Stay in the bush, in Sydney
Visitors to Sydney can stay in the bushland setting at Lane Cove Holiday Park this spring with a 20 per cent discount on all new bookings and a bonus activity pack for kids. To qualify guests must book a minimum of two nights between November 1-30.
More than 200 varieties of spring wildflowers are currently in bloom in Sydney city's closest National Park. Situated a 20-minute drive - or an easy walk to the metro train - from Sydney's CBD, Lane Cove Holiday Park seems a world away from the hustle and bustle and provides a tranquil bushland retreat. Visit lanecoveholidaypark.com.au
Design a trip to Canberra
The annual Design Canberra festival will run from November 4-24, celebrating all things design through over 200 talks, exhibitions, tours, markets, collaborations, artist studios and open homes. Design Canberra 2019 has been created for all interests and all ages, with most events throughout the festival free and easily accessible.
One exhibitor will be contemporary Canberran jeweller Phoebe Porter, who is this year's designer-in-residence and has been commissioned to create the festival's signature artwork reflecting this year's theme of utopia. Porter's work explores metal materiality and geometric form and is testament to the resounding legacy of Bauhaus philosophy and design in Canberra today. Porter will be opening her studio to festival goers, offering a closer look at her craft. Visit www.designcanberrafestival.com.au.
Go even higher up the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building has completed the third phase of its top-to-bottom reimagined Observatory Experience, opening the 102nd Floor and providing guests with an entirely unobstructed view of New York City.
Located 381 metres in the air, the floor has been designed to place guests in the centre of Manhattan, 16 floors above the renowned 86th Floor Observatory, which gets four million visitors annually. The reinvented 102nd Floor Observatory provides panoramic views of Manhattan and beyond through floor-to-ceiling glass panels.
Guests will be able to eplore never-seen-before spaces through a glass-encased elevator, and catch a glimpse of the inner workings of the Mooring Mast. Tickets to the 86th Floor are from US$38 with an additional US$20 charge to access the 102nd Floor. Visit www.empirestatebuilding.com
Angkor Raffles refurbished
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, a landmark hotel along the legendary Grand Tour of Indochina, has reopened following a six-month restoration. First opened in 1932 and widely celebrated as 'La Grande Dame de Angkor', the hotel has retained the colonial style synonymous with the heritage and history of the Raffles brand, while all 119 rooms and suites have received a facelift.
Segafredo coffee machines, USB-charging stations and Simmons pillow-top mattresses are new features added to complement traditional ceiling fans and brass rotary telephones. All bathrooms have been upgraded with new Italian tiling and rain showers, with some featuring claw-foot tubs and views over the swimming pool.
The original teak-and-wrought-iron-cage elevator has been preserved as part of the original architecture and continues to ferry guests up and down the heritage building. Visit www.raffles.com/siem-reap
Explore Sydney in summer
Sydney comes alive during the summer months, with attractions such as the start of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the spectacular New Year's Eve celebration and a 19-day Sydney Festival.
Staying at Metro Apartments Darling Harbour means that guests will be close to the action and can also take advantage of offers such as a Explore Sydney Package over summer, a deal which includes family accommodation (two adults and two children) in a standard loft-style apartment from $224 per night. The package includes complimentary wi-fi, 11am check-out and two adult Opal cards valued at $20 each.
Apartments have full kitchen and laundry facilities, spacious living rooms, and feature nearby discount parking. Phone 1800 11 4321 or visit www.metrohotels.com.au.
Save on European Cruises
In 2021, Adventure Canada will offer five expedition voyages in northern Europe, including one showcasing the wild scenery and unique age-old traditions of the Basque culture, centred on the Bay of Biscay. Other Adventure Canada European sojourns will feature a voyage around the top of Scotland, a journey from Scotland to Iceland, a circumnavigation of Iceland, and an expedition from Iceland to Greenland.
Cruise Traveller is offering a 15 per cent early-bird saving on Adventure Canada's five European expeditions in 2021 plus a free one-night stay before each of the cruises for bookings made by June 1 next year. The five Europe stay-and-cruise packages range from 10 to 12 nights and available from US$5295 per person twin-share, and also for solo passengers in selected cabins.
The cruises are aboard Adventure Canada's 198-passenger, eco-friendly Ocean Endeavour. The new 10-night Basque country package begins with a free night's stay in Bilbao, followed by a nine-night cruise across the Bay of Biscay to Brest in France. Phone 1800 507 777 or visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au.
