“There is definitely a huge market of travelers who thrive on doing strictly active and adventurous vacations,” says Meghan Boyd, Product Manager for Australia & New Zealand at Goway. “Our adventure products for Downunder really encompass an excellent variety of opportunities to truly have the ultimate voyage.”

A fantastic New Zealand adventure Goway offers is a 5 day Walk & Kayak for $1536 CAD. This trip combines the best of both adventure and relaxation. Trip includes kayaking and walking along the Abel Tasman Coast Track while staying at two beachfront accommodations: Meadowbank Homestead Awaroa and Torrent Bay Lodge. Enjoy sunbathing, canoeing, swimming or hike inland to experience all that the Abel Tasman National Park has to offer.

A great active experience by Goway is the Rock, Olga’s Canyon Camping Safari in Australia’s Northern Territory for $585 CAD. Discover the Outback’s three biggest attractions in three jam-packed days in an amazing camping adventure. This trip includes all transportation, accommodation in twin share tents, sleeping bag, pillow, bath towel, services of a driver with guide and cook, National park entry fees and most meals.

Goway prides itself on the level of expertise shown by its sales team and has an intense staff training program to qualify genuine wizards, with weekly quizzes and bi-annual Wizard tests and are proud to have the majority of reservations qualified for the company to genuinely promote themselves as the Wizards of OZ. Those that are not yet qualified are designated “wizards in training”. As well as the designation, other privileges for Goway Wizards include the opportunity to go on a special in-house familiarization tours.

“When it comes to Downunder we are always looking for ways to better ourselves, our products and our services to agents” states Meghan Boyd, Product Manager for Goway “Our industry requires our sales team to be more knowledgeable than other wholesalers, and we want professional retail agents to know they can expect only the best from Goway.”

On the “Magical Island” of Moorea awaken to the wonder of dawn in the tropics with a 5 night escape from $2139. Included in this escape is 5 nights accommodation at the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort & Spa in a luxury garden bungalow with complimentary breakfast & dinner in Moorea (a savings of $1728 per couple).

The “Romantic Island” of Bora Bora brings the ultimate in beauty with Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora. Enjoy an ‘all inclusive’ 5 night escape for $2099 per person, including 5 nights in a garden view room with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and select beverages with meals.

Bring both the Magic and Romance together on a 9 night escape with a three island combination for $3899 per person. This escape offers a significant savings and includes 1 free night at the Sofitel Tahiti Maeve Beach Resort in mountain view room, 4 nights at Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort & Spa in a luxury garden bungalow and 4 nights at the Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort and Spa in luxury garden bungalow and free breakfast and dinner daily.

All of these idyllic value escapes also include round trip airfare from Los Angeles, an airport welcome with flower lei, inter-island flights, and all relevant transfers.

Queensland Rail: Goway is currently offering a 20% discount on Queenslander Class travel on the Sunlander. The Sunlander, voted Australia’s number one rail journey and one of the top 25 rail journey’s in the world, weaves its way along Queensland’s incredible coastline between Brisbane and tropical Cairns, where the Great Barrier Reef meets the timeless Daintree wilderness. Queenslander Class on The Sunlander is more than just a train experience – it’s a journey into Queensland’s heritage, culture, landscape and cuisine set against a backdrop of superb dining, comfortable accommodation and exceptional service.

The premium, all-inclusive style of travel features comfortable, twin-berth accommodation; fine dining with the best Queensland wine and fresh produce in an exclusive restaurant car; and a host of special touches for a memorable experience.

Cairns Barrier Reef: In the heart of the Tropical North, Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Rainforests. Goway’s Cairns Barrier Reef package is priced from $661CAD and includes airport/hotel transfers, 3 nights accommodation, a Great Barrier Reef Cruise and a Rainforest, Kuranda & Aboriginal Experience Tour. Hotel value adds available on this package include free hotel nights, free breakfasts and more.

Hamilton Island: Perfectly situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, nestled among the 74 Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other. In this quintessential aquatic wonderland, travellers can revel in the very best of everything that is great about Australia: glorious warm weather, azure waters, brilliant white beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, 20km of bushwalking trails, fine food and wines, laid back luxury, unpretentious service, and activities almost too numerous to mention. Goway’s Hamilton Island package is priced from $738CAD and includes 3nights hotel, transfers, use of resort activities and non motorized watercraft, day reef cruise and breakfast daily.

Australia is one of the largest countries in the world and lends itself to endless possibilities for visitors. New South Wales (NSW) is one of the “must see” States which lies on the east coast of Australia, between Queensland and Victoria. One of the highlights of NSW is Sydney, the most cosmopolitan city in Australia, surrounded by modern and historic architecture, a beautiful harbour, dazzling beaches and a sunny climate. The surrounding regions include popular wine regions, beaches, World Heritage National Parks and spectacular coastal and country scenery. The farthest west is the Outback where visitors can catch a glimpse of Australia’s Aboriginal heritage.

“People visit Sydney due to the many attractions and activities available. You can walk along the harbour then catch a performance at the Opera House, or you can easily go beach hopping by taking ferries or short bus rides. Sydney is a city where everyone will find something to do” comments Meghan Boyd, Goway’s Product Manager for Australia and New Zealand

Goway has many touring options from Sydney such as; Hunter Valley wine tours, day trips to the Capital of Australia, Canberra, exploring Sydney by helicopter, discovering the lush Blue Mountains and the wildlife, cruising the famous harbour, even the opportunity to spend the night at the zoo for a unique experience!

The perfect way to explore New South Wales is with Goway Travel’s V Australia Sydney Starter package that starts from $1499CAD per person. This includes Round trip airfare from Los Angeles with V Australia and 4 nights hotel.

Australia is known for their great wines, and many travelers opt for Goway’s 2 Day Hunter Valley Wine Country Tour from $581. This gives a great contrast from the action-packed city and includes overnight accommodation, some meals, wine tasting, transfers from Sydney and sightseeing. Visitors will have a chance to view panoramic views of the wine areas.

As North America’s premier Downunder specialist, Goway adds this Readers Choice Award to a list of prestigious awards including two “Ozzie’ Awards, an Opal Award (voted by Aussie Specialists) as well as Silver and Gold Magellan Awards for marketing.

“We are delighted by the recognition from our trade partners,” commented Cathy Mulrine, VP Wholesale for Goway, “this is our 3rd RCA award and is a result of the knowledge and expertise of our reservations team and support divisions”.

Recommend is a monthly magazine available in print and digital formats and provides travel agents with new destination and product information, FAMs, offers and opportunities each week to assist in increasing agent knowledge, sales and income.

Participants will experience the best of the South Pacific on one of these exclusive itineraries, some of the highlights from previous Mega Fam’s include shark feeding in Bora Bora, an Amazing Race – Fiji style and helicopter rides over the Great Barrier Reef.

The Mega Fam will take place in May 2012, with the choice of four magnificent trips that showcase different aspects of Downunder. These trips, worth on average $5,000, will enthrall, educate and guarantee a thrilling experience.

To qualify all agents need to do is:

• To have made one DOWNUNDER (Australia and/or New Zealand) booking with Goway
• Become an Aussie Specialist (register at GowayAgent.com under “Training”)

PLUS….

• Every additional booking earns an extra entry
• If you combine the land arrangements with an international air ticket that counts as two entries

For a participation cost of only $500* these four itineraries showcase the best of Downunder and include accommodation, airfare from Los Angeles, all transportation, many meals and sightseeing as well as many extras. (The cost excludes airport tax, meals not mentioned, gratuities and items of a personal nature).

PLUS…

Earn the cost back!

• Agents will get $100 back for the first five bookings made to any Goway destinations, within 12 months of the Mega Fam.

For full details see our Mega Fam Trip page.

R.to L.: Bruce Hodge, Cathy Mulrine, Robbie Bastion, Meg Boyd, Emma Cottis Click for High Resolution

After 22 years, travelling the world promoting Australia’s far north Queensland, Parker Travel Collection’s International Director of Sales, Robbie Bastion celebrated his 50th sales mission to North America. Robbie celebrated this accomplishment with the Management and staff of Goway Travel, North America’s largest wholesaler to the South Pacific. Seen here with Robbie and “his book” are Goway’s Owner/President, Bruce Hodge, and Goway Management, Cathy Mulrine, Meg Boyd and Emma Cottis.

In his 22 year tourism industry career, Robbie has worked for only three organizations; Quicksilver Group of Companies, Down Under Tours and now the Parker Travel Collection 2001. With 49 sales missions to North America under his belt Robbie has a wealth of specialized knowledge and developed loyal and long serving contacts that have been invaluable for securing business from this key market. He has visited the USA under four Presidents – Bush, Clinton, Bush Jnr and now Obama. Similarly, he has worked with several heads of Tourism Australia and Tourism Queensland in Los Angeles and yet maintains many old ties. Earthquakes, blizzards, airline dramas and even a quintessential New York mugging have all been part of the experience, an experience that Robbie catalogued in his 2007 book ‘In Continents – Tales of Road Warrior’. “I am still calling on companies and individuals I started calling on in 1989 and they have become good friends as well as work colleagues.”

Robbie has seen many changes in this important market to Australia – the many different marketing campaigns following the successful Paul Hogan advertisements to the ‘Nothing Like Australia’ creative of today.

According to Robbie, “I have also seen the consolidation of many wholesalers into a handful but conversely the growth of the Aussie Specialist (American retail travel agents) Program continues to put Australia in front of the agent and hopefully the consumer. However, the biggest factor influencing North American visitation always has been and will continue to be aviation.

“I’ve seen the rise and fall of airlines like Continental, American and North West try to cash in on the Australian market. Yet, the most steadying influence on the trans-Pacific sector has been Qantas Airways. Their new service into Dallas/Fort Worth will open a whole new market and is a sign of their continuing commitment to Australia. I’ll be doing my best to emphasize this during my upcoming round of calls,” he said.

On his return to Australia Robbie will fly to Melbourne to meet with 150 Aussie Specialist agents for Corroboree USA.

Agents simply sell three air/land inclusive bookings (min six passengers) through Goway to Australia or New Zealand and report sales by email (including a valid Goway booking confirmation number) to contest@goway.com. As a bonus, travel agents that sell an additional two bookings (total five bookings/10 passengers) receive a second free ticket! Full details are available at Gowayagent.com.

“At Goway we firmly believe in the power of education and experience within the Travel Industry,” commented Cathy Mulrine, VP Wholesale, Goway Travel “This promotion is a great reward for Agents, who can then customize their own holiday to experience these great destinations and increase their knowledge of Australia and New Zealand, equating to more future sales.”

Goway’s Downunder brochure is currently available at Goway.com/brochure or by calling 1-800 387 8850, ext 123.

A land of geological contrasts it is marked by 4500 meter mountains, expansive rain forest terrain, vast river delta systems and pristine coral atolls. Such diversity is only rivaled by the people themselves whose traditions remain an active part of everyday life and are as varied and breathtaking as the landscape that surrounds them.

With over 700 known languages, Papua New Guinea has one of the most diverse populations on earth with many different cultures. Intrepid travellers can immerse themselves in a vibrant collection of cultural possibilities. From the colorful body adornment of the highlanders to the ceremonial and decorative carvings of the Sepik Region, the people of Papua New Guinea share their customs and their heritage with a genuine openness and hospitality.

Goway Travel offers a range of different programs to Papua New Guinea. Goway’s signature package, the 10 day Jungle Lodges and Sepik River Cruise is a mix of wonderful jungle lodges, small vessel cruising, village visits, touring and more. Pricing begins at just $6150 CAD which includes 9 nights accommodation, Sepik River cruise, most meals, domestic flights and sightseeing. International airfares and charter flights are additional cost.