Victoria’s newest marine attraction, the Nobbies Centre in Phillip Island Nature Park, has opened after a $6.1 million redevelopment. In a first for Australian tourism, hi-tech cameras allow visitors close-up viewing of the world’s second largest Australian Fur Seal colony at Seal Rock (numbering 20,000) as they frolic in Bass Strait. Dolphins and sharks can also be spotted, as well as the rich bird life nesting in the cliffs. Entry to the centre is free.

Phillip Island Nature Park is also renowned as the home of Australia’s most popular natural wildlife attraction, the world famous Penguin Parade. Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island features wildlife reserves, wetlands and breathtaking coastlines, offering some of the most intimate viewing experiences of Australian wildlife in their natural habitats.

Each night at sunset visitors flock to Phillip Island’s Summerland Beach to observe the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins as they waddle ashore to their sand dune burrows after a long day of fishing. Among numerous ways to enjoy the spectacle, the newest is the exclusive Penguin Sky Box, which accommodates just five people per night. Visitors can also get closer to the action with a Private Penguin Parade, complete with personalized ranger commentary. Ideal for those seeking an even more intimate eco encounter is the Ultimate Penguin Tour, where guests are escorted to a secluded beach where they use night-vision goggles to watch as the Little Penguins pass by mere inches away.

Today, visitors can commemorate their experience by “Adopting a Penguin,” which provides an adoption certificate, personalized thank you card with photo and free Penguin Parade entry voucher, as well as regular updates on what it’s eating, where it’s swimming, if it’s in love (penguins mate for life) or is nurturing new offspring. The $75 donation supports the Penguin Foundation and builds a Little Penguin nesting box to enhance the safety of a “penguin couple” and improve its long-term prospects for successful breeding.

Also at Phillip Island is the Koala Conservation Centre, which brings visitors face-to-face with Australia’s iconic marsupials. A series of treetop boardwalks allows guests to view the beguiling creatures in their natural environment. The Koala Conservation Centre has Australia’s highest ecotourism rating and has played an important role in saving Phillip Island’s koala population. The centre also boasts a woodland walk through natural bush where wallabies, possums, echidnas, and snakes are regularly spotted.

An easy way to see Phillip Island Nature Park is with Goway’s five-day “Classic Victoria” package. After being met on arrival and transferred to a hotel of choice, a day of leisure awaits with ample time to explore Melbourne’s fabulous alfresco eateries or wander and shop in the city’s famed laneways.

Day two features sightseeing in the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne, including the bustling Queen Victoria market, where all of Australia is on sale. In the evening, board the award winning Colonial Tramcar restaurant and enjoy a 5 course gourmet meal with vintage spirits as you wine and dine through Melbourne by night.

day three enjoy an afternoon departure for Phillip Island to visit the world famous “Little Penguin Parade” by way of Melbourne’s beachside suburbs of Brighton and Black Rock. As the sun sets the Penguin Parade begins, with thousands of Little Penguins arriving onshore from their ocean feeding grounds, “walking and talking” loudly as they work their way back to their burrow nests.

On the next day, you’ll be taken to the Great Ocean Road, visiting the iconic cities of Torquay and Apollo Bay, and you’ll stay overnight at Lorne, learning about the natural and man-made history of the region and visiting nature preserves and Victorian rainforests.

Day five will take you to the iconic Twelve Apostles, known for its breathtaking scenery travelling along what is known as the Shipwreck Coast.

Hear how the Twelve Apostles were created and continue on to Loch Ard Gorge, where you will hear the dramatic story of the shipwreck and its two survivors. You’ll return to Melbourne in time for the evening meal.

Per person prices for Goway’s five-night “Classic Victoria” package start at $832 per person through March 31, 2009, and include four nights accommodation with a choice of standard, first class or deluxe hotel, half-day Melbourne city sights tour, Phillip Island tour, Great Ocean Road tour, roundtrip private car transfers, and Colonial Tramcar dinner.

For more information or to book, visit Goway’s website at Goway.com or call toll-free (800)-387-8850.

As the Canadian Dollar continues to strengthen, the appeal of purchasing from the USA is becoming even more attractive to Canadian consumers. Goway, as one of the largest North American wholesalers to the South Pacific, is now offering the US Goway-Qantas Aussie Airpass to Canadian residents.

This deal is available exclusively through Goway and the US airpass is commissionable to travel agents.

“Our aim is to provide the very best deals available to Canadian Globetrotters,” commented founder and President of Goway Travel, Bruce Hodge. “Canadians are savvy consumers, and we have found a way to drastically reduce pricing for them to travel to Australia given the current economic climate. We anticipate that this new fare will assist agents in promoting Australia to their clientele at a time that is peak selling time for Downunder”
The US Airpass is priced out of Los Angeles or San Francisco and is priced more aggressively at US$850 plus applicable fuel surcharges. The Canadian Airpass, with a lead price of CA$1199 from Vancouver, is subject to additional fuel surcharges of up to CA$250. This represents a savings of US$249 per person. The airpass also includes three free domestic flights within Australia, with additional flights available at US$100 per flight.

With the Goway-Qantas Aussie Airpass, travellers enjoy the freedom to explore Australia’s many popular destinations at their own pace; experiencing the wildlife of Kangaroo Island, modern and vibrant Sydney, historical Melbourne as well as Tasmania.

For more information on the Goway-Qantas Aussie Airpass, visit http://www.goway.com/downunder/australia/g_q_airpass_travelzoo_us.html or call 1-800-387-8850.

“Wilderness luxury” is no contradiction in Australia. Goway, one of North America’s leading wholesalers offers international visitors the opportunity to enjoy Australia’s great outdoors – remote, beautiful regions including World Heritage listed rainforests – in complete comfort. Eco-retreats, some built literally in the treetops and surrounded by vivid birdlife, provide everything from satellite TV to spa treatments. In each State and Territory, grand resorts and little retreats offer pampering amid awesome scenery and prolific wildlife.

In Queensland, Goway offers a 3 day package at Daintree Eco Lodge from $786 per person. Nestled in the world’s oldest living rainforest this ultimate getaway features experiential travel. Offering boutique “hideaway” accommodation, innovative cuisine with a hint of bush tucker, unique spa and wellbeing treatments using natural ingredients and Aboriginal techniques, pristine waterfalls and authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences. These elements have earned the Daintree Eco Lodge the “No. 1 Spa Retreat in Australia and the South Pacific” by Conde Nast Travellers Readers Choice.

In New South Wales, stay at a unique Australian world class resort situated in the pristine Hunter Valley wine region just north of Sydney. Eaglereach is a nature based resort with over four square kilometres of natural adventure land featuring an amazing array of native flora and fauna. There are many ways to discover Eaglereach…. on foot, escorted horseback trail rides, mountain bikes, even passive 4WD. Facilities include tennis, volleyball, a saltwater rock pool and you can even try your hand at catching ‘Yabbies’. After the days’ activities you can retreat to one of 36 custom built lodges. Each is sole use and complete with every luxury. Goway’s 3 Day package starts at $539.

The Flinders Ranges, in South Australia, is a region that was once a seabed and now carries some important 600 million year old fossils. The Flinders Ranges are home to a vast number of native animals and birds, and Goway’s 4 Day Self-drive package from $798 includes accommodation at Wilpena Pound Resort, at the base of Wilpena Pound, a spectacular natural amphitheatre.

Freycinet National Park on the Eastern Coast of Tasmania is the destination for Goway’s 3-day Freycinet Escape from $1338. This deluxe, remote wilderness camp is a first for Tasmania and offers accommodation in luxury guest tents, a dining tent, resident chef and a host of activities, including boat cruises and a guided walk to the famous Wineglass Bay.

Full details of Goway’s Australia offers can be found in their up-side-down DOWNUNDER catalogue and on their extensive website. For more information call 1-800-387-8850 or email info@goway.com.