August Newsletter 2009

Lightleys Port Alfred offers great family holidays!

For houseboat enthusiasts Lightleys Port Alfred offers an unbeatable experience in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, so-named for its warm, temperate year-round climate!Port Alfred is a fantastic family holiday destination with beautiful beaches along the warm Indian Ocean, excellent surf, a host of wonderful sea and river watersports, and a quaint, vibrant town with a number of good restaurants. Add to this the magnificent Royal Alfred Marina on the Kowie River, where Lightleys is situated, and it just doesn’t get any better!

Easy accessibility

Midway between Port Elizabeth and East London, Port Alfred is accessible from two international airports and is an easy drive from Bloemfontein via Cradock and Grahamstown, or from Cape Town along the N2 through the Garden Route.

Royal Alfred Marina

The Royal Alfred Marina is a magnificent residential and recreational feature of the town. Built close to the mouth of the Kowie River, it consists of 45 ha of prime property on a network of canals, which boast numerous luxury homes, a small boat harbour with mooring for all types of boats, and a variety of hotels, restaurants and coffee bars.

For the Lightleys holidaymaker the marina, the river, the town and the surrounding area provide endless opportunities for entertainment in an unspoiled, tranquil environment.

You’ll find Lightleys ideally situated directly in front of the Halyards Hotel in the small boat harbour from where your houseboat adventure begins. The Kowie River is navigable for 25 km upstream and winds through spectacular, indigenous countryside, sheer cliffs and rolling hills. And you can moor your boat wherever it suits you!

Holiday fun

Spend your holiday on the river fishing, crabbing or prawning, birding, reading, and swimming. In the evenings watch the stunning sunset while you prepare a braai, or tie up at Ocean Basket or Mansfield Black Rock restaurant (in season) and treat yourselves to a night out.

For the more adventurous family there is scuba diving (Fountain Rocks is one of South Africa’s most colourful reefs), canoeing, skiing, hiking, horse riding along the beach, dune boarding or mountain biking. Two nearby golf courses, the famous Royal Port Alfred Golf Club and Fish River County Club, are rated amongst the top 100 courses in South Africa.

If you are a spa-lover you can visit the St Francis Health Spa or Port Alfred Health Hydro.

The area also boasts many world-class Big Five game reserves within half an hour’s drive of Port Alfred, in a malaria-free area!

Houseboating is fun for the whole family!

We firmly believe that a houseboat holiday is the best kind of holiday for families! Kids love being on the water because there is so much to do … moms love being on the water because it is a real opportunity to relax and do nothing….dads love being Captains of their own holiday!

At Knysna, Lightleys now offers the great opportunity to moor overnight at Thesen Harbour Town, part of the magnificent Thesen Islands Development. There are a multitude of restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques all within walking distance from the mooring, and for the kids a fabulous playground with swings and a jungle gym!

So book your September houseboat holiday now, and treat the whole family to a great stay in Knysna!

Lightleys Holiday Houseboats Photographic Competition

We’ve already received some great holiday photos from readers and have decided to extend the competition until 5 December and post all the entries on our website so that our readers can email us to vote for their favourites!

A photograph of your holiday could win you a great prize! We’re looking for the picture which best describes a Lightleys Houseboating experience at any of our destinations – Knysna, Vaal River, Port Alfred and Swaziland.

The prize includes:

• Two nights’ accommodation for two people on a houseboat in any of our destinations
• Bubbly and oysters or a snack platter on arrival
• A delicious picnic lunch during your stay
• A full day canoe hire.

Please email your high resolution image (1 MB max) to marketing@houseboats.co.za  and type in the subject line: Lightleys Holiday Houseboat Photographic Competition.
Or submit your entry at this link: http://www.houseboats.co.za/competitions/lightleys-holiday-houseboats-photographic-competition

Lucky Draw

Win two nights for two on a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat!

If you forward this newsletter to a friend and at the same time cc marketing@houseboats.co.za, you’ll automatically be entered into our great competition to win two nights for two people on a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat at any of our four branches – Knysna, Vaal River, Port Alfred or Swaziland. The more friends you forward the email to, the more entries you will automatically be awarded.

The prize includes:

• Two nights’ accommodation for two people on a houseboat
• Bubbly and oysters on arrival
• A delicious picnic lunch during your stay
• A full day canoe hire.

The prize is subject to availability and does not include the fuel and refundable breakage deposit.

Forthcoming events in Port Alfred

September:

• Inter-Varsity rowing races – a 3-day competition between South African universities which offers great sport for spectators!
• Powerzone Festival – a huge music festival which ties in with the Inter-Varsity Rowing.
• Vintage Fair in Bathurst – antiques, fashion shows, music, auctions and more!

December:

• Inter-school rowing races – a fun-filled week of practice sessions followed by the highlight of skulls flashing over the beautiful Kowie River.
• Neptune Festival – held annually at Kenton-On-Sea, this is a 10-day youth festival.
• Bathhurst Ox Braai – one of the highlights of the Festive Season in the Eastern Cape, this now famous event caters for thousands of guests.

Craft Markets and Art Festivals are also held over the Christmas holidays and throughout the year on public holidays and long weekends.

Special Port Alfred package

Best of Both Mid-season Package

This is your chance to discover Port Alfred with a 3-night stay that includes the best of both worlds – 2 nights on a houseboat and a night in a 5-star hotel on the water’s edge!

Package rate, per person for 3 nights

• 2 People: 1,755.00 (Traveling together)
• 4 People: 1,335.00 (Traveling together)

Package includes:

• 2 Nights on a fully-equipped Lightleys Holiday Houseboat in Port Alfred.
• A Riverside Seafood Platter from Ocean Basket per couple (linefish, Sole, Calamari strips & heads, 8 Prince Prawns and 6 Mussels). Tie your boat up at Ocean Basket while you have lunch!
• One night’s accommodation at MyPond Hotel on a B&B Basis in a standard room.
• A bottle of chilled premium sparkling wine.
• R200 dinner credit per couple at Etari Restaurant at MyPond Hotel.

Terms & exclusions:

• Price is valid from 18 Sept to 10 Dec 2009.
• Fuel charges and refundable security deposit are not included.
• Subject to availability.

Click here to book this incredible value-for-money package

Lightleys Bargain Breakaway Package in Knysna

Mid-week (Monday to Friday). Don’t miss this fantastic value-for-money package! There is no better way to explore Knysna!

Package rate, per person for 3 nights

• 2 People (Traveling together) : 2 698.00
• 4 People(Traveling together) : 1 908.00
• 6 People(Traveling together) : 1 629.00

Package includes:

• 4 Nights on a fully-equipped Lightleys Holiday Houseboat.
• Mooring fees at Thesen Islands for 1 night.
• R100 voucher for a romantic dinner at
• Sirocco or Lush.
• The Featherbed Eco Excursion, a 4-hour tour including a buffet lunch – steer your houseboat to Featherbed where you will be assisted to tie up at the jetty and be introduced to the tour guide who will conduct the Eco tour*.
• Canoe hire for half a day, including a picnic basket filled with decadent treats.

* 24 Hours notice needed. Please note that you may only tie up on the Featherbed Jetty for this excursion booked with this package!

Terms & exclusions:

• Price is valid from 18 September to 30 November 2009, midweek only (Monday to Friday) and excludes Public Holidays and School Holidays.
• Fuel charges and refundable security deposit are not included.
• Subject to availability.

To book this incredible value-for-money package click here

Lightleys Ultimate Knysna Honeymoon Special

A unique experience for those who want more than just a honeymoon!

This awesome package offers everything for newly weds – romance and adventure as well as complete relaxation …

• Low Season: R5, 950.00 per couple
• Mid Season: R7, 190.00 per couple

Package includes:

• 4 Nights on board a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat in Knysna
• 2 Breakfasts and 2 dinners on board
• Flowers and sparkling wine on arrival
• Mooring fees for 1 night at Thesen Islands
• R200 Voucher for a hearty breakfast at Ile de Pain
• R400 voucher for a romantic dinner at
• Sirocco or Lush.
• A 30-minute, back, neck & shoulder massage at Simola Spa.

Click here to book your ultimate honeymoon!