If you’re searching for an exceptional Christmas present, look no further. We have a number of outstanding gift ideas that will show your mum, dad, brother, grandma, wife, or best friend just how much you care.
In our opinion, there is nothing more thrilling than the gift of travel.
Gift Vouchers
Surprise that hard-to-buy-for someone with a Virgin Australia gift voucher. Valid for 12 months, our gift vouchers can be used towards all Virgin Australia flights and Blue Holidays packages. You can even put an extra bit of love into it by choosing the template. Denominations range between $50 and $5,000.
Keep them guessing this Christmas with a Mystery Break. You won’t even be able to ruin the surprise, as destinations are not revealed until one to four days before travel. All packages include return airfares, accommodation, return airport transfers, baggage allowance, taxes and sometimes a little more! Packages start at $409 per person.
Offering the biggest prize money purse in the history of tennis, The Australian Open is set to see a who’s who of tennis stars inundate Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, from 14 – 27 January 2013. Treat your sports-mad friend or family member to one of the world’s biggest sporting and entertainment events, our partner Blue Holidays offers packages to the Grand Slam, starting at $563 per person.
Wow someone special with Australia’s biggest international stage show hit, Tap Dogs. A global sensation, the electrifying showcase of raw power and passion has returned home after storming the world. Our partner, Blue Holiday offers Tap Dog packages, which include flights to the Gold Coast, accommodation at Jupiters Hotel and Casino and tickets to the show, from $486 per person.
Halloween may be over, but the creepy and the kooky, mysterious and spooky, are en route back to Sydney. Broadway’s smash hit musical comedy, The Addams Family brings the deliriously delightful world of Gomez and Morticia to Capitol Theatre, from March. The perfect gift for some slightly left-of-centre, our partner the box office has tickets to the show on offer from $128.50 per person.
Spice up someone’s Christmas holiday with an exciting tour or activity. Send them skydiving, or behind the scene of a brewery. Enlist them on a harbour cruise, or on a ghost tour. Indulge them with a spa package, or winery tour. Our partner, GoDo has over 2000 activities on offer throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Overlooked by the cape’s iconic lighthouse, and enjoying a stunning view of Julian Rocks, Wategos Beach is one of Australia’s most picturesque beaches. Secluded by a beautiful forest bay, the water at Wategos is protected and calm, offering long, leisurely waves for surfers and shallow areas for families. On any given summer afternoon, the area is filled with picnickers, indulging in one of Australia’s favourite pastimes, a beach barbecue. Linked to lighthouse and back to town (via The Pass and Clarkes Beach) by a scenic walking path, Wategos is one of Byron Bay’s biggest drawcards.
The Backroom (at the Northern Hotel)
Located in the heart of Byron Bay’s vibrant town centre, the Northern Hotel is an old-style hotel with a twist… Adding to the traditional pub services on offer the hotel is also home to one of Australia’s best gig venues, The Backroom. Hidden from sight at the back of the hotel (as the name implies), The Backroom is a world-renowned live music hall. If its wall could talk, they would be able to share secrets from names like Bloc Party, Wolfmother and Two Door Cinema Club, just to name a few. Summer sees the best of the best call into the Northern Hotel. Discover what’s on this summer in The Backroom.
The Arts Factory Village (aka The Piggery)
In a move that can only be described as ‘so-byron’, what was once a pig slaughter house, was transformed in the 70s by hippies into an inspiring artistic community. Today, The Arts Factory Village is home to a diverse range of businesses, including accommodation, food, entertainment, arts, and health and well-being services. Catch an arthouse movie in a one-of-a-kind cinema setting at the Pighouse Flicks. Grab a bite and enjoy a brewed-onsite beer at the birthplace of the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay Brewery. Or bunk down and share stories with travellers from all over the world at the Arts Factory Lodge.
The Byron Bay Arts and Industry Park
A haven for activists, scholars, freethinkers, adventurers and serenity seekers, Byron Bay has attracted gifted artists and creatives from around the globe. So much so, that the town has a dedicate Arts and Industry Park. Located off Ewingsdale Road, just outside the downtown area, the park offers a magnificent hotchpotch of retail outlets, workshops, studios and exhibition spaces; where artisans, craftspeople and manufacturers sell everything from clothing to crafts, surfboards to bicycles, art works to antiques and garden furniture to interior designs. The park is most notably home to the world famous Byron Bay Cookie Company.
The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa
Set within 45 acres of stunning subtropical rainforest, just behind Tallows Beach, the multi-award winning Byron at Byron Resort and Spa provides for an idyllic escape. Ranked as Byron Bay’s No.1 hotel by Trip Advisor, the resort offers 92 one bedroom suites, exceptional service, stylish design and architecture, an acclaimed Spa and Wellness Centre, and a restaurant that showcases a seasonal menu of Northern River’s local produce. Indulge yourself this summer, our partner HotelClub offers great The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa deals.
Plan Your Byron Bay Holiday
Flights to Byron Bay: Virgin Australia operates flights to Ballina/Byron daily, direct from Sydney.
Byron Bay Holiday Packages: Take the hassle out of planning your holiday, our partner Blue Holidays offers exceptional Byron Bay holiday packages, from $444 per person.
Byron Bay Hotels: Establish a great base from which to fall in love with Byron Bay. Select from a wide choice of hotels and resorts with our hotel partner HotelClub.
Byron Bay Car Hire: Take to the road and discover Byron Bay, and nearby regions with a hire car from one of our partners.
Byron Bay Tours and Activities: Discover Byron Bay though a number of fantastic tours and activities. Our partner GoDo has a number of great Byron Bay offers.
To inspire you and help you discover the world in all its glory, we havescoured the globe to fashion a series of World’s Top lists.
This week, as the festive season draws closer and closer, we bring you our top five Christmas destinations.
Munich | Germany
Every November Munich transforms in to a winter wonderland. The historic city is strung with glittering lights, dotted with spectacular Christmas trees, and home to some of the world’s most magnificent Christmas markets – including the famous Christkindl Markt (in Marienplatz); a market that dates back to the 14th century, selling traditional and handmade Christmas gifts, stocking fillers, gingerbread and hot spiced wine. The city even features a fairytale-like Christmas Village, hosted in the Residenz courtyard.
Flights to Munich: Together with partner airline Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia operates flights to Munich, from Sydney and Melbourne.
Hotels in Munich: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great hotel deals in Munich.
Moscow | Russia
Moscow at Christmas time must be seen to be believed. Draped in snow and lights, the city turns into a charming fairyland, spilling with Christmas fairs, markets and winter sports – namely ice skating, sledding and skiing. While many Russians celebrate Christmas on 25 December, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates on 7 January, and rings in the New Year on 13 January, making the festive season a drawn-out splendid affair. Throughout the season Moscow enchants with horse-drawn carriage rides, ringing church bells and performances of Russian classic, The Nutcracker.
Flights to Moscow: Together with partner airline Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia operates flights to Moscow, from Sydney and Melbourne.
Hotels in Moscow: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great hotel deals in Moscow.
Dublin | Ireland
The Irish like to celebrate, and celebrate they do at Christmas time in Dublin. A city renowned for its high spirits, Dublin comes alive with seasonal cheer and a vibrant variety of merry events. In a tradition known as ‘The Big Switch On’ the city’s Mayor lights up the streets and a 15 metre high Christmas tree. The cobbled lanes of Smithfield fill with ice skaters. Kids post letters straight to Santa via special Santa post boxes. The famous Temple Bar fills with Christmas carols. While Dublin’s Docklands transform into the 12 Days of Christmas Market.
Flights to Dublin: Together with partner airline Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia operates flights to Dublin, from Sydney and Melbourne.
Hotels in Dublin: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great hotel deals in Dublin.
New York City | USA
Like a scene from a movie, New York provides a mesmerising backdrop for the festive season. Snow blankets the streets. Fifth Avenue is adorned with exquisite window displays. Ice skaters glide across the Central Park rink. Rockefeller Plaza glows with a thousand light, strung high from the city’s tallest Christmas tree. Carollers inundate the street singing yuletide favourites. And Radio City Music Hall comes alive with its annual Christmas Spectacular. Christmas in New York City is truly magical… the stuff dreams are made of.
Flights to New York City: Together with partner airlines Delta Air Lines and Virgin America, Virgin Australia operates flights to New York City, from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Hotels in New York City: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great hotel deals in New York City.
Sydney | Australia
Christmas in Sydney is a far cry from the northern Hemisphere’s winter setting. Christmas Eve is spent at the local pub or RSL. Temperatures reach 40°C. Santa arrives on a jet ski on Bondi Beach. Prawns are pealed and consumed by the kilogram. The barbecue is lit up for lunch. And the day is punctuated with an afternoon nap. While Christmas Day is anything but traditional, the traditions of Christmas aren’t overlooked. In the lead up to 25 December, carollers take to the parks, the streets are draped with lights and wreaths, and the department store windows are frosted with faux snow and decorations.
Flights to Sydney: Virgin Australia operates flights to Sydney direct from all Australian capital cities and most major regional ports, and from international destinations such as Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Nadi and Bali.
Hotels in Sydney: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great hotel deals in Sydney.
At Virgin Australia we’re committed to offering you the service you deserve. In doing this we’ve thought about everything you could want and need to make your next trip away your best one yet.
We’ve enhanced our services and joined forces with a variety of partners to make planning travel simple and enjoyable. We’re proud of the one-stop travel shop virginaustralia.com offers, and encourage you to discover how you can plan your next trip away from end-to-end with ease via our website.
At the airport:
Transfers: Arrive in style and on time. Guests, departing from and arriving into selected airports, can enjoy chauffeur service and private sedan transfers with our partner Brunel. Guest can also enjoy discounted rates on bus shuttles with our transfer partner Con-X-ion. While eligible Business Class guests travelling on our international long haul services can pre-book a complimentary limousine service to and from the airport.
Valet Parking: Save time at the airport. All Virgin Australia guests can access Brisbane Premium Valet parking. Business Class guests receive exclusive access to Sydney Premium Valet.
Lounges: Relax in comfort, removed from the hustle and bustle of the airport. The Virgin Australia lounge is a secluded pre-flight haven with a great selection of complimentary benefits designed to cater for guests’ moods and purposes. Located at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Mackay and Gold Coast domestic airports, the Virgin Australia lounge is open seven days a week.
Partner Lounges: Through our partner airlines, we offer lounge access for selected international departures at airports worldwide, to our Business Class and Premium Economy guests and Velocity Platinum and Gold members and Virgin Australia lounge members. Find out more about our International Lounge Partners.
Getting there:
Flights: From Albury to Amsterdam, Brisbane to Bangalore, Newcastle to New York and Canberra to Cape Town, we have an aircraft to get you there. Operating more than 3200 flights per week to 50 ports worldwide, and servicing an additional 400 international destinations through Codeshare partners, we’re putting the magic back into flying with more flights than any other network. Discover where we fly with our Virgin Australia Interactive Route Map. In addition we offer an array of wonderful in-flight services to ensure your trip is as comfortable as can be, read about our onboard offering.
Packages: Whether it’s the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, or the Ballarat Beer Festival, our holiday partner Blue Holidays has packages to suit all budgets and interests. Packages include flights and accommodation, and come with a variety of extras.
At your destination:
Hotels: Establish a great base for your next trip away. Together with our partner HotelClub we offer fantastic hotel deals in more than 100 cities worldwide. Find a hotel that suits your needs and budget.
Car Hire: Don’t restrict your sightseeing adventures to areas within walking distance. Jump in a car and discover surrounding regions and hidden gems. Together with our partners, we offer great car hire deals in cities worldwide.
Tours and Activities: From skydiving to whale watching, theme park passes to cruises, surfing lessons to winery tours, and massages to cooking lessons, we have an experience to exhilarate all tastes. Together with our partner GoDo, we offer more than 2000 tours and activities in cities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Events and Theatre: Catch the latest and greatest productions or secure tickets to the season’s biggest events. Together with our partner the box office, we provide access to outstanding Australian and New Zealand live entertainment experiences, spanning everything from concerts to theatre shows, opera sittings to ballet performances, and musicals to sport events.
Insurance: Travel with peace of mind, knowing you’re covered with travel insurance. We’ve partnered with one of the world’s largest global assistance providers, Allianz Global Assistance to offer top-rate travel insurance at affordable prices.
Rewarding you:
Velocity: Everyone like a reward! And we like doing the rewarding! Our frequent flyer program Velocity rewards you with points for every booking you make with us or one of our partners. Points can be redeemed on flights, upgrades, travel extras, online shopping and much more. Benefits can include Priority Check-in*, global lounge access, complimentary baggage allowances and family pooling. Be rewarded for every decision you make, join Velocity today.
Summer is in the air. The weather is warming, the sun is sticking around longer, and the beaches are beckoning. In anticipation of the season ahead, we’ve partnered with Surf Life Saving Australia to highlight the importance of surf safety.
Australia is fringed by some of the best beaches on earth; and while they are extremely enticing, many can be dangerous. Stay safe this summer, listen to surf lifesavers and always swim between the red and yellow flags.
To help inspire a safe and enjoyable sun-kissed summer at the beach, we’ve put together a state rundown of some our favourite patrolled beaches.
Queensland | Rainbow Bay
Fringed by pine and pandanus trees, and laden with soft white sand and sparkling blue-green water, Rainbow Bay is a picture-perfect Gold Coast setting. Just south of Coolangatta, straddling the New South Wales boarder, the north-facing beach is protected by the historic Point Danger and is home to sheltered conditions ideal for swimming. Surf lifesavers patrol the beach year-round from the iconic Rainbow Bay Surf Club.
Rainbow Bay is located just 4km south of Gold Coast Airport. Flights to Gold Coast: Virgin Australia operates flights to the Gold Coast daily from Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Auckland and Christchurch. Gold Coast South Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of southern Gold Coast holiday packages, from $349.
New South Wales | Scotts Head
At the southern end of Nambucca Shire, enhanced by peaceful surrounds, an abundance of flora and fauna, and a close-knit local community, Scotts Head beach is a popular Mid-north Coast summer holiday destination. Favoured by families, Scotts hosts calm protected waters, gentle waves, and an array of marine life – specifically dolphins and migratory whales. The beach is patrolled daily during the summer holidays and on weekends and public holidays from October to Easter.
Scotts Head is located an hour south of Coffs Harbour Airport. Flights to Coffs Harbour: Virgin Australia operates flights to Coast Harbour daily from Sydney. Coffs Coast Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Coffs Coast holiday packages, from $398.
Victoria | Bells Beach
Located near Torquay, in the stunning Great Ocean Road region, Bells Beach is Australia’s most celebrated surfing beach – home to large winter and autumn swells that peel into a famous right-hand break. Throughout the summer months Bells also provides a great setting for swimmers; a natural amphitheatre shadowed by towering cliffs and patrolled by surf lifesavers.
Flights to Melbourne: Virgin Australia operates flights to Melbourne daily from all state capitals and major regional ports like Gold Coast and Newcastle. Great Ocean Road Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Great Ocean Road holiday packages, from $400.
Tasmania | Boat Harbour Beach
Located on the north-west coast of Tasmania, nuzzled between a dramatic hinterland and the Bass Strait, Boat Harbour Beach is as picturesque as it is historical – steeped in Indigenous and European heritage. Home to some of the cleanest air and clearest water on earth, the semi-circular sandy beach has long been a favourite holiday secret for Tasmanians in the know. The beach is home to the Boat Harbour Surf Life Saving Club, whose lifesaving members patrol throughout the summer months
Boat Harbour Beach is located just over two hours west-north-west of Launceston Airport. Flights to Launceston: Virgin Australia operates flights to Launceston from Melbourne and Sydney. Tasmania Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Tasmanian holiday packages, from $376.
South Australia | Glenelg
Known locally as The Bay, the Adelaide beachside suburb of Glenelg is celebrated for hosting one of South Australia’s premier swimming beaches. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, Glenelg beach is famous for its long-reaching jetty, café littered promenade, sandy costal stretch and clean and safe waters – perfect for swimming. Glenelg is patrolled midweek from December to April and on weekends from November through to April.
Glenelg is located just under 9km south-east of Adelaide Airport. Flights to Adelaide: Virgin Australia operates flights to Adelaide from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Perth. Adelaide Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Adelaide holiday packages, from $388.
Western Australia | Cable Beach
Stretching for 22km, with the purest of white sand – washed clean everyday by massive tides that ebb and flow into Broome – Cable Beach is one of the world’s most stunning beach landscapes. The Indian Ocean’s aqua blue waters lap against Broome’s bright red-orange cliffs, in a magnificent display of unspoilt natural wonder. Cable Beach fosters ideal conditions for swimming, with Broome Surf Life Saving Club patrolling designated areas marked by red and yellow flags.
Cable Beach is located just under 7km north-west of Broome Airport. Flights to Broome: Virgin Australia operates flights to Broome from Perth. Broome Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Broome holiday packages, from $747.
Northern Territory | Nightcliff
Protected by a ‘stinger net’ and patrolled by Darwin Surf Life Saving Club, Nightcliff beach is one of the Northern Territory’s safest swimming environments. A 300m sandy stretch, flanked by claystone rock platforms and the Beagle Gulf, Nightcliff Beach is a picturesque holiday destination, most famous for hosting the Nightcliff Markets.
Nightcliff is located just over 5km north-west of Darwin Airport. Flights to Darwin: Virgin Australia operates flights to Darwin from Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Darwin Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Darwin holiday packages, from $629.
Make the most of your summer at the beach, remember to:
- Always swim between the red and yellow flags
- Read the safety signs
- Ask a lifeguard for safety advice
- Swim with a friend
- Stay calm and attract attention if you need help
For more information about Australia’s patrolled beaches visit Surf Life Saving Australia’s website www.sls.com.au.
For surf safety tips and beach conditions visit beachsafe.org.au.
Like many of our guests, we’ve been eagerly anticipating the launch of iOS6, iPhone 5, and the much speculated Passbook.
A digital wallet that stores boarding passes, Passbook is an innovative new application that is set to help streamline Mobile Check-in and boarding processes.
We are proud to confirm that Virgin Australia will be the first Australian airline to provide guests with Passbook-compatible boarding passes.
The move to integrate with Passbook is just one of the steps we’re taking to make travel more convenient for our guests.
How Passbook works:
• Upon completion of Mobile Check-in you will be sent a SMS link to your boarding pass.
• Click the link and open your boarding pass.
• If you have iOS6, a pop-up window will ask you to add your boarding pass to Passbook.
• Click “Add” and your boarding pass will be stored in your Passbook.
• When you are ready to board your flight, a Passbook alert will appear on your lock screen.
• Unlock your phone and open Passbook.
• Passbook will automatically retrieve the stored boarding pass applicable to your flight.
• Make your way to the airport gate and present this boarding pass to board.
Passbook means you no longer have to frantically search through your wallet or carry-on for your boarding pass.
iPhone users who aren’t ready to upgrade to iPhone 5 can obtain Passbook by simply updating their operating system to iOS6. Passbook is supported by iPhones dating back to iPhone 3GS.
Non-iPhone users will also receive our updated mobile boarding passes, which come colour-coded according to status for Velocity members.
Note: Passbook is not available to users with default browsers other than safari.
Skip the queues at the airport – use your web-enabled phone to check in and obtain your mobile boarding pass. Discover how to check in using Mobile Check-in.
To inspire you and help you discover the world in all its glory, we havescoured the globe to fashion a series of World’s Top lists.
This week we bring you a snapshot of the world’s top boutique hotels.
Located in the heart of New York City’s fashionable SoHo neighbourhood, the SoHo Grand Hotel is one of the world’s most sought-after boutique hotels. Flaunting a luxuriously chic interior, adorned with rich fabrics and textiles, and fostering a renowned party culture, the SoHo Grand offers an authentic taste of Manhattan’s hip downtown scene. The hotel’s custom rooms and suites reflect the history and character of the neighborhood, while its elegant restaurant and trendy bars have been known to attract and inspire creatives and celebrities.
Flights to New York City: Together with partner airlines Delta Air Lines and Virgin America, Virgin Australia operates flights to New York City, from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Inhabiting a magnificent mansion in the posh London suburb of Kensington, The Milestone Hotel blends luxury and comfort. Employing two staff members to every guest, the hotel is renowned for its exceptional service – so much so that readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted its butler service the best in London. Overlooking Kensington Gardens and Palace, the Grade II listed, five-star hotel exudes historic Victorian grandeur. Every room is decorated with individual style, and is a grand statement of colour and style.
Flights to London: Together with partner airline Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia operates flights to London, from Sydney and Melbourne.
More-is-more at Hong Kong’s The Luxe Manor. Built with post-modern sensibilities, stepping foot in this boutique hotel is like entering an extraordinarily over-the-top parallel universe. The lobby flaunts mosaic floors, lipstick red armchairs and garish chandeliers. Its suites showcase a weird and wonderful array of themes, ranging from Safari to Nordic. While onsite bar, Dada Bar steps things up even further, taking inspiration from the king of surrealism, Salvador Dali. An intriguing celebration of the abstract and the extraordinary, The Luxe Manor is surreal yet strangely comforting.
Stay at The Luxe Manor: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great deals for The Luxe Manor.
Flights to Hong Kong: Together with partner airlines Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia operates flights to Hong Kong, from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Serenity meets sophistication in Bali’s trendiest enclave, the W Retreat and Spa. Located on the beachfront at Seminyak – a hub ofchic restaurants, clubs, fashion and art – the boutique lifestyle hotel provides for a glitzy and vibrant escape. Belonging to the world-famous W Hotels collection, the W Bali is rich in design, luxury, and experience. Hosting more than 200 villas (many enjoying spectacular views of the Indian Ocean) and surrounded by fragrant lush tropical gardens, the W is a welcoming retreat, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta.
Stay at W Retreat & Spa: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great deals for W Retreat & Spa.
Flights to Bali: Virgin Australia operates flights to Denpasar daily, direct from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.
Boasting a contemporary interior and an enviable Melbourne location, The Blackman is a creative and inspired luxury boutique hotel, in hot demand. Built within and above Saint Kilda Road’s historic Airlie Mansion, the hotel belongs to Melbourne’s Art Series – a collection of unique premises which take design inspiration from Australia’s artistic greats. Each suite in The Blackman is filled with light, adorned with original Charles Blackman artworks and prints, appointed with up-to-the-minute comforts and technology, and focused around an Art Series Signature bed – which is said to be “what dreams are made of”.
Stay at The Blackman: Our hotel partner, HotelClub offers great deals for The Blackman.
Flights to Melbourne: Virgin Australia operates flights to Melbourne daily, direct from Australian and New Zealand capital cities and from L.A., Nadi and Denpasar.
When most people dream about a tropical paradise, images of swaying palm trees, deserted beaches, scattered coconuts, crystal clear water and friendly locals spring to mind. Spurred on by popular blockbusters like Cast Away and The Blue Lagoon, these images are most commonly associated with Fiji.
Located in the picturesque South Pacific, Fiji was formed hundreds of millions of years ago by volcanic activity, and inhabited in the second millennium BC.
Today, the beautifully remote island nation is rich with culture and tradition, and is a popular holiday destination for families and honeymooners, and solace seekers and adventurers alike.
Where to Stay
The island of Viti Levu is a great base from which to experience and explore Fiji. Located on the island’s west coast, Fiji’s major tourism hub, Nadi is a centre for Hinduism, Islam and commerce, and boasts a great mix of ethnicities and culture. Experience the country’s unique traditions and charm with a visit to a local village, and indulge in the South Pacific’s tranquility and beauty at resorts like Sonaisali Island Resort and Club Fiji Resort. Just west of Nadi, Denarau Island acts as a gateway to the Yasawa and Mamanuca island groups. The island is home to Viti Levu’s most plush resorts, including popular international chains like Sheraton, Sofitel and Radisson.
Located just off the west coast of Viti Levu, the Mamanuca Islands are the perfect playground for a tropical getaway. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, the islands encourage water sports such as boating, yachting, snorkeling and scuba diving, and boast world-class resorts like family-friendly sanctuary Plantation Island Resort, backpacker paradise Beachcomber Island Resort, and child-free retreat Matamanoa Island Resort.
What to Eat and Drink
Fiji has two main cuisines, indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian. Indo-Fijian cuisine largely consists of rice, spices and chili; while indigenous Fijian cuisine focuses on fresh seafood like fish, crab, prawn and lobster, and local fruits like sweet pineapple, mango and ripe papaya. Kava (also known as yaquona or grog) occupies a central place in everyday life in Fiji. Kava ceremonies are crucial elements of diplomacy, and can be experienced in most villages and resorts, where guests are asked to participate with reverence and respect.
Most resorts cater for guests with several dining options – the most traditional of which is a lovo night, where food is cooked in an underground oven. Restaurants and eateries can be found all throughout Nadi and Suva, however Viti Levu’s most celebrated dining options are located on the marina at Port Denarau – where western-style and Fijian eateries have been establish to specifically satiate guests in transit to the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups.
What to Do
The Fijian archipelago boasts some of the world’s most striking scenery. Made up of over 300 islands and 500 islets, the country’s natural beauty is best experienced by island hopping.
The Yasawa and Mamanuca island groups are Fiji’s most idyllic settings for island hopping adventures. Cruise the stunning Yasawas on Capitan Cook Cruise, and discover a new atoll and coral reef every morning and afternoon. Take in the world-famous Mamanucas, from aboard a South Sea Cruise or water taxi service. Charter a private yacht and enjoy the South Pacific sea breeze while lazing on the deck. Or take it all in with a bird’s eye view, from high above with a helicopter charter. Island hopping offers perfect opportunities to dive, snorkel and surf Fiji’s beautiful waters. Most Yasawas and Mamanucas trips leave from Port Denarau.
How to Get There
Flights to Fiji: Virgin Australia operates to flights Nadi from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Fiji Holiday Packages: Our holiday partner, Blue Holidays has exceptional Fiji holiday packages from $758, per person, twin share.
Fiji Islands Holiday Packages: Our holiday partner, Blue Holidays has exceptional Fiji Islands holiday packages from $982, per person, twin share.
What would at the top of your list to do when you visit Fiji?
The hip and evolving beach-side suburb of Broadbeach is known as the cosmopolitan heart of the Gold Coast. The hub’s main strip, Surf Parade is dotted with atmospheric restaurants and trendy bars and nightclubs. Kurrawa Park and Pratten Park fringe the foreshore with landscaped walking tracks, children’s play areas, and free barbecues and picnic settings. While ample shopping opportunities abound at iconic retail malls like Oasis Shopping Centre and Pacific Fair.
Grab a coffee from No Name Lane. Indulge in gourmet delights at Manolas Brothers Delicatessens. Enjoy a flutter at Jupiters Casino. Or reserve a seat at Australia’s longest running and most successful dinner theatre, Draculas.
The Gold Coast hosts a spectacular year-round schedule of sporting events, among which we proudly sponsor the AFL and the Gold Coast Suns. Born through the support and love of the people of the Gold Coast community, the Suns are the coast’s newest sporting heroes, and are building a reputation as one of the most exciting football club in Australia.
Watch Suns’ players like Trent McKenzie, David Swallow, Karmichael Hunt, and Brownlow winner Gary Ablett Jr go head-to-head with Australia’s best at Metricon Stadium in Carrara.
Every year thousands of families flock to the Gold Coast just to visit Australia’s premier theme park, Dreamworld. Home to “So many worlds in one” the Coomera hotspot has something for everyone and makes for the perfect family day out.
Entertain the kids at Wiggles World and in the DreamWorks Experience precinct. Interact with nature in the Australian Wildlife Experience and on Tiger Island. Test your courage freefalling from 38 stories on the Giant Drop. Get swept away on the world’s fastest thrill ride, Tower of Terror II. Or try your hand at surfing on Australia’s first Flowrider.
One part rock star, one part designer chic and two parts grand opulence, the Palazzo Versace showcases the late Gianni Versace distinctive vision of, and commitment to, luxury and beauty. Boasting the slogan “Why stay in a hotel when you can stay in a palace”, the Palazzo enjoys a private marina at Main Beach, 200 glamorous light-filled rooms and timeless Italian interiors and furnishings.
If an overnight stay isn’t on your agenda, book a table at one of the Palazzo’s three award-wining restaurants, get your hair done at its private Oscar Oscar salon, shop at its on-site Versace boutique, or pamper yourself at its five-star spa. And keep your eyes peeled… the Palazzo is a favourite haunt of celebrities like Bono, Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
Just behind the infamous glitter strip, in the Gold Coast hinterland, the mesmerisingly verdant Lamington National Park covers the slopes of a gigantic ancient volcano. Thousands of years old, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed wilderness area contains Australia’s largest preserve of pristine sub-tropical rainforest, and is a great location for a camping trip or retreat getaway.
Boasting Gondwana derived flora and fauna, lush rainforests, ancient trees, spectacular views, extensive walking tracks, exceptional ecological importance and natural beauty, the ridge and cliff-lined Lamington National Park is an outstanding place to visit.
Gold Coast hotels: Establish a great base from which to fall in love with Gold Coast. Select from a wide choice of hotels and resorts with our hotel partner HotelClub.
Gold Coast car hire: Take to the road and discover the Gold Coast, the hinterland, and nearby regions with a hire car from one of our partners.
The Virgin Australia lounge Gold Coast: Continue your holiday at the airport. Relax in comfort before board at the brand new Virgin Australia lounge at the Gold Coast domestic terminal.
In the lead up to the hugely anticipated Toyota AFL Finals Series, we are offering AFL fans the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with this year’s Premiership Cup.
As a proud sponsor and the official airline of the AFL, we are touring the Cup across Australia, with showcases throughout our lounge network. This week the Cup can be viewed in all its glory at the Virgin Australia lounge in Sydney, while next week it returns to the spiritual home of the AFL, Melbourne.
AFL Commercial Operations General Manager, Darren Birch explained the significant of the cup: “The Premiership Cup is the iconic symbol of greatness in Australia’s Game”.
Virgin Australia Group Executive of Brand and Customer Experience Mark Hassell echoed its importance: “As a proud Australian airline, we recognise the cultural significance of the AFL
Premiership Cup and we are honoured to be hosting it in our lounges”.
AFL Premiership Cup Tour:
Sydney: 21 – 27 August 2012
Melbourne: 28 August – 2 September 2012
Velocity Frequent Flyer Platinum or Gold Member, Lifetime lounge or lounge member or Business Class guests with a same-day itinerary with Virgin Australia or partner airlines can experience the Premiership Cup in person at Virgin Australia’s Sydney and Melbourne lounges.
There’s only a month until the Premiership is decided and the Cup is awarded. Secure your ticket to all the action, excitement, drama and spin-tingling atmosphere of the 2012 finals with a custom-made package from Any Game, Anywhere. Together with the AFL, we offer extraordinary AFL finals packages, including flights, accommodation and tickets. Don’t miss out on your ticket to the Grand Final BOOK NOW!
