Hot Deals: Dining out along Noosa's food trail

UNDER $700

Queensland
The Noosa Food Trail is a growing collection of eateries on Australia's Sunshine Coast that blend the tropical tastes of Queensland with the Mediterranean and Asian influences so prevalent in Australian cooking.

The trail winds its way through farms, wineries, markets, specialty stores, cafes, restaurants and country pubs in the region.

Try this gastronomic experience with a Sunshine Coast package that includes return airfares from Auckland, or Wellington and six nights' accommodation.

Priced from $685 a person, share twin.

Flying from Christchurch allows seven nights for the same price - but this deal is only available for purchases made by Friday.

You can travel between October 15 and December 15 or between January 29 next year and March 31.

Contact: Flight Centre, freephone 0800 747 474

UNDER $2700

Melbourne
Get courtside for the Australian Tennis Open in the New Year with a five-night flights and accommodation package to Melbourne. Priced from $2629 a person, twin-share, you'll get to attend five sessions for the semifinals and finals.

Accommodation is at the Travelodge Southbank and the return flights can be taken from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. This package is for travel between January 24 and 29 and is on sale until November 17 this year.

There are options for extra nights and different hotels or pay for the land-only component of the package and create your own travel plan.

Contact: House of Travel, freephone 0800 838 747.

UNDER $3800

Cruising Australia
Early-bird discounts apply to summer cruises around Australia's east coast, giving travellers a 25 per cent saving.

A new itinerary from New Zealand, exploring the "West Island" on P&O Cruises' Pacific Star, is a first for the cruise line and sets sail from Auckland on November 18, 2007.

The 21-night cruise will cross the Tasman to visit nine ports - Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, the Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and Brisbane - before returning to Auckland. Half the cruise is spent simply "relaxing at sea".

Fares start at $3705 a person for a quad-share cabin, or $6063 a person twin-share and all-onboard meals and entertainment are included. These prices include domestic flights from Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington to Auckland.

For those who live a little closer, free coach transfers are available from Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga and Whangarei to Auckland.

Contact: your travel agent or call P&O Cruises, freephone 0800 951 200.