Staying at the All Seasons – Melbourne
The All Seasons Phillip Island resort is the perfect choice for a family wanting to make the most of this unique Australian coastal region. Situated closest to Melbourne Airport, this incredible resort is perfectly catered for a luxury family holiday. Boasting 4 star status, the resort offers a range of excellently equipped villas for you to enjoy. Ranging from one, two and three bedroom facilities, each of the villas offers a Studio spa, while the onsite perks include the excellent ‘Numbers Restaurant & Bar’, a top quality Pizzeria, tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool including a mini pool for kids and the popular Kidz Zone games area.
Situated in the lush countryside, you can enjoy one of the many BBQ’s at the hotel or take advantage of the many breathtaking walking tracks just on your doorstep. With the excellent facilities in the rooms, you’ll be perfectly at home. All of the villas include state of the art digitalised equipment, such as LCD TVs, ISD telephones, DVD players and fully equipped kitchens. Boasting lush, comfortable decor and spacious design, the rooms are fully air conditioned and include a deck where you can wander out and savour the fresh country air over breakfast.
Once you’ve settled into your villa, it’s then time to investigate the local area and beyond. The resort is just 3 km from Bay Beach in Cowes and 4 km from Surf Beach, where you can head down and just soak up the sun with the family. If you’re a more active type why not rent a surfboard and catch a few waves. You’re also a stones throw from the Penguin Parade, the famous conservation park where you can watch the little penguins waddle ashore or marvel at the array of marine life, from seals and dolphins to mammoth sized sharks at the Nobbies Centre. This is a great opportunity to witness the penguins in their natural habitat and investigate the wildlife of Australia that you’ve never seen before. Located in Cowes just a short distance from the area, the resort also has a Koala Conservation Centre, where you can wander the treetop boardwalks and watch the cute koalas in their natural environment.
Once you’ve enjoyed the majestic surroundings of the area, why not satiate your need for speed, by taking in a high octane race at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. The track recently hosted the V8 Supercars race and has just had a multi-million dollar redevelopment, including a go cart track, so now you can take the wheel and enjoy the rush yourself!
Of course if you prefer the calmer, less frenetic thrill of retail therapy, then the Cowes Shopping Centre is just on your doorstep, where you can invest some of your well earned cash into the top quality clothing available from the variety of fashion boutiques and shops.
Boasting an excellent climate all year round, the All Seasons Phillips Island Resort is well connected in terms of transport. If you are flying into Melbourne you can take the V Line bus which will take you to nearby Cowes, where a connection to the hotel can be arranged. Alternatively, you may wish to hire a car and make your own way.
American Express travel card and credit card holders can use Membership Rewards points to purchase an All Seasons Gift Card worth up to $1000. Gift cards purchased with American Express credit cards are valid for 12 months.
Winter on The Island of Tasmania
The island of Tasmania, Australia is a state that is located 240 km southeast of the continent, separated by the Bass Strait. Tasmania has a population of 484 700 inhabitants (March 2005 estimate) and an area of 68 332 km ².
The capital and largest city is Hobart, which includes the cities of Hobart, Glenorchy and Clarence. Other cities are Launceston in the north, and Devonport and Burnie in the northwest.
Tasmania was joined to mainland Australia until 13,000 years ago and after the rise in water levels it was cut off, creating the Bass Strait. The topography is mountainous. Mount Ossa has an altitude of 1617 m is the highest peak in Tasmania. The rivers are a very fast course and, combined with high rainfall have the ideal conditions for hydroelectric power stations. The island has a temperate climate, stable and moist.
Tasmania is a land of healthy world records: it has cleaner air, cleaner water, the flower higher and the oldest living thing: a magnificent Huon pine 4000 years. The landscape is a set of endless forests, rivers thaw, large valleys, lakes, prehistoric caves, ancient trees, white beaches with turquoise sea, modern cities and Victorian villas. With 18 national parks, 20 percent of its territory is a World Heritage Site.