WWW.TRAVELTALKMAG.COM.AU - ISSUE AUTUMN 2017 TT626/056 10 TOP SPOTS for 2017 TRUMPED UP Why Donald’s got it wrong BALI’S BEST beach clubs KEEPING Print Post Approved PP630045/00036 AU$4.95 IT REAL How travel can make a difference PLUS:PLUS: AREARE YOUYOU THETHE WINNERWINNER OFOF OUROUR FABULOUSFABULOUS BRITISHBRITISH AIRWAYSAIRWAYS COMPETITION?COMPETITION? Sign up today to become an Ireland Specialist The Ireland Specialist training programme has been specifi cally designed for the travel trade to teach you about Ireland as a holiday destination. It takes you on a journey of discovery through the very best of what the island of Ireland has to o er your clients. Register to become an Ireland Specialist and be in with a chance to visit Ireland in 2017. www.irelandspecialists.com EDITORIAL Jon Underwood Managing Editor Email: [email protected] Gaya Avery Sign up today to become an Online Editor Email: [email protected] Rebecca Lawson Sub Editor EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Dennis Bunnik, Mark Harada, Jessica Zoiti, Ireland Jun Harada, Belinda Shillcock ART DIRECTOR 32 Sarah-kate Shirley CONTENTS Email: [email protected] Departments ADVERTISING Features Sydney: Jenny Rowland Mobile: 0414 746 146 20 RIVER CRUISING 4 NEWStalk Specialist Fax: (02) 9969 3390 Here we look at one of the fastest growing Email: [email protected] 12 BOOK IT now sectors of the cruise market, previewing Christine Gould the latest offers, new ships and new tours 14 CRUISEtalk Mobile: 0407 900 143 for 2017. Email: [email protected] 26 SKYtalk Perth: Debbie Sproule 32 BALI 28 PROPERTYtalk Tel: (08) 9300 0219 From the southern cliffs of Uluwatu to the Fax: (08) 9300 0237 east coast’s best surf breaks, the beach clubs 31 TOP GEAR: New travel Mobile: 0403 833 295 Email: [email protected] in Bali are some of the best in the world, as products JESSICA ZOITI reports. DIRECTORS AND ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS 38 Europe Jenny Rowland (Sydney) Debbie Sproule (Perth) 44 EXPERIENTIAL TOURISM 58 Rail Perth Office: In this special, we look at a growing travel PO Box 1105 Hillarys WA 6923 trend which sees visitors wanting more from their overseas holidays. For these travellers, DISTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS ON THE COVER Tel: (08) 9300 0219 it’s all about immersion, authenticity and MARK HARADA explains how he got Email: [email protected] giving back to the communities they visit. this great image. Annual subscription of 11 issues $72.60 Just moments after this intimidating (within Australia) 53 DOMESTIC TOURISM glare, this robed Choluteca Annual Subscription of 11 issues $175.40 Who says you have to fly abroad to have a welcomed us in a cleansing ritual (international) to the Cantona Archeological Zone Rates include GST, postage & handling great holiday? We’ve got some great offers in Mexico. 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Cab Audited Distribution 6,612 Register to become an Ireland Specialist and March 16 - September 16 CONGRATULATIONS be in with a chance to visit Ireland in 2017. We are delighted to announce that Debbie McCamish, the Assistant Manager at helloworld Emu Plains in New South Wales, is the lucky winner of our fantastic British Airways competition in December. Debbie While every care and precaution has been taken in the preparation of wins two British Airways return flights from Traveltalk, no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions herein. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent Sydney to London flying World Traveller Plus. investigation by the reader. Views and opinions expressed in Traveltalk Thanks to the thousands of readers who do not necessarily reflect those of the management. www.irelandspecialists.com entered and keep your eye out for another All articles are fully protected by copyright. To obtain written permission to reproduce any material please contact the managing editor on [email protected] great competition coming soon. TRAVELTALK AUTUMN 2017 | 3 NEWStalk HEMSWORTH KEEN TO MAKE A THOR POINT HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR Chris Hemsworth has been selling Australia to the Americans at the annual ‘G’day USA’ event. The Avengers star attended a VIP gathering in New York which showcased the country’s food and wine, and coastal experiences through a virtual tour offering the senses, sounds and smells of Australia. “It’s a great honour to play a role in promoting my country to the rest of the world,” said Hemsworth. “I am looking forward to another year seeing Australia and sharing its natural beauty.” The Tourism Australia ambassador joined other actors at the event, including Naomi Watts, Callan McAuliffe, Dan Churchill, Brenton Thwaites, Matt Wright, Luke Left to right: Matthew D. Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso; Chris Hemsworth; The Hon Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds. Steven Ciobo MP, The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment; John O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Tourism Australia ■ australia.com Discover your own La La Land FOLLOWING ON from the worldwide magic of modern-day L.A. We believe success of La La Land, Discover Los Angeles fans will become inspired by what has put together a guide to exploring some they see and want to visit and learn of the film’s main locations. about the iconic locations.” The film tells the story of Mia (Emma Some of the most famous Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian locations used in the movie include (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, the 1,700 hectare Griffith Park who are chasing their dreams in Los (pictured), a backdrop to Angeles. The movie features more than 40 Mia and Sebastian’s budding locations in the City of Angels, which can romance. Visitors can explore the now be accessed in a new guide available at park by hiking, horseback riding or DiscoverLosAngeles.com/LaLaLand biking. “The city may be the film’s biggest star,” The Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach spot for the main characters in the new said Don Skeoch, Chief Marketing Officer for has been a legendary jazz showcase since film and plays a pivotal role in Sebastian’s Discover Los Angeles. “La La Land is visually 1949. Once host to Miles Davis and Chet career path. arresting and depicts the endless skies and Baker, the music club provides a hot date ■ discoverLosAngeles.com Figures show Australia is slowly turning Chinese THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to stop our full potential as a wealth and jobs Country of Arrivals (12mths overtaxing the tourism sector and develop generator for the nation.” Increase Origin to November 16) a strong growth agenda for Australia’s While New Zealand currently heads visitor economy in 2017. the table of arrivals, it is anticipated that 1. New Zealand 1,347,400 2.7% The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia China will become our largest single visitor 2. China 1,199,100 16.9% (TTF) made the call after welcoming the source market this year. The figures also newest overseas arrival figures, which show impressive growth in other Asian 3. UK 716,700 3.7% showed that 8.3 million people travelled to markets such as India (11.3 per cent) 4. USA 711,400 16.4% Australia over the 12 months to December Singapore (10.7 per cent), Hong Kong (13.7 2016 - up 11 per cent on the previous year. per cent) Malaysia (14.3 per cent), Japan 5. Singapore 439.600 10.7% “This new year is shaping up to be (22.7 per cent) and South Korea (23.7 per 6. Japan 413,800 22.7% just as good but it will all be put at risk if cent). government refuses to stop slugging the “I call on all our political leaders and 7. Malaysia 387,700 14.3% industry with higher taxes and charges,” political parties to rule out any plans to 8. South Korea 284,600 23.7% said Margy Osmond, CEO of the TTF. increase the cost of travel to Australia. “This year must be about the There cannot be any nasty surprises in this 9. India 259,900 11.3% government keeping its hands out of the year’s budget.” 10. Hong Kong 249,300 13.7% pockets of the industry so we can reach ■ ttf.org.au 4 | WWW.TRAVELTALKMAG.COM.AU NEWStalk Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the Las Vegas Strip, Machu Picchu and the Guinness AND THE ‘KING OF THE WORLD’ Storehouse in Dublin. “We are delighted to have been voted IS…TITANIC BELFAST! the ‘World’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ by TITANIC Belfast has been crowned the victory to take the world crown. It is the first both the industry and the public for our ‘World’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the time an attraction from Ireland has won this original and unparalleled product in just prestigious World Travel Awards in the prestigious accolade.