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Courier-Mail
11 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Review: APT Solara, a river ship that stands out from the crowd
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. To be or not to be a river ship – that is the question. When Australian-owned travel company APT approached the ambitious build of its new twin ships the Solara and Ostara, the brief was to create something dramatically different and see Europe through an Australian's eyes. Designed for the continent's busiest route from Amsterdam to Budapest, the luxurious Solara certainly stands out from the crowd. Despite having to adhere to the Danube's strict ship dimensions – there are 68 locks to navigate along the Rhine-Main-Danube route – the Solara offers surprising variety, and is contemporary and stylish with subtle nautical touches, including a chic French-navy exterior. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Set the scene Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. High ceilings and a skylight open up the all-white space. There is a marble water station, a circular marble table and a tiled floor centrepiece in the dimensions of a compass. A dramatic macramé-like hanging rope sculpture descends from the ceiling into the softly curved stairwell, and the walls showcase original landscapes by artist Greg Wood and pieces curated by Melbourne gallery Otomys. The design was conceived by renowned Melbourne firm Hecker Guthrie (their first project on a ship), and influenced by APT's co-owners and siblings Lou Tandy and Rob McGeary. The designer furniture is whimsical and elegant but comfortable – think Gervasoni and Casini – and it has instant wow factor. If money was no object, this is how I'd love my home to look. We took a canal tour through Amsterdam. The itinerary While the Solara's 15-day itinerary will traverse the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, I'm only on board for four nights for the christening and 'shakedown' cruise. This is a test run of sorts, and we embark at Rotterdam under the Erasmus Bridge before sailing past green pastures and fields of wild yellow canola flowers to Kinderdijk to tour the idyllic working windmills (dating back to the 16th century). We dock overnight at quaint Dordrecht (one of the oldest cities in Holland), visit Lisse to catch the vivid annual spring tulip festival Keukenhof, and take a canal tour through Amsterdam, which is celebrating 750 years. Although the friendly crew is busily readying the final touches to the ship, and pumping out countless espressos from the shiny new La Marzocco coffee machine in The Salon, the whole thing feels flawless. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Picture: Supplied. The cabins There are three categories of suites: the plush Owner's Suites, the Balcony Suites and the wood-panelled Twin Window Suites, and each has a colour scheme inspired by the seasons. Thick carpets range from sage green for spring to dusky pink for autumn. Original prints of signature European shore excursions by Australian photographer Nick Wilkins (available to buy) adorn the walls and lend an antipodean lens. The bathrooms have an abundance of storage, enormous shower heads, floor-to-ceiling tiling and marble sink tops. Toiletries by sustainable Amsterdam brand Marie-Stella-Maris were sourced by Tandy herself. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Picture: Supplied. Food and drink Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Catering to Australian travellers who have curious palates and want variety and quality, APT engaged hospitality guru Monique Lane of Fellow Hospitality (collaborating with chef Stephen Seckold of House Made Hospitality). From the fare at Bistro Saison, to the degustation paired with top-notch wine in the Owner's Cellar, and the laid-back eats at Annie's Table (named for the owners' mother), the offerings are impressive. The Grüner Bar & Dining, which rises on hydraulics so it elevates above other ships in dock, is a surprising hit, with dishes such as pretzels with whipped ricotta and moreish focaccia with butter that melts in your mouth. All bread and pastries are baked on board daily, and the delicious ice-cream and gelato are handmade. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. Picture: Supplied. The extras Along with a jewel-coloured spa/salon, gym, and daily shore excursions that are included, e-bikes for guests who want to explore independently are provided. The roof has a small circular heated pool and two levels for guests to enjoy, and the Daystar Deck is a standout. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. A marble cooktop space functions as an outdoor bar and barbecue, lending an Australian touch. The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. Picture: Supplied. What's hot The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu (the fish finger sambo is the hot ticket) and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. What's not The square pillows on my bed were uncomfortable, although I learned later they were delivered by mistake and had been replaced before the first guests arrived. Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. Picture: Supplied. The verdict - 10/10 While I didn't sail the full itinerary, it's impossible to fault Solara. It's the most stylish river ship I've set foot on – the combination of Australian design, food and thoughtful inclusions is impeccable. The writer was a guest of APT Luxury Travel. Its 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise on Solara and Ostara, sailing Budapest to Amsterdam, starts at around $8495 twin share. Originally published as Review: APT Solara stands out from the crowd
Herald Sun
14 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Review: APT Solara, a river ship that stands out from the crowd
To be or not to be a river ship – that is the question. When Australian-owned travel company APT approached the ambitious build of its new twin ships the Solara and Ostara , the brief was to create something dramatically different and see Europe through an Australian's eyes. Designed for the continent's busiest route from Amsterdam to Budapest, the luxurious Solara certainly stands out from the crowd. Despite having to adhere to the Danube's strict ship dimensions – there are 68 locks to navigate along the Rhine-Main-Danube route – the Solara offers surprising variety, and is contemporary and stylish with subtle nautical touches, including a chic French-navy exterior. Set the scene Checking into the airy atrium is a dreamy experience. High ceilings and a skylight open up the all-white space. There is a marble water station, a circular marble table and a tiled floor centrepiece in the dimensions of a compass. A dramatic macramé-like hanging rope sculpture descends from the ceiling into the softly curved stairwell, and the walls showcase original landscapes by artist Greg Wood and pieces curated by Melbourne gallery Otomys. The design was conceived by renowned Melbourne firm Hecker Guthrie (their first project on a ship), and influenced by APT's co-owners and siblings Lou Tandy and Rob McGeary. The designer furniture is whimsical and elegant but comfortable – think Gervasoni and Casini – and it has instant wow factor. If money was no object, this is how I'd love my home to look. The itinerary While the Solara's 15-day itinerary will traverse the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, I'm only on board for four nights for the christening and 'shakedown' cruise. This is a test run of sorts, and we embark at Rotterdam under the Erasmus Bridge before sailing past green pastures and fields of wild yellow canola flowers to Kinderdijk to tour the idyllic working windmills (dating back to the 16th century). We dock overnight at quaint Dordrecht (one of the oldest cities in Holland), visit Lisse to catch the vivid annual spring tulip festival Keukenhof, and take a canal tour through Amsterdam, which is celebrating 750 years. Although the friendly crew is busily readying the final touches to the ship, and pumping out countless espressos from the shiny new La Marzocco coffee machine in The Salon, the whole thing feels flawless. The cabins There are three categories of suites: the plush Owner's Suites, the Balcony Suites and the wood-panelled Twin Window Suites, and each has a colour scheme inspired by the seasons. Thick carpets range from sage green for spring to dusky pink for autumn. Original prints of signature European shore excursions by Australian photographer Nick Wilkins (available to buy) adorn the walls and lend an antipodean lens. The bathrooms have an abundance of storage, enormous shower heads, floor-to-ceiling tiling and marble sink tops. Toiletries by sustainable Amsterdam brand Marie-Stella-Maris were sourced by Tandy herself. With Solara's capacity for 154 guests (and 60 crew), no cabin feels like you are missing out. Food and drink Solara has seven bars and eateries, each of which feels like a top-notch restaurant or wine bar. Catering to Australian travellers who have curious palates and want variety and quality, APT engaged hospitality guru Monique Lane of Fellow Hospitality (collaborating with chef Stephen Seckold of House Made Hospitality). From the fare at Bistro Saison, to the degustation paired with top-notch wine in the Owner's Cellar, and the laid-back eats at Annie's Table (named for the owners' mother), the offerings are impressive. The Grüner Bar & Dining, which rises on hydraulics so it elevates above other ships in dock, is a surprising hit, with dishes such as pretzels with whipped ricotta and moreish focaccia with butter that melts in your mouth. All bread and pastries are baked on board daily, and the delicious ice-cream and gelato are handmade. The extras Along with a jewel-coloured spa/salon, gym, and daily shore excursions that are included, e-bikes for guests who want to explore independently are provided. The roof has a small circular heated pool and two levels for guests to enjoy, and the Daystar Deck is a standout. It has a circular conversation pit around solar lanterns to resemble a campfire, a nod to APT's outback touring heritage. A marble cooktop space functions as an outdoor bar and barbecue, lending an Australian touch. What's hot The Grüner Bar & Dining has a great menu (the fish finger sambo is the hot ticket) and sitting in a vibing wine bar while enjoying the view is a highlight. What's not The square pillows on my bed were uncomfortable, although I learned later they were delivered by mistake and had been replaced before the first guests arrived. The verdict - 10/10 While I didn't sail the full itinerary, it's impossible to fault Solara. It's the most stylish river ship I've set foot on – the combination of Australian design, food and thoughtful inclusions is impeccable. The writer was a guest of APT Luxury Travel. Its 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise on Solara and Ostara, sailing Budapest to Amsterdam, starts at around $8495 twin share. Originally published as Review: APT Solara stands out from the crowd
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Let the party begin: Early Aussie joy at Royal Ascot
There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Let the party begin: Early Aussie joy at Royal Ascot
There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Please Explain! The Proponents Of The Retrospective Law Change Need To Front Up
Those responsible for pushing a retrospective law change that could wipe out the rights of tens of thousands of New Zealanders must now front up to provide a formal 'please- explain'. That's the call from Scott Russell, the lawyer leading the Banking Class Action against ANZ and ASB, who has formally written to Cameron Brewer, MP as Chair of Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee urging him to call key decision-makers and proponents of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill to publicly explain the rationale for this extraordinary intervention. The Committee has the power to compel individuals to appear and a more clear-cut case for using that power would be hard to imagine. 'The Government is rewriting the law half-way through an active legal case to benefit two powerful Australian-owned banks – and no one seems to be taking responsibility for making the decision,' said Russell. 'Hon Scott Simpson, Commerce Minister says the banks didn't ask for it. The banks haven't commented. MBIE won't release the documents. And the public is being asked to accept it all on blind trust. Enough. It's time for answers.' Russell's submission urges the Select Committee to summon the following to 'Please Explain': The Chair and Chief Executives of ANZ and ASB to explain their role in the process; Senior MBIE officials to justify the sudden shift to retrospective legislation following private meetings with the banks; The Reserve Bank to provide any evidence backing claims that the law change is needed to protect financial stability. 'If their rationale is sound, let's hear it. Because right now, no one has offered a credible explanation for why a law change ruled out during the public consultation stage was suddenly resurrected behind closed doors – and timed perfectly to potentially limit the liability of two banks in a live court case.' The Government has refused to release unredacted versions of the Regulatory Impact Statement and delayed key OIA responses until after the public submission period closes on 23 June. The Ombudsman is now investigating. 'The Select Committee process cannot be allowed to rubber-stamp a law change that overrides consumer rights and undermines public trust – especially when those responsible won't even show up to explain it,' Russell said. 'If this is in the public interest, let the public hear why.'
