It's all go in Goa and Banff films are touring

The Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, Canada, will feature in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival touring Australia. Source: Supplied

The pool at the new Swissotel Goa in India, which is due to open in March 2013. Source: Supplied

GOA has a new luxury Swissotel resort, and movie lovers will be able to take in some awesome scenery when the Banff Film Festival tours Australia.

1. A world of action

ADVENTURE lovers will be able to see the latest in extreme action when the best mini-movies from the Banff Mountain Film Festival tour Australia from April to June.

This year's crowd favourites feature Antarctica, Yosemite National Park in the US, skiing in Japan, whitewater rafting in New Zealand and the Grand Canyon.

For dates and tickets see banffaustralia.com.au

2. Explore Goa from a luxurious base

SWISSOTEL Hotels and Resorts has opened a luxurious property in the popular Indian coastal spot Goa.

The 135-room hotel is in the town of Calangute, about 16km from the capital Panaji and within an hour's drive from the international airport. Spread across eight three-level buildings with Indian artworks throughout, the hotel will have an all-day dining restaurant, pool bar, cafe, fitness centre, adult and children's pools, kids club and beach club.

See swissotel.com

3. Law of cooking

ONE-time MasterChef finalist Billy Law is leading his second tour of his home country Malaysia in October.

The eight-day tour includes visits to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, the charming historic town of Melaka and the foodies' paradise of Penang.

Sydney chef and restaurateur Jackie M will host a cooking demonstration in Melaka after a tour of the local wet markets and there's a hands-on cooking class at Bayan Indah Culinary Retreat.

It costs $4050, twin share, (excluding flights).

See uniqueculinarytours.com

4. Sleep art

HOTEL group Ibis has launched a new Sleep Art app which captures movement, sounds and vibrations to create art while you sleep. The app, available for new generation iPhones and the iOS 5 and 6 operating systems, converts data into virtual brush strokes. The art is stored in a virtual gallery so that users can compare each night's sleep and share via email or Facebook. The app can be downloaded via iTunes.

5. Jump the Q

Q STATION retreat at Manly has introduced a health and wellness package showcasing some of the area's best activities including yoga, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, bike riding and boot camp. Prices start from $580 a couple midweek and $620 on the weekend including a stay for two people and breakfast at the retreat's Boilerhouse Restaurant. A ferry runs six times daily from Circular Quay, Watsons Bay and Darling Harbour. 

Ph 9466 1500 or see qstation.com.au
 

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Short films spearhead tourism push

Tourism Australia is launching a series of short films showcasing Australia's best nature experiences, people and wildlife. Source: Supplied

• Gallery: Sydney Harbour, National Landscape
• Tourism Australia is launching a series of short films
• Sydney Harbour has been added to a National Landscapes program

AUSTRALIA'S best nature and wildlife experiences will be showcased in a collection of short films which will be shown around the world.

Tourism Australia today launched the Wildiaries National Landscapes Series featuring 16 short films which will be rolled out on social media such as Facebook and on its website.

Sydney Harbour also became the 16th area to be added to Australia's National Landscapes program - a partnership with Parks Australia which recognises places of great cultural, natural and spiritual significance including World Heritage-listed sites.

The Sydney Harbour National Landscape stretches across 1000sq km of beaches and rivers, islands and bushland from Royal National Park in the south to Barrenjoey Headland in the north and west to Parramatta Park, taking in the Georges, Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers.

Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson and Environment Minister Tony Burke announced the new tourism push for Sydney's spectacular Harbour.

"It is fitting that spectacular Sydney Harbour joins Australia's National Landscapes collection, which now showcases 16 iconic Australian environments and their people, from the Red Centre to the Great Barrier Reef and to Tasmania's Island Heritage," he said.

Sydney Harbour named as a National Landscape.

Australia's National Landscapes program - Kayaking on Sydney Harbour.

"With our world-famous harbour at its heart, this landscape is the first glimpse that welcomes 42 per cent of international visitors to Australia.

"Sydney Harbour offers a taste of the uniquely Australian natural and cultural experiences that our international visitors are looking for, particularly in markets such as China."

Environment Minister Tony Burke said visitors are spoiled with opportunities to discover Australia's Aboriginal and convict heritage and encounter native wildlife, right on the city's doorstep.

"When you have landmarks as iconic as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, it's easy for people to make the mistake that they can take a photograph in each direction and they have seen Sydney Harbor," he said.

"The reason for recognising our Harbour on the National Landscapes is for people to realise there is easily a week of exploring you can do around Sydney Harbour and still find new experiences and life long memories every day.

Mr Burke said Sydney offered World Heritage-listed convict sites at Cockatoo Island and Parramatta's Old Government House as well as the one o'clock cannon which still strikes at historic Fort Denison.

Australia's National Landscapes program - Sydney Harbour.

"Beneath the busy water traffic lives a surprising wealth of marine life, with more than 580 species of fish and a chance to see whales, little penguins, dolphins, even kelp forests with sea dragons," he said.

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