Australia Vacation and Travel Information

Many vacation spots fire-free in Australia's Victoria state

2009-02-20T12:22:00.001-05:00

Marysville was once a picture-perfect country town in what's locally known as the Mystic Mountains region near Melbourne. Leafy streets lined with cottages and pubs gave way to rising hills covered by a forest that hid waterfalls, horse trails and the Taggerty River. All that is now gone, along with much of the surrounding countryside, devoured earlier this month in Australia's worst-ever brush fires, which have killed more than 180 people. It could take up to five years for forests to recover, a wildlife worker said.

Healesville Sanctuary in the Yarra Valley, a tourist attraction and one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in Victoria state, escaped fire damage. But it remained closed to visitors last week as the staff dealt with the overall effects and the inevitable arrival of animals needing treatment.

Budgeting time & money? Cheap one-week Australia trips in and ...

2009-02-18T12:08:00.001-05:00

Flights to Australia have been particularly cheap lately. Qantas, United and V Australia have all been having sales with round-trip fares well under $1,000 within the last month. A cheap flight is pretty exciting to travelers, but most people rarely consider a short trip Down Under. Qantas Vacations is doing its best to open up our minds to viewing Australia as an option for the one-week getaway. They’ve put together “One-Week Walkabout” vacation packages to wrap around cheap flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL) or Brisbane (BNE).

Here are some sample trips:
Drive the Great Ocean Road: Six nights hotel accommodation and car rental plus airport transfers starts at $589 per person, double-occupancy. Islands of the Great Barrier Reef: Four nights in a 4-star accommodation in the Whitsundays or Hamilton Island with breakfast daily, $20 spa voucher, bottle of wine and chocolates on arrival, plus domestic flights from Brisbane and two nights hotel in Brisbane starting at $1,199, per person, double-occupancy.

Margaret River, Australia: The New California

2009-02-13T09:19:00.001-05:00

For months, friends and acquaintances had been raving about Margaret River, Australia's premier wine region, located on the country's western coast just south of Perth. A friend from London told me it was the loveliest place she had ever been and that she would not hesitate to return – even if it meant travelling there from London. It was that beautiful. Thinking our time was short in Asia, I decided we should go see for ourselves this popular destination.

While Western Australia is relatively close to Hong Kong, it is still a journey. Flights arrive at midnight, necessitating an overnight stay in Perth. From there, it is a three hour drive south to Margaret River. This meant that – door to door – we arrived at our hotel exactly 24 hours after we left our apartment in Hong Kong.

Australia is cheap again, and Qantas’ Aussie Airpass takes you there...

2009-02-13T09:07:00.002-05:00

Provided you book no later than February 28, the famed “Aussie AirPass” is selling for only $999 for trips occurring between May 1 and September 21 of this year. That ticket brings you a round-trip flight between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia, and and then three futher flights to three other cities chosen from: Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, or Launceston.

Once in Australia, you’ll then discover that the U.S. dollar is now buying $1.50 Australian dollars, reducing your costs by 50% from what they were as recently as nine months ago (when the Australian dollar was selling at near par to the U.S. dollar).

Luxury Vacations in Australia's Whitsundays Islands

2009-02-13T09:06:00.000-05:00

The natural beauty and diversity you find in the Whitsundays are characteristic of any Australian luxury vacation. The islands are mostly protected habitats that are maintained by the Australian government.

The coral reefs are the birthing grounds for many tropical marine species. Although they are protected, there are a number of companies that are licensed to lead snorkeling and diving day trips. islands are lush tropical paradises filled with exotic flora and fauna, whereas others are barren desert islands. You can see the green expanses of Laguna’s golf greens, the cane fields and sugar mills of Proserpine and the best beach in the world at Whitehaven.

Find more Australia information at http://www.theaustraliazone.com

Save on Qantas Flights and Qantas Vacations Packages from the West ...

2009-02-04T09:06:00.001-05:00

A new joint marketing campaign between Tourism New South Wales (NSW), Qantas and Qantas Vacations intends to encourage Americans to stop dreaming about that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Sydney, Australia, and make it a reality by taking advantage of some of the best offers available in years and an extremely favorable currency exchange rate.

Qantas Airways is offering round trip non-stop airfares from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Sydney for just $798 (plus taxes and fees) available for travel from May 1 - September 21, 2009. Vacation packages, including airfare and four-night hotel are now as low as $999 from Qantas Vacations.

The First Ten of South Australia’s Top 21 Hotspots Travel and ...

2009-02-04T09:04:00.000-05:00

South Australia has so much to offer, here are just a few of the highlights. The capital Adelaide, the world Famous Barossa Valley, the unique town of Coober Pedy and Kangaroo Island, plus much more…
1. Adelaide

There is always something happening in this spacious city. With parks and gardens surrounding the CBD, you can picnic in the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Gardens, or stroll down to the River Torrens to watch the paddle boats and cyclists along the rivers edge. Not far away is the South Australian Museum. Adelaide Zoo is great for families, with over 1000 native animals to spot. The beach is also close by, with Brighton the perfect choice for a getaway, or Glenelg featuring the Rodney Fox Shark Museum.

2...

A guide to Luxury Cruising Australia | Your Internet Travel Guide

2009-02-04T09:01:00.002-05:00

Australia is a fascinating place and a great one to choose for your next cruise. Full of unique and amazing plants and animals, it’s a compelling spot for travelers of every kind. First, you’ll be welcomed aboard the stylish cruise ship in the evening, and have the chance to join the cruise for cocktails and apertifs while they introduce everything the ship has to offer. Enjoy the renowned cuisine of Australian cruise ships over the course of your trip. On day one, you might visit Cape Jervis, a picturesque village by the sea that’s called the gateway to Kangaroo Island. Providing easy access to McLaren Vale, one of the best grape producing locations in the world, this village is the first thing you’ll see before you visit one of Australia’s best wine producing regions.

Of course, you wouldn’t want to miss the great meals cruises are famous for, and a cruise to Australia is no different. Enjoy fine dining in a luxurious dining room that offers both comfort and great views. Panoramic windows make sure that you won’t miss anything, even though you’re enjoying a great meal.

Australia 4-night LAX-SYD package deal - $999

2009-02-04T08:59:00.001-05:00

Craving summer? Jump on the Qantas Sydney vacation deal to get to Australia. They’re offering a $999 (pre-tax) flight + hotel deal from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD). Get round-trip airfare and four nights accommodations, plus additional nights for $70 each. Upgrade options are available too. Hurry, book by Feb. 5 for travel through Sept. 19, 2009.

Note: Call to book your reservation. When I tried to find rates on the deal’s Web page, the site wasn’t working.

Find more Australia information at http://www.theaustraliazone.com

OUTBACK | New movie stars a country with lots to offer -- even in the middle of nowhere

2009-01-20T11:59:00.000-05:00

PARACHILNA, Australia -- The population of this old Outback railroad town can be counted on two hands. Make that one hand, depending on the season. "Sure could use some rain," says one of the handful of folks nursing their beers on the front porch of Parachilna's Prairie Hotel. A couple people nod their heads in tacit agreement.
The vibe is as slow and lazy as the hotel's silver windmill, twirling above a couple of dusty gas pumps. In the dry, December heat, the hotel's Christmas lights seem out of place -- at least to this Chicagoan. I'm sitting here with a mix of locals and travelers, waiting for Mother Nature's show to start. And out here, in the tiny town of Parachilna, the Prairie Hotel's front porch is front row. "It's time," someone yells to the bartender inside. "Play the song!"

Seeing Sydney and so much more in AustraliaA driving tour up the coast and a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef is sandwiched between sightseeing in

2009-01-20T11:53:00.002-05:00

A driving tour up the coast and a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef is sandwiched between sightseeing in Sydney.
By Linda Wooters • For the Statesman Journal

Michael and Linda Wooters of Salem spent 24 days in August and September (late winter in Australia) crisscrossing through southeastern and eastern Aussie coastal towns. Here is the second part of their travels, including exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Bridge.

We arrived in the early evening to a rainy Sydney, rented a car and made our way into the city.

Weather is relative, depending on your point of reference. Having grown up in Eastern Oregon, we know cold; living now on Oregon's west side, we enjoy our year-round mild temperatures. We heard Sydneysiders say time and again, "It was the coldest winter in 64 years." I'm unsure what the usual winter readings are, but 2008 experienced a mean winter temperature of about 55 degrees. I asked how hot it became in the summer and was informed 85 degrees would be about tops and, in fact, very hot. Clearly, Sydneysiders enjoy mild temps, as well.

The next best things in the Australian

2009-01-20T11:48:00.001-05:00

Michelle Rowe, deputy editor, Travel & Indulgence Home: As the credit crunch bites, thoughts turn to home cooking, local produce and seasonal shopping. Tasmania, with its pristine waterways, largely unadulterated countryside and communities of dedicated producers, is the perfect place to slow down a notch, whether it's eating freshly shucked oysters on the east coast or taking a rugged coastal walk in the west.

Away: Food and travel go hand in hand and what better place to be than Turin, northwest Italy, a city that has shrugged off its industrial past to become a gastronomic capital. It's home to the famous Slow Food festival Salone Internazionale del Gusto, there's an international white truffle festival in nearby Alba, and Turin is only a leisurely drive away from the shopping paradise of Milan.

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Travel Australia Guide: Best Australia Vacations & Holidays

2009-01-01T18:20:00.001-05:00

A vacation in Australia is a perfect place for a holiday. An Australia holiday might involve time in Cairns to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rain forest. Australia holidays in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne offer a vibrancy that is hard to match.

Vacations in Australia has it all and makes for the perfect Australia holiday for the whole family. If you are not sure what to book why not take the hassle out of things and let our travel agent help you out with one of our vacation package Australia.. Just give them a call an they will help organise perfect Australia vacations.

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Experience dramatic scenery in Australia's Outback

2009-01-01T15:03:00.002-05:00

While Australia received mixed reviews as a drama, it did reap praise for its visual beauty. Reviewer Christy Lemire of The Associated Press wrote that the movie's presentation of the country's natural beauty "may inspire you to make your own trip down under." Much of the movie was filmed in the remote and harshly spectacular Kimberley, a sprawling, arid 135,000-square-mile region in northwest Australia (the top end of the state of Western Australia). Similar in size to California, this last frontier is home to 40,000 people; bountiful, croc-infested rivers and coasts; the magical, 350-million-year-old sandcastles of the Bungle Bungle; and the lush, waterfall-draped Emma Gorge.

Adventurous travelers can experience these places in a three- to five-day trip and a stay at three soft camping adventures. Each tour operator supplies shelter, cots, bedding, toilets and food (at Emma Gorge food is extra), while offering a unique chance to see abundant wildlife and one-of-a-kind scenery and to meet "fair dinkum" (regular) Aussies as fellow campmates.

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Holiday Vacation in Australia

2008-12-31T18:11:00.001-05:00

When you think of traveling around Australia, what comes to your mind first? When thinking of holiday travel, many individuals automatically think of traveling to visit with family and friends to the big cities like Sydney or Melbourne.

These are among the most visited in Australia, but these are not the only destination you can go to. In the summer months, many individuals and families make the decision to vacation on or around Labor Day or Australia Day.

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Australia: Best Season to Visit

2008-12-29T19:04:00.001-05:00

Time your visit right to Australia and check out Australia’s holiday calendar. The main holiday period is from December for 3 or 4 weeks. Much of the southren coast is booked solid and you won’t find a camping spot never mind a room. Some of Australia’s public holidays calendar vary by state.

Ironically the most settled weather in southern Australian states Victoria and Tasmania is actually later in February. In contrast the peak holiday period for far northern Australia is the dry season which starts in May and runs through to October. Its worth checking out the 2009 Australia holiday calendar so that you are aware of local events which can make it hard to find a bed. Every state has slightly different school terms: with some states running three and others four terms. Unless if you have kids in school travelling outside the school holidays is always a good idea.

Find more Australia information at http://www.theaustraliazone.com