Travel notebook Winnipeg

Flights

Air Canada operates the daily CA34 flight from Sydney to Vancouver. The 14 hour non-stop flight is in a Boeing 777-200LR equipped with a personal touch screen TV at every seat and in-seat power for laptops. See your travel agent or contact Air Canada Australia-wide on 1300 655 767 for details of flights and fares. See www.aircanada.com Interstate passengers can easily connect with CA34 as it departs Sydney at 1330.

Travel

Winnipeg is three air hours east of Vancouver. Air Canada has multiple flights every day connecting the two provincial capitals. In addition, you can travel by coach (Greyhound Canada) or car making stops at Calgary, Alberta after a scenic trip through the Rockies and Regina, Saskatchewan before continuing on the Trans Canadian Highway to Winnipeg.

ViaRail’s

Canadian offers a thrice weekly eastbound service. See www.viarail.ca and www.canadabyrail.ca

Accommodation

A former railway hotel, The Fort Garry is a historic 246 room property oozing with style and substance. See www.fortgarryhotel.com Located within the Forks precinct, boutique The Inn at the Forks offers 116 contemporary rooms near the produce and arts market. See www.innforks.com

Events

Indians living in Australia will be able to meet with Indians residing in multicultural Winnipeg during Folklorama. Set over August 1 -14, this cultural celebration features some 30 pavilions located in halls and community centres throughout the city. See www.folklorama.ca

If you are headed to the city next month, then the Winnipeg Folk Festival is the event to attend. Numerous musical genres compete for audiences during this 5-day outdoor musical extravaganza scheduled from July 7 – 11. See www. winnipegfolkfestival.ca/wp

Travel Extra

Churchill, Manitoba’s most northern town, is the base for polar bear viewing in winter and beluga whale watching in summer. Best seen from mid June to mid August, beluga whales are not true whales but water-breathing fish closely related to the sailfish and marlin. With up to 3000 belugas spending the summer in the Churchill River, the chance of seeing these normally docile sea creatures during a snorkelling or kayaking adventure is exceptionally high.

Polar bears, by contrast, are best seen in and around Churchill from October to December when temperatures average a temperate -10°C. Yes, temperate because during January and February the temperature dips to a numbing – 40°C! Excursions are made in a Tundra Buggy equipped with propane heaters and washrooms.

Travel between Winnipeg and Churchill takes 36 hours by rail or it’s a mere 1½ hour flight with Calm Air. Frontiers North Adventures is a specialist tour operator able to make all arrangements for any adventure in Manitoba. The long established Canadian company planned our comprehensive itinerary of Winnipeg and Churchill entirely by e-mail! Contact info@frontiersnorth.com, tel. (204) 949 2050. See www.frontiersnorth.com

Information

For advice on planning your holiday in Canada visit www.canada.travel or call the Canadian Tourism Commission on 1300 300 576. Also see www. destinationwinnipeg.ca and www.travelmanitoba.com Available from leading book outlets, Lonely Planet’s Canada has substantial information about Winnipeg, Churchill and other places of interest in Manitoba and all other parts of Canada.