Dive into some of the best swimming spots in NSW

Surrounded by a beautiful coastline, NSW is spoilt for choice with a collection of ocean pools to cool off on hot Summer days.

Here are some off the top swimming spots to chill down this Summer.

1. Bondi Icebergs Baths – The landmark Bondi Icebergs Baths has a 50 metre lap pool, or a smaller children’s pool supervised by lifeguards, so the entire family can stay cool this Summer.
2. MacCallum Pool – Head north to Cremorne Point to make the most of breathtaking Sydney Harbour views as you enjoy a dip. Built in the 1920s, MacCallum Pool is one of the quietest pools in Sydney.
3. Wylie’s Baths – Wylie’s Baths at Coogee Beach boasts sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and sits right below the Maroubra to Bondi coastal walkway. One of Sydney’s most beautiful ocean tidal pools, Wylie’s Baths is a favourite among visitors and locals alike. Established in 1907 by Henry Alexander Wylie, a championship long distance and underwater swimmer, the Baths were the first mixed-gender bathing pools built in Australia.
4. Fairy Bower Pool –Triangular in shape and boasting ‘The Sea Nymphs’ and ‘The Oceanides’ sculptures, Manly’s Fairy Bower Pool combines coastline and creativity all in one relaxed location. On the walk from Manly to Shelly Beach, it has been a favourite since it was built in 1929.
5. Whites Beach – One of the country’s best kept secrets, Whites Beach at Broken Head near Byron Bay offers a piece of secluded paradise with rocky cliffs, palm trees and pristine waters. Whites Beach is tucked out the way with access via a drive along Seven Mile Beach Road followed by a trek through the rainforest. Named as Australia’s number one secret destination in Australian Traveller Magazine, Whites Beach is a hidden gem and a great little getaway that’s worth well the effort.
6. Blue Pool – Take a dip in Bermagui’s famous Blue Pool, a natural rock pool washed with crystal clear water which offers fantastic snorkelling. The natural rock pool lies at the base of a rocky cliff face with picnic tables, amenities and a shower nearby.
7. Newcastle Ocean Baths – With its Art Deco pavilion, Newcastle Ocean Baths is one of the city’s outstanding historic landmarks. For more than 100 years, Novocastrians have enjoyed splashing in the salt water, many remembering it fondly as the place where they first learnt how to swim.
8. The Bogey Hole – Located on the Mollymook headland is a large circular rock pool and makes an ideal place to cool off for families with young children or anyone looking for a calm spot for a dip. For those looking to explore marine life, the Bogey Hole has snorkelling.
9. The Entrance Ocean Baths – A children’s pool, 22 metre pool and full-length Olympic-size pool makes these bath’s ideal for everyone. The baths at the Entrance are popular with locals and visitors alike as it is the only ocean pool on the Central Coast.
10. Yarrangobilly Caves – Located in Kosciuszko National Park, Yarrangobilly Caves is one of the most beautiful limestone cave systems in Australia. Enjoy swimming in the above ground, natural spring, outdoor thermal pool which is at a constant 27°C year-round. Before taking the plunge, discover stalagmites, stalactites and corals in the caves. You can also enjoy a spot of fishing nearby and try your luck at catching a rainbow trout.

For more information, and to check out some of the best swimming spots in NSW, go to www.visitnsw.com or www.Sydney.com

Pay attention to the advice of the lifesavers and safety signs. Visit SharkSmart to understand any potential risks in the area you are swimming. You are always welcome to ask lifeguards for more safety advice. If you find yourself needing help in the water, stay calm and attract attention. It’s also a good idea to always swim with a friend. Check conditions before you go. You can also find patrolled beach by visiting beachsafe.org.au.

Celebrity Speakers

Celebrity Speakers have kick-started the year with big news, exclusively representing World #1 and fan favourite Blade Runner, Liam Malone!

2014 was the year Liam decided to turn his life around and within the next 3 years went on to win two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, breaking the previous Paralympic records held by Oscar Pistorius.

Liam’s sprint times on the track make him New Zealand’s second fastest 400m sprinter ever – legs or not!

Since the Paralympics, Liam has had many achievements including being awarded with the New Zealand Order of Merit, M2 New Zealand Man of the Year and Graduated from a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and International Business.

Liam is a dynamic and cutting edge presenter, his motivational story is a perfect way to start your conference or entertain your audience after-dinner.

Email: info@csnz.co.nz
Phone: +64 (09) 373 4177

The Langham, Melbourne's Melba Restaurant Teams Up With Vietnamese Cuisine Guru, Ms Vy

The Langham, Melbourne's Melba Restaurant teams up with Vietnamese cuisine guru, Ms Vy Thursday 30 march – one night only

The Langham, Melbourne's Melba Restaurant is renowned for its depth and breadth of international cuisines. Asian? Tick. Japanese? Absolutely! Indian? You bet. Italian? Si. French? Mais oui! But Vietnamese has rarely featured in the restaurant's kitchen.

That will change from 6pm until 10pm on Thursday 30 March when Melba Restaurant teams up with House of Hoi An's legendary Ms Vy for one night only to kick off the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

Goi cuon (pork and prawn summer rolls) and goi buoi (pomelo chicken and prawn salad) will be served alongside thit heo ngu vi voi xoi dua (aroma spiced pork belly with sticky rice) and vem xao sa ot (mussels in aromatic Hoi An spices).

Trinh Diem Vy, or Ms Vy as she is affectionately known by her loyal diners, has always had a passion for delicious and authentic Vietnamese food. She is widely considered the go-to girl for Vietnamese cuisine and her Windsor House of Hoi An is just as popular with locals here as her four eateries, a cooking school and boutique hotel in Hoi An.

The menu aims to introduce diners to freshly and expertly prepared Vietnamese dishes and provide an insight into life in Vietnam.

Adults are $89.00 each, while children between the ages of 4 and 12 dine for $44.50.

Bookings mas be made by contacting 1800 641 107.

Ho Chi Minh City - Gyeongju International Cultural Festival 2017 to take place in November

Ben Thanh Market

Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong and Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do province, Korea Kim Kwan Yong co-chaired a ceremony in HCMC on 21 February to introduce a management board of the 2017 Ho Chi Minh City - Gyeongju International Cultural Festival.

The cultural festival is scheduled to take place from November 9 – December 3 with art and cinema performances, exhibitions, culture exchange, trade and investment promotion activities.

Crown Towers Melbourne Ranked Number One - and Melbourne's Only Five Star Hotel

Crown Towers Melbourne's first-ever inclusion in the Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating listings was made all the more special with the news it delivered a higher composite review score than those who traditionally set the pace for the 'world's best' set. One of only two Australian hotels to be named in this year's Five-Star list, it is also Melbourne's sole Five-Star representative.

Forbes report showed Crown's composite score of 93.97% actually outperformed 15 other prestigious luxury brands which Forbes identifies as offering the highest standard for luxury hotels across the globe – including the likes of MGM Resorts International, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The composite score is developed from the assessment of the hotel against up to 800 objective standards. These standards are the most stringent in the hospitality industry — with Forbes Travel Guide inspectors having stayed anonymously for two nights and three days at each hotel to evaluate every detail of the visit.

Across the 25 core sections and classification score groups, Crown Towers Melbourne achieved a perfect 100% score for Guest Services, Hotel Phone Services, Fitness Facilities, Business Service, Housekeeping Daily Service, Guest Room, Cleanliness & Condition, Courtesy & Manners, Food & Beverage Quality and Staff appearance – demonstrating a high level of performance right across the Crown Towers Melbourne experience.

The prestigious Forbes Five-Star rating reinforces Crown Towers Melbourne's status as the premium in luxury accommodation in Australia and secures its place among the very best in the world.

“We set out to provide an unprecedented level of luxury accommodation and we are both humbled and honoured by this endorsement from Forbes,” says Crown Resorts Chief Operating Officer Hotels, Retail, Food & Beverage, Peter Crinis.

“With luxury travel predicted to continue on a rapid growth trajectory in Australia, it is accolades like this that set us apart as the ultimate hotel destination in the region, and as one of the greatest hotels to visit in the world.”

"We are delighted to recognise the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Rating recipients, which includes an exceptional collection of hotels, restaurants and spas demonstrating the strongest culture of service," said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide.

Crown Towers Melbourne, originally completed in 1997, is an exquisitely designed skyscraper comprising 449 rooms and villas over 38 floors. The property also houses Crown Spa, undeniably Melbourne's finest and most exclusive day spa with lavish décor and private pampering suites.

Located on the southern bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne's central business district, Crown Towers Melbourne is the most extravagant and lavish of the three hotels in Melbourne's Crown Casino complex. Not only is it a short walk to the city, but boast access to the best culinary experiences and entertainment the city has to offer within the complex.

With more than 31 million visits across Perth and Melbourne, Crown Resorts, the owner and operator of the complex that houses Crown Towers Melbourne, is already Australia's largest tourism generator excluding airlines.

For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star ratings, visit www.forbestravelguide.com/about/ratings.

Strong Growth in 2016 Earnings With Increased Market Share and International Reach

AccorHotels has posted an excellent performance for 2016 in a challenging environment, in particular with record levels of EBIT and numbers of hotel rooms opened. Thanks to the efforts made by our teams around the world, we have implemented strong operational levers, which enabled growth in earnings to outpace that in revenue. We have ventured out to conquer new markets and offer new services thereby consolidating our leadership position and opening up new horizons for our clients. Carrying out our project to turn HotelInvest into a subsidiary in 2017 will give us significant headroom to seize the numerous opportunities provided by the rapid transformation of our industry."

Significant events and strategic transactions in 2016

• Robust growth in most of the Group's key markets
• Record development, with 81,042 rooms (347 hotels), of which 89% under management contracts (including 117 hotels and 43,481 rooms via Fairmont Raffles Hotels International) and franchise agreements
• Acquisition of the Fairmont Raffles Hotels International Group, with 98% support at the Shareholders' Meeting of July 12, 2016
• Acquisition of 100% of onefinestay, world leader in luxury serviced home rentals, and 79% of John Paul, world leader in concierge service

Auckland Museum-Tamaki Paenga Hira

Explore the rich and varied stories of Chinese New Zealanders in Being Chinese in Aotearoa: A photographic journey.

This new exhibition celebrating 175 years of Chinese life in New Zealand is launching in February during the hugely popular Lantern Festival in Auckland Domain. Through close to 100 compelling and rarely seen photographs, you can follow the story from the first settlers in 1842 to new migrants in the 2000s, from pioneering goldminers and merchants to architects and entrepreneurs.

Visit Auckland Museum after hours during the Lantern Festival as we stay open until 9pm and share in the diverse cultures that make up Tamaki Makaurau.

Open daily from 10 February, 10am-9pm 11-12 February and 10am-5pm 13 February onwards.

www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on/exhibitions/being-chinese-in-aotearoa-a-photographic-journey

20 Reasons for Working Holiday Makers to pack their bags and move to Sydney in 2017

Sydney is a city like no other. It's home to beautiful beaches, iconic buildings, historic landmarks, award-winning restaurants, and a vibrant culture. With a buoyant economy and warmer weather, Sydney could just be the oasis British Working Holiday Makers are seeking to escape the cold UK winter.

Here are 20 reasons to consider working, living, and visiting Sydney and NSW in 2017:

1. The world’s best beaches will become your backyard

Sydney is blessed with many beautiful sandy beaches perfect for an afternoon swim. Relax on fine white sands, tranquil bays and coves in Sydney Harbour or enjoy the waves at world Bondi Beach.

2. The weather is on point

Sydney’s weather is spectacular and pleasant year round. Move here and you’ll quickly grow accustomed to lengthy summers, mild winters and sunny days. Average Sydney winters are sometimes as warm as the UK Summer.

3. Catch a ferry to work

Going to work will become a breeze when you can start your day with a ferry ride across the Harbour and snap photos of your sunny commute to friends back home on the Tube. All aboard.

4.Sydney serves the best coffee

When it comes to coffee, Sydneysiders are spoilt for choice, whether it’s a perfectly executed, smooth flat white in a rustic setting, or an exotic, fusion-inspired creation at an outdoor café. Coffee stores in Sydney are blending taste and atmosphere to create the perfect cup of caffeinated happiness, and 

5. Instagram photo opportunity.

Sunrises and sunsets will take your breath away. Join the Sydney sunset club in 2017 and make your friends jealous with stunning #nofilterrequired pics of the sun setting over the city’s icons.

6. Have your pick of fresh seafood everyday

Sydney is home to Sydney Fish Market, the largest fish market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Here retailers offer a wide variety of fresh seafood, including the locally grown Sydney rock oysters to buy for dinner or enjoy a fresh seafood meal on the wharf overlooking the water. Sydney Seafood School is also located at the market and holds a variety of seafood cooking classes including some hosted by Australia’s leading chefs.

7. Get up close and personal with the city’s icons

In Sydney the icons are not just to be looked at. You can climb the arches of the Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb Sydney, grab a drink under the sails of the Sydney Opera House at Opera Bar, and even scale the Sydney Sky Tower.

8. The road trip possibilities are endless

Crisscrossed by a network of well-kept highways and scenic, winding roads, New South Wales makes for some of the best road trips in Australia whether heading north, south, east or west. For a coastal idyll, follow the Grand Pacific Drive from Sydney’s Royal National Park south to the city of Wollongong. Ocean pools and beaches abound on the way, alongside fishing villages and the well-known Sydney Hangliding Centre at Bald Hill Headland Reserve

9. Whether it’s ice cream, gelato, sorbet or soft serve, Sydneysiders are spoilt for choice when it comes to delicious icy treats. 

N2 Extreme Gelato is adored for its indulgent flavours like Milo Crème Brulee, Pash Me Pavlova and Chocolate Peanut Butter Sorbet. Cow and Moon in Enmore was awarded World’s Best Gelato for its Mandorla Affogato variety in the Gelato World Tour competition in 2015.

10. Sydney’s beautiful outdoor pools provide a magnificent way to relax and stay fit

Along with its glorious coastline and famous beaches, Sydney has a superb collection of ocean pools and swimming baths. Whether you’re a lap swimmer or out for a leisurely dip, you’ll love the dazzling Sydney Harbour views or the splendid ocean panoramas from the pools.

11. Gardens, greenspace and National Parks are scattered all over the city

Sydney’s idyllic parks have garnered international attention for their natural beauty and unspoiled old world feel. Whether you’re visiting an inner city space such as Hyde Park or Royal Botanic Garden Sydney or biking and bushwalking your way through the Royal National Park or Ku-rin-gai Chase National Park, no trip to this city is complete without relaxing somewhere green and taking in the view.

12. The arts and cultural calendar in Sydney is everything

From the Sydney Festival to the fabulous light displays of Vivid Sydney, there’s a multitude of awesome arts and cultural events in Sydney each year, as well as great galleries, museums, gigs and performances.

13. You’ll get to see some of the best sporting events in the world

With thriving sporting facilities throughout the city, Sydney plays host to some of the most thrilling international sporting events in the world, along with some of Australia’s top domestic sporting competitions. Join the electric atmosphere at ANZ stadium in July when English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal plays two back-to-back matches against local sides Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers.

14. Every year Sydney hosts the largest festival of light music and ideas Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is a unique annual event of light, music and ideas, featuring an outdoor ‘gallery’ of extraordinary lighting sculptures, a cutting-edge contemporary music program, some of the world’s most important creative industry forums and, of course, the spectacular illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails. Light up your 2017 and discover the magic of the world’s largest festival light, music and ideas from 26 May to 17 June.

15. Sydney is the gateway city to start your adventures exploring the rest of NSW

There’s plenty of options for day trips and weekends away from Sydney and there are some beautiful places to explore, many even accessible by public transport; which makes for a budget- friendly day out. Head to the stunning Blue Mountains for bushwalks and to see the Three Sisters rock formation, spend a weekend on the South Coast exploring its stunning beaches and national parks, or sign up for a wine tour of the Hunter Valley. All are within a couple of hours’ drive of the city and well worth the trip. Image:

16. Meet the wildlife

Annie the platypus, Rex the crocodile and Wuru the dugong are just some of the amazing animals you’ll meet in Sydney’s famous zoos and aquariums. Australia has many unique animals including koalas and kangaroos, and Sydney is a great city to see them up close at Taronga Zoo, WILD LIFE Sydney and SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

17. Sydney has some of the best roof top bars and beer gardens to soak up the sunshine.

From the harbour, to the northern beaches, to the western suburbs you’ll never be short of a picturesque outdoor bar to have a drink with friends. The Newport set on shores of stunning Pittwater in Sydney’s north has an expansive beer garden with a fantastic seafood focussed menu.

18. The city is a shopaholics dream

Shopping in Sydney has it all, from international labels and innovative local designers to buzzy markets and tours of hidden gems and discount outlets. The beautifully restored Queen Victoria Building in the city centre is an arcade full of splendid boutiques. Outdoor markets are brimming with stalls, from fresh produce to the next big fashion name.

19. Sydney is a city you will fall in love with

From the outgoing and friendly people, to the outdoor healthy lifestyle Sydney will steal your heart. The multicultural food offering including Thai, Mexican, Vietnamese, African and Chinese will also win over your taste buds.

20. Flight specials mean you’d be silly not to book now

Student Universe have flights to Sydney from London under £500 visit student universe. STA also have great one-way and return flight deals on offer here.

More information about living and working in Sydney can be found at http://www.sydney.com/workstudyplay

Harvard Museum of Natural History Joins the Boston CityPASS Program

Beginning March 1, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, located on the historic Harvard University campus, will join the Boston CityPASS® program. For 20 years, CityPASS ticket booklets have allowed travelers to visit a destination's top attractions while saving nearly half off combined admission prices. Each 2017 Boston CityPASS booklet includes prepaid, discounted admission to the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center, and a choice between either a Boston Harbor Cruise or the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Blurring the line between science and art, two stunning collections at the Harvard Museum of Natural History are must-sees. The impressive Glass Flowers collection, which was started in 1886 by father and son artists Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka and took more than five decades to complete, features 2,000 dazzling, intricate and botanically precise glass flowers. Years before they were commissioned by Harvard University to create the Glass Flowers, the Blaschkas meticulously shaped glass into lifelike models of marine and terrestrial animals. Sixty of their oceanic creations—delicate jellyfish and anemones, octopus, tentacled squid and bizarre-looking sea slugs captured in glass—are now part of a permanent display titled Sea Creatures in Glass.

Once you've been dazzled by the glass collections, explore the museum's 15 remaining galleries and 9,000 additional specimens. See thousands of rare minerals and gemstones, hundreds of mammals and birds, and the new Marine Life gallery. The exhibits document the earth's evolution from the days of dinosaurs to such modern challenges as climate change and species extinction.

As of March 1, the start of the program year, each 2017 Boston CityPASS ticket booklet will save travelers 45 percent off combined admission to the included attractions. Boston CityPASS prices (as of March 1): $56 for adults (a value of $102); $44 for children, age 3-11 (value $78). Ticket booklets can be purchased online at CityPASS.com or at any of the participating attractions. They are valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017, CityPASS has been making vacations easier, happier and more affordable for two decades. CityPASS booklets, which save travelers up to 50 percent off admission to a destination's top attractions and allow visitors to bypass some main-entrance ticket lines, have a 98 percent customer recommendation rating. CityPASS booklets are available for New York City, Southern California, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Toronto. Visit CityPASS.com to learn more.

www.citypass.com

Whitehaven Beach once again voted best in Australia!

Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays has once again been voted the best beach in Australia by discerning travellers.

TripAdvisor has analysed millions of reviews to release its best beaches in Australia list for its 2017 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

This is the fourth year running that Whitehaven Beach – 7kms of pure white 98% silica sand located on Whitsunday Island – has topped the list. Award-winning beaches were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor, gathered over a 12-month period.

Queensland is home to some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world with many Queensland beaches dominating the Top 10 list.

Tourism Whitsundays CEO Craig Turner said this made the win even more special.

“We know Queensland has stunning beaches so Whitehaven Beach being voted no 1 out of all of them really does say it all,” Mr Turner said.

“I think Whitehaven Beach stands out because it is completely natural – just sand, sea and sunshine. As one TripAdvisor reviewer put it - “Best beach, purest white sand, and bluest water I have ever seen”.

“Everyone who goes there is blown away by its pristine beauty and, not surprisingly, it is one of the most photographed beaches in the world.”

Tourism and Events Queensland’s chief executive Leanne Coddington said it was fantastic to see Queensland’s diverse coastal destinations strongly represented amongst TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Travellers’ Choice Awards for Beaches.

“Queensland’s reefs, islands and beaches are signature experiences and a drawcard for millions of visitors each year,” she said.