Category Archives: travel

Priceless Quality Time in Port Douglas

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Holidays by WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham, as the name implies, are always a world-class experience. Our recent stay at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Douglas was, as usual, no exception: a relaxed & cheerful check-in; outstanding facilities at a superlative location; superior comfort (it’s the only time we don’t need to take our own pillows!) & a kitchen superbly equipped. I love that feeling of assuredness that the consistent level of quality will be there every time = holiday bliss.

A very relaxed check-in!

There’s always a guaranteed jovial ambiance created by equally happy fellow-owners, also enjoying their quality time. There is that carefree ‘knowing glint’ in their eyes . . .  as if we all belong to a secret club.

Hilariously, one of the things on my husband’s bucket list has been for us to ride a tandem bike – on arrival, to our utmost surprise, there stood a cheeky white tandem bike on the fabulously welcoming deck/activities area ! Tick.

Somehow we made it to Port Douglas Marina!

The resort was magnificently set in rain forest & a waterfall/swimming pool that made the whole place feel surreal. The beauty spa within the resort was genius. Just relaxing there was enough to feel a world away from worries. All pent-up stress just melted.

Center of the resort pool!

While I was inside the beauty spa.

Close by, the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest & Barrier Reef provided an array of world-class experiences to evoke awe that was unforgettable. What a country we live in ! Live crocodiles; rainforest that meets the ocean; sensational snorkeling & insane rainforest flavors of ice-cream . . . something for everyone.

Birdworld at Kuranda

Each time I depart from a Wyndham Resort, I remember my initial skepticism prior to joining – it all seemed just “too good to be true”. But every stay over the last 17 years has consistently exceeded my expectations. What an outstanding investment I made in guaranteed quality holidays ! Even partners have come & gone in that time but my WorldMark relationship has never disappointed –  I can’t imagine my life without it!

Fabulous waterfall into the pool

 

Roslyn & Victor, 

Very happy Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more Port Douglas stories by Wyndham timeshare Owners 

How to spend 3 days on the Sunshine Coast with your family… (on a budget)

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If you are looking for somewhere to spend your next getaway, you can’t go past the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Last weekend we went on a 3 day Sunshine Coast family holiday exploring the sights and surroundings that this stunning part of the world has to offer and we were impressed. There is plenty to do on a budget and the atmosphere is just laid back, relaxing and fun- the perfect little weekend getaway. Our accommodation was a one bedroom suite at the Ramada Resort Marcoola which was good because it was so central to everything and right on the stunning Marcoola beach.

Day 1

After our early morning beach walk and exploring the local cafes we decided to head to Sunshine Castle Bli Bli for the day. The castle was only a 9 minute drive from our hotel and seemed to be a fun day out for the kids. Entry was within budget at only around $40-$50 for a family of 4 and this included a scavenger hunt and prize for each child at the end. The castle boasts 2 towers which offer picturesque views of the coast and hinterland as well as a themed dining hall, dungeon and plenty of interesting medieval and historical displays throughout which the kids loved! The Castle was originally built by a couple as an exhibition centre for their doll collection which is still displayed at the end of the tour- however this display brought on the rather ‘Curse of chucky’ type vibe and we moved on quickly. The castle was very quiet and we were able to just walk through at our own pace.

 

Selfie out the front of the Castle

 

Dressing up for the treasure hunt

Day 2

We were looking to do something a little more adventurous by today and decided to look to groupon for ideas. We came across some half price coupons for kayaking down the maroochy river which only set us back a very reasonable $20 per kayak for 2 hours. The team at Sunshine Watercraft located within the Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore were so friendly and helpful and were more than happy to fit us in without a booking. We paddled along the river about 15 minutes before reaching a sandbar just off the beach at Cotton Tree where the crystal clear blue water was too hard to resist and we all jumped in for a lovely swim. We then continued on to Cotton Tree where we parked the kayaks and strolled across the road to The Prickly Pinata for a couple of delicious banana colada cocktails and the kids had a play in the park. This day was my favourite part of the holiday.

Kayaking through to Cotton Tree

Kayaking through to Cotton Tree

Our kids enjoying the sun

Our kids enjoying the sun

 

Family photo swimming

Family photo swimming

Day 3

For our last day we decided to venture to Mount Coolum for the 6am sunrise. After fumbling around in the dark at 5am to get warm jackets on and bundling everyone in to the car we eventually made it. The drive to Mount Coolum was only 6 mins from our hotel. The walk was a steady uphill climb and took around 30 mins to reach the top. We didn’t find the track overly challenging as we went with our 10 month old in the carrier and our 3 year old managed most of the climb himself with the exception of a few shoulder trips. The views of the coast and hinterland were breathtaking and well worth the trek! After a big breaky and a rest we checked out of our hotel and then decided to brave the crowds and head to the iconic Noosa beach. After driving around for what seemed like an eternity we finally got a park. The beach at Noosa was flat and shallow- perfect for the kids to have a nice swim however it was packed and finding a spot to park the beach tent proved difficult. After some window shopping and a gelato we headed home.

How good is this view from the top of Mount Coolum

How good is this view from the top of Mount Coolum

 

What a great Sunshine Coast family holiday!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time away and would highly recommend for anyone looking for a cheap and relaxing Sunshine Coast family holiday.

 

Read more Sunshine Coast stories by Wyndham timeshare Owners 

Girl’s Weekend Away

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2017 was a tough year for me with both my parents passing away. So two of my friends decided that what I needed was a girl’s weekend away.

I chose Hobart since I’d been wanting to visit MONA for a while plus it was an opportunity to stay at Ramada Resort Seven Mile Beach. We decided on a 3 bedroom apartment so we each had our own room. It was perfect for catching up and the resort was in peaceful surroundings.

We flew in on Friday morning, picked up a hire car from the airport and drove to Richmond an historic town about one hour drive from Hobart. We visited the old church and wandered around the antique shops. We had afternoon tea served in silver teapot.

Saturday morning was spent at the famous Salamanca Markets. We brought souvenirs. We had lunch at Maldini Italian restaurant. Then wandered back to the wharf where we went on a horse and carriage ride around the streets of Hobart. We visited Battery Point which is the old part of Hobart where you can find some of the original houses from the 1800s still standing.

On Sunday we took the ferry to MONA. You can spend most of the day there as there is much too see. The views from the museum are fantastic. We had lunch in the cafe but its worth going to the restaurant if you can just for the views.

 

Monday morning there was time to sleep in and more time to chat before checking out. In 3 days we had seen a lot but there were more places we could have visited such as Mount Wellington.

 

Maria

Wyndham Timeshare Owner

Read more Seven Mile Beach stories by Wyndham timeshare Owners 

70th Birthday Celebration in Fiji

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As Wyndham owners, we always love travelling to our favourite destination Wyndham Resort Denarau Island though late December / New Year’s Eve was an extra special occasion.

After months of planning, our NZ family plus extended family & friends from Australia and around the world, got together to celebrate my Auntie’s 70th birthday. With several of us being owners, we booked out a number of rooms in advance to accommodate a large group of us. For the 1st time my wife, kids & I got to stay in the deluxe grand apartments. Stunning views, extremely luxurious and generous in size. Total Bliss.

Days leading up to the birthday party the group spent time relaxing by the pool , visiting the Marina’s shops and restaurants, and local attractions (Sleeping Giant Zip Line, Bula Water Park , Denarau Golf Course). We were also lucky enough to take a boat trip to out to see the surf break, courtesy of Fiji Surf. It was amazing. BBQ lunch on board a catamaran, snorkeling around a private island resort, hot sun & beautiful blue ocean.

The 70th Birthday party celebration was held at the resort’s Mamacita Mexican Restaurant. We had the entire front deck reserved for us. Guests enjoyed delicious island style food and local entertainment. It was a fabulous evening!

 

As part of our stay we enjoyed local New Year’s Eve celebrations with amazing fireworks on the beach, music and drinks by the pool to welcome 2018!

A couple of days later it was time to part with family & friends, as we started to make our way back home. We had an incredible time, packed full of fun Fiji memories! We can’t wait to go back again.

 

Chad and Donna

Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more Denarau Island (Fiji) stories by Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Short Break in Ballarat

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Oh what to do when a couple of Brisbane shift workers have 3 days off together….it’s easy when you’re WorldMark owners! Do a quick search on the website for what’s available on those precious few days and go!

Fly to Melbourne and jump into a hire car.

Drive 1.5 hours and stay in our beautiful Ramada Resort Ballarat.

Walk 7 kms around Lake Wendouree and be a part of the most extraordinary array of ecosystems.

Drive to Bendigo and climb the lookout tower before having a drink at the art gallery.

The next day drive across to Mount Gambier in South Australia…some people ask “Wye?”  But we say “Why not?” After all we’re on a short break from Queensland!”

On the way to S.A. be sure to stop on the side of the road and pick fresh apples straight off a wild tree (something us folk from subtropical Brisbane have never seen!)

Of course then there’s no excuse not to drive the stunning Great Ocean Road. (You’ll think you’re in an Australian scenic calendar)

 

Back to Melbourne and then Brisbane and home to reality.

No worries, there’s a WorldMark shortbreak just around the corner! Just like right now, as we write this, looking over Pumicestone Passage from one of our favourite resorts, gorgeous Golden Beach, on another WorldMark short break.

 

Paul and Maryrose,

Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more (VIC) Ballarat by Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Our Phuket Holiday

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I was introduced to WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham by my then boyfriend who purchased membership in 2005, he spoke enthusiastically about its benefits, the luxury accommodation all over the world but I didn’t pay too much attention.
It was only after my boyfriend then became my husband that we used WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham to honeymoon for 10 wonderful nights at Denarau Island, Fiji and finally I understood!
A few years later we had 2 little girls & since then we have used Wyndham extensively in NSW, QLD & VIC for our annual family holidays and short breaks.
However it was only recently that we took our daughters overseas for their very 1st time. First flight and first time in Phuket, Thailand. We were a little anxious how a 4yr & 6yr old
would cope, well cope they did! We had the best family holiday ever. Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket was stunning, the staff were amazing & warm, the food was incredible and the resort had so much to offer.


Upon returning, we immediately increased our membership points & our now excitedly planning our next adventures!

Suzy

Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more International holiday stories by Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Our US Holiday

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My husband Peter and I have just returned from a 5 week trip to the US. What a fabulous time we had. We visited San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, New Orleans, Miami, San Juan, a Caribbean Cruise back to San Juan then onto Santa Monica. We stayed at either WorldMark The Club Resorts or Wyndham Rewards with the exception of San Juan and of course the cruise. All resorts and hotels provided great accommodation and locations. It was the first time we used Wyndham Rewards and it all worked so well. Knowing the type of accommodation we were getting made the choice so easy.

What a great addition to the Club!

Sue and Peter,

Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more International holiday stories by Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Why we went from 12,0000 credits to 100,000+ credits in 3 years?

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We began our WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham journey in November 2014 when we purchased 12000  Credits.

We had been Time Share owners since around 2004  where we would enjoy our “floating week” every year or perhaps exchange it for another resort, we were somewhat limited in what we could do with our time share ownership.

Since becoming WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham owners we have discovered a whole new world of Time Share flexibility and experiences.

We have fully utilised our membership having holidayed at all Victorian Resorts (apart from Ramada Resort Dinner Plain) and nearly all the NSW Resorts.

We have used our Personal Choice, Club Travel,  RCI exchanges, Ice Cruises  and 241 cruised. We have enjoyed a Club Travel arranged APT Vietnam Cambodia Mekong Cruise, and another club Travel arranged 241 Cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong with an extended stay in Hong Kong, using personal choice.

In October this year we enjoyed 5 days in Darwin staying  at the Ramada Suites Zen Quarter (courtesy of Wyndham Rewards) The photo below is from the café deck at sunrise have you ever seen a better breakfast location. 
We enjoyed a Darwin City Tour, The Jumping Crocodile and Litchfield Park tour and of course the Kakadu tour then jumped on the Ghan to Adelaide Wow what a trip! And all paid for by our personal choice options. Upcoming holidays with the whole family are 8 nights in the 4 bedroom grand at Ramada Resort Seven Mile Beach and the 7 nights at Ramada Resort Port Douglas and 7 nights in WorldMark Resort Cairns next September.

Our WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham experiences have been excellent to the extent that we steadily increased our ownersip to the  reach 100 Club membersip earlier this year.

Our ownership has been the best lifestyle investment we have ever made. WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham ownership really makes the World your oyster, you just need to learn how to open it up!

We would like to thank the following WorldMark South Pacific staff for assisting us in our lifestyle adventures and achieving our goals. Mark Wells (Torquary), Daniel Trovato (Shoal Bay) and Alex Damoli from membership enhancement.

Peter and Rosie,

Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more International holiday stories by Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Surprise Surprise at Kirra Beach!

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How could you possibly have a special family holiday with all seven of your grand kids, celebrate the Melbourne Cup, attend opening night of Chicago at the Bangalow Theatre and have your three children throw a surprise 50th wedding anniversary party? All in a week! Yes, Wyndham Kirra Beach is the ideal venue.

It started with the concept of having a week on the Gold Coast with our children, who live in Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. They have seven children between them – our seven grandkids. We live in Sussex Inlet, three hours south of Sydney.

We booked three units at the lovely Wyndham Kirra Beach where the friendly Wyndham staff helped make our time super enjoyable. The seven small children, aged between three and eleven just love the resort pool.

Then to add cream to the cake, throw in theme parks, our own Melbourne Cup party and the chance to attend the opening night of Chicago where our singing and dancing daughter-in-law was starring.

Unbeknown to us our children had put out an invite (to anyone) via Facebook to attend a surprise 50th wedding anniversary! The date they selected was about two months ahead of the actual special anniversary, hence we didn’t have any idea of the party. People came from Sydney, Berry, Batemans Bay, Gold Coast and also included Fay’s sister from Cairns and my brother from Canada that we simply thought wanted to just join the family gang on a holiday. On our way between Sydney and the Gold Coast some of our family were able to stay at Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie Wyndham resorts.

We’d stayed at all of those resorts, and guess what? We’ll return to them all too! Thanks family and thanks to WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham.

Graham and Faye,

Wyndham Timeshare Owners

Read more Gold Coast holiday stories by Wyndham Timeshare Owners

 

 

Our Singapore Holiday

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For my husband’s 65th birthday, we decided on a few days R & R in Singapore, as we had been lucky enough to pick up a great airfare.

We stayed at the Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park and were so glad we did.  It is  in an awesome location, away from the high prices and touristy area of Orchard Road, but a free shuttle service to go there if you wanted too.  There is a free shuttle to the fantastic Novena Shopping Mall, which has great shopping and good restaurants and the MRT station.  With our trusty MRT Tourist Pass in hand, we hopped on and off the wonderful MRT system to go anywhere we wanted to go.

There is a terrific neighbourhood Hawker centre, the Balestier Market which is literally across the road from the hotel.  It has great local dishes with local prices and the hardest decision is to choose a favourite – mine were the chicken wings, which were fantastic.

But, you don’t need to venture far from the hotel to have a good time.  We can thoroughly recommend the Starker Bistro, at the side of the hotel, overlooking the beautiful Zhongshan Park, which has ponds and fairly lights where lots of local families come out to walk and play.  Don’t go past the lychee beer at Starker Bistro at the end of long day sightseeing or shopping!!!

For an authentic Singapore experience, walk across the road to the Sing Hon Loong Bakery, for a taste of traditional Singapore.  We also loved our breakfast at Toast Box on the ground floor, with traditional kava toast and coffee.

We packed so much into a few days and the hotel staff were always helpful, giving us tips and tricks on which station to get off for different points of interest or where we should go.  By using the hotel shuttle and our MRT Tourist Pass we travelled north to the border, south to Universal Studios, shopping centres, had high tea and then come home at night to a friendly smile and a lychee beer!!

The hotel has everything you need, beautiful rooms, with possibly the best bed we have ever slept on and we would always recommend Days Hotel if you are going to Singapore.  Thanks to our WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham ownership, we had an awesome holiday that didn’t break the bank!!!!

Joy & Mark,

Wyndham Timeshare Owner

Read more International holiday stories by Wyndham timeshare Owners