Travelling Through Australia

A pit stop on the Great Ocean Road.

Sometimes a drive is just a drive, a matter of getting from one place to another. Other times the drive is an experience to be savoured. If you are visiting Australia, the Great Ocean Road is a beautiful adventure just waiting for you. A car rental in Australia can provide you with the only tools you will need. You just need to bring yourself.

The Great Ocean Road was built by Australian soldiers as a memorial for those killed in World War I and wends its scenic way around 440 kilometres of coastline. As it curves through Southwest Victoria, it passes some of the most incredible scenery in the world. Shipwreck Coast, the rocky coast along the Great Ocean Road, includes the 12 Apostles, enormous stacked limestone formations in the ocean. A short drive west of the 12 Apostles is the Loch Ard Gorge, a tucked in gorge with sheer cliff faces and a certain wild beauty.

The Grotto just west of Port Campbell is a stunning natural arch, and this picturesque stop is followed by Wreck Beach, where you can walk down to see the anchors of the shipwrecked Marie Gabrielle and the Fiji. The Bay of Martyrs is slightly less popular but no less spectacular than the 12 Apostles, with incredible wide, flat rock formations jutting up from the ocean.

There is more than just scenery to attract visitors to the Great Ocean Road, however. This is a great stretch for whale watching, as well as spotting both well- and lesser-known Australian animals. Koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, crocodiles, fairy penguins, wombats, and, a few kilometres off the beaten path, the incredible star-like glow worms at Melba Gully.

The Great Ocean Road is the drive of a lifetime. Take your time travelling and stop for the night at one of seaside villages along the way. Look for hidden treasures as well as the major tourist spots, and you will not be disappointed.

Outback Australia accommodation option.

Reality TV is an increasingly popular escape for many busy people who enjoy sitting back and watching the latest home improvement or cooking show. Of course, most reality TV is not actually reality but is rather a carefully crafted fantasy that gives us a slightly skewed look at real life. Australians have one of the longest workweeks in the Western world, and relaxing in front of the TV can be one way they enjoy their downtime, but is it really healthy?

Numerous studies have shown a correlation between excessive television watching and serious health consequences, including obesity and an increased risk of ADHD in children. Even though your workweek may leave you feeling tired and wanting to veg out in front of the TV, an education in fun, adventure, and emotional and mental health is right on our doorsteps.

Taking a break from the everyday and focusing on nature can inspire creativity, reduce stress, and even improve your physical health. Whether you choose to surf at Bondi or go sand-boarding at Anna Bay, you will find that physical activity nourishes both body and soul. Exploration at such diverse locations as Tasmania or Alice Springs brings feelings of childlike wonder and thrills. If you prefer more relaxation on your days off, Whitsunday islands offer a little bit of lazy paradise, no TV necessary.

Getting away from all the busyness of your daily life can help you reconnect with your roots and your most primal self. A train, plane, or car ride for a refreshing jaunt to your favourite Australian getaway can provide you with all the adventure you desire. Cultural attractions are many here, too, whether you prefer to explore primitive Aboriginal art or the more modern offerings at some of Australia’s many galleries and theatres.

Who needs reality TV when they have real reality on their doorstep?

The big space of outback Australia.

However you define family, whether it’s mum, dad and the kids, just you and your sweetie, or the whole gang including your favorite uncle, a family holiday in Australia can be a heck of an adventure.

When holiday time rolls around, the kids are usually crying out for whatever the nearest theme park is, but let’s be honest, if you’ve seen one theme park, you’ve seen them all. No two people come back from an amusement park with two different stories. It’s always going to be something along the lines of “The rides were fun, but drinks were six dollars a cup!” Fun, sure, but unique? Nobody wants to hear your story about going to an amusement park. They’ve been, they know what it’s like.

A trip to Australia almost guarantees that you’re all going to have a story to tell when you get back.

Even if you never leave the city, a day in Sydney is like immersing yourself in a whole other world. Going from the UK or the US to Australia is like watching Star Wars for the first time: these people are speaking your language, they have a society similar to yours, but the culture itself has been turned completely upside down. There’s no wonder they call it “Oz”, at times, it feels like you’re in a different world entirely.

Getting acquainted with Aussie humour, Aussie music, slang and attitude, that alone is fun enough. Add to this the immense possibilities that Australia offers from exploring the Outback to sailing the seas with a rented boat, checking out the bush or the rain forest, or just hanging around downtown Melbourne.

Think of it this way: would you rather show your kids a whole other side of the world they live in, or would you rather drive for eight hours hearing “Are we there yet?” on a minutely basis? Expand your family’s awareness of their own world, they’ll thank you for it.

Drop off your fruit on route from Victoria to South Australia.

Traveling in Australia is a fun thing no matter if the person is there for business or for pleasure. This is a great continent to explore. While in Australia, people should definitely take the time to invest in a car rental. Such an item is sure to really help people make the most of this experience. With the right rental, one can travel from state to state and from city to city. This gives the person a hands on view of what makes this country so amazing and breathtaking.

A car rental ensures that people have complete control over their holiday or experience in Australia. This way, people can control when they come and go, what they see, and where they go. This makes the experience that much more successful in Australia. After all, having control means that people can really tailor their visit so that it suits their needs.

Experiencing Australia from a car means that more can be done. This is a chance to not only see the bright light cities and the urban life but also the more rustic countryside. Thus, a person can see more with the aid of a rental car while Down Under.

Not having to be on anyone else’s schedule is enticing and alluring. This is the key to a great holiday or business trip. Gone are the days of going on tours just because this is what everyone else is doing. Instead, with a sleek rental car, a person can decide if they want to go shopping, want to see historical sites, or if they just want to drive around and see some of the natural beauty of this country.

If you have always lived on the safe side of life, why not, just for once, let you hair down and take the plunge. Do something totally different and live out your dream, whatever it is, even if only for a few weeks or a few months. What do I mean? I mean, whatever it is that you have always yearned after or daydreamed about! Your life’s dream!

Maybe you have wanted to take a gap year in Australia, either working or on holiday. Do it girl! If you can financially afford it, pack in your job, hop on a plane and look for furnished apartments in Sydney for rent

It sounds crazy but if you do not live out your dreams then you will regret it in later life. Maybe you want to pack up for a month or two on a charity expedition, maybe teaching English in China or building schools in Africa. Look into it; what do you have to lose by enquiring?

Maybe it is easier than you think as there are specialist agencies who will arrange this for you very easily. If climbing Kilimanjaro is more your style, you should check it out. Maybe you can do it and maybe you cannot, but how could you look yourself in the eye if you did not even try.

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

If you have ever wanted to work abroad, then now is the best time to do it. With the world seeming to get smaller each year, something that might have seemed totally out of our reach a few short years ago, might be possible with just a little effort.

Australia is a popular place to go and work, especially with students, as it is easier for them to be able to work. They get to work to make enough money for a few months and then they get the chance to travel Australia and see what this immense and wild country has to offer.

Another benefit of Australia is that they speak the same language and to a large extent share the same culture, so it is easier to make yourself at home.

For something totally different, why not take a teaching English course and this will open up the possibilities for you. With your English certificate you will have access to language schools across the globe as your skills are very transferable.

You can be teaching in Vietnam one year and move to South America the next, there is no barrier apart from your own attitude. If you are a little uncertain, why not try somewhere a little closer to home and look for a job in Europe. You can legally get jobs in European Union countries and most are a maximum of a couple of hours’ flight away.

When you are looking for a cheap flight ticket it is tempting to look at just the most famous carriers and obvious stopovers, but you have to play the game carefully and if you are clever you can end up saving yourself large sums of money.

Let’s say you want to travel to Australia – and let’s face it, many of us do! Don’t just look at the normal stopover points associated with this route, get creative and see what is on offer. You may end up stopping over in a country you had never dreamed of, giving you the opportunity to save money as well as potentially visiting a country which you never thought to visit, bringing you new experiences and sights.

One thing to watch out for, though, is that you need to make sure you are actually saving money, rather than you just thinking that you are saving money. Many airlines have hidden charges and you think that you have got a bargain until the extras hit your credit card.

Always look carefully at any flight you want to take and don’t just rely on the travel agent as you are the one who is keen to save yourself money, so you will exhaust all the possibilities, however unlikely they might seem. Use your brain and save yourself money – money to spend on your holiday!

Thee island of Tasmania or Van Diemen's Land, Australia.

Van Diemen’s Land has been around since the 1600s, though you probably know it now as Tasmania. Its name was changed to honor the Dutchman who first landed on its shores – Abel Tasman.

(He actually named it for someone else, the origins of its first name: Anthoonij van Diemenslandt. It wasn’t until the 1803 colonization by the British that this island was posthumously honored with yet another name change. Probably for the best – can you imagine telling someone you were traveling to Diemenslandstia?)

Tasmania is a small, self-contained state of Australia, mostly known for its beautiful scenery and rich natural history. There are numerous cultural centres and historic landmarks designed to showcase the adventures and eventual settlement of travellers past, and it’s a heavenly stop for anyone interested in genealogy. Tasmania can trace the origins of some residents all the way back to the eighteenth century! It even has sites of historic value officially recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage List, like its convict heritage based on an old Port Arthur prison.

It’s also an island of the arts. It’s proud of the talents of its people and attracts many artists, writers and performers inspired by its beauty.

From a tourist’s standpoint, the greatest appeal of Tasmania would have to be its gorgeous wilderness. With plenty of national parks and opportunities for sporty outdoor activities, Tasmania has a little something for every nature lover, whether you want to kayak down a racing river or just appreciate the view from Mount Wellington. The site is breathtaking!

As you can see, Tasmania is a rich, fascinating island with much to be admired and explored. Think about that the next time you want to make a joke about Tasmanian devils.

Sydney CBD, with Sydney Tower background and Australia Square foreground.

Planning a vacation is not always easy to do. There are so many different things you need to plan and research in order to get the best travel deals. When it comes to hotels, be sure you do your homework. When searching for Sydney accommodation Australia you will need to compare location, amenities, and price.

Sydney, Australia is a popular vacation destination. There is so much to do and see in this city that you really have to map out all the attractions you want to visit and then choose a property that is central to the majority of them. Once you know where you want to stay in Sydney then compare rates and amenities. Some hotels include breakfast and internet service. Having these included in the hotel rate can save you a lot of money.

Motels and Hostels will offer you the cheapest rates in Sydney but sharing a bathroom or staying in a 2 or 3 star property is not for everyone. If you stay near the central train station you can take public transportation all around the city. The Newtown area is also a good area to look for cheap hotels in Sydney. It also has lots of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Darlinghurst and Surrey Hills are two more areas that offer reasonable lodging.

No matter where you end up staying in Sydney you should definitely consider buying a weekly Red Pass. A Red Pass gives you unlimited access to buses, trains, and ferries in the red zone. This can definitely save you money on your Sydney vacation.

Red Kangaroo.

As one who has always wanted to travel in Australia, I often spend time making lists of things I want to do or see. The most recent list I have made is of the symbols I most associate with a trip to Australia.

First has to be the kangaroo, that quintessential symbol of down under. My childhood is full of memories of Skippy and when I do finally make it there, I hope to see them in the wild. Another animal-related symbol is the Great White Shark, but I hope that I do not run into one of those!

Secondly it has to be Ayers Rock or Uluru as they call it locally. Most countries have landmarks, but this has got to be one of the most atmospheric of them all, rising majestically over the Northern Territory and best viewed at sunset.

Then there is Rolf Harris – love him or hate him, he is an Australian icon – together with his didgeridoo and his song ‘Waltzing Matilda’! Not forgetting the humble boomerang, which is designed to always return to the person who threw it. Originally a weapon, it is now a fun past-time.

All this writing is thirsty work, so I think I will go and crack open a can of that other famous Australian symbol – a can of lager. VB or Tooheys? …. mine is a Coopers sparkling!

A sunset in Australia is truly magical.

Ever since I was a kid, I always made sure that I documented my holiday experiences with lots of photographs, a written diary and memorabilia from my trip – boarding passes, tickets to attractions, blank postcards, pressed flowers and anything else that would hold the memories fresh in my mind.

It is the same for my travel in Australia. Except nowadays it is much easier to document and share your holiday of a lifetime. Whereas you used to have a few blurred snaps which cost a fortune to develop, you can now take as many digital photos of Ayers Rock or Bondi beach as you want.

You can blog about your experiences in Alice Springs or Perth as they happen and keep your friends and family on the other side up-to-date on your travels. What is more, everything is instantaneous, so you no longer have to wait a few weeks for a postcard to reach Auntie May, she can read your blog or look at your photo album the same day.

I saw many things and experienced many wonders on that trip to Australia that I never thought I would see. I saw wildlife that only exists in books and surfed waves that only exist in movies. I made friends, I partied and I also worked very hard. Luckily, due to modern technology, my family shared it all with me as if they were there too.

The 12 Apostles, southern Australia.

When you think about it, many holiday destinations are quite stressful. There is a different language, so it is hard to make yourself understood. The food is quite foreign and many holidays end with a nasty dose of stomach upsets. And the culture is totally different so you run the risk of offending the local customs and culture.

That is one of the reasons why Australia is such a great holiday destination – Australian travel made easy by the fact that they speak the same language, eat many of the same foods and even drink the same beer!

If you holiday in Australia, you can be safe in the knowledge that in the event of anything happening to you, the standards of care in the doctors’ surgeries and hospitals are the same as at home in the UK; and they even drive on the same side of the road as we do!

As many Australians today originated in the UK, we even share the same culture to a large extent. We understand the Aussie sense of humour and we find it very easy to get along with them. Plus of course you have the super weather and the incredible range of scenery and experiences that this country has to offer. What is there not to like about it? A versatile and amazing holiday destination!

Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

One of the perennial questions of travel is whether to go on your own or travel with a companion. If you are thinking about travelling in Australia, there are pros and cons of each.

If you are considering travelling on your own to Australia, it can be one of the best places to do so in some respects – after all, the language is the same as ours and to a large extent the culture is the same too, so a single woman would not look out of place travelling on her own.

Many people in the UK also have many friends and family in Australia which also makes it easier as there is a safety network. One of the cons of travelling there on your own as a female is if you are on a driving holiday. The outback is a very harsh environment to be in and if you were to break down or run out of petrol on your own it could be extremely dangerous.

However, in most situations I would not have any hesitation in travelling there on my own. It is a wonderful, friendly place and it is easy to fit into most social situations. It is also a popular place for backpacking holidays and there are always plenty of like-minded tourists to make friends with along the way.

As one of those who loves to leaf through travel articles and magazines before deciding on my next holiday, I always keep cut-outs of travel articles that I have found particularly inspirational. I keep a covered shoe-box in a cupboard where I put all the ripped out pages about particular journeys people have taken or hotels that have received good write-ups.

This way I am never short of ideas for a perfect holiday! One of the sections in my show box which is rapidly expanding is those travel articles Australia. I have never been there and yet I feel like I almost know the place – although this is by no means a substitute for the real thing and I am desperate to go there as soon as the budget allows.

I like nothing better than to spend a couple of hours flicking through these articles, deciding where to go when I finally make it down under. I have compiled a trip guide for every type of holiday from a budget holiday (most likely), to a self-drive holiday (maybe) to a beach holiday (sounds good) to a luxury one (unlikely).

When I am finally in the position to buy that plane ticket, you will not be able to say that I have not researched it thoroughly and I will be able to visit the places in Australia I have always wanted.

Stained glass window in an Adelaide church.

Adelaide is the beautiful capital of South Australia. This coastal city was founded in 1846 on land originally occupied by the Kaurna people and named for the consort of King William IV, Queen Adelaide. Adelaide is located between the eastern shore of Gulf St. Vincent and the Mount Lofty Ranges and north of the Fleurieu Peninsula. The city of Adelaide was originally laid out by Colonel William Light in a grid-pattern featuring wide streets to accommodate easy travel throughout the city.

The gorgeous rolling hills of Adelaide lend this city beauty and have become an ideal location for local vineyards. There are nine distinctive wine regions within an hour and a half of Adelaide, each featuring a unique blend of soil and altitude to create exceptional varieties of wine.

The first settlers to Adelaide were looking for freedom from religious persecution. This led to a large number of churches being built and gave Adelaide its nickname, the City of Churches. This idea of freedom of expression has also caused Adelaide to be a center of reform and progressive thought. Known for its many festivals and performing arts venues, Adelaide is a diverse cultural melting-pot, attracting inhabitants from all over the world.

A visit To Australia has to include a look at a Koala Bear.

It’s an easy place to live; its people are laid back and unpretentious, gracious toward visitors, always ready for a good time. But to generalize isn’t fair . . .the sum of what Australia “is” will be a compilation of your own unique experience of Oz’s people and places.

The first thing to keep in mind is just how large Australia is … roughly the same size as the US. From Brisbane to Sydney is one day’s drive, and from there to Melbourne another 12 hours’ drive. Perth to Sydney is four solid days on roads with few petrol/gas stations or hotels/motels. Flying from one destination to the next, then hiring a car, is preferred by most travellers. Public transport is available in major cities.

Depending upon the time frame, decide what you want to see. A week is adequate for Sydney. If you want to visit several tourist icons such as the Great Barrier Reef in the northeast, Uluru and Alice Springs in the Outback, and Margaret River in Western Australia, you’ll need a month. And that’s rushing things. If possible, avoid travelling to Australia during their school breaks and the Dec/Jan summer holiday. Aussies are serious travelers and often get away during the two week break between 10 week terms. Flights and accomodations may also be less expensive.

What to pack is determined by where you go and the time of year. Sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes are necessities. Keep it simple. Dress is very casual. The winter (June through August) is usually cool and rainy; include a fleece or jumper and rain gear.

You’ll need a tourist visa to visit Australia. Details available at this website: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/visa-options.htm

And for fun, get familiar with Aussie slang before you make the trip. It’s like learning another language.