What to do over Christmas

[luxury-lizard]

I'm racking my brain for ideas for a Christmas break - does not necessarily need to be exactly over Christmas - say 5-7 days. Here are the variables:-

• We have no children or family in Australia - so family oriented things are not possible
• Not willing to pay the exorbitant surcharges of most luxury resorts over this period (e.g. Saffire, Capella, Southern Ocean Lodge,, etc)
• Would like to avoid resorts/places where there are likely to be young families (i.e. loads of kids running around)
• Must avoid high-risk bush-fire areas (just cancelled a trip to Bellingen / Dorrigo due to this risk)
• Willing to fly almost anywhere within reason (given the short time frame) but happy diving as well
• Big cities over the holidays are pretty quite so not that compelling
• Must be home by early January - leaving for Wihstler in mid-January
• Like active breaks - hiking, tennis, etc - not ones to lie around the pool with colourful coughtails all day

So every year we go though this exercise and ultimately decide to stay home !!! So any off-the-wall ideas most welcome - could help others int he same boat.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Silos without me!

You and MrDenali can come too

 

[Antoallison]

Actually just found J award seats to PER ex BNE with connections from/to SYD - will keep checking this out. QF website just gave weird results but AwardNexus found a number of days - some with > option - would be using AA points.

Book the best accomodation available, as from distant memory some of it is still fairly basic on the island.

Meals at Riva Restaurant at Karma Resort, Thomsons or Frankies described as casual. Or self cater with food from General Store or delivery from Coles on mainland to the island.

One Xmas decades ago eg 1972 ...I tried to book Xmas lunch at a place on the island that I found in the phone book called “The Lighthouse- Rottnest”.

I asked the lady who answered the phone if they were open on Xmas Day and what was on the menu ?

Turns out the Lighthouse keepers wife was not expecting more than her immediate family for lunch that day !

If you dive then perhaps you could catch your own lunch ?