• NEW FOUR-STAR WALKING TOUR IN THE FLINDERS RANGES (read more)
• MURRAY RIVER CRUISE OPTIONS (read more)
• FORTHCOMING EVENTS: (read more)
  • Adelaide Fringe
  • Australian Mountain Biking Championships
  • WOMADelaide
  • Clipsal 500
  • International Rugby Sevens
  • Lionel Richie at A Day on the Green
• JACOB’S CREEK WINES A SMASH HIT AT WIMBLEDON (read more)
• RAWNSLEY PARK STATION JOINS ECO LODGES OF AUSTRALIA (read more)
• ANONYMOUS DONATION FUNDS WOMBAT CARE CENTRE (read more)
• APPELLATION NAMED TOP RESTAURANT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA (read more)
• SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHARACTERS: (read more)
  • Saturno Brother make their mark on South Australia’s Wine Industry
  • Leading chef, Cole Thomas, whips up a storm in Adelaide

NEW FOUR-STAR WALKING TOUR IN THE FLINDERS RANGES – With the launch in May of the Fabulous Flinders Walk, discerning travellers will be able to walk deep into some of the world’s oldest landscapes. The new fully-guided six-day experience combines four-star accommodation, authentic outback hospitality and a walking programme never offered before.

The tour begins with a cycle ride along the Clare Valley’s Riesling trail with an en route visit to Skillogalee Winery and a stop in Melrose, Flinders’ oldest town.

Other highlights include traversing Wilpena Pound, crossing its extraordinary elevated saucer and ascending St Mary Peak, the highest in the Flinders at 1,171 metres. Later a more relaxing walk through Flinders gorge country to Brachina, Wilkawillina and Parachilna will reveal a plethora of wildlife, as will a hike to the spring-fed Blinman Pools.

The Fabulous Flinders Walk costs AUD$2,850 and includes all meals, four-star accommodation, transport and guiding. www.australianwalkingtours.com.au

MURRAY RIVER CRUISE OPTIONS - Rain has filled the Murray River and as a result Captain Cook Cruises can now offer its high water itineraries for four and seven-night cruises. The increased water levels, which are now 1.75 metres higher in parts than they were 18 months ago, means that the “Murray Princess” can now cruise through Lock 1 at Blanchetown, an itinerary section usually done by coach.

Meanwhile, birdlife and wildlife has increased in the area – there are more swans, swamp hens, wood ducks, dragonflies and frogs. Plant life is also thriving with lignum bushes flowering, and rushes and reeds turning vibrant shades of green.

Cruises are priced from:

- AUD$777 for the three-night “Discovery Cruise”
- AUD$1,039 for the four-night “Outback Heritage Cruise”
- AUD$1,599 for the seven-night “Murraylands and Wildlife Cruise”

All prices are per person, twin-share and include all meals, accommodation, most tours, coach transfers from Adelaide or onsite car parking and all onboard facilities including use of two spas, two saunas, sun deck, two bars, two lounges, single sitting dining saloon and entertainment. www.captaincook.com.au

FORTHCOMING EVENTS include:

- THE ADELAIDE FRINGE (18 February - 13 March). With over one million people expected to attend the 740 shows, exhibitions and parties, this is Adelaide’s largest festival. Visitors can enjoy an array of free concerts as well as dance and theatrical performances, a circus, comedy acts and cabaret shows. http://tix.adelaidefringe.com.au/ticketing/home.aspx

-AUSTRALIAN MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS (22-27 February). Australia’s fastest and best mountain bike riders will compete at Eagle Mountain Bike Park near Adelaide. The Specialised 2011 Australian MTB Championships will include all mountain biking disciplines, whilst competitors will include World Champion, Sam Hill. www.mtba.asn.au

-WOMADelaide (11 - 14 March). The WOMAD Festival (World of Music, Arts & Dance) was co-founded in the UK by Peter Gabriel and was first presented in Australia as WOMADelaide in 1992. Since then it has gone on to become one of Australia's favourite outdoor festivals attracting, in 2010, 81,500 adults over four days. The program features performances and workshops on seven stages by some of the world's best musicians, dancers and DJs, alongside street theatre and visual artists, the popular Taste the World cooking program, Artists in Conversations sessions and an All-Star Gala finale, together with over 100 food, crafts and display stalls and KidZone for children. This year’s round up also includes Martha Wainwright. http://womad.org/festivals/womadelaide

- The CLIPSAL 500 (17-20 March) racing carnival will take place on the streets of Adelaide. Two 250km V8 Supercar races will be the main attraction with 2011 seeing the introduction of twilight racing for the Australian GT Championship. Other highlights include Touring Car Masters, V8 Utes and Aussie Racing Cars, as well as concerts, air displays, a Family Fun Zone and fireworks extravaganza. www.clipsal500.com.au

- THE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY SEVENS (2-3 April). The Adelaide Oval will see 16 international teams competing in 44 matches over two days with points going towards the HSBC Sevens World Series. The penultimate of the eight tournaments that make up the Series will take place in England in May. www.adelaidesevens.com.au

- A DAY ON THE GREEN (Sunday 3rd April). The legendary singer, songwriter and performer, Lionel Richie, will have fans dancing in the vineyards when he visits Leconfield Wines in McLaren Vale. www.adayonthegreen.com.au

JACOB’S CREEK WINES A SMASH HIT AT WIMBLEDON - Premium Wine Brands Pty Ltd has signed a five-year agreement with The All England Lawn Tennis Club making Jacob’s Creek the Official Wine of Wimbledon. Until 2015, Jacob’s Creek will be the exclusive pouring wine at Wimbledon which generates 594 million viewing hours worldwide. Jacob’s Creek Regional Reserve wines are now available in the UK.

JOINS ECO LODGES OF AUSTRALIA RAWNSLEY PARK STATION - Flinders Ranges’ Rawnsley Park Station is the only South Australian property to be invited to join Ecotourism Australia’s new venture, Eco Lodges of Australia. Designed to raise awareness of environmentally responsible and Advanced Ecotourism certified accommodation providers, Eco Lodges of Australia includes 14 of the country’s leading independent ecotourism operators.

Ecotourism Australia chief executive Mr Kym Cheatham said: “More and more travellers are looking to make responsible choices in the places they choose to stay and we have a responsibility to help them to identify the most environmentally friendly accommodation options”.

Rawnsley Park Station owner, Tony Smith, said: “As a member of Eco Lodges of Australia we are committed to raising awareness of the ethical and sustainable ecotourism experiences available in Australia’s most inspiring and extraordinary natural locations.” www.ecotourism.org.au; www.rawnsleypark.com.au

ANONYMOUS DONATION FUNDS LAND PURCHASE FOR WOMBAT CARE CENTRE - An anonymous American donor has given US$8 million (£4.8m) to The Wombat Awareness Organisation (WAO), the only body specialising in the rescue of southern hairy nosed wombats.

Based in Mannum, this non profit organisation specialises in large-scale rescue and rehabilitation of
wombats. With drought, sarcoptic mange, vehicular incidents and culling attempts just some of the hazards threatening the survival of the wombat, the need for the WAO’s services is great.

However, in order to be able to continue its programme long-term, the WAO needs land on which to build a Wombat Care Centre and to carry out vital research into survival rates of relocated and rehabilitated wombats, as well as wide scale mange management and drought relief. This donation is set to help with the purchase of a 17,000 acre portion of land on Portee Station on the Murray River. www.wombatawareness.com

APPELLATION NAMED TOP RESTAURANT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA – The “2011 Australia Good Food and Travel Guide” has named Appellation South Australia’s top restaurant. Additionally, in ranking their Top 14 restaurants in Australia, Appellation was the only restaurant outside Sydney and Melbourne to make the list. Appellation is located in The Barossa Valley and is situated within The Louise, an award-winning 15-suite luxury vineyard retreat. This acclaimed restaurant is run by British-born Executive Chef Mark McNamara. www.appellation.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHARACTERS:

 They’re also about to plant a test block of an Austrian grape variety, Gruner Veltliner, and their first Pinot Grigio vintage will be ready this year. And, if anyone questions how they are coping with rural South Australia after life in the Big Apple, the Saturno’s content response provides the answer: "Where else in the world can you find five major wine regions within a few hours of a capital city?” www.longviewvineyard.com.au

- COLE THOMAS WHIPS UP A STORM IN ADELAIDE – The Empirical Cuisine Collective is the brain child of Cole Thomas, Australia’s answer to Heston Blummenthal. Thomas, whose Culinetic team provides culinary experiences to three of Adelaide’s finest boutique establishments, recently launched The Collective together with 14 other fine dining chefs from Adelaide. Their aim was to “push boundaries and ask questions of themselves, their suppliers and the food industry with the objective of building the same sort of hothouse environment for amazing dining experiences in Adelaide as has emerged in countries such as Spain.”

Cole has created South Australian dining experiences in every major capital city of Australia, and overseas in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. He and fellow Culinetic chef, Harley Ireland, whipped up a number of molecular miracles at The Collective launch, including kingfish with melon, oyster cream and coconut, pan-seared duck with a vegemite sponge, pork belly with apple and miso, and flat iron beef served with lime and cumquat. www.foodologist.com