Oz on a budget
ALTHOUGH
a visit to
Australia
can be pricey,
there are
budget-friendly
ways to explore
the destination
and still have
experiences
that make it
memorable,
says John
Ridler,
Thompsons
Holidays’ PR
and media
manager.
For those on
a tight budget who want to
explore more than one city,
John recommends hiring
a campervan or staying in
three-star hotels. “Hiring
a campervan offers costeffective
accommodation
and wheels in one, with
excellent facilities at
Australia’s many caravan
parks.”
He also recommends
that budget travellers keep
stays in the big cities to a
minimum as they are more
expensive. “Budget travellers
should head for smaller
towns like Cairns where one
has access to the sea, many
activities and the Great
Barrier Reef. Savvy travellers
will also be on the look-out
for reduced entrance fees to
attractions, which are usually
available later in the day.”
Elisna Bergset,
Development Promotions
brand ambassador, agrees
that a road trip in a rented
car or campervan is an
economical way to travel
Australia. “This
is especially
cost-effective
if there are
more than two
people travelling
together, as
costs can
be shared.
Australia’s
highly
developed
infrastructure
also makes
it easy to get
around.”
She says
most Australian
cities offer
affordable hotel options,
including backpacker lodges.
“Using public transport,
which is reasonably priced,
is a good way to explore the
cities.”
Most first-time travellers
from South Africa go to
Sydney, but there are less
expensive destinations in
Australia that also offer
fantastic experiences.
“One such is Melbourne,”
says Elisna, “which is
bohemian, arty, and
cosmopolitan with a healthy
café street culture and
exceptional beaches. South
African rands definitely
stretch a little further there.”
Organised touring is
another cost-effective option
for multi-destination trips.
“Tours offer excellent value
for money as the tour rate
includes accommodation
and transportation, and
travellers have the benefit
of a tour guide who can
add great value in terms of
knowledge,” she says.
Citties on a shoestring sydney
Climbing the Sydney
Harbour Bridge is not
inexpensive, but visitors
can stroll, free, along the
pedestrian pathway at a
lower level.
The Art Gallery NSW offers
free entry and talks on
Wednesday evenings.
Entry to the permanent
collection at the Museum
of Contemporary Art at
Circular Quay is free and
the café on level four
has spectacular views of
Sydney Harbour.
Visitors can also take
advantage of Sydney’s
magnificent beaches, such
as Bondi and Manly.
The Bondi to Coogee
coastal walk is a popular
excursion.
Elisna Bergset of
Development Promotions,
says if the crowds at Bondi
get too much, visitors
can head to the tranquil
beach at Camp Cove near
Sydney Harbour that offers
swimming, snorkelling,
picnicking and paddling
with scenic Sydney Harbour
views.
The Opera Bar at the
Sydney Opera House
offers free live music every
night and during weekend
afternoons.
Visitors can enjoy I’m Free
Walking Tours, starting at
10h30 and 14h30 daily.
At the end of the tour
guests decide how much
they would like to pay. The
Sydney tour takes in the
Sydney Opera House, The
Harbour Bridge, The Rocks
District, Parliament House,
Underground Tunnels,
Museum of Currency and
Notes, and the Queen
Victoria Building, among
many other places.
Melbourne
In Melbourne, entrance
to the National Gallery
of Victoria is free and is
the world’s first major
art gallery to showcase
Australian art exclusively.
Riding Melbourne’s City
Circle Tram is free and
takes commuters to
some of the city’s top
attractions. There are also
free tourist shuttle buses
that stop at all the major
attractions.
The best place to watch
live music free is the
Esplanade Hotel.
Visitors can also enjoy
a walking tour with I’m
Free Walking Tours. The
Melbourne tour starts
at the State Library of
Victoria on Swanston
Street and takes in
Federation Square,
Melbourne’s Laneways,
Flinders Street Station,
Yarra River, Chinatown,
Princess Theatre, Carlton
Gardens and more.
Perth
In Perth, visitors can take
a free, guided walk through
Kings Park and Botanic
Garden. They can cycle or
walk along the Swan River,
or enjoy a river cruise.
At Penguin Island, 45
minutes from Perth,
visitors can watch penguin
feedings (adults pay
AU$27 (R250) for Penguin
Island Ferry and Discovery
Centre), go swimming,
snorkelling, enjoy a picnic,
and explore the many
nature trails. The island is
open from September to
June.
Perth has 19 white-sand
beaches. Cottesloe
Beach is one of the city’s
most popular swimming,
snorkelling, surfing and
sundowner spots, with a
boulevard of restaurants,
cafés and bars.
Rottnest Island, just 18km
from Perth, is a favourite
with locals for swimming,
surfing, snorkelling,
fishing and relaxing. It is
surrounded by coral reefs
and shipwrecks. A local
Bayseeker bus drops
people off at secluded
beaches and bays. Guided
tours of a former Aboriginal
prison, underground
tunnels, the lighthouse and
colonial buildings are also
on offer.
A visit to the Fremantle
Markets is highly
recommended, where
artists and artisans
share space with fashion
designers, homeware and
food sellers.
For the well-heeled
Development Promotions,
recommends the Park Hyatt
Sydney for the ultimate
in luxury accommodation.
“This hotel offers rooms so
exclusive that they do not
advertise prices on their site.
The hotel has hosted the likes
of Pippa Middleton and Kim
and Kanye West.”
She also recommends The
Langham Sydney and the Four
Seasons Hotel Sydney. “The
Langham Sydney is the place
to go for a total gastronomic
extravaganza. And the crème
de la crème of drinks spots
is Hacienda at the Sydney
Harbour, where clients can sip
of a variety of novel cocktails.”
Exploring Sydney Harbour
by seaplane or luxury
yacht charter is also highly
recommended. Sydney
Harbour Exclusive offers luxury
yacht charters to Watson Bay,
Rose Bay, Mosman, Circular
Quay, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont
and more. Further afield,
Exclusive Getaway offers luxury
yacht charters in Cairns, Port
Douglas and Whitsunday
Islands in the Great Barrier
Reef.
For clients travelling to
Sydney at the end of March
or in April, the annual outdoor
Handa Opera on Sydney
harbour is spectacular and is
not to be missed. The season
usually runs for a month.
For the well-heeled,
Thompsons Holidays’ John
Ridler recommends the
long-stay guided tours from
AAT Kings. For example, the
13-night Inspiring Australia
tour, which takes in Palm
Cove, the Daintree Rainforest,
Great Barrier Reef, Cairns,
Alice Springs, Kings Canyon,
Ayers Rock, Blue Mountains,
Hunters Valley and Sydney.
The 11-day Taste of Southern
Australia tour, which takes in
Sydney, Canberra, Beechworth,
Melbourne, Warrnambool,
Naracoorte, Kangaroo Island
and Adelaide, is also popular.
“These are experiential
packages that offer clients
great value. Clients with highend
budgets can also visit
Hamilton Island near the Great
Barrier Reef and Hayman
Island – a private island resort
on the nearest island to the
Great Barrier Reef.”
Phpotocap: Dream your way to OZ
From May 18, Singapore Airlines will operate its new B787-10 Dreamliner on one of the four
weekly frequencies between Singapore and Perth (SQ215). The Dreamliner has 36 businessclass
seats and 301 in economy. Also on the route are the A330-300 and B777-222. Singapore
Airlines offers premium economy class on the South Africa-Singapore route as well as on
the Singapore to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne routes. South Africans will also be able to
experience Singapore Airlines’ new cabin products on its A380 from May 18 on the SingaporeSydney
route. Pictured here are (left) Tariro Marongwe, passenger sales executive and
Rachel Mhlanga, corporate sales executive, Singapore Airlines.
Book it!
From Development Promotions come these options:
For high-end luxury, seven nights at the Park Hyatt Sydney in an Opera View Room with full breakfast for R46
047pps. Alternatively, seven nights at the Langham Sydney in a Deluxe City King room with full breakfast is
going for R23 152. Prices are valid until March 31, 2019.
A budget-friendly youth option (18- to 39-year-olds) is the Great Ocean Road West – Melbourne to Adelaide
five-day trip for R7 020pp that starts in Melbourne and takes in Port Campbell, Halls Gap, and Adelaide.
Travellers enjoy a walk through the rainforest at the Great Otway National Park, see rock art, enjoy the
waterfalls and trek in the Grampians National Park.
Melbourne, Outback and Uluru Adventure (12 days) from R36 619pp starts in Melbourne with stops in
Mornington, Port Campbell, Little Desert National Park, Adelaide and Uluru (Ayers Rock). These packages do
not include flights, are subject exchange rate fluctuations and are dependent on availability.
G’day mate!
On the lookout for a special? Carla da Silva, regional
general manager: Southern Africa and Latin America
for Air Mauritius, advises that the airline is offering an
economy-class special of R9 950, including taxes, to
Perth and a business-class special of R25 990. These
specials apply to departures from Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Durban and are valid for travel up to
November, excluding peak periods.
Did you know!
Wouter Nel, Air Mauritius head of sales and marketing:
Southern Africa, says the airline offers great added
value to SA passengers flying to Perth. They can check
in two 23kg pieces of luggage in economy class and two
32kg pieces in business class. They can also make one
free booking date change and benefit from competitive
fares. Ancilliary products such as emergency exit seats or
upgrades to business class via Upgradenow are available
for booking on Air Mauritius’s website.
