New luxury hotel resort in Broome, Western Australia Pinctada Cable Beach, the first new luxury hotel resort in Broome for nearly 20 years, is due to open in April 2009. Designed in the style of a historic pearler residence, it offers a perfect blend of five-star accommodation, the finest service, day spa and cuisine with high-tech renewable energy systems � and a personal butler service. Situated only five minutes� walk through the dunes to Cable Beach, the 71-room resort will reflect the laidback luxury of Broome while the design reflects the style of the old pearler�s homes. Pinctada Cable Beach is the latest addition to the portfolio owned by Marilynne Paspaley, a member of the Paspaley family who have been master pearlers in the Kimberley since 1935. In keeping with her pearling heritage, Marilynne Paspaley already owns two historic master pearlers� residences in the centre of Broome, McAlpine House and Captain Kennedy House, both built in the early 1900s, when the town was commonly known as the �port of pearls�. Both properties provide unique tourist accommodation, McAlpine House as an 8 room boutique retreat and Captain Kennedy House as a luxury villa. www.pinctadacablebeach.com.au

First and only cooking school opens, Tasmania The Agrarian Kitchen is the first and only cooking school in Tasmania located in the Derwent Valley, 45 minutes� drive from Hobart. The Agrarian Kitchen is a sustainable farm-based cooking school situated in a 19th century schoolhouse and students can harvest ingredients from the farm and enjoy classes in skills such as charcuterie, bread and pasta-making. Set on five acres, The Agrarian Kitchen incorporates an extensive vegetable and herb garden and sources ingredients from local farmers, fishermen, gardeners and artisanal producers. Cooking classes are led by Rodney Dunn, former food editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine and one-time apprentice to Australian Chef Tetsuya Wakuda. www.theagrariankitchen.com

New island resort opens, Queensland Nestled on the fringing Great Barrier Reef of Tropical North Queensland, Fitzroy Island Hunt Resort offers a new luxurious island getaway. Located 45 minutes by ferry from Cairns, Fitzroy Island Hunt Resort is a stylish, modern and sophisticated resort which offers a choice of accommodation options, including rooms, one and two bedroom apartments, beachfront suites and a luxurious penthouse. Day trippers and overnight guests can choose from a multitude of activities to fill their time including sensational snorkelling and diving directly off white sand beaches, national park walks, fishing, sea kayaking and Great Barrier Reef cruises. www.fitzroyisland.com.au

New lighthouse accommodation, New South Wales Nestled in the secluded and beautiful Seal Rocks village at Sugarloaf Point and within Myall Lakes National Park, lies the opportunity to discover an unspoilt natural environment, experience cultural heritage or just get away from it all. Steeped in history and built in 1875, Seal Rocks lighthouse and cottages are heritage listed and recall the area in a time of timber-getting and fishing. Today Seal Rocks is renowned for its unspoilt natural beauty - "the last frontier". The Head Keepers Cottage sleeps a maximum of eight guests costing from A$300 per night (approx �143). www.sealrockslighthouseaccommodation.com.au Gordon Ramsay�s Maze to open in Melbourne, Victoria Following months of speculation, Melbourne is now officially confirmed as the home to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay�s first restaurant in Australia. Maze will be housed in Crown�s new, yet-unnamed third hotel, which will have a total of 658 rooms, making it the biggest in Australia. The signature restaurant is set to open in February 2010 when Ramsay will join a host of well-known chefs who have opened restaurants in the Crown Casino complex, including Nobu, Niel Perry�s Rockpool, Bistro Guillaume and Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons � creators of Icebergs and the North Bondi Italian Food. www.gordonramsay.com/maze

Matt Moran to open new restaurant in Brisbane, Queensland Award-winning Sydney chef Matt Moran is bucking the trend of big-name chefs setting up Melbourne outposts and taking his Aria restaurant concept north. Moran will venture outside of Sydney for the first time with his new restaurant in Brisbane. Due to open March 09 at Eagle Street Pier on the old Pier Nine site, the emphasis Moran�s new restaurant is on fresh local produce, perfectly cooked and supported by professional service. With its many cattle stations and coastal proximity, Queensland has some of the best meat and seafood in Australia so the advice from Moran is to look for meat from Darling Downs, reef fish and sea scallops. Local wines will also be on offer with many dessert wines from the state�s Granite Belt. www.ariarestaurant.com.au

Australian Open Tennis Championships, Victoria From 19 January � 1 February 2009, Andy Murray joins the cream of the world's best tennis players at Melbourne Park for the first Grand Slam of the year. The 2008 event was the biggest and best in the tournament's history, setting an all-time attendance record of 605,735 fans through the gates. www.australianopen.com

Tour Down Under, South Australia Taking place from 18 � 25 January, the Tour Down Under cycling race in Adelaide attracts some of the biggest names in world cycling - and there's no bigger name than Lance Armstrong who, in 2009, will compete in Australia for the first time in his comeback race. The tour offers the opportunity to both spectate and participate and the scenery couldn�t be better. From beaches to vineyards, through the city of Adelaide and iconic South Australian towns - the six-stage Tour Down Under is a truly world-class event that showcases the speed, skill and spectacle that is professional cycling. www.tourdownunder.com.au

New Lord�s safari takes visitors to Arnhem Land in a day, Northern Territory Travellers to Australia�s Top End who are short on time can now experience Arnhem Land in a day on a new full day tour from Darwin, launching for 2009. Visitors can experience this living cultural and natural landscape of epic proportions bordering Kakadu National Park, visiting Gunbalanya, Injalak Hill and Injalak Art and Craft Centre, using traditional guides. The tour departs from either Darwin (or Jabiru), from Monday to Sunday throughout May and October. Tours cost from A$230 per person (approx �103). www.lords-safaris.com

Introducing Mungo National Park, New South Wales Mungo National Park, in far western New South Wales, is the site of the oldest known human remains in Australia, and has an Aboriginal heritage dating back 40,000 to 60,000 years. So who better to tell the story of Mungo than the traditional caretakers of the land? Harry Nanya Tours has experienced Barkindji Aboriginal guides leading tours that explore Mungo National Park. Mungo Lodge has recently reopened after a multi-million dollar refurbishment. At the gateway to the World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park, guests can experience the outback in comfort and style. www.harrynanyatours.com.au / www.mungolodge.com.au

For more information about Australia visit www.australia.com

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For further press information/images please contact the Tourism Australia PR team: Sarah Barnett, Andy Parkinson, Annabel Handley or Emma Humphreys Press line: 020 7438 4659 Email: sbarnett@tourism.australia.com