ACCC vows to take on those lying, cheating, thieving airlines

There are few more useless, toothless organisations in Australia than the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). 

Known for talking big without the follow-up action, the ACCC has vowed to take on Australia’s airlines to ensure greater consumer protections. 

The ACCC's website says airline contracts are currently too one-sided - against the consumer. 

Don't hold your breath waiting for action, but the ACCC identified three key issues in its preliminary report on Airline Terms & Conditions last month. These relate to fares being advertised as non-refundable, excessive cancellation fees and a lack of compensation provided to passengers when flights are cancelled or delayed.

In its report, the ACCC found that “there appears to be an imbalance in rights between consumers and the airlines, and the airlines are entitled to make unlimited changes whereas the consumer is financially penalised for making even minor adjustments.”

One particular area of concern is airlines advertising fares as “non-refundable”. 

Under Australian Consumer Law, customers may, in fact, be entitled to a refund under some circumstances. For example, if the airline cancels the flight and fails to offer an adequate alternative. 

Jetstar, similarly, states that all Starter fare add-ons are non-refundable. But in cases where paid add-ons such as meals or entertainment are not provided, customers are legally entitled to a refund.

Other concerns identified by the ACCC include: customers being charged for flight changes forced by the airline’s actions; travel vouchers being offered instead of refunds; customers not being compensated for the cost of booking a new flight on another airline in the case of a last-minute cancellation.

Now let's see what happens. 

Are you ready for something different? Discover a barrel-aged gin.

And now for something completely different in Australia's booming artisan spirits zone.

A barrel-aged gin with whisky-like toffee and caramel characters is being launched in Australia’s most famous wine region by the Barossa Distilling Company.

The limited-edition gin has spent seven months in tawny port barrels. It is only the company’s third gin following the release of the Generations Gin in 2016 and its Budburst pink gin later that year.

The barrels originally held Barossa red wine and then spent eight years ageing tawny port before being cut down to 100 litres at a local cooper, oak-charred to a crocodile char and filled with Generations Gin.

The same style barrels were also sourced to make the company’s first whisky, which is still at least 12 months away from release.

Barossa Distilling Managing Director Neil Bullock said the gin was barrel-aged in the same way as whisky is traditionally matured.

“Back in the old days they would store the gin in an oak barrel in a ship’s ballast and effectively by the time it got to its destination it would have been barrel aged, depending on how far the journey was,” he said.

“It’s confusing to the palate in a way because it’s got a little bit of a whisky characteristic – it’s very much a gin but it sits somewhere between the two in terms of the flavour profile it’s delivering and you get those toffee and honey characteristics that you would find in a Speyside- style sherry or port cask-finished whisky."



The 40% ABV Barrel-Aged Gin is $125 for a 700ml bottle and is available through the Barossa Distilling Company website or at its cellar door in the Old Penfolds Distillery building in Nuriootpa. My sample must still be on its way!

Gin is the star attraction at “The Distillery”, the tasting room and craft spirits bar the company opened permanently in the iconic distillery last August.

The original Penfolds distillery was built in 1913 and for almost a century produced brandy and fortified wines for one of Australia’s most famous wineries.



Bullock said the unique rooms, featuring old stills, 10-metre-high ceilings and an original cast iron spiral staircase, provided the ideal setting for people wanting an alternative to wine.

“Once people have done their wine tasting they’re very keen for a bit of a palate cleanser and something a little bit different. They can walk in here and try our spirits or simply sit down to enjoy a cocktail or a gin and tonic,” he said.

The Distillery is open seven days, 11am-5pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am-8pm Friday and Saturday. It also serves local beers, artisan Barossa wines, tasting platters and a range of other local and imported spirits.

New pop-up tasting destination for wine lovers in Tasmania

Waterton Hall Wines, a small Tasmanian wine producer with ambition, has launched a pop-up cellar door for tastings during the state's peak summer tourism period. 

For the first time, the family-run Rowella vineyard is offering a pop-up cellar door experience, following the complete restoration of an on-site convict-built barn on the historic estate, which dates back to the 1850s. 

Throughout January and for the first weekend of February, the cellar door offers visitors the chance to sample and buy wine direct. 

Waterton Hall has lifted its profile since being sold to former beef entrepreneurs David and Susan Shannon, in partnership with her brother John Carter and his wife Belinda Evans, in 2014. 

The property is a beautiful one with the Hall, historic outbuildings and surrounding vineyards enjoying sweeping views of the Tamar River. 

Vines were first planted on the site in the early 1990s and in the past two years the vineyard has expanded to a commercial size of 10 hectares with wines crafted by Winemaking Tasmania. 

The pop-up cellar doors will be held at Waterton Hall Wines every weekend in January and the first weekend in February, from Friday to Monday, 11am to 4pm. 

Your own driver for a day of Barossa wine tastings

One of the easiest ways to visit several Barossa cellar doors without the need for a designated driver in the Barossa Explorer, hop-on, hop-off bus, which operates from the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, the Barossa Information Centre in downtown Tanunda and the Weintal Hotel.

For a one-off fee of $30-35, visitors can be dropped at the tasting facilities of up to seven different wine producers.



The wineries visited change seasonally but include the likes of Turkey Flat, Langmeil, David Franz (below), Rolf Binder, Artisans of Barossa, Chateau Tanunda and Seabrook, as well as Maggie Beer's Farm Shop and Eatery. 

The focus is on artisan producers rather than big names. 

Visitors can join the tour at any of 12 stops along the route and tickets can be purchased on board. The complete route takes approximately an hour so tasting and then re-joining the tour is easy. Your purchases can be safely stored on the bus.



Colourful Driver and host Troy Dowd, who seems to know all the local secrets, came up with the idea after sensing the region lacked transport options for tourists.

“After living here for about three years and working in tourism, the biggest question people were asking was: “How do you get around the Barossa Valley?” he said.

“There are limited taxis and they can be quite expensive, and there’s not a lot of public transport either.

“While there are other wine tours, they are a more strict in their timetables and you don’t have a great deal of flexibility.”

Tours run 10am-5pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. www.barossaexplorer.com.

Meet a hotel that rewards regular guests with special treats

Close to one-third of all visitors to the Barossa stay at the very smart Novotel Barossa Valley Resort; situated high on a hill overlooking lush vineyards and the Jacob's Creek winery.

As befits the biggest hotel in the region, the Novotel has re-launched an enhanced version of Accor's MyResorts offer aimed at the group's Le Club AccorHotels loyalty members.

The new offer’s range of benefits and inclusions will allow the group’s participating resorts across Asia Pacific the flexibility to customise an experience that best showcases each location’s unique offerings: in the Novotel's case, local food and wine.

“AccorHotels is one of the largest resort operators in the world with over 100 beautiful resorts across Asia Pacific,” said Henrik Berglind Vice President Loyalty – Asia Pacific. 

“We want to help create an unforgettable experience for our members and ensure they enjoy a fuss-free holiday with us by focusing on exclusive and customised rewards that allow each resort to design an experience that is special to its locality.”

The offer includes a comprehensive suite of benefits including MyGlass, MyKids, MyConnect, MyHost and more, with a range of inclusions and rewards according to membership tier – some are free, some cost a nominal fee – that will ensure travellers get the best value for their money and can experience their destination in style.

One of the signature elements of the offer is MyGlass, whereby for a small fee guests can enjoy a beverage experience. Depending on the resort, that may include a cocktail-making class or a wine-tasting with a local producer.

At the Novotel Barossa Valley, a local winery will guide you through a selection of their wines paired with five small plates featuring gourmet Barossa produce with MyGlass. During my recent stay the first night was hosted by Grant Burge cellar door manager Julie Webster, and the second by veteran vigneron Tim Smith.

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort is just over an hour’s drive from the Adelaide city centre, adjacent to the 18-hole Tanunda Pines golf course. The Cellar Kitchen Restaurant and Bar features seasonal menus incorporating the best of the Barossa, in collaboration with Saskia Beer.

“The Cellar Kitchen isn't just a regional restaurant, it's all about sharing the best of our local Barossa community and inviting guests to our table,” says GM Sarah Goldfinch. “Saskia's dishes are all produce-driven not chef-driven, with local seasonal Barossa ingredients featured as the hero.”

Before your trip starts, MyHost will contact you in anticipation of your upcoming stay and help you with any tour arrangements (like a stint on the drop-in, drop-off Barossa Explorer tour bus).

Another alternative is grabbing a bike from the hotel and riding to Jacobs Creek Winery for wine tasting and lunch (available only during weekdays).

Too much to do and not enough time? MyExtratime will let you arrange for a late check-out at 5pm. You can also receive a local Barossa Valley-inspired gift to enhance your stay in the region with MyResorts, while MyConnect ensures wifi throughout a stay.

For a list of AccorHotels MyResorts in Asia Pacific, and membership benefits, go to www.accorhotels.com/leclub/program/myresorts.en.shtml 

# The writer was a guest of AccorHotels 

Chic new watering hole for Mornington Peninsula denizens

The Flinders Hotel, one of the coolest chill out spots on the Mornington Peninsula, has opened a new bar offering a coastal ambience, along with "bites, drinks and sounds".

Zigis Bar is imagined as a casual place to wind down with a drink and small plates daily from 2pm until late every day and will feature live acoustic music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 

It's the epitome of beach cool - not to be confused with Zigi's in Sydney, the epitome of inner-city chic.

Zigis' menu is centred around seasonal produce and the freshest seafood curated by multi-award-winning head chef Michael Cole.

“When designing the menu I focused heavily on seafood variety and bite-size dishes that are fresh and delicious, on-trend and exciting; with a few beach aprés classics,” Cole said.

“Zigis' menu revolves primarily around our fishmongers’ freshest offerings, caught locally when available, as well as seasonal produce that inspires us.”

The drinks list showcases the highlights of the Mornington Peninsula wine landscape, as well as a few select domestic and international selections; with local, craft and premium bottled beers and cocktails to complement the seasonal menu.

There is a definite Med seaside vibe with a bespoke bar, crafted from local Flinders Pier timbers; set against a backdrop of hand-made turquoise Moroccan fish-scale tiles.

Zigis Bar is on the corner of Cook and Wood streets, Flinders. www.zigisbar.com.au.