New luxury property for the Kimberley

Mid-April this year will see a new luxury experience open to visitors of Australia's North West, when Berkeley River opens on the Kimberley Coast.

The multi-million dollar tourism development is is located around 150 kilometres north of Wyndham in the East Kimberley. 

Twenty ocean view suites will sit on a coastal dune surrounded by native vegetation. Views take in the Timor Sea, Reveley Island and the mouth of the stunning Berkeley River.

Guests will be able to experience an array of adventures, such as boat cruises, bush and beach walks, fishing, helicopter journeys -- or simply laze by the pool.

The river is flanked by towering rock escarpments and a waterfall that flows most of the year.

Kudos for El Questro and Lizard Island

El Questro Homestead in Western Australia and Lizard Island on Tropical North Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef have been named in Australian Traveller’s Top 10 Luxury Lodges in Australia’ – listed as second and third in the popular Australian magazine.

According to Australian Traveller managing editor, Quentin Long, the magazine applied a high degree of scrutiny in order to make its decision:  “This is the sharp end of the market where the highest standards are applied, so we were brutal in our assessment of these uber-decadent digs.”  

El Questro Homestead was described in the list as having “stunning, wild and unlike-anywhere-else-in-the-world landscape.”  In third place, Lizard Island Resort was given this accolade: “Look up “idyllic luxury Island resort” in the dictionary and it should simply state: Lizard island, 290km north of Cairns.  A keyless resort without mobile reception, TV or wi-fi in the rooms means you’re immediately immersed in holiday mode, ready or not.”

 “The luxury lodge market has come of age in Australia. This is essential for the industry to attract the high net-worth international travellers that are so valuable to local tourism,” Long says.

El Questro Homestead and Lizard Island are owned and operated by Delaware North Australia Parks & Resorts, owners of Australian resorts including Wilson Island, El Questro Wilderness Park, Heron Island and Kings Canyon Resort.

Western Australia -- big on sports

Western Australia’s Eventscorp has launched its 2012 events calendar, featuring a record 84 events including Australia's richest golf tournament.

With prize money totalling US$2 million the Perth International will be held from October 18 to 21 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, and is expected to attract some of the world's best golfers.

The event is expected to generate more than 1,000 hours of television coverage around the world, which is great exposure for Western Australia.

The tournament will be sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour, which is at present experiencing unprecedented success -- boasting the top four ranked gold players in the world. The Perth International will be the only tournament in Australia to be sanctioned by the European Tour.

Meanwhile, tennis fans are in for a star studded treat at this summer's Hyundai Hopman Cup XXIV. Taking place from  December 31 to January 7 with one of the best fields ever assembled in the tournament's 24-year history. Caroline Wozniacki, who has held the number one ranking for the past year, is coming to Perth for the first time, along with three of the top seven ranked women players and two of the top 10 men.

The line-up also includes three Grand Slam event winners such as Petra Kvitova, Li Na and Lleyton Hewitt, as well as some of the rising stars of tennis. The tournament will be held at the Burswood Dome.

Lizard Island and the Marlin Classic

Worldwide fishing enthusiasts are gearing up for another season of heavy tackle fishing off Lizard Island in Tropical North Queensland as they prepare for the 25th Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic, which runs from October 1 to 8 . From September through to December the largest black marlin in the world, many of them known as “granders” of over a thousand pounds, migrate to the stretch of the Great Barrier Reef between Cairns and Lizard Island to feed off the plentiful tuna and mackerel populations found in the local waters. With the black marlin fishing in the area based on tag and release, chances of catching a giant black marlin are arguably the best in the world. Heavy tackle fishing at Lizard Island is not just limited to the Black Marlin Classic. It’s available year round thanks to the resort’s luxury Fascination III, which is operated exclusively for guests and available for private fishing or diving and snorkelling charters. Divers can mix with green sea turtles and giant clownfish, and snorkellers are rewarded for little effort with 100-year-old giant clam gardens just moments from Lizard’s beaches. . Find out more here

Mirvac for style in Sydney

Seven hotels in the heart of Sydney, a couple more near popular Manly Beach and two more that appeal to wine lovers heading for the Hunter Valley. That’s part of the Mirvac portfolio in New South Wales -- and every property is geared towards the traveller who likes to travel in style.

For ultimate luxury Mirvac offers Quay Grand Suites, with its panoramic views over Circular Quay. The property was named the South Pacific's Best Luxury Hotel in the TripAdvisor 2010 Travelers' Choice Awards, and has also been voted one of the Top Five Luxury Hotels of the World. And then there’s Quay West Suites, where spectacular views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House greet you as soon as you walk into apartment.

The Sebel Pier One could not get you closer to the harbour – it sits over the water alongside Sydney Harbour Bridge. Looking for a boutique property? That would be the Harbour Rocks Hotel, a four—star property at The Rocks, close Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House – few boutique hotels in the world sit as close to three internationally-renowned icons as this gem.

Foodies will love the Sebel Surry Hills, which is located close to some of Sydney’s leading restaurants (and also the city’s nightlife). The same goes for the Sydney Marriott, a few minutes walk from the trendy restaurants dotted around Paddington.

Citigate Central Sydney is a well-appointed, stylish and spacious hotel close to Darling Harbour, Sydney Central Railway Station and Chinatown, and was recently the winner of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW Awards for Excellence as Best Mid Range Hotel of the Year.

Mirvac offer two properties at Manly Beach (an increasingly popular destination with international visitors to Sydney), Q Station and the Sebel Manly Beach -- just thirty minutes from downtown Sydney, the best of both worlds.

Wine lovers heading for the Hunter Valley are offered the Sebel Kirkham Hunter Valley up close to some of New South Wales’ leading vineyards; and the Sebel Newcastle Beach, ideal for those who enjoy their wine discoveries to be matched witha litte chilling out by the beach.