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18 KATHERINE TIMES, WEDNESDAY APRIL 23 2014 www.katherinetimes.com.au HOT DEALS CROWNING GLORY Sail on the three “Queens” of Cunard to celebrate the line's 175th anniversary through a package offer put together by ecruising.travel. This itinerary incorporates three cruises, one each aboard the Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2. Flying from Australia on May 1, 2015, spend the first two nights at the Savoy in London before embarking on a seven- night round-trip voyage from Southampton with port visits to France and Ireland. After a night ashore at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton, board the Queen Elizabeth for a 16- night cruise that visits Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Germany and Scotland and celebrates Cunard's anniversary with a meeting of all three ships in Liverpool on May 25. The third cruise is a trans- Atlantic to New York aboard the Queen Mary 2. Then spend three nights in New York at the Renaissance Hotel 57. This package includes return economy airfares from Australian capitals, six nights' hotel accommodation, 30 nights' cruise accommodation with all meals, a New York helicopter sightseeing tour and transfers in the UK. The price is from $10,999 a person twin share. Ecruising travel is also offering onboard credits for bookings made before April 30 with the deposit paid. ❑ www.ecruising.travel JOIN THE CLUB Book seven nights and pay for only five at Club Med Bali. The beachfront resort in Nusa Dua offers daily activities and sports, nightly entertainment, a wellness centre and spa, pool and beach access. The package is $1317 an adult twin share in a superior room and includes three main meals and snacks daily, as well as kids' club access. The offer is valid for sale until April 30 for travel until October 31. ❑ www.clubmed.com.au GAME ON G Adventures is offering a last- minute 30 per cent off a 10-day safari in Botswana that departs from Livingstone on May 15. The tour involves animal-watching in open jeeps and boats and accommodation in tented camps, as well as house boat and home stays. Included in the package are arrival transfers, some meals, all national park and game reserve entrances, a Chobe River homestay, open vehicle game drives in Savuti, Chobe National Park, Khwai River and Moremi area, and a Okavango Delta two- night houseboat excursion. The last-minute price is $3009 on the May 15 departure (it was originally $4299). ❑ www.gadventures.com The perfect island escape Guy Wilkinson trades a weekend in the city for the peace and quiet of an island getaway. I T doesn’t take long to clock Jonathan Scott as a perfectionist. Not in that uptight, snapping of fingers kind of way, more in his quietly considered tone and obvious attention to detail. Dressed in pink chinos, boat shoes and a pressed blue shirt, Scott is giving me a tour of his back garden. It’s not just any back garden, though. Beneath drooping power lines where plant pots double as lampshades, we navigate a winding gravel bath flanked by explosive red canna flowers and snaking vines. Inside a weathered wooden shed, rows of lovingly tended herbs grow in neat rows on trestle tables. They are just a small section of what has become a carefully cultivated vegie patch that feeds dozens of people every week. A little over 10 years ago, this land was little more than overgrown weed and scrub. Then Scott had a dream. That dream has led to one of the most stylish boutique properties in New Zealand. Built on land his family has owned for 35 years, The Boatshed is a luxurious five-suite hotel (with two external bungalows) born out of Scott’s background in hospitality and his father’s shared love of architecture and interior design. But The Boatshed is hardly the only change to have taken place here on Waiheke Island. Located 18 kilometres east of Auckland, this was once a hippie sanctuary and mecca for alternative types before the introduction of regular ferry services in 1986 changed everything. The result is a weird mix and those who still clearly cling to the hippie ideal now rub shoulders with filthy-rich investment tycoons. Just head to the local beachfront pub Charlie Farley’s and you’ll see bare-footed activists knocking back pints next to corporate warriors, yellow golf jerseys knotted around their shoulders. Besides its practical purpose as resident Chef Tibor Matus’ (aka Tibi) personal ingredient source, The Boatshed’s garden is also just a stunning place to kick back and relax. Having escaped Sydney for a long weekend, my wife and I soak up the last rays of sun sitting in sun chairs outside a retro caravan before venturing inside for dinner. Immediately, we’re struck by the inherent sense of style throughout. Natural light floods in from a high ceiling above crisp, white weatherboard walls. Upholstered armchairs and inviting plump sofas are dotted around tables stacked with hardback coffee table books and flickering candles. There are coils of rope and fresh cut flowers; there’s a faintly nautical theme but you never feel hit over the head with it. Located on a bluff overlooking Oneroa Beach - just one of dozens of beaches on Waiheke - the outdoor deck is the perfect spot to watch the sunset with a cocktail. As darkness sets in, we spend a glorious couple of hours just leafing through Scott’s personal collection of photography, art and design books while sampling a few of the island’s best varietals (the climate here lends itself to outstanding syrah). Around us, a handful of other guests enjoy intimate conversations over candlelight, ponder their next move over a chessboard or, like us, simply recline with a book and a glass of wine. Though it is undeniably sophisticated, I’m struck by the lack of pretention. “To see guests arrive, walk in the door and their shoulders drop is a great feeling,” says Scott. “ Sometimes people just need a break from the day to day; couples want quality, private time just sitting and enjoying a quiet meal together where they don’t need to make a decision, they don’t have to dress up and there’s no need for airs and graces.” When our food arrives in the form of perfectly grilled lamb cutlets and crunchy seasonal veg - straight from the garden - my mind briefly entertains the countless activities tomorrow may hold. There are more than 30 boutique wineries we could explore, mountain bike rides, kayaking adventures, eccentric museums and tiny beachside art galleries. We could charter a fishing boat and cruise the Hauraki Gulf, take a day trip to a glow-worm cave or simply take a walk on a blustery headland. But just a minute away, a private beach cottage with crisp white bed linen, an ocean view and sunken bathtub awaits. Something tells me we won’t stray too far. ❑ The writer was a guest of The Boatshed Waiheke FIVE THINGS TO DO ON WAIHEKE ❑ Art- house cinema Check out the 50- seat lounge Waiheke Island Community Cinema. Mismatched chairs and sofas, art house films and a glass of local wine enhance your viewing pleasure. ❑ Paddle the gulf Paddle into a lagoon or check out the outer islands from a kayak. Alternatively, have a go at stand- up paddle boarding on a guided tour through secluded, rocky inlets surrounding the bay. ❑ Take a wine tour There are more than 30 boutique wineries on the island. Hire a car or avoid the risk of drink driving by taking a guided wine tour. ❑ Sail a catamaran Explore the pristine islands of the Hauraki Gulf by chartering a catamaran for a day or overnight cruise. White sand beaches, marine and birdlife are just part of the experience. ❑ Go wild on Waiheke You can choose from archery, laser claybird shooting and more on a vineyard setting. There's also an onsite brewery and cafe. Stylish simplicity ... (clockwise from main) The Boatshed has a faintly nautical theme; restful interiors; Jonathan Scott in his garden shed. >> travel TYING THE KNOT? CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY? Have your photos published in the Katherine Times - let us know on 8972 1111 so we can send one of our photographers or email your photos to [email protected] HAVING A BUSINESS FUNCTION? AW1240175
