A beautiful beach on Heron Island.
Source: Supplied
DO YOU have any information about motorbike riding tours through India? I read or saw something about it recently but can’t remember the name of the company.
Doc: You could be thinking of Extreme Bike Tours, they were featured on a special edition of TV series Top Gear program and focus on touring in throughout India. But, as their name suggests, you will need to have previous experience riding a motorbike, be licensed and confident enough to handle it in an off-road situation. If you have a partner who wants to travel with you they can easily do this as a pillion passenger of either yours or a crew member, or they can join the in and tour along in one of the group’s support vehicles. Each tour has a team of cooks, guides and bike-riding sherpas to help and there’s also a mechanic on hand for mishaps. Trips such as the 15-day South India Five Star departing in February next year 2014 start at $4450 a person. Or, you may wish to try something like the Mighty Himalayan tour which costs about $3850. This particular trip only has four departures in June, July and August next year of 2014 as the roads, including the world’s highest road at 5600m, can only be used in summer. Another alternative is the 12-day Roof of the World tour through the North Leh-Ladakh region with tour company Pierce and Leslie. You begin and end the tour in Delhi, and pre and post-tour extensions are possible. Highlights include a visit to the hill station of Manali, the villages and markets of Ladakh, a visit to the Alchi Monastery and a stop at Pangong Lake, the highest saltwater lake in the world. Currently priced at about $2600 a person, twin share, this can be booked through Travel Associates.
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WE HAVE decided to holiday locally this year and wonder if you can recommend or know
of anywhere in Queensland that is involved with green and eco tourism?
Doc: The Great Barrier Reef’s Heron Island is certified in Advanced Ecotourism, and has its own research station and a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger Station. The island produces its own power and water and you are able to join in on the research walks. Heron is also well known for great snorkelling and diving, in the waters around the island with the water temperature rarely falling below 20C. Humpback whales can be sighted between May and October and sea turtles lay eggs with hatching between November and February.
The Binna Burra Mountain Lodge is about 90 minutes’ drive from Brisbane in the Lamington National Park. This heritage-listed property was the first in Australia to receive the Green Globe Certificate and has been listed in the top 10 Eco Lodges in the world. There is a large range of accommodation, great spectacular views and trails many walks
for you to take
through the national park.
Closer to Brisbane is Mt Cotton Guesthouse on 20ha of bushland. Here you can choose from eco cabins or BB, and there have been more than 70 species of birds identified on the property. It’s also been declared a private nature reserve and koala conservation area.
The Daintree Eco Lodge is about 90 minutes’ drive north of Cairns and is also a spa with Aboriginal-inspired therapies. Aboriginal guided rainforest walks, 4WD safaris, Barrier Reef tours and horse riding are some of the activities you can do there. Rates for a three-night package including breakfast, a guided walk and spa treatment, start at $500 a night for two.
WE ARE travelling to Singapore to join a cruise. At the end of our cruise we arrive back in Singapore early in the morning and depart for Sydney late at night. I am wondering if you are aware of some hotels that accept short stays with and will accept us for an early
check-in and a check-out of about 10pm?
Doc: Usually the hotels downtown will charge either their full daily rate or at least 50 per cent of their full rate, and, depending on their occupancy, will assess an individual request for day use on the day.
The Robertson Quay Hotel can offer a rate of about $180 for day use, but if you don’t want to spend that much and you want to spend the day looking exploring Singapore, there are a couple of other options available to you.
Should your cruise end at the new Marina Bay Cruise Centre (mbccs.com.sg), you have the choice of storing your bags for the day for about $15 and having the use of their shower facilities; or if you are flying Singapore Airlines you can check your bags in at the Cruise Centre, receive your boarding passes and not have to get to the airport until much later. Another option is to head straight to Changi Airport, where you have two options. The first is the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. This new hotel is attached to the airport and will offer a day rate of about $130.
The second is to check with your airline, as many at Singapore Airport – including Jetstar and Qantas – allow early check-in, then once inside the terminal there is the Ambassador Transit Hotel, swimming pool, movies and many other activities to fill in time.
Indian motorbike tour and eco-touring in Queensland
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