News from the world of travel
The AJN takes you around Australia and the world to see what’s new in travel.
Festival fever in Adelaide.
Adelaide comes alive with festival fever during March with a feast of entertainment and cultural events on offer, highlighted by the Adelaide Festival with a range of theatre, opera, ballet, dance and special events held from March 1-17.
City streets and laneways become outdoor dining venues while acrobats and singers provide free entertainment in Rundle Mall and crowds flock to events at the city’s festivals including Fringe and WOMADelaide.
Israeli-born Melbourne-singer Lior has been a regular performer in Adelaide in recent years with his song cycles Compassion and Ngapa William Cooper.
Both works have been collaborations with composer Nigel Westlake, with Compassion premiering in 2013 and Ngapa William Cooper in 2023.
For the first time at this year’s festival, both works featured as a double bill at the Festival Centre on March 9. Backed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the performance earned a standing ovation from the audience.
Ngapa William Cooper, based around Aboriginal activist William Cooper’s protest march in Melbourne in 1938 after Kristallnacht, featured singing by Lior and First Nations singer Lou Bennett (a direct descendant of Cooper).
Another highlight at this year’s festival was the Berliner Ensemble’s production of The Threepenny Opera, written by Bertolt Brecht and Elizabeth Hauptmann with music by Kurt Weill and staged at Her Majesty’s theatre from March 6-10.
Director Barrie Kosky, who began his theatre career in Melbourne before achieving international acclaim in charge of Komische Oper Berlin from 2012–22, reworked the production – which premiered in Berlin in 1928 – with his musical director Adam Benzwi, resulting in slick, contemporary production.
German actor Gabriel Schneider stars in the main role of the seductive killer Macheath.
While the Adelaide Festival takes centre stage in Adelaide, also popular is the Adelaide Fringe (February 16-March 17), WOMADelaide music festival in Adelaide’s Botanic Park (March 8-11) and Adelaide Writers’ Week (March 2-7).
Cruise industry celebrates busy summer season
The Australasian cruise industry celebrated a busy summer season in Australia and New Zealand at the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) annual gala at Sydney’s Star Event Centre on March 9.
About 500 people were at the event to celebrate the renewed success of international cruising.
CLIA Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz said: “Cruise fans are more excited than ever about the cruise opportunities available to them across our region and around the world.
“Cruising is enjoying undeniable success right now in Australia and New Zealand.”
Travel agents were honoured at the gala with Phil Hoffmann Travel named Australia’s Large Cruise Agency of the Year and Cruise Express awarded Australia’s Small Cruise Agency of the Year.
New Alpine Coaster set to open at Thredbo
Construction is underway on a year-round Alpine Coaster at Thredbo Resort which is set to open for this year’s winter snow season.
At 1.5 kilometres in length, passengers will be able to travel at speeds of up to 40kmh along a mix of uphill and downhill tracks featuring a tunnel, bridges and circles.
Thredbo general manager Stuart Diver said: “The Alpine Coaster is set to add a new dimension to every guest’s visit. It will be a hugely exciting on-snow experience in winter, and it will?build on our wide range of outdoor adventures in summer.
“This new development is a testament to Thredbo’s commitment to provide a premium experience for our guests 365 days a year.”
He said the Alpine Coaster would diversify the resort’s year-round recreational offering as an all-weather, action-packed way to experience the mountain.
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