travel
Monarto Safari Resort. Below: Hippos grazing by a waterhole.
Wild night at Monarto
Monarto Safari Resort opens in late May, offering guests a unique opportunity to stay overnight in Monarto Safari Park’s extensive grounds.
Operated by tourism company Journey Beyond, the resort offers a range of luxury accommodation, including one and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, and smaller double and twin rooms.
Depending on the room, balconies will either overlook grasslands or a waterhole frequented by giraffes, ostriches, elands, blackbucks and other park animals. Luxury tents will be available later this year.
Facilities include a restaurant, day spa and two swimming pools with a walk-up bar.
Resort guests will have exclusive access to tickets for dawn and sunset wildlife safaris among free-roaming animals, plus discounted entry tickets to explore the rest of Monarto Safari Park.
Visitors to Monarto Safari Park will be able to see Asian elephant Burma, who arrived from Auckland Zoo last December, and her companion Permai, who travelled across the Nullarbor from Perth Zoo in January.
Three other elephants – Putra Mas from Perth, and Pak Boon and Tang Mo from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo – are also joining the herd this year.
The elephants are being brought together at Monarto as part of a breeding program to help preserve the endangered species.
Call an RAA travel agent on 8202 4589 to book a wild night at Monarto Safari Resort.
3 Queensland island holidays
Islands for all occasions
K’gari (Fraser Island)
UNESCO World Heritage-listed K’gari is Earth’s largest sand island. There’s only four-wheel-drive access on this unspoilt paradise, where the main road is the beach and the forested hinterland is dotted with hidden lakes.
Lizard Island
Just off the Far North Queensland coast, Lizard Island reveals the Great Barrier Reef at its pristine best. Experience the reef’s many colours, lounge poolside, and enjoy fine dining.
Hamilton Island
In the heart of the Whitsunday archipelago, Hamilton Island features all the comforts of resort life, water sports, bushwalking and an ocean-front golf course. Choose from luxury villas, tropical bungalows or family-friendly holiday homes.
Book your next holiday with RAA Travel.
Visit travel.raa.com.au for details.
Meet the travel agent
Michael Clark
RAA Shop Mount Gambier
We ask RAA travel agent and cruise expert Michael Clark about his most memorable cruise and emerging trends in the industry.
What’s your area of expertise?
I’ve been on more than 100 cruises and gained extensive knowledge about the world’s most breathtaking port towns and seaways. I’ve travelled widely through Europe, North America and Asia.
What was your most memorable cruise?
I sailed aboard Oceania Cruises’ ship Marina, which took me on an unforgettable journey through northern Europe. We visited enchanting cities like Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn, with each port offering a unique blend of history and charm. From the medieval streets of Riga and Klaipeda to the vibrant atmosphere of Gdansk and Bornholm, every stop was a discovery. The combination of luxury, fine dining, fascinating destinations and rich culture made this cruise a true highlight of my travels.
What cruise trends have you noticed?
Cruises are becoming more popular with younger travellers, who see this type of travel as convenient and good value for money. We’re seeing a growing demographic of cruise passengers, with the average age now about 45 to 50. Previously, the average passenger was 50 to 60 years old. About a third of all Australian passengers are under 40, which is much younger than a few years ago. Cruising worldwide is becoming an increasingly preferred choice for multi-generational travellers because it’s one of the most cost-effective travel options available.
To book a cruise with RAA Travel, visit travel.raa.com.au or call 8202 4589.
SA excels at 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
South Australian tourism operators received nine awards at the 40th Australian Tourism Awards in March. The high standard of local tourism was acknowledged with two gold, four silver and three bronze gongs.
Seppeltsfield Barossa was awarded Gold in the Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries category. Old Coach Road Estate on the Fleurieu Peninsula achieved gold in the Self-Contained Accommodation sector.
Fleurieu operator The Big Duck Boat Tours secured silver for Ecotourism, while day-cruise company, Spirit of the Coorong, scored silver in the Tour and Transport Operators category.
The Adventure Tourism silver award went to Bendleby Ranges in the southern Flinders Ranges, and the Oval Hotel at Adelaide Oval received silver in the 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation category.
Also waving the flag for the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kool Tours was awarded bronze in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category.
The ‘Barossa. Be Curious’ campaign took out the Tourism Marketing and Campaigns bronze award, and the Adelaide Fringe was the bronze recipient for Excellence in Accessible Tourism.
South Australian Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison offered congratulations to the award winners.
“The accolades are so well-deserved and demonstrate the diversity and quality of our tourism industry on the national stage,” the Minister says.
Victorian Goldfields a step closer to UNESCO listing
The Victorian Goldfields has been added to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List for 2025. Inclusion on the list means the Federal Government believes the goldfields fit UNESCO’s Outstanding Universal Value criteria.
The listing bid focuses on Castlemaine, Creswick, Bendigo and several other historic sites. Other relevant sites can be included in the nomination submission as it progresses.
Federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek says the goldfields tell stories of immigration, the building of beautiful towns that have stood the test of time, and of the local First Nations people who have cared for the land for thousands of years.
“Australia is home to some of the most spectacular places in the world,” the Minister says. “These places tell our unique story. We want to better protect those places so they can be enjoyed by our kids and grandkids.”
According to Heritage Victoria, who prepared the listing submission for the government, these mining regions are recognised by experts as the most extensive, best-surviving goldrush landscapes in the world.
The Victorian Goldfields must remain on the tentative list for at least a year before it can be nominated for World-Heritage listing.
If the nomination is successful, the Victorian Goldfields will be listed alongside other iconic Australian locations, including the Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens in Melbourne.
The full submission can be read at unesco.org
Bendigo, Victoria.
Airlines ban the use of portable power banks on flights
Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and EVA Air have joined a growing list of carriers banning the use of portable power banks during flights.
According to the airlines, the ban has been introduced to reduce the risk of highly flammable and difficult to extinguish fires starting in the devices’ lithium-ion batteries.
Before travelling, passengers should check the airline’s rules for carrying and using power banks. Power banks aren’t permitted in checked luggage.
IMAGES: Getty; Monarto Safari Resort; RAA/Mike Lockheart; SATC; Tourism and Events Queensland.
