“Responding to demand from our agent partners, we have improved several of the features” commented Product and Marketing Manager, Emma Cottis. “With so many at-home Agents and a focus on reducing paper usage, agents can now opt to utilize some of the new tools. Of course, the traditional brochures are still available to be ordered atGoway.com/brochure.”

New features include:

• A more modern look and feel
• The option to view the brochure in “full screen” mode
• The ability to download the brochure as a PDF to store a file copy electronically.
• The function to share the brochure to a number of social media platforms, including twitter, Facebook, my space and more.
• The brochure can be translated to any language and the translation pops up in a choice of all languages.

Goway’s commitment to providing time-efficient options that reduce the need for paper in today’s electronic environment follows a recent announcement that all most documentation (tickets, vouchers, itineraries, quotes and invoices, are now available in electronic format that are emailed directly to agent partners.

The new 132-page Downunder brochure can be viewed online at Goway’s website, and future Goway brochures will be available in the same format.

Year after year, Australia tops Canadians’ wish list of travel destinations. Toronto residents looking to explore the outback, 40,000 year old aboriginal culture, fine dining and designer fashion of Australia before making this truly inspiring trip, can find out everything they need to know here in Toronto at the Goway “Come Walkabout” Australia Travel Night.

Following a presentation on Australian travel experiences, enjoy food and wine samplings and mingle with knowledgeable suppliers eager to share their insider tips on travelling to Australia.

“The concept of ‘walkabout’ is uniquely Australian and steeped in traditional Aboriginal culture.  A ‘walkabout’ is a period of transformation when people restore, rebalance and reconnect with what is important in their lives, says Michelle Gysberts, Vice President, Americas for Tourism Australia. “There is no better place to do that than Australia.”

No one can describe the experience of visiting Australia better than Indigenous people themselves. To tell his stories over some indigenous-Australian inspired cuisine, consumers will get a chance to meet Mark Olive (aka the “Black Olive”), a chef for over twenty years,

Chef Olive’s people are the Bundjalung nation from the state’s northern rivers region. The Australian-born, European-trained chef adds flare to his recipes using outback ingredients.

“Come Walkabout” Australia Travel Night  is  part of G’Day Toronto, a program of events targeted to tourists of all ages, entrepreneurs, and the culinary trades, showcasing  Australian food, wine, culture, art, film, lifestyle and of course the unique wildlife and outback that make the country an ideal vacation destination for Canadians, year after year.

The event takes place Thursday May 14, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts – 27 Front Street East.

For more information, contact Goway Travel (416) 322 1034. Registration can be completed in advance at www.goway.com/venues.

Goway will also host a special Australia evening at the Marriott Toronto Bloor Yorkville, 90 Bloor Street East on Wednesday 6 August from 6pm-9pm. Travel Agents and consumers are given the opportunity to meet the visiting hotel, tour and tourist board representatives from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory and to attend an informative Goway presentation on Australia. Registration is FREE with advance registration at Goway.com/venues, and all attendees will be entered into a draw to win a Grand Prize of a trip for 2 to Australia.

The Southern Spirit will be a luxury Australian rail cruise offering 8 different itineraries that visit a number of different destinations across Australia’s rail network, combined with deluxe excursions and exclusive events. The Inaugural journey departs Darwin on 25 November 2008 bound for Sydney on a 13 day/12 night rail cruise across the heart of Australia. It will travel through the Red Centre to the scenic south-east corner, with stopovers in Katherine, Alice Springs, Cooper Pedy, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Moss Vale. Each unique journey on board the Southern Spirit will take guests through some of the most breathtaking scenery Australia has to offer. On board, guests will enjoy unparalleled luxury and unmatched personal attention with 24-hour cabin service. Guests can choose to travel in the prestigious new Platinum Service deluxe cabins or the hallmark Gold Service, with all the creature comforts in a compact twin cabin.

The transcontinental journeys are combined with a suite of deluxe excursions staying at five-star hotels, together with once in a lifetime exclusive events at stops along the way. The uniquely Australian events include a candlelit dinner underground at Coober Pedy or a spectacular seafood dinner in a marquee on Coffs Harbor Jetty or Australia Day celebrations 36 storeys up, overlooking the spectacular harbour city of Sydney at sunset. Each itinerary offers a different combination of journeys and experiences. For example, itinerary 5 ‘The Great Coastal Epic’ is an impressive rail cruise from Perth following the coast through four states, visiting six mainland capitals, and arriving in to the sunshine city of Brisbane after 13 days and 12 nights.

Great Southern Rail, Chief Executive Officer Tony Braxton-Smith said, “The Southern Spirit is not only a new Australian train journey with a fantastic array of destinations and experiences, it sets a completely new standard of deluxe rail travel in Australia”. “Each of the eight luxury rail cruises showcases some of Australia-s most prestigious tourism offerings. There is something to tempt everyone, from the adventurous and exciting to the laid-back and indulgent. The Southern Spirit is a perfect mix of the rich diversity of Australia’s landscape and some of the most exciting city highlights”, he added.

“We are delighted to bring this new luxury rail travel to the North America marketplace. Our travellers have come to expect that Goway will have the latest product offers, and the new Southern Spirit journeys are a fantastic way for Canadians to experience our majestic landscape” commented Product and Marketing Manager, Emma Cottis.

The Southern Spirit journeys will run from November 2008 to February 2009 with each offering an adventure of a lifetime combining luxury travel, iconic outback experiences and once in a lifetime events.

For more information call 800 387 8850 or visit Goway.com. and select “Rail Travel”.

From 15-18 February, the Biosphere will be hosting world-class Australian entertainers, music, art and film. Goway is the official Travel Sponsor of the events, along with Qantas Airways.

On Saturday morning, the downunder specialist will be hosting the Great Aussie Travel Seminar and Breakfast from 8am-10am. Guest speaker will be renowned adventurer Jon Bowermeister, who will showcase his recent adventures in Australia, paddling Tasmania’s coastline on assignment for National Geographic.

Special travel offers will be available for attendees and you can be among the first to receive the hot-off-the-press Goway DOWNUNDER catalogue that has expanded to 116-pages, featuring over 350 travel ideas.

Admission to Goway’s Great Aussie Travel Seminar and Breakfast is free but an RSVP is required. For more information on Jon Bowermeister, the special event and how to register please visit www.australiaweek.ca/events/travel.htm.

If you cannot attend you can order Goway’s new DOWNUNDER from your travel agent, email info@goway.com or call 1-800-387-8850 ext 123.

The name “Kiah” was selected from thousands of entries and is an aboriginal term meaning “from a beautiful place”. The winner of the contest, Tonya Froemel, of Wisconsin, has won a trip for two to Cairns, including round trip airfare with Qantas Airways, 5 nights accommodation and a daytour to Rainforestation to meet the koalas.

“We thought the name was appropriate for our beautiful new female joey. It also reflected the Aboriginal culture of Australia” commented Bruce Hodge, President and founder of Goway Travel, “Australia is fortunate in that it offers a great diversity for visitors, from our indigenous culture to our numerous National Parks and unique wildlife.”

Goway offers a wide range of vacations to Australia that include the opportunity to spend time in Cairns, including their 9-Day “Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef, starting from $1599USD. Goway also offers their unique range of “Holidays of a Lifetime” escorted tours, as well as customized vacation offers. More information on these offers is available at www.goway.com.

Rainforestation is a 40 hectare tourist attraction set amidst World Heritage Rainforest only five minutes drive from Kuranda Village and half an hour from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. At Rainforestation, visitors can wander through the Koala and Wildlife Park or join in one of the complimentary guided walks to see cassowaries, dingoes, crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas, snakes and wombats. Also at this 40 hectare tourist attraction are Army Duck tours of the rainforest, and the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience.

Held every two years, the World Police & Fire Games are a spectacular international sporting event, offering law enforcement agencies, fire fighters, customs and correction officers from over 60 countries an opportunity to showcase their athletic talents.

As the official agent in North America, Goway has prepared packages for athletes and travelling companions to visit Australia during the Games.

“We are delighted to have been selected as the official agent for such a prestigious event for our national heroes” commented Bruce Hodge, President and founder of Goway Travel, “the Games are the third largest mass participation event in the World, showcasing 79 sports across a dynamic 10-day program.”

Starting from as little as $2939, the package includes Roundtrip economy class airfare from Vancouver (special add-on fares available from other cities), meet & greet at Adelaide airport, roundtrip airport to hotel transfers, 10 nights accommodation, airport/hotel porterage, plus a comprehensive Adelaide arrival pack for registered participants.

A group of 6 senior executives from Goway recently spent a week in Adelaide, ensuring the quality of selected accommodations and contracting for optional extension packages for the athletes. These include a chance to encounter the wildlife on a 2-night Kangaroo Island Getaway starting at $598 and a 4-night Outback Explorer tour from $2745.

Starting at just $1399 for travel from Vancouver ($1599 from Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax), the airpass permits travel to Australia and up to three domestic segments for departures 1 April to 30 June 2006.

An extensive routing that covers the width and breadth of Australia might include an itinerary Vancouver to Sydney, Perth, Cairns, before returning from Melbourne to Vancouver. For clients that choose this routing to depart in April 2006, the normal fare is $2399, but if purchased before 13 April 2006, Goway’s special pricing is $1399 – a savings of $1000 per person!

Travellers now have the opportunity to visit any combination of cities – with no surcharges for travelling to the Northern Territory, North Queensland, or Western Australia.

Goway offers a variety of affordable 3 and 4 day city stay packages that include transfers, accommodation and touring;

• Splendid Sydney,
  4 days from $380
• Melbourne Town,
  3 days from $325
• Adelaide/Barossa Valley,
  3 days from $245
• Alice Springs and Ayers Rock,
  3 days from $641
• Darwin Wildlife,
  4 days from $673
• Tassie Convict Stopover,
  3 days from $319
• Friendly Brisbane,
  3 days from $246
• Cairns Barrier Reef,
  4 days from $551
• Sunny Perth,
  3 days from $211

The award winning brochure, which was rated in the top 10 global brochures for travel to Australia, features every possible style of travel imaginable! From hiking the Milford Track in New Zealand, to languishing poolside at Hayman Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and everything in between!

Catering to the needs of the North America traveller, Goway’s signature range of “Holidays of a Lifetime” escorted tours has been expanded to include a 10 Day Best of New Zealand and 15 Day Best of Australia. These shorter duration tours allow visitors an insight into the destination within the confines of vacation time! Starting from just $4999, these tours include airfare from the west coast, accommodations, meals and great touring. Goway has also introduced guaranteed departures for the 2006/2007 travel season.

Goway has also refined their “Classic Tours”, a series of suggested itineraries that are priced at four levels of accommodation to allow the flexibility for travellers to choose their date of departure and budget. Sample tours include the 11 Day Classic Sydney Rock and Reef, starting at $1440 and because they are priced for land only, they allow travellers to take advantage of the latest airline specials or use frequent flier miles for part or all of the air travel arrangements.

Recognizing a need for greater flexibility and options for travellers, Goway has added tours such as hot air ballooning, wine tours, city walking tours, cultural tours, and even a jetlag recovery package!

For the truly independent traveller, Goway’s 108-page DOWNUNDER brochure offers literally hundreds of travel ideas. From expedition cruising along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to exploring New Zealand’s National Parks, and cultural tours to exploring the wine regions, the brochure has ideas to inspire travellers of all styles.

“New Zealand’s magnificent scenery has been introduced to the world over the last few years, and now Goway offers the opportunity for Canadians to realize their dreams of visiting the South Pacific at the most affordable prices ever” commented Goway founder and President, Bruce Hodge. “Normally an add-on package to Australia costs at least $150 per person, but we’re providing a great deal that permits travel to Australia for free!”

Offers include a 10 day/7 night “Self Drive by Motorhome” option priced from $2499 per person. Travellers are encouraged to explore and experience the natural wonders of New Zealand at their own pace in the comfort of their own fully furnished motor home. And for those with more time, additional days may be purchased from as little as $39 per person.

For globetrotters that may prefer the comforts of a hotel, opt for a 10 day/7 night hotel pass and car rental starting from $2399. For assistance planning a tour around New Zealand, the expert staff at Goway is on hand to recommend an itinerary to a combination of must-see highlights and off-the-beaten-track areas.

Recognizing that many visitors to New Zealand will want to relax, enjoy the scenery, and let someone else drive, Goway also offers an option for independent travellers to New Zealand starting at $2550 that includes accommodation, unlimited travel on the coach network in New Zealand and a one way ferry crossing between the North and South Islands.