Australian Open 2012

The Australian Open was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court event. The tournament is held in Melbourne in the Australian summer, in the last fortnight of the month of January; the best male and female tennis players in the world battle through blistering temperatures in the hopes of getting their hands on the coveted trophy.

Melbourne Park is home to the Australian Open, one of only four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the world and the first to occur in any calendar year with over 650,000 people expected to attend this two week tournament. Located Southeast of Melbourne's Federation Square, along Swan St by the Yarra River, Melbourne Park has four indoor courts and 22 outdoor courts which are available for public hire seven days a week, except during January.
Garden Square is the popular spot for families, featuring tennis on the big screen, roving entertainers, MLC Tennis Hot Shots, the Tennis Australia information booth and Wilson racquet stringers.
Fans flocked to the multi-faceted entertainment precinct – Grand Slam Oval – in 2011. This year you’re sure to lose yourself in the buzzing atmosphere.

The 2012 Australian Open will mark the 100th staging of the event. In recent years, the Australian Open has often provided the platform for unheralded players to emerge with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2008), Marcos Baghdatis (2006), Rainer Schuettler (2003) and Arnaud Clement (2001) among the surprise finalists of the past decade.

Australian Tours For Sport has been appointed an Official Licensed Tour Operator for the Australian Open 2012:

• Name: Australian Open
• Category: Grand Slam
• Place: Melbourne, Australia
• Date: 16.01.2012-29.01.2012
• Draw Size: S-128 D-64
• Surface: Hard
• Prize Money: $ 11,806,550
• Total Financial Commitment: $ 11,806,550
• Ticket Hotline: +61 3 9299 9116

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Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov nowdays belongs to the most attractive cities amongst the visitors - mainly due to its unique character and its preserved hisotry. It is famous for its Old Town, with 300 protected medieval buildings, and its castle complex, the second largest in the Czech Republic.
This small picturesque city is situated on the banks of the Vltava River (Moldau in German) in Southern Bohemia and is about a 2 hour drive from Prague. The town was built around a 13th century castle with gothic, renaissance and baroque elements. Despite the passage of time, the town together with chateau complex has retained its exemplary mediaeval character for more than five centuries.

The town Cesky Krumlov is dominated by two grate landmarks: the chateau complex, which was included to the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monuments in 1992, and the gothic Church of St.Vitus. Cesky Krumlov chateau complex is one of the largest in Central Europe. Complex is composed of more than forty historical buildings, a cylindrical tower reconstructed in its preset form in the 16th century, unique Baroque theatre with original equipment and fittings. Under the Castle Complex lies the old town with its winding alleys and venerable Gothic and Renaissance houses, many galleries, little shops and inns.

The International Music Festival in Český Krumlov has an extensive tradition starting from 1992. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic said about this festival: “This Festival has been for a long time a well established event, which far exceeds the borders of Český Krumlov. Today, it is considered an event of national importance. I have had the chance to visit many of the concerts and I must say that that last year´s opening concert was the most impressive - thanks to its repertoire and excellent performances.

I have a soft spot for the International Music Festival Český Krumlov and if I didn’t visit, many people would be disappointed. And I wouldn´t like to do that.”

One of the three Prizes in Category Conservation has been awarded to the conservation of the Southern facade of Horní Hrad (Upper Castle) of the Český Krumlov State Castle and Chateau in the Czech Republic, European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards 2008. This project estabilishes new standards of Czech monument care and is appreciated as an excellent example of a respectful approarch to conservation in Europe.

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Plitvice lakes, Croatia

Discover why million people every year visit this pearl of world's natural heritage that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. Experience a unique blend of continental and maritime Croatia on remarkable cascade lakes. Timeless beauty of waterfalls thrills in every season in a different way. The perfect picture nature has been creating for several millenniums, leaving everyone breathless.
Though it’s a trek from either Zagreb or Zadar, Some 300 sq. km of forested hills, dappled with 16 lakes and hundreds of waterfalls, Croatia’s oldest and largest national park is one of the country’s most spectacular sights. Experience the birth of a vivid rainbow while getting refreshed with the scattered drops of 78 meters high waterfall.
Take a walk on one of 18 kilometres marked trails in unspoiled countryside or relax while driving on electric boat or small train. Only 2 hours from Zagreb, do not miss the opportunity for unique experience that attract visitors from all over the globe.
On the way to Plitvice there is a small Millers village Rastoke usually called “Little Plitvice”. Rastoke is situated at the Slunjcica River estuary which over travertine barriers "dissolves" into the river Korana creating a series of small lakes and picturesque waterfalls. Experience this natural monument compared with famous Fontana di Trevi in 1860 by well known philologist and travel writer Adolf Veber Tkalcevic. Discover the rare symbiosis of fantastic natural creations and centuries old human technical achievements such as old mills from the 17th century.

Free shuttles drive around the lakes (3 per hr.), and a boat crosses Jezero Kozjak, the largest lake (2-3 per hr., 9:30am-6:30pm). At the main entrance, local women sell delicious strudels, bread-cakes stuffed with cheese, spinach, nuts, apples, peaches, or cherries (15kn). If you want to enjoy the peace of the lakes by yourself, go in the early morning or the late afternoon and avoid the shortest trails. Most tourists circulate around the four lower lakes (Donja Jezera) to get a shot of Plitvice’s famous 78m waterfall, Veliki Slap.
Buses run to: Rijeka (3hr., 1 per day, 120kn); Split (3hr., 7 per day, 150kn); Zadar (2hr., 6 per day, 72kn); Zagreb (2hr., 9 per day, 70kn). Most bus drivers let passengers off at the park’s main entrance. Tourist offices offer maps and exchange currency for a 1.5% commission at each of the three entrances. (☎023 751 026; www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr. Open daily 7am-10pm. Park open daily July-Aug. 7am-8pm; May-June 7am-7pm; Apr.-Oct. 110kn, students 55kn; Nov.-Mar. 70kn/40kn. Tour guide 700kn, min. 4hr. for groups only. MC/V.) To get to the main info center from the bus stop, walk toward the pedestrian overpass; crossing the road can be dangerous.

Caution! The takeover of Plitvice Lakes National Park by the Serbs in 1991 marked the beginning of Croatia’s bloody war for independence. Throughout the 1991-95 conflict, the Serbs holding the area planted landmines in the ground. Both the park’s premises and surrounding area have been officially cleared of mines, and the last mine-related accident dates back to 2002. However, do not stray from the trail for any reason.

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