AUSTRALIA ON A BUDGET
KATHI HIRST Aussie Specialist and Director at Traveltime
What are your top five ways for visitors to save some cash? 1. Get connected and buy an Aussie SIM card for your mobile when you arrive.
2. Use local tourist information offi ces for free maps and guides.
3. Hop on the free public transport options: Sydney’s CBD Shuttle route; Melbourne’s tourist tram no.35; Brisbane’s city hopper ferry: Adelaide’s trams and buses; Perth’s cat buses and Canberra’s Centenary loop route
4. Enjoy free entry to national museums in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne and the Maritime and Museum of Contemporary art in Sydney.
5. Get some of the best photos of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House whilst enjoying the company of local cockatoos in Sydney Botanical gardens.
6. Enjoy the local produce - Markets are free and full of local produce to try and to taste, such as Tasmania’s Salamanca Market in Hobart and Melbourne’s Queen Victoria morning market. Eumundi Markets are the most well-known foodie markets on the Sunshine Coast where visitors can sample local treats and tropical fresh fruit. Adelaide Central Market is the mother of all produce markets. Bargain hunters should visit after 1pm on a Saturday when everything is heavily reduced.
7. Reclaim your tax - if you’ve treated yourself to goods in one purchase to the value of $300 or more you can reclaim the GST (equivalent of our VAT) of around 10% on departure from your international airport.
apartments come complete with a daily delivery grocery service and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef from nearby Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.
Self-drive holidays are the popular choice of most visitors to Oz, and in particular camper vans which come in all shapes and sizes. Road trips are the best way to soak up the epic landscape, but remind your clients to hire a 4WD during the wet season. Britz, Maui, KEA and Apollo have the largest range and all offer early booking discounts of up 25% when booked 120 days in advance. Bizarrely, according to Aussie Specialist, Graeme Brett, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to top up on fuel. The Greyhound Bus offers great value for those staying for a few months. The Kilometre Pass can be bought in advance in the UK; it offers a fl exible hop-on and off service and in some locations the ‘kilometres’ can be converted to buy adventure tours, experiences and accommodation. For those wanting a little more structure to their travels, escorted tours and coach tours are a good way to ensure your clients don’t miss out on all the key sights.
From left: Sunshine comes free in Kings Park, Perth; a view from the top, Shangi-La Hotel, Sydney; kayaking on the Murray, South Australia; going it alone with a KEA camper van; you can’t beat Australia for wildlife
Says Peter Traynor, UK General Manager, Collette Worldwide: “Booking a trip to Australia can involve a lot of separate enquiries. By opting for an escorted tour, agents can ensure every detail is looked after without having to make multiple independent enquiries. In the long run they can also save the client money.” Well-established coach touring
companies such as APT (Australia Pacifi c Touring) and AAT Kings are by no means a budget product but do offer good value for those wanting to experience Australia in the company of an expert guide and with the option of an all-inclusive package. A little planning goes a long way when looking to get your clients the best deals and Tourism Australia has even located 100 activities that they can enjoy for free! Check the TA website for details at
australia.com
What’s new or free REEFSLEEP
For a night with a difference, Reefsleep in the Whitsundays is the only overnight accommodation situated directly on the Great Barrier Reef. It features a unique sleeping option where visitors can sleep under the stars in ‘swags’ - cosy, low tents with clear viewing panels, a comfortable mattress and snug bedding. Located at Hardy Reef, 40 nautical miles from the Whitsundays coast, Reefsleep offers two days and
56 December 2013
www.sellinglonghaul.com
one night’s accommodation at a permanently moored pontoon on the Reef for around £236pp, including all meals and travel.
cruisewhitsundays.com CAPRICORN COAST TWIN PACKAGE Capricorn Coast accommodation has launched an attractive package in the southern Great Barrier Reef region incorporating stays at Emu’s Beach Resort and the Great Keppel Island Hideaway. Accommodation ranges from self-contained cabins to tents on the beach at Great Keppel. The £80 package for one night at each resort includes an island transfer and Greyhound bus pass.
comcapricornholidays.com.au FREE MANTA FOR AYERS ROCK Manta, the Anangu word for Landscape, is a brand new free guide for guests at Ayers Rock Resort, featuring ways to immerse in the Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park. The guide details more than 65 ways to explore the destination.
ayersrockresort.com.au
Tourism talk “I know that British travellers get hooked on Australia after their fi rst
visit because around 60% return. TA continues to partner with key airlines and operators to promote Australia as an achievable holiday destination, and increased airline capacity makes for a competitive environment. It’s
The Oz Expert
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