18 Apr 2018
Top End
A Taste of Kakadu Festival – Celebrating the best of Australia's native foods
Australia's largest National Park, Kakadu, will become nature's grandest kitchen in May as it brings the best native food chefs together for Australia's premier Indigenous food festival, now in its second year. A Taste of Kakadu will be held from 18 to 27 May and will put a modern twist on ancient cuisine while showcasing the extraordinary variety of bush food and culinary potential of one of the world's great national parks. This interactive festival invites people to experience the majesty of Kakadu by getting a taste of its natural abundance. The Festival will include master classes with the nation's best native food chefs, including TV personality Clayton Donovan and a pop up dining experience in the heart of Kakadu with Paul 'Yoda' Oskov. Young Chefs Ben Tyler and Kylie-Lee Bradford will take visitors to the Patonga Homestead Aboriginal community for a Kakadu Kitchen bush tucker walk and Indigiearth founder and chef Zach Green will host a culinary cruise along one of Kakadu's most spectacular wetland ecosystems, the beautiful Yellow Water River.
https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/taste/
Kakadu's famous Crocodile Hotel celebrates 30th anniversary with completion of refurbishment
The Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year with the completion of a refurbishment program that will incorporate the best of Indigenous Australian influences into the hotel's design and operation. The opening of the 'Croc', as it is known, in 1988 represented the start of Kakadu as a major tourism destination, following the worldwide success of Crocodile Dundee, which was filmed in Kakadu. The hotel's unique design was selected because of the crocodile's cultural significance to the local Gagudju people and the great respect the crocodile commands in their past and present lives. Ginga, the giant crocodile, is a spirit ancestor of the Gagudju people. The 4-star Croc is Kakadu's largest hotel, with distinctive Indigenous design themes introduced throughout the hotel. Artists are often seen creating new art works in Ochre Gallery, at the Croc, one of the best Indigenous galleries in the Top End. Special celebrations will be held in September, including the Mahbilil Festival, around the 30thanniversary. Full details will be announced later in the year.
http://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation/kakadu-crocodile-hotel/
Major upgrade to Cooinda Lodge to be ready for peak season
Accommodation at Cooinda Lodge is undergoing a major upgrade, with 32 of the villas being refurbished to provide the highest standards of accommodation for visitors to Kakadu. The refurbishment includes upgrades to bedrooms, bathrooms, furnishings and facilities and will be completed in time for the main peak season. Cooinda is one of the most convenient bases for touring Kakadu, with Yellow Water Cruises and Spirit of Kakadu Adventure tours operating from Cooinda. Warradjan Cultural Centre – a showcase for Kakadu's Indigenous culture and heritage – is just five minutes' drive from Cooinda, while major tourist sites like Nourlangie, Anbangbang, Twin Falls, Jim Jim and Gunlom are all near by. A pop-up dining venue specialising in Kakadu's famed Barramundi fish will operate during the peak season.
http://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation/cooinda-lodge/
Flash Camp to return to Cooinda during the peak season
Flash Camp will return for a new season at the Cooinda Camping Ground from 16 June to 16 September in 2018. Set in beautifully shady grounds, 'Flash Camp @ Kakadu' offers bespoke bell tent accommodation in the heart of Kakadu National Park, ideal for those seeking an effortless camping experience while exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Listed wilderness. Accommodation will include double and twin bell tents with spring-foam mattresses on pallet bases, quality bed linen, fresh towels, bamboo furniture, toiletries and Armadillo & Co rugs. Tents have power, lighting and a fan. Family configurations are also available. Guests will also have access to the recently renovated communal bathroom facilities, barbeques, as well as a restaurant, bar and pools at the adjoining Cooinda Lodge. Rates start from AUS$140 per night.
http://www.flashcamp.com.au/kakaduaccomm/
Red Centre
Boutique-style hotel - The Lost Camel to open at Ayers Rock Resort 1st July 2018
The boutique-style Lost Camel Hotel will re-open its doors at Ayers Rock Resort on 1 July 2018. With a newly refurbished stylish mix of Aboriginal and urban themes, the hotel is located in the heart of the Resort and offers a great option when staying in the Spiritual Heart of Australia.
Originally opened in 2002, The Lost Camel Hotel was transformed to staff accommodation in May 2012, however due to increased demand, the property is now being refurbished to offer a new contemporary, mid-scale price point accommodation option. The compact studio-style rooms are decorated in bright colours and crisp, clean whites. Each room features a sumptuous King Bed (can be separated into two single beds) and a bathroom with a separate shower and toilet and an open-plan vanity.
Guests can soak up the sun by the hotel's central swimming pool, browse the shops or enjoy a casual meal at one of the cafés located in the Resort Town Square just minutes' walk away. Guests also have access to free in-room Wi-Fi and are able to take part in the many free daily guest activities on offer.
Rates start from AUS$290 per room per night, which Includes Uluru Airport transfers, guest activities program including bush food experience, guided garden walk and theatre performance, free in-room WiFi and free use of Resort shuttle.
https://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/accommodation/the-lost-camel-hotel
Learn to break in Wild Horses during Brumby Week at Kings Canyon Station
Kings Canyon Station will host Brumby Week from the 27th – 31st August 2018, offering a unique and fully immersive five-day program working with and learning about Wild Horses. The program begins with an adventure out in the bush to catch the wild brumbies. Two horse whisperers are on hand to teach the participants how to break in the horses and nurture them so they are fully trained and ready to ride by the end of the course.
Activities throughout the program involve Brumby training demonstrations, 4x4 brumby observational tours, photography and observations of brumbies by the waterhole. There are also lectures and workshops on the behavior of brumbies, history of the early explorers and the horses that became brumbies and their population control as well as educational seminars on Kaimanawa horses and Mustangs from guest speakers from North America and Europe. There will also be guided exploration of Kings Canyon & Wattarrka and evening bush poetry around the campfire.
New domestic airlift from Brisbane into Alice Springs and Uluru
Virgin Australia has announced a new service between Brisbane and Alice Springs from the 19th June 2018. The twice-weekly return service will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Jetstar has also just recently announced that from 3 August 2018 it will be operating three times weekly flights between Brisbane and Uluru. The new flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will inject more than 55,000 return seats into the market each year.
www.virginaustralia.com www.jetstar.com
Darwin born Jessica Mauboy represents Australia for Eurovision
Tourism NT is delighted that Jessica Mauboy, who was born and raised in Darwin is representing Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest from the 8th to 10th May. Jessica is already established as a pop singer, songwriter and actress and we wish her the best of luck.
For further information on the Northern Territory visit www.northernterritory.com
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For press enquiries contact:
Laura Shelbourne
Tel: 07957 322275
Email: laura@laurashelbourne.com
