January 2012: From prestigious events to world-class cultural encounters and fabulous natural attractions, here are 12 defining reasons to include Hamilton Island (www.hamiltonisland.com.au), the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, in an Australian itinerary in 2012:

January 2012: To mark Australia Day, the South Australian Tourism Commission (www.southaustralia.com) has teamed up with Flight Centre (www.flightcentre.co.uk tel 0844 800 8609) offering an exclusive Flash Sale consisting of 100 flights to Australia at an unbeatable, rock bottom price of just £549.

January 2012: To mark their 21st anniversary of owning and running one of Australia's most iconic and authentic Outback properties - the Prairie Hotel (www.prairiehotel.com.au) - Jane and Ross Fargher continue to add elegant new ‘Prairie style’ touches to the accommodation.

January 2012: Tired of post Christmas scrimping? The Zambezi Safari and Travel Company (www.zambezi.com 01548 830059) is offering savvy travellers special ‘early bird’ savings on two top trips for 2012. The ideal antidote to an austere new year.

January 2012: Virgin Australia has launched a new Business Class on domestic flights to Hamilton Island (www.hamiltonisland.com.au) in Australia from Sydney and Brisbane, enabling travellers to enjoy premium perks on the hop to the Great Barrier Reef for the first time in eight years.

January 2012: Train journeys are one of the most romantic ways to travel and for honeymoon couples looking for the romantic journey of a lifetime, Great Southern Rail’s  The Southern Spirit (www.greatsouthernrail.com.au) is just the ticket.

January 2012: A box of much needed supplies sponsored by Devon-based holiday park, Woodovis Park (www.woodovis.com), has arrived in Kenya to help those affected by the drought and famine.

January 2012: From an exotic island-hopping escapade to a full ‘round the world’ expedition, Qantas Holidays (www.qantasholidays.co.uk Tel 020 8222 9124) has something for all globe-trotters itching to get out and explore in 2012.

January 2012: Audiences inspired by the Sunday night BBC documentary, Great Barrier Reef, should escape for their own close encounters with this most spectacular natural wonder with a reef-freshing break on Hamilton Island (www.hamiltonisland.com.au).

January 2012: This Sunday night (8th January) sees the second episode of the new Sherlock series on BBC One, 'The Hounds of Baskerville'. Holmes’ most famous case comes to Dartmoor as the intrepid duo track down a monstrous hound from hell. Visitors to the Prince Hall Hotel (www.princehall.co.uk) in the heart of the moor – inspiration for Conan Doyle’s original novel – may prefer to settle with their hounds in front of the cosy log fire.