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 2011/12.

Sydney | Sunshine Coast | Fraser Island | The Whitsunday Islands | The Great Barrier Reef | Cairns |
The Real Outback | Uluru | Great Ocean Road | Melbourne | Canberra | Tasmania | Perth | The Kimberley | Kakadu

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. 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!

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.

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) 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.

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.

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 or why not try the Lizard Island Resort.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Melbourne and you can spend a great deal of time discovering its many delights!

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.

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!

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.

The Kimberley
Highly, highly recommended. This area of North-West Australia is as nature intended and 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.

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!