Australian Tourism

Australia's Best Beach Named

2009-05-23T01:08:00.000-07:00

An Australian academic has just completed 17 years of painstaking work - finding the country's perfect beach.

Andrew Short visited and catalogued all of Australia's 11,011 beaches. And after examining every sandy bank on the country's 16,000-mile coastline he has plumped for a rocky harbour on the windswept Vivonne bay area on South Australia's Kangaroo Island as his favourite, owing to its consistent surf and mild currents.

The project has taken him to crocodile-infested tropical sands, resort towns, and 500 untouched spots only accessible from the water.

A keen surfer, Professor Short said he rarely got the chance to do anything other than make measurements and collect samples but did not yet feel jaded with beach life.

"It's been a pleasure the whole way through," he said.

Up to 100 people drown on Australian beaches every year, and the directory which he has now produced was compiled for Surf Life Savers Australia to establish hazard ratings for every stretch in the country.

After photographing the entire coastline from the air, he made visits to take measurements of wave and tide heights and samples of the sand.

The data allowed him to give danger ratings showing the strength of currents, the power of waves and the prevalence of underwater rocks.

Most of the places he travelled to were so remote that they are almost unknown to the public. Only half were accessible by car, and nearly half of that number could only be visited with a 4WD vehicle.

"The most difficult ones are in northern Australia where you get caught when the tide goes out, waddling across mud flats in crocodile territory."

Of the 70-odd beaches which received the most dangerous rating of 10, the only one that has a name is aptly called Termination Beach, near Cape Catastrophe on South Australia's Eyre peninsula.

Sydney's half-mile Bondi beach has three different ratings, from a gentle four at the northern end to a seven on the south side near a famous rip current nicknamed the backpackers' express.

Travel to Australia: A Country-Continent Continuum

2009-05-23T01:07:00.002-07:00

Situated between the Indian and South Pacific Oceans in a geographically misunderstood region of the world called Oceania, Australia is a continent nearly twice the size of Europe and also an independent nation made up of six states and two territories. The literal continental size of the country makes for travel that is diverse and exhilarating without the hassle of ever crossing a single border!

Australia has been inhabited for an estimated 45,000 years with the first recorded European encounter with the landmass not until 1606. In 1770, the English navigator James Cook claimed Australia for Britain, but it was not until the gold rush of the 1800s that Aboriginal tribes were really harmed by Europeans who were drawn into the depths of the continent's formidable Great Dividing Range where natives had since thrived undisturbed. Today there are many trading posts, such as Alice Springs, where Aborigines sell traditional artwork and musical instruments such as the popular didgeridoo.

Wine, Waves, and Whimsical Wilderness
Most travelers anticipate a visit to the Sydney Opera House, a wild ride through the outback and then a dive at the Great Barrier Reef, and most visitors experience an abrupt awakening to the sheer depth of Australia's wonderful attributes and activities as well as the great distances that would make such a trip lengthy at best. Southwestern Australia is a fantastic wine-producing region, with harvests including Australia's own Shiraz. Visit the popular Margaret River area for delicious reds or take a drive along the nearby coast and surf some of the best waves in the morning while making a leisurely afternoon of wine tasting in the quaint coastal towns along the way. On the path of indulgence, make sure to enjoy some truly authentic Aussie cuisine like slow-roasted kangaroo or emu, and don't shy away from the Moreton Bay bug, which is actually an exceptional species of slipper lobster native to Australian waters.

Witness firsthand the versatility of the Aussie landscape by venturing north to the coastal Daintree Rainforest in the wet tropical region near the festive city of Cairns and the northern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the world's oldest rainforest stands in Australia's tropical north while ski resorts garnish the eastern Snowy Mountains outside of cosmopolitan Sydney and the semi-arid Flinders Ranges in the south represent the last of the quintessential Australian outback, complete with crocodiles and wallabies. Tasmania, Australia's giant southern island, is often considered a miniature Australia with all of the spectacular sights in a fraction of the size. Most notable is the intense backdrop marked with jutting peaks, plunging crevasses and glacial lakes of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Whether you travel to Australia for the rugged adventure of the outback or the richly multicultural and ultra-hip global scenes of Melbourne and Sydney, the deluge of opportunities available upon arrival are sure to turn your initial itinerary on its head. Not to mention, Australia is an excellent jumping point from which to discover the many tropical island-nations of Southeast Asia to the north. For more information on international travel and discount airfare to Australia, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.

By Frank Johnson
Published: 5/16/2006

Enjoying an Unforgettable Australian Tour

2009-05-23T01:07:00.001-07:00

Whether you want to relax, learn about the Aboriginal people, go wandering the tropical rainforests of northern Australia, or take in the night life in the capital city of Sydney, an Australia tour has something to offer you.

Going on an Australian tour can include anything from wandering the tropical rainforests of northern Australia, to taking in the night life in the capital city of Sydney. Whether your penchant is for lush and untouched scenery or fine wine and entertainment, Australia is sure to have something to offer you.

If you're interested in treasures of the urban nature, Sydney is home to eclectic architecture, major art galleries, and more than one performing arts theater, as well as several fine dining establishment choices. During your Australian tour of the settled delights be sure to stop by Melbourne, a city known as a trend-setter and home to grand musical extravaganzas, non-stop food and film festivals, and some of the best shopping and nightlife to be found. There are more than 75 different ethnic cuisines just waiting to tickle your taste buds in several hundred restaurants and cafés. If you're a sports fan, Melbourne hosts international tournaments as well as grand prix events in various locations around the city.

Visiting the secluded islands in the Great Barrier Reef can provide a new and fresh look at nature's beauty. While on your tour of Australia, be sure to take a peek at the Daintree Rainforest in tropical North Queensland. There you can see the rare sight of two World Heritage wonders nestled right against one another as the forest slopes dip into the Great Barrier Reef, with some sections of the reef growing almost to the shore itself. Following the same natural beauty guide you can opt to head into the expansive Outback and explore the treasures of the Kimberley, sometimes called Australia's last frontier.

Taking Time to Relax

Beginning or ending your Australian tour at one of a multitude of resorts the country has to offer can ensure a relaxing evening or two is had with some of the most beautiful scenery. The resorts located well inside the Great Barrier Reef can cater to just about anyone - from newlyweds, to families or singles, or even sophisticates who demand the utmost in dining and beauty spas available.

Of course, Australia is surrounded by sea, so good swimming and surfing beaches are more rule than exception. Generally these beaches will be full of tourists, especially during the week. Still, it is easy to find your "spot" for the R&R that you demand and rightfully deserve.

If relaxing on your Australian tour calls for a cruise, that can be arranged too. Several options are available depending on your level of sailing skill and budget. For the couple that doesn't want an entire boat to themselves, a catered cruise through the Whitesundays might be just the answer. These cruises usually run from five to seven days and can be had on modern racing yachts or older square-riggers with a multitude of sails billowing overhead. Passengers can usually opt to sleep in cabins on-board or set up camp on the beach at night. Either way you're sure to be lulled to sleep by the gentle wash of the waves against the hull or shore.

A Tour for Learning

If the goal of your tour of Australia is knowledge, you should look into an Aboriginal-lead tour. Aboriginal guides are available at many places you can visit during your Australian tour, and during the course of your tour you will likely hear creation stories that have been handed down thousands of years. Guides are often accompanied by experienced translators, allowing them to speak their traditional language. The Aboriginal people vary depending on their location; the people of the islands and coasts having differing traditions then those of the expansive Outback.

While on an Aboriginal-guided tour of Australia you should be sure to try bush tucker by either taking one of the widely available tours focusing the food itself and its preparation, or stopping by an Aboriginal cultural festival. Bush tucker, as it's now called, is the food that sustained Australia's original people for thousands of years and has now gone mainstream as Australian chefs experiment with the unique recipes. All in all, there is so much to take in on an Australia tour that you could easily spend months there letting yourself get lost in the rich history and culture of this beautiful and historical land.

Going on a tour vacation is a wonderful way to enjoy memorable sites and pleasurable sounds. At http://tours.every1loves2travel.com you will discover some of the best places to go on a tour. For more great family vacation ideas we recommend http://vacationing-with-kids.com and http://www.on-a-cruise.com. Travel Safely!

By Darlene Berkel
Published: 12/11/2006

Travel in Australia - Free Guide of Cairns by Flashbooking

2009-05-23T01:06:00.000-07:00

With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers, students, volunteers free disposal some useful pocket travel guides of major European and world cities.

The geographical shape of Australia is very simple and can be divided into three specific regions: The Australian Shield; Tasmania and The Great Dividing Chain, which is a series of rolling hills and high plains, that run parrallel to the West Coast, for over 2000 kilometres, forming the characteristics of a tropical climate at one end and those of sub-alpine at the other.

Flashbooking provides backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide -mostly run by locals- in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

Cairns is a regional city and Local Government Area located in Queensland, Australia.

Flashbooking accommodation database is easily available online and comes completed with all relevant information about cheap hostel Cairns location, description, contacts, prices, instant real availability, customer ratings, facilities and pictures.

Originally settled in 1876, and named after William Wellington Cairns to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, the settlement declined when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas.

Recently put at travellers’ disposal is another useful tool: the Free Pocket City Guide of Cairns. This free travel guide of Cairns contains, in just 6 printable pages, all the essential information and very good suggestions about the Cairns flea markets, Museums and Art Galleries, budget restaurants and cheap lodgings, classic itineraries you can’t miss, transports and a lot more.

However, Cairns' future was secured as it developed into a railhead and major port for the exportation of sugar cane, gold, precious metals and agricultural industries from the surrounding coastal and Tableland regions.

The city is rapidly expanding, with a population of 128,284 and is reliant on the sugar and tourism industries.

In particular Flashbooking provides a large selection of cheap accommodation offers in Cairns where there are plenty of low cost solutions for backpackers in budget Bed and breakfast Cairns, cheap hotels and guesthouses.

The City of Cairns lies about 1070 miles from Brisbane and about 1600 miles from Sydney by road.

Moreover, for anyone that owns a personal website or a travel blog, the travel guides (London, Rome, Amsterdam, Florence, Prague, Barcelona and more coming on soon!) come for free and can be used as an extra travel resource for theirs users.

Cairns is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its tropical climate and proximity to many attractions.

In Flashbooking website there is also a section dedicated to the world cities events where you can also get a quite exhaustive list of main festivals, exhibitions, concerts and cool things to do and see in other top European cities.

The Great Barrier Reef can be reached in less than an hour by boat. The Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation, about 80 miles north of Cairns, are popular areas for experiencing a tropical rainforest.

It is also a starting point for people wanting to explore Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula, and the Atherton Tableland.

The customer service is always available to suggest you the perfect accommodation for your trip. A Skype account has been recently added in order to give more assistance to our travellers and backpackers needs. In just a sentence here the flashbooking motto:

Those who love travelling light, those with a sense for adventure, those who love flexibility in their trip, those who like meeting locals and travelling slow and low... THOSE ARE OUR TRAVELLERS!

So mates, we are looking forward to finding the best accommodation for you on your next trip!

This article was written by Michele De Capitani with support from cheap hotels accommodation and Mrs. Vera Bonaventura. For any information on how travel insurance, please visit our website to download your free pocket travel guides for Cairns City in Australia.

By Michele De Capitani
Published: 4/25/2007

Port Douglas, Australia - Experience Tropical Queensland

2009-05-23T01:05:00.002-07:00

I recently took a trip to Port Douglas in North Queensland Australia. I had a great trip and I wrote this article to share my travel experiences.

Australia's idyllic Port Douglas is justly renowned as one of the world's most beautiful places to relax, unwind and cast your worries to the sea. This unique tourist destination sits adjacent to Tropical North Queensland's two World Heritage Sites -- the fabled Great Barrier Reef, and the majestic Daintree Rainforest. As home too to Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas boasts one of Australia's most picturesque locations for sailing, wind surfing, kite-boarding, and surfing.

The pristine surroundings of Port Douglas were originally settled thousands of years ago by the Kuku Yulanji tribe. The English first encountered its astonishing beauty when Captain James Cook was mapping the eastern coastline of Australia in 1770, during his initial voyage to the continent. In fact, Port Douglas was an unexpected stop for Cook and his crew, for they ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef, and had to delay their voyage for more than seven weeks in order to repair their ship, the Endeavour. Cook thus named this bay Cape Tribulation, because, he noted in his journal, "here began all of our Troubles".

These days, such troubles are no more than poignant history in Port Douglas, with the Reef now well-marked and carefully conserved. Its protection allows visitors a unique and breathtaking opportunity to experience an incredible underwater world. Discovering the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system -- its 35 million hectares embracing 900 islands and 3000 individual reefs -- is one of the hallmark travel opportunities of a lifetime. This is an organic structure so large that it can be seen from outer space - composed of billions of coral polyps, it is home to an extensive variety of underwater wildlife including whales, sea turtles, starfish, eels, and dolphins. It is, quite possibly, the best place to go diving or snorkeling in the world.

Back on shore, the Daintree Rainforest rivals its aquatic counterpart for beauty and mystery - a fascinating, immaculate ecosystem that is home to 430 bird species, giant tree frogs, sugar gliders, bandicoots, and estuarine crocodiles. Here you will find the largest range of plants and animals in the world, all within easy access of the Port Douglas beachfront. In the mood for a swim? The forest's cool, green Mossman Gorge, a series of freshwater swimming holes in its midst, represents the perfect photo opportunity. Explore the history and depth of the Daintree by taking a jungle tour, riding horseback, or a river cruise.

The highlights of Port Douglas, however, go well beyond natural wonders, outstanding though they are. Macrossan Street, bisecting the heart of the city, boasts a range of great restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as a fun nightlife scene. Four Mile Beach, which is conveniently just a few meters southeast, is a stunning sandy coastline -- ideal for indulging in a wide range of water sports, or simply a leisurely bike ride.

The adventures and sights of Port Douglas though will no doubt take their toll, and the Rydges Sabaya Resort provides you with a tranquil haven to unwind and rejuvenate. Newly redeveloped in 2007, the resort features fresh, well-appointed guest rooms and apartments, a lagoon-style pool, tasteful new restaurant, and large banquet facilities. Offering a warmth of service that reflects both the relaxed Port Douglas lifestyle and Rydges' sense of fun and energy, the hotel is just a stone's throw from the southern rim of Four Mile Beach - making it all the easier to start relaxing on your Port Douglas vacation.

By Dave Winter
Published: 11/14/2007

Top 10 Places To Visit in Australia

2009-05-23T01:05:00.001-07:00

Australia has something for just about everyone. From simple holidays to culture filled excitement, there are all sorts of options to enjoy. Here are ten of the must see places and events around Australia that you can consider for your next holiday.

1. Sydney

Sydney is Australia’s number one travel destination in terms of number of visitors. The Sydney Opera House was completed in the 1960's. The unique design for the facility, coupled with the excellent acoustics, make this cultural icon a must see stop that even persons who are not interested in opera will enjoy.

One of the great things about Sydney is there is both culture and lots of fun activities as well. The beaches provide some of the most beautiful ocean side playgrounds in the entire world. Visitors can spend endless hours enjoying the sun and pristine sands, then enjoy tours into some of the surrounding bush areas. Later, a night out on the town is easy to manage, with an array of night spots that will accommodate just about every interest. While in town, don't forget to admire the spectacular Harbour Bridge.

3. Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef

Far North Queensland is a wonderful tropical paradise. Cairns is the main entry point and from there you can travel north or south and out to beautiful island resorts. Luxury holiday homes are a great accommodation option in this part of Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef is known as the world's largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef stretches along the Queensland coast for a distance of approximately 35 million hectares. Many varieties of fish and other forms of sea life make the Reef home, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn about and observe. As a family opportunity, the Great Barrier Reef is an activity that will fascinate even the most jaded of travelers.

4. Brisbane

While visiting along the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane is the place to go when you need a taste of the big city. Located in Queensland, the city is known for spectacular night spots that offer a little something for everyone, as well as a range of cuisine that is considered to be the best in Australia by many visitors.

5. Melbourne

Considered by many to be the emotional heart of Australia, Melbourne offers a mix of modern architecture and amenities along with some of the most beautiful examples of Victorian architecture in the world. Shopping and food that ranges from fine cuisine to guilty pleasures can easily be found at Federation Square and the New Quay.

6. The Great Ocean Road

No visit to Australia is complete without enjoying the view from the Great Ocean Road. Running for over two hundred miles along the coastline in the area of Victoria, the view is breathtaking any time of the year. There are plenty of interesting local restaurants to try along the way, as well as several great places to stop and enjoy a beer. The Great Ocean Road is a wonderful drive over a weekend or stay a little longer at a holiday rental property.

7. The Red Centre including Uluru-Tjuta National Park

Found in the Northern Territory, the Red Centre is considered to be the physical center spot of Australia. Tourists will enjoy viewing the Ayers Rock, which is also known as Uluru. Viewing Uluru is considered to be an ideal activity at sunrise and sunset, when the range of colors across the red rock seem to waver and change in fascinating patterns.

Uluru-Tjuta National Park is an area that functions as both a wildlife preserve and a national park. Along with the Ayers Rock, the part also encompasses such sites as Alice Springs and the Olgas.

8. Canberra

Canberra is the Capital of Australia and a fascinating place to see. Visit Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library, National Archives which feature old movies, records, books and artifacts as well as the War Memorial. Four days is Canberra is adequate to see most of the attractions.

9. Adelaide

Considered to be the doorway into the Outback, Adelaide is a thriving city that includes some of the most prestigious vineyards in the country. There are a number of places around the city that are ideal for getting away from it all for a few days, as well as enjoying a night life that is low key but very active.

10. Tasmania

Tasmania offers breathtaking scenery, hiking and camping. Just off the coast, the main land you can reach Tasmania by car ferry or by short flight. Hobart is a stunning town on the Derwent river and features colonial architecture. The local food produce is deliciously fresh and restaurants reasonably priced.

Rent-A-Home.com.au lists a wide range of Holiday Accommodation in Australia including Holiday Rentals, Holiday Apartments, Holiday Homes and Serviced Apartments for short or long stay. For more information on Holiday Apartments Sydney, Serviced Apartments Sydney, visit http://www.rent-a-home.com.au.

By Samuell Armstrong
Published: 11/28/2007

Melbourne Holidays - 5 Things to Do with Children

2009-05-23T01:03:00.002-07:00

Melbourne Holidays with Children can be rewarding. You don’t have to be exhausted at the end of the day, but can have nice times with your children. There are many quality affordable or free things to do with Children in Melbourne.

Here are some great ideas of what to do with your children on your Melbourne holidays that don’t cost the earth.

Melbourne’s weather is great most of the time and lends itself for outdoor activities, picnics and bike rides - but there are also rainy day things to do that are affordable and fun.

The Children’s Garden

The Children’s Garden is part of the Royal Botanical Garden. It is a great place to discover the world of plants, particularly for younger children. There is a garden section where they can dig and create. There are labyrinths to hide in and many different types of landscapes to explore. Prepare for a day out as children don’t want to leave that magical place. The easiest way to get there is from Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra.

The Beach

Melbourne is located on Port Phillip Bay with many beaches, particularly along the eastern side. The city beaches tend to be backpacker’s paradise, but even 15 minutes out from the city you get more pristine beaches for your Melbourne holidays.

There are no dangerous waves because it’s in the bay, which makes it safe for children, a great place from swimming, kites and water play.

A Bike Ride

The best way to see Melbourne is by bike. You can get virtually anywhere with it. With children there are great rides along the Yarra and Merri Creek, which branches off the Yarra in Clifton Hill. Along the Maribyrnong river in the Northwest of the city is another great ride, and also along the eastern bay as far as you can make it.

You can take bikes on trains in Melbourne, so you can plan out your trip one way and return via train.

Community Environment Park – Ceres

Ceres is a community environment project that is located on the Merri Creek in Brunswick. It is a great place to hang out. Children love exploring the wind pump and generators, the gardens, pond and chucks.

There is also a nursery, a bicycle recycle shed, an adventure playground and a café with homemade delights. A visit to Ceres makes a pleasant afternoon for the whole family if you want to have a break from the gadgets of modern life and relax in a sustaining environment.

Scienceworks Museum

This is not free but good value for money and if we ever get stuck for something it always does the job. It is located in Spotswood on the other side of the Westgate Bridge. The most pleasant way to get there is with a Yarra Ferry that stops there on the way to Williamstown.

Children just love the many hands-on activities and explorations, where they learn through play about the planet, light, mechanics…

Melbourne is a liveable city – has been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world many years in a row. What makes it so is that there is room for life, relaxation and exploration. It is a city for the people with many things to do on your Melbourne holidays.

Warm regards

Brigitte Seum

We Love Melbourne
Brigitte Seum provides insider information in her information rich site.

By Brigitte Seum
Published: 2/1/2008

The Mystery of John Batman - Founder of Melbourne

2009-05-23T01:03:00.001-07:00

We'd like Melbourne history to be adventurous and 'clean'. But were Melbourne's founders, John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner, men of honor, entrepreneurs with a good idea or liars and cheats?

Which is the real John Batman – the first though ultimately unsuccessful founder of Melbourne? Was he a liar, thief and cheat, or an entrepreneur with humanity and a good idea?

John Batman is figure with two faces that keeps his legendary status as an Australian pioneer pursuing his goals with boldness and flair.

So, was he just another rogue or an entrepreneur with a cunning plan?

Early Years

Born in Sydney in 1801, he lived from 1821 as a grazier in Van Diemen’s Land, now called Tasmania. He was known for hunting down outlawed bushrangers that were terrorising the country.

He also worked towards conciliation with the Aboriginals, spoke their languages and attempted to stop their extermination. That this involved isolating them into certain areas can in hindsight be taken against him, but was at his time not necessarily a sign of cruelty.

John Batman was known for his spirit of adventure and determination. He was able to see and grasp an opportunity.

Accessible land was in short supply in Tasmania. As a free colonist, Batman planned to expand sheep and cattle farming across the Bass Straight. He applied for land in what today is Victoria. This was rejected. Being who he was, Batman did not give up and looked for other solutions.

Batman's Land Deals

In 1835, he sailed to Port Phillip and into the Yarra. His way of obtaining land involved a treaty with the Aboriginals that would enable him to use their land through peaceful means.

This Batman Treaty was a ‘signed contract’ with senior Aboriginal Kulin chiefs that gave him the use of about 600,000 acres of land in exchanged for goods: axes, clothing, mirrors, scissors and flour.

This was a clever move and a viable undertaking. While it gave Aboriginals recognition of their ownership of the land, it enabled him to avoid payments and legal issues with the Colonial government. The Kulin were unaware of what they were getting themselves into.

Batman moved into the mouth of the Yarra river, and into the area between Geelong, the Maribyrnong River and Merri Creek.

On June 7, 1835, he decided the location of the settlement, which would later become Melbourne. John Batman felt like one of the richest landowners in the world, and life was good.

While Batman’s ingenuity was celebrated in Tasmania, it was immediately crushed by Colonial Governor Bourke in Sydney. In the name of Aboriginal wellbeing and to maintain colonial control, he called the treaty null and void.

Batman’s crew was now trespassing against the rights of the Crown.

Competition from John Pascoe Fawkner

A couple of months after Batman, his jealous rival John Pascoe Fawkner arrived from Tasmania with his team. They settled on the very Melbourne site chosen by Batman. Batman’s men were unable to remove Fawkner from the area.

Melbourne was called Batmania for a short while, but neither that name nor Batman were able to hang onto their respective glory.

Both were followed by an unstoppable flood of people and animals across the Tasman. In the end, Fawkner proposed a resolution to Bourke, who legalised the settlement, appointed a magistrate and named Melbourne.

Times were rough. The Kulin people and native animals were overrun by settlers and their sheep. Violence on the edge of the colony was common and land was in dispute. Aboriginal Reserves were established to ‘civilise’ the Kulin. In Melbourne Aboriginals became victims to disease.

John Batman and his family settled on Batman Hill, near today’s Spencer Street. While he enjoyed a short period of prosperity and wealth, he was never able to reap the glory of the new settlement.

John Batman's Early Demise

His health failed him, forcing him to become a trader and investor. But he borrowed too much and lent without security. He was disfigured and disabled from syphilis; his only son drowned in the Yarra; and his wife had left him.

Batman died, just 38 years of age, a poor man less than four years after his arrival in Melbourne. He was denounced and maligned as a fraud by John Pascoe Fawkner. There are reports of him being a rogue, drunk, thief and liar.

Nevertheless, he remains an important figure in Melbourne’s history, a character with two faces. He keeps his legendary status as one of the founders of Melbourne, and as an entrepreneur with boldness and flair - more the pioneer than builder of a city.

The Development of Melbourne

His arch rival John Pascoe Fawkner ended up settling Melbourne before him. Fawkner became a leading figure in the community and erected the first Melbourne buildings.

He was the son of a convict, a rebel and rough character, implicated in convict’s escapes and assaults in Tasmania.

Fawkner occupied a central position by running a hotel and publishing the first Melbourne newspapers and made quick money. He was a short, squat passionate man with fiery speech and a determined gait.

He brought education and the arts to Melbourne. Fawkner was later elected first councillor and then member of the first legislative council in 1851. He became respected Melbourne leader while John Batman had come to an early demise.

Although Fawkner and Batman are seen as the co-founders of Melbourne, their association had always been antagonistic and the building of Melbourne a separate goal worlds apart.

Melbourne history
The short and passionate history of Melbourne

By Brigitte Seum
Published: 2/28/2008

Perth's Best Restaurants, Cafes and Bars

2009-05-23T01:02:00.002-07:00

Western Australia's capital city, Perth, has restaurants, bars and cafes to suit every mood -- if you know where to look. Here are some of the best.

The Australian city of Perth is a fascinating mix of creativity, money (thanks to the mining boom) and a determined independence that comes from the fact that most of the nation’s other major cities are a five-hour flight away.

Here the sun shines bright and the living is mostly easy. It’s all about how much you can enjoy life, in whatever individual, idiosyncratic, even anachronistic, way you want to.

Life is lived outdoors as much as possible: alfresco is a creed here. Although from October to April, everyone gets going early to beat the heat, then withdraws to wait for the 'Fremantle doctor', the cool wind that blows in from the ocean in the evening.

Visitors to Perth are in for a treat, with every kind of food and drink experience on offer, from five-star restaurants to seductive wine bars and cafés that make the most of the city’s climate.

As in all good cities, the best experiences are off the main mall. The fabulous heritage buildings that were overlooked by developers in the last boom are now slowly being brought to life with interesting boutiques and eateries.

Here are some of the best in the most interesting neighbourhoods:

The foodie set have homed in on Highgate, so now you can feed your mind with a good movie at Mt Lawley and then feed your body in fine style just a bit further down the road. For a bar you’ll never want to leave in this area, put Must Winebar on your list. It doesn’t put a foot wrong. There’s quality wine, well executed tapas, a relaxed yet cosmopolitan atmosphere and a very convivial crowd. What’s not to love?

At the north end of William Street in evolving Northbridge, something is stirring. Jumbled in amongst the Asian cheap eats and grocery stores there is a smattering of hip strip contenders. Fashion meets five-spice: a great combination at any time of day or night. If you’re in the area and looking for a café where sustainability matters, make a beeline for Source Foods. The clean, contemporary lines of the décor are a perfect fit with the simple goodness on offer on the menu.

To see a master chef at work , go to Shige Sushi Bar in South Perth. The décor is basic, if authentic, but the food is sublime. Acclaimed Sydney restaurateur Tetsuya Wakuda is rumoured to rate it very highly and other sushi enthusiasts will happily concur. NeoNeighbourhood.com Chief Experience Officer, Verity Byth’s insider’s tip, is "sit up at the bar, offer Shige-san a glass of your wine, watch and learn. There's nowhere else like it."

For a great find even the locals don’t know about take your friends to Annalakshmi on the Swan at the Barrack Street Jetty. Few restaurants run completely on love, but this one does. They supply fabulous home-style Indian vegetarian food, you "eat as you want, give as you feel", making a voluntary donation for the meal. The prime river views are a bonus.

To see the future of Perth’s café culture make the trip to Fremantle. These days the main drag is heavily focused on the sprawling Notre Dame university presence as well as the perennial clots of tourists. Venture further afield to discover the treasures in the once tatty edges on the north and south. These include Tonic, a beacon of contemporary design and food, providing all-day breakfasts and great fair-trade coffee. The lovely hand-painted screens are by the owner, Vicky.

It's worth giving a brief warning about service: in all the places above, you'll be treated just as you'd hope to be. That isn't always the case in the rest of the city. Almost everyone in any service industry who is free to travel has left the city to earn significantly more working in the mining industry elsewhere in the state. Those who’ve stayed on are split starkly into the dedicated and the desperate. Reward quality when you find it.

To home in on the great experiences in Perth and other Australian and international cities, and skip the dross, visit the NeoNeighbourhood website. There’s the best in food, shopping (fashion, home, pantry, books and music), hotels, galleries and concert venues and much more.

NeoNeighbourhood
The best experiences in cities around the world and online.

By Hazel Flynn
Published: 5/7/2008

Sydney's Best Restaurants, Cafes and Bars

2009-05-23T01:02:00.001-07:00

Sydney isn't Australia's capital city, but it is generally seen as its most glamorous, sparkling, attractive metropolis. And it has the eating and drinking options to match that image. Here are some of the best...

Australian cities offer a wealth of great eating and drinking options, with everything from sophisticated five-star restaurants to casual modern cafes and intimate, funky bars.

Sydney, nicknamed 'Emerald City', is fast-paced, deal-driven and traffic-laden by day and a sparkling, balmy playground at night. Both The Economist and Monocle acknowledged its warm, mostly relaxed and cosmopolitan ambience by ranking it among their Top 10 'liveable cities'.

If you’re new to Sydney, one of the things that will hit you straight off is that this is an aquatic city. There are spectacular, sparkling vistas at every turn on the harbour, the ocean and the rivers.

Make exploring its waterways one of your priorities, even if you’re not 'a water person'. It’s a great way to see the city and to understand the lifestyle.

The most interesting neighbourhoods are scattered around the city, not grouped together in tidy formation, so be adventurous.

Once you’ve taken in the spectacular harbour and the ocean beaches, head further inland to enjoy the places where daily living gets done. If you get the balance right, it should feel like one big weekend, all week long.

The range of eating and drinking options is endlessly rewarding here. From fast food to fine dining, you'll find something to love for every mood. Here are some of the best restaurant, cafe and bar finds in some of Sydney's most interesting and lively neighbourhoods:

Bondi is the beach and the beach is Bondi. Beautiful, busy and rather brash, it's a swirling mix of backpackers, beauty queens, business heirs and a lively boho community. It's also home to one of Sydney's unmissable dining experiences.

For a splurge, a major occasion dinner or to wow visitors, you can’t go past Icebergs Dining Room & Bar at Bondi Beach. As globe-trotting NeoNeighbourhood Chief Experience Officer Verity Byth puts it, "There is simply nowhere else with this view, atmosphere, food, wine and service all at once, all the time." In a word: Extraordinary.

For a casual but excellent dinner out with friends, make a beeline for another Bondi institution, with a very different feel. At Sean’s Panaroma (no, that's not a typo), at the other end of the iconic crescent-shaped beach, the decor is informal and both staff and customers are relaxed. Even so, there’s nothing but the best ingredients, beautifully prepared, on the plate. No wonder you need to book.

For a cool night out with friends, the first stop should be Madame Fling Flong in Newtown. Crowded and bustling, Newtown has all the energy and diversity you’d expect of a university neighbourhood. Look beyond the clutter on King Street to find high quality gems, including those devoted to organics and sustainable living. Lots of good bookshops within strolling distance, too.

A glamorous little upstairs nook, Madame Fling Flong is a bit tongue-in-cheek '80s, with sexy red everywhere except for the funky mix of vintage chairs. Staff are attentive and the atmosphere encourages lounging, with cocktail in hand.

To find out why Sydney chefs and their fusion dishes are such a force on the world stage, head for Universal in the nightlife precinct of Darlinghurst. Culinary wiz Christine Manfield puts flavours together in a way that will surprise you. "Get your palate ready for a ride through all the sensations that characterises Asian cuisine, done in a way you've never known them before," says Byth.

To get a feel for Sydney’s laidback cafe lifestyle, visit Fifi Foveaux’s, in the lively and diverse neighbourhood Surry Hills. The leafy narrow streets are full of intriguing glimpses and surprising finds. It's hard to find a car park in this area and harder still to get a booking for dinner on a Friday night, but the effort is rewarded with diverse choices for quality eating and shopping and a lovely local vibe.

Fifi's, as the locals call is, has become a local institution by getting right what so many others seem to get wrong. It has great coffee, service that's sassy in a good way, and quality eating, whatever time of the day.

To find more great experiences in Sydney and other Australian and international cities, without the dross, visit the NeoNeighbourhood website. There’s the best of food, shopping (fashion, home, pantry, books and music), hotels, galleries and concert venues and much more.

NeoNeighbourhood
The best experiences in cities around the world and online.

By Hazel Flynn
Published: 5/7/2008

Camping at Black duck valley Motorcycle Park

2009-05-23T01:01:00.001-07:00

A personal account of camping at black duck valley motorcycle park in Queensland, Australia. Provides some insight about the facilities, tracks and experience.

Black duck valley Motorcycle Park is located about 40km from Gatton in Queensland. On the Anzac day long weekend my family and my brother’s family camped for two nights. We arrived on the Friday at about 10:30 am after leaving Brisbane at around 8:30 am making a couple of stops along the way for food and fuel.

Once we arrived at the park we camped in the bike camping area which is the second of two areas set aside for camping. The area we camped in is closest to the motocross and junior tracks, the other area, is closest to the hot showers and freestyle ramps. It took us a couple of hours to set up our mini community comprising of four sleeping tents a shade tent complete with an additional tarp for an annex and we also gathered rocks to make a spot for a camp fire. With all the gear unloaded we then prepped the bikes for riding.

My 8 year old daughter, who was already geared up soon after arriving, headed off to the easiest of the junior tracks, which is a circle track that has no jumps, to get used to her 70cc mini bike. She’d only ridden in the backyard before now. It didn’t take long for her to build up confidence to ride on the other junior tracks with the exception of the advanced junior track because Dad wouldn’t let her. The second junior tack has some 180 degree turns, the third ads in some jumps and berms. There is another tack called the pee wee track which is similar two the second junior track with some small jumps.

My brother and I tend to ride on the motocross tracks 2 and 4 mostly. Track 4 has a lot of table top jumps with wide corners and large berms. This is a great track to ride on and will suit motocross bikes sized from mini to adult. There is a long table top straight after the far bottom corner (from the entrance) which I hit in third gear in the meat of the power on my CRF450R in order to clear it. There is another jump on the top straight near the entrance which I’m in 4th gear.

Track 4 is a faster track than track 2 and includes an 80 foot table top which I take on in 5th gear at fairly low revs on my CRF450R, on my KX250 99 model it’s about the same. You should be sure of your abilities before attempting a jump of this size. What makes this jump a little easier is the fact that it is at the end of a long straight so you have ample opportunity to set yourself in the correct position before the ramp.

There are two other motocross tracks, track 3 and track 4. I am told that track 4, which I haven’t been on yet, includes a 100 foot table top for the adventurous. I have been on track 3 once, just for a look, and it includes some pretty steep ramped big air table tops.

The advanced junior track is best suited for 65cc motocross bikes as it has tight turns and a number of small table top jumps.

You pay up front for your camping and riding fees at the entrance to the park. You can also get spare parts and tyres fitted at the check in point here. There are cold showers and toilets available at the second camping ground and hot showers and toilets available at the first. Firewood is also available but if possible, bring your own, you will certainly need it during the colder months of year.

If you enjoyed reading this then be sure and check out other dirt bike related articles at Super Freestyle Motocross

By Jason Smith
Published: 5/9/2008

Australia Beach Vacations: Planning for Fun in the Sun

2009-05-23T01:00:00.002-07:00

If you are seriously considering an an Australia vacation, if Australian beach vacations are on your list of Down Under options, there are some steps that you will want to take when it comes to this type of wonderful holiday. Through this article you are provided with an overview of some of your Australia vacation options, including Australian beach vacations.

In regard to Australia vacation options, including Australian beach vacations, you need to appreciate that you actually do have a tremendous number of different opportunities that are available to you in this day and age. With this in mind, you really will want to explore all of your Australia vacation options, including Australian beach vacations, before you do make a final decision as to what type of holiday adventure will make the most sense for you.

Consider for a moment that you are interested in taking an Australia vacation with your significant other. If that is the case, Australian beach vacations really can be splendid choices for you. On some level there really is nothing quite as romantic as spending a magical holiday at an Australia vacation resort that is located seaside at one or another of the incomparable Australian resort communities. Indeed, in this day and age, these types of Australian beach vacations are attracting loving couples from all over the world.

On the other hand, perhaps yours will be a family Australia vacation. If that is going to be the case, Australian beach vacations remain perfect options for you. In the end, when it comes to a family Australia vacation, there really is an untold number of things for all members of the family to do when you elect to go the Australian beach vacations route.

Some people initially balk at the idea of Australian beach vacations. The fact is that many people wrongly assume that an Australia vacation is going to be out of their price range. Moreover, they really tend to wrongly conclude that Australian beach vacations are going to be particularly costly.

In this day and age, you actually can find very affordable Australia vacation options. You can find a variety of different Australian beach vacations that are well within your budget. You merely need to spend at least some time doing some shopping around to find the most affordable option for Australian beach vacations – whether that be an Australia vacation for you and your significant other, for you and your family or for some other purpose all together.

As with so many different products and services in this day and age, the Internet and World Wide Web is proving to be a top notch tool for people like you to use when it comes to planning and preparing for an Australia holiday. This holds equally true if what you are looking for are different, affordable Australian beach vacations. In no time at all online, you will be able to find the Australia travel package, including an array of Australian beach vacations, that perfectly will be suited to your goals.

To know more about Australia Vacation and everything you can do during your Australia Beach Vacations feel free to visit our site.

By remy na
Published: 6/17/2008

The Best Beaches in Australia

2009-05-23T01:00:00.001-07:00

Australia has a lot of beaches in different parts of the continent. Which one should you check out when you go into vacation in Australia? Find out which Australian beaches are the best and worth checking out.

Australia is known for a lot of its beaches, which are all beautiful and breath-taking. However, some beaches do stand out more than the rest. Here are some of the best beaches in Australia.

Hyams Beach Jervis Bay

Located about two and a half hours away from the capital, Hyams Beach is a prime beach attraction in Australia. It is also considered one of the most natural, because the surroundings consist of natural attractions like kangaroos and plants rather than man-made structures.

Because it has been declared a national park and not just a mere beach, Hyams is continually maintained. Its water are the clearest in all of Australia. Its waters are also marine sanctuaries, and are full of marine life that would impress the diving and snorkeling enthusiast. You can also see dolphins jumping in and out of the waters. The beach also has facilities available for aqua sports like jet-skiing, sailing, swimming and fishing.

Of course, the beach alone is relaxing and perfect for simply walking around.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach is a very well known strip of beach in Sydney. Made for the multitudes of cabbage tree palms, the place is best for people looking for a way to interact with fellow trendy socialites. Palm Beach is the preferred beach for holidays by the wealthy class of Australian society.

Palm Beach is also famous for being the setting of the Australian soap opera, Home and Away, as well as the locations for many music videos.

Palm Beach is perfect for the water sports enthusiast and the avid hiker. Satisfy the explorer in you by heading off to the northern point of Palm Beach where you can find the lighthouse which Aussies have named "Barrenjoey." Located about 350 feet above sea level, the lighthouse is still operational.

For the trendy and the wealthy, Palm Beach offers a golf club, a sailing club, and a surf school, among others.

Four-mile Beach

One of the few beaches in the Port Douglas area, Four-mile beach gets its name from being a place that one can hike for 4 straight hours. Anyone who loves trekking and hiking will be totally enamored of the place.

When you first enter Four-Mile Beach, you will find yourself in a rocky headland. The headland alone offers a lot of exploring opportunities that you can enjoy even without having to walk the entire four-mile stretch of beach. You can even enjoy a lunch picnic with friends or family in Four-Mile Beach. Children will love the place, as it is bustling with small crabs and other interesting creatures that will occupy their attention.

The ocean in Four-Mile beach is blue and deep, and provides a picturesque landscape when the weather is perfect. Beware, however, of the jellyfishes when in season.

Bells Beach

If you are a surfing enthusiast, then Bells Beach is the best beach for you. Located about 100 kilometers from the city of Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road, the place is a haven for surfers.

What makes Bells Beach special? It is the fact that whether it is low tide or high tide, one can still surf the waves. Bells Beach is famous among surfers because of the different kind of break the beach has, which is called the Bowl. Sharks abound in the area though, so be careful.

If you’re not into surfing, don’t fret! You can still relax and sunbath at the pristine beaches of Bells Beach.

The author is maintains Cheap Holiday Accommodation. This is an Australian travel portal that offers comprehensive information on how to make the most out of your Australia vacation. For example, learn where you can hit the waves during your Australia beach vacations.

By Bei Maniago
Published: 9/9/2008

Palm Cove Hotels - Where you can indulge

2009-05-23T00:59:00.000-07:00

Palm Cove, a popular travel destination in North Queensland, has a rich reserve of luxury resorts and hotel apartments to suit the taste of different category of travelers. Besides providing you the taste of luxury the Palm Cove Hotel also gift you some added modern facilities for your convenience. You can discover the beach and the shopping centers which are within walking distance from most of the Palm Cove Hotels.

Coming to Northern Queensland is incomplete without going for a trip to Palm Cove Beach. Palm Cove has become indispensable for those searching a peaceful destination for their romantic or incentive tour to Australia. Palm Cove Hotels range from luxurious resorts and condominiums to low range apartment hotels. The pleasant weather throughout the year attracts the travelers to Palm Cove.

Since Palm Cove is a chosen destination for different category of travelers you can expect to find various standards of Palm Cove Hotels designed to suit every kind of travelers. Most of the resorts and hotels in Palm Cove are located in proximity to the beach areas and that gives you plenty of scope for outdoor activities.

If you are ready to enjoy some blissful days in this scintillating beach of Northern Queensland check-in at any of the luxury resorts of Palm Cove. The 4-star and 5-star resorts in Palm Cove like, Grand Mercure Rockford Esplanade, Mantra Amphora Resort, Novotel Rockford Palm Cove and the Sebel Reef House & Spa, are more than just top class.

Be it the exquisite interiors or the extensive arrangement of modern facilities these Palm Cove hotels are equipped with everything you want for a luxurious experience. Apart from the above mentioned resorts you can also find a host of other luxury resorts in Palm Cove which include Peppers Beach Club & Spa, Paradise on the Beach Resort, Sanctuary Palm Cove, Sea Temple Resort & Spa and Angsana Resort and Spa.

Staying in these hotels will let you realize the ultimate comfort you can get in this part of Australia. Like other luxury hotels in Australia, these Palm Cove resorts are noted for their wonderful dining service, consistent room service and endless list of water sports and other recreational activities.

If you are eager to choose from the apartment hotels in Palm Cove you can always count on Alassio Palm Cove, Ellis Beach Bungalows, Elysium Apartments, and Marlin Waters Beachfront Apartments. These 4-star hotel apartments are among many such quality accommodations in Palm Cove. Ranging from extremely well-appointed rooms to in-house restaurants and internet cafes and health facilities you can expect many more from these lavish retreats.

There are plenty of apartment hotels and resorts in and around Palm Cove Beach which can be easily accessed from the Cairns International Airport. These beachfront hotels are ideal destinations for you if you are a beach lover. The car rental and airport transfer services offered by most of the hotel spare you from any hindrance and you enjoy a memorable vacation.

Palm Cove hotels
Palm Cove hotels

By Alex Albert
Published: 9/9/2008

Sydney Travel - Jervis Bay's Best Beaches

2009-05-23T00:58:00.001-07:00

A 3-hour car trip away, Jervis Bay offers up some of the best and most beautiful, untouched beaches south of Sydney.

Pick a stretch of sunny days, hop into a car and seek out a piece of pristine paradise. Indeed, unless you simply want to be seen, there is much more to Sydney’s beaches than the infamous Bondi with its bodies, pubs and restaurants. Jervis Bay, three hours drive south of Sydney offers up a string of spectacular beaches with impressively white sand. It is an idyllic getaway for some serious peace and relaxation (surfers or party people may be well advised to go elsewhere).

The region includes Jervis Bay National Park and Booderee National Park. These protected parks have several beaches where camping and caravan parks are not allowed, making it highly probable you will find yourself on completely deserted stretches. You can involve yourself in exploring the flora and fauna of the parks with its plentiful birdlife and may even be treated to the occasional wild kangaroos and wombats wandering onto the beaches.

With no murky rivers running into the Jervis Bay waters, they have a clarity that provides for fantastic snorkeling. With the Jervis Bay Marine Park, diving for beginners to the experienced are definitely on the cards with the abundant marine life, unique rock formations and even old sunken wrecks. Kayaking around Jervis Bay is a worthy consideration and is one of the best ways to truly soak up this untouched nature wonderland. Sign up for a dolphin or whale-watching cruise (although it is possible to simply spot them frolicking off the beach), try a canoe safari, hike, fish, dive or sail, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Moonee Moonee Creek
Located around Vincentia, this lovely enclosed lagoon tends to have perfectly clear waters and being well protected, it is as calm as they get, making it the best spot for families with young kids.

Chinamans Beach and Hyams Beach
From Vincentia, take the easy White Sands Walk through the bush and in about 20 minutes, you’ll come across the sugar-white expanse of Chinamans Beach. Proceeding a little onwards, is the best-known Hyams Beach. With all orders of beaches in the world being touted as "pure" and "pristine", it is easy to be skeptical of Hyams’ reputation as the "whitest beach in the world" (this title was awarded by the Guinness Book of Records). Whether or not it is the absolute whitest, visiting this beach is thoroughly rewarding. The sparkling sands feel delightful between your toes and contrasts with the clear, turquoise waters which remain shallow for a good distance.

Murrays Beach
Murrays Beach also has Hyams-like white sands and being sheltered by Bowen Island, allows for a safe and relaxing swim. It is within the Booderee National Park and the prohibition of spearfishing here enhances the snorkeling experience with an abundance of unafraid marine life.

Cave Beach and Bherwerre Beach
For more waves, try Cave Beach and Bherwerre Beach for a better chance of surfing. Located within the Booderee National Park these beaches can be even more peaceful, often allowing you to find yourself in complete solitude. As a treat for experienced divers, the Bherwerre peninsula also has some fascinating swim-through caves and rock formations.

Steamers Beach
Requiring a 3km easy hike to get there, this remote beach between two cliffs is a favourite amongst Jervis Bay locals.

Whichever beaches or activities you choose, if you find yourself in Sydney, this is one trip to get away from it all.

Best time to go: December - March, July - October for migrating whales. Preferably avoid going directly after a storm as it may cause larger sea swells and wash up unsightly kelp onto the shores

How to get there: Driving out from Sydney, take the Princes Highway and travel 2.5 hours south to the town of Nowra. Just south of this town, take a left turn onto Jervis Bay Road which will lead you past Huskisson onwards to Jervis Bay.

Where to stay: Seek out lodging in Vincentia or Sanctuary Point over the busier main town Huskisson.

Australia Car Hire Insider Guide
An independent guide to getting the best car hire deals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide

By Leona Hewson
Published: 9/9/2008

Launceston Hotels - Filled With Comfort and Elegance

2009-05-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

Launceston is a vibrant tourist destination set in Tasmania state of Australia. Being a core of museums, art galleries, parks, and gardens, it has been able to sustain its splendor. Its streets are always found to be bustling with tourists crowd.

You can also have a great shopping experience here. Likewise, various dining and wining options are made available by popular restaurant chains. To make your journey more joyous, hotels in Launceston offer modern amenities and services.

A beautiful city located in the north of Tasmania state in Australia, Launceston is one of the famous tourist destinations of the country. Launceston is nestled in the Tamar River Valley, the junction of North Esk, South Esk, and Tamar Rivers. Travelers are offered Tamar River Cruises which take them to a pleasurable journey at the rippling waters of these rivers. Apart from this, there are numerous attractions to be explored which exist in the form of museums, monuments, parks and gardens, and art galleries. Not only this, Launceston is a home to a number of forest reserves as well as ancient houses. Journey at this amazing spot becomes more cherishing with the availability of homelike accommodation facilities offered by Launceston Hotels.

Perfectly set amid natural serenity, hotels in Launceston make available modern amenities and services. All kinds of traveler can find a suitable hotel. Ranging from budget to premium to luxury, these hotels serve each and every guest with great hospitality. Some of the major Launceston Hotels include Tamar River Villas, Mercure Hotel, City Park Grand Hotel, Country Club Tasmania, and Hatherley House. Another major factor about these hotels is their ideal location. They are not only conveniently accessible from the airport but also lie in close proximity to Central Business District and well-known sites of Launceston.

Launceston is a wonderful paradise for vacationers. Its pleasant weather truly adds delight to your whole experience. Its glory is showcased by charming attractions including Inveresk Art Gallery, National Automobile Museum, Penny Royal World, York Park, Punchbowl Reserve, The Old Launceston Seaport, Franklin House, Heritage Forest, Richies Mill, Devils Heaven, and Silverdome. Sports lovers can head towards the Riverside Golf Club to play this thrilling game. The city also caters to your rejuvenation. Its Aquaris Roman Baths offers various soothing massage treatments as well as a health club containing state of the art equipments.

Shopping and nightlife in Launceston have their own significance. There are so many shopping malls and complexes which not only offer sale but also encompass various dining and wining spots. When then sun sets, whole ambience in Launceston becomes dazzling. You can relish delectable delicacies at restaurants, bars, and clubs while dancing to the tune of music. This is perhaps a good medium to get relief from the whole day's outing and share some unforgettable moments with friends or family.

Launceston Hotels
Just log on to book any of the best hotels in Launceston at fair price deal.

By Alex Albert
Published: 9/20/2008

Dayboro Queensland - Peaceful Rural Living Close to Brisbane

2009-05-23T00:56:00.002-07:00

Dayboro was originally a small country settlement north of Brisbane and is now a rural outer suburb. It is popular for its houses set on large blocks and is known for its art and craft shops. This article looks at the history and growth of this beautiful little Queensland town a short drive from Brisbane city.

Timber-getters, attracted by cedar and beech, were among the first Europeans in the Dayboro region. Dayboro was first known as Hamilton, amed after a farmer, Hugh Hamilton, who was appointed Receiving Officer for mail in 1875. In 1892, it became known as Terrors Creek from the creek on which it is situated.

In 1917, however, as the Postmaster General declared that Terrors Creek sounded too much like Torrens Creek, once again, the township acquired a new name.

Although the first known inhabitant, John McKenzie, operated a pit sawmill just south of the townsite from 1866, the third and final name selected for Dayboro honours another notable early settler, William Henry Day.

William Day was Clerk of Petty Sessions and later Police Magistrate in Brisbane. He first selected land in the Dayboro area in the late 1860s and pioneered sugar growing on his extensive properties in the district.

Settlement subsequently spread north and south along the North Pine River as more than 100 people took up selections in the Terrors Creek area. Timber, maize, vegetables and dairy products provided the main source of income for the early settlers.

The failure of William Day's sugar growing experiment within a few years brought about the breaking up of his large parcels of land and sped the development of the area. A store and hotel, the nucleus of most small towns, were established in the early 1890s and these were followed by a sawmill around 1900 and the Silverwood Butter Factory in 1904.

The Silverwood Company factory was opened at Terrors Creek by His Excellency Sir Herbert Chermside who was Governor of Queensland at that time. The factory served farmers from Mount Mee to Samford, also some supplies were sent from Strathpine and Bunya.

In 1906, in order that the many requirements of the supplying farmers could be met, Silverwood Company opened a general store in connection with the factory, so that farmers could buy their household requirements practically at Brisbane prices, and without the trouble of transporting goods from brisbane.

From the 1950s to present day, Dayboro has evolved into a large rural hamlet, with a number of large housing estates built since the late 1980s on the outskirts of the town. The town centre has also seen a lot of new development and now has a supermarket, several cafes, quality bed and breakfasts and boutique stores.

The bushland areas beneath the peaks of the D'Aguilar Range, on the outskirts of Brisbane, constitute Brisbane Forest Park.

A short drive from Dayboro, Jollys Lookout provides panoramic views over Samford Valley to the city and north to the Glass House Mountains. From Mount Nebo Lookout, on a clear day, the sandhills of Moreton Island stand out on the horizon. Picnic areas abound and walking tracks crisscross the park, passing through a variety of vegetation including hoop pines, tall eucalypt forests and rainforests dominated by flooded gums.

Once per year Dayboro hosts it's Dayboro Day Festival. This festival attracts over 20,000 visitors to the beautiful country town located at the foot of the D'Aguilar Ranges. People from all over come and experience a touch of rural hospitality from this 1867 Historic town.

Just one of the fantastic attractions is the Dayboro Festival Street Parade. All the community groups get involved in this and it is really something to see.

If you're looking for a Dayboro Motel, Dayboro accommodation, or a Dayboro Bed and Breakfast, please consider Hill House for short and long stays.

By John Hacking
Published: 9/26/2008

Melbourne Hotels - Beautifying Your Stay

2009-05-23T00:56:00.001-07:00

Australia's vibrant destination, Melbourne takes you to a never-ending world of fascination. It encompasses an abundant concentration of museums, monuments, parks, gardens, and beaches. Not only this, the city also hosts a large number of cultural festivals which focus on its traditionalism. Meanwhile, Melbourne hotels offer homelike accommodations facilities and important services to make you spend a comfy stay.

Capital city of Victoria state, Melbourne is regarded as the 'sporting and cultural destination of Australia'. It is a home to several important cultural and sporting events and organizations. It is the second most populous city of the country and a major zone of finance and commerce. At the same time, it is the medium of showcasing the captivating glory of Victoria through its globally known attractions. Also, hotels in Melbourne offer modern accommodations and necessary services to fulfill the requirements of travelers. They are greeted with a warm welcome and treated with a friendly hospitality.

Some of the major Melbourne Hotels include Rydges Melbourne, Melbourne Marriott Hotel, Medina Grand Melbourne, and the Victoria Hotel. At the same time, there are moderate type hotels also which cater to the needs of budget travelers and provide good value for money. Nestled at convenient locations, all the hotels in Melbourne are smoothly approachable from airport. Not only this, they are also not far from the city's amazing attractions. Due to a well-developed transportation system, visitors can move within various regions of the city without facing any constraint.

Melbourne is a fashionable city and a hub of pristine beaches, marvelous architectural monuments, magnificent museums, green parks, beautiful botanical gardens and dazzling nightlife. Some of its popular attractions include Melbourne Museum, Victoria Barracks, Flinders Street, National Park, Birdwood Avenue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Maritime Museum, Joseph Reed, John James Clark, Nahum Barnet, Kinglake, Royal Exhibition Building, Organ Pipes National Park, Elwood Beach, Melbourne Zoo, Royal Park, Emarald, Brighton Beach, and Sandringham Beach.

Apart from a vigorous sightseeing, you can witness the cultural beauty of Melbourne in the events hosted by it. Every year, it organizes various festivals like Moomba, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival, and Midsumma Festival. Melbourne International film Festival and Melbourne Writer's Festival are the another significant events. This portrays that the cultural and traditional image of Melbourne is still alive. Architectural monuments, museums, temples, and rich artistic creations are also a part of its culture.

Nightlife in Melbourne highlights a unique world of its own. Once the sun sets, its time to enjoy amusing moments at restaurants, bars, bistros, clubs, discos and pubs. Everyone is busy in exploring his own spirit while dancing to the tune of music. In fact, it is the real time to have joy and pleasure amid a sparkling ambience. Meanwhile, a scrumptious dining feast can be relished. More flavor can be added with exotic cocktails and cool drinks.

Hotels In Melbourne
Log on while you are planning a vacation to Melbourne, to find reasonable price deals for all Melbourne hotels.

By Alex Albert
Published: 9/29/2008

Travel to Australia: Hotels in Adelaide

2009-05-23T00:55:00.001-07:00

About travel to Australia and hotels in Adelaide.

Australia is a travel destination which attracts more and more tourists every year. There are a few explanations for this, but the most important fact is that it is a huge country (in fact, it occupies an entire continent!), so the variety of landscapes, climates, reliefs, cultures, weather, habitats, cities is immense and therefore each vacationer finds there something interesting to do and to see. Hotels in Australia are spread out everywhere to welcome all holiday makers, but the best ones can be found in the main holiday spots and biggest cities such as Adelaide, Cairns, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin, Perth and Victoria.

Adelaide is the fifth largest city in Australia and it is the capital city of the state of South Australia, located in the southern part of the continent, as its name shows. The city has been established in 1836 as capital of the only freely-settled British province in Australia and named after Queen Adelaide, the consort of King William IV. Length ways of centuries this city has developed to a prosperous town and nowadays it is a renowned tourist destination of Australia, offering many vacation attractions and great accommodation in hotels and home rentals alike.

Hotels in Adelaide are frequently crowded due to the many festivals and cultural events held there. Beside this attractions, the city and the whole region is renowned for the good wine produced there, so most cellars from the area are also visited by many holiday makers wishful to taste the best products like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Merlot or Shiraz. Just a few of the renowned cellars in Adelaide Hills wine region are "Barrat Wines","Ashton Hills Vineyards","Chain of Ponds Wines","Golding Wines","Howard Vineyard", but there are also many others well worth for a visit.

Of course, Adelaide has much more to offer as excellent wines! There are many cultural institutions, most of them located on the boulevard of North Terrace, from which "The Art Gallery of South Australia", with around 35,000 works, hosts Australia's second largest art collection! Other points of interest are "The South Australian Museum", the "State Library of South Australia", the "Adelaide Botanic Garden", the "National Wine Centre" and "Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute". Most cultural events take place in two bigger spots, "The Adelaide Festival Center" and "Adelaide Entertainment Center", but many theaters and cabaret are also visited for interesting events.

Accommodation is great in the whole city, like the food and wines, and some of the most renowned hotels in Adelaide are "Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide","Adelaide Paringa Motel", "Hotel Freedom Adelaide Meridien", and "Hotel Franklin Central Apartments". After tourists have enjoyed the attractions and pleasures that this city has to offer they can take different trips to neighboring regions such as the Spencer Gulf, which is a great destination for charter fishing (snapper and King George whiting are plentiful there!)) and having as main points of interests "HMAS Whyalla Tourist Centre & Maritime Museum","Whyalla Foreshore and Marina","Matthew Flinders Memorial","Hummock Hill Look-out","Whyalla Steelworks", "Whyalla Conservation Park","Ada Ryan Gardens","Whyalla Diving Adventures","Mount Laura Homestead Museum", and "Tanderra Craft Village".

By Victor Tuszing
Published: 1/17/2009

Experience Culture, History and Wildlife in Sydney, Australia

2009-05-23T00:51:00.000-07:00

Sydney is a wonderful place to visit, to meet people, and to have a great time.

One of the most diverse and fascinating cities on the planet is without a doubt Sydney in Australia. It's a must-see city for any traveling enthusiast. What I first noticed on my visit to Sydney was how clean and modern it is, especially downtown, where all road crossings and sidewalks are equipped with beepers and Braille for the visually impaired. Sydney's inhabitants are not only socially conscious, but also welcoming and polite. This makes Sydney a wonderful place to visit, to meet people, and to have a great time. When you first arrive in downtown Sydney you should take a walking tour. The best place to start is Hyde Park, a wonderful part by the sea which has several well-known attractions, such as the large statue of James Cook, who discovered Australia in 1770, and the ANZAC Memorial, an impressive piece of architecture (and museum) which commemorates Australia's victorious participation in World Wars 1 and 2.

Just a short walk down from Hyde Park you'll find the Sydney Harbor, which is home to the world famous Sydney Opera House. Many people choose to take ferry tours out into the harbor to view the Opera house from the bay. You can't fail to notice the magnificent Sydney Harbor Bridge; you can cross the bridge by foot or take a guided tour where you climb across the frame of the bridge while secured by a rope.

Another main attraction in Sydney is the Sydney Tower. With a height of 305 meters it is Australia's second tallest free standing structure. The view from the tower is unsurpassed, allowing you to view all the places you visited throughout the day. You may also choose to have either lunch or dinner in one of the tower's several restaurants, or go shopping in the mall at the base of the tower.

If you are interested in the diverse and incredible wildlife Australia has to offer, you should visit the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, a short drive from Sydney. The park features more than 180 species of fascinating creatures including kangaroos, koalas, dingoes and wombats. You can walk through the reserve freely, and petting and touching the animals is allowed and encouraged.

My personal favorite attraction in Sydney has to be the Darling Harbor. Make sure to go in the evening when all the lights are on in the buildings, and the street performers are out. This creates a wonderful ambiance and you could go out and dine at any number of fine restaurants of all different cuisines. There is literally something there for anyone, from health food restaurants to top fine gourmet dining establishments. You can also take a ferry from the harbor for a nice evening cruise. After eating you could spend the rest of your night perusing the world-renowned Sydney Aquarium. The aquarium boasts an astounding 650 species of aquatic life, and over 6,000 individual fish and other sea creatures. The exhibits are largely underwater tunnels, with see through glass so you feel like you are underwater with the fish.

There are also nice and not expensive vacation rentals in Australia, so use them for your accommodation.

As you can see, there are many wonderful things to explore in Sydney. These are just some of my favorites. I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay there and find many more special and fascinating places to see and explore.

By Milan Matchev
Published: 1/27/2009

Australia: Victoria: Guide To Guest Ranches

2009-05-23T00:50:00.000-07:00

Outdoor enthusiasts planning a trip to Australia can enlist the Internet for information on horseback riding through the state of Victoria.

The American "Wild West" is not the only region of the world where one can find horse riding adventures. In the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, tourists can take trail rides on range horses through rough woodlands and the breathtaking Alps mountains. Stoneys', a working ranch in Victoria, organizes three-day treks by horse for riders of all ages and levels of experience. The tour operator's web site and other related resources are now available to anyone connected to the World Wide Web who wants to discover more about these horseback trips across Australia's frontier.

Once in Australia, tourists ride on a bus from Melbourne to Mansfield, where they are picked-up by a Stoneys' employee and taken to the Hunt Club Hotel in Merrijig. There, the visitors can stock up on wine and beer for their outing and engage in a night of music and dance with the locals. After a good night's sleep in Stoney's bunkhouse, the tourists groom and saddle their individual horses before the ride. Riders are also responsible for washing their horses after each day's trek.

Over the course of the three-day equestrian adventure, the vacationers will visit such sites as the Howqua River Valley and Stoneys' Bluff, with stops for lunch along the way. At night, the tourists are treated to a dinner, complete with drinks and live Aussie humor. Stoneys' provides horse tours from October 22 to May 27. Each weekend tour includes helmets, lunches, and sleeping bags. For more information on the tour operator's horse trips "down under," look to their web site, which is provided below along with the sites for both Victoria's and Australia's tourist commissions.

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 11/16/2000

The Whispering Wall of Barossa Valley

2009-05-23T00:49:00.000-07:00

Information about the dam in the beautiful, wine-growing Barossa Region of South Australia.

Introduction -

The Barossa Valley of South Australia was named 'Barrosa' by its first surveyor Colonel William Light in commemoration of the English Victory over the French in the Spanish Peninsula War. Later, misspellings in maps gave it its present unique-sounding name.

The Barossa Valley is one of the world's foremost Wine-producers, famous for its White wines like Riesling, Chardonnay, and Semillon, and Red Wines like, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, and Mourvedre. It is also famous for its Rose and Lavender Gardens, Alpaca and Mohair Farms, and for its unspoilt Scenic beauty. The old-fashioned Architecture, the world-class Cuisine, the lively local life, and the various culinary and wine-related yearly Festivals attract thousands of tourists every year. One tourist favorite, of course, is the famous Whispering Wall of the Barossa Valley Dam.

History -

Originally inhabited by Aborigines, the Barossa Valley came under European settlement around 1836 - a free settlement, unlike the convict settlements of East Australia. The Englishman George Fife Angus, after whom Angus Town/Angaston was named, founded the South Australian Company that surveyed the land and declared it first-rate for agrarian development. Angus brought Lutheran farmers from Germany to work on his various projects in 1842. Since these people were suffering religious persecution back in Germany, they were very glad to settle in the liberal atmosphere of Australia. They planted vine-yards, orchards, and gardens, and people like August Fielder, the Aldenhoven brothers, Johann Gramp, and Carl Sobels soon became the leading figures in the Wine Industry.

For all this cultivation, as well as the growing population, it was necessary to have a constant and good supply of water, more than the South Para river weir could provide, and so the idea of building a dam evolved.

After scouring around the region for a suitable location, the settlers decided that the Yettie Creek Gorge in the Mount Lofty Ranges would be perfect.

The Irish-born Engineer Alexander Bain Moncrieff (22 May 1845-11 April 1928) was appointed to draw up the blue-prints. The Engineer-in-Chief at Adelaide from 1888 and later the Railways Commissioner from 1909, Moncrieff was a workaholic who is not known to have taken even a single holiday in his entire forty-two years career. He was to design many important projects in Australia, but the Dam at Barossa was his crowning glory. What a concept he came up with!

Moncrieff's idea for the dam was completely innovative and unheard of - a concave concrete structure that would curve backwards against the pressure of the stored water and would have a base over ten meters thick that would narrow off above. Such a revolutionary idea attracted international attention and got highlighted in the Scientific American magazine. After receiving governmental approval in 1899, the scheme got underway that winter and a temporary township called Barossa Waterworks township was set up for the over four hundred workers involved and their families. Construction work began in earnest, many new methods, as new as the design, being invented and successfully applied. A timber frame-work to shape the curved wall was constructed under the supervision of the colorful character, Hermann Heinze. A former sailor who had deserted his ship-board job, he had a strong anathema for steady and diligent employment and an even stronger penchant for drinking and smoking. These peccadilloes soon got him fired from the job, but, as it was soon discovered that he was the only one capable of getting the work done as required, his post-firing drinking spree in the Sandy Creek was interrupted and he was summarily brought back.

The dam construction was wound up in 1903, after which all the remaining material and equipment was auctioned off and the township was dismantled. They had built what was then the highest dam in Australia, all of 39 meters high and with a volume of 13,760 m3 (the reservoir capacity is 4,500 ML).

Now three regions – Gawler, Elizabeth, and Munno Para – receive their water supply from the Barossa Reservoir.

The Whispering Wall -

The Whispering Wall, which is the huge curved retaining wall for the Barossa Reservoir, is located about 7 km south-east of Lyndoch off Yettie Road and 5 km from Williamstown. The wall is about 140 meters long and has unique acoustic effects that allow sound to travel long distances - if you speak in a normal voice at one end, you can be heard perfectly clearly at the other end more than 100 meters away. This may seem like an acoustic miracle, but it has a simple explanation - the curve of the wall allows the sound waves to bounce along the entire length.

These acoustic effects were inadvertent, and in fact were discovered only accidentally after the dam was finished. It is now one of South Australia's most visited sites. Excepting Christmas Day and the Total Fire Ban Day in the Mount Lofty Ranges district, when it is closed, visiting days are from Monday to Sunday, between 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Information about the Dam's history is provided by guides and posted boards, and there is a Water Works Museum with a fine collection of heritage water supply items.

Aside from its Acoustic attraction, the Whispering Wall offers great views of both the Barossa Reservoir and the surrounding, well-preserved natural bounty. The area abounds in thick scrub, tall red gums, and pines, and a flourishing bird and animal life. It is a popular destination for picnics, bird-watching, fishing, and bush-walking. There is a Golf course nearby and, if you want to stay, there are affordable places offering Bed and Breakfast upstream from the Reservoir.

By Sonal Panse
Published: 6/6/2004

Harbour Bridge, Sidney’s Pride

2009-05-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

One of the most graceful constructions The Harbour Bridge, Sidney’s pride!

Named so because its arching near the, Harbour Bridge is uniting the two big parts of the New South Wales capital, the south one and the north one; as a matter of fact, it unites the administrative centre with the commercial one.

Unlike the Opera House, which has risen up like the pearl of clam from the ocean water, decorating the contemporary Sidney in a stylish way, Harbour Bridge evokes the image of a young country through his monumental, ponderous but functional architecture. Its architecture which carries her past on her shoulders all the way from the colonialism to independency.

The bridge inauguration, in 1932, marked the entrance of Sydney in the rank of the biggest metropolises in the world. At the anniversary of his center, the traffic on the bridge was stopped for 5 hours and almost half a million people crossed by foot…admiring the ocean. The view is worth it, even if some people find it rather scary. You can see the full scenery of the city in a breath-taking panorama, unique in beauty.

The bridge is passed by 170.000 automobiles every day and its length from a side to another is 503 meters.

When John Bradfield ` the father` has planned the bridge, an engineer from Queensland state, affirmed that he wishes a structure which would humanize the landscape, in the spirit of the Australian people; this means one simple, strong and sincere bridge. There were seven variants of the bridge and from those seven variants proposed by the British constructions firm `Dorman Long`, he had chosen the most simple one, consisting in an arch with an opening supported on massive pylons. Bradfield’s perspective of the bridge was to see it as a gate of entrance in Australia, with one portal formed by the two pylons.

The construction of Harbour Bridge took 8 years. The arch started getting a shape. Two mobile hoists, weighting 120 tones each, were slipping along the water. It was, at that time one of the most dangerous buildings that required a lot of courage and acrobatic moves form its builders. The distance between the two parts arch was gradually reduced until one night, in 1930 when it completely disappeared: the two parts were perfectly put together. Bradfield remained speechless with emotion when his eyes saw it, while the ‘Dorman Long’ director acclaimed: ‘Thank God we’re home!’

19 months later, the deck was suspended and the bridge was officially inaugurated. The general governor, Francis de Groot, cut down the bridge inauguration ribbon.

The costs for Harbour reached 10 millions pounds but 16 workers who paid its building with their own lives, paid the most expensive price...

The history of the bridge had 16 victims along the construction period, of which six workers fell down and the other ones died in work accidents. Some people think that their ghosts are still watching on them… Harbour Bridge continued to be built and today it represents an important attraction for its visitors, numerous tourists.

While enjoying the splendid view at 134 meters above the sea level …you realize how frail you are; climbers had always existed, but to climb up there was forbidden so they did it assuming their own risk (climbing was interdicted and punished with big fins). Even though the stairs were paved with spiny wire, there were still found bottles of wine and bear and even a trolley.

Even Tina Turner when she filmed a piece of advertisement told that she was very scarred although the bridge is often visited by all kinds of people: from teenagers or even kids to old people. For those who dare to climb this bridge, the Sydney panorama on the summit of the arch, at 134 meters above the sea level, it is a fully rewarded.

Harbour Bridge occupies a central position in the city, so that 20% of the population can see it at least one time a day. In a panorama of 360°, you can identify the famous places of the metropolis, like its neighbor `The Opera` all the way to the `Olympic Park`.

Being Sidney’s pride for so long, Harbour Bridge continues to attract many people who love astonishing views and enjoy feeling a little -or might be even a little more- adrenaline in their blood. Yes, this bridge is surely worth it!

By Claudia Miclaus
Published: 10/10/2007

Great Barrier Reef: Scuba Diving Adventures

2009-05-23T00:47:00.002-07:00

The Great Barrier Reef has lured many people to Australia for several years. The beauty and the mystery of the place have been discovered through enthralling scuba diving adventures. Here’s a look at what makes this place a major tourist attraction till date.

This is one of the true wonders of the world and also the world’s biggest structure that can be seen from outer space. I am talking about the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, whose beauty cannot be imagined unless experienced personally. Made of 2600 different reefs, it is around 2000 km long. It starts just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Dating back to around 18 millions years ago, the Great Barrier Reef was declared as a World Heritage Area in 1981. This was primarily due to the spectacular beauty of the place and even because it supports a wide diversity of life, which includes many vulnerable or even, endangered species.

The name of this reef was derived because it is an outer reef that reaches a depth of about 60m. It is situated along the Australian continental shelf with the channel between the coastlines. The Great Barrier Reef is composed of composed of billions of coral polyps. These tiny organisms help in supporting the entire system of the reef. The corals on the reef, date back to millions of years ago. The polyps keep multiplying and their skeletons turn white when they are completely dead. The survival of the polyps is very important for the sustenance of the reefs. The corals need an environment that is conducive for them to survive. Various factors such as the temperature of the water, the salinity and even the depth of the water, count in their survival. Today there are nearly 400 types of coral in this reef. This area is also rife with plenty of species of fish and other sea creatures.

The Great Barrier Reef supports a large diversity of life. The islands are also home to sea birds and turtles. It also records a wide range of whales, dolphins and porpoises in this area. The sea turtles are found in around 6 species at the Great Barrier Reef. Apart from this, the salt marshes near the coast of the reef house some salt-water crocodiles. A whopping 17 species of sea snakes are found close to the Great Barrier Reef. Sting rays and sharks are known to even feed off from the reef. With the linking of so many living organisms to this reef, it becomes mandatory that the conditions be maintained by man for the corals to survive. With such a vivid sea life it is no wonder that the colors of all of the corals and life found there is beautiful and breathtaking, from the soft pinks, deep greens to bright blues and silver.

The Great Barrier Reef therefore is a true wonder of the world. This place often sees people thronging to explore it all the year round. Tourists from all over, love to visit this place and some even go to the extent of scuba diving to explore the depths of the Great Barrier Reef. There are lots of places from where you can explore this reef. You can travel to the outer reef or visit the islands near the coast. Whatever you opt for, the truth is, it will still have you asking for more.

Scuba Diving at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia:

The Great Barrier Reef has truly captured man’s imagination and provoked one’s curiosity to explore the depths of the ocean. Many have had amazing and exciting tales to relate from their scuba diving adventures. Scuba diving over here proves to be one of the most exciting holiday plans for those with an adventurous streak. The smooth seas, the beautiful life beneath the waters, the mysterious underwater tunnels and caves all beckon one to shed their initial fears and dive for sheer curiosity to know a world beyond ones imagination.

Scuba divers and snorkelers at the Great Barrier Reef have had the experience of a lifetime. The dive unfolds vivid marine life like Fusiliers, Silver Bait fish, Butterfly fish, Coral Trout, Turtles etc. The divers sometimes even end up having a rendezvous with something as dangerous as a shark. Divers need to be aware of the dangers one may face out here. There are also various other options available like boat cruises that have glass bottoms. This can prove to be another alternative, although most experts claim scuba diving to be the most appropriate option for a close encounter with the Great Barrier Reef.

So, when you do get an opportunity to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, do make a mental note to visit the depths of the ocean for an experience of a lifetime!

By Kashmira Lad
Published: 11/29/2007

Australian Aborigines

2009-05-23T00:47:00.001-07:00

Australian Aborigines or Indigenous Australians are natives of the Australian continent. These descendants of the earliest known human inhabitants of the continent and the nearby islands are today forging ahead in every field; science, politics and law.

Who are the Australian Aborigines?

Australian Aborigines is a term commonly used to refer to the Aboriginal people and the islanders from the Torres Strait. These natives make up 2.4% of Australia's modern population. They reside in the Australian mainland, neighboring Tasmania and the adjacent islands. The Torres Strait islanders live between Australia and New Guinea. These natives are believed to have arrived on the islands nearly 70,000 years ago! The term Australian Aborigines includes members of different communities and societies, with unique cultures. These natives of Australia actually speak over 250 languages and dialects, of which the world has considered 20 to be endangered. The Aboriginal society is not a single social entity – the component segments differ in modes of subsistence, culture and language.

What are their distinct features?

Language:

Aboriginal means ‘earliest known’. They possess culture and heritage and a history distinct from other groups around the world. The native language of the Australian Aborigines is not known to be related to any of the languages in other parts of the world. Today, there are fewer than 200 indigenous Australian languages that are in use. Linguists study Australian languages as Pama Nyungan and non-Pama Nyungan. The Pama-Nyungan languages comprise the majority of a family of related languages, while those not related so are categorzsed are studied as the non-Pama Nyunga. The group of languages are believed to be the outcome of a long and intimate contact. A common feature of the languages is that they display special speech registers that are intimate in use - only in the presence of relatives.

Culture:

The Australian Aborigines display a large number of divisions between tribes and the linguist grouping pattern. On account of this, there are subsequent varieties of diverse cultural practices, only sometimes showing any sign of similarity. Religious demography census reports that 72% Australian Aborigines practiced a ‘form’ of Christianity – near and yet not, while 16% did not profess any religion. Today the community is witnessing an increase in the number of members following Islam. Among the Australian Aborigines, religious values and oral tradition are based upon reverence for the islands and the want-sufficing nature of all inhabitants. Earlier, the different groups exhibited individual culture, belief and language.

Australian Aboriginal art and paintings:

Australia’s culture is rich with the tradition of Aboriginal art. The art forms date back to more than thousands of years. The rock art and bark painting display the Australian Aborigines in harmony with nature. This relationship between the people and their environment is most visible in the use of earthly colors in the paintings, msot of which are made from ochre. Things have changed and today the modern Aboriginal artists continue the tradition, but with the use of the versatile modern materials. The watercolour paintings of the Hermannsburg School, the dot art paintings and those by Albert Namatjira. In fact, not only does original Australian Aboriginal art have a lobby of international patrons, but it also is the a large source of income for some of the Australian communities. Australian Aboriginal poetry delves deep within the realms of sacred ferver to daily reverence to Mother Earth. The ‘Three Faces of Love’, The Honey Ant men's love song’ and ‘Little Eva at Moonlight Creek’ are some great compilations.

Australian Aborigines today:

The Australian Aborigines are mostly urbanised now. The health and economic difficulties are substantial, with adverse ratings on the social indicators like education, unemployment and poverty. There is now a political shift, more of mutual obligation rather than self determination. The world at large has realized that it is time to recognize their distinctiveness of identity and help them to preserve their heritage. Politically speaking, two Indigenous Australians have managed to bag seats in the Australian Parliament, Neville Bonner and Aden Ridgeway, till 2005. Among the names of the Prominent Australian Aborigines are names of the former captain of the Australian National Rugby League Team, Arthur Beeton; Olympic athelete Cathy Freeman and actor David Gulpilil, among a myriad of others.

By Gaynor Borade
Published: 3/24/2008

Fun Facts about Australia

2009-05-23T00:46:00.001-07:00

Did you know that the Parliament House of Australia is one of the largest buildings in the southern hemisphere? It is located in Canberra. Read on to know the fun facts about Australia.

Australia is located south of Indonesia and nestles between the South Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Australia is the world’s smallest continent. The Australian continent lies in the southern hemisphere; hence, the seasons here are exactly the opposite of the countries in the northern hemisphere. For instance, when it is winter in United States, Australia enjoys a warm and sunny summer.

Fun Facts About Australia

Australia is lovingly referred to as the "island continent". It was originally a British penal colony. The murderers and thieves were banished and deported to Australia as a form of punishment.

Australian animals such as koala bear, emu, kookaburra and kangaroo are unique to Australia. Are you aware of the fact there are 1,500 species of Australian spiders? There are 6,000 species of flies and 4,000 species of ants in Australia. There are over 350 species of termites in Australia.

Did you know that the population of the sheep is more than the entire human population in Australia? As per recent statistics, there are approximately 150 million sheep, while the human population is around 20 million.

Most of the Australian cities are closer to the ocean or a beach. You can see a beach every 1000kms.

The world’s largest cattle station/ranch is in Australia. It is the size of the country Belgium. This is a fact.

Did you know that the Great Barrier Reef has a mailbox? If you want to post a letter or send a card to your loved ones, all you have to do is take a ferry out there. However, remember to stick only the stamp of Great Barrier Reef. Great Barrier Reef is the longest coral reef in the world.

The snowy mountains of Australia or the Australian Alps receive more snow than Switzerland.

Statistics show Melbourne houses the second largest population of Greeks in the world after Athens.

The naked eye can detect over 5,500 stars in Australian Outback under ideal viewing conditions.

Sydney Opera House is one of the major tourist attractions and is considered as one of the beautiful buildings of the twentieth century. This building was completed in the 1960s and has excellent acoustics. It has around 1,000 rooms and can seat a combined total of over 5,000 people at a time. Did you know that the roof of the Sydney Opera House weighs more than 161,000 tons?

Sydney Harbor Bridge is the world’s largest steel arch bridge and the Sydney Tower Center is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere.

Aborigines are the native tribes of Australia. They spoke around 200 languages and dialects. However, ninety percent of the languages and dialects including Aboriginal arts and culture have become extinct, after the British invaded this tiny island continent.

Another interesting fact is that Australia claims to have the highest rate of literacy in the world. This could be the reason, why the per capita newspaper reading is more than any other country in the world.

Did you know the cute and puffy rabbits are marked as pests in Australia?

One of the important facts about Australians is 88% of them live in towns and cities. Another fact is 22% of adults don't have children, while 16% have only one child. The statistics also show, 32% of women and 34% men never marry.

Some Very Interesting Fun Facts About Australia

The language that is commonly spoken by the Australians is English. Here are certain terms and their meanings.

Aussie - Australian
Arvo - Afternoon
Barbie - Barbecue Grill
Billabong - Pond
Billy Tea - Tea made over a camp fire in a tin can
Brekkie - Breakfast
Chewie - Chewing Gum
Clobber - Clothes
Fairy Floss - Cotton
Give it a Burl - Try it
Lollies - Candy
Lolly Water - Soda
See you in soup - See you around
Sunnies - Sunglasses

Australia is a great tourist destination and there are many places of attractions in the island continent that are worth a visit.

By Maya Pillai
Published: 11/6/2008

The Charming Island of Tasmania

2009-05-23T00:40:00.000-07:00

What can you find in Tasmania apart from Tasmanian devils? You can surely delight admiring the breath taking sceneries of the island; yes this is one of the most beautiful mountain areas in the world! The flora and fauna of the region makes your trip worth it!

The island of Tasmania is generally famous due to Taz, the beloved cartoon character representing a Tasmanian devil. This "devilish creature" is in fact a carnivorous marsupial which lives only in this country. It has the size of a little dog, but still it is quite muscular and chubby, having its fur black with white spots. This animal makes a quite disturbing sound, a sort of screeching growl, and can get pretty loud. Its temperament is considered to be vicious. The cute little creature is in fact nothing but a scavenger. The Tasmanian Devil actually managed to survive the European colonization and was seen as widespread all throughout Tasmania up to this day. Like in the case of many other wild animals, a great danger for them is fast vehicles, many devils being killed in car accidents.

Apart from fast cars, another lethal threat to the life of Tasmanian devils is a strange kind of tumorous disease, spread through the devils' biting each other.

There are some other animals typical for this island. Such is another marsupial called Thylacine. This is quite similar to a wild dog, also resembling the tiger due to its striped back. The animal was also found in Australia but became extinct because there was a competition with the dingo, so the Thylacine did not succeed in making friends with the good old dingo. Because farmers tried to destroy this species, it seems to have been exiled to Tasmania, and exterminated. The last animal known under this name lost its life in 1936.

There are also about 11 species of frogs on the island. Of these eleven, three types can be found solely in Tasmania, like the Tasmanian Tree Frog (Litoria burrowsae), the Tasmanian Froglet (Crinia tasmaniensis) and another species discovered quite recently, Moss Froglet (Bryobatrachus nimbus). All the species of frogs there in fact originate in the mainland. Also, in Tasmania lives the greatest breeding population of Litoria raniformis, also known as the Growling Grass Frogs, which is a rather fragile and vulnerable species.

Apart from its unique animals, there are also many lovely places to see in Tasmania. There are about 19 national parks. An example in this respect is Ben Lomond, a magnificent peak with and imposing cliff area. It is over 1300 meters high. Legges Tor, a summit on this area, stands for the second highest Tasmanian peak. Ben Lomond is in fact the main touristic attraction when it comes to skiing.

Splendor is also to be found in the lovely Cradle Mountain. The wild feeling is pointed out by the combination of colored beaches with the alpine area, where ice-cold streams flow through wild peaks, covered in pine forests, and also glacial lakes to complete the picture.The Cradle Mountain is where the celebrated Overland Track starts, which is an unforgettable 6 day hike through some of the most beautiful mountain areas in the world.

Still another national park is the Maria Island. Here are elements that satisfy the tastes of many. There are some historical ruins, some nice bays, mountains and cliffs together with interesting wild creatures and vegetation. Maria Island can be accessed by ferryboat, and is ideal for those who want to escape civilization and technology. There are no vehicles, no motorcycles, no stores or shops.

An intriguing place there is The Walls of Jerusalem National Park, which is quite far away and cannot be reached by road. Casual visitors have no facilities provided for them, and those who want to go there need to have a good equipment and be familiar with the difficult conditions that can be typical of Tasmanian areas. This area is made up of mountain wild zones with peaks of dolerite and alpine flora.The weather there can get quite unpredictable.

Tasman is an amazingly beautiful place, which makes possible the best walks in the Australian region. The southern part of the national park hosts the most stunning scenery of spectacular cliffs in all the country. There are also rare vegetation elements and marine species in this area.

There are many other surprises for those who want to visit this captivating part of the world. Another great aspect is for sure the character of the island's inhabitants, which are although rather scarce, extremely friendly, peaceful and joyful.

By Claudia Miclaus
Published: 5/31/2008