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Holidays you’d be happy to spend your life savings on

<p>There’s nothing better than an amazing travel adventure that makes you stop, look at the world around and you have life-altering “ah-ha” moments. These are the holidays that dreams are made of. You’ve worked hard your whole life – go on, you deserve it.</p> <p><strong>Swim with sea turtles in the Galapagos Islands</strong></p> <p>Step right into your own nature documentary with a visit to the home of Darwin’s evolution theory. Get up close to wildlife that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else- Blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises and marine iguanas to name just a few.</p> <p>You can choose to live on board a cruise, or join an island-hopping cruise where you sleep in small hotels and hostels on different islands.</p> <p>Swim or snorkel with sea turtles and sea lions, hike volcanic craters or just kick back and snap away on your camera.</p> <p>If you really want to push the boat out (pun intended!) you could add another adventure. Explore Ecuador, where cruises to the Galapagos Islands depart from, or hop over to Peru and see the Machu Picchu. If trekking isn’t your thing, take a guided tour where you stay in a lodge each night, or board the Orient Express at Cusco to tick off another bucket list item!</p> <p>For more information visit the Over60 Global Journeys South America section <a href="http://oversixty.globaljourneys.com.au/coach_tours/south_america/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>.</p> <p><strong>Expedition cruise to Antarctica</strong></p> <p>It might be the coldest, windiest, emptiest, driest continent on earth, but an expedition cruise to Antarctica is one of the hottest destinations for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.</p> <p>If spectacular iceberg formations and abundant wildlife such as whales, seals and penguins appeal to you, then this has to go on your bucket list.</p> <p>You can choose a cruise that retraces the footsteps of Scott and Shackleton, or one that offers activities for keen kayakers, photographers or wildlife enthusiasts.</p> <p>Most cruises depart from South America, so why not extend your holiday while you’re there and travel around South America too? We’re sold.</p> <p>For more information visit G Adventures <a href="http://www.gadventures.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>. </p> <p><strong>Track the ‘Big Five’ in Africa</strong></p> <p>Tanzania is well-established as one of the best wildlife-viewing destinations in the world, but when you head out on a private jeep safari at dawn from your luxury lodge, you’ll feel like there are just the incredible animals, and you.</p> <p>Tick off the big five: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos as you watch the sun come up over the Serengeti plain, one of the 10 natural travel wonders of the world.</p> <p>Include a stop-over at Kenya and visit a Masai village, or for the extremely adventurous, Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t far away. Finish your trip with some R&R time on Zanzibar, an island full of Arabian influence and stunning beaches just off the coast of Tanzania.</p> <p>For more information visit the Over60 Global Journeys Africa section <a href="http://oversixty.globaljourneys.com.au/coach_tours/africa/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>. </p> <p><strong>Grand Canyon and the Rockies</strong></p> <p>One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is North America’s must-see destination. Zoom over the parched red rock formations in a light aircraft or helicopter, or trek down to the bottom on horseback or on foot.</p> <p>Then fly to Colorado to start a tour of the incredible Rocky Mountains. Stay on a ranch in cowboy country and pretend you’re in a spaghetti western, spot bears, elk and bison in Yellowstone National Park and get a taste of what the pioneers first discovered when they started moving westwards. Keep heading north on one of the most spectacular journeys in the world through Glacier, Banff and Jasper National Parks, and finish your trip in stunning Vancouver.</p> <p>For more information visit the Over60 Global Journeys USA section <a href="http://oversixty.globaljourneys.com.au/coach_tours/usa/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here</strong></span></a>. </p> <p>Prices vary depending on the level of luxury and length of trip.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty / Shutterstock</em></p>

International Travel

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Popular diving spot loses its top

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Darwin’s Arch, the famed rock structure in the Galapagos Islands, has lost its top, with officials blaming natural erosion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ecuador’s Environment Ministry reported the collapse on Facebook on Monday, May 17. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The post said: “This event is a consequence of natural erosion. Darwin’s Arch is made of natural stone that at one time would have been part of Darwin Island, which is not open to visits by land.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This site is considered one of the best places on the planet to dive and observe schools of sharks and other species.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Informamos que hoy 17 de mayo, se reportó el colapso del Arco de Darwin, el atractivo puente natural ubicado a menos de un kilómetro de la isla principal Darwin, la más norte del archipiélago de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gal%C3%A1pagos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Galápagos</a>. Este suceso sería consecuencia de la erosión natural. <br /><br />📷Héctor Barrera <a href="https://t.co/lBZJWNbgHg">pic.twitter.com/lBZJWNbgHg</a></p> — Ministerio del Ambiente y Agua de Ecuador (@Ambiente_Ec) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ambiente_Ec/status/1394397390384341004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 43 metres high, 70 metres long, and 23 metres wide, the rock structure is a popular spot for scuba divers less than 1km away from Darwin Island and 1000km from mainland Ecuador.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The unique plants and animals on the island are famed in part for inspiring Charles Darwin’s thoughts on evolution, and the rock formation was later named after the scientist.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The arch is also famous for its underwater encounters with sea turtles, whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jen Jones of the Galapagos Conservation Trust said the charity was “sad to hear the news about Darwin’s Arch collapsing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The collapse of the arch is a reminder of how fragile our world is. While there is little that we as humans can do to stop geological processes such as erosion, we can endeavour to protect the island’s precious marine life.”</span></p>

International Travel

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South America's big 5: Where to travel

<p>If you’re seeking trends in travel look no further than the terms “7 Wonders” and “Big 5”. The original Seven Wonders were of the ancient world and few survive today.</p> <p>However, now you can find any number of variations on modern, natural, big, exotic, new, manmade, etc, wonders to the power of seven.</p> <p>The original Big Five was a list of the most dangerous animals in Africa: lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephant. Now there’s a South American Big Five but rather than danger they represent the continent’s most desirable adventure destinations. It’s certainly a list to aspire to: Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon and Iguazu Falls.</p> <p>There’s enough there to justify several return trips to South America.</p> <p><strong>Machu Picchu</strong><br />Hidden within the Andes, this Inca citadel is perched on a ridge with a deep river valley on all sides. Few who make the trek along the Inca Trail to come into the sanctuary through the Sun Gate will believe that it is at considerably lower elevation than the entry city of Cusco.</p> <p>Machu Picchu is a mystical place where little of its original purpose is known. The Peruvian government has tried to limit visitor numbers but it can still be crowded, particularly when the day trippers arrive on the trains from historic Cusco. To fully appreciate it you need to stay overnight to be there early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the crowds have gone and you feel alone with the ruins and the mountains.</p> <p><strong>Galapagos islands</strong><br />Like Antarctica, the Galapagos is a place where local wildlife regard humans as largely irrelevant. For those who love nature it’s paradise. It’s beautiful, too. And there’s the historic element that this is where Darwin found the basis for his proposal that natural selection was the basis of evolution.</p> <p>You can explore some of the Galapagos on a land-based tour, but the best option by far is to take a cruise. If you have a chance to snorkel with playful sea lions do it – it’ll provide a lifetime of funny memories.</p> <p><strong>Rio de Janeiro</strong><br />The Marvelous City is perhaps the most dynamic destination in the world. The setting is superb from the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema to the cable car up Sugarloaf while Christ the Redeemer (a modern Seven Wonder) looks on from Corcavado.</p> <p>Just watching the scene on any of the beaches is worth the visit alone. But Rio has a dark side so it really is a city to explore with someone who knows where to go – and where not to go.</p> <p><strong>The Amazon River</strong><br />The greatest river in the world is surrounded by the largest rainforest on earth. The Amazon is more than 10km wide in parts and carries by far the greatest flow of any river. Everything else is on a similar scale. There are catfish that weigh more than 80kg and anacondas that exceed five metres in length and weigh almost 100kg. Then there are the birds, from colourful parrots and toucans to tiny hummingbirds.</p> <p>The lower river is where it is widest and can be navigated by ocean-going vessels. But it’s in the upper reaches that you really feel you are in a remarkable forest with an incredible river flowing through it. You need at least a few days to experience it. Swimming with piranha, anyone?</p> <p><strong>Iguazu Falls</strong><br />Okay, first we need to clear up the name. The name is a derivation of a local name but the local Argentinian town is Puerto Iguazú while Brazil’s is Foz do Iguaçu or Iguassu. <br />No matter which side (and ideally both) the falls really are a sight. Effectively, a whole giant river pours out of the jungle into a large horseshoe gorge over some 300 falls, the largest of which is simply known as the Devil’s Throat. On the Argentinean side you can stroll a series of walkways through the falls while the Brazilian side offers an amazing panorama.</p> <p>Unless you are heading off on an extended holiday along the Gringo Trail (the Latin version of the ancient Hippy Trail across Asia) it’s unlikely you’ll cover all this on a single journey. At least that was true until now.</p> <p><em>Written by David McGonigal. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/south-americas-big-5.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p> <p> </p>

Cruising

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You can now sail on Grace Kelly's honeymoon yacht around the Galapagos

<p>The yacht that was gifted to Prince Rainier of Monaco and his bride, Grace Kelly, for their wedding present has been restored and is now  open to the public to set sail around the Galapagos.</p> <p>The yacht was gifted to the royal couple in 1956 by Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis.</p> <p>It was built in 1928 and before it was given to Grace Kelly, it was owned by Santiago Soulas, who used it for personal trips across the Atlantic.</p> <p>The yacht was used during World War II to sail Winston Churchill to the Mediterranean where he visited the British ships.</p> <p>After the war, Aristotle Onassis claimed the ship and renovated it before giving it to Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly at their wedding.</p> <p>The newlyweds named the yacht ‘Deo Juvente II’ and sailed along the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia in it on their honeymoon.</p> <p>In 2007, the vessel was acquired by Quasar Expeditions and they rechristened her the M/Y Grace.</p> <p>Now, the restored yacht is open to the public who can sail around the Galapagos.</p> <p>It can accommodate up to 25 guests at one time and guests can enjoy various activities, such as kayaking, snorkelling and hikes.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see inside the beautifully restored yacht. </p>

International Travel

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Cruise line to increase Galapagos Islands tours

<p>The Galápagos Islands have never been closer, with Celebrity Cruises set to expand its capacity for the route by a whopping 65 per cent through the planned acquisition of award-winning Galápagos Islands tour operator Ocean Adventures.</p> <p>As part of the deal, Celebrity Cruises will operate Ocean Adventures' two ships, the 48-guest ship M/V Eclipse and the 16-guest catamaran M/C Athala II.</p> <p>Celebrity Cruises has been visiting the Galápagos Islands for more than a decade with its 100-guests Celebrity Xpedition cruise, and the new additions to the Galápagos line-up will allow guests greater control regarding the level of intimacy they want with their holiday.</p> <p>"Our guests use the most amazing words to describe their journeys to the Galápagos Islands, said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President &amp; CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “They tell us the experience is 'once in a lifetime,' 'awe-inspiring,' even 'life-changing.'" </p> <p>"That's why we’ve made Celebrity Xpedition such a special experience, and why we are thrilled to expand our Galápagos program with these two intimate ships. We want to make more lifetime memories."</p> <p><strong>Newer choices and greater intimacy</strong></p> <p>The new additions to the Celebrity Cruises fleet will greatly expand the possibilities for regular cruises, group booking and custom charters, with their smaller sizes leading to a more intimate experience.</p> <p>The two vessel with join Celebrity Cruises in autumn pending the closing of the deal. They will briefly be dry-docked and refurbished in January 2017.</p> <p>All existing Ocean Adventures’ bookings and reservation commitments will remain unchanged, before and after the dry-dock.</p> <p><strong>A commitment to sustainability</strong></p> <p>As part of its commitment to the Galápagos Islands, Celebrity Cruises rigorously follows guidelines set by local authorities to protect the assets of the Ecuadorian archipelago.</p> <p>"The most extraordinary part of a Galápagos journey is truly the destination, which is one of the most important environmental places in the world," Ms Lutoff-Perlo says. "It is our obligation to protect this sensitive and beautiful place, and to educate our guests about its amazing qualities. Permits to sail these waters are carefully rationed, and we are committed to doing our part to protect these islands for future generations."</p> <p>For more info on <a href="http://www.celebritycruises.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Celebrity Cruises</span></strong></em></a> or to book your own Galapagos trip, <em><strong><a href="http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-xpedition" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span>.</a></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Click here to read more about Over60 Travel Insurance</span>.</a></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/02/massive-storm-hit-a-cruise-ship/">Watch this massive storm hit a cruise liner</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/02/gastro-outbreak-on-sydney-cruise-ship/">158 passengers struck with gastro on cruise ship docked in Sydney</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/02/romantic-destinations-for-your-next-cruise/%20">10 romantic destinations for your next cruise</a></span></strong></em></p>

Cruising

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Tortoises born on Galapagos island for the first time in a century

<p>For the first time in more than 100 years, researchers have found newborn baby tortoises on the tiny Galapagos island of Pinzón.&nbsp;</p><p>“We found 10 tiny, newly hatched saddleback tortoises on the island early last month,” wrote researchers in Nature in Janyart. “There could be many more, because their size and camouflage makes them hard to spot. Our discovery indicates that the giant tortoise is once again able to reproduce on its own in the wild.”</p><p>According to the Galapagos Conservancy, both whalers and invasive rats devastated the species when they arrived aboard ships in the 17th and 18th centuries.</p><p>The tiny turtle babies validates more than 50 years of conservation efforts, which have included growing hatchlings in captivity until they are large enough to be released without falling prey to rats, as well as a push to eradicate the rodents. The island was finally declared rat-free in 2012.</p><p><strong>Related links:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/02/dachshund-helps-save-st-bernard-friend/" target="_blank">Meet the dachshund who saved his St Bernard best friend</a></strong></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/02/koala-driving-car/" target="_blank">This koala is a would-be carjacker</a>&nbsp;</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/02/abused-pit-bull-finds-home/" target="_blank">An abused pit bull has found a new home and a new fashion sense</a></strong></em></span></p>

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