TMG
Leisure staff have travelled
far and wide across the wonderous
country of Australia..... Hobart
to Cape Tribulation, Adelaide
to Alice Springs, Perth to Darwin
traversing the immense Australian
continent.
There is nothing better than
recent first hand experience,
that is why we are the Australia
travel specialists for your
holidays to Australia 2008.
Below
we share the highlights of our
time in Australia:
To
discuss Australia further
or to tailor make a specialist
itinerary that is personalised
to your tastes please contact
our award winning Leisure travel
team, we have the knowledge
and first hand experience that
will ensure you have the trip
of a lifetime.
Sydney I've just
returned from a weeks holiday
in Sydney, yes one week!
that's how much I love this
place. Sydney has everything
that you could want in a city;
excellent shopping along Pitt
Street, exquisite dining, plentiful
bars and an absolute abundance
of sites to visit and
explore.
OK, so the weather can be a
little too warm during
the summer but don't forget,
wherever you are you will only
be a short ride away from a
beautiful beach, be it Bondi
or somewhere a little more peaceful!
Whether you decide
to take in a show at the Opera
House or even climb the Harbour
Bridge one thing you cannot
miss is the photo opportunity
at Mrs Macquarie' Chairs (above).
I would also wholeheartedly
recommend an evening meal at
Cafe Sydney with views straight
out across Circular Quay, book
ahead to get a table on the
balcony! back to top
The
Sunshine Coast The Gold
Coast is well known for its
surfers and high rise building
but to a lot of people
it is seen as a bit tacky and
a place not to spend too long
in. Venture just a few miles
further North up the East coast
and you will hit the Sunshine
Coast more relaxed and, at present,
a lot less developed than its
near neighbour. If you are looking
for somewhere to truly relax
then Coolum may be for you but,
in my opinion, Noosa (left)
can't be beaten for character
and charm. back to top
Fraser
Island World Heritage
listed in 1993 Fraser Island
is one huge sand bar, approximately
120km by 15 km of sand just
off the East Coast of Australia.
You can choose to go back to
nature and camp on the island
(watch out for the dingoes!)
or if you prefer a little more
luxury choose to stay in one
of the camouflaged resorts.
The only way to get around
the island is by 4x4, hire your
own or sit back and relax whilst
someone else does the driving
on an organised tour. Highlights
include Lake Wabby, Lake McKenzie
(also known as window lake,
right) with the clearest water
you are ever likely to see.
Sit back and relax in Eli Creek
and let the current take you
down to the beach. For the best
view of the island climb Indian
Head and scan the sea for dolphins,
sharks and if you get your timing
right whales. back to top
The
Whitsunday Islands There are
74 Whitsunday Islands in total
off the East Coast between Mackay
and
Bowen. The Islands are famed
for their crystal clear waters,
lush forests and secluded island
resorts. There is plenty to
do including fishing, diving,
snorkelling, sailing or simply
just relaxing. The majority
of the islands are National
Parks but a few do offer resorts
or camping. However, a popular
way of experiencing the full
beauty of the area is on a yacht
sailing from island to island
by day and dropping anchor by
night. back to top
The
Great Barrier Reef The biggest
living structure in the world
stretches 2000km from Bundaberg
on the Australian East coast
up and over Australia to the
Torres Strait and is anywhere
between 1 and 18 million years
old. Made up of around 500 different
types of coral and 2000 species
of fish as well as sharks and
jellyfish!
The best way to experience the
reef is by scuba diving or snorkelling.
Numerous organisations link
Queensland to the inner and
outer reef and cater for experienced
and inexperienced divers and
snorkellers alike. You can also
keep your hair dry on glass
bottom boat trips. For a treat,
make the journey to one of the
true coral islands situated
in the outer reef Green Island
and Heron Island are examples
of such coral cays. back to top
Cairns Cairns is
ideally situated for a traveller,
North lies the Daintree rainforest,
Cape Tribulation and Cooktown;
West the Atherton Tablelands
and to the East the Great Barrier
Reef. There is something for
everyone within easy reach of
Cairns be they thirsty for adrenaline
action in the form of a sky
dive or something a little quieter
with a rainforest walk. back to top
The
Real Outback Hughenden,
Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Tennant
Creek..... names that don't
necessarily trip off the tongue
but reflect authentic Australian
outback towns... think Crocodile
Dundee country! Small towns
with huge character, small populations
and amazing surprises. If you
really want to see "true"
Australia take a road trip down
from Cairns through to Alice
Springs but make sure your transport
is up to the journey. back to top
Uluru Many people
consider Uluru (Ayers Rock)
as simply famous for being famous
and not worth the long journey
to see. Any scepticism however
is soon dispelled when you first
approach the Uluru Kata Tjuta
National Park and catch a glimpse
of the giant monolith on the
horizon. Uluru is no doubt something
you will have seen on a thousand
photographs, postcards
and television programmes which
makes actually being in front
of it yourself possibly more
inspiring. You can choose to
stay in comfort at Yulara, a
village created to service the
Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
or go back to nature and camp
out under the stars. Rightly
famous for its sunsets and sunrises
Uluru also offers numerous base
walks (one side of the rock
will be very familiar but you
may never have seen the other
side!) and also a very strenuous
but dramatic climb where you
ascend to the very top of the
rock itself. back to top
The
Great Ocean Road One of the
world great road journeys. Hire
a car in Adelaide and drive
it around the coast to Melbourne,
or vice versa.The
main highlight being entering
the Port Campbell National Park
with the dramatic lime stone
cliffs towering above the ocean,
rock stacks, gorges, arches
and blowholes are plentiful
in this scenic part of the Australian
South coast. back to top
Melbourne Australia's
second largest city is a lively
and cosmopolitan sort of place
with an emphasis on sporting
prowess. Follow in the footsteps
of the infamous Ned Kelly with
a visit to the Old Melbourne
Gaol,get a cultural
fix in the Art Precinct, wile
away time in Yarra Park(which contains
the world famous MCG) or visit
seaside St Kilda and gorge on
delicious fresh cakes! There is
somethiing for everyone in Melbourneand you can
spend a great deal of time discovering
its many delights! back
to top
Canberra Formed after
Federation in the early 20th
Century Canberra is a purpose
built capital city and heart
of government. Located midway
between the major cities of
Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra
is an ideal place to stop off
for a day or two on a journey
from one to the other. Canberra
is incredibly green and includes
most things that you would expect
of a capital city; a multitude
of national museums, galleries
and some impressive modern architecture. back to top
Tasmania Tasmania
is often overlooked by visitors
to Australia, mainly because
it is not part of the mainland
and could only be reached by
a long ferry journey or an expensive
flight. This has changed over
the past few months with the
introduction of low-cost airlines
into Oz you can now fly to Hobart,
the capital, relatively cheaply
with Virgin Blue and JetStar
airlines.
Tasmania, apparently, has the
cleanest air in the world, a
reason enough to visit, and
also has the scenery to match
very much reminiscent of New
Zealand's South Island. Lush,
green and stunning Tasmania
is best explored by car allowing
you the freedom to go where
you want with the small population
meaning you may very well get
a national park all to yourself!
Port Arthur, in the south of
the state, is not to be missed.
A former penal colony this is
where the "First Fleeters"
sent the worst of their criminals
and has a very interesting,
if bleak, history. Dusk ghost
tours optional! back to top
Perth The worlds
most isolated capital city,
Perth is situated right on the
Indian Ocean. Smaller in scale
than Sydney and Melbourne but
benefiting from being a few
hours flying time closer to
the UK, Perth is extremely popular
with UK visitors not least for
its superb year round climate.
Perth can be your starting point
for exploring the Western Coast
of Australia, close by is the
port of Freemantle, further
a field Wave Rock, The Pinnacles
and Rottnest Island. Further
North explore Kalbarri and Karijini
National Parks and swim with
the mighty (but harmless) Whale
Shark along the Coral Coast. back to top
The
Kimberley Highly, highly
recommended. This area of North-West
Australia is as nature intendedand you will
go days without seeing another
sole, let alone a town. You
will need an experienced guide
to get the best out of this
area of Australia they will
take you numerous picturesque
gorges where
you can admire the scenery,
get a tan on a rock or swim
in the lakes. When the sun goes
down you'll pull your 4x4 to
the side of the road (anywhere
will do!) build a fire, cook
up a delicious dinner and unfurl
your bivvy bag for a nights
sleep beneath the stars. The
Bungle Bungles (Purnululu) are
the big draw of the Kimberley
region and a helicopter ride
will best enable you to fully
appreciate its grandeur and
size.
It is worth noting that due
to the extreme wet season that
NW Australia experiences by
far the best time to visit this
region is Apr-Oct during the
dry season. back to top
Kakadu On the World
Heritage List for both its natural
and cultural significance, much
of Kakadu is Aboriginal land
leased to the Australian government
for use as a national park.
Just East of Darwin in the Northern
Territory Kakadu is home to
thousands of different types
of mammals, birds, reptiles
and insects! Of special interest
however is the Aboriginal rock
art said, in some locations,
to date back some 6000 years.
There is a whole host of tours
that allow you to see the highlights
of Kakadu from brief day trips
to week long bushwalks. An organised
trip is definately the way to
get the best out of Kakadu,
your guides will take you to
the premier locations and also
keep you safely away from the
local saltwater crocodiles! back to top
nd
explore. 
people
it is seen as a bit tacky and
a place not to spend too long
in. Venture just a few miles
further North up the East coast
and you will hit the Sunshine
Coast more relaxed and, at present,
a lot less developed than its
near neighbour. If you are looking
for somewhere to truly relax
then Coolum may be for you but,
in my opinion, Noosa (left)
can't be beaten for character
and charm.
round
the island is by 4x4, hire your
own or sit back and relax whilst
someone else does the driving
on an organised tour. Highlights
include Lake Wabby, Lake McKenzie
(also known as window lake,
right) with the clearest water
you are ever likely to see.
Sit back and relax in Eli Creek
and let the current take you
down to the beach. For the best
view of the island climb Indian
Head and scan the sea for dolphins,
sharks and if you get your timing
right whales.
d
Bowen. The Islands are famed
for their crystal clear waters,
lush forests and secluded island
resorts. There is plenty to
do including fishing, diving,
snorkelling, sailing or simply
just relaxing. The majority
of the islands are National
Parks but a few do offer resorts
or camping. However, a popular
way of experiencing the full
beauty of the area is on a 
postcards
and television programmes which
makes actually being in front
of it yourself possibly more
inspiring. You can choose to
stay in comfort at Yulara, a
village created to service the
Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
or go back to nature and camp
out under the stars. Rightly
famous for its sunsets and sunrises
Uluru also offers numerous base
walks (one side of the rock
will be very familiar but you
may never have seen the other
side!) and also a very strenuous
but dramatic climb where you
ascend to the very top of the
rock itself.
where
you can admire the scenery,
get a tan on a rock or swim
in the lakes. When the sun goes
down you'll pull your 4x4 to
the side of the road (anywhere
will do!) build a fire, cook
up a delicious dinner and unfurl
your bivvy bag for a nights
sleep beneath the stars. The
Bungle Bungles (Purnululu) are
the big draw of the Kimberley
region and a helicopter ride
will best enable you to fully
appreciate its grandeur and
size.
