Recommend November 2013 - (Page 88)

Dragonﬂy Lodge on Tasmania's East Coast. family fun with adventures by disney Andrae Gill, Adventures by Disney's associate manager of marketing and sales strategy, says that Tasmania is "gaining in popularity because the destination has managed to capture the public's imagination. We saw that trend about two years ago and managed to capitalize on it." Bruce Austin, regional manager, trip operations for Adventures by Disney, says the company "includes Tasmania as a core component, so that the price of all internal ﬂights are covered on the price of the tour, making it accessible to guests touring Australia." Heather Killingbeck, director of program development and operations, adds that the company came upon offering Tasmania as a destination because "we listen to what our guests tell us and review that information every quarter and we realized Tasmania is a much sought-after destination. "Since it's close to Antarctica, Tasmania has weather similar to Northern California's," she says. "Of course, we cater to a different clientele, as we are the only tour company offering family travel to Tasmania. One must bear in mind, however, that since Tasmania lies in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are reversed. An excellent time to travel is during Christmas vacation. Summer is in full bloom down there and children are out of school in North America." Adventures by Disney offers the 12-day Australia tour featuring Tasmania. Dates run June through December in 2014 and rates are from approximately $7,749 pp; children rates are slightly less. The tours include activities that delight travelers of all ages, including kayaking on Coles Bay past pristine sandy beaches over crystal-clear waters, to guided hikes in Wineglass Bay, one of Tasmania's most scenic spots. There are visits to berry farms, lawn bowling and wildlife viewing at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to catch sight of rare and exotic creatures like the Tasmanian devil and the shy Tasmanian bettong. Wallabies, koalas, echidnas, wombats and others abound. (800) 543-0865; adventuresbydisney.com or disneytravelagents.com 88 november 2013 86-89 SP Tasmania.indd 88 must-sees Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)-a cutting-edge complex in a cutting-edge city-has given Hobart a fresh reputation as a sophisticated destination of art and reﬁnement. The museum has helped spark interest in Tasmania by offering an unconventional display of the world's most infamous and stimulating contemporary art and is regularly regarded as a "must-see." The outskirts of Hobart are dotted with out-of-the-way restaurants and inns in quaint farming villages like Woodbridge and Cygnet. Visitors wanting to get away from it all will delight in the remoteness of Tassie's favorite escape hideaway on Bruny Island, a short ferry ride away from Hobart. Those who prefer to drive will ﬁnd a circuit around Tasmania to be one of the most scenic road trips anywhere, rivaling California's Big Sur or Maine's craggy coastline. Memorable historic sites along the way include the convict fort near Port Arthur, a UNESCO World Heritage site that crowns a bluff and is best appreciated during a hike or from the sea on a number of cruises from Port Arthur. Places like Maria and Freycinet national parks on the eastern coast simply astonish with perfect half-moon bays and beaches so white they look like they were frosted with sugar. Oenophiles will ﬁnd the Tamar Valley, just beyond the mountains from Port Arthur, to be an undiscovered pinot noir dreamland. Beyond the valley lies Stanley, a village that gives new meaning to the word "lovely." The most distinctive Stanley landmark is The Nut, the plug from a dormant volcano rising about 450 ft. to a ﬂat top, accessible by a trail or a chairlift at the base. And how does one go about selling this surprising destination? Candice Heckel, product manager at Down Under Endeavours, an elite group of retail travel agents of the Premier Specialist Program for U.S. and Canadian travelers, based in Chicago, says, recommend.com 10/24/13 11:33 AM http://www.adventuresbydisney.com http://www.disneytravelagents.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Generator
Tour Talk: Vistas by IsramWorld
Sailing the Danube With Viking (and a Teeneger in Tow)
AmaPrima
Bhutan: The Eternal Kingdom Beckons
The Greening of the Caribbean
The Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Merida: Gateway to the Yucatan Experience
Nicaragua Now
Las Vegas Embraces the Future
Tasmania: A Devilish Destination
Zimbabwe: Southern Africa's Comeback Kid
Georgia: Off the Radar

Recommend November 2013