Tourism Queensland has rounded up the hottest holiday deals for visitors keen to warm up in Queensland for less!

BRISBANE

Save $272 per couple with Tangalooma Island Resort's Discovery Deal. For $79 per person per night enjoy overnight accommodation, return launch transfers between Brisbane and Moreton Island, a dolphin feeding experience and free land-based tours and activities. Guest booking a whale watch cruise will also receive another free. Tel: 1300 652250; www.tangalooma.com.

Oaks Hotels & Resorts are offering Winter Warmth packages at four premier Brisbane properties. For $149 enjoy two nights accommodation twin-share at Oaks Festival Towers, Oaks 212 Margaret, Oaks River City and $159 for two nights at Oaks Charlotte Towers. Tel: 1800 654 640; www.theoaksgroup.com.au.

GOLD COAST

Tamborine Mountain's Cedar Creek Lodges at Thunderbird Park in the Gold Coast hinterland are offering two nights for the price of one from $149 and three nights for the price of two from $298 valid until the end of August, 2009. Christmas in July packages are also available from $1498 per person including twin share accommodation, cooked breakfast and a three course Christmas dinner. Tel: (07) 55451468; www.cedarcreeklodges.com.au.

Watermark Hotel and Spa, Surfers Paradise is offering accommodation from $88 per person per night in a Superior Room and $149 per person per night at Club Watermark. Valid to August 31, 2009. www.watermarkhotelgc.com.au

Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, Coolangatta is offering a special nightly rate of $160 per person twin share for three night bookings in the recently upgraded hotel rooms in the original Ocean Tower. www.twintowns.com.au

CAIRNS AND TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort and Big Cat Cruises' family friendly package offers three nights accommodation in a resort double room for two adults and two children, daily buffet breakfast, dull day cruise to Green Island for $664. Tel: (07) 4080 1888; www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au.

Spend four nights on Dunk Island and pay only $588 per person twin share for accommodation, full breakfast, lunch and dinner daily per adult. Children aged up to 12 years stay and eat free. Valid until September 30. Dunk Island is located approximately 4km off the Tropical North Queensland coast, midway between Townsville and Cairns. www.dunkisland.com

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND COUNTRY

ecoRidge Hideaway, Preston, south of Toowoomba. Book three or more nights accommodation in one of these three, brand new fully self-contained contemporary, eco-friendly chalets and receive a 15 percent discount. Located 90 minutes drive west of Brisbane, the hideaway is close to wineries and restaurants. Tel: (07) 4630 9636. www.ecoridgehideaway.com.au.

SUNSHINE COAST

Spend three nights at Novotel Twin Waters Resort and Grand Mercure Apartments and extend your stay to four at no cost. Two adults and two children can stay in a resort room at Novotel Twin Waters Resort for four nights for $477 including 20 minutes complimentary internet access, use of the hotel's Kapla kids play area, free soft toy for children up to six years and complimentary Nickelodeon cartoon network. Stay four nights in a two bedroom apartment at Grand Mercure for $585. Guests at both properties have access to swimming pools, barbecue facilities, a large man-made lagoon, windsurfers, catamarans, kayaks, water trampoline, beach volleyball, kids' bicycles and cricket sets. Valid to September 18, 2009. Tel: 1800 072 277; www.novoteltwinwatersresort.com.au.
 

Hervey Bay gets ready for a whale of a season!

It’s more than a fluke when the first pods of migrating humpback whales start passing the Queensland coast. For the professional whale watching fleet at Hervey Bay it’s time to get the boats primed for another busy season as the whale watching capital of Australia.

Whale season in Hervey Bay officially starts on August 1 with the blessing of the Whale Watching Fleet and is followed on August 8 with the Hervey Bay Whale Festival.

The range of whale watching tours includes dawn trips for the early risers, morning and afternoon half-days journeys and full day cruises for the real enthusiasts. The choice of vessels includes a large rigid inflatable and sailing and motor-powered catamarans.

Operators in the 2009 fleet include newcomer Freedom Whale Watching offering cruises on Freedom III, a 58’ catamaran previously owned by renowned documentary-maker Ben Cropp; Hervey Bay Whale Watch “Quick Cat II”, Mikat Whale Cruises, Awesome Adventures “That’s Awesome”, Blue Dolphin Marine Tours, Shayla Sailing Cruises, Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruises, Tasman Venture Whale Watching and Whalesong Cruises Hervey Bay.

Accommodation options are also extensive and this year will include the new Ramada Resort Hervey Bay which is scheduled to open for the start of whale watching season and has special packages for two adults including two nights accommodation and a whale watching tour from $170 per person. Details of the tours and other accommodation packages can be found at: www.whalesherveybay.com.au.

Each year pods of the humpbacks make the 5000km migration from the Antarctic to the warm waters off the Queensland coast. The calm, protected waters of Hervey Bay are a favourite resting spot for the whales, and also for nature-lovers who can safely watch these lovely creatures as they frolick, mate and bond with their new babies in the warm waters.

The humpbacks can weigh up to 40 tonnes and reach 19 metres in length. They are also one of the more active of the species and love to show off with a range of activities ranging from a ‘blow’ to tail slapping, pectoral fin waving and breaching.

Hervey Bay is a three and a half hour drive north from Brisbane and QR offer regular services to Maryborough West with connections to Hervey Bay. Qantaslink flies direct to Hervey Bay from Brisbane; Virgin Blue flies direct from Sydney to Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay) Airport and convenient connections are available from Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart. For information about Hervey Bay visit www.frasercoastholidays.info

Qatar announces Australian services

Qatar Airways to launch MEL in Dec

Qatar Airways has announced that it will commence its long-awaited Australian services with an inaugural flight on 6th December 2009.

CEO Akbar Al Baker confirmed the move at the Paris Airshow, saying the carrier will operate three weekly services using a new Boeing 777-200LR to be delivered to the airline later this year and then moving to daily early in the new year when another B777-200 is received.

"I know the travelling public is eager for us to begin serving Australia and I've had many people ask me about our direct routes to Melbourne and Sydney. We're finalising some details with regulatory authorities in Australia, and once we've received the necessary aircraft from Boeing, we will be ready to operate," he said.

He said the new flight would connect travellers with a one-stop service from the UK and Europe to Australia, with a planned one hour connection time in Doha.

More information in today's Travel Daily.

CAIRNS IS NO SWEAT OVER WINTER

Winter in Tropical North Queensland is pure paradise, the mild winter days in a tropical climate allowing holiday-makers to soak up the warmth of the sun without the discomfort of stifling humidity.

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort and Big Cat cruises have partnered up to offer a fantastic family-friendly holiday package that will appeal to the whole crew.

Valid to September 30, the package includes 3 night's accommodation in a resort double room for two adults and two children, daily buffet breakfast in Mizuna Restaurant as well as a full day out with Big Cat Cruises, discovering the enchanting Green Island.

The price of the 3 night package is $664. Novotel's family-friendly inclusions offer a range of benefits for leisure-going families, including accommodation in a newly renovated room with two double beds sleeping up to two adults and two children. Two children up to age of 15 stay free when sharing the parent's room.

For further information or to book call Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort on 07 4080 1888 or visit www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au

Chase the sun with Trafalgar and British Airways

With the chilly weather setting in, shed those winter woollies and hightail it to Europe at a scorching hot price with Trafalgar and British Airways.

When booked in conjunction with an awesome all inclusive Trafalgar tour priced from just $940 or more, travellers can purchase a great value return to London with British Airways from a as little as $1328 ex Sydney, $1311 ex Melbourne, $1317 ex Brisbane or $1325 ex Adelaide. Prices are per person and are inclusive of taxes and surcharges.

For those sun-seekers looking to venture further than 'the big smoke' of London, this fantastically priced airfare is also available to 22 European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Glasgow, Milan, Paris and Vienna to name but a few. In addition, for an extra $220 per person, travellers can jet-set to a further 40 cities throughout the UK and Europe. (Prices vary per gateway selected. Additional taxes and surcharges may apply.)

Escorted touring with Trafalgar is up to 40 per cent less than doing the same itinerary independently, meaning when travellers combine this great value air deal with an all inclusive Trafalgar tour, they will be enjoying an amazing European holiday for the best available price.

Those travellers looking to extend their travel budget even further should see Trafalgar's recently released 2009/10 Britain and Europe Autumn, Winter and Spring program offering savings of up to 25 per cent on peak time travel.

This not-to-be-missed offer is only available until 24 July, 2009 for travel between 1 August, 2009 and 31 March, 2010. Conditions apply, for more information visit Trafalgar's website www.trafalgartours.com.au or see your travel agent.

With more than 60 years experience, Trafalgar has the knowledge and expertise to design unforgettable touring holidays. Travellers can choose from more than 150 perfectly planned itineraries across eight touring styles. Whether travel is by road, rail, river or sea, with Trafalgar guests are assured of unrivalled quality, service and reliability. Trafalgar's guests stay in carefully selected first class hotels which are located close to the most important sights. Europe's finest tour directors' enrich the experience by bringing each destination to life. All this, at savings of up to 40 per cent compared to travelling independently.

About Trafalgar: Trafalgar is the world's leading escorted tour company offering exceptional quality and value tours to a range of exciting destinations. Established in 1947, Trafalgar draws on over 60 years experience in providing unforgettable, seamless holidays to the United Kingdom, Europe and Eastern Mediterranean, USA and Canada.

Trafalgar offers a wide range of holiday experiences designed to suit all ages, tastes and budgets. Choose from more than 200 itineraries from short breaks of four days to extended holidays of up to 31 days in length.

MSC Splendida will bowl you over

The countdown is on to the official launch of MSC Cruises's second flagship, MSC Splendida, on 12 July in Barcelona.

In an exciting first for MSC Cruises – and the first time this has featured on a European cruise ship - MSC Splendida will feature two innovative mini-bowling alleys in its high-tech Sports Bar.

Every aspect of these ten-pin bowling alleys has been carefully designed to provide the maximum entertainment, including a traditional-looking bowling surface that is actually made of a tough phenol compound which allows guests to join in the fun without having to change into special bowling shoes.

The alleys are scaled down to work perfectly in a bar environment, to encourage people to mix and mingle. The bowling balls have been sized slightly smaller than usual, so they are manageable for youngsters while still presenting a challenge to older players.

Increasing the fun, there are two large LCD electronic screens featuring interactive videogame animations, with a choice of Ten Pin Tour and Turkey Shoot. And of course, surrounding the bowling alleys, you'll find all the feature-rich facilities of the sports bar itself, with big screen TVs and a wealth of interactive sports games for solo and group play, making the Sports Bar the ideal place for a change of pace to meet friends old and new.

MSC Splendida is the twin sister to MSC Fantasia which was launched in December 2008. Together, they are the largest cruise ships ever commissioned by a European owner and set new standards in spaciousness, comfort, facilities, design innovation and refinement. Despite being sister ships, their themed areas feature many differences, such as the bowling alleys, which are unique to MSC Splendida.

MSC Splendida has a choice of six restaurants, including the a la carte Mediterranean L'Olivo, along with 18 bars and lounges, MSC Aurea Spa, solarium, shuffleboard, jogging track, sports centre, squash and tennis courts, five swimming pools and an incredible 19 leisure and entertainment venues, with a casino, theatre and 4D cinema – making every day different!

To find out more about this exclusive new cruise ship, simply surf on to www.msccruises.com where you can find full information on its maiden-year cruises to the cradles of Mediterranean civilisation.

Picture caption: Two mini-bowling alleys feature in the Sports Bar of new cruise ship MSC Splendida

MSC Cruises currently has the most modern fleet in the world with nine ships: MSC Fantasia - the largest ship ever built for a European ship owner - MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and, MSC Melody, cruising in the Mediterranean all year round, Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North and South America, the Indian Ocean and South Africa. MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica will be respectively launched in 2009 and 2010. MSC Cruises is the only company to have received the '6 Golden Pearls' award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental protection.

Mr & Mrs Smith adds seven new boutique hotels to its Asia Pacific collection

Boutique hotel brand Mr & Mrs Smith has added seven new properties to its Australian and New Zealand collection, just a month after launching in the region. Mr & Mrs Smith now features 33 must-visit hotels and self-catering villas across the two countries, with the figure set to grow to around 50 in the next two months. Over 500 global properties can be found on www.mrandmrsmith.com.

Mr & Mrs Smith, the world’s leading boutique hotel guide and booking service, offers travellers from around the world advice on and access to some of the most exclusive and inspiring holiday properties in the UK, Europe and the Americas, and now Asia Pacific.

Simon Westcott, co-founder and Managing Director of Mr & Mrs Smith Asia Pacific, scours the region with his team for boutique and luxury properties that deliver something really special and different. "There’s an X-factor with all our properties," says Simon. "Great style, personal service, boutique scale and fabulous settings are the basic requirements of any good hotel nowadays. We look for all these things and something extra. This month that means some of the best food in Australia at the Royal Mail Hotel in The Grampians, the sophisticated vintage vibe of Wellington’s Ohtel, or the holistic approach to wellbeing at Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay."

Once a hotel has been visited, thoroughly inspected and launched online by Mr & Mrs Smith (with insider recommendations such as favourite rooms and top restaurant tables), an anonymous 'tastemaker' couple is sent back to stay for two nights. Opinion-formers in the worlds of fashion, food, design, the arts, media and other creative industries, these reviewers tell the story of their stay in an engaging, personal way.

The seven most recent properties to join Mr & Mrs Smith include:

Cape Lodge, Margaret River, WA

With a country club feel, this 22-room boutique hotel boasts its own vineyard and gorgeous park-like grounds in the heart of the famous Margaret River wine region. The lakeside restaurant is the jewel in its crown, with chef Tony Howell garnering plaudits and overseeing a 14,000-bottle wine cellar and cookery school.

Royal Mail Hotel, The Grampians, VIC

Another gourmet getaway, this time in Dunkeld at the southern edge of The Grampians’ majestic wilderness in Victoria. Set among native gardens at the foot of Mount Sturgeon, the property is all about its multi-award-winning restaurant and wine cellar. Mountain View bedrooms – the only room category recommended by Mr & Mrs Smith – are spacious, sleek and embrace the great outdoors. The hotel provides a brilliant base for guided walks in the Grampians National Park.

Gaia Retreat & Spa, Byron Bay, NSW

Set in lush, rolling subtropical hills in Byron Bay’s hinterland, this beautiful 18-room boutique hotel and spa, founded by Olivia Newton-John, is the ideal place to unwind with pampering treatments, a spot of yoga or organic cuisine. Elegant, earth-toned rooms are surrounded by a real sense of nature.

Pretty Beach House, Central Coast, NSW

With just three luxurious, private pavilions, this stunning contemporary guesthouse is set amid lush native bushland above Pretty Beach in the Bouddi National Park, 100 kilometres north of Sydney. Sophisticated, spacious interiors and fabulous service are complemented by Chef Stefano Manfredi’s creative cooking. Lounging by the pool on a day bed overlooking ancient angophoras and eucalypts feels like the ultimate getaway.

Bells at Killcare, Central Coast, NSW

An intimate 11-room hotel with a European country house style, Bells teams chic yet relaxed coastal interiors with mouth-watering food: resident chef Stefano Manfredi rules the restaurant roost here, tending the hotel’s vegetable garden. Located on the tip of the Bouddi National Park, it's just an hour and a half’s drive from Sydney’s CBD, or 20 minutes’ by ferry from Palm Beach.

Moonlight Head Private Lodge, Great Ocean Road, VIC

This ultra-modern, architecturally-striking luxury lodge sits partway along the scenic Great Ocean Road, on Australia’s highest coastal headland. Designed by acclaimed talents Glenn Murcutt and Wendy Lewin, with stylish contemporary interiors to match, each of its two villas sleeps from two to eight, with a private chef on hand to ensure your stay goes swimmingly if you don’t want to cater for yourself. Note: this is a Smith & Friends self-catering property.

Ohtel, Wellington, New Zealand

A striking 10-room contemporary hotel in the New Zealand capital’s seaside Oriental Bay district. The luxe two-person baths and vintage mid-20th-century modern interiors are standout features, including furniture and ceramics by cult names from Eames and Arne Jacobsen to G Plan, Finn Juhl and Vladimir Kagan. Australian and New Zealand design classics abound too. Eco features include solar hot water.

Simon and his style-spotting team aim to offer advice and a booking service for up to 200 rigorously selected boutique accommodation properties in Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia by the beginning of 2010. A lush coffee table book, featuring original photography, is coming at the end of 2009 – Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique Hotel Collection: Australia and New Zealand.

Savvy travellers can become members of Mr & Mrs Smith and book their weekend (or week-long) escape either online or through the 24-hour local travel team. Smith members are also offered value benefits and rewards such as two-for-one deals and discounts.


- Travellers wanting to book through Mr & Mrs Smith can do so by calling 1300 896 627

- The Mr & Mrs Smith European guide books are currently available at Borders and all good independent books stores for the recommended price of $39.95

Eumundi Food Fest - for lovers of fine food and fun

Eumundi Food Fest Sunday 28 June 2009 – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The 2009 Eumundi Food Fest on Sunday 28 June is shaping up to be a cracker of a day with a stellar line-up of cooking demonstrations and displays guaranteed to appeal to all with a love of fine food and fun.

Part of the Noosa Longweekend 10 day cultural event, the Eumundi Food Fest (now in its seventh year) brings together local producers, growers, chefs, restaurateurs, entertainers and food lovers with a host of activities and entertainment throughout the day.

The Tucker Tent will be the main hub of the Food Fest with presentations kicking off at 10.30.

First up is local bush food expert Peter Wolfe of Cedar Creek Farms, who will be working with locally sourced herbs and spices and Australian native meats.

Next is a cook-off challenge with chef Steve Ferris from Modern Primitive doing culinary battle with local gastronomic stalwart Max Porter. Duck is on the menu – with each using the same ingredient to create a winter inspired delicacy, featuring easily accessible local ingredients. These culinary raconteurs will no doubt provide a fun and entertaining cook-off as they bring their different approaches and creative skills to the hotplate.

Scott Hardy from Food @ Eumundi will then take to the stage, with a demonstration titled 'Salmon 2 ways' – Sugar Cured Salmon on Avocado and Rocket Tian with Seared Scallops, and Crispy Skin Salmon on Pomme Galette with Cabbage Chourcoute, Petite Herbs and Green Oil.

Kai Gerschau from Red Dog Café will complete the morning's presentations with a masterclass on all things coffee. Learn how to brew the perfect coffee and get the most from your coffee machine.

The afternoon will commence with an award ceremony from the Noosa Beach Car Club, who will be holding their 'Show and Shine' display – an impressive gathering of sparkling classic motor vehicles that will have car lovers drooling.

The afternoon's demonstrations conclude with John Guy and Phil Scott from Treefellers' fame. John and Phil will create Spanish influenced seafood and tasty tapas dishes that will appeal to the novice and experienced cook alike.

All the cooking demonstrations will be using locally sourced ingredients obtained, where possible, from produce stalls exhibiting on the day. Recipe cards will also be available.

With over 60 stalls attending on day there will be something to tempt everyone's tastebuds, with a dizzying array of tasting-sized takeaway delights; unusual and unique local produce; as well as local Eumundi wineries.

Food Fest Coordinator Trent Harvison says, "The Food Fest will be the ideal setting to design your own gourmet picnic from the stalls around. Then sit back, relax and listen to local musicians including Harii Bandhu and Chad Shuttleworth"

"For the family there'll be rides and attractions, face painting, roving entertainers," he says "A truly great day out, the Eumundi Food Fest is an event not to be missed"

The Eumundi Food Fest is an initiative of the Eumundi Chamber of Commerce.

www.eumundi.info

Explore the heart of South America with Tauck

Land / Cruise packages to South America or Peru and the Galapagos Islands from AU$8,635

Staggering natural beauty, exhilarating exploration and charming settlements await those who travel to South America or Peru and the Galapagos Islands with Tauck this year. Tauck's action-packed itineraries will see you dining with locals, glimpsing rare wildlife and enjoying panoramic views as you immerse yourself in the rich cultures of these exotic destinations.

Essence of South America

Commencing in the Chilean capital of Santiago, this 13-day itinerary will begin with a city tour followed by a private tasting excursion to the winemaking region of Maipo Valley. You'll then fly to Puerto Montt, and drive through enchanting Patagonia to Puerto Varas, with views of the Osorno Volcano.

A two-day crossing through the Andes will take you from Chile to Argentina, with opportunities to hike, cruise across lakes and horse ride. Arriving in Buenos Aires by plane, you'll spend three nights in this 'Paris of South America', famed for the Teatro Colon opera house, delicious steaks and impressive estancias (ranches). You'll be breath-taken by the dramatic Iguazu Falls, spanning both Argentina and Brazil, before flying to Rio de Janeiro. Spend two days in this fun-loving Brazilian capital, famed for its annual Carnival.

Departures are available from September to December 2009, with bookings starting at AU$8,635 per person, double occupancy.

Peru & Galapagos Islands

Experience the Galapagos Islands on this intimate journey from Lima, Peru to Guayaquil, Ecuador amongst just 40 other guests.  Arriving in Lima, you'll spend the day sightseeing before dining at an historic mansion.

Discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas with a local guide and prepare to be amazed by the ruins of Machu Picchu, which you'll explore with a local guide. You'll also visit Cusco, the historic Incan capital, before flying to Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. Another flight will take you to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands, where you'll embark the majestic Isabela II yacht and begin your cruise through this remarkable region.

As you navigate the Galapagos archipelago, you'll stop at North Seymour, Espanola, Santa Cruz, Tower, Isabela, Ferdinanda and Bartolme Islands. During the many shore excursions you'll have the opportunity to sight native fauna, including giant tortoises, rare bird species, sea lions and marine iguanas. Return to Guayaquil for a final day of sightseeing before you journey home.

Departures are available from June to October 2009, with bookings from AU$12,284 per person, double occupancy. Pricing for both cruises is based on a Land/Cruise Category C Cabin, and includes internal flights, accommodation, meals, touring with experienced Tauck tour guides and gratuities. AUD pricing has been calculated using an indicative exchange rate for USD of 0.74. This is subject to change and will be recalculated at time of final payment.

To obtain further information about Tauck or to make a booking, please contact Travel the World on 1300 766 566 or visit www.traveltheworld.com.au.

Experience Festival Fun Times on Your Next Holiday to Korea

If you are thinking of traveling to Korea this year, then a newly released free 'Festival Guide Book' to the country will provide you with many ways to join in the festival fun.

Joining one of Korea's many festivals is a great way for visitors to discover the real Korea and truly experience Korea's 5,000 years of history and culture.

The guidebook lists all the exciting festivals taking place in 2009 with the very popular Boryeong Mud Festival just around the corner. The Boryeong Mud Festival has become an international event with visitors coming from all around the world to experience the many fun events. You can enjoy the huge mud slide, compete in the mud wrestling contest and enjoy many other activities like escaping mud prison as well the ultimate, a mud bath. It's not only fun, the mud has very beneficial effects for the skin. It's a free for all in a mud covered city from 11-19 July, 2009.

See www.mudfestival.or.kr for full details of all events.

Young people looking at joining the mud festival events might also enjoy Korea's big outdoor rock festival event – the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival which runs for three days 24-26 July. Australian band Eskimo Joe will be a highlight of the line-up for this year's festival. Rockers from around the world join the festival and it's a great place to enjoy the open-air rock festival events. There is on-site camping available as well for visitors. For more information visit the website www.pentaportrock.com

For travellers who love Korean food, then there is no better place than to join Korea's iconic Gwangju Kimchi Festival where thousands of people come together in kimchi- making and cooking competitions etc. Gwangju in the south west of the country is the home to Korea's traditional cuisine so a great place to feast on traditional Korean dishes like BBQ beef (bulgogi) and enjoy some kimchi on the side. Kimchi is a side-dish of fermented pickled cabbage served at every meal in Korea. More information on Gwangju Kimchi Festival go to www.kimchi.gwangju.kr

Another highlight festival event for foreign visitors is the Andong International Mask Dance Festival held from 25 September to 4 October, 2009. This festival gives a great insight to Korean mask dance culture and history and offers a great chance to see the famous mask dancers of the Hahoe Mask Dance village nearby Andong. Visit the website for more www.maskdance.com

For visitors interested in ceramics, then Korea has the most exquisite celadon pottery in the world. The Gangjin Celadon Festival will be held from 8-16 August, 2009. Gangjin, the home of Korean Celadon art preserves the traditions of this beautiful pottery that is then sold all over the country. Visitors can participate in various events such as trying your hand at making celadon pottery. There is an international ceramics exhibition and other fun and games. More information at www.gangjinfes.or.kr

To plan your holiday to Korea around one of the country's unique and exciting festivals order your free Korea Festival Guidebook today by email: visitkorea@knto.org.au

Phone: 02)9251-1717