Unique time to explore the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the natural world and is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, scattered with beautiful islands and idyllic coral cays.

The Great Barrier Reef area is thriving with wildlife, including dugongs and green turtles, varieties of dolphins and whales and more than 1500 species of fish and abundant bird life.

Voyages’ islands of the Great Barrier Reef offer a unique window into this extraordinary natural wonder. Lizard Island in the north and Heron Island in the south, both located right on the reef,  present the ultimate in diving from leisurely inner reef dives to exhilarating drift dives along channel drop-offs to thrilling night dives.

Located at the southern end of the world-renowned Whitsunday Island Passage is Brampton Island. This beautiful National Park island is surrounded by sparkling azure waters, white sandy beaches and coral gardens.

But the real beauty of holidaying at Lizard, Heron or Brampton Islands is that you get to enjoy the creature comforts and worldly delights of an island resort while experiencing the reef ecosystem in all its glory.

Cruise Weekly: 6 Oct 2009

Truly Getting Up Close And Personal On True North

TWO adventure cruises to the famed Kimberley wilderness region in July and August next year aboard the boutique True North, will feature activities as diverse as barramundi fishing, swimming in remote billabongs, seeing indigenous cave art with onboard naturalists, nudging underneath a vast waterfall, and a coral reef that “rises from the ocean.”

True North will sail these two 7-night cruises from Broome to the Hunter River on July 31 and August 28 2010, carrying just 36-guests served by 20-crew.

Highlights include witnessing the region’s vast tidal movements including “riding the tide” on the ebbing Sale River aboard True North’s expedition boats, and seeing the Montgomery Reef “rising from the ocean” – a phenomenon created when the fast-receding tide drains from the 350 square kilometre reef to expose myriad turtles, dugong, rays and other sea creatures.

True North also explores numerous rivers and one of the Kimberley’s most scenic waterways Prince Frederick Harbour, while shore excursions include the famous Wandjina rock paintings at Raft Point and the boab tree inscribed with HMC Mermaid 1820 by Captain Phillip Parker King 189 years ago.

A helicopter is carried aboard for optional-cost sightseeing flights, a picnic at an otherwise inaccessible billabong and a “Champagne Sunrise.”

Prices start from $7799pp twin-share including all gourmet onboard dining, use of six expedition boats for shore excursions and a light aircraft transfer from the Hunter River to Kununurra; air fares are additional. For full details phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel

Cruise Weekly: Aboard the MV Charaideo

Position: 26 deg 19' N, 92 deg 08' E Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

Tea and Tigers on the Brahmaputra

“Ship stuck in sand, foreigners taste the Orient” - The Telegraph (India)

It wasn't an auspicious start. We were on the front page of one of the national Indian dailies even before we'd boarded the vessel. The famous Brahmaputra River (it's okay, I had to look it up too) runs from Tibet, through Assam and Calcutta into the Bay of Bengal. Late monsoonal rain had artificially swollen the river and as the level rapidly fell our vessel, the charming MV Charaidew, began to settle on the sandy bottom while waiting for us to arrive. All through the night, two burly little river tugs strained to free us from our plight and by breakfast we were away. Apart from some lost sleep and a few red faces, their was little interruption to our journey.

The Assam-Bengal Navigation Company (ABN) was formed in 2002 as an Indo-British joint venture company by long time UK travel operator, Andrew Brock, and local tea magnate, Ashish Phookan. The company now operates two vessels, the restored MV Charaidew (38m, 24 pax) and the new build, Sukapha, on Indian Rivers including the Brahmaputra and Hugli – the latter a 'distributary' of the massive Ganges. Two river lodges adjacent the national parks are also owned by ABN.

If you've been following this column, you'll recall my growing fascination with 'inland cruising' and the massive growth in this market segment. As the ranks of committed river cruisers grow and they've ticked off Danube, Rhine and Amazon, the search for more enriching waterways continues. India is poised to snare a fair slice of this market as operators like ABN, the pre-eminent Indian river cruise operator and newcomer, the SE Asian company Pandaw, work to grow this market.

At time of writing ABN were offering products ranging from three to seven nights incorporating lodge stays and visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Kaziranga NP in the remote Golaghat District of Assam. While tiger and sloth bear sightings are recorded, it's the equally rare Asian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) that offers the best chance. Our group made five contacts, including a mother and calf. Elephants, of course, are also high on the list and rides atop these mighty pachyderms are a highlight of your visit. Those in search of birdlife, native culture, religious and colonial history will also be in their respective elements. Assam, as tea-drinkers will quickly attest, produces some of the world's finest brew. The sight of dozens of brightly coloured saris moving slowly among the vast plantation is a scene long-remembered.

Before you pick up the phone to book your Brahmaputra River cruise, please understand that the departure port of Guwahati, the Assam state capital, is a remote town even by Indian standards. There is no mobile roaming in place, ATMs are uncooperative and many traders will only accept Rupees. Your ABN bar tab, for example, can be settled in USD, but not credit card. Any travel in India can be a bit of a chore, especially by road.

Having said that, the cruise component of the ABN product is perfectly charming, wonderfully relaxing and a glorious throwback to the days of the British Raj, when the way of England was the way of the world!

Further Information: Active Travel 02 9264 1231 www.activetravel.com.au or www.assambengalnavigation.com

Free Ho Chi Minh City Stay With Vietnam & Cambodia River Cruise

PANDAW River Cruises that operates replicas of yester-year 19th century river-boats on the rivers of South East Asia, is offering two free 5-star hotel nights in Ho Chi Minh City as part of its 8-day Mekong Expedition Cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia in January and February next year.

Its boutique 32-cabin Mekong Pandaw and 38-cabin Tonle Pandaw operate these cruises from Ho Chi Minh City (formerly the French colonial Saigon) through culturally and geographically divergent Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Highlights along the way include the Vietnam Delta region, back-water village areas that can only be reached by the shallow-draught Pandaws and local “country boats,” a Cambodian orphanage funded by voluntary donations from Pandaw’s guests, over-water villages, wetlands, the 60km wide Tonle Lake and the legendary temple complexes of Angkor Wat.

The two nights given free as part of these package in January and February 2010 are at the 5-star Sofitel Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City, and would normally be valued at $248 per person; the hotel is located in the heart of the city close to the Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace and the bustling Central Markets.

THAI's Royal First Class, Royal Silk Class Spring Sale Now On Until 01 Nov, travel to March '10

Royal Silk and Royal First Class fares are now on sale until 01 November 2009, with travel valid through until 31 March 2010 without any embargo. Fares to Bangkok start from $3,357 return per person from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, plus taxes; ex Perth from $2,697 return.
Royal Silk Class fares are also available to Indochina, Hong Kong and China, Japan, Korea, India, Nepal, the Middle-east and Europe . Fares to Europe start from $6,125 return plus taxes; ex $4,987 ex Perth.
Royal First Class returns to the Sydney/Bangkok# route from 25 October 2009, with fares to Bangkok starting from $4,442 return; from $4,698 return to Hong Kong; from $5,217 return to Shanghai and Tokyo; from $5,203 return to Mumbai; from $8,098 return to Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Rome or Zurich; from $8,913 return to London or Madrid.
Combination Royal Silk Business/Royal First Class fares are also available from Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Economy Class Fares to Bangkok and Phuket start from $593 return per person plus taxes and charges, from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; from $555 return ex Perth. Fares also available to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani, Krabi and Koh Samui in Thailand; and to Indochina - Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia; and a choice of 13 major cities in Europe/UK : London, Paris, Madrid, Athens, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo or Moscow.
Fares quoted are based on low season departures from 12 October until 19 November 2009 and 24 January to 26 March 2010; Surcharges apply for shoulder season departures on other dates except between 11 December 2009 to 14 January 2010 which is embargoed.
Contact travel agents for full details, the latest flight schedules and bookings.
For more information about THAI and all the latest special promotions and discount offers, log on to thaiairways.com.au.
THAI’s adjusted flight schedule from 25 October 2009 : SYDNEY, 3 flights daily to Bangkok, 2 with the new Airbus A340 3-class Royal First/Royal Silk and Economy class product. The 3rd flight will be operated by a Boeing 777 with Royal Silk and Economy Class. All flights are now non-stop between Sydney and Bangkok.
BRISBANE, 5 flights weekly to Bangkok with 2-classes Royal Silk Business and Economy Class, non-stop in both directions giving improved connections outbound to Europe and domestic Thailand/Asia.
PERTH, daily flights to Bangkok – 3 non-stop to Phuket and 4 direct to Bangkok. All flights will be operated by the latest addition to the THAI fleet, the A330-300 aircraft with personal entertainment systems for all passengers.
MELBOURNE remains double daily with a 2-class Boeing 777 Royal Silk/Economy class product with personal entertainment systems for all passengers.
In total, THAI flies 47 times a week from Australia to Thailand with connections to 13 domestic destinations in Thailand and over 70 destinations worldwide.
STOPOVER in Thailand from only $9* during October 2009 with THAI’S Thailand PLUS promotion for Royal First and Royal Silk Class passengers. Contact travel agents for more information or log on to thaiairways.com.au ‘Special Offers’.
*Conditions apply. One room night is complimentary however breakfast charges will apply.

THAI's Spring Sale is Now on Until 01 Nov, Travel to March '10

Fares to Bangkok and Phuket start from $593 return per person plus taxes & charges, from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; from $555 return ex Perth. Fares also available to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani, Krabi and Koh Samui in Thailand; and to Indochina - Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia; and a choice of 13 major cities in Europe/UK : London, Paris, Madrid, Athens, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo or Moscow.

Fares quoted are based on low season departures from 12 October until 19 November 2009 and 24 January to 26 March 2010; Surcharges apply for shoulder season departures on other dates except between 11 December 2009 to 14 January 2010 which is embargoed.

Royal Silk and Royal First Class fares are also on sale until 01 November 2009, with travel valid through until 31 March 2010 without any embargo. Fares to Bangkok start from $3,357 return per person from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, plus taxes; ex Perth from $2,697 return. Royal Silk Class fares are also available to Indochina, Hong Kong and China, Japan, Korea, India, Nepal, the Middle-east and Europe . Fares to Europe start from $6,125 return plus taxes; ex $4,987 ex Perth.

Royal First Class returns to the Sydney/Bangkok# route from 25 October 2009, with fares to Bangkok starting from $4,442 return; from $4,698 return to Hong Kong; from $5,217 return to Shanghai and Tokyo; from $5,203 return to Mumbai; from $8,098 return to Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Rome or Zurich; from $8,913 return to London or Madrid.

Combination Royal Silk Business/Royal First Class fares are also available from Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Contact travel agents for full details, the latest flight schedules and bookings.

For more information about THAI and all the latest special promotions and discount offers, log on to thaiairways.com.au.

THAI’s adjusted flight schedule from 25 October 2009 :

SYDNEY, 3 flights daily to Bangkok, 2 with the new Airbus A340 3-class Royal First/Royal Silk and Economy class product. The 3rd flight will be operated by a Boeing 777 with Royal Silk and Economy Class. All flights are now non-stop between Sydney and Bangkok.

BRISBANE, 5 flights weekly to Bangkok with 2-classes Royal Silk Business and Economy Class, non-stop in both directions giving improved connections outbound to Europe and domestic Thailand/Asia.

PERTH, daily flights to Bangkok – 3 non-stop to Phuket and 4 direct to Bangkok. All flights will be operated by the latest addition to the THAI fleet, the A330-300 aircraft with personal entertainment systems for all passengers.

MELBOURNE remains double daily with a 2-class Boeing 777 Royal Silk/Economy class product with personal entertainment systems for all passengers.

In total, THAI flies 47 times a week from Australia to Thailand with connections to 13 domestic destinations in Thailand and over 70 destinations worldwide.

STOPOVER in Thailand from only $9* during October 2009 with THAI’S Thailand PLUS promotion for Royal First and Royal Silk Class passengers. Contact travel agents for more information or log on to thaiairways.com.au ‘Special Offers’.

*Conditions apply. One room night is complimentary however breakfast charges will apply.