Travellers’ good buys

TRAVELLER’S GOOD BUYS FOR WEEK BEGINNING JULY 1

Sail on the luxurious 36-passenger boutique vessel True Norththrough the Bismark Sea to Papua New Guinea’s isolated and beautiful Louisiade Archipelago this December.
This remote area is home to the seafaring Dobu people and boasts some of the best diving, snorkelling and fishing to be found in Papua New Guinea.
Highlights include flights in the ship’s helicopter over the active volcano at Rabaul and, opportunity to visit the stirring Isurava Memorial on the Kokoda Track.
Prices for five nights start at $7995 per person twin-share, including return charter flight from Cairns.
Phone 08 9192 1829 or visit http://www.northstarcruises.com.au

Enjoy a cosy romantic winter getaway at Spicers Clovelly Estate in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.


Pay from $499 per couple per night, including accommodation in a spa suite, chocolates and dessert wine, a free pre-dinner drink, a three-course dinner and a la carte breakfast.
The offer is valid to July 31.
Phone 1300 252 380 or visit http://www.spicersgroup.com.au

Australian culinary icon Maggie Beer will bring a touch of the Barossa Valley to the Great Barrier Reef when she hosts a weekend for 12 couples on Orpheus Island from September 5-8.
Prices start at $4800 per couple, including three nights accommodation, opening evening cocktail party, two 1.5-hour gourmet masterclasses, all meals including three dinners showcasing Maggie’s favourite seasonal recipes, selected regional wines and beers with all meals, a signature Orpheus experience each day (snorkeling, fishing, island cruise) and return helicopter transfers from Townsville.
Phone (07) 4777 7377 or visit http://www.orpheus.com.au

Stay eight nights for the price of four at the Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, overlooking the Andaman Sea on Patong Beach.
Prices ex Sydney start at $1869 per person twin-share, including flights with Thai Airways and bonus buffet breakfast daily.
Book by August 30 for travel until September 19.
Phone 1300 130 485 or visit http://travel.com.au

Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn is gearing up for its biggest-ever Australian summer, led by Seabourn Odyssey, which arrive on December 12 for three months cruising between Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Seabourn Sojourn will visit 11 Australian ports while it sails from Sydney to the west coast as part of a 116-day world cruise.
Visit http://www.seabourn.com

Creative Holidays has a range of packages associated with the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix from September20-22, including tickets to concerts by The Killers and Rihanna.
Pay, for instance, from $889 per person twin-share for four nights in the three-star Bay View Hotel Singapore,a three-day grandstand ticket, full breakfast daily and return airport transfers.
Phone 1300 301 711 or visit http://www.creativeholidays.com

Archaeological tour specialist Peter Sommer Travels is offering a 20 per cent saving on its 15-day Cruising the Carian Coast expedition, which combines the Greek islands of Rhodes, Symi and Halki with some of the archaeological gems of Turkey’s Carian Coast.
Prices start at £2900 per person twin share (approx A$4840), including all accommodation and meals aboard a traditional gulet, all crew services, entrance fees, archaeological excursions, expert guide and airport transfers.
The cruise begins August 31.
Visit http://www.petersommer.com

Visit China in the quieter, cooler northern winter with one of Wendy Wu Tours’ fully inclusive group tours.
An example is the nine-day In Pursuit of Pandas tour, which is priced from $2515 per person twin-share, including return airfare,and travels to Beijing, Xian and Chengdu, home of the famous Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding. It also includes a visit to the Grand Buddha in Leshan, the world’s largest stone-carved Buddhist statue.
Phone 1300 727998 or visithttp://www.wendywutours.com.au

Saveup to $2000 per couple on APT’s 2014/15 Luxury Small Ships program.
Pay, for instance, from $11,395 per person twin-share for a 15-day Grand Indian Ocean Safari,
Itineraries include meeting remote tribes in Papua New Guinea, visiting an active Indonesian volcano, dining out at one of San Marino’s finest Michelin-star restaurants, exploring the Gallipoli Peninsula, and observing nature in the pristine Antarctic.
Book by August 31.
Phone 1300 278 278 or visit http://www.aptouring.com.au

Get discounted fares with Direct Flights to Singapore, The Philippines, Hong Kong and India, flying with full-service Singapore Airlines.
Ex Sydney return fares start from $985 to Hong Kong and Manila.
Book by July 9 for departures until December 7.
Visit http://www.directflights.com.au

Save on high-end Prague hotel accommodation with Eastern European specialist Beyond Travel.
Pay, for instance, $75 per person per night twin-share at the four-star Hotel Leonardo in the city’s historic old town.
Prague sightseeing day tours available from $45 per person.
Validity depends on hotel but some deals extend to December 28.
Phone 1300 363554 or visit http://www.beyondtravel.com.au

Receive a free upgrade from an ocean view to a balcony stateroom on a 14-night Singapore-Sydney cruise on Royal Caribbean’sVoyager of the Seas.
Pay from $1699 per person twin-share ex Sydney, including flight to Singapore.
Ports of call are Kuala Lumpur, Darwin and Brisbane. Onboard facilities include rock-climbing wall, basketball court, ice-skating rink and mini-golf course.
Departs October 24.
Phone Cruise1st on 1300 857 345 or visit http://www.cruise1st.com.au

*Pic: True North … a taste of genuine luxury in Papua New Guinea waters