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March 13, 2009
Australian Wild Escapes were awesome!
I just wanted to let you know that Craig and the Blue Mountains tour yesterday were both awesome. He is just a wonderful guide – so much knowledge and just a great personality – very attentive to the passengers on the trip and really aware of their abilities and interests, etc.
I enjoy the fact that you give the guides the freedom to mix things up a bit and so even though this is “stock” tour we felt like we were seeing and doing some things that not everyone else was doing.
The barbecue in the bush was a major highlight as well – not sure I could cook up steak’s for 11 people that quickly and efficiently and still keep smiling. Jemby-Rinjah is a great location – again with that feeling of being very much “off the beaten” path.
Thanks again for allowing me to join AWE on this great day in the Blue Mountains.
Rhonda Robinson
Hanover, MN
Indigo Journeys
March 09, 2009
VAustralia Inaugural Flight
G’day Mates!
We’re so excited about our latest trip to Australia that we just have to tell you about it. First, we got 48 hours’ notice from DUA that two (yes, two!) seats had our names on them for Vaustralia’s inaugural flight from LA to Sydney. In true Aussie fashion, Phil picked himself up off the floor and decided to seize the day! 48 hours later we were on our way to LAX, filled with anticipation and smugness for having been lucky enough to live this spontaneous lifestyle where we could just pack and go. For those of you who are passionate about travel, you know what I’m talking about.
The anticipation was exceeded only by the experience… We were greeted by “The New Crew in Town” who made us feel a part of the family from the beginning, and the check-in crew made their way down to the gate in time to see us off with smiles and waves just like they were sending off their Mom and Dad. (Yes most of The New Crew in Town are young enough to be our children!) When we arrived in Sydney, another New Crew in Town was at the gate to meet us. Incredible, we thought. Obviously this was special treatment for the historic Inaugural Flight. But we were wrong, because when we returned a week later, we received exactly the same treatment. We were blown away when the young lass who checked us in at LAX walked up to us at the LAX baggage claim a week later and said, “G’day Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy. How was your flight?” It’s true, mate, fair dinkum.
Both flights were outstanding! Seated comfortably in Premium Economy (truly equivalent to business or first class on most domestic airlines), we were offered a glass of “bubbly” while waiting for take-off. Now you all know how routine the pre-flight safety instructions can be not so on Virgin! You’ll have to see the cartoon video to appreciate it and all the crazy characters, including Sir Richard Branson himself. Once in flight, the true blue Aussie crew offered us choices of fine Australian wine and cuisine for dinner. Then we propped our feet up on the foot rests, laid back in our luxurious leather seats, popped on our headsets (these are to die for) and selected from the smorgasbord of new release movies and entertainment. (Even the children had their special channels and games on their own personal touch-screen monitors.) A couple of great movies and a few hours’ sleep later, we were awakened by the aroma of coffee and a delicious hot breakfast…
What was our return flight like? Just ditto all the above then add in that we are now feeling a part of the Virgin family….and we were dressed in style as on the inaugural flight we received a smashing Virgin wardrobe (hats, t-shirts, singlets).
We have always been intrigued by the Virgin brand, and had opportunity to experience them in their early days. The thing that impresses most is they have come so far and incorporated total sophistication into their products, yet still they remain competitive and to experience Virgin service is to be embraced by the camaraderie and sense of fun that is the Virgin trademark. (Speaking of product sophistication, camaraderie, competitive pricing, and lots of fun…we just want to say how thrilled we are to be partnering with DUA Travel! This is an innovative team of empowered staff, a credit to their visionary leader Kirk Demeter.)
The week in Sydney went too fast, “we were flat out like a cane toad on a country road” but packed in some great memories..Sydney was at its finest as we strolled around Darling Harbour, called in on one of Nick’s great Restaurants to grab some “tucker” and then picnicked the following day in the gorgeous Royal Botanic Gardens. Can you imagine this: we found a great picnic possie in the shade of a coolabah tree overlooking the harbour, Sydney Opera House and “the bridge”, and I’m not pulling your leg. Spent some time also walking the historic South Head via the Gap and then later tucked into some good ole’ fish n chips at Watsons Bay as we watched the sun setting across the Harbour. Our last evening in Sydney, we dined al fresco in China Town, another “must do” experience. We also had great meetings with CEOs of some new Sydney products, and look forward to keeping DUA busy with more bookings. Thanks to DUA’s flexibility, we were also able to fit in a couple of days with Phil’s Mum in Bellingen (northern coast of NSW). She is now a life-time member of the DUA Fan Club!
Thank you! to DUA & Vaustralia for this wonderful experience! NOW, let our partnerships help you experience Australia both on and off the beaten track.
About the Authors:
Phil is Aussie born & bred and Golden is a Missouri girl. We share a great passion for people and travel, and pretty much spend our days exploring new opportunities to build into those passions. We love helping people achieve their potential & (re)discover their dreams and purpose in life. We also love travelling the world, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. We especially love it when we can combine the two, helping people experience the world (especially the S Pacific) as they turn their dreams into reality.
Phil & Golden Kennedy
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February 27, 2009
Not Your “Grandmother’s” Uptown
As a travel agent who specializes in selling trips to the South Pacific, I was invited to attend the Australia Trade Exchange in Perth. To stay current on travel to Australia, I make it a point to visit yearly, so I thought I had already experienced much of what Australia has to offer. When asked by Tourism Western Australia if I would like to discover more of that region, I quickly said “yes.” I had wanted to go on the Margaret River tour for something fun and exciting, but that tour was full before I could sign up. As an alternative, I was offered a tour of the “uptowns” of Western Australia. There were four of us scheduled for that tour: a travel writer from Thailand, a writer from Canada, another travel agent and me. Because we were visiting “uptowns” and the tour included time for shopping, we nicknamed it “the old lady shopping tour.” It was in this frame of mind that I set about to explore an area new to me.
I pictured the uptowns I have known in the states, Chicago, New York, San Francisco…. Little did I know that the “uptowns” of Western Australia are actually located down from Perth, not up, and that they consist of villages in magnificent forestland, lush pastures, pristine beaches and rolling green hills.
The villages are called uptowns because their names all end in “up” an Aboriginal word meaning “place of” as in Myalup, place of the paper bark tree or Wagerup, place of Emus or even Cookernup, place of the swamp hen. They are places where you can breathe the fresh air and relax with the knowledge that you are surrounded with the best nature has to offer. The Southwest region of Western Australia is diverse, beautiful and certainly not crowded with visitors.
Tourism Western Australia hosted the tour, and they provided the itinerary which was jam packed with activities. I visited Kelly Caves, Wild Bull Brewery (situated on a hilltop with a 180 degree view of the valley below), Harvey Cheese with their large variety of handmade unique products, Stirling Cottage & Garden where I had a fantastic cup of hot chocolate topped with real whipped cream and a marshmallow. I floated down the Donnelly River in a boat captained by Peter and Shawn. It’s the only boat that has water rights on this small inland river and it takes passengers through a lush eco-system of Jarrah and Kerri forests, through the paperbark and wetlands to the limestone cliffs and sandy beach of the Southern Ocean. Along the way I was treated to the view of unique fishing huts set among the towering Marri trees and coastal dunes.
Graeme Dearle, the owner of Pemberton Discover Tours, took us on an adventure where the real fun happens. Wow! Imagine taking a 4WD trek that transverses the Yeagarup Sand Dunes—one of the largest inland sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, if not the largest—that is slowly creeping in on the forest. This is one of the Southwest’s special secrets. Traveling another 8km, you reach the Warren River mouth, around 3km short of the Southern Ocean—a great fishing beach located in a lagoon that is fairly safe most times of the year. I was also able to fly a kite on the dunes….What an experience for someone who has not flow a kite in more years than I care to remember.
Besides the fascinating landscape of sand-covered forests, awesome Kerri trees and beaches where you may not see anyone else, the people are so hospitable and friendly. I remember the night I tried to get on the Internet, but could not get my laptop to connect. I was given the key to the management area of the hotel so I could use their Internet at 5:30 the following morning. It certainly was a lesson in trust for me. That was only one of the many acts of kindness I witnessed from the managers, owners or workers at the many attractions I visited.
How surprised I was to find something so unexpected in a country I had visited a dozen times. What a wonderful gem I discovered on this “second choice” tour. I now invite you to indulge yourself while tasting the wonderful wines and fresh produce, exploring the isolated beaches and hidden caves in this beautiful countryside. Would I return to this region again? In a heartbeat!
About the Author
Sharon, based in sunny Scottsdale, AZ, has assisted travel planning to all corners of the world. Her love, however, is the South Pacific: Fiji, New Zealand and Australia! Specializing in gourmet wine tours, golfing getaways and recuperative medical treatments, Sharon is here to help you make your travel dream come true. http://www.travelbysharon.com 480-949-0637 email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sharon
Scottsdale AZ
Travel by Sharon
January 14, 2009
Love Down Under Answers
Thanks Jane….I got the documents this morning Fed Ex. They are really nice…very good explanations for them, I’m sure they will feel very confident in making their own way. I love Down Under Answers!!! Jan
Janet La Valley
Marquette MI
Holiday Travel Vacations
October 22, 2008
The A380 - an amazing experience
Here’s a bit of good news for the industry. How about an aircraft that is quieter, more fuel efficient, carries more people, and allows more space per passenger than any aircraft flying? Well, it’s here, with the arrival of Qantas’s new Airbus A380 now flying the USA to Australia route. Qantas becomes the first airline to commercially fly this amazing new plane into the USA, and will steadily increase the number of flights in the upcoming months.
I had the opportunity to fly on this beauty on October 20, shortly after its maiden arrival on a flight from Melbourne. Beyond the Hollywood glitz (Honorary Captain John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were on board), it was a great time to check out the next generation of aircraft, and I could not have been more impressed. Though many carriers that will be using the A380 have put in 500 seats or more, Qantas chose to configure with 450 seats in four classes, and the plane on both decks give a very open feeling and one of roominess. You never feel packed into any section on the airplane. I could also say that the economy seats are unquestionably the most comfortable I have ever experienced on an international carrier, so your customers flying economy will be very pleased. Each seat has an amazing entertainment system, but the real benefit is the comfort of the Recaro designed seats. When you are flying across the Pacific, best to be as comfortable as possible and this plane fills that bill.
The quietness of the flight is amazing as well - no high-pitched engine whine on take-off and landing, and even on steep descents the cabin remains quiet. (We all had the experience on our flight, as the pilot buzzed the Golden Gate Bridge during our ‘whirlwind’ tour and then proceeded into a steep climb; I felt like I was on a carnival ride, never knowing a massive plane could imitate a Cessna, and having a great time.) With some of the specials in the marketplace, and the continuing slide of the AUD$ versus the USD$, this is really a great time to encourage your clients to fly on a truly amazing aircraft and see their dollar go further than at any time in many years. Now is a great time to visit!
Kirk Demeter
President
Down Under Answers
October 12, 2008
Agents Famil
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to participate in the Travel Agents Famil sponsored by DUA.
Being my first time to Australia, the land of “No Worries,” I have learned so much and met a great group of experienced travel agents. Some of my most memorable experiences include seeing animals in their natural habitat (a dingo on the beach at Kingfisher Bay and kangaroos, seals, and sea lions on Kangaroo Island), the breathtaking scenery at the Remarkable Rocks, seeing the Southern Cross, the ride up to O’Reiley’s and their tree-top walk, the vineyard and wine-tasting in Adelaide, and the “experience” at the Southern Ocean Lodge! I also enjoyed experiencing all the forms of transportation available in Queensland and South Australia. The cuisine was great as well: the authentic Australian breakfast of beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms, good wine, the Adelaide central market, and of course barramundi (I’ll pass on the Vegemite).
I now have the passion, knowledge, commitment, and great network of industry contacts to promote travel to Australia with DUA and LTT to everyone I know. Margot did an awesome job of coordinating, itinerary planning, and organizing the Wild Sophistication Famil as a fun learning experience.
Thanks again for such an organized, informational and FUN adventure that I will never forget!
Rolana Harris
Aussie Specialist
CH2M
August 12, 2008
QStation Review
New on the Sydney accommodation and attraction scene is QStation, located on North Head in Manly. After a 10 year permitting and restoration process, the station operates under a special lease from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is classified as a cultural based tourism facility. The same company that restored Lilianfels Guest House in the Blue Mountains did the restoration.
QStation operated as a quarantine station from 1803’s to 1984. Passengers arriving in Sydney Harbour on any ship with disease onboard were quarantined here until cleared for immigration. Even passengers arriving by airplane without adequate vaccination documents were housed here. In addition, sick residents of Sydney were quarantined here during a smallpox epidemic of 1881, a plague epidemic of 1901 and the flu pandemic of 1989-19. The site is reportedly the most haunted place in Australia.
Haunted or not, QStation offers clients a wonderful retreat 30 minutes from the CBD. They can take the Manly ferry, walk off and onto a #135 bus and quickly arrive at the entrance to QStation. (Or take a taxi.) The buildings from the original station are now converted to beautiful accommodations, a restaurant, museum/visitor center, two theaters and a soon to be opened day spa in the hospital. You can arrange to kayak or sail in the waters surrounding the station or hike or jog the many trails. No matter where you are on the property, the views either back toward Sydney or to the parkland are breathtaking. There is one drawback. The property is quite hilly and would not be suitable for clients who have difficulty walking.
Clients also have the opportunity to take a schedule tour of the property or see Defiance, an immersion theatre held in the very places where the real stories about real people who stayed at QStation are told. For those who believe in the paranormal or just want to learn more about it, there are tours for that, too.
QStation comes with several bonuses. It has its own colony of little penguins and is home to the endangered Long Nosed Bandicoots. For clients interested in flora, the grounds feature a wide range of native vegetation. And, there is a collection of carvings on the rocks throughout the property by people who were quarantined here.
Mary Hickman
Aussie Specialist Premier
Bellingham Travel and Cruise
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