Whitsundays wintering is suddenly a most affordable concept with a so-called Win-in-Winter package through this month and July which costs just $99 per person a night for accommodation in a luxury garden room, full breakfast daily AND return transfers to the mainland with Cruise Whitsundays.
The deal is from Daydream Island Resort and Spa, an award-winning “nearly five star'' property in the Great Barrier Reef. And who will argue the June/July warmth of North Queensland has huge appeal on these quite bitter southern mornings.
The resort's GM Doug Paterson reckons there's no time like the present to visit the region.
“We find people often feel the onset of winter brings a mid-year hump which leaves them feeling tired and in need of an escape,'' he says. “We don't need any more convincing and these special rates you're on a winner.”
Guests can take up resort options like the rejuvenation spa or, like the guest in our photograph, soak up the sun and the atmosphere or watch the wildlife at play on Dream Reef with its vast array of marine species and coral varieties.
For more information and bookings visit www.daydreamisland.com or call (07) 4948 8488. But be quick. The special is only valid until July 31 which is also the cut-off date for travel. Rivera on the sub-continent
Since a couple of years back it has been known as Puducherry, with its previous and more familiar name of Pondicherry swept away by India's enthusiasm for changes which, fairly, have left us old colonials totally confused about what's where.
The leftover influence from Pondi . . . oops. . . Puducherry's French colonial past (yes, Virginia, there were parts of India not tied to Mother England) is evident today.
The groundbreaking folk at Explore Holidays have racked up another first with eco-type holidays at Dune Eco Beach Hotel not far from Puduwhatsitsname on the south-east coast.
Set in 30 acres of private gardens with a 700 metre beachfront, the hotel was once hub of an artists' colony. It was built from materials liberated from old palaces and planters' mansions but now boasts solar-power hot water systems, a water recycling plant and a battery-powered vehicle to transport guests around its 10 rooms and 25 houses.
Its FUN (Food U Need) restaurant is supplied by their own organic farm.
The lead-in price is $67 a night but for details of conditions, check with a licensed travel agent or visit www.exploreholidays.com.au Aggie’s Samoan Bonuses
Aren’t you glad the lady married a bloke called Grey? It just wouldn't have been the same checking in to Agnes Genevieve Swann's place. Then again, perhaps being allocated the James Michener suite overlooking the ocean would make up for whatever the property was called.
Aggie Grey's place (lobby and pool pictured) is aggressively marketing at the moment, which means, among other things, you can have five nights for the price of four at AG's Lagoon Resort and Spa, with full daily breakfasts and a Samoan massage thrown in.
Pricing starts at $1469pp twin-share INCLUDING return air and taxes ex-Sydney and return airport/resort transfers. It is available right through to March 31 next year but (and there's always a 'but') you must book right now - or at least by June 30.
Talk to a travel agent, call 8236 9900 or visit www.coralseas.com.au
Aggie Greys Lagoon Resort and Spa has an 18-hole championship golf course with clubhouse and 19th hole, a lagoon-side pool, water sports centre, kids club, wedding chapel, beauty treatment spa and conference facilities.
(If you are interested, Agnes Genevieve Swann was the daughter of a chemist who migrated to Samoa in the late 19th century and a Samoan girl. Word is Aggie married “well'' - to a shipping executive - but when he died she fell for compulsive gambler and general wastrel Charlie Grey.) South Pacific to South Korea
Well-known airline man-about-town from his many years at Thai, Ken Triffitt, is now flying the Australia/New Zealand office of New Caledonia's international carrier Aircalin and vowing to provide us with “more travel options'' to and beyond Noumea.
“Beyond'' has just taken a great leap forward with the launch of Aircalin's latest Pacific Rim expansion, a twice weekly service to Seoul, Korea. They already fly to Tokyo and Osaka.
Perhaps a Sydney-Seoul flight via New Caledonia isn't a bad idea and given that Aircalin has daily flights to Noumea it could become a fad thing.
Business trips to the Korean capital are usually full-on affairs and a couple of days R'n'R to prep for the fray or to unwind on the way home offer an interesting new option.
Bookings for all their services can be made via respective Global Distribution Systems. But first, visit www.aircalin.com.au | 
