antarctica flights; New Zealand; rail and sail package
Celebrate the new year on a spectacular flight over Antarctica or cruise around Australia’s scenic southwest.
Material whirl
New Zealand
NSW-based textiles specialist and artist Carole Douglas, who runs tours to India under her Desert Traditions banner, is escorting an 18-day Pacific Patterns journey around New Zealand with Alumni Travel. The focus is on meeting specialists in mediums such as screen printing and Maori designs, plus visits to studios and museums including Wellington’s Te Papa.
Fine print October 17-November 5 from Auckland to Nelson. $7250 a person twin-share; $2250 single supplement. Add airfares.
Happy view year
Antarctica
Welcome in the New Year on a 13-hour scenic Qantas flight to Antarctica with Chimu Adventures. Departing Melbourne the afternoon of December 31, the experience will include live music and free-flowing champagne plus experts on board to discuss the landscape and history of the white continent. Depending on the weather, passengers will spend three to four hours flying over the ice.
Fine print From $1195 a person; book by July 31 and save 10 per cent on economy wing and economy no wing seats.
Into the wild
Alaska
Looking ahead to the restart of international travel, Discerning Traveller has a 15-night Alaska Sail, Rail and Stay package that includes seven nights sailing the Inside Passage on Holland America Line’s Noordam and two days on the Rocky Mountaineer railway. Other highlights are a day trip to Denali National Park (pictured), a tundra tour and visit to Lake Louise.
Fine print Departs Anchorage on July 13, 2022, concludes in Calgary; from $8355 a person, twin-share, for a balcony cabin; book by July 31.
Southern exposure
Australia
Ultimate Cruising’s 16-night Rail and Sail Remote Southwestern Australia package features Gold Class train travel on the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Adelaide and 13 nights on sailing ship Golden Horizon. The cruise, from Adelaide to Perth, calls at Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay and Albany. Includes transfers, two nights’ accommodation in Adelaide and economy class airfares from Perth to Sydney.
Fine print Departs January 19, 2022; from $10,575 a person, twin-share; book by Tuesday.
In the news
Covid-willing, the 37th annual Great Vic Bike Ride will start rolling on November 27. The 537km, nine-day adventure includes options for three and five-day cycles and takes in the Grampians and art silos of western Victoria; from $535 an adult, early-bird entry.
Two new daytrips from Darwin are on offer from Autopia Tours. One takes visitors to the flood plains of Ubirr in Kakadu National Park to see rock art and spot wildlife while the other explores the waterfalls and swimming holes of Litchfield; from $225 and $155 an adult, respectively.
COMO the Treasury in Perth has opened its Cape Arid Rooms, an elegant afternoon tea venue taking inspiration from WA’s southern Cape Arid National Park for its decor and menu. $75 a person plus beverages; Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm-5pm.
Also in WA, the Avon Valley northeast of Perth will host the spectacular Australian National Ballooning Championships August 30-September 4. The action centres on the historic town of Northam and includes the popular Balloon Night Glow on August 28, a photographic gallery and exhibition at the visitors centre.
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