Archive for » May, 2010 «

Cowes on Phillip Island is home of the Australian MotoGP
Friday, May 28th, 2010 / OzBlogger

main Street Cowes You can take your pick: luxury, economy, or a combination of the two. You might feel spoiled simply because of the view you get each day from your Cowes accommodation. Being so close to the water in Cowes, no hotel or bed and breakfast will place you far from sandy beaches and marine wildlife. Native animals live or wander close, even if you do not see them.

Victoria in Australia is known for its great tourist destinations. Cowes, located on Phillip Island in Victoria, is one of these magnificent places. There are so many things for young and old people to do all day long. There are mixtures of adrenaline rush activities and activities that take it slow and let you enjoy a relaxing time on the island.

There are several restaurants planted all over the small island of Phillips. Many of them are premier seafood restaurants that offer up the best shrimp and fish in the Pacific. Enjoying classical Australian dishes or trying new tasty dishes has never been easier with so many restaurants nearby.

Boat rides are also a growing attraction on this island. These boats can cruise around in the bay, offering a great view of the city and a relaxing getaway from urban life. You can also choose to do sailing on the ocean. The warm ocean air and beautiful scenery will take that stress right off your shoulders.

There are also a variety of nature parks located on the island. Many of these parks are almost like botanical zoos. There are a wide variety of tropical and subtropical plants for people to enjoy. There are also many animals, some actually native to the island, for people to watch and to feed.

MotorGp Grand prix racing, believe it or not, is on of the islands most popular events. These races take place during certain times of the year and take place on the grand prix race track on the island. There is also a racing museum and tourist place where people can go to explore and learn about the drivers of the past.

Many charters on the ocean also offer boat rides that aim on seeing spectacular and some rare sea life while sailing. These nature trips go out in aims of finding whales and sometimes even dolphins. Some of the boats in these fleets are glass bottomed, offering a view that is rivaled by even the best underwater goggles.

Many of the institutions on the island are there to specifically relieve pain and stress, as well as attempting to make the body and mind mesh into one force. There are a lot of herbal living centers and spa treatment places all over the island. The spa treatments aim to get you relaxed and to get all of the crud of yesterday off of your body and mind. These places often help a lot with stress.

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Caloundra is a great beachside vacation spot to take the family
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 / OzBlogger

Bulcock beach This beautiful little seaside town is located on Australia’s Sunshine Coast in the state of East Queensland. The town is just an hour from the cosmopolitan city of Brisbane, and less than an hour from Brisbane Airport. There are many Caloundra accommodation  beachfront options around .

The residents were very proud and excited in 2008 when Caloundra was declared ‘Queensland’s Tidiest Town’. If you are coming to this part of the world to enjoy the sun and the sea, you will discover beaches that are irresistible. The majority of them are patrolled and safe.

Golden Beach provides ideal swimming conditions for children because it is protected by the Bribie Island. It is also a popular venue for fishing, boating, kite surfing and wind surfing. When the tide is low, you can almost walk to the island.

Bulcock Beach is also perfect for swimming with many piers and boardwalks. This beach also has protection from Bribie Island. A specially made walking path offers visitors an hour’s walk along the glorious coastline to Moffat Beach.

Moffat Beach is not a patrolled beach but there’s nothing to stop you enjoying a quick dip. This venue is a surfing paradise with its huge, rolling breakers. Residential homes, parks and apartments surround the beach. After you have spent some time here, you can continue your stroll to Dicky Beach.

Kings Beach is considered to be the main beach in Caloundra. Patrolled 365 days a year, it has lovely picnic areas and designated children’s playgrounds. There are no less than 4,000 holiday apartments available for rental at Kings Beach. There is a large swimming pool near the ocean which is fed by sea water. This is very popular with visitors of all ages.

Unless you are a competent swimmer, you should not swim unsupervised at Shelly Beach. However, it is most definitely worthy of a visit. The sights and sounds of giant wild waves pounding onto the huge rocks are quite dramatic. During low tide you will find a host of fascinating rock pools. Dogs are permitted to run freely on this beach.

Ettamogah Pub Ettamogah Pub is a great tourist attraction. This quirky shaped and amusing decorated building looks like it has jumped out a comic book. It was established in honor of Ken Maynard who was the cartoonist for the bygone Australian Post Magazine. The pub in Caloundra was such a hit that a chain of them have been established at many places in Australia.

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Launceston has a combination of outdoor adventure and history
Saturday, May 15th, 2010 / OzBlogger

Launceston This Australian city is the second biggest in Tasmania, and has plus/minus 105,000 residents. It is one of the country’s oldest cities, as can be seen by the many majestic 19th Century buildings. In recent years, Launceston has become a tourist Mecca with more than 400,000 visitors annually.

It was established by European settlers in 1806. Like a lot of Australian places, it was named after a British town – Launceston in Cornwall. The city boasts a number of ‘firsts’. It was the first place in the southern hemisphere to use anesthetic. It was also the first Australian city to install underground sewers, and the first Australian city to use hydroelectricity.

Launceston enjoys a temperate climate and the four seasons are distinctive. During mid-summer in February, 24C is the average temperature. During mid-winter in July, 12.5C is the average temperature. This beautiful cool weather allows visitors and residents to enjoy the outdoor life.

A three-hour city tour is the perfect way to get to know this city. A professional, friendly and informative guide will tell you about each attraction. You will find that the ambiance in Launceston is unmistakably Victorian and very hospitable. The wonderful architecture is immaculately maintained. The Cataract Gorge is a major attraction.

During the tour, you will see most of the other popular attractions. These include St John’s Anglican Church, the Princess Theater, Princes Square, City Park and The Mall. See the famous Albert Hall which now serves as a convention center, the Australian Maritime College, and the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.

Penny Royal World A definite highlight of the city tour is a stop-over at Penny Royal World. Here you will step back in time to the 19th Century in this functional ‘little town’. This area tells the story about an early pioneer, Andrew Gatenby, and his family. There are attractive apartments here for rental, close to the Cataract Gorge.

You can sample some fine Tasmanian wine in the Tamar Valley. This region is known throughout the world for its classical ‘cool climate’ vines. If beer is more to your liking, pop into Boags Brewery and enjoy a glass of cold James Boag’s Premium.

Take a stroll on one of the city’s attractive heritage walks and stop at Macquarie House. This is home to the prized Tasmanian Wood Design Collection. Walk on to the gift and craft shops on George Street, or spend some time at the National Automobile Museum. Take the George Walkway to the beautiful city park which is situated above the First Basin. The basin is a wide swimming hole that has a suspension bridge and a chairlift that is apparently the longest in the world.

To ensure the best Tasmanian experience, book your Launceston accommodation early.

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The Sunshine Coast in Queensland has some great holiday locations
Thursday, May 13th, 2010 / OzBlogger

Mooloolaba Beach The Sunshine Coast is situated an hour north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. The spot is blessed with year round sunshine and has a warm climate that allows for outdoors activities and swimming throughout the year. There is a great range of Sunshine Coast accommodation available to meet all budgets and preferences.

Both the Sunshine Coast to the north of Brisbane and the Gold Coast to the south of Brisbane are two of the top vacation spots in Australia, but their vibe is totally different. The Gold Coast has a lot of razzle dazzle with casinos and clubs and the Sunshine Coast’s forte is the stunning natural beauty and a more relaxed and family centered feel.

There is a lot to do on the Sunshine Coast, and a lot of it revolves around the incredible natural beauty of the coast and hinterland. You can enjoy a lot of water sports and opportunities to discover stunning coastal rainforests. When your vacation on the coast finishes you will be relaxed and ready to take on the challenges of everyday life once again.

One of the most popular attractions on the coast is Australia Zoo. This is the crocodile hunter Steve Irwin’s zoo and it is now run by his widow Terri and his children Bindi and Bob. There is much to see at the zoo and you can easily pass the whole day feeding the kangaroos, tickling the koalas, seeing the crocodiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats and other native animals at the zoo as well as international residents like the Asian elephants. Located at Beerwah, the iconic Glasshouse Mountains are right nearby where you can undertake a number of nature walks.

Further north of the zoo is Noosa, which is also well known internationally for its exceptionally beautiful beaches, river and rainforest. Noosa Main Beach is very protected and safe place for people of any age to go swimming. Right nearby is Noosa National Park, where you can often see wild koalas in the gum trees and enjoy a relaxing bush walk through coastal rainforest and past little beaches that have very few people on them.

Mooloolaba is another very popular beach on the coast, where there are wonderful swimming spots, barbecues and parks, cafes, restaurants and shopping. This is also one of the centers of nightlife on the Sunshine Coast and you will find a number of night clubs along The Esplanade. For something a little quieter, Cotton Tree is a great place to stay being nestled between Maroochydore beach and the Maroochy River.

Close to Maroochydore and Mooloolaba is a small mountain called Buderim and there you will find a lovely waterfall park. You can stroll through lush, dense jungle to a small waterfall where you can swim and then bathe in the creek. The walk is easy and can be done by anyone, even small children.

While staying at Sunshine Coast accommodation you should also visit the hinterland towns of Maleny and Montville. There are plenty of quaint shops in Montville and the area is also famous for its produce particularly cheese. The hinterland also has several waterfalls such as Gardener’s Falls, which are great for swimming in.

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