Travel deals: rock the lobster

Mandarin Oriental Taipei, Taiwan.

Soak up the seafood and sunshine in Perth, shop Seminyak or sip South Australia... there's not much more alliteration left, so I'll stop right here to leave you to read this week's domestic and international travel deals. 

(Sorry, forgot to mention the fabulously chic baby-will-travel bag in this week's kids' feature - and not a tacky cartoon character in sight!)

GO NOW
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Blow the budget on rock lobster and WA wines when you stay two nights at Perth's 3.5-star Alderney on Hay executive apartments. The "two-bedroom breakfast special" includes a breakfast hamper and DVD hire in a two-bed apartment until June 28. From $370, two nights. See lastminute.com.au/deals.

BALI
Snap up great local fashions and hit the restaurants in happening Seminyak with a stay-five, pay-four offer at the one, two or three-bed villas of Villa Kubu, available until August 31. From $320 a night. See villakubu.com.

GO SOON
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Shop for the cellar on a half-price day trip to the Barossa Valley, then enjoy a room upgrade and late check-out when you stay two nights at Adelaide's refurbished Mantra Hindmarsh Square. Book by July 31, travel by October 31, quote "Mantra Winter Special". From $149 a night. Phone (08) 8412 3333, see mantra.com.au.

The Fairmont San Francisco, USA.

USA
Stay four nights, pay for three at The Fairmont San Francisco and use your savings to snap up American labels on stays until September 4. You'll also get $108 hotel credit, breakfast, early check-in, late check-out and a room upgrade. From $622 a night. See virtuoso.com.au.

GO LATER
VICTORIA
Set in the spectacular shopping hub of South Yarra, the new Oaks Pinnacle's opening "Winter Warmers" offer, with midday checkout, costs from $139 for a one-bedroom apartment (normally $260 a night). Minimum two-night stay until September 30. Phone 1300 660 223, see oakshotelsresorts.com.

TAIWAN
Shop Taipei for rare teas and hand-thrown ceramics during your stay at the new Mandarin Oriental, Taipei. Its opening package, "Stay for More" offers three nights for the price of two until September 7. From $677 for three nights. Phone 1800 123 693, see mandarinoriental.com.

Yuraygir National Park, NSW, Australia

TOURWATCH

Easy on the soul

The beauty of isolated Yuraygir National Park, on the Coffs coastline, is on display on a new coastal walk that links the north-coast towns of Iluka and Coffs Harbour via paperbark swamps, clear lagoons and wide stretches of beach. The walk, for up to 15 guests, includes canoeing at Wooli, local oyster tasting and a walk around Muttonbird Island. The six-day trip departs May 25, 2015. Costs $2195 a person. (03) 9530 8800, auswalk.com.au.

 

HAVE HANDBAG, WILL TRAVEL

Travelling stylishly doesn't have to go (completely) out the window when you're towing babies along. The Budu Baby Bag packs a nappy bag into a chic leather hold-all, hiding an insulated bottle holder, wipe-down change mat, key or nappy clip and pram strap. There are zipped compartments for your passport and ebook. Later it becomes a stylish woman-about-town bag. Designed and owned in Australia, $349. See budu.com.au.

This travel deals column by Belinda Jackson is published in Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper every Sunday.