australia: cities and winelands
FEATURE 27
PERTH ADELAIDE MELBOURNE
SYDNEY
which makes touring relatively easy. The Lane Vineyard, in the Adelaide
Hills, is the latest winery to be added to those featured by Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia (
ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au). It is one of Australia's newest wineries and offers commissionable tours from $100pp. Vineyard Safaris (
vineyardsafaris.com) runs chauffeured day tours to Penfolds and many artisan wineries. THE PACKAGE: Audley Travel (
audleytravel.com) offers tailor-made tours through the Adelaide Hills to the Barossa Valley with a guide. Captain Cook cruise clients on the Murray River can include a tour to the Barossa Valley; while Collette’s 19-day Exploring Australia itinerary also includes a trip to the Barossa.
�SYDNEY NEW SOUTH WALES The City: With its iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Sydney is a must for all fi rst-timers to Australia and a favourite with repeat visitors too. The city is abuzz with harbourside activities and the historic Rocks area, and a trip on the ferries is the perfect way to appreciate the city skyline. Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase, says no matter what the time of year, 'It’s Always ON!' in
Sydney, with a massive line-up of events including sports, premiere productions and annual festivals. SYDNEY 360 is a digital tool featuring panoramic video now available for
use by travel agents selling the state. The Winelands: Two hours from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is famed for its acclaimed Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz. The Hawkesbury Nepean region is also close to Sydney with historic villages and pretty wineries. Other wine regions include the Southern Highlands and Mudgee. THE PACKAGE: Sydney wine tours primarily cover the Pokolbin and Lower Hunter Valley although others can be arranged to the upper valley. AAT Kings (
aatkings.com) offers a Hunter Valley Harvest Wine Experience visiting four wineries for tastings and lunch, with the option to add on the Hunter Valley Gardens Experience – an eight kilometres themed garden. Priced $175-$199.
�MELBOURNE VICTORIA The City: Melbourne is an easy and attractive city combining historic style with cutting-edge or alternative culture. New hotels in the city include the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel (fi ve-
star), Tune Hotel Melbourne and Ovolo. In addition, the iconic Adelphi Hotel and Pullman Albert Park have undergone extensive renovations. Cool markets, art galleries and
street art are among the city’s top attractions with dining opportunities also a highlight. Heston Blumenthal will temporarily relocate his three Michelin-starred restaurant, The Fat Duck, to the Crown Melbourne Resort for a six-months from February 2015. New among attractions is the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel located in Docklands – a 30-minute ride with bird’s-eye views; and Sea Life Melbourne featuring a state-of- art Croc Lair exhibit –a spectacular
fi ve-metre, 750kg Saltwater crocodile. The Winelands: Close to the city centre, the picturesque Yarra Valley is best known for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. Over 60 of the wineries open their cellar doors to the public, and many are around Healesville. Styles vary from grand to rustic and many have great cafés, restaurants, produce stores and farmers’ markets alongside. A growth in foodie specialities has
followed the growth of the wineries and the popularity of the region
has encouraged many galleries and craft shops in the valley too. Other activities include hot air ballooning, walking, cycling and golf. Even closer to the city is Victoria’s oldest wine growing area, Sudbury, and further afi eld (an hour's drive) the Mornington Peninsula combines beautiful beaches with winelands. The Macedon Ranges has 10 top boutique wineries to explore, also around an hour from the city. THE PACKAGE: Travel 2 (
travel2.com) offers a 14-day self-drive itinerary linking Sydney and Melbourne from £1149 in August, based on Emirates fl ights and Britz campervan hire .
�PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA The City: Perth was recently dubbed ‘the new hip city’ by the New York Times and is enjoying something of a dining boom with small bars, cafes and restaurants opening up across its neighbourhoods. New hotels include the Ritz Carlton, two Starwood properties and two Hiltons. The airport and marina have also transformed access and brought the opening of the six-star Crown Perth. The city also has a new museum and
Above: Tarra Warra Estate, Yarra Valley, Victoria Left: Barossa Valley picnics
a new 60,000 seat stadium. The Wine: WA has plenty of gourmet produce, fresh seafood and
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