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Glamping Down Under, Spicers Canopy, Australia

In the heart of the spectacular Scenic Rim region, a rich eco tourism experience can be found at Spicers Canopy. First change the image in your mind from ‘camping’ to ‘glamping.’ Although encounters with Australia’s unique plant and animal life are a central focus, Spicers Canopy caters to adventurers who are accustomed to life’s luxuries.

Spicers Canopy is a permanent campsite neighboring 8,000 acres of Australia’s most scenic private nature refuge. The camp is a 90-minute drive from Brisbane. Situated high on a grass-covered plateau, the air is fresh and crisp. The views towards Mount Mitchell, Spicers Peak and Mount Cordeaux are stunning. At night, guests look into skies so clear that satellites can be seen tracking past the canvas of stars. Be sure to take in the mountain views when they are most magnificent, at sunrise and sunset.

GG2476-800x600-Canopy-single-beds_0Photo: Spicers Canopy website

Offering 10 luxury tents, rest assured your stay will be comfortable and private. The tents are fully furnished, offering a king bed (or twin beds), luxury bed linen, lamps, armchairs, bedside tables, polished floorboards, and a covered deck with deck chairs. A place purposefully with no cars, computers, or TVs is where you can truly escape. This is safari-style camping at its finest.

Each Spicers destination provides a comprehensive gourmet experience. All Spicers restaurants are led by award-winning chefs with a passionate mandate to provide exceptional food and wine sourced from regional and international produce. The large communal and dining area is beautifully appointed with a stone fireplace and polished floors. At its center is a large custom-made table serving as the backrop for many gourmet meals. Sit back while your dedicated chef prepares all your meals and drinks.

There is plenty to do at Spicers Canopy, especially for those looking for natural beauty and serenity away from the city. Guided walks are great for exploring the private nature reserve. Domestic livestock and native wildlife co-exist in the quiet Australian bush. Take a dip in the private swimming hole or venture into the nearby bat cave. Spicers Canopy has a long list of other things to do including massages, horseback riding, 4WD tours, yoga, sporting clays, and more at the nearby Peak Lodge which is a sister property.

IMG_2342a_0_0Photo: Spicers Canopy website

The Austalian-owned Spicers has made it their mission to give guests a total experience that is intimately unique. The Spicers  boutique hotel group includes seven luxury travel destinations in Australia. Spicers Canopy embodies the glamping experience; it combines the individuality and service of a private bed and breakfast with the style and quality of a grand international hotel.

Spicers Canopy is for adventurers and groups looking for a different luxury holiday. Learn more about Spicers Canopy.

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Spotlight: Turtle Inn, Belize

Turtle Inn is a seafront getaway that combines natural wonders with luxury style. The friendly, attentive staff, three restaurants, a rejuvenating spa and idyllic seafront setting make Turtle Inn a perfect glamping refuge.

The 25-rooms range from villas, cottages, and beach houses. The classic thatched cottages and bungalows make you feel right at home on the beach. All the accommodations are decorated with handcrafted Balinese furnishing. The continual sea breezes keep everything cool. And, just steps beyond your private deck, the white-sand beach dissolves into the clear Caribbean ocean.

The unique location provides a wealth of exciting activities. The coral reef just offshore offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba opportunities in the world. Troll, spin-cast, or drop-fish in some of the most populated waters in the Caribbean. Barracuda, king mackerel, snapper, grouper, tuna and snook are among the many species that thrive here. Inland hikes to hidden lagoons, canoe trips up the Monkey River and the short bicycle ride into town will also enrich guests’ experiences in this magical country.

turtle-inn-3Photo: Turtle Inn website

Turtle Inn’s dive shop can accommodate the needs of both beginner and experienced divers. The Caribbean’s largest barrier reef lies just offshore from Turtle Inn, offering divers a magnificent diversity of coral and marine life to explore. There are a number of easily accessible cayes (tiny islands) with their own reefs and underwater ecosystems. Turtle Inn is dedicated to providing the best diving experience possible, regardless of skill level. They offer tours and a wide range of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification courses. Visit the Dive Shop for a complete listing of our classes as well as some important information on diving tours and snorkeling options. Belize proudly maintains a reputation as one of the world’s best scuba destinations.

The best beach swimming in Belize is located in Placencia. The sandy beach and calm, clear waters create perfect conditions for swimming and snorkeling as well as a host of other water-related adventures. Visit the Dive Shop for more information on renting sailing boats, snorkel gear, kayaks, and beach bicycles. Turtle Inn also has two infinity swimming pools, an oval-shaped infinity pool located between the Mare Restaurant and the Laughing Fish Bar and a triangular infinity pool with its striking ceramic turtle tiling and tranquil surroundings is located to the north of the property close to the Gauguin Grill.

turtle-inn-4Photo: Turtle Inn website

Dining open-air along the ocean’s shore is a feast for the senses. Savor fresh seafood and shellfish, the pure flavors of homegrown fruits and vegetables, or pizza from an authentic wood-burning oven. Then, relax with a cocktail at the seaside beach bar. Fresh seafood and traditional Italian cooking come together at Turtle Inn’s flagship restaurant, the Mare Restaurant. The Gauguin Grill features fresh, charcoal-grilled seafood including lobster, jumbo shrimp and snapper all served on woven plates accompanied by Balinese-inspired sauces. The Laughing Fish Bar provides a shady retreat to enjoy a wide selection of drinks. Bar stools sit directly on the golden-sand beach.

jpegPhoto: Turtle Inn Website

Turtle Inn’s history makes it a true labor of love. Less than a year after Francis and Eleanor Coppola acquired the beachside refuge in 2001, it was swept out to sea by the forces of Hurricane Iris. Turning disaster into triumph, the Coppolas led a two-year reclamation project, creating a magnificent resort that is consistently ranked among the best in Central and South America.

Learn more about vacationing here on the Turtle Inn website.

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A Look from Above: The Resort at Paws Up

Our friends at The Resort at Paws Up recently produced an aerial video of the the property. The footage gives you a good feeling for the immensity of the resort. And, if you watch closely you’ll see a Bald Eagle take off from its treetop perch.

Paws Up is a 37,000-acre working Montana ranch. In addition to the over three hundred head of resident elk, you’re likely to see a couple hundred stunning Black Angus cows roaming the rolling pastures of the Ranch.

The expansive property is a haven for authentic Montana dude ranch activities like trail riding, chuck wagons and cattle drives. At Paws Up, you’ll enjoy a vast menu of wilderness adventures of all kinds. They offer fly-fishing on the Blackfoot River (10 miles of which flow through the Ranch), rappelling off cliffs memorialized by Lewis & Clark, 16 stations for sporting clays shooting, whitewater rafting, ATV riding, and a host of programmed activities for kids.

Learn more about The Resort at Paws Up and the cabineering options newly added to Glamping.com