BOATING - BARGING - CRUISING - SAILING - SEA-KAYAKING Why not discover a different side of Europe on one of her many historic canals or navigable rivers? Originally used for transporting goods of all shapes and sizes, the length and breadth of many countries, these navigable waterways provide a peaceful and unusual way of exploring France or England, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Scotland and Ireland. The waterways themselves are full of interest; colourful bird life, pretty little lock-keeper's cottages, sleepy villages, vibrant pubs, restaurants of renown, history and stunning scenery are among some of the things that await you if you decide to take the plunge... not literally we hope... and go boating in Europe with Australia's leading canal & river cruise experts. Our self-skippered cruisers on the French Camargue featured on the popular Australian TV travel show GETAWAY The hotel barge Anjodi hosted celebrity chef Rick Stein on his French Odyssey series travelling along the Canal Du Midi from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean. Early bookings are essential for this popular voyage - you will need to act quickly to secure places. Anjodi's partner in Rick Stein's project was L' Impressioniste which also cruised on the televised route at the Mediterranean end of the Midi from Agde to the oyster beds of the Thau Basin, the distillery of Noilly Prat and the Camargue with its wild horse, flamingoes and famous fighting black bulls. This season it has moved further north into the wine growing regions of Burgundy.  But we have the beautifully restored Le Phenicien cruising in the Rhone Valley between Avignon and Aigues Mortes near Montpelier and Nimes.  Book early for all 2012 sailings as places are limited. BEAUTIFUL BOATING HOLIDAYS - SELF-SKIPPERED MOTOR CRUISERS - UK & EUROPE 2012 FRANCE - ITALY - GERMANY - HOLLAND ENGLAND - IRELAND - SCOTLAND Explore Burgundy or the Loire Nivernais region, taste the wines of Alsace or the exquisite cheeses of Brittany. Cruise the ancient Canal du Midi, The Lot, Charente or discover the natural history of the Camargue in France. Le Boat (formerly Crown Blue Line) is the premier operator of self-skippered river or canal cruisers in Europe. They have an extensive fleet of over 1000 self-skippered boats accommodating from 2 - 12 passengers. All vessels are fully equipped with cabins, bathroom/toilets and well-equipped galleys. All boats are easy to handle - tuition given or skippers for hire if required - no experience or boat licence is necessary. Also available on the Royal River Thames in England, Norfolk Broads, Caledonian Canal near Loch Ness in Scotland, the Venice Lagoon in Italy, the River Shannon in Ireland, Friesland in Holland or the Mecklenburg Lakes in Germany. Optional bike hire (mountain bikes or road bikes), one-way hire, vehicle parking or transfers available in most areas. A wide range of bases across Europe with the biggest & most modern fleet available. Ask about our latest models including the new luxury 1500 Series Hybrid Cruiser available in most areas - early booking for these boats is essential. For more information about BEAUTIFUL BOATING HOLIDAYS self-skippered motor cruises click-on to the following link: Click-on here to view a copy of our 2012 e-brochure (large file 35Mb click on bottom right corner to turn the pages)  Click-on here to get our current price list & booking form Click-on here to view the full website Click-on here to order a brochure UK WATERWAYS - CREWED OR SELF-SKIPPERED CANAL NARROWBOATS AVAILABLE IN UK When most people think of canal boat holidays they picture in their mind the traditional British narrowboat or barge constructed during the industrial revolution in the 1700’s to carry cargo long the narrow, shallow canal networks built to link industrial centres. Nowadays these barges are very much a part of the English countryside scene as floating accommodation that moves at a snails pace through some of the most fascinating, historical and attractive regions where canals have always been important such as the Midlands and Birmingham, North Wales and the Llangollen region or northern England. Some of these narrowboats are available as self-skippered holiday options but for those interested in joining a small group holiday with a captain and crew to attend to the management of the boat, preparation of meals and explanations of the places you visit along the way our narrowboat hotel barge holiday aboard the Katie may be for you. At 70 ft long and 6ft 10ins wide this is just about the biggest barge that can go through the locks on the English Canal System yet we are limited with just three cabins for passengers on each departure. The layout of the barge has been designed to provide maximum personal space and privacy. The interior, whilst narrow, is designed to offer double or twin beds, showers rooms with sink and toilet and a lounge dining area. The barge is centrally heated and has mains electric. Space is limited but there are sitting areas to enjoy the cruise and we encourage you to join in with the workings of the boat on locks and mooring. The crew certainly want you to feel as much at home as possible. Starting on a continuous series of journeys from easy to reach places such as Birmingham, Chester, Great Haywood, Worcester, Shakespeare’s home of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick – with the hugely popular Warwick Castle, Marsworth, Market Harborough, Coventry with its glorious cathedral, Sawley near Nottingham, Banbury or Snetterton we offer a comprehensive choice of barging holidays. For more information about UK Narrowboats click-on to the following links: Click-on here to go to the UK self-skippered Canal Boat page Click-on here to order a brochure GO BARGING - EUROPEAN WATERWAYS - HOTEL BARGE CRUISES Go Barging is a UK based company with 30-years of experience in designing, building and operating hotel barge cruises in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy and Germany. The Go Barging fleet offers both suites and cabins for a maximum of just 12 pampered clients on a selection of 7-day / 6-night cruises. They offer the highest level of comfort with spacious saloons, dining areas and bars aboard their barges. Each is centrally heated, well furnished and carpeted throughout. The twin, double or single suites or cabins are well appointed, each with its own bathroom or shower en-suite. A minibus accompanies the cruise to offer guided sightseeing, museum or gallery visits, wine tasting or transfers. The most recent & exciting edition to the Go Barging fleet is La Dolce Vita cruising on the Venice lagoon & waterways in Northern Italy. Departures are weekly from central Venice - specialist departures cover the opera & regatta seasons. For more information about Go Barging Cruises click-on to the following links: Click-on here to read travel writer Maggie Oehlbeck's comments on our cruise in Venice Click-on here to order a brochure Click-on here to see the Go Barging - European Waterways 2012 Brochure (Large File 27MB) Click-on here for latest Go Barging Dates / Prices and booking form LE PHÉNICIEN - PROVENCE & THE CAMARGUE Everything in our cruises has been designed to help you feel at home. You will rest and relax while the boat meanders through the tranquil waterways of southern France. Once on board, you will be introduced to the crew with a welcome drink. After a brief presentation you will be guided through the boat by the captain. Then a brilliant dinner specially prepared by our Chef is served on board. Next morning you are ready for your first day of cruising. All meals are served on board - prepared from selected local ingredients - by our resident Chef. Breakfast and lunch usually consist of a hot or cold buffet. Dinner is a more traditional gourmet meal served at table. You will discover a wide variety of local specialities including fresh cheeses, local wines, red, white, rosé, Champagne and other sparkling wines. Between 2 to 6 hours a day are dedicated to navigation. One or two excursions a day are organised specially for you. We must stress on that point: the excursions we offer have been designed exclusively for our passengers, sometimes to places where perhaps they did not usually welcome tourists. Of course you will also visit some famous monuments and places of interest, but usually outside of the busy periods. On board the hotel barge there is a great selection of books and games. You will also appreciate the paintings from local artists exhibited in the main lounge. Cycling is an invigorating way to stimulate your appetite and there are opportunities to explore our ports of call in the evening. Almost everything on the boat has been changed, replaced, updated or renovated with new wall paper, ceilings repainted, the storage space in the cabins is doubled (in the twin cabins there is also a vertical closet). All beds now have duvets with 2 pillows/person (one large square, one rectangular smaller) All cabins and corridors are adorned with beautiful photos of Provence from Gérard Sioen (a famous photographer in this region). Bathrooms have been totally refurbished with new furniture, new showers, new tiling (shower and floor) and new brighter neon lights. We know you will enjoy the changes! Duration:   7-days / 6-nights Cruising:    Avignon to Aigues Mortes or vice versa Highlights: The Rhone Delta & Camargue with its flamingos, bulls & horses, ancient churches & Roman history, Van Gogh´s Arles, the mediaeval village of Les Baux & wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape What you said about these cruises: Le Phénicien - River Rhone in France - We have been back from overseas now for four weeks but are still catching up on things which needed doing here. However before the memory faded too much we did want to let you know how much we enjoyed our 'Le Phénicien' trip. The crew were wonderful and the owners were obviously very particular and caring about the whole exercise. The food was out of this world and we had brilliant weather, which made it all so much more enjoyable. We managed to get some bike riding in, perhaps not quite as much as we had hoped for but I guess that was made up for in other ways. Anyway thanks so much for making the trip possible for us. Bette and David For more information about Le Phénicien click-on to the following links: Click-on here to order a brochure Click-on here to email OUTDOOR TRAVEL directly LUCIOLE - CRUISING IN BURGUNDY FROM AUXERRE Starting in the Yonne region, cruise the River Yonne deep into the heart of Burgundy past Chablis, Avalon and Vézelay to Clemency. Interwoven with sections of the Nivernais man-made canal we cruise through 35 locks, past a succession of pretty stone-built villages along a waterway once used for floating timber and wine down to Paris. We follow path taken by the Romans and by pilgrims, past Charolais cows grazing in the lush green meadows alongside this enchanting waterway full of the character and charm of a past age. Our hotel barge tour departs from Auxerre (which is within easy reach of Paris by train). The barge Luciole accommodates up to 14 guests in eight individually air-conditioned cabins (three have double beds which can be converted into twins and three have a twin-bedded layout and there are two single cabins). Each cabin has its own private bathroom. Meals on board the Luciole are treasured times: opportunities to share with friends, old and new, a summer luncheon or candlelit dinner. Our chef is encouraged to be innovative and imaginative, marrying French cuisine with a contemporary twist while using fresh local ingredients. Breakfast offers freshly baked croissants, pastries and bread. Lunch is a feast of salads and savoury dishes, followed by a selection of fresh fruit and cheeses. The four-course evening meal is the gastronomic highlight of each day, to be concluded, on the starlit nights for which Burgundy is noted, with coffee and liqueurs on deck. Daily-guided excursions are offered by air-conditioned bus - to medieval towns, châteaux and the glorious vineyards of Chablis - blending culture and shopping opportunities along the way! Beside the canal the old tow-paths, free of passing traffic, are perfect for a stroll beside the barge as she makes her way between the locks. Bicycles are also provided for use of passengers and are popular early in the morning or before dinner. We take you on a wine tour of the country, choosing wines to compliment our menus - all are recommended by wine expert Marc Ragaine, voted 'the world's best independent wine merchant' in 2003. We serve 18 wines from 12 different grape varieties each with its own specific character, reflecting the 'terroir' and the great diversity of the vineyards of France. The 'open bar' is freely available at all times. The sun deck, with seating, tables and umbrellas, offers the perfect place to enjoy the scenery as it unfolds or from the air-conditioned saloon area large picture windows allow uninterrupted views of rural Burgundy. Plenty of time to be active or just to relax and unwind as your day and your mood takes you. Departs:  Weekly every Saturday from April to October For more information about LUCIOLE click-on to the following links: Click-on here to order a brochure Click-on here to email OUTDOOR TRAVEL directly THE LORRAINE - CRUISING THROUGH ALSACE OR BURGUNDY IN FRANCE Canal de la Marne au Rhin & Canal du Rhône au Rhin on the French / German border A delightful cruise through the heart of Alsace-Lorraine where French and German culture entwine creating one of France’s most popular cruise regions. Visit the famous towns of Colmar and Strasbourg and see traditional picturesque villages with half-timbered houses and ancient squares. We include interesting shore excursions by coach, on foot or by bicycle - including crystal glass-making and beer or wine tasting – and free time for shopping or to explore. The region is renowned for its exquisite cuisine and fine wines and our on-board chef will make every meal a regional delight. Cruise highlights include:       * Sarrebourg - Chapel of the Cordeliers with Chegall's stained-glass window.       * The Arzviller barge lift - raising boats 52-metres.       * Saverne - splendid red sandstone palace and typical houses.       * Strasbourg - the stupendous cathedral and the picturesque "Petite France" district.       * Colmar - a fairy-tale town with its Little "Venice" quarter Departs: Weekly every Saturday from April to October The Lorraine cruises in Burgundy from April to July, then on La Petite Saone and through the Vosges Mountains in July before settling on to its weekly Alsace itinerary from mid  July to mid October when the boat returns to the Vosges Mountains route followed by La Petite Saone. For more information about Lorraine click-on to the following links: Click-on here to order a brochure Click-on here to email OUTDOOR TRAVEL directly BIKE & BARGE CYCLING CRUISES IN EUROPE FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, GERMANY, ITALY GREECE, CROATIA, TURKEY, VIETNAM Combining an easy-to-moderate guided cycling route of approximately 40 - 50 kilometres per day, these fully inclusive cruises offer cabin accommodation. Check with us for the latest discounts, brochures, reservations & further information. Call (in Australia): 1800 331 582 or (+61) 3 57551 743 Click-on here to go to the European Bike and Barge Page Click-on here to order a brochure NEW ZEALAND - LUXURY ADVENTURE CRUISES & CHARTERS 6-day/5-night cruises Marlborough Sounds, Bay of Islands, Volcanic White Island & the Hauraki Gulf Here is an opportunity to explore New Zealand in the same way as you can on the small luxury cruise boats and barges of France. The ‘Island Passage’ is a beautifully appointed small ship with a stunning interior. Built and equipped to travel to inaccessible areas she offers the highest level of passenger comfort with 10-spacious en-suite cabins, a large dining room/ saloon lounge, a library and generous outdoor living spaces. The Island Passage carries a landing craft, three large tenders, sea kayaks, a five-seat helicopter, fishing and snorkel equipment and for those looking for less strenuous activities lazing in a deckchair is always an acceptable option. During each journey, our eight-person crew is on hand to share their knowledge of the ocean and local landscapes. For those interested in fishing several levels are available during the cruises to suit the novice to the more experienced angler. In the galley, our chef works with the freshest local ingredients and delicacies to create memorable meals that reflect the day’s adventures. Departures:  Maximum 21 passengers - departures are subject to a minimum number of 10. For more information click-on to the following links: Click-on here For Destinations, Departures and Prices 2011 Click-on here to Download a brochure (Large File - 2.28Mb) Click-on here to order a brochure Click-on here to email OUTDOOR TRAVEL directly SAILING HOLIDAYS, BAREBOAT YACHTS, GULLETS, CAIQUES OR CREWED CHARTERS