In January 2009, Tourism Queensland posted a position for “Island Caretaker”, dubbed the best job in the world. The six-month contract position carried a three figure salary and was based on Hamilton Island, one of the idyllic islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The successful applicant, Ben Southall, was charged with writing a weekly blog and enjoying a schedule of travel and events on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, reporting back to the world about the wonders Downunder.

Ben was chosen out of 34,000 applications worldwide for the illustrious position as Tourism Queensland’s Island Caretaker.

On Monday 25 January, at the Design Exchange in Toronto, Ben entertained local Travel Agents with stories of his exciting adventures and provided insightful information on the unique destinations and activities in Queensland.

For more information on Queensland and the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, visit www.goway.com. Many options are featured in Goway’s popular Downunder travel planner; for a copy, call 1-800-387-8850 or email info@goway.com.

Click on the images below for High Resolution:

Pictured at the event are Ben Southall, winner of the Best Job in the World, and Bruce Hodge, President of Goway Travel

Left to Right; Narelle Ross (Canada Distribution Manager for Tourism Australia), Ben Fleming (Market Development Manager, Tourism Queensland), Ben Southall, and Shana Pereira (Regional Director, Tourism Queensland).

On Goway’s Downunder 22 day escorted tour, The Waltzing Matilda starting at $9539 pp from Vancouver, the themes cover Animal and Plant Life which is very abundant, Food and Wine, a natural theme for the area, the Geography and History of both countries and the Lifestyles and Native Culture.

On Goway’s 20 day Magic of Africa tour visiting South Africa, Botswana and Victoria Falls and starting at $10,529 pp from Toronto, the most obvious theme is Animal and Plant Life. There is also the Geography and History and the Lifestyles and Native Culture.

On Goway’s 21 day Middle East Treasures tour to Egypt, Jordan and Israel, starting at $8979 pp from Toronto, the themes reflect the region by offering Geography and History plus Lifestyles and Ethnic Culture.

For Goway’s Asia tours, the 16 day Splendours of China and Tibet, starting at $5349 pp land only, the 17 day Splendours of India starting at $4679 pp land only and the 14 day Splendours of Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), starting at $4939 pp land only, the themes that naturally lend themselves to this part of the world are Cuisines of the Region, Geography and History and Lifestyles and Ethnic Cultures.

The returning passenger from any Goway tour will hopefully not only be more knowledgeable about certain aspects of the destination but will have had fun learning about them.

For more information on Goway’s escorted tours and the FUN THEMES, request a copy of the Africa and Middle East, South Pacific or Asia brochure by calling 1-800-387-8850 or by visiting Goway.com.

Perfect for travellers who are less inclined to drive on the “wrong” side of the road, or for those keen to forge new friendships with fellow travellers, Goway’s Australia and New Zealand escorted tours that qualify for the savings include:

New Zealand Offers include:
21 day Great New Zealand Experience. On this comprehensive and stylish holiday, absorb the majestic sights of the Bay of Islands, experience Maori culture and geothermal activity in Rotorua, discover the natural beauty of the Marlborough Sounds on your Interislander cruise and explore the rugged West Coast. Cruise the full length of spectacular Milford Sound and explore the alpine resort of Queenstown. Further south, the Scottish-inspired city of Dunedin, spectacular Mt Cook and the luxurious Hermitage Hotel await. From CA$6500 per person – save over $1200 per couple.

14 day New Zealand Highlighter. Uncover the highlights of this amazing country. With snow capped mountains, rugged coastlines, World Heritage National Parks and beautiful lakes, this tour has it all. From CA$ 3460 per person – save over $600 per couple.

Australia Offers include:
13 day Barrier Reef Island Wanderer. Explore Cairns and the Port Douglas region before relaxing on the Great Barrier Reef islands of Hamilton Island and Dunk Island. This 13 day tour also offers the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island and NSW coastal town of Coffs Harbour. From CA$4175 per person – save over $800 per person

For more information on Goway’s Downunder escorted tours, request a copy of the brochure by calling 1-800-387-8850 or by visiting www.goway.com.

Discounts for new bookings of 10 days or more received by January 31, 2010. 10% off land content for travel by April 30, 2010. 5% off land content for travel between May and December 31, 2010. Just ask for discount at time of booking. No other discounts apply.

Goway Travel, a leading North American travel specialist, has launched a spectacular offer for travellers bound for Australia this year.

Goway is offering vacations to Australia for CA$1899, and these incredible deals include airfare with Qantas from North America, three FREE flights in Australia and 12 nights accommodation.

“Travellers are looking for great deals this winter,” commented Product and Marketing Manager Meghan Boyd, “but we also recognize the need to offer a range of options. Our new campaign, ‘Australia on Sale’ allows travellers to design their own itinerary, selecting 4 nights accommodation in 3 of Australia’s great cities.”

Travellers can opt to travel to three of the following cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Alice Springs or Cairns and then customize their trip by adding tours, transfers, or experiences outside of the key cities. Vacations must be booked by 15Dec ’09 for this great offer.

“For anyone looking for a true Outback experience, savings can amount to $400 per person with our exclusive offer” continued Boyd, “and as a market leader, our North American travel partners have come to expect this kind of competitive deal.”

Air travel is with Qantas, offering the most flights to Australia from North America, and has an extensive network of domestic flights within Australia. Qantas also flies the A380 on select flights to Sydney and Melbourne

For every booking before November 30 2009, Goway is offering a $500 air credit per person on bookings on any of their escorted motorcoach tours of 14 days or longer, for travel before 31 March 2010. These virtually all-inclusive tours are escorted by experienced Tour Directors and include all the ‘must-see’ sights of Australia and/or New Zealand.

“This is certainly an incredible deal, especially when you take into account the great fares available at the moment” commented Meghan Boyd, Product Manager, “The South Pacific is now coming into summer, so this is really great value for anyone who wants to explore the scenic sights of New Zealand, or explore the beauty of Australia.”

Qualifying trips include:

New Zealand Wonderland, a 16-day superior journey from Auckland to Christchurch or vice versa and featuring a journey aboard the Tranz Alpine Express through the Southern Alps, cruising on Milford Sound and seeing the Glaciers of the West Coast. Prices start from $4220CA and include accommodation, transport and sightseeing; a pre-purchased meal plan is also available.

16-Day Outback Wonders of Australia journeying from Sydney to Darwin via Adelaide, the underground town of Coober Pedy, Ayers Rock and Katherine. Prices start from $5270CA and include accommodation, transport, sightseeing and most meals.

For those with enough time to explore both countries in-depth, the $500 air credit is available on each qualifying tour purchased. For more information on Goway’s Downunder Escorted vacations, visit www.goway.com. Many escorted itineraries are featured in Goway’s popular Downunder travel planner; for a copy, call 1-800-387-8850 or email info@goway.com.

To celebrate, Goway has announced that all bookings before October 31, 2009 to the Lions Clubs Convention in Sydney will be entered into a draw to win airfare for 2 from Los Angeles to Sydney with Qantas and 5 nights accommodation in Sydney.

With 40,000 years of aboriginal history and its convict origins as the first European settlement in Australia, Sydney is the country’s largest and most vibrant city. With its beautiful harbor and beaches, Sydney is not only scenic but an icon of the unique Australian culture. Sydney is also the gateway for touring extensions not only in the State of New South Wales and the rest of this vast island continent but also for the whole South Pacific region including New Zealand the Pacific Islands.

To find out more about the 2010 Lions Clubs International Convention and to book all travel arrangements including international and domestic air, Sydney Convention hotels and pre/post convention touring, please contact Special Events by Goway on their dedicated “Lions Only” telephone number and/or email:

Tel: 877 469 2914
Email: lions2010@goway.com
Website: www.goway.com/lions2010

Out on the market since April, the award winning brochure features every possible style of travel imaginable! From cruises and family vacations to Australian working holidays and VIP Travel arrangements, and everything in between!

New for the 2009/2010 season:

• More adventure travel options. Goway has expanded their active touring, following the launch of their 84-page “Active Australia” brochure. Aimed at travellers that are adventurous at heart, most of the tours are for all ages. Goway’s “Active Australia” product range now covers all of Australia, including Western Australia
• Platinum Service Rail Travel.  This new category of rail travel offers luxurious accommodations on board the Indian Pacific and The Ghan, and include all meals. Platinum Service is available in addition to Gold and Red Service
• A wider range of campervans are now available with Britz and Maui for self-drive travellers. Goway offers the entire range of vehicles and in particular Britz’s “Rookie” which is an ideal vehicle to stay in every two or three nights combined with hotel or motel style accommodation. By day the vehicle is small and manageable for city driving, but at night converts to accommodate two adults comfortably (perfect for an overnight stay in a National Park)
• A wider range of Islands of the Great Barrier Reef is also available. After being the exclusive partner in Canada for the “Best Job in the World” as promoted by Tourism Queensland, Goway has added Wilson Island (off Heron Island) and the exclusive Orpheus Island
• Sydney is home to two great experiences in the DOWNUNDER planner – a Highlights Tour of Sydney by bicycle and an exciting Sydney Harbour Jetboat ride
• River, Harbour and Fiord Cruises – after the success of the inclusion of a special Cruise section in the 08/09 planner, Goway has added Sydney Harbour Weekend Cruises, plus a range of overnight cruises in Milford and Doubtful Sounds in New Zealand
• After 14 years of promoting their innovative SNOWBIRD program, Goway has modified the program for 2010 to offer more flexibility for travellers. Priced aggressively from $903 for a 1-month stay, Goway now offers a land only program to allow their Snowbirds to take advantage of great sale fares available to the South Pacific!

For the truly independent traveller, Goway’s 132-page DOWNUNDER brochure offers over 450 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.

For more information or to book, visit Goway’s website at www.Goway.com or call toll-free (888)-469-2944.

Toronto, May 6, 2009 – This month Toronto will be immersed in the world’s most unique mix of rugged landscape, innovative fashion and cuisine, and ancient culture when G’Day Toronto takes over the city from May 12-16. Businesses in the travel trade can learn how to bring this experience to their clients year-round on May 14 at an afternoon event presented by Goway.

Participation in the Goway “Come Walkabout” Travel Trade Workshop will earn travel agents four CITC Education credits while undertaking in-depth training on the different regions of Australia and outback vacation ideas.

The afternoon will conclude with a trade show with representatives from Tourism Queensland, Tourism New South Wales, Tourism Victoria, Tourism Tasmania, Rail Australia, AAT Kings and Tourism Australia.

The workshop takes place Thursday May 14, beginning at 12 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. East.

As a part of Australia Week Canada, G’Day Toronto features a program of events targeted to tourists of all ages showcasing Australian food, wine, culture, art, film, lifestyle, and of course the unique wildlife and outback that make the country a top vacation idea for Canadians, year after year.

After the professional events, trade attendees can offer their clients the chance to sample some Aussie delights at Goway’s consumer event: “Come Walkabout” Australia Travel Night taking place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East. More information on this event and other during G’Day Toronto can be found at www.Australia.com/gdaytoronto.

To register for the workshop, contact Goway Travel (416) 322 1034 or visit www.goway.com/workshops.

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 agent partners 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”.