Oceania

Why Should You Visit Australia This Summer

November 13, 2019 by John Telford

Before travelling to Australia, you must have heard of the various attractions, Sydney accommodation options, and the outdoor activities you are going to enjoy on your trip. From surfing at Bondi beach, scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, driving along the great ocean road to climbing the Sydney harbour bridge, you’ve got your hands full on your summer trip.

Australia is a land full of surprises for both first-time and repeat visitors. The country has vast lands with diverse wildlife species and other attractions that will make your trip a memorable adventure. The natural beauty, exotic atmosphere, and ambience of the country are waiting to amaze you on your tour.

Reasons to Visit Australia in Summer

You Get to Enjoy Massive Outdoor Activities

During summer, you have a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy not forgetting the 5 star Melbourne hotel experience. You can stroll along the beaches, enjoy snorkelling, swimming, and plenty of other activities. Carry your sweatshirts and pants because you’ll have a busy schedule outdoors.

Australia is a diver’s paradise as well as a surfer’s heaven. It has rich diving spots in the sea where you can discover the breathtaking world found underneath the sea waves. One of the most popular diving sites in Australia is the Ningaloo Reef.

If you are a nature enthusiast, you will find plenty of activities to keep your adrenaline high.

Visit the Country’s Natural Attractions

Australia has a lot of natural attractions such as the long coastlines, beaches, sunrise and sunset views, watersports and more. The country has lush forests, enchanting islands, and wildlife zones. Don’t forget the national parks with different species of fauna. The rain forests, mountains, nature trails, tranquil oceans help to connect you with the world.

Apart from the stunning beaches and coastlines, the land of Kangaroos in Australia has the phenomenal Blue Mountains, rain forests, deserts, and national parks. The islands and islets surround the main Island.

To See the Man-Made Attractions

While sightseeing in Australia, you get to see both the natural and manmade attractions of the country. Australia has several museums where you can see the history and art of the Australian people. The Melbourne cricket ground and Sydney cricket ground are places worth visiting, especially if you are a cricket lover.

Here are some of the places to visit in Australia this summer and make your trip an unforgettable one:

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2300 kilometres and has different species of rare aqua-life. The Great Barrier Reef has more than 900 islands and is the largest reef in the world. It is a summer destination which allows you to indulge in outdoor activities such as snorkelling, diving, swimming, and other leisurely experiences. You will also enjoy riding in a submersible and feeding the fish.

Sydney

Sydney is well known for its scenic harbour. It has a rich history and culture as well as architectural art. The city has beautiful naturist landscapes that make great pictures. It creates a symphony between modernization and nature. It has a soothing climate with exotic restaurants where you can enjoy sumptuous meals.

While in Sydney, you can visit Bondi beach, the scenic Blue Mountains national park, and the Jenolan Caves. Here you will discover the native wildlife of Australia and the natural phenomena of the Jenolan caves.

Port Stephens Dolphins & Dunes is another coastal region with pristine waterways, eco diverse marina, national parks, and golden sandy beaches that you don’t want to miss when in Sydney.

The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast has sunny weather and a destination that is famous for sand and surf. You will find the Currumbin wildlife sanctuary well known for the wild rainbow Lorikeet birds. Gold Coast outdoor activities you will enjoy include kayaking, jet skiing, cruising and relaxing on the beach.

Surfers Paradise is a hub you wouldn’t want to miss. Other places you can visit include the Byron Bay, South Stradbroke Island, and Brisbane.

Melbourne

Melbourne is a city with dynamic radiance and ideal for a summer visit. It is a mystical land full of picturesque and natural treasures. With vibrant street arts and natural acoustics, Melbourne will surely make your tour worthwhile. You can visit the cricket ground, town hall, the royal botanic gardens, and Fitzroy Gardens. Crown your evening at Philip Island as you watch the famous penguin parade.

The city is also famous for its café culture and the best coffee in the world. The food lover’s paradise will enchant your taste buds with unforgettable delicacies.

The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road takes you through natural destinations such as Shipwreck Coast, 12 Apostles, and the Port Campbell National Park. It stretches to the largest war memorial of Australia.

It leads to varying terrains and landmarks such as the Twelve Apostles limestone formations. The road hugs the surf coast between Cape Otway and Torquay as well as the Shipwreck Coast on the west of Cape Otway. It traverses through limestone and sandstone cliffs, beaches, and rainforests. The natural acoustics of the road include the Twelve Apostles, the Grotto, and the London Bridge. This is a summer experience you should never miss while visiting Australia.

Conclusion

Australia is a dream destination for every traveller. Visiting the country in summer allows you to visit the natural scenery and enjoy more outdoor activities. It is a destination with spellbinding beauty, tranquillity and aesthetic nature with mysteries that fills your tour with upscale adventurous experiences.

Things Every Traveler Should Know About Melbourne

October 23, 2019 by John Telford

The city of Melbourne is located in the state of Victoria, Australia. This is a fabulous city that has so much to offer in terms of attractions, sights, and places of interest not to mention culture, history, and entertainment. Whether you want to step back in time, relax and enjoy a high tea event, or delve into the culture of this city, you can find plenty to keep you busy.

Of course, before you head to any major city such as Melbourne, you should take some time to find out more about the destination. This is especially important if you are a first-time visitor to the area. So, in this article, we will look at some of the key things that every traveller should know about Melbourne.

Valuable Information and Tips for Visitors

If you want to make the most of your trip to Melbourne, you will find plenty of valuable tips and information that can help. Some of the key things to tips to take on board include:

Invest in a Myki Card

When travelling to Melbourne, you may want to make use of the public transport network if you are not hiring a car. Well, if this is what you plan to do, make sure you invest in a Myki card. These cards cost around $6.00 and are easily accessible at booths, train stations, and at some retailers. There are a number of card options to choose from, and these will save you money and hassle when using public transport in the city.

Try to Plan Your Trip During a Festival

If you really want to make your trip to this city special, try to time your visit with one of the major festivals that take place here each year. This includes fabulous events such as the Fashion Festival, the Jazz Festival, and the Melbourne Fringe. There are plenty of other festivals and events that take place over the course of the year.

Use Escalators Correctly

In this big city, you may find yourself using escalators on a regular basis. If so, remember the rule of thumb – stick to the left of the escalator if you plan to just stand and wait for it to transport you to the top or use the right if you want to speed things up by walking up the escalator.

Explore on Foot

Melbourne is a place that has plenty of fabulous sights and places of interest. The chances are you will have booked some trips and excursions around the city before your arrivals. This is great but you should also make sure you do some exploration on foot or at least book a walking tour, as this will enable you to enjoy sights you might otherwise miss.

Be Prepared for Fluctuating Temperatures

People who visit Melbourne often expect very stable temperatures throughout their time there depending on the time of year they visit. However, you should prepare yourself for fluctuating temperatures when it comes to the clothes you take along on your trip.

For instance, in the winter, you may find that there is an odd day or two when it really warms up and you can enjoy the sunshine and higher temperatures. In the summer, you may find that the days are hot, but some nights get a little chilly.

Explore Places Not on the Main Drag

In order to ensure you get to see the real Melbourne, make sure you explore areas that are not on the main drag. You will find plenty of alleys and laneways where you can take in the street art, discover hidden bars for a refreshing drink, and get a feel for the real vibe of this city.

Take in Free Galleries and Museums

Exploring Melbourne doesn’t have to cost a fortune, as there are plenty of free places to explore during your visit. This includes a range of excellent museums and galleries, which makes it ideal for culture vultures and history buffs. Places such as the National Gallery of Victoria and the Seventh Gallery are among the many free attractions you can look forward to.

Use Beaches for Relaxation not Surfing

Last but not least, you will find some great beaches in Melbourne, but they are all located along Port Phillip Bay. This means that they are great for relaxing, soaking up the sunshine, playing beach games, and enjoying beautiful surroundings. However, they are not for surfing because their location means that waves are minimal.

Enjoy the Trip of a Lifetime

By planning ahead and learning more about this city before you visit, you can enjoy making the most of your time here. Melbourne is a great place to enjoy an incredible, diverse, and exciting vacation experience with a huge variety of things to keep you busy.

One Day in the Northern Valley

August 22, 2019 by John Telford

Are you looking at checking out what’s beyond the bright lights of the big Perth City? With the help of the friendly team we have put together a great itinerary for this escorted day tour, exploiting the Northern Valley and travelling away from the hustle and bustle of the Perth City for its veiled beauty is where our journey begins.

Heading North West of the City is an untouched and lush region that stays hidden to the average tourist, this day tour with its varied experiences from untouched bushlands and wetlands, vineyards, orchards, spectacular wildflowers and stunning scenery.

Sightseeing through some beautiful countryside through Gingin with the sampling delights that will tantalise even the most discerning of taste buds as we onwards travel to the ‘Nectar of Gods’ – The West Coast Honey Farm. With its golden liquid of plenty and the humming of bees in its fully functional hive inside for all to view, is a truly remarkable visual experience.

Lunching at a character pub is a must do on any travel and with this day tour out of the Perth City is no exception, with a generous serve of country hospitality the Scottalian is a true cosy eatery. Though continuing onwards only 60km out of Perth into this lovely area with rolling hills is the Citrus Orchard with its multiple varieties of lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges and mandarins where we sample more produce that is grown in this amazing state.

Though if you are missing the sweet tooth component of the afternoon, that will soon change as the tour proceeds into the indulgence of the Margaret River Chocolate Factory in the Swan Valley, with its free samples of their melt in the mouth drops of white, milk and dark chocolate is worth its weight in gold.

Though for the savoury tasters the Providore right next door is the place to stop and taste the huge range of preserves, chutneys, olive oils, award-winning wines and not to be missed chocolate liqueur.

With this, all-absorbing trail and delectable samples through the Northern Valley with its unspoilt beauty is a perfect day out for all ages and with a guided day tour is the perfect match.

Visiting Queensland – Why You Need To Plan It Now!

November 16, 2017 by John Telford

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The Gold Coast is actually a city in Queensland, only 66km from the state capital of Brisbane, which can be done on a day trip very easily, and with a population of 638,000 it is the 6th largest city in Australia. Getting in by plane requires that you land at Coolangatta Airport, which is interesting in itself because the New South Wales and Queensland borders run through the middle of the runway, meaning you will land in one state and then disembark in another at the terminal building!

Getting Around The Area

To get around Gold Coast itself, you can take the very convenient Light Rail which runs from 5.00am to midnight. Gold Coast has several districts, each with their own flavour: The Main Beach is essentially a high-rise residential area with a nice beach, while Surfers Paradise is infamous for it’s surfing and wild nightlife: Many younger people come to Gold Coast from all over Australia and New Zealand to enjoy the sun, the nightlife and surfing, especially those on vacation from university.

Things To See And Do

Broad Beach has a casino and some shopping complexes, while Burleigh Heads beaches that are very popular with families and to a lesser extent younger surfers. Just outside the city, you can explore the ‘Hinterland’, which spans from west of the Pacific Motorway and is a spectacular collection of national parks, which mainly consists of mountain ranges and rainforest, which will make a welcome change for those who have just spent a while travelling in the more arid areas of Australia!

The highlight of the Hinterland are the Tamborine Mountain, which is home to numerous local small businesses running excellent restaurants, fudge making shops and even some wineries.
Other things to do include beautiful destinations within the Hinterland include Numinbah Valley – which has abundant waterfalls, rainforest walks and cleared grazing land, and Currumbin Valley which commands panoramic views of of the rainforests and Mount Tallebudgera. Many of these areas also have wildlife sanctuaries you can visit.

So, the Gold Coast and it’s surrounding area has something for literally everyone. With family friendly beaches to be found amongst the surfing beaches, and with Theme Parks and Water Parks, children will be well entertained throughout their stay, while the legendary nightlife and surfing draws a steady mix of young party goers and beach lovers.

Further Afield

The best way by far to experience these natural wonders just out of Gold Coast is by car, as you can then do it all at your own pace, however there are a number of excellent tours that can be arranged ranging from bus tours to all inclusive 4×4 tours deeper into the Hinterland and usually come with camping options.

Just like the fact that Gold Coast has a little bit of everything for everyone, gold coast accommodation reflects that and is available from budget basic hostels and guest houses – which are popular with younger people – all the way to luxury hotels that offer swimming pools, room service, mini-fridges and wonderful views over the beaches via spacious balconies.

With so much to do and catering to all budgets it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Gold Coast continues to grow and grow in popularity every passing year.

Do’s and Dont’s of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

October 15, 2017 by John Telford

The Great Barrier Reef is an incredible example of nature’s brilliance and an attraction which sees thousands of tourists visit every year. The Great Barrier Reef is a huge collection of coral and underwater bio-systems which have been baffling and helping scientists, and fascinating visitors for many years.

Unfortunately with the Great Barrier Reef, as a result of the damage which humans are doing to the seas, a process called coral bleaching has begun in the reef which slowly erodes this magnificent coral system. If you are planning on heading to the Great Barrier Reef, here is what you should, and shouldn’t be doing.

Do’s

Let’s take a look at a few of the things that you most definitely should be doing during a visit to this stunning tapestry of coral.

Snorkeling and Diving

To see the reef at its absolute finest, you should most definitely take a snorkeling ,or if you are up for it, a diving adventure. It is worth noting that you should understand the complexities of each area of the reef as it is not always easy to traverse across the corals. If you are an accomplished diver then you should have no problems but if not, seek professional help to find out which route is best for you.

Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Great Barrier Reef is not just the large collection of coral, but more the area surrounding it. One of the coolest things to do outside of the reef then is to jump on this spectacular railway which takes you through the Barron Gorge, and up as high as 1,000 feet above sea level. Getting in touch with nature here is about more than just what exists below the sea.

Hamilton Island

The reef exploration can get a little crowded with tourists so why not consider heading a few kilometers up the shore line to the beautiful Hamilton Island. This is not only an awesome place of you to relax and enjoy the midday sun, it is also a great jumping off point to explore more of the fascinating reef itself.

Don’ts

There are some things which you should most definitely avoid doing if you plan on taking a trip to the GBR.

Feeding Fish

Sometimes your dive master may have some natural food which you can give the fish but for the most part, you should never feed them. Feeding fish encourages them to come closer to divers and they could very well ingest food which is not good for them.

No Touching

Just the slightest touch can kill coral or at the very least, cause you some pain as many of the cells and organisms down below have sharp spines which could give you a nasty cut.

No Souvenirs

It’s actually against the law to remove anything from the coral and besides, doing so will kill it, so even if you are tempted, leave everything as you find it.

This is a truly once in a lifetime journey and you should do your bit to help the region, and the reef by treating it with the utmost respect.