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50 things to do in autumn
but the rewards are worth it scenery, wildlife, and gaining first-hand knowledge of the conditions the diggers endured in the defence of australia. your guide will point out the scars of the war, such as trench diggings and ammo pits. but it's not all hard work by night you'll sing and share yarns with the guides around the campfire, or stay in villages and meet the local koiari people.
the trip includes airfares to port moresby, 10 days with a historian-guide, the services of porters and visits to war sites. there are departures from the start of april, including a special anzac day trek from april 17 to 26. there's day and night dining, shopping and entertainment on the doorstep. and the hotel is child-friendly, offering novelty packs and tailored bathrobes. it's an easy stroll to the thrill rides of the universal studios theme park, the maritime museum and aquarium. a five-night stay in a deluxe family room with breakfasts costs $2756 for two adults and two children under 11, not including airfares. see cheeky lemurs, baobab and octopus trees, tropical rainforest and jagged limestone pinnacles. canoe, trek through forests and, on some nights, camp in the bush and on riverbanks. the price of $3990 a person, twin share, includes most meals, a local guide, camping gear, internal flights and land transport. airfares to madagascar are extra but the company can arrange these. you get seven nights in a two-bedroom unit at the central whitefoot lodge and a six-day ski pass (children ski for free), with free equipment hire. activities at big white include snowshoeing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, riding a dog sled and ice skating, as well as skiing. the deal must be booked by march 15 and costs from $8779 a family (two adults and two children under 11), including airfares from sydney to kelowna, bc. from the observation deck at its peak, you can gaze all along the beaches of the gold coast. if you're feeling even more adventurous, the new skypoint climb lets you strap yourself into some serious rigging and clip on to the building's exterior to walk outside on the roof of the gold coast. downstairs, there are three pools, one a huge lagoon-style affair, and a beach club. at night, the neon lights below beckon you out among the restaurants, bars and night markets. a one-bedroom apartment costs from $265 a night. in australia, however, it appears every year in fact, you can put an exact date on it. this year, it'll be here on april 21. the site? well, it temporarily replaces the village of bundanoon, in the nsw southern highlands between sydney and canberra. bundanoon's population of 2000 can swell to 10 times as much as they celebrate their scots connections with a parade, massed pipe bands and scottish country dancing. there are craft, food and souvenir stalls, and big lads can have a crack at lifting the bundanoon stones of manhood, a series of sandstone balls weighing hundreds of kilos. at the end of the day, visitors gather at the hall for the ceilidh, a traditional highlands knees-up presided over by a clan chieftain. travel to remote, uninhabited islands on the great barrier reef and join the ship's marine biologist on glass-bottom boat tours over the colourful coral gardens. on lizard island, take a hike to the peak, snorkel the fringing reef, or laze on the beach. on the return journey you'll visit two coral cays that are home to sea turtles, giant clams and rays, with the chance to snorkel among them. carnival cruises (ph 13 31 94) has a tour on the carnival spirit that skims the coastline in comfort and style, including a program of shows in its pharaoh's palace lounge. there's a casino, nightclub, bars and plenty more plus you get the chance to explore san diego before departing, including its famous zoo and legoland california. and there's a change of pace when you arrive in the wide-open spaces of canada. the cruise sails april 28 and a balcony cabin is $259 a person, twin share. the staff is at your beck and call. until march 31, a one-bedroom villa costs $620 a night, with a minimum three-night stay. that also includes use of the resort's kayaks, bikes and snorkel gear. for couples seeking privacy, there's nowhere better. specialist holidays (ph 13 13 81) has a deal for five nights in a beachfront bure. snorkel or dive the coral reefs with a guide, experience fijian culture, relax in the spa, or take part in a host of activities from sailing and windsurfing to tennis or hiking. the resort's kitchen combines european, asian and fijian flavours. the original disney theme park, disneyland, opened in anaheim in 1955. virgin australia (ph 13 67 89) will show you some southern californian hospitality and fun with a five-night stay at disney's own paradise pier hotel. with its beautiful climate and gorgeous coastline, "the oc" has great beaches, shopping, entertainment, nightlife, golf,nike air jordan, and plenty to keep you busy outside the theme parks. the deal is on sale until march 31 for travel after april 1, and costs $2367 a person, twin share, including return airfares to los angeles. sunlover holidays (ph 13 88 33) has a four-night stay in cairns novotel palm cove for $339 a person, twin share, with breakfasts and a food trail tour included. you'll be whisked inland from cairns over the ranges for tastings at places such as de brueys tropical fruit winery, with its mango, lychee and passionfruit drops. learn about the daily grind at the gold coffee plantation, take an informative farm tour at wondaree macadamia plantation and enjoy afternoon tea and scones with cream at gallo dairyland where you can also sample the fine chocolate and cheese. they have a stay four, pay three deal at the child-friendly makalali private game reserve, a bush retreat nestled on 22,000ha. the big five - elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard - are in abundance,michael kors handbags, as well as cheetah, zebra and giraffe. there are four exclusive camps on the reserve, each with six airconditioned suites. "camp" doesn't mean you have to skimp on luxury each one has a pool and a lounge and dining area. it costs $645 a person, twin share, and includes all meals, game drives in open vehicles and transfers to and from nearby hoedspruit airport. it's on sale until march 31 for travel after april 10. start in hungary's capital of budapest and set sail down the danube for the town of kalocsa, and a horse show. in the croatian city of vukovar, you will dine in the home of a local family, then head to serbia's belgrade and on to bucharest through the narrows of the iron gates gorge. in turkey, visit canakkale, the site of ancient troy, and the battleground of a more modern conflict, gallipoli. the journey ends in istanbul. it costs from $9250 a person, twin share, including all meals and a host of extras such as wine tastings and city tours, and departs may 19. it's luxury all the way on the iconic train as you make your way to the chateau-style fairmont banff springs hotel. you'll also stay at the fabled castle on the lake, fairmont chateau lake louise, walk on the athabasca glacier and visit whistler's ski paradise. return to the coast through the lush orchards of the okanagan valley. princess cruises (ph 1300 551 853) is laying on a 16-day journey along the coastlines of wa, the northern territory and queensland. the ship's balcony staterooms give the best possible views and aboard you'll find the sanctuary, a haven the kids can't invade. en route you call in geraldton, broome, the kimberley coast, darwin, cairns, airlie beach and brisbane with a side-trip to lombok. it takes over melbourne's large theatres, small laneway venues, hip basement bars. if you're looking for a grand base, check out the blackman hotel (ph 1800 278 468) just south of the cbd on st kilda rd, close to trams that will roll you into the heart of the action around the town hall. a studio suite balcony room here starts from $268 a night. varied vietnam get right into vietnam, from sprawling coastlines to bustling cities and exciting culture, on a 13-day tour with student flights (ph 1300 019 130). start in hanoi, then move on to halong bay, hoi an, hue and saigon. there's a boat trip to the thien mu pagoda, exploring the caves and buddhist sanctuaries of the marble mountains, time spent chilling by non nuoc beach, and much more. the tour, priced from $1999 a person, includes accommodation, most meals, land travel, airport transfers and a local guide. flights are extra. escape travel (ph 1300 799 783) has a deal for a four-night getaway at the 4 1/2-star crowne plaza resort, adjacent to the hunter valley golf and country club. the deal is for a deluxe room, with full breakfast daily, and is priced from $399 a person, twin share, based on four-night stays between sunday and friday nights. it must be booked before march 31. konnichiwa, japan bunnik tours' (ph 1300 664 170) two-week journey explores japan both ancient and modern. highlights include a trip to mt fuji, a night spent in a traditional ryokan with a hot springs bath and a japanese dinner, and excursions into the crazy, vibrant hubbub of central tokyo. you'll learn about the capital city's origins at the edo-tokyo museum and see the city's oldest temple, the asakusa kannon. at hiroshima, you will pay a moving visit to the peace memorial park and atomic bomb dome. you'll ride the bullet train to cultural kyoto, japan's former capital. they have a four-day tour off the beaten track on kangaroo island, taking in the coastal vistas and spying native birds and animals in their natural habitat. you'll also have a chance to see some man-made wonders, such as the island's magnificent lighthouses at cape willoughby and cape du couedic. the admirals arch is home to a colony of new zealand fur seals that always put on a good show for visitors, and you can learn a lot about the island's past and hidden secrets with a visit to vivonne bay, the base of the area's crayfish industry, and d'estrees bay, where many a sailor was sent to the bottom. the tour costs $1980 a person, twin share. kauri me away skip across the tasman and drink in the invigorating air of the bay of islands, at new zealand's top end. evergreen tours (ph 4929 4333) has a six-day itinerary showcasing some of the best of what the region has to offer, starting in auckland. from there you head north to see the imposing kauri trees and the kauri pioneer museum, and delve into the nation's founding at the waitangi treaty grounds. there's also a morning cruise on the bay of islands out to cape brett lighthouse and through the legendary hole in the rock. over 19 days from may 6, participants saddle up and take to the wide-open plains of the queensland outback. it's where a city boy can become a country legend for a couple of weeks. experienced drovers will move 600 head of cattle 200km on the redford trail near aramac, and you can be right there, learning the secrets of horsemanship and droving. at night, there's a campfire with camp oven cooking before you bed down in your swag. you can sit in for as many days as you like, with the daily rate being $330 an adult, $300 a child. italian indulgence spend an idyllic easter season under the tuscan sun with phil hoffmann travel's (ph 1300 889 953) tuscan experience package. you'll have two weeks to indulge in the local cuisine, as well as going on private tours to florence, siena, volterra and many wineries, and an overnight stay in the stunning clifftop villages in le cinque terre, on the coast of the riviera. you'll be based in villa castellare de' sernigi, a restored tuscan manor house in the chianti hills just south of florence. a standout is their murray river short break aboard the paddle-wheeler murray princess. the murray has a rich history and scenic beauty in its steep-sided gorges and quiet backwaters. in the evening, under the floodlights on deck, you may glimpse kangaroos, wombats, long-necked tortoises or egrets on the banks. you'll call at murray bridge for a guided tour of the landmarks, discover the bounty of food and wine in the area, head ashore on nature walks and explore the maze of creeks and lagoons in small groups. the trip is a four-nighter departing on may 4. the price, including airfares, is $2345 (ex brisbane)), twin share. the hotel offers 5-star dining at vie restaurant, and the option of a soothing massage at lespa. of course, you're in the adventure centre of the southern hemisphere, with bungy jumping, jetboating,air jordan pas cher, rafting and a host of other activities on the doorstep so don't expect to see much of your room. the deal is valid during may and costs from $723 a person ex melbourne, with connections available from other cities. oh, and don't leave queenstown without a fergburger in your belly. captain's choice tours (ph 1800 622 628) can take you there in unbridled luxury aboard a private train. en route, you'll tick off iconic stops such as the forbidden city, xian and the terracotta warriors, the great wall of china and the mogao thousand buddha caves. you'll find a welcome in the small villages and nomad tents along the way, crossing some of earth's harshest desert terrain in style. with travelplan (ph 1300 754 754), you can take the family to whistler in canada's british columbia for seven nights in march. your base is a two-bedroom apartment at aspens on blackcomb, a ski-in ski-out place at the base of blackcomb mountain. it's just minutes from shopping and dining in the resort village and has a year-round heated outdoor pool and hot tub. you also get a six-day lift pass and the children ski free. the trip costs from $4197 for a family, not including airfares. aloha relaxation just a block and a half from hawaii's famous waikiki beach, the miramar at waikiki is a great base for checking out everything honolulu has to offer the amazing shopping, the atmospheric bars and cafes and, of course, the celebrated beach culture and surfing. or just chill out at the hotel's poolside bar with a mai tai. specialist holidays (ph 13 13 81) has a deal valid for travel after april 1 that gives you four nights in a city-view room plus airfares on hawaiian airlines. with holiday wonders (ph 1300 896 282), you'll sample the sights of northern cities auckland and wellington, bathe in thermal pools and wander the seething volcanic vents of rotorua, and spend a day or two in the subtropical serenity of the bay of islands. on the south island leg, there's the opportunity to add on a helicopter flight over fox glacier and you'll travel the famed taieri gorge railway to dunedin. the tour includes cruising milford sound, downing a few at the tui brewery, a cruise on the steamer earnslaw at queenstown and a visit to christchurch's antarctic centre. it's gold service all the way from adelaide to the alice, and in the morning you'll awake to find yourself in another world. there's a couple of nights in alice springs at the aurora, before you travel on through the west macdonnell ranges en route to uluru, staying at the desert gardens hotel. the trip starts from $1798 a person, twin share, departing after april 1. there's a great selection of activities to keep the children happy for a couple of days you can hire bikes, snorkelling gear or beach sports equipment, splash around at the water park or try your hand at lawn bowls. there's a huge selection of tours maybe head to wadjemup lighthouse or see the seals or quokka. there's even a ghost tour by night, live music and pub quizzes. non-members are welcome, but rac members get 20 per cent off the price of this two-night getaway from friday, april 27, to sunday, april 29. it has a cracking 18-hole championship golf course, a vast nature reserve with orang-utans, and a world-class spa. and there's much more of sabah you'll want to explore, such as its beaches, deep rainforests and wildlife. as well as the ship's regular entertainment, classic international cruises (ph 1800 990 857) is laying on live rock 'n' roll music nightly. the recommissioned and restored 600-passenger former transatlantic liner is in australia for some short cruises out of freo before departing to the uk. book by march 9 and it's priced from $365 a person, twin share, until the end of march. escape travel (ph 1300 799 783) has a cosmos coach tour that starts in london and travels to heidelberg, lucerne, lugano, verona, venice, assisi, sorrento, capri, pisa and beaune. you'll see the rhine river, the leaning tower of pisa, pompeii, the burgundy region and the swiss alps. the tour is priced from $2599 a person,air jordan, twin share, including 15 nights in hotels, breakfast daily, five dinners, train and boat transfers, and a guide. valid for travel from march 18; book before march 24. norfolk select (ph 1800 724 400) has a seven-night stay that will give you time to play golf, ride horses, kayak the crystal-clear coastal waters, or plunge beneath them for snorkelling or scuba diving. and there are many tours on offer, such as the artist trail, which will take you to the studios of local artists working in bone carving, silk painting and pottery. the holiday includes return flights on norfolk air, a half-day island tour and a hire car for the duration of your stay. you'll have ample time to explore the port and its marina and tuna farm before heading to mikkira station. next is an eco-cruise tour from coffin bay, spotting sea lions and dolphins. then you head inland to coober pedy to stay in the famous desert cave motel, before heading out bush to the breakaways, then on the oodnadatta track to the township of marree and staying in parachilna, a town with an official population of seven. the climax of the trip is among the epic flinders ranges. the trip costs from $3520 a person, twin share, and departs throughout april. adventure in arnhem land the relative coolness of late autumn is a great time to explore the country's far north, which usually shimmers in the searing heat. outback spirit (ph 1800 688 222) has a nine-day tour of arnhem land and the cobourg peninsula beginning and ending in darwin. you'll stay in some unusual accommodation, such as the safari cabins at the wildman wilderness lodge in the mary river wetlands. you'll cruise remote gorges, browse aboriginal arts and crafts, and see some rock art. an afternoon of barramundi fishing could be on the cards. drinks and chatter around the campfire will mark an end to every day. the experience ends with a scenic flight from kennedy bay over van diemen gulf to darwin. bunnik tours (ph 1300 664 170) has a 17-day viva mexico adventure that starts in mexico city. you will visit archeological sites, the beautiful baroque churches of puebla and the pyramids and tombs at monte alban. high in the chiapas mountains,polo ralph lauren, you'll cruise the deep sumidero canyon by boat and visit chichen itza, the most famous of all mayan sites and home to the huge pyramid of kukulkan. the trip includes flights, all accommodation and travel, most meals and the services of a guide. it costs from $6556, twin share. departures are available on march 17 and may 19. leafy getaway whether you're a budding photographer or a smartphone point-and-shooter, its nigh on impossible to take a bad photo in tasmania's derwent valley in autumn. the riverbank willows and other trees are ablaze with colour, and you'll find a warm welcome in the small towns as you wend your way northwest from hobart. new norfolk, a town of some 5000 souls, is also home to some fascinating buildings: tassie's oldest anglican church, st matthew's, dating from 1823, and the country's oldest continuously trading hotel, the bush inn, open since 1815. woodbridge on the derwent (ph 03 6261 5566) is a restored, convict-built georgian mansion, now a luxury hotel with just eight rooms specialising in putting together tailored packages for guests. for instance, you can take a gourmet food tour of the region, a private chauffeured wine tour, spend a day fly-fishing, learn about bee-keeping or play a round at ratho golf links. stays here start from $380 a roomrelated articles:
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"i'll see miss blish," and immediately put on her company face, pulled out her locket, and settled her curls.
"you dear thing, how do you do? i've been trying to call every day since you got back, but i have so many engagements, i really couldn't manage it till to-day. so glad you are alone, for mamma said i could sit awhile, and i brought my lace-work to show you, for it's perfectly lovely." cried miss blish, greeting rose with a kiss, which was not very warmly returned, though rose politely thanked her for coming, and bid phebe roll up the easy chair.
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发表于 2011-7-31 13:45
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