A new viewing platform opens at Uluru, Melbourne Food & Wine festival announced, new summer look for Australia.com and Alto on Bourke Hotel achieves Carbon Neutral status.
New viewing platform at UluruA new $21 million Uluru sunrise viewing platform has been unveiled, complete with shade structures, visitor walkways and elevated paths. Standing about 3km from the rock, the new platform allows visitors to take in the southeastern face of Uluru without crossing any songlines or revealing any sacred sites and offers improved views from an area that was previously inaccessible. The new platform caters for 3000 visitors and is supported by improved infrastructure, including a new 11km scenic road around the Rock plus a new car park and coach area. The location and design of the viewing area were decided in consultation with the traditional Anangu owners as part of the joint management of the World Heritage Area.
Uluru is also currently vying to be named as one of the
New7Wonders of Nature among 26 iconic natural sites from around the world including the Amazon, the Grand Canyon and Kilimanjaro. To vote go to
http://www.new7wonders.com/.
Alto on Bourke achieves Carbon Neutral status
The Alto Hotel on Bourke in Melbourne has achieved NoC02 carbon neutral certification confirming that the hotel’s operations have zero impact towards climate change. Alto was awarded Carbon Neutral Certification by the Carbon Reduction Institute and provides all of its services and facilities as carbon neutral within its pricing. To achieve Carbon Neutral certification, Alto undertook a comprehensive carbon emissions audit that counted emissions from fuel and energy consumption onsite, water and waste usage and travel by Alto Hotel staff. The hotel has also created a Green Travel Itinerary outlining how guests can reduce their carbon footprint while travelling, eating and shopping in Melbourne. For example, they recommend catching the Sky Bus from the airport to the city as the carbon offset is already included in the ticket price and provide details of a number of sustainable, fair trade shops and restaurants.
Château Élan at The Vintage to open in February
Château Élan at The Vintage, a new $30 million golf and spa resort development in the Hunter Valley, will open in February 2010. It has been conceived by the group behind the prestige Château Élan brand in the United States and will offer luxury retreats for up to 200 guests. The resort comprises a ‘Destination Spa’, a collection of super-luxury spa suites and a series of private lifestyle villas and will sit among the celebrated fairways of The Vintage, the Greg Norman-designed golf course and home to the New South Wales Open. For those who love golf, ten private villas will overlook the 10th Hole of The Vintage course and these two-storey villas will offer a total of 80 rooms which can be configured in three ways depending on group size. In addition, the spa complex houses 20 spa suites giving guests privileged access to treatments, as well as total privacy courtesy of an ‘airbridge’. Features unique to the spa suites include a plinth-mounted spa bath that is open to the room, and a ‘zero gravity’ option for neutral body position.
New summer look for Australia.com
Visitors to Australia.com are experiencing a taste of the Australian summer, with season four of Tourism Australia’s consumer website launched this week. Highlighting summertime activities around the country; road trips, experiences and walks complementary to the National Landscapes Program are being profiled to tempt experience seekers Down Under. Australia.com has also launched two new language versions, with the Malay and Spanish versions of the site now live.
Goodine opens in Adelaide
Goodine is an exciting new entry to Adelaide’s food scene. The small bistro, owned by Richard Goodine and run by chef Kam McManamey offers an interesting menu and an extensive wine list. Located in the suburb of Kurralta Park, some of the unusual offerings from the Goodine Bistro kitchen include dishes such as wagyu beef carpaccio, scallops with pork neck, and ocean trout ceviche.
The Winery a new Sydney hot spot
Located on a former Sydney Water site dating back to 1889, The Winery is one of Sydney’s newest hotspots and the latest venture for the group behind the successful Gazebo Wine Garden in Elizabeth Bay. Just like Gazebo, The Winery which is located on Crown Street in Surry Hills, houses an eclectic array of furniture including a chandelier featuring antelope heads and bright gold feathers, along with exceptional wine. The Winery’s sommeliers Andrew Jamieson and Tom Glenwright have sourced wines from around the world and unusual drops are the star attraction of The Winery’s wine list which includes more than 50 options by the glass. The Winery is also home to one of Sydney’s most unique wine experiences with barrels shipped down each month from the Hunter Valley and tastings available straight from the oak. There is also a private dining room called ‘Graceland’, which features a communal table with built-in wine buckets and large gold-studded couches and thrones.
Australian Tennis season boasts superstars of the game
January is a jam-packed month for tennis lovers in Australia. The Australian Open, Australia’s own international grand slam event, will run for two weeks in Melbourne from 18-31 January. The three-time Australian Open champion, Roger Federer will be there attempting to win an historic fourth title. In the lead up to the Open, there will be a range of warm up events held throughout the country including the Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney Internationals in early January. The Brisbane International is a stand out among these warm up events, with some of the world’s highest ranking players such as Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters confirmed to attend the event running from 3-10 January, 2010.
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival announced for March 2010
The 2010 Melbourne Food & Wine festival will run from 12-23 March, 2010. The festival program will feature a cast of world class chefs including Spain’s Andoni Aduriz of Mugaritz fame and New York’s Michael Psilakis of Anthos, along with a stellar Australian contingent including George Calombaris, David Chang and Andrew McConnell. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased from www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au. A highlight of the festival will be the Langham Melbourne Masterclass Weekend where star chefs and winemakers will unite to present a range of demonstrations and tastings, along with a wine retreat and a ‘Meet the Makers’ cocktail party. Tickets for the Langham Masterclass can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.com.au.