By Kay O'Sullivan
High expectations
Tourism Australia statistics show that for the past six years, travellers in the 55-plus category spent more on travel than any other age group. Also, in the year to September, people aged over 55 accounted for $1 in every $5 spent on domestic travel in Australia.
Naturally, the brakes are on now but research suggests over-55s still feel relatively well off compared with earlier in their lives and have much greater freedom to travel the way they want.
But it's a mistake to lump them all together. There are significant shades of grey in this group.
It seems that baby boomers - those born between 1946 and 1964 - are much more demanding than older travellers and have higher expectations of accommodation.
The boomers are also keener on experiential trips. They like travel to be tailored to their needs and dislike rules. And, above all this group, which regards itself as forever young, detests being treated as old or incapable.
The Ord Valley Muster - as big a deal in the Kimberley as Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman's star appearance there for the film Australia - will run from May 8 to 24.
The muster began as a simple dinner for local businesspeople in 2001 and is now a multi-award-winning celebration of outback life.
More than 50 events are scheduled, with each intended to reflect the diversity of the region's music, dancing, sport and attractions. There's even a diamond dig with real sparklers provided by the event's major sponsor, Argyle Diamonds. Many of the events are free.
The one that gets the locals hooting and hollering is the Airnorth Kimberley Moon Experience concert, on Saturday, May 9.
More than 4000 are expected to picnic on the banks of the Ord River at Kununurra while listening to a long list of performers headlined by the Hoodoo Gurus. James Blundell is master of ceremonies.
Tickets for the Airnorth Kimberley Moon Experience are $75 for adults, $25 for children and $180 for families.
For tickets and more information, phone the Kununurra Visitor Centre, (08) 9168 1177 or see ordvalleymuster.com.
Book the Silent Predator
Australian writer Tony Park, the author of five novels set in South Africa, will lead a tour to that country on September 11.
The 13-day trip, organised by specialist operator the Africa Safari Co., is named after Park's last novel, Silent Predator. Many of the places on the itinerary, such as the Tinga Private Game Lodge in the Kruger National Park, the D'Oreale Grande Hotel in Johannesburg and Cape Town's Radisson SAS Hotel Waterfront, are in the novel.
Park's fellow journeymen and women will also take a train from Pretoria to Cape Town on Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa. That journey is an integral part of Park's next book, Ivory, due out in August.
Park fell in love with South Africa in 1995 on his first trip and has returned annually with his wife. He spends half the year there, the rest back in Australia.
"When I talk at book signings I meet many people who are interested in both Africa and writing fiction," he says. "So this is a perfect opportunity to experience the best of the country and to see the places and locations where I draw my inspiration."
He is also promising plenty of instruction for budding novelists.
Park will talk travel and fiction at the Sydney Travel Xpo at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, today and tomorrow at 12.15pm, while the Melbourne Travel Xpo is on next weekend at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton. See travelxpo.com.au.
The Silent Predator Tour is $10,975 including air fares. See africasafarico.com.au.
Island party
Tourism Tasmania has updated its website, adding sections for the state's top-five tourist districts: the North West Coast; the East Coast; Launceston, Tamar and the North; the Western Wilderness; and Hobart and surrounds.
Each highlights the best restaurants, vineyards, farm gates, accommodation, scenery and history.
And while you're down south, the countdown is on to one of Tasmania's finest and most popular events, Ten Days on the Island, which starts on March 27. The festival this year features 730 artists. See discovertasmania.com and tendaysontheisland.org.
Goodbye to visa fee
Prompted by damage caused by last year's political unrest, the Thai Government has temporarily waived visa fees for 20 countries until June 4. Australians, of course, are allowed a visa-free stay in Thailand for up to 30 days.
Send items to smarttraveller@fairfax.com.au.
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