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.
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!
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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!
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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.
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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 |
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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 |
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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!
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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!
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