Australia's Top 10 Wine Tours

AUSTRALIA'S Top 10 wine tours, based on booking data from the past four seasons has been unveiled by TripAdvisor. The data, which dates back to 2015, has underlined some key trends in Australia’s contemporary wine-scene, including: Victoria is the country’s most popular state for a wine tour, with three entries in the Top 10.

But South Australia is home to Australia’s #1 most booked wine tour overall Queensland has emerged onto the wine-tour map for the first time, with the Mount Tamborine Wine and Winery Tour now amongst the top 10 booked tours in the country New South Wales.  Western Australia and Tasmania are also represented With over 140,000 bookable tours and activities around the world on TripAdvisor Experiences, it’s a one-stop destination for planning all of your travel activities. From traditional sightseeing to food and wine tours, day trips, and local experiences, travellers can find it all on TripAdvisor Experiences. 

Top 10 Australian bookable winery tours for 2018: 

1.   Small-Group Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour, South Australia 

2.   Mount Tamborine Wine and Winery Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast,          Queensland

3.   Swan Valley River Cruise and Wine Tasting Day Trip from Perth, Western 

      Australia 

4.   Moorilla Estate Winery Tour Including Wine Tasting, Lunch and Mona 

      Admission, Tasmania 

5.   Gourmet Vineyard Lunch and Yarra Valley Winery Tour from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

6.   Small-Group Hunter Valley Wine and Cheese Tasting Tour from Sydney, 

      New South Wales 

7.   Barossa Valley Wineries Tour with Tastings from Adelaide, South Australia 

8.   Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Tour from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

9.   Hunter Valley Gatherer’s Full-Day Food and Wine Tour, New South Wales 

10. Experience Yarra Valley: Beer, Cider, Wine and Food from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

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South Australia shines at tourism awards

TWO of South Australia’s superior regional tourism experiences have been crowned best in their categories at the 2017 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Perth. 

For the second year in a row The Frames has been awarded Australia’s best Self Contained Accommodation. Situated in the Riverland, The Frames offers three opulent and private residences, each exquisitely tailored with magnificent views over the Murray River. 

Adelaide Hills Convention Centre has been named Australia’s best Business Event Venue. Surrounded by scenic views of the beautiful Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Hills Convention Centre provides unique, world class business event facilities and services. 

In addition, eight South Australian #tourism businesses were awarded silver and bronze medals, representing their commitment to delivering exceptional tourism experiences. 

Silver – Calypso Star Charters – Tourist Attractions 

Silver – Murray River Walk – Ecotourism 

Silver – Yondah Beach House – Deluxe Accommodation 

Bronze – Santos Tourism Down Under – Major Festivals and Events 

Bronze – Calypso Star Charters – Adventure Tourism 

Bronze – Mulberry Lodge Country Retreat – Hosted Accommodation 

Bronze – Marree Hotel – Standard Accommodation 

Bronze – Barossa Valley Cheese Company – Excellence in Food Tourism 

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Hop on to Kangaroo Island

QANTASLINK has announced it will launch flights to Kangaroo Island, providing travellers with a new destination on its domestic network. From December, QantasLink will offer flights to #KangarooIsland from both Adelaide and Melbourne with a schedule that sees more flights during peak seasons, providing around 20,000 seats a year using its Dash-8 50 seat Q300 and 74 seat Q400 aircraft.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said: “I am delighted that Australia’s iconic ‘flying kangaroo’ has announced that it will start flying to its namesake, Kangaroo Island in December.

“Kangaroo Island is already one of our State’s most popular destinations and now thousands more people from South Australia, interstate and overseas will get to experience one of our great natural wonders.

“The Island is world-renowned for its premium food and wine and is the ultimate taste of #Australia for visitors with its abundant wildlife.

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Run Away to South Australia's Barossa Valley

COMBINE your favourite past time with your ultimate holiday destination with the new Runaway Marathon series, a family of destination marathons in #Australia.

The latest weekend escape with friends and family, offering brand new #marathon and half marathon courses (and 10km and kids’ runs) in stunning settings.

First up is the Runaway Barossa Marathon on October 21, so if you are looking for a weekend getaway in an amazing holiday and recreational destination combined with a bit of physical activity this is it.

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Living Down Under . . .

COOBER PEDY in South #Australia is an entire town where the people live underground.

Coober Pedy is the opal capital of the world and where opals were once dug out by hand the dug outs that began as one room expanded as people dug deeper in their search for opals.

The homes are not caves but are actually dug into the hill sides. The entrance is usually at street level, and the rooms extend towards the back into the hill. They are no longer dug out by hand but by machinery and then the walls are sealed with a clear layer to prevent dust.

Fancy a stay in an underground? Choices are endless from B&B's, Hotels,Resorts and a backpackers hostel.

www.cooberpedy.net

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Picture Credit: 106390427@N06/13540130844 Coober Pedy via photopin.com, 106390427@N06/13539812595 Coober Pedy via photopin

Heading to Australia? . . .

Fancy a bite with a great white? - Adventure Bay Charters on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula has launched an aqua submarine for observing sharks in their natural environment without getting wet. The trip costs from AU$395 (£206) per adult and AU$285 (£150) per child (3-15 years), plus AU$100 (£52) to step into the cage or AquaSubmarine. 

Take tea with the dolphins - TEMPTATION SAILING in South Australia is offering an afternoon tea experience with a difference. Sail from Glenelg’s Marina Pieron board a 58-foot catamaran. The cruise offers dolphin-spotting opportunities with an afternoon tea platter. Prices start from AU$50 (£27.85) per person.  dolphinboat.com.au

Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Australia, has again taken out the top gong for the South Pacific's Best Beach in the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. In the Great Barrier Reef, the turquoise waters and silica sand of Whitehaven Beach stretch over four miles along Whitsunday Island off the Queensland coast.

Where to see the whale sharks - Whale shark swim tours will begin from Coral Bay and Exmouth from mid-March until August, allowing visitors the opportunity to have a face-to-fin encounter with whale sharks – which can grow up to 59ft in length.

AUSTRALIA’S Great Beach Drive - has been launched to provide 125 miles of motoring along Queensland’s Sunshine and Fraser coasts. The drive starts in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

Bushwalking - NEW SOUTH WALES is Australia's most popular bushwalking region, with more than 5.5 million visitors trekking on the state's bushwalk trails, according to Destination NSW. 

Tuck into some croc - AYERS ROCK RESORT has devised a Bush Tucker Trail highlighting indigenous Australian flavours. ayersrockresort.com.au

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Picture Credit: Great white aqurium by Brocken Inaglory - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Dolphins Swimming Near Catalina Island, CA by Jameyson MacDonald - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Whitsunday Island - Whitehaven Beach by Damien Dempsey from Melbourne, Australia - Whitehaven Beach. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Requin baleine ningaloo reef by Chewb62 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Bushwalking in the rain at Kosciuszko National Park by Michael Jordan - IMG_0030. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Fun fortnight in Adelaide

THIS year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival runs from June 5 to June 20, and in charge as artistic director will be Australia’s comic genius, Barry Humphries … better known to some as Dame Edna Everage and the Australian beer-swilling, foul-mouthed cultural attaché, Sir Les Patterson.

Humphries promises ‘beauty, wit and astonishment’ in a programme of music, story-telling, and comedy featuring more than 350 artists in 152 performances over 14 days and nights.

www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/adelaide-cabaret-festival

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Picture Credit: Dame Edna by Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia - Dame EdnaUploaded by russavia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Adelaide Festival Centre Triangles by Michael Zimmer from Brisbane, Australia Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Fancy a bite with a great white?

IN an Australian first, Adventure Bay Charters on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula has launched an aqua submarine, perfect for observing sharks in their natural environment without getting wet. 

The six-seater underwater pod sits at the back of the eco operator's newest boat, MV Shark Warrior, and is surrounded by glass for 360 degree views. 

Passengers also have the option to enjoy drinks and a nibble whilst observing the jaw-dropping aquatic wildlife.

The trip costs from AU$395 (£206) per adult and AU$285 (£150) per child (3-15 years), plus AU$100 (£52) to step into the cage or Aqua Submarine.http://adventurebaycharters.com.au/


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Island in the sun …

KANGAROO ISLAND'S natural beauty is the focus of a new film … Home of the Soul.

Images of this iconic Australian island have been created by Adelaide-based photographer, Gab Rivera, and the South Australian Tourism Commission. Their three-minute film pieces together 7,356 still photographs of Kangaroo Island locations including Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, and Cape du Couedic Lighthouse.

Home of the Soul can be seen on the South Australian Tourism Commission's YouTube channel at  www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuxP1mE4gsc

www.uk.southaustralia.com

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Picture Credit: "Admiral's Arch" by Diceman at en.wikipedia - Photo taken by Stephen West in January 2005 via Wikimedia Commons

Top five in South Australia

AQUATIC ADVENTURES ON THE EYRE PENINSULA – Not only can you swim with sea lions and dolphins, you can also swim with tuna – an activity that can't be experienced anywhere else in the world. 

You can also enjoy whale watching from the Great Australian Bight or visit the only location in Australia where you can get the adrenalin pumping and shark cage dive with great whites. 

ECO SAFARI ADVENTURES IN THE GAWLER RANGES – A gem in South Australia's crown, the Gawler Ranges on Eyre Peninsula are filled with wildlife, shimmering salt lakes, and star gazing opportunities. 

SCENIC FLIGHT OVER WILPENA POUND – Considered one of Australia's natural wonders, Wilpena Pound is an ancient amphitheatre, the centerpiece within the stunning Flinders Ranges National Park. Best appreciated from the air, the 640 million-year-old natural formation can also be seen on foot, bike or from the comfort of a four-wheel drive. 

TAKE IN ADELAIDE – Adelaide has been transformed from sleepy to vibrant in recent years. The city now has chic bars and restaurants opened by innovative chefs. It also has a year-round calendar of sporting and cultural events.

LIFE'S A BEACH – South Australia has more than 3,000 miles of coastline. Its beaches wide, pristine, and uncrowded. 

www.uk.southaustralia.com

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Picture Credit: From Top - "A176, Nullarbor National Park, Great Australian Bight Marine Park, Australia, 2007" by Brian W. Schaller - Own work via Wikimedia Commons; "Elder Park, Adelaide" by Kevin1243 - Own work - via Wikimedia Commons; "Elliston Beach SA" by Original uploader was Bilbao06 transferred to Commons by User:Bidgee - via Wikimedia Commons

Step out on the Kangaroo island wilderness trail

A WALKING trail showcasing Kangaroo Island’s unique natural environment has been officially named, the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It’s in the state of South Australia, 70 miles south-west of Adelaide. 

The trail will give walkers the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Flinders Chase National Park, the Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area, and the Kelly Hill Conservation Park.

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Picture Credit: "Sonnenaufgang Kangaroo Island- South Australia" via Wikimedia Commons; "Australian sea lion 03" by Peterdownunder - Own work.via Wikimedia Commons

Take tea with the dolphins

TEMPTATION SAILING in South Australia is offering an afternoon tea experience with a difference: the chance to take tea in the company of dolphins. 

Visitors sail from Glenelg’s Marina Pier (15 minutes from Adelaide city centre) on board a 58-foot catamaran. 

The cruise offers dolphin-spotting opportunities with an afternoon tea platter. Prices start from AU$50 (£27.85) per person.

http://dolphinboat.com.au




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Picture Credit: dolphinboat.com.au