Dear Karen,
Our trip was as perfect as this rose in Tasmania…
Marlies Kraemer
Conde Nast Traveler Award Winning Luxury Outback Accommodation Longitude 131
May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Longitude 131, an exquisite eco-sensitive wilderness accommodation, recently honored as the Conde Nast Travlers Readers Choice award, brims with infinite sensory delights mixed with a sense of serenity and spirituality. Featuring just fifteen private luxurious tents and direct views of Uluru, Longitude 131 is an outback experience where opulence meets authentic Australian heritage and indigenous culture comes to life.
While visiting the majestic Red Center, sunset and sunrise tours of World Heritage Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are led by our knowledgeable specialist guides who assist travelers in getting off the beaten path, away from the hundreds of tourists, to ensure a personal viewing experience.
For a truly remarkable 5 star dining experience, discover the wonders of the Southern night sky at Table 131, where you will dine at a secret location under the stars. Champagne and canapés are served along with an extravagant three course outback meal, paired with luscious wines all enjoyed as the sun sets over spectacular Uluru. Naturally this is the perfect setting for a recently introduced authentic native dance performance of Australian Aborigines where story-telling and the droning rhythms of a didgeridoo fill the night air.
Contact us to include this truly captivating experience in your GLORIOUS South Pacific adventure!
Down Under Travel Memories Last A Lifetime
May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A video montage of your favorite travel memories from the last twenty years. You, our valued travelers are at the heart of all we do so it’s only right that you are the star of the show!
Australia 2000 Travel Celebrates You!
April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
Melbourne Jazz Festival Features Music Legends Patti Austin & Chris Potter
April 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival, will once again, fill the city with smooth sounds of jazz June 1 – 10, 2012.
Featuring more than 50 events and performances presented by legendary and upcoming jazz artists, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival program features an exceptional collection of music and artistry. An all star line up of sensational artists, including Chris Potter, take to the stages of Melbourne filling the air with enchanting rhythms during the intimate club sessions and up close performances.
Unique forums include jazz future series where Australia’s next generation of musicians take to the stage to learn from veteran music instructors, as well as Masterclasses, featuring legendary jazz masters, including Patti Austin, who intimately share their very own techniques, music compositions and inspirations.
If your toes are tapping, call us to design a customized itinerary to the GLORIOUS South Pacific and we will include this exciting event in your trip of a lifetime.
Thank you from Mel & Sherry Foster
April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Every trip is an adventure. But when you travel more than halfway around the world in search of adventure, the knowledge that someone has your back is really quite comforting. That’s exactly how it felt to us when booking our New Zealand trip with Australia 2000.
They prepped us thoroughly before hand. They planned exciting activities that were tailored to our tastes. They even recommended – and planned – days of downtime. They were definitely attuned to the pulse of our travels.
And when, at the end of our trip, I unexpectedly had to go to the hospital extending our trip for two days, Australia 2000 (via their New Zealand representative) was there to hold my hand and take care of rearranging flights, rental cars and hotels. My wife and I didn’t have to worry about a thing.
We had a spectacular time in an absolutely wonderful country. The scenery was breathtaking. The people were kind and generous. And just knowing that we had “our people” looking out for us, raised our comfort level the entire way. If only they could have driven the car for us on the left side of the road, life would have been perfect!
Mel and Sherry Foster
Thank you from Susan Presberg-Greene
April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Hi, Karen and everyone!
We had a terrific time, and just as you had planned, we were treated like gold at every step of the way. All of the drivers you hired just for us were terrific. We loved our time with Suzanne and with Colin in Sydney, both of whom clearly love their new careers, and all of our flight schedules worked out very well, with no stress for layovers. We were even pleasantly surprised with an upgrade to business elite class for each of us on the long flight from Sydney to LA on Delta!
We truly had the trip of a lifetime, and spoke many, many times about wanting to return. After all, we need to see the North Island and to stay with Uncle.
Many, many thanks to you and your crew for a job very, very well done, Karen.
Susan
World of WearableArt Exhibition Aptly Described as “Mardi Gras Meets Haute Couture at a Peter Gabriel Concert”
April 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
WOW, the World of WearableArt, is taking New Zealand by storm once again, this time as a traveling exhibition taking place now through November 2013.
What began as a promotion for a Nelson art gallery in 1987, World of WearableArt, has evolved over the years to include the newest concepts of technology, illumination, sound and fantasy to create visually stunning and dramatic living art forms.
Simply to describe this dramatic and creative display of theatre, art, color and movement in words does not do it justice. Perhaps it is something that can only be fully appreciated by those who experience it.
To feast your senses on this masterful adventure, please contact us and will weave all of your travel dreams into a once in a lifetime Down Under adventure!
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Hi Karen,
Yes, the vagabonds are writing again! We had a wonderful 4 days in Tassie! Too short and already looking to return. Ian and Tanya at the Red Feather Inn were amazing. Saffire was gorgeous and we definitely could have stayed there longer.
We are on our way to Melbourne and almost the end of our adventure. We had a wonderful guide here in the Macedon region and tasted some amazing wines. And what a time we had with the Munaris! They invited us to lunch yesterday and it was as if time had stood still from the first time we met nearly 12 years ago in Ft Lauderdale! Another wonderful wine story!
Got to run…will call you next week after we adjust our “clocks” abit!
My best,
Marlies
A Traveler’s Notes from Australia
April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
My trip to Australia seems ages ago but my memories run deep. The land down under is indeed full of beauty and spectacle and amazingly friendly people.
Here are a few of my favourite places and things unique to Australia:
- First there’s the delicious lamington! (Ha! Did you think I would start with the Sydney Opera House? Not focused on the uber-tourist trail with this little blog post. Besides food always comes first!) If you’ve never had a lamington, you must try one (or two) immediately…if you can find a place that makes them…or you’ll have to make your own. Lamingtons are sponge cake cut in cubes and dipped in a light chocolate frosting and sprinkled with coconut. They are divine!
- The spectacular Great Ocean Road! (Yes I know this is on everyone’s list but there is good reason!) The highlight of my very long but incredible day was a helicopter ride to see the Twelve Apostles and Shipwreck coast from an unforgettable vantage point!
- Lots of great wine! From the three wine regions (of which there are plenty!) that I visited across Australia and the few wineries that I was able to experience in each area, here are the standouts…
Margaret River:
There are the bigger, more well known estates like Voyager and Vasse Felix that are consistently good so I will focus on the houses that offered me the most memorable experiences and wines that were fantastic in my opinion (not to mention some interesting names!)
There are the bigger, more well known estates like Voyager and Vasse Felix that are consistently good so I will focus on the houses that offered me the most memorable experiences and wines that were fantastic in my opinion (not to mention some interesting names!)
+Laurance – excellent reds in particular the Icon Cabernet
+ Evans & Tate – loved their whites and a beautiful pink Moscato
+ Wills Domain – excellent whites especially their Semillon
+ Knee Deep – fantastic, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc
+ Swings and Roundabouts – great reds and a beautiful Chardonnay
+ Wills Domain – excellent whites especially their Semillon
+ Knee Deep – fantastic, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc
+ Swings and Roundabouts – great reds and a beautiful Chardonnay
Yarra Valley:
+ Yering Station – this is a popular and quite commercial estate but they had a Shiraz Viognier (2008) that was amazing
+ Rochford – lovely, elegant wines especially their Chardonnay (2001)
+ Yering Station – this is a popular and quite commercial estate but they had a Shiraz Viognier (2008) that was amazing
+ Rochford – lovely, elegant wines especially their Chardonnay (2001)
Barossa Valley:
+ Schild Estate – very nice, smooth whites like the Semillon, Frontignac and Chardonnay and there was a fabulous blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre (GSM as the Aussies love their acronyms!)
+ Hentley Farm – fantastic Zinfandel and a Shiraz called The Beast (2010)! It was to-die-for…much more complex and interesting than The Beauty!
+ Schild Estate – very nice, smooth whites like the Semillon, Frontignac and Chardonnay and there was a fabulous blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre (GSM as the Aussies love their acronyms!)
+ Hentley Farm – fantastic Zinfandel and a Shiraz called The Beast (2010)! It was to-die-for…much more complex and interesting than The Beauty!
- If you find yourself in Melbourne and you’re a huge fan of sushi, then you must try Jamon (www.jamonsushi.com) which is a little sushi place in the charming suburb of South Yarra. The owner and master sushi chef (be prepared to meet Charles, a long-silver-haired Harley Davidson type dressed in black) prepares everything for you fresh that day – the menu is omakase so the chef will make whatever he chooses from the fresh fish, mushrooms and vegetables that he had gotten from the markets that day (you can just tell him what you may not prefer). It was like an opera watching him prepare the whole fishes and creating delicate pieces of sashimi from various parts of the fish, slicing the beautiful shiitake and enoki while grounding fresh wasabi root and sprinkling some of his homemade mustard. Oh, and in that tiny space of sushi bar for 7 and 2 tables for 2, they project Japanese animation on the large white wall in front of the
bar. It was a lovely, spontaneous and unforgettable experience!
- Kangaroo Island is a spectacular place where you feel like you’re at the edge of the world…and you are! It’s on the Southern Ocean and there’s nothing between you and Antarctica! The island was bigger than I expected with so much nature to see…of all the beautiful natural surroundings, I would have to say that the Remarkable Rocks were a highlight and of the few man-made places, there is nothing more amazing than the Southern Ocean Lodge (www.southernoceanlodge.com.au) which is an eco-friendly resort that caters to your every whim! The rooms, food, guided tours, spa and hospitality are all absolutely second-to-none! If only we could have stayed longer…
- Finally, after seeing so much natural beauty, I was ready for a big dose of urban culture when I reached Sydney. And the Art Gallery of New South Wales didn’t disappoint. The gallery is at one end of the beautiful Botanic Gardens and surprisingly had on view the works of some of my favourite modern and contemporary artists. It was the perfect closing to a fabulous holiday.
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Wednesday, April 04, 2012 9:30 PM
Hi Karen,
So our stories continue….yes, yes we found room for Vicenzo’s….it was an outstanding dinner and Lara & Heath were wonderful in their service. But the quality of the food, flavor, and presentation were truly remarkable.
Mollydooker….OMG…we spent 4 1/2 hours there! Russell, the production manager, provided us with a more than 1 hour tour thro the vineyards, and through all the stages in processing. They were harvesting so we saw that, the grapes coming in, the crushing, followed the juice through the winery, tasted out of tanks, saw barrel filling..and then…we were invited to lunch (which they provide to all the winery workers). Big deal because the food was amazing (lamb shanks, Helmut’s favorite) and we were invited by Janet, Sparky’s (owner) mother. With lunch, a bottle of Velvet Glove, their flagship wine. It was an amazing day. We went to no other wineries. Even Mary Anne said that nothing else would top this. So off to Adelaide, the Firestation and Vincenzo’s.
I thought I would die when we returned to our room.
So off to Tassie!!!
Till later,
Marlies
Vivid Sydney Illuminates the Night Sky
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Like an artist’s canvas, Sydney Harbour and its foreshores transform when Vivid Sydney illuminates the night skies, 6 p.m. until midnight, May 25 to June 11, 2012.
Photo Credit to nigelhowe
A celebration of music, light and ideas, Vivid Sydney, transforms Australia’s famous harbour into a radiating playground of brilliance. Live musical performances, creative industry events, glowing interactive art sculptures, illuminated skyscrapers and 3D projections of masterful patterns of color beam and bounce brightly off Sydney’s famous icons.
For a truly unique experience, visit Vivid Sydney, where dazzling light shows and spectacles set the scene for the coming together of creative industries and inspired ideas. Contact us to include this one of a kind festival in your customized adventure to the Lands Down Under.
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
April 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Monday, April 02, 2012
Hi Karen,
It is the old Willie Nelson song….on the road again…..we leave The Louise this morning and off the Mclaren Vale and more tastings, including Mollydooker!
The past two days have been filled with wonderful private tastings: Two Hands, Penfolds, Peter Lehmann, Elderton, with Knappstein, Skillagolee, and Kilikanoon yesterday. And 2 nice lunches each day. We decided to cancel both dinner reservations as it was just too much food & calories through the day….just not young enough to deal with it all!
YES, of course we purchased a Hill of Grace!!! And Helmut has been shopping at other places as well! As to your youthful folly..OMG!!!
And, yes, Brendon did have a surprise….as we were returning from our walk I thought it strange that Stuart did not take the main road back. We drove back through the hills and Brendon surprised us with canapes & champagne at a nice look out point. We were more than surprised, phlamoxed (hard typing on my iPhone with limited spell check)! So sweet of him!
Off to Adelaide and more sights, sounds, and wonderful people to encounter!
Till the next entry!
Marlies
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
March 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Saturday, March 31, 2012 7:06 PM
Hi Karen,
We are sitting here at The Louise and having a lovely breakfast. So time for my journal!
Arkaba Station was heaven…again as with Pretty Beach House, we felt at home. Brendon, Stuart, & Richard were amazing and we gained new friends. The region is spectacular and Helmut is looking to return to do the 4 day bush walk.
Mary Anne is a “hoot” as we say (I think I have seeded the term into Aussie speak already). She is so energetic & knowledgeable.
Yesterday we went to Henschke…saw the harvesting of the Grandfather rows on The Hill of Grace!! Add to that our driver back to the winery was none other than Stephen Henschke with Lottie the dachshund!!! According to Melanie, the marketing manager, we had just hit a trifecta!!
Then on to lunch with Jim & Pam Lambert of Lambert Estates…it took less than 5 minutes and we were friends. Both Jim & Pam are from the Milwaukee area where Helmut grew up. They invited us to their home for a home cooked dinner and outstanding wines!!
So we are off for more adventures today!!
Take care,
Marlies
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Hi Karen,
We are about to depart for Flinders Range. The time at Southern Ocean Lodge was too short (as all the times are….Helmut calls this our appetizer trip….next time we come for the main course!)
The opera was glorious…one if those once in a lifetime experiences. But then so was the seal colony yesterday. Every day has been incredible. Helmut sings your praises daily!!
I feel as if I am keeping a journal with you!
Till later!
Marlies
Thank you from Colleen Berry
March 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
G’day Karen,
What a wonderful trip to Oz! You and your staff did a fabulous job in helping to make my second trip to Australia wonderful and helped me see new and exciting parts of the country.
I loved Tasmania, Adelaide & environs, and the Margaret River area. Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island was just amazing, a once in a lifetime experience, and so wish I had stayed a third night. The small group tours across the itinerary were perfect.
Thank you for your patience in putting together a trip for someone visiting for a second time and my traveling companions visiting for a first time. The only downfall was not having more time or more money!
Thank you for making so many wonderful memories for me, Marianne and Rose.
Best,
Colleen
Australia 2000 Travel Celebrates 20 Years!
March 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Friday, March 23, 2012
Hi Karen,
We just returned from a wonderful day with Suzanne (and yes we enjoyed both her and Piers and their friend Leggy last evening).
Suzanne suggested that I send you an email so that you could contact Mary Anne.
We found when visiting the Hunter wineries that we were limited in the number of different wineries that we visited because we went through the entire tasting menu of 8 wines. If we could just taste 3-4 at a place it would afford us the opportunity to move on to another winery and by that expose ourselves to more winemakers and their styles.
It’s not that we need to go to 20 (extreme #) wineries per day but 3 (as we did in Hunter) was a bit too little.
Hope this makes sense!
Marlies
Foodie’s Wanted at Tasting Australia
March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Celebrate one of the finest culinary galas of the year, Tasting Australia, taking place in South Australia’s finest wine producing region April 26 to May 3, 2012.
Photo Credit to Fast Forward Event Productions
Hosted by hundreds of the world’s top chefs and wine producers, Tasting Australia, has become one of the country’s best attended, prominent food and wine events since its inception in 1997. Attracting upwards of 50,000 foodies from all over the country, the festival features interactive, hands on experiences with more than 80 events designed for anyone with a zeal and passion for food and wine.
Celebrity cooking classes and demonstrations, food photography, cheese making workshops and wine appreciation classes are among a few of the events taking place. This year, The Australian Culinary Federation joins up with Tasting Australia for the much anticipated battle of the chefs, where selected contestants put their culinary skills to the test competing for the honor of ACF chef of the year 2012.
It is not too late to be a part of this extraordinary event. Contact us today and we will weave this highly regarded affair into an unforgettable once in a lifetime journey to the Glorious South Pacific.
Journal Entries from Down Under Travelers
March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Hi Karen,
We soon will be going to meet the Akermans….yes we are back in Sydney! We fell in love with Pretty Beach House…I nearly had to pull Helmut off the hill!! Everything there was extraordinary!
And yes I survived the helicopter but not sure I would repeat the experience…it was fine but took all my energies to quench my height fear.
We have received all the vouchers for the remainder of the trip as well as the opera tickets. More experiences to come!
Thank you again…we’ll be in touch when we return!
Marlies
