The New Normal - Your guide to a post COVID-19 Hunter Valley visit

Remember the days when you eagerly headed up the F1 to the Hunter Valley, a mere two-hour drive from Sydney, boot empty, friends in tow, ready to hit as many wineries as you could in a day and do some serious wine tasting?

Most Australians are already travelling. Are you?

According to a study sponsored by PayPal, 65% of Aussies are already comfortable travelling, but only if they’re staying close to home –

• 96% of Aussies not comfortable to travel broadly overseas

• 2-in-5 Aussies can’t wait to go travelling again and 65% are already comfortable travelling in Australia

• 3-in-5 Aussies had to change, or cancel travel plans due to COVID-19

• Almost 30% would rather stay local and support the Aussie tourism industry – even if they could go overseas

New 'Road to Recovery Tour' on Kangaroo Island

To aid the recovery of Kangaroo Island in the aftermath of their devastating bushfires, Kangaroo Island Odysseys has launched a new one-night/one-day 'Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour'. The tour operates daily and a special 'Hot Deal' rate of only $599 per person twin share, normally $650 per person twin share, is available for travel from the 5^th to the 31^st August 2020 including a free breakfast.

 

Designed in consultation with the company's local tour guides, the KI Odysseys Kangaroo Island 'Road to Recovery Tour' visits the bushfire affected areas at the western end of Kangaroo Island, including Bunker Hill, Remarkable Rocks, Cape du Couedic and Admirals Arch, all in Flinders Chase National Park which re-opened recently only to Certified Tour Operators. The tour also visits the fire damaged areas of Vivonne Bay Beach and Point Ellen at Vivonne Bay and the North Coast of Kangaroo Island.

 

Out of the ashes witness the amazing regeneration and regrowth of the flora and fauna that is bringing a whole new sense of beauty and life to the island. See tree trunks and roots shoot with buds, and ash beds now full of nutrients which have greatly enhanced the proliferation of seedling germination.  With the once dense scrub now gone, see for the first-time hills and terrain that has been hidden for years and now show an incredible heat produced mosaic pattern on the landscape. 

 

The island's iconic wildlife has not been forgotten with the tour visiting Seal Bay Conservation Park for a guided beach walk amongst wild Australian Sealions. The tour also includes a delicious lunch in a bushland location and an afternoon tea at Snellings Beach. Visit beautiful Stokes Bay in the afternoon to spot kangaroos, koalas and possibly Australia's rarest cockatoo, the Glossy Black Cockatoo. Throughout the day guests will enjoy many opportunities for unique wildlife and native vegetation regeneration photography. 

 

The KI Odysseys 'Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour' offers a personalised small group touring experience, with guests travelling in luxury touring vehicles that will still allow for social distancing to be implemented. Each small group is accompanied by a local KI tour guide who is passionate about the island and who has their own personal story to tell.

 

Arrive on Kangaroo Island late afternoon and enjoy overnight accommodation at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, at scenic American River in a Superior King Bayview Room or upgrade to a Deluxe Studio Waterview.  Spend the following day touring the island before returning to Adelaide that night.

 

The KI Odysseys 'Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour's' 'Hot Deal' rate starts from only $599 per person, twin share from Cape Jervis including breakfast. Upgrade for an extra $25 per person to deluxe accommodation.

 

The hot deal rate includes return SeaLink ferry transfers from Cape Jervis, shuttle transfers from the ferry to accommodation, overnight accommodation at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge in a Superior Bayview Room, free breakfast, Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour, all entrance fees, guided tours, special permits, and a delicious lunch.

 

The 'Hot Deal' rate departing from Adelaide and including coach transfers from Adelaide is $624 per person, twin share, normally $698 per person twin share.

 

The Hot Deal is available for travel until 31 August 2020.

 

Car parking at Cape Jervis is available at the local council car parking area or book secure parking with SeaLink.

 

From September 2020, the 'Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour' will be priced from $650 per person, twin share from Cape Jervis, or with coach transfers included from Adelaide for $698 per person, twin share, but will not include breakfast. All other inclusions remain the same.

 

For a full tour itinerary and further information visit: www.kangarooislandodysseys.com.au

The Tailor's Expedition Kangaroo Island

Australia’s premier luxury and five-star experiential travel company The Tailor has launched a five-day immersive Kangaroo Island itinerary, welcoming guests behind the veil of the iconic island with a hands-on, fully-hosted experience for travellers seeking the combination of nature’s calming solitude alongside genuine human connections and enterprises.

Lake Macquarie – the perfect destination for a romantic weekend away

The kids are back to school and life is starting to return to normal, it’s time for you and your significant other to treat yourselves to a child-free weekend escape.

Lake Macquarie is perfect for a quick couple’s getaway, and is only a 90-minute drive up the M1 from Sydney. This laidback coastal destination has plenty on offer for couples wanting to relax, reconnect and ramp up the romance without being too far from home.

Aussies urged to make a #RoadTripPledge

Famous Australian faces get behind new campaign backed by Stayz to drive regional tourism and get Aussie families back on the road travelling again

Intrepid Travel gives Aussies a new way to explore their own backyard

The brand-new tour range will bring travellers together closer to home, while supporting local communities along the way

Intrepid Travel, the world’s leading sustainable tour operator, has introduced a new collection of tours called Intrepid Local, with initial offerings in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. With 75+ multi-day adventures, these trips will give travellers the opportunity to explore closer to home while many international borders remain closed.