Page 14 - Flipbook

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EUroPE
river cruising in 2012 is a big deal, one of the most popular types of holidays and the trend shows no signs of slowing down
This year is set to be the best year ever to
float merrily down a stream, with companies launching new ships (a record four for Viking River Cruises) offering five-star hotel amenities. This is great news for the savvy traveller who stands to gain from more variety, besides the ever popular main European river cruises (see page 29) there are more Asian river cruises being offered and smaller European river options such as the Douro in Portugal and Spain’s Guadalquivir.
USa
aussies continue to flock to us shores
Its official, the high Australian dollar and recent interest rate cuts have made the US a top overseas destination. According to Wotif, more than 90 per cent of Aussies plan to spend their extra cash and bonuses this year holidaying in the US, followed by Thailand, New Zealand, Bali and Fiji.
HaWaII
home to two of the worlds strangest beaches
Next time you holiday in Hawaii be sure
to head to Punalu’u Beach, located on the
Big Island. Jet-black sand gives this beach a rather ominous look but the giant endangered turtles that frolic on the beach year round make the trip worthwhile. Next on the list is Papakolea Beach, located near Ka Lae, the southernmost point in Hawaii. The trek to reach it is by no means easy but visitors are rewarded with a green-sand beach. The grains are almost pure olivine, a green mineral, and come from Puu Mahana, a volcanic cone that sits above the beach.
MarGarEt rIvEr
Gourmet Escape
New international food and wine festival propels
western australia onto the world stage.
Move over Noosa Food and Wine Festival! The world’s best chefs and wine critics will head to Margaret River in November to take part in the inaugural Margaret River Gourmet Escape set to become the highest- profile food and wine festival in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. Celebrity chefs including Heston Blumenthal, the owner of the famous UK restaurant Fat Duck, Rene Redzepi from Denmark whose restaurant Noma has been ranked the world’s No.1 for a third time. This year a host of Australian famed chefs will participate in range of events funded by Royalties for Regions, a State Government initiative.
Nov. 22-25; Margaret River Gourmet Escape
14 JULY 2012