Regional News!

Mareeba Wetlands - Jabiru Camp News Feed

Mareeba Wetlands / Jabiru Safari Lodge was officially awarded Advanced Ecotourism accreditation after implementing a range of systems to ensure best business practice. The operators have embarked on a tree planting program to help revegetate the Mareeba Wetland Reserve and are opening new solar powered and energy efficient tent-cabins. All tours have eco-focused interpretation.

Latest Launches!

TRAVSTAR NEWS - Tablelands News Feed

Edit our Region Guide!

We need some help in the Travstar office to keep our region guide up to date. Its a big job and with so many beautiful areas and hidden spots we need the help of locals and tourists alike to ensure the information we provide is accurate and up to date.

For those who love the region as much as we do, polish up on your creative writing skills and hit the edit button on the category you would like to update. Your contribution will be sent through to us where we will check to ensure it is suitable before publishing on our website.

Share your ideas and experiences with the world!

Latest Launches

TRAVSTAR NEWS - Tablelands News Feed

Welcome to Travstar and the official launch of our NEW Travstar news!

We aim to keep you updated on the latest tourism news in Cairns from regional updates to new launches, press releases and the latest advice.
We also aim to keep you updated on the latest events here at travstar.com. We will feature our new incentives, new package deals, focus on the latest feeback from our clients and spotlight on our favourite tours and accommodation giving you our real thoughts and experiences.

Did you know Travstar is located right here in Cairns? We are Cairns' biggest and longest running online travel specialist servicing the whole of the Far North Region. Our team consists of 7 friendly Cairns locals all budding holiday enthusiasts, who are excited to share with you what our special region has to offer.

We want to make your holiday an experience of a lifetime and we can offer you the latest advice and recommendations to tailor make your holiday to your personal needs.

We are proud to be members of the Travel Compensation Fund, Australian Federation of Travel Agents, International Air Transport Association and Tropical Tourism North Queensland, so you can be assured your holiday is in safe hands!

Our office is open 7 days a week from 7:00am - 6:00pm. If you need some holiday advice just give us a call on 1800 663 396.

Happy Travels!

Travstar Team

A New Tour starts in April

Food Trail Tours - Highlander Food Trails News Feed

From April we will have two tours. Mareeba Tour Monday, Thursday, Saturday (plus Tues 8 April) This is the tour we have now been doing for 5 years. Highlander Tour Wednesday, Friday, Sunday The new tour will do a loop of the Tablelands, going up the Kuranda range, across the Tablelands, and will then return via the Gillies Highway. Features of the new Highlander Tour NQ Gold Coffee Plantation - tour and tasting deBruey’s Boutique Winery - Wine tastings Wondaree Macadamia Plantation - tour and tastings Barramundi Lunch Wild Mountain Cellars – Wine tastings Gallo Dairyland – Cheeses tastings, Chocolates, and the milking shed Curtain Fig Tree Morning and Afternoon tea. Recent Feedback We loved this trip because we went to small family farms and we were able to interact with the owners and family members who worked the business. Our guide was excellent and told us all the important facts about the area. Bill & Sharon Healdsbururg and Sara & Art Tevendale CA USA Food Trail Tours is a different type of tour, which gave an insight into aspects of Australian life which sightseeing tours do not. We know a lot more about Australian life as a result. Brenda & Jay Kirby. Ireland

Outback Country Rock & Blues

Undara Lava Tubes - Undara Lava Lodge News Feed

APRIL 18th - 20th 2008 3 Days, 23 ARTIST, 2 STAGES, AND OVER 20 HOURS OF LIVE MUSIC !! Announcing our feature artist, FELICITY URQUHART: Golden Guitar winner , Female Vocalist of the Year – ACMLA People’s Choice Awards Female Vocalist of the Year – Tamworth Independent Artists’ Recognition Awards (TIARAs) Female Vocalist of the Year – Australian Independent Country Music Awards (Mildura) Felicity has won two MO Awards and three ACE awards. Other Artists include Luke O’Shea and Medicine Wheel, Steve Eales, Mark Nuske, Corey Livey (Australian Idol), Nellie Donovan and The Rain, Shane Flew and Keri McInerney and The River band. Program Friday Program 6pm till 12.45pm (Followed by a Jam Session around the Campfire after the show) Saturday Program 12pm till 4pm - Songwriters Circle - Acoustic sets held at Undara Central featuring major and local original aritsts. 6pm till 12.45 - Main show featuring all lead acts. Sunday “Recover” Program 11am - 2pm - Final All-Star Show

Opera in the Outback

Undara Lava Tubes - Undara Lava Lodge News Feed

ANNOUNCING OPERA IN THE OUTBACK will be held on 10th and 11th October - 2008 Voted #10 - 100 Great Things to do in Australia That You’ve Never Heard Of, Australian Traveller Magazine 2007. Pitch your tent, Roll out your swag or get into your caravan for Australia's most unique, magical outback event. If you enjoy a magical evening and love superb singing then come and be entertained over 2 nights by a sparkling and theatrical performance of your favourite songs from all the greatest operas, Broadway shows and contemporary classical hits to be held once again in the outback at Undara Experience. Sitting out under the stars in the amphitheatre for two one-hour sets while the sun sets, you will be mesmerised by five professional opera singers in this unexpected setting. Two separate shows will be performed by Australian singing sensations Pot-Pourri, just returned from their international success in Asia, New Zealand and Europe. Meet prospective lovers, divine divas, a tempting tenor, booming baritone and a ravishing pianist with highlights from Madam Butterfly, The Pearl Fishers, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Cats, Lakme, Turandot, Carmen, Phantom of the Opera and divine arrangements of contemporary hits from Morricone and IL DIVO to Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli and lots more!! Tickets Friday night: Broadway in the Bush $85 Saturday Night?: Opera in the Outback $110 Kids half price.

Bird Sightings

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat - Rose Gums Retreat News Feed

Spring is here and the birds are extremely active in their mating displays. Jon has found 8 Tooth-billed Bowerbird courts and 3 Victoria Riflebird display posts on the waterfall track. The Channel-billed Cuckoos have arrived from New Guinea to harasss the Currawongs and lay eggs in their nests. The Orange-footed Scrubfowl and Red-necked Crakes are calling at night. Blue-faced Parrot-finches have been sighted nearby. It won’t be long before they forage amongst the grasses at Rose Gums.

Mr Lee’s Kitchen

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat - Rose Gums Retreat News Feed

Our guests can now dine every night in our own in-house restaurant as the traditional Laos cuisine on weekends proved to be so popular. Lao requests guests to book by 4 pm that afternoon so he has enough time to prepare.

Carbon Audit

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat - Rose Gums Retreat News Feed

Rose Gums has completed a carbon audit by an independent consultant.

We can now gauge better where we can reduce our carbon emissions and take heart in the amount of carbon our 13 year old forest is locking up. We are changing over to more efficient lighting and appliances; recycling more since our local shire council introduced a recycling program; and all our cleaning practices and products are as green as you can get.

Thank you Enjo and Enviroclean. To offset the carbon footprint of a guest per night Costs $1–20. This is an option for our visitors.

TTNQ Award - Unique Accommodation

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat - Rose Gums Retreat News Feed

On Saturday 13 October Rose Gums received its third consecutive TTNQ award in Cairns for Unique Accommodation. Winning the award recognised a lot of hard work by our reception, housekeeping, gardening and marketing staff. We thank all who complete our survey sheets and offer us advice as guest satisfaction is the most important part of our business.

• April 2008 (3)
• March 2008 (3)
• November 2007 (3)
• October 2007 (1)
• September 2007 (1)
• July 2007 (1)