Travel Agent - April 28, 2008 - (Page 26)

DESTINATIONS The lounge area of a two-bedroom canopy suite at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Escape CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 of you,” says lodge management, which has high hopes for your fishing trip. Don’t bring a long face to this pleasant place—“Come as you are…We suggest you get dressed first.” Locals suggest requesting pre-dinner drinks with zoologist and nature guide par excellence Hans Naarding, who is reputed to have seen the last Tasmanian tiger in the wild in the mid 1980s. Luck of O’Reilly’s Moving from “Scotland” to “Ireland” in Australia, it’s on to O’Reilly’s Mountain Rainforest Escape (www.oreillys.com.au), Gold Coast, Queensland. When we say “Gold Coast,” don’t assume we mean surfing. Rather, know that you’ll be traveling inland 90 minutes via a road to World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park in the Hinterland, also known as “the green behind the gold.” Sales and Marketing Coordinator Amanda Tidmarsh (amanda@oreillys.com.au) welcomes your inquiries, and wants her guests to know how special this place is to its owners as well as its employees. The property was settled as a dairy farm in 1914, the area around it declared a national park a few years later, and when the O’Reilly family opened a guest house to meet demand, the hospitality business became far more successful than milking bovines. 26 | TravelAgent April 28, 2008 The well-known property, with a stellar 90year history, offers a wide range of accommodations, starting with top-tier two-bedroom/bath canopy suites, constructed in one of the former O’Reilly family homes, with a living room, twoway fireplace, outdoor spa tub, polished timber floors and cedar shutters. Your guests may also select from one-bedroom canopy suites, mountain-view rooms and garden rooms. Prices range from $265 per night for a double to $680 for up to six people in the coveted twobedroom suites. Reservations Manager Cathi Gladstone is ready to help at reservations@oreillys.com.au, and she’ll also gladly book one of the resort’s 48 brand-new villas, with either two or three bedrooms, full kitchen, private deck, spa bath and barbecue, along with undercover parking. Rates range from $310 to $660, per villa, per night, and either two- or three-night minimum stays are required. If your clients love nature, this is the place to embrace it outright and Aussie-style. At O’Reilly’s, outdoorsy types can choose from such Discovery Program selections as bird walks, interpretive rainforest walks and guided night walks; guests tell us a must-do is the Treetop Walk, 100 feet above ground. After a long day walking to your heart’s content, stop and sample wine at the family’s Canungra Valley Vineyard—have a toast with the award-win- ning Shane Reserve Shiraz—where a resident family of platypuses has set up camp in the nearby stream. Kids are welcome here and are offered their fair share of fun activities. Onsite amenities include a heated plunge pool, spa and sauna and fully equipped game room. Previous visitors tell us O’Reilly’s special theme weeks encourage a fine time Down Under: Bird Week, Frog Week, Mammal Week, Off the Beaten Track Weeks, plus extended bushwalks, photography, and writers- and artists-in-residence programs. Even if it rains—this is a rainforest after all—there is always something to do. Massage lovers, take note: In June, the property will debut its own Lost World Spa along with a conference center. Dining at O’Reilly’s is a gourmet experience. Head Chef Ian Garrett creatively designs a “Modern Australian” menu that changes seasonally to take advantage of local produce and is “always delicious and warming,” according to Tidmarsh. A world of big vacations awaits on the world’s smallest continent. When clients ask, “Why Australia?,” Tarraleah and O’Reilly’s are two of the best answers. I CONNECTING YOU For more information on travel to Australia, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/australia-new-zealand http://www.travelagentcentral.com/australia-new-zealand

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 28, 2008

Travel Agent - April 28, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Africa: Where to Stay in the Gateway to Southern Africa South Pacific/Australia: Luxury Lodges in Queensland and Tasmania Pacific/Asia: Shanghai, China’s Cosmopolitan Powerhouse, Sees New Hotel and Cruise Development Canada: Downtown Calgary is Easy to Get Around and Filled with Historic and Cultural Attractions California: Laguna Beach Blends Culture with Coastal Beauty Florida: Golf, History, Food and Fun Defined Our Stay at the Renaissance Resort in St. Augustine Las Vegas: Vegas Hotels Gamble on the Allure of Men’s Grooming Pacific Northwest: Washington Inns Emphasize Local Charm Mexico: Tulum Comes Into its Own as a Luxury Destination Europe: Cruising the Mosel and Rhine Rivers with Amadeus Waterways Rudi Schreiner, President of Amadeus Waterways, Talks about River Cruises Caribbean: Travel Agent Reports From the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange The Slot Spot: Gaming at the Casino Dominicus Cruise: Suppliers and Businesses Use Ships as Springboards to Satisfy Enthusiasts’ Hobbies and Passions Key Legal Decisions Will Affect the Future of Alaska’s Cruise Industry Cover Story: Exclusive Beach Destinations Hotels: The Girlfriend Getaway is an Exploding Market Agent Profile: Sabine Harris’ Personal Touch Provides a Memorable Experience Virtual Tourism: New Websites Give a New View of Tourist Destinations Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Anguilla’s Cap Juluca Sold Aloha Airlines is Grounded Exorbitant Hotel Rates Make Alternatives More Appealing Koepf takes Helm at NACTA, Plans to Expand Membership In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 28, 2008

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