Celebrate the New Year Down Under

RING in the New Year surrounded by seahorses, penguins and sea stars at Sea Life Melbourne where you can roam from the Coral Caves to the Crocodile Lair with a drink in hand and music pumping through the air.

Revellers have full access to the underwater wonderland and its thousands of marine creatures, as well as panoramic views of the Yarra River and the city’s spectacular fireworks display.

Silver, Gold or Platinum tickets,Platinum ticket holders have exclusive access to Sea Life Melbourne’s outdoor deck, which faces the Yarra River and the sparkling Southbank skyline.



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Working together in the air and on the road

AIRASIA and SkyBus have announced an enormous boost in bus services to Melbourne’s West, as the region prepares for the first-ever international flights to touchdown at Avalon Airport on December 5th. 

Around 4,500 new SkyBus services per year will be delivered under the deal, almost doubling the number of existing services connecting Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station in the heart of the CBD with Werribee and the new international terminal at Avalon. Those flying with AirAsia will also get access to discounted SkyBus fares and onboard offers in hotspots right across Asia, making the entire experience one of the most affordable ways to travel between Melbourne and the more than 130 destinations found in AirAsia’s network.

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Australia tops for dog friendly beaches

BEACHES in Brisbane, Perth and Floreat all top the recommendations; Melbourne has the most dog-friendly cafes and South Bank in Brisbane is the number one place to walk a four legged friend in #Australia, according to a list of the 100 most pet-friendly places in the world, recommended by more than ten thousand members of TrustedHousesitters.com. 

From over 54,000 locations that were recommended worldwide, 20 Aussie places made the top 100 list, pipped at the post by the UK with 30, followed by the USA with 26. Australia took the top spot for the world’s most pet-friendly beaches, while the UK had the most pet friendly tourist attractions.

1.   South Bank, Brisbane (world #7) 

2.   North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay, Queensland (world #12) 

3.   Hahndorf German Settlement, Adelaide Hills (world #21) 

4.   Safety Bay, Perth, Western Australia (world #26) 

5.   Big Banana, New South Wales (world #29) 

6.   Watiparinga Reserve, Adelaide, South Australia (world #36) 

7.   Ballarat Botanical Gardens Reserve, Victoria (world #38) 

8.   Gold Coast, Broadwater, Queensland (world #39) 

9.   Floreat/Peasholm Dog Beach, Floreat, Western Australia (world #42) 

10. Lights In The Attic café, Hawthorn, Melbourne (world #44)
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Travel bragging

‘TRAVEL BRAGGING’ posts that are filling up your social feeds show no sign of slowing down but now thanks to the world’s first #TravelBrag Artificial Intelligence (AI) analysis, Hotels.com reveals what’s topping the brag charts in destinations around the world, so you can choose your next trip wisely. Brags about #Melbourne and #Sydney show that international travellers are flocking to our shores for Aussie famous sport, culture and landmarks. 

TOP 5 MELBOURNE BRAGS 1. Art galleries 2. Mrs Macquarie’s Chair 3. Sydney Kings 4. Circular Quay 5. Sydney Harbour 

TOP 5 SYDNEY BRAGS 1. Melbourne Cricket Ground 2. Seasons (relating to the weather) 3. Rooftop bars 4. St Paul’s Cathedral 5. National Gallery of Victoria   


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Flexible Driving at Melbourne and Canberra Airports

THE membership based car sharing service Flexicar has installed eight Flexicar pods at Melbourne Airport and two Flexicar pods at Canberra Airport, providing travellers with a convenient alternative to public transport and taxis. 

Members of Flexicar can easily book a vehicle for one hour up to five days, collecting it from the newly installed Flexicar pods (designated car parking spaces) at Melbourne and Canberra Airports. 

At the end of the booking, customers simply need to return the vehicle to the same pod. The service provides travellers with the use of a car for short periods of time inclusive of fuel, a generous kilometre allocation and damage cover*, with the added benefit of no waiting time when the vehicle is collected and returned.

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On the runway . . .

AUSTRALIA'S booming tourism industry is set for another boost with Qantas’ first Melbourne-Tokyo Narita service.

The new daily service is being launched in response to strong demand, as #travel between #Japan and #Australia grows at around 20 per cent a year.

It takes the number of seats the national carrier offers on Japanese routes each week to 6,000, following the launch of new Sydney-Tokyo Haneda and Brisbane-Tokyo Narita routes in 2015 – with extensive onward connections in both countries.

Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans said the new route was the latest example of the national carrier growing its international network to meet demand and unlock opportunities for Australia in Asia.

“The clear message from our Japanese customers was that they wanted a direct link into Melbourne – so we’re delighted to be opening up that gateway for them today,” Mr Evans said.

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Picture Credit: Cresny flickr.com/photos/66724483@N00/14827969882 K3A07504 via photopin

Australian prison hotel to offer nights behind bars

VISITORS to #Australia will soon be able to spend a night behind bars, without the need to get arrested first. Pentridge Prison – built in 1851 and five miles from central Melbourne – is to be converted into an apartment hotel. 

The new hotel comprises several elements, including the opportunity to stay in a converted prison cell. The prison’s former chapel will be transformed into a venue for weddings and functions.

‘This hotel will sensitively re-open this historic asset in a way for the entire community to experience and appreciate,’ said Anthony Goh, a spokesperson for the Shayher Group, which is re-developing the prison. ‘In developing these plans, we have taken inspiration from similar projects in the United States and United Kingdom that have re-adapted jails into beautiful accommodation, paying tribute to the past by re-positioning them for the future.’

Rachel Argaman, CEO of TFE Hotels, said the hotel would attract ‘locals and visitors from overseas who will be intrigued to learn about Australia’s penal past’.

‘Hotels provide a great way to preserve the history of heritage-listed buildings, allowing unique and memorable experiences for guests who learn and experience aspects of that rich past.’

The hotel is expected to open in 2020, pending planning and heritage permits and construction approvals.

The prison housed convicts until 1997.

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Australian airports to charge for fast-track immigration

AUSTRALIAN airports will introduce fast track immigration and customs processing for international travellers … for a fee. 

The proposal was outlined in the federal government’s budget, and will be initially available at airports in Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne.

 The government did not disclose how much it expects to raise through this 'premium' service 'due to commercial confidentiality.'

#Australia's Immigration minister Peter Dutton said passengers would still go through the standard customs, immigration, and security screenings. The ministry also said there would be no impact on wait times for passengers using standard lines.

 ‘What we have to do is look around at our competitors in the region and elsewhere and understand that some of our most important growth markets, for example China, there is a portion that would like to be able to access premium processing,’  said Margy Osmond, head of the Tourism and Transport Forum. ‘It's no different to an airplane having economy, business and first class.’

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