Jenny Allen - Australian.com Travel Mate

Exploring Sydney Harbour and Manly Beach by Ferry

2015-12-16T22:50:00.000-06:00

Sydney Harbour stretches for many kilometers, radiating outwards from North and South Head, the two sides of the entrance to the Harbour itself.

The Sydney commuter ferries run an extensive network of ferry options from Circular Quay throughout the various bays, inlets and stretches of open water that make up the Harbour area. It is very easy to catch a ferry that stops off at a number of the small suburb docking points on a regular basis. Perhaps appreciation of just how big Sydney Harbour is, is provided by taking the Manly ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and back. This journey crosses the entrance from the ocean and lands at Manly, a bayside suburb that has frontage to the Harbour as well as to the ocean. Manly is known for its beach culture, from surfing, surf life saving and swimming to the marine zoos showing the sealife of both the Harbour and the nearby ocean.

Catch the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay. As a tip, if making a day trip of it, take the slower conventional ferry for a relaxed look on the way over to Manly and then the fast catamaran back to the city.

When you get off the ferry at Manly, it is a short walk through the Corso, a mall connecting the ferry terminal on the harbourside with the Pacific Ocean and Manly surf beach. There are loads of specialty shops, restaurants, pubs and interesting characters all along the esplanade north and south of the Corso.

A particularly good walk is one up and over North Head. The trail is easy to pick up from the north end of the Esplanade at Manly Beach

If you like exploring cities on your own and to get a feel for the way the locals live, this is a good day’s introduction to Sydney Harbour and its beach culture. For more information go to our website, Australian.com

Tasmania Self Drive Package - 8 Day/7 Night

2015-11-27T15:37:00.000-06:00

New 8 Day/7 Night Self Drive Packages for Tasmania!

Wilderness & Beaches…History and Nature Walks…NEW 7 Night Packages ready to go that include accommodations, rental vehicle, entrances to places like Port Arthur, MONA and boat excursions to Wineglass Bay (since you might not want to do the 3 hour hike!). Stay at Cradle Mountain, and finally, take a cruise on the Gordon River. In style. Spend time on Tasmania’s east coast to enjoy the crystal blue waters of Freycinet and spend time at Friendly Beaches.

There are 2 Packages ready to go – first one called Wilderness & Beaches has you arriving at either the Hobart Airport or Launceston Airport (we’ll check your dates to be sure you don’t miss the Hobart Saturday Salamanca Market, if interested). If the wilderness is driving you, then land at Launceston Airport and you’re in position to stay at Cradle Mountain and then move on to Tasmania’s west coast – where ocean beach is a great example of cool temperate beaches – the crashing waves reminds you that you are in the path of the roaring “40’s.”

You’ll walk through the wilderness path in Mt Field National Park and experience the man ferns, huge swamp gums and Russell Falls, one of Australia’s most spectacular wilderness waterfalls….and it’s only 20 minutes from the carpark!

The second package, History and Nature Walks, has more time in Hobart and Port Arthur to study the history of the convicts and get the real story on transportation to all of Australia. The Port Arthur Historic Site has been restored beautifully and is now a major example of how life was for the Convicts in the mid 1800’s. There are loads of walks, especially on the Tasman Peninsula near Port Arthur that will show you some of the most amazing ocean views and cliff top vistas out over the Tasman Sea. The Sydney to Hobart yachts turn around the end of the Tasman Peninsula for the final run up to the finish line in Hobart.
Both Packages include a Wineglass Bay nature cruise with lunch and while at Freycinet, visit a vineyard, a marine farm and Kate’s Berry Farm to check out the local wine and food. Obviously, seafood is at it’s best on Tasmania’s East Coast.

A night is included in Launceston, Tasmania’s major northern city where you can visit the Tamar Valley wineries in their spectacular valley hillside locations. Walks in the Cataract Gorge at Launceston provide a unique experience in local wilderness right in the heart of a major city.

For more information, visit 8 Day 7 Night Packages on www.Tasmania.com

10 Days in Australia - Splitting Up Your Time

2015-11-01T22:13:00.002-06:00

You really want to go to experience all that wonderful wildlife, but you only have 10 days to do it. You can stretch an extra day or two to cover the travel time and give you 10 days on the ground Downunder, but that’s about it.

So…how do you decide where to go, and for how long? You see the packaged tours and they are usually too long and miss something that you really want to do. Customise your Trip instead.

It is usually a bit rushed to try and spend less than 3 days in a particular location, so saying you want to visit Sydney, the Reef, Tasmania and Kangaroo Island in the 10 day span is pretty counter productive. You will get to know a lot about Australian airports. Remember, Australia is about the same size as the continental U.S.A. Splitting your time up too much results in flitting from point to point without getting to really see it.

Work with a Travel Planner on www.Australian.com. There are two levels of of trips – Deluxe and Budget. The real difference between the two is the level of the hotel and the offerings of small group trips versus seat in coach day tours. In the deluxe arena, there are private driver/guides for a few 4 Wheel Drive trips to get you away from the coaches. So, you can stay at a lower level hotel, and put the money in going off the beaten track. Or, you can stay in better hotels and take the coach trips.

It is a good idea for a first trip to include Sydney and the Reef – your third place to visit can be decided by whether your interests are in wildlife, cities, wilderness walking or zip lining in the wilderness type activities. The experiences are in different locations and a Travel Planner knows how to mix them in to your final trip so you’ve included everything what you want. This is how you do not waste time unnecessarily.

6 Day – All of Tasmania Tour

2015-09-27T09:34:00.004-05:00

Tasmania – How to do it without a car!

Cradle Mountain, Freycinet, Wineglass Bay, Hobart, Port Arthur, West Coast & Strahan.

Even if you are a single traveler, this trip is a great way to see how beautiful Tasmania really is while you are tasting some of its excellent food products and walking in its famous wilderness.

If you are not driving, it is often very difficult to get to the coasts with single tours. This NEW 6 DAY Tasmania Tour takes all the guesswork out of the trip. Accommodation is included (dormitory or private) and a local driver/guide makes sure you get to see the sights and take part in the activities and food tastings. All this from about A$110. per day per person, depending on accommodation level.

The trip leaves Hobart each Sunday and is going to be very popular. Make sure you book early here.

The schedule is really fun! After visiting Port Arthur Historic Convict Site and the Tasman Peninsula for the fabulous ocean views and history on the first day, it is up the Derwent Valley to Russell Falls and the beginning of the western mountains.

On Day 3, head for Tasmania’s West Coast to Strahan via Montezuma Falls and climb some of the world’s best sand dunes at Henty Dunes.

Day 4 takes you to Cradle Mountain and then on to Sheffield and honey and salmon tasting. The next day takes in the East Coast, Wineglass Bay and Freycinet. The Bay of Fires has some of the most amazing cool temperate beaches in the world and here is your chance to go on the beach. The finale is a visit to Kate’s Berry Farm to taste Tasmania fruit products and even fruit wine.
The tour finishes in Hobart…and you have seen it all!

Again, book early here.

Fly to Australia – Sometimes cheap is not the least expensive.

2015-07-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

You’re ready to fly Downunder and you start looking at websites and see some pretty good prices. The fine print will tell you the date period and you then type in the dates you can actually go, and the price almost doubles. Ouch.

There is a trick to this, and the answer is routing. While flights generally fly to Australia from Los Angeles to Sydney, you do have options from and into other cities! You must be careful grabbing what looks to be the cheapest flight online as you may end up routing through New Zealand or even Korea! Your time is valuable and you want to land and start seeing those kangaroos as soon as possible.

Have a look on www.Australian.com and click on Air Travel to get some help on how you might fly Downunder. You can depart from Dallas and even Vancouver BC if you live in the northwest U.S, and, starting Dec. 15, you can fly into Sydney nonstop from San Francisco!

You need not land into Sydney – you might want to fly into Brisbane and start your trip enjoying the Great Barrier Reef. You can exit Sydney back to the U.S. The options are there and if you check out www.Australian.com you will find our fairly quickly if there are air specials and what routing works for you on the dates you wish to travel.

If you’re into Tennis, you can fly directly into Melbourne. You can enjoy the Reef on your way out and maybe fly Brisbane back to the U.S. To customise your Vacation to include Tennis, be sure to visit www.Australian.com and get help from an Aussie Travel Planner.

Australia: Day Tours – Help to know what’s better

2015-07-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Day Tours, Half Day Tours, Multi Day Tours. Where to start? And what tour do you choose so you know you are on the ‘better’ tour?

To take the confusion out of choosing Tours, get a large piece of paper and write out each area, such as Sydney, Cairns Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, for instance.

If you have 3 days in Sydney, block in a Half Day Tour on arrival. How about a Sydney Harbour Cruise? On Day 2, write in a morning Bridge Climb Tour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In the afternoon on Day 2, write in a Sydney Sailing Trip. On Day 3, choose from the Blue Mountains or Bondi Beach.

You now have Sydney ready to go. Go to www.Australian.com and click on Tours and you’ll see Sydney. You can now choose your tours, book online, and you’re in great shape!

Repeat this for Cairns Barrier Reef. Be sure to include the Full Day Tour on a Reef Trip, and book easily online a Half Day Hot Air Balloon, or Rafting on the Tully River.

Multi Day Tours are available on the Reef in the Whitsundays. You can sleep onboard a sailing boat and have the most time to snorkel and dive. Even if you do not wish to get in the water, the cruises are available with glass bottom boats and ample beach time to just relax.

Daintree Rainforest

Full Day trips to the Daintree Rainforest from Cairns are a must and you should always book this ahead online at www.Australian.com Easy to book, immediate confirmation, and at the best prices.

Kangaroo Island has a few options and you will fly into Adelaide before flying on to K.I. as the locals call it. Your best option is to not self drive on Kangaroo Island and to join any one of the Day Trips that you can book online at www.Australian.com. The 4 Wheel Drive guides will pick you up at your hotel, and drop you back after seeing all of the wildlife in the wild.

Great Barrier Reef. Why not go now?

2015-06-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

You may or may not have what is called a “bucket list,” but if you do, you more than likely have places in the world that you need to see. Most everyone knows that the continent of Australia is sitting there, just waiting, with it’s Downunder appeal:- Kangaroos, Shrimp on the Barbie, The Opera House, topless beaches, and one of the magic places in all of the world, The Great Barrier Reef.

Even if you are not an avid swimmer, you are still drawn to the crystal blue waters and the vivid tropical sealife. The Reef is truly amazing! It stretches 1800 kms (1200 miles) from the northern tip of Australia to just north of Brisbane. Imagine this: You are 50 kms (30 miles) offshore, the hills behind Cairns are a smudge on the western horizon. The Reef itself is 5 to 10 metres (15 to 30 feet) below the bottom of your boat.

There are several boat trips leaving from Cairns and Port Douglas and you want to be sure to prebook your Reef Trip well before you arrive so you do not miss out. There are some for the younger crowd and others that are more deluxe and private.

If you visit Hamilton Island, and want more luxury, be sure to arrange your Australian Vacation with a CustomTravel Planner on www.Australian.com You may also want to scuba dive. If you are a beginner, you can take a "resort dive” and actually dive one on one with an instructor. The Reef boats for snorkeling and diving have knowledgeable and licensed guides.

Hamilton Island

Also available off Hamilton Island are sailing boats that you can actually sleep on. Some have facilities for private charters, small parties of up to 6 couples. You can snorkel, swim, sleep and dine on your own private sailing boat while the crew look after you.

Australian Wildlife in the Wild. What’s not to like?

2015-06-20T09:29:00.001-05:00

No matter where you go in Australia, it’s possible to see wildlife in the wild. Not in the big cities mind you, though a crocodile came up out of the drains in Cairns one time to give the tourists (and a few locals) a bit of a scare. A bit too close to wildlife in the wild!

You can book tours online at Australian.com. Any of the full day tours out of the city will show you some sort of wildlife in the wild.

What you see in various locations around Australia will depend a bit on where you are. Kangaroos are just about everywhere and if you are self driving for any part of your trip, then you will likely spend some of your time avoiding hitting them on the roads. As an aside, what is referred to as a “bull bar” on the front of the truck or SUV in the U.S. and Europe, is called a “Roo Bar” in Australia.

While a kangaroo is not quite as large as a cow, the damage in being hit by a 350 pound (175 Kg) kangaroo in full flight is a matter of the speed in which it is traveling. Kangaroos can make a good 30mph when pushed and if they are panicked into crossing the road, can make a heck of a mess in front of the car. Hence, the term “Roo Bar.”

There are many other forms of wildlife you can see in the wild though since most wildlife is nocturnal, you are most likely to see them at sunrise and sundown.

The smaller animals such as the echidna (ant eater) wallabies, and in Tasmania, Tasmanian Devils, are often candidates for road kill after dark.

Any of the good wildlife tours, say to the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, or the Atherton Tableland behind Cairns, will show you kangaroos, crocodiles and if you’re lucky, a cassowary or emu (large flightless bird that resemble the ostrich).

If you miss the chance to see wildlife in the wild, book tours on Australian.com to include the wildlife parks in Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania, Brisbane and Cairns.

Half Day or Full Day Hobart Tours – Book Online in Bed

2015-06-01T17:53:00.001-05:00

Half Day or Full Day Hobart Tours

Book Online in Bed

If you’re reading this while you are in Hobart, you can log onto Tasmania.com and actually book tours from your bed where you are staying! Many travelers have only a half day or a full day to spend on Hobart Tours, so we want to highlight things you just do NOT want to miss.

For example, many tours pick up at your hotel. If interested in the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur Tour, you can book the tour online, pay for it, and you will be picked up and they can take your voucher electronically from your phone. Much easier than finding the ticket office, paying for the tour, only to return back to your hotel to be picked up. You can book and pay for all your tours leaving from Hobart on Tasmania.com all from your bed, and making sure not to miss some really cool sights for a half-day or full-day quickie tour of Hobart.

Weather can play a part in things too. If you want to go sailing, and it is raining or blowing a gale, the chances are the boat won’t go. So, you can choose another tour that leaves from Hobart, such as the Bruny Island Day Tour (that’s a full day tour, but well worth it).

Only have a half day available? (Of course, that’s why you’re booking this online) Tasmania.com has the times available, so book, pay and go on the tour without leaving your hotel bed!

Campervan Hire in Tasmania

2015-05-08T16:21:00.001-05:00

Campervan Hire in Tasmania

You can overnight anywhere that is not signposted to the contrary.

You got the best deal by comparing Campervan Hire in Tasmania prices and features on Tasmania.com. You have just arrived at the Hobart Airport and collected your Campervan. Rather than driving into Hobart, let’s head out of town to the Tasman Peninsula.

I have chosen the Eaglehawk Neck, Port Arthur area because is has some great beaches, wonderful coastal scenery and excellent forests to explore. Here are the directions for the drive to the Tasman Peninsula.

As a base camp, I would suggest Eaglehawk Neck for two or three nights. The beach is wonderful, there is a pub handy, and it is only a 20 minute drive to Port Arthur, Remarkable Cave and Fortescue Bay. The coastal cliff formations stretching south from Eaglehawk Neck are truly astounding.

The walks along the clifftops are well fenced and very safe – treat yourself to some of the finest coastal scenery in the world.

Take the Tasman Island Cruise to see the cliffs at sea level and to get up close to dolphins, the Great Southern Albatross and more seals than you thought could fit onto a rock ledge.

Port Arthur.
The Port Arthur Historic Site, the best reconstruction of convict life in early Australia, is well worth a visit. If you like scary stuff, take in the Ghost Tour as well one evening.

If you are really into coastal walks, the half day trek from Fortescue Bay to Cape Huay will get you up close and personal with the Great Southern Ocean – the sea cliffs are 300 meters high, rising from the deep ocean, and are riddled with caves and arches.

For some excellent coastal walking, the return walk to Cape Huay from Fortescue Bay can be completed in about 4 hours but to do justice to the scenery and the bush it is a good idea to allow a longer period and perhaps enjoy a picnic lunch at the Cape itself. The walk provides magnificent views of the coast together with high cliffs and spectacular rock formations.

Remarkable Cave.Just to the south of the Port Arthur Historic Site, the road ends in spectacular fashion. The cliffs, the walks and the access to the wild coastline is truly remarkable and it is well worth the hour or so it takes to drive down, take the walks and drive back.

From Port Arthur, stay on the C347 and drive the 5 Kms (3 miles) to the Remarkable Cave car park. It is also worth taking the side road to the left as you come to the Caves car park to visit the blowhole and for views across the Southern Ocean to Tasman Island.

There is nothing between you and Antarctica here except a few small islands and a lot of water.

The Tasman Peninsula will give you a great look at Tassie’s amazing history and coastal scenery. A great way to experience it is with Campervan Hire in Tasmania.

Where to see the Tasmanian Devil

2015-02-03T06:24:00.000-06:00

Where to See the Tasmanian Devil

Sarcophilus harrisii

The Tasmanian Devil is a nocturnal scavenger only found in the wild in Tasmania. Usually coming out at night, it is difficult to see in the wild.

There are a number of stories about how it got its name and ferocious reputation. When I was a lad growing up and camping out in the Tassie bush, we would often be woken in the middle of the night by an incredible howling and hissing. We never found the source of the noise, but were told it was Tasmanian Devils fighting over food.
The first settlers in Tasmania in the early 1800s heard the same sounds in the night. It is said they were more creative and said there was a “Devil in the bush”.
The Devil eats dead animal carcasses – it rarely kills for itself – and is almost entirely a meat eater, crunching up the bones and leaving almost nothing but hooves and horns. It really is “Nature’s dead animal vacuum cleaner”.
So, if they are hard to find, how do you find where to see the Tasmanian Devil, alive and kicking? The best place to see the Tasmanian Devil live and up close is in one of the excellent Animal parks in Tasmania.

Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park – Taranna, Tasman Peninsula.

One of the best in Tasmania. Situated on the Tasman Peninsula near Port Arthur.
> Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park
> Full-Day Tasman Peninsula Tour from Hobart (Includes Devil Park)

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – Near Hobart

Just north of Hobart, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary has an interactive Tasmanian Devil Pen.
It also features a great Koala display and wallabies, kangaroos and emus in an open range environment.
Hand feed the local wildlife. Make sure to be there for the presentation by the resident wildlife expert
> Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
> Bonorong Wildlife Park, Derwent River Cruise and Cadbury Chocolate Factory Tour from Hobart

Trowunna Wildlife Park – Mole Creek – Near Deloraine

About 30 minutes drive to the west of Launceston. You can stop in either coming or going to Cradle Mountain.
> Trowunna Wildlife Park

Devils@Cradle – Wildlife Park at Cradle Mountain

The Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary at Cradle Mountain. Guided, interactive tours.
> DevilsatCradle

East Coast Natureworld – Bicheno

Tasmanian Devils and a particularly good Bird Display.150 acres of natural parklands and lagoons.
> East Coast Natureworld

While this list is not everywhere you can see the Tasmanian Devil, the places I have mentioned offer a quality experience and are located near places you will probably be visiting while in Tassie.
More Information: > Tasmanian Devil – Wikipedia

Arriving at Hobart Airport

2015-01-17T08:14:00.000-06:00

Arriving at Hobart Airport – Be ready for a treat

The trip from the Mainland of Australia will take just over an hour from Melbourne, 1 hour and 40 minutes from Sydney or about 2 hours from Brisbane. Arriving at Hobart Airport is a bit of a step back in time – no jetways here.

The flight will either fly down the Coal River Valley – the views of Hobart will be on the right hand side of the plane – or will circle around over Frederick Henry Bay and Seven Mile Beach to land from the south.

You can get out of the front or rear of the plane – down the steps and walk across to the Arrivals Building. If it is raining, umbrellas are available at the foot of the stairs. If it is windy – more likely than not – be ready to hang on tight.

The arrivals area is not large and is dominated by people waiting to meet the passengers, drivers with signs and racks of promotional brochures. The luggage will arrive onto the single carousel. There are regulations regarding bringing fruit and vegetables into Tasmania and the cute sniffer dog will give your hand luggage a going over before moving on to the checking the carousel.

The car rental offices are about 25 metres from the exit doors. The coach transfer to Hobart City meets every flight and you can buy tickets on board the bus. Taxis leave from in front of the building (turn right when you go out the door – about 50 metres along). If you are picking up a Campervan rental, call the rental company from the arrivals area.

You will drive into Hobart by crossing the Tasman Bridge - you cannot see the City from the Airport .

A note on dropping a Rental Car on leaving from Hobart Airport:

It is OK to drop the car off about 1 hour 15 minutes before flight time. This will give you plenty of time to get into the departures building and check in.

More Information > Hobart International Airport – Wikipedia

Travel in Tasmania

2015-01-04T18:50:00.001-06:00

Travel in Tasmania

I was born and raised in Hobart, and for the last 20 years have designed and delivered interesting trips to Tassie that show visitors its unique and unusual aspects.
In these Posts I will blend history, geography and current activities to help you gain some perspective on Tasmania before you arrive.
Tasmania has only matured as a destination over the last 10 years. Before this it was regarded as a bit of a backwater. Today it is enjoying a well earned reputation as a great place to spend a very interesting 10 days of your life (more or less is fine, too).
I will assume you are interested in visiting Tassie. Getting here is simple: you either fly (usually to Hobart or Launceston) or travel on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry from Melbourne to Devonport. It is possible to ferry one way and fly the other if you are not taking your own car.

How Big is Tasmania?

It is 200 Kms from Hobart to Launceston and the drive takes about 2 1/2 hours without hurrying or stopping. Hobart to Cradle Mountain is about 300 Kms and takes about 4 1/2 hours.
Cradle Mountain to Strahan is about 4 hours, longer elapsed time if you stop and look around any of the old mining towns enroute. Allow about 5 hours to drive back to Hobart. These drive maps will help throw things into focus:

List of Tasmania Self Drive Itinerary Maps for Travel in Tasmania

> Drive Map Hobart to Port Arthur | > Drive Map Port Arthur to Freycinet
> Drive Map Freycinet to Launceston | > Drive Map Cradle Mountain to Strahan
> Drive Map Stanley to Cradle Mountain | > Drive Map Launceston to Stanley
> Drive Map Launceston to Cradle Mountain | > Drive Map Strahan to Hobart

While travel in Tasmania is not difficult, it is easy to misjudge the timing and find you still have 2 or 3 hours driving to your next accommodation at 6 in the evening.
If you are coming to Tasmania as an overseas visitor, please look at Australian.com

Tropical North Queensland

2014-07-30T06:55:00.000-05:00

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, do you feel that the winter temperatures are getting you...down? (pun intended :-) ) Take the edge off the cold by reading this post about Cairns and its tropical delights.

In June of 1770, Captain James Cook and his crew were exploring the Australian coastline, and the Great Barrier Reef about 110 Kms (65 mi) to the north of where Cairns is today. They turned seawards into what they thought was deeper water to avoid a large point of land. Bam! They ran aground on the Endeavour Reef, having just discovered it by punching a hole in the bottom of their boat. They named it Endeavour Reef after their unfortunate ship - It really ruined their day! They managed to stay afloat and headed for shore to beach the Endeavour for repairs. It took a while, but they fixed the hole, then sailed on. They named the cape that caused the whole incident Cape Tribulation.

Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation is at the northern end of the Daintree Rainforest. The dark green of the rainforest runs straight into the blue of the Coral Sea. The Daintree Rainforest stretches from Mossman Gorge to Cape Tribulation. Check it out on the map. It is a place of steep mountains, deep gorges, high rainfall, flood prone rivers, and incredible plant and animal bio-diversity. Walking along the nature trails is like being in a huge, leafy, green cathedral. Moist air, everything drippy and wet, tall trees, jungle vines trailing, and a carpet of dead leaves and twigs.

Daintree Rainforest

The plant species in the Daintree are very ancient. They include types of ferns and trees that date back before the dinosaurs, up to 135 million years ago. The Daintree is home to 30% of the reptile, frog and marsupial species in Australia, 18% of the birds (over 400 species), 65% of the bats and butterflies and over 12,000 types of insects. And all of this bio-diversity is crammed into an area under 1% of Australia. Now this is the place to go bird, bat and nature watching!

When Captain Cook ran aground in 1770, you can be sure the local Kuku Yulanji Aboriginal tribe who had been living in the Daintree River area for over 9,000 years knew about it. They would also have seen the white man rush for gold in the 1870's as the Daintree Village was founded to supply the miners. One of their descendants, Juan Williams, runs Walkabout Cultural Adventures out of Daintree - his tours are worth checking out for an authentic experience. Another Aboriginal Cultural Daintree Rainforest Tour leaves Cairns and Port Douglas also.

As an alternative, to really discover the Daintree on your own, rent a car, then stay a few nights in the Daintree Village area and get to meet some of the locals.

Cheers,

Matt

>>> More Information on the Daintree Rainforest…

>>> More Information on Cape Tribulation…

Sydney - The Harbour City

2014-03-27T06:25:00.000-05:00

I have only to hear the word "Sydney" and immediately my mind conjures up the image of the harbour with the Sydney Opera House and the Coathanger (Sydney Harbour Bridge), one of the most recognisable scenes in the world. I don't believe that any trip to Australia could ever be complete without a visit to Sydney. Of course, for many international travellers, Sydney is often their point of entry, making it very easy to incorporate into their holiday. I know that when that plane banks and I get a view of the harbour just after dawn, that I've finally arrived home again.

The Sydney Opera House

Let's start with a few facts. After many years in the travel industry in the US, I've noticed that it's a pretty common misconception that Sydney is the capital of Australia. As the most populous city in the country and the most well known, I can see where people get that idea from. Although Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales, Canberra is in fact the nation's capital.

Sydney was established in 1788 on January 26th (celebrated annually as Australia Day), by Arthur Phillip, as a penal colony for Britain. From such harsh and humble beginnings, a true multicultural metropolis did grow.

There's plenty to see, do and experience in and around Sydney. For a start, you can check out the Sydney Tours Sightseeing and Activities page on our website. One of my personal favourites is the jet boat tour on the harbour. If you love speed, you'll love this! Of course, for a more sedate pace, there's always a lunch or dinner cruise. If you're not leery of heights, try the Harbour Bridge climb. The view from the top is spectacular! The regular climb takes 3 and a half hours, but they've added an express climb which can be accomplished in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The Sydney Aquarium located on Darling Harbour is currently undergoing a face-lift and 3 new areas have recently opened. This large complex is a great place to spend a day viewing and interacting with some unusual sealife. Across the harbour from the Opera House you can find Taronga Zoo. It's easy to catch a ferry from Circular Quay and be there in just over 10 minutes. A word of warning, though....you'll probably be pretty knackered after a full day of walking around all the great exhibits since the zoo sits on an incline. It's totally worth it though, as the views from the zoo, and my favourite spot - the amphitheater where they do the free flight bird show, will knock your socks off!

Sydney Skyline at Dusk

When you're looking for a place to stay, remember, it's a huge city. It really does help to have an idea of what you want to see and do before picking a place to stay, so that you can find one conveniently located. Have a look at our Sydney Australia Hotels page to get a better understanding of what's what and to book your hotels in advance at a great price.

Sydney is a great city to walk around, and you could walk for miles and not see everything. The Royal Botanic Gardens are right in the heart of the city, and just a short walk from there is Mrs Macquarie's Chair, located on the peninsular, a sandstone bench carved by convicts in 1810. It's a good place to stop for a breather and admire the view of the harbour. If you head east, you have to stop for a real Australian meat pie at Harry's Cafe de Wheels near Finger Wharf (the original location). Or, if you're heading west, you can stroll around to Bennelong Point, where the Opera House sits, and continue on to Circular Quay. To get a really top notch view of the entire area, zoom to the observation deck of Sydney Tower (sometimes known as AMP Tower or Centrepoint Tower), which stands 309 m (1014 ft) above the CBD. A stone's throw from the tower is Hyde Park, a lovely, green respite from the concrete and buildings (although it's not quite on the same par as London's Hyde Park). At the northern end of the park is the Archibald Fountain and at the opposite end you'll find the ANZAC War Memorial.

These are just a few of the many options of things to see and do in Sydney. I could write pages and pages of stuff, but what fun would that be? You need to get out and discover some on your own!

The Dawn of a New Year

2014-01-14T22:29:00.002-06:00

2014. It's hard to believe it's here already.

I look at the beginning of a new year like a sunrise. The landscape slowly becoming tinged with purple, mauve, pink, then orange. Then everything starts to glow that glorious golden colour. You know, the one that is so hard to describe but so very beautiful to look at. It casts a tint on the world that makes everything look clean and fresh and new. Yesterday is gone. A pleasant memory fading like dusk into darkness.

Sunrise - Monkey Mia, WA

It's a time to look ahead, to start planning with the freedom of a clean slate. Make the year what YOU want it to be. Start planning now for what you want to accomplish. In some ways, it can be a bit intimidating - geez, there's SO much I want/need to do this year, where do I start? Pick a place and take a first step. Don't be paralyzed by hesitation and indecision.

Planning a trip to Australia can be kind of the same situation. Geez, it's such a BIG country and I want to see SO much, where on earth do I start? How could I afford it? How on earth do I fit it ALL in in just a 2 or 3 week visit. The simple, honest answer is obviously that you can't, but that doesn't mean that you can't have a fantastic, memory-making trip anyway.

Whether it's your goals for the year, or that dream vacation to Australia - focus on the things that make you happy or will improve your quality of life first. Then, after you've accomplished the first step, you can sit back, relax, and truly enjoy the sunset - you'll have earned it!

Sunset - Hamilton Island, QLD

Summertime in Queensland

2013-11-01T04:40:00.000-05:00

As Summer starts to heat up in Australia, I wanted to share one of my more popular articles again, as it's the perfect place for a hot, summer weekend (or longer!)

The Gold Coast. Does that phrase conjure up an image for you? Do you imagine a golden sunset over the ocean, or a gold-tinged sunrise glinting off the water and making the sand sparkle? I have been lucky enough to witness both scenes, on many different occasions.

Located in southeast Queensland, the Gold Coast is just 80 km (50 miles) southeast of the capital, Brisbane, on a newly upgraded/expanded highway, making the drive a breeze. Alternately, you can also fly in to the Coolangatta airport which is more conveniently located, but has less flight options than Brisbane.

Surfer's Paradise is probably the most well known of the beaches in the area, but by no means is it the only one! With approximately 57 km (35 miles) of coastline, there is plenty of great surfing and swimming to be had. From a safety perspective, the Gold Coast has Australia's largest professional surf lifesaving service to watch out for you. Remember, swim between the red and yellow flags (and don't forget the sunscreen). If a day at the beach doesn't appeal to you, there's always plenty of great shopping, especially jewelry and art. Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach is a good place to wander and browse the shops, have a bite to eat, or to see a movie.

Surfer's Paradise

There are amusement parks galore, all within a 30 minute drive. You have Sea World, Dreamworld, Wet'n'Wild, Warner Bros Movie World and the Australian Outback Spectacular.

For those of you who like to commune with nature, I recommend a visit to World Heritage listed Lamington National Park, located in the Gold Coast hinterland. The beautiful rainforest is a great place to beat the heat, where you can enjoy the waterfalls (over 500 of them) and bird life, or be more adventurous and do a walking trail (more than 150km/93mi - all clearly marked). This area is one of the most important wildlife refuges in the region and is home to some rare and threatened animals. You'll also find some plants here that can't be found anywhere else.

So, let's do a quick rundown.

Beach ü
Sunshine ü
Amusement Parks ü
Shopping ü
Wildlife ü
Rainforest ü

What more could you possibly ask for?

Perth

2013-07-21T21:18:00.002-05:00

Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is the fourth most populous city in the country. It is an oasis of green between the jewelled blue tones of the Indian and Southern Oceans and the reds and browns of the desert and plains.

Speaking of a green oasis, Kings Park is the world's largest inner-city park - even bigger than famous Central Park in New York City! At just over 4 square kilometers and located next to the Perth CBD, there's no reason to get that 'enclosed big city' feeling.

Perth

One of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a trip that includes a visit to Perth is the relative isolation. You will need to pay attention to the distances and travel times between points of interest. Perth is actually closer to Singapore than it is to Sydney! Click on the link to get a better idea of the general area, not just the city surrounds.

A must-see destination is Rottnest Island, located just off the coast from Fremantle. It's a major tourist attraction, so you'll definitely want to book your hotel in advance. You'll probably hear the locals refer to it as 'Rotto'. You know us Aussies, we love to shorten the names for everything! The best way to get there is by ferry from either Fremantle or Perth. There's plenty to keep you busy on the island. It's one of the few areas where you can find a quokka. For those not in the know, a quokka is a small, mostly nocturnal marsupial. It looks like a cross between a wallaby and a rat (which is how the island got its name - it means Rat Nest in Dutch).

Quokka

Diving is another reason to visit the island and there's even a snorkel trail to follow at Parker Point. I highly recommend a glass bottom boat tour to see some of the shipwrecks in the area. Cycling enthusiasts will also love this place, as that is the most common mode of transport (there are no hire cars on the island).

Back on the mainland, wine connoisseurs will want to travel southwest to the Margaret River wine region. You won't be disappointed by the coastal scenery on the way. There are plenty of hotels in Margaret River so that you can spend a few days enjoying the vineyards and surrounds.

Margaret River Vineyard

Have a look at the Perth Activities and Tours page on our website to get more details on different types of full day and multi-day trips that are available.

If you have the time, continue southeast to Albany, a historic port city surrounded by national park lands. From here you are truly looking towards the bottom of the earth, as there's nothing between you and Antarctica.

There are a lot of other places to see if using Perth as your 'jumping off point' so to speak, but I'll cover those in another post.

I hope you get a chance to discover this great, isolated gem of a destination.

Darwin

2013-06-08T12:59:00.000-05:00

Darwin, capital city of the Northern Territory, is the smallest of all Australian capitals. With a population of approximately 130, 000 (which is half of the entire Territory) it has had considerable growth in the last couple of years. Situated on the Timor Sea, you can see from the map that it is surrounded by water on three sides. You'll sometimes hear Aussies refer to this area as the 'Top End'.

City of Darwin

Now is the best time to visit Darwin, during the dry season, which typically runs from about April to October. The wet season brings some spectacular lightning shows along with cyclones and monsoon rains. Keep this in mind when planning your travels as you can expect up to 420 mm (approximately 16 inches) in a single month! Of course, these rains are essential to keep the Kakadu wetlands teeming with wildlife.

Darwin is a major access point for Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park. You have lots of different options of day tours, overnight tours or multi-day tours of both of these areas from Darwin. Have a look at our Darwin activities and tours page to give you some specifics and plenty of links to book your travel plans.

When you're looking for Darwin hotels to book, you've got quite a few choices. If you're going to incorporate Kakadu into your plans (and why wouldn't you??) then I suggest staying right in the heart of it - in Jabiru (about 250 km [150 miles] from Darwin). Click on the map link to get an overview of the area. Are you one of those people who think that pretty much all Holiday Inns look the same? Think again!! The picture below is the Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn. Obviously you don't get the same perspective from the ground, but I think the aerial view is pretty cool.

Gagudju Crocodile Hotel

The Northern Territory in general is rich with Aboriginal history and culture. Consider a visit to the Tiwi Islands just north of Darwin to submerse yourself in culture and indigenous artwork. There are many festivals, markets and events throughout the year, including the Darwin beer can regatta in August. Aussies do love their grog! For the history buffs, a visit to the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery is in order for a multi-media display on the WWII Darwin air raids.

Aboriginal Art Work in Kakadu

Whilst you're in the neighbourhood of Darwin, it's not far to hop a flight down to Uluru Ayers Rock to visit one of the most recognizable Aussie icons. I'll save that for another post. Stay tuned!

Kangaroo Island

2013-05-19T15:49:00.001-05:00

Kangaroo Island, once part of mainland Australia thousands of years ago, is now the third largest island, although that fact is a bit deceptive when you look on a map. Considered part of South Australia, it is located approximately 113 km (70 miles) south west of the capital city, Adelaide. Although I briefly mentioned Kangaroo Island in a previous post, it's a destination that deserves its own story.

Kangaroo on Kangaroo Island

This is a great place to holiday for many different reasons. One of the biggest draw-cards is the wildlife. It was given its name by British explorer, Matthew Flinders, for the Western grey kangaroo. You'll see an abundance of kangaroos and wallabies over most of the island. Sea lions and seals can be seen in great numbers around Seal Bay and Admiral's Arch.

Sea Lions on Kangaroo Island

You've got a good chance of seeing koalas (who doesn't love that?), goannas (big lizards), possums and plenty of species of birds. The best way to see some of the wildlife in their natural habitat is to get out of your car and hoof it (walk) around the island's many national parks and conservation areas. At least a quarter of the island is conserved, allowing the wildlife to flourish. Just remember not to feed your picnic scraps to the animals, as you'll do more harm than good regardless of your intention.

To see some great wildlife and scenery photos check out this previous post that has a Smilebox dedicated to Kangaroo Island.

Below is a sight you may recognize - the Cape Willoughby lighthouse, located on the eastern tip of the island, closest to Cape Jervis and the first lighthouse built in South Australia.

Cape Willoughby Lighthouse

There's more than just beautiful scenery and unique wildlife to capture your imagination though. For alternate activities you can consider a number of art galleries, lavender farms, a Eucalyptus distillery, go scuba diving or watch a shearing demonstration. Rich in history, there are a number of museums to peruse where you might even learn a thing or two.

If you're planning to visit, you have 2 options - see Kangaroo Island in a day tour from Adelaide or stay in a hotel on the island. Either way, Australian.com can help you out. To get across to the island you can fly or take a ferry. Due to the size and popularity, this is one destination that I'd definitely recommend making advance bookings.

We hope to see you there soon!

Cairns - Hot Air Ballooning - A First Timer's Journey

2013-01-20T13:24:00.000-06:00

When the Montgolfier brothers made the first manned, 20 minute hot air balloon flight in Paris in 1783, they were two months behind an earlier, unmanned French flight carrying a sheep, a rooster and a duck. The earlier flight crashed, killing all on board. The Montgolfiers landed safely.

While Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier saw Paris from the air, they could not have imagined the sun rising out of the Coral Sea in Far North Queensland, nor watching kangaroos jumping in the Australian bush.

Hot Air Ballooning has thrived since that first manned flight, and modern materials and technology have made it possible for hot air to carry people as high as 68,986 feet (21,027 metres). The longest flight is 320 hours and 33 minutes.

While there is plenty of hot air in the world - particularly in the political arena - and using it for flight is a great way to experience the still of early morning.

The Atherton Tableland is an escarpment that runs parallel to the coast behind Cairns, and it provides excellent conditions for hot air ballooning. The Tableland is a northern part of the Great Dividing Range, the inland range that runs all the way up the East Coast of Australia. Near Cairns it varies in height from 1,600 to 4,200 feet (500 - 1,280 metres). The height tempers the tropical climate of the coast.

Atherton Tableland

First explored in 1875, it was settled by John Atherton - the town of Atherton bears his name - when he discovered tin and gold in 1877. The Chinese who came to the area to work on the goldfields created what was the largest Chinatown in Australia by 1900, and they pioneered the agricultural industry. Little remains of the Chinese influence, though it can be seen at the recently restored Hou Wang Temple near Atherton. Today, the crops grown are sugar cane, mangoes, peanuts, avocados and macadamia nuts. Beef and dairy cattle are also raised.

So, let's take a hot air balloon ride. You will be picked up at your hotel well before sunrise, and by the time the sun climbs out of the Coral Sea on the Eastern horizon, you will be high in the air. Kangaroos graze mainly at sunrise and sunset. As the sun rises, it shines almost parallel to the ground, throwing a giant shadow of a jumping 'roo over the landscape. It can only be seen from the air with the right conditions. If you are lucky - and most are - this will be one of your great memories of Australia.

Cheers,

Matt

>>> More Information on Hot Air Ballooning…

>>> More Information on The Atherton Tableland…

Cairns - The Daintree Tropical Rainforest - A First Timer's Journey

2012-12-29T21:28:00.002-06:00

Cape Tribulation

Daintree Rainforest

As an alternative, to really discover the Daintree on your own, rent a car, then stay a few nights in the Daintree Village area and get to meet some of the locals.

Cheers,

Matt

>>> More Information on the Daintree Rainforest…

>>> More Information on Cape Tribulation…

Cairns - Snorkeling The Great Barrier Reef - A First Timer's Journey

2012-12-08T12:04:00.000-06:00

The use of a snorkel to breathe underwater has been around for 3,000 years - there are records showing the use of hollow reeds as breathing tubes, a far cry from the beautiful plastic and silicone snorkels of today! Add modern materials to the production of face masks and fins, and you have the modern snorkel kit used on the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel Gear is included on good Reef Trips.

Coral Reef

If you are a first time visitor to the reef, it might also be your first time snorkeling. It is not hard, it just requires a leap of faith. I reckon that those who have snorkeled well remember when we first strapped on the mask and snorkel, put our face under the surface, and got up the courage to do the impossible - breathe in underwater. After that? Easy.

The Great Barrier Reef is immense - it stretches 2,600 Kms (1,600 mi) down the east coast of Queensland, contains 2,900 reefs and 900 islands. Look at a map of the Great Barrier Reef to really throw it into perspective.

Coral only increases the size of a reef about 1 - 3 Cm (.39 - 1.2 in) a year, and it forms very fragile ecosystems, requiring strict conservation. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was set up in 1975 to regulate the 30 reef and 40 non-reef Bioregions that make up the Reef, and it was created a world Heritage Site in 1981. The permanent Great Barrier Reef marine Park Authority says where you can anchor and controls general use.

The Great Barrier Reef

Make sure you have booked a Reef Trip ahead of time - the best ones sell out in busy periods - grab your swimming trunks and towel and head off to the Cairns Marina for a day offshore. You will have to go about 50 Kms (30 mi) out to get to the outer Reef where the best coral is found. Some boats go to a pontoon that is moored over the Reef in fairly open water, and some go to Sand Cays (islands) that allow you to go ashore and snorkel from a beach as well as in deeper water.

Have a great day out on the Reef, but don't make the mistake of leaving your camera or sunscreen back at the hotel.

Cheers,

Matt

>>> More Information on the Great Barrier Reef…

>>> More Information on the Great Barrier Reef: Marine Park…

>>> More Information Snorkeling…

Cairns - Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - A First Timer's Journey

2012-11-28T20:05:00.000-06:00

Gold! Who'd have thought it? Gold?

Cairns was settled in 1876 as the hopefuls headed inland to the Hodgkinson River an the last days of the Australian Gold Rush. The fever died out, but Cairns remained, slowly becoming the biggest town in the area, and the centre of a huge sugar cane growing industry. Have a look at the Map of Cairns and the Map of the Great Barrier Reef to get your bearings.

Then along came tourism, the creation of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 1975 and the opening of the International Airport in 1984, all of which have made Cairns a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns

Cairns City is about 2,700 Kms (1,670 mi) north of Sydney by road, and 1,700 Kms (1,050 mi) north of Brisbane, so if you are thinking of driving it, leave more than a couple of days just to get there. On your first trip to Australia, you will probably arrive into Cairns by air. As you land, it's water to the east - bright blue on sunny days, and steel gray when its overcast - and a heavy green vegetation climbing the hills to the west, rising to an escarpment of higher land inland. This is the tropics, and it rains a lot, even though it is usually warm.

Cairns Esplanade Pier

The airport is north of the main Downtown area and the Marina, near the Northern Beaches. More on the Northern Beaches in another post, but check out Trinity Beach, Yorkey's Knob, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach and Palm Cove for your hotels and accommodation in Cairns area. This gets you out of town and close to the water on a really nice beach.

Palm Cove Beach

While Cairns downtown has the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, restaurants, cafes, buzz and lots of people, it does not have a really good beach. It actually does not have a beach at all. During WW2, the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Trinity River entrance to allow barges with supplies into the port, and messed up the tidal flow of the area. The beach turned into mud flats. Great for wading birds, and birdwatching, but not good for swimming. There has been an attempt to turn the esplanade back into a beach by dumping a lot of sand there, but it has not been more than cosmetically successful. If you want to walk a beach with the Coral Sea lapping at your feet, do it on the Northern Beaches.

Downtown, however, is where the Marina is located, and it is from here that we will leave on our expedition to snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef in my next post. Stay tuned.

>>> More Information on Cairns:

>>>> More Information on the Great Barrier Reef:

Sydney - The Rocks to Bondi Beach by Bus - A First Timer's Journey

2012-11-18T10:23:00.000-06:00

Wandering around a big Australian city on your own, at your own speed, is a real blast. Nothing makes you feel like you really know your stuff - "Hey. I'm doing this independently" - like a day zipping around Sydney and the suburbs on the way to Bondi Beach.

Big problem, however: How do you get from the Rocks to Bondi Beach by bus without losing your way, ending up in the wrong place and generally screwing up the outing? Easy: Let the Hop-on, Hop-off Bus do the navigating - you just decide where to get on and then get off again.

OK, so let's start by looking at the map of Sydney again. Bondi Beach is just to the east of downtown, the Rocks and the Sydney Opera House.

Bondi Beach

How do we do this? First you buy a Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off Tour ticket. This will give you up to 24 hours continuous riding over two different tour routes on their bright red, open topped, double decker bus. Sit up the top for the best views. A warm, wind proof jacket is always a good idea.

Start off at Stop 1 of the Sydney Explorer at Circular Quay - you can either take the full route, or you can change straight onto the Bondi and Bays Explorer at William Street (Stop 5) - or at Central Station (Stop 14). Get off at the Bondi Beach Terminal.

As one of Australia's surfing icons, Bondi is not just sand, surf and people, it is home to a whole local beach culture. A couple of hours wandering Campbell Parade along the beachfront will leave some lasting impressions. Great pubs, bars restaurants and shops. Don't miss it! And for your first day at an Aussie Beach, how about some surfing lessons?

Hotel Bondi

Hotel Bondi - Campbell Parade - Find a Hotel in Bondi Beach

The trip back to the city will take you along the clifftops through Dover Heights - great views out onto the Pacific, and back to the City over Sydney Harbour.

Take as long as you like - is this the way to see Sydney and Bondi Beach, or what?

See you next time. Even though we could spend months in Sydney alone, I'm going to move around Australia randomly from now on. Next post, let's check out Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Stay tuned.

Route Map for the Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off tour.

More info on Bondi Beach.

Jenny Allen - Australian.com Travel Mate

Exploring Sydney Harbour and Manly Beach by Ferry

Tasmania Self Drive Package - 8 Day/7 Night

New 8 Day/7 Night Self Drive Packages for Tasmania!

10 Days in Australia - Splitting Up Your Time

6 Day – All of Tasmania Tour

Fly to Australia – Sometimes cheap is not the least expensive.

Australia: Day Tours – Help to know what’s better

Great Barrier Reef. Why not go now?

Australian Wildlife in the Wild. What’s not to like?

Half Day or Full Day Hobart Tours – Book Online in Bed

Half Day or Full Day Hobart Tours Book Online in Bed

Campervan Hire in Tasmania

Campervan Hire in Tasmania

You can overnight anywhere that is not signposted to the contrary.

Where to see the Tasmanian Devil

Where to See the Tasmanian Devil

Sarcophilus harrisii

Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park – Taranna, Tasman Peninsula.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – Near Hobart

Trowunna Wildlife Park – Mole Creek – Near Deloraine

Devils@Cradle – Wildlife Park at Cradle Mountain

East Coast Natureworld – Bicheno

Arriving at Hobart Airport

Arriving at Hobart Airport – Be ready for a treat

A note on dropping a Rental Car on leaving from Hobart Airport:

Travel in Tasmania

Travel in Tasmania

How Big is Tasmania?

List of Tasmania Self Drive Itinerary Maps for Travel in Tasmania

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Sydney - The Harbour City

The Dawn of a New Year

Summertime in Queensland

Perth

Darwin

Kangaroo Island

Cairns - Hot Air Ballooning - A First Timer's Journey

Cairns - The Daintree Tropical Rainforest - A First Timer's Journey

Cairns - Snorkeling The Great Barrier Reef - A First Timer's Journey

Cairns - Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - A First Timer's Journey

Sydney - The Rocks to Bondi Beach by Bus - A First Timer's Journey

Half Day or Full Day Hobart Tours

Book Online in Bed