TOP DEALS OF THE WEEK
WHETHER YOU PLAN TO GO NOW OR NEXT YEAR, HERE ARE SOME GREAT DEALS TO GET YOU EXCITED ABOUT TRAVELLING AGAIN
10-DAY PACKAGE
$4745
Explore the Kimberley region and Top End on a 10-day journey reduced by $250 a person and now priced from $4745 a person. Highlights include an open-air dining under the stars experience at El Questro Wilderness Park and a stay at Fitzroy River Lodge in the Kimberley plus a visit to Geikie Gorge and more. Offer valid for travel in September 2021 and must be booked by November 30, 2020
PH 1300 205 408, TRAVELMARVEL.COM.AU
CANBERRA, ACT OVERNIGHT RATES
$145
Get to know the nation’s capital with special deals from Accor. For example, check in at the Novotel Canberra in the heart of the city from $145 a night. Or, choose the historic Peppers Gallery Hotel located in the New Acton precinct from $214 a night. The offer is on sale until January 31, 2021, for stays up until 13 months from the time of booking.
ALL.ACCOR.COM
ROTTNEST ISLAND, WA 5-DAY PACKAGE
$379
Save up to $290 a person when you book a four-night escape at Discovery Rottnest Island from $379 a person. Stay in a Standard Eco Tent at Pinky Beach and relax on the beach, explore the boardwalks through the sand dunes or take a dip in the resort pool. Travel in periods until March 28, 2021, with free changes and cancellation up to 14 days before arrival.
PH 1300 887 398, FLIGHTCENTRE.COM.AU
ADELAIDE/MURRAY RIVER, SA 8-DAY PACKAGE
$2799
Combine a heritage steam train adventure with a cruise down the Murray River over eight days and receive six bottles of wine through Wine Selectors when you pay from $2799 a person. The itinerary begins with two days in Adelaide before boarding the train to visit Srathalbyn, Goolwa and Victor Harbour. Then embark on your Murray River cruise for three nights. Offer valid for travel in April, August and November 2021.
PH (02) 9061 6410
ADELAIDE/DARWIN 9-DAY PACKAGE
$2990
Escape to the heart of Australia on board The
Ghan and get $900 in bonus value when you book an eight-night holiday from $2990 a person. Start with three nights at the Hilton Darwin with breakfast daily, a bottle of wine and $100 dining credit, then spend two nights on The Ghan in Gold Service. Finish with three nights at the Hilton Adelaide with breakfast daily, a bottle of wine and $50 dining credit. Bonuses include a half-day Adelaide River cruise, a sunset Darwin harbour cruise and a full-day Barossa Valley tour. Conditions apply.
PH 1300 642 642, MYHOLIDAYCENTRE.COM.AU
SYDNEY, NSW OVERNIGHT RATES
$714 (FOR TWO)
Treat yourself to a stay in a Pier One luxe suite on a Saturday night and receive 50 per cent off for the Sunday night. The Suite Sundays package is priced from $714 a night for two adults or upgrade to the Sydney
Harbour Escape package from $1104 which also includes breakfast, four-course dinner, cocktails, WI-FI and valet parking. Offer valid for bookings until 2021.
PIERONESYDNEYHARBOUR.COM.AU
OUTBACK, QLD 3-DAY PACKAGE
$3750
Travel to the heart of Australia and explore the Outback on a three-day unique allinclusive journey now priced from $3750 a person including flights from the Gold Coast. Fly more than 2000km into the Outback and experience some of the most remote and iconic parts of Australia, visiting Birdsville, Lake Eyre, the Goyder Lagoon and Charleville.
PH (07) 4152 2322, EMAIL TRAVEL@SUNSTATETRAVEL.COM.AU
THE DRESSMAKER’S SECRET ROSALIE HAM
PICADOR RRP $33
Having shaken the dust of Dungatar off her feet, Tilly Dunnage is working at a Collins St frock shop with pretensions to being fancier than it is. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation is fast approaching, and the city is in a swirl of balls and parties. While the atelier’s owner wants to capitalise on Tilly’s skills, she has other plans – she has a toddler son to plan a future for. However, the forces against her are lining up. A welfare officer dislikes everything Tilly stands for and plans to take Joe from her permanently, and in Dungatar, spiteful locals want revenge (and frocks). With help from Sergeant Farrat and some new close friends, Tilly fights a desperate battle for a brighter future. The highly anticipated sequel to The Dressmaker – made into a hit film with Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth and Judy Davis – is a must for fans of Rosalie Ham’s bestseller. Be warned this is not a stand-alone book – without a working knowledge of what’s gone before it would be very confusing.
CORINNA HENTE
VERDICT: Grand and gorgeously gowned
THE GODMOTHERS MONICA MCINERNEY MICHAEL JOSEPH, RRP $33
Aussie-born and Irish-based Monica McInerney is the queen of feelgood novels. And she’s done it again with The Godmothers, setting up a family-based mystery full of warm characters that will have you turning the pages to follow their heartfelt story as it treks from Melbourne to Scotland and Ireland. Eliza Miller’s eclectic, troubled mother often strays from the traditional parenting pathway. So it’s a blessing that she made sure her daughter had two responsible and reliable godmothers, her old school friends Olivia and Maxie, as a steadying influence. And while Eliza grows up to be an accomplished woman, it’s to her godmothers that she turns to help fill in the biggest hole in her life – to learn the identity of her father. In typical McInerney style, this is a story full of love, laughter and hope, along with lies, secrets, tears, heartache and difficult life lessons. But most of all it’s about appreciating the value of family – birth mothers and godmothers.
CARINA BRUCE
VERDICT: Ideal summer reading