Dreaming of a WHITE CHRISTMAS
BOOK A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME YULETIDE ESCAPE TO COOLER CLIMATES
Want a Christmas to truly remember? Forget having to entertain the in-laws and consider a dream festive holiday to experience a white Christmas, whether it be building a snowman in a winter wonderland or sipping mulled wine under Yuletide lights. Here’s some ideas to add to your Christmas wish list…
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO ANTARCTICA
Many of us have long-held dreams of visiting Antarctica but perhaps thought it too pricey for an expedition voyage, but there’s another way. Take a flight to visit the icy continent, and while you won’t be able to step foot on the glaciers, the views on this trip are every bit as rewarding and spectacular. Departing from Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane and Perth between November and February, the chartered all-day journey on a Qantas 787 Dreamliner with Antarctica Flights offers passengers incredible views. From an altitude as low as 10,000 feet, your aircraft soars over the craggy coastline, around towering mountains, frozen lakes and snowy landscapes. antarcticaflights.com.au
SEE HOGWARTS IN THE SNOW
No-one does Christmas entertainment like London. From catching a pantomime or The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall, to experiencing Hogwarts in the snow with the Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, there’s something for everyone. Add to this, the spectacular light show on display when you hop on a Christmas Lights on London bus tour. Another Yuletime fave? A drink at Claridge’s – every year this iconic hotel receives a Christmas makeover from a famous designer. visitlondon.com, claridges.co.uk
BUILD A SNOWMAN IN CANADA
Grab a carrot, some buttons and sticks and make your own Frosty the Snowman in the Great White North. Spend Christmas in the Canadian Rockies and ski or snowboard to your heart’s content in Banff. Home to world-class ski resorts including Mount Norquay, families will enjoy a winter wonderland exploring the ski runs and wandering along snow-covered streets. Spend Christmas Day iceskating on Lake Louise and hear carols being sung at the Fairmont Chateau. banfflakelouise.com, chateau-lake-louise.com
FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK
Love Elf, Scrooged or Miracle on 34th Street? Live it in real life with a New York Christmas. Think ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, taking in the festivities in Central Park, or checking out the window displays on Fifth Avenue. Of course, it’s obligatory to pay a visit to Santa at Macy’s and to sit down for a pastrami sandwich (When Harry Met Sally-style) at Katz’s. On Christmas Day, don’t miss the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir performing at Sony Hall. nycgo.com
SHOP AT EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Imagine spending Christmas on the Danube discovering grand cities, medieval towns and quaint villages in Hungary, Austria and Germany. Take in all the atmosphere of Budapest’s Christmas markets and immerse yourself in the holiday atmosphere of Vienna as you shop for handmade decorations. It’s all part of Viking’s eight-day Christmas on the Danube cruise, sailing on one of their award-winning longships. A highlight is a visit the fairy-tale village of Regensburg, and delighting in the city’s renowned Christmas market while sipping on a warming glass of mulled wine. viking.com.au