Whether your choice is in the skill of fly fishing some of the world’s best rivers and lakes, in the adrenalin excitement of hooking a massive black marlin in open waters, or simply dangling a line out over a jetty and hoping for a bite, there are exceptional experiences awaiting the enthusiastic angler. What’s more, your hotel or resort will assist you when you desire the services of professional fishing guides, to charter vessels or organise transport to get you to where the fish are biting!

If skiing the snow gum forests and rocky peaks of Victoria’s high country, the snow covered volcanic slopes of Mt Ruapahu or the powder covered slopes of New Zealand’s south island is your thing, either way a fun skiing or snowboarding adventure awaits. Australia and New Zealand both offer significant ski resorts with international standard facilities and unique terrains. There’s heli-skiing to remote mountains, cross-country skiing off piste through gnarled eucalypts or ‘hot-dogging’ down steep slopes.

Off land and into the sea where Australasia and the Pacific offer some of the world’s best diving. Whether novice or experienced, exploring the region’s many great coral reefs full of multicoloured fish is an unforgettable experience. And there are exceptional opportunities to get up close and personal with large pelagic species – fish, sharks and rays – and even swim with dolphins. Many resorts have PADI instructors and offer certification courses.

Maybe it’s a long overdue family holiday or the perfect getaway with a group of friends that is more your ideal travel experience. You can find luxury multi-room villas or cottage accommodation in sublime resort locations or your own exclusive wilderness or island hideaways. With each, you will relish the time spent with family and friends and truly experience travel with a purpose!

For  different holidays in Australia, look at a map of the Western Downs, an area of roughly 126,000 sqkm to the west of Brisbane and you’ll find an impressive collection of highways as it is the hub for the road network travelling north/south and east/west in Queensland.

Nine highways run through the region if you include the Carnarvon Highway, which starts at Mungindi on the southern border and leads north to the Carnarvon National Park above Injune, the Barwon which runs between Goondiwindi and St George and is named after the Barwon River, a main tributary of the Darling River, as well as the Moonie and Balonne Highways which are part of the Adventure Way.

The Great Inland Way enters the Downs from the south at the tiny town of Hebel, population 28, home to a welcoming pub and the tearooms at the Crafty Yum Yum Café. Like the rest of the Downs, the land around the little township stretches leisurely to the horizon, sometimes framed by trees or dotted with lonely specimens who stand tall alone. The Hotel opened in 1894 and was a Cobb & Co stopover. The original village store, built three years later also remains and local legend also reckons the Kelly gang used the town as a hang out.

Travel north to St George and 45km out of town watch the left for the signs to the Nindigully Pub, Queensland’s oldest hotel which still stands in its original condition and location on the banks of the Moonie River. The pub’s licence was issued back in 1864 when they brewed their own beer and rum. It’s still a great place to for a quiet ale, even on days when special events like the Nindigully Pig Races and New Year’s Eve aren’t taking place.

The highway continues on to Surat, the town from which the last scheduled Cobb and Co coach left before stopping forever at nearby Yuleba. This historic run is commemorated at the Cobb and Co Changing Station, a local landmark which is home to a museum, art gallery and 25,000 litre fresh-water aquarium.

Nearby Roma and the surrounding countryside were first explored more than 150 years ago by Sir Thomas Mitchell. The unofficial capital of the region dates back to 1867 when it was named after Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen, the wife of the Governor at the time.

This thriving rural town has plenty to offer the modern day visitor but history still plays a major role and one of its most popular attractions is the Big Rig, a fascinating tribute to Australia’s oil and gas industry which includes a spectacular night show. This is a rich agricultural and farming area, and grapes have been grown here for many years. In fact, Queensland’s oldest winery, Romavilla has been producing table and fortified wines since 1863 and proudly continues to do so.

Even the trees are historic. The Avenue of Heroes is a heritage listed avenue of 138 bottle trees within the town which were planted as a tribute to soldiers from the district who lost their lives in World War 1. Mt Abundance Homestead outside town was the site of the first settlement in the region and was built in 1860. Visitors are still welcome and it makes for a wonderful holiday.

Follow the road north and you’ll go right past the Carnarvon National Park, home of the spectacular Carnarvon Gorge with its ancient rainforest and some of the finest Aboriginal Rock Art in Australia.

The Adventure Way is the link between Brisbane and Adelaide and includes two State highways as it passes through the Downs, the Moonie Highway, a 285km stretch of road from Dalby to St George and the Balonne.

As can be assumed by it’s name, the Moonie Highway passes through the tiny town of Moonie which was the site of Australia’s first commercial oil field. It opened in December 1961 and despite being a relatively small field is still operational today. At St George the highway becomes the Balonne for 300km to Cunnamulla, mostly following the Balonne River.

The Warrego Highway is the 744km stretch from Brisbane which enters the Downs at Dalby and leaves it past Roma at Mitchell on its way to Charleville. At the township of Miles between Dalby and Roma you’ll find the Miles Historical Museum and  more than 20 old buildings in a recreated township. Miles was originally known as Dogwood Crossing and like many of settlements in the area was established on a track blazed by Ludwig Leichhardt.

Another historic experience waits outside the town at Possum Park where accommodation is offered in historic underground bunkers and restored troop carriers. Now this has to be one of the best holidays in Australia that you can find.

The Leichhardt Highway, named after the explorer, begins in Victoria and enters Queensland at Goondiwindi and then heads north east across the state to the Capricorn Coast. Travelling north, take a left turn at the tiny settlement of The Gums and you’ll come to Glenmorgan and Monty’s Garage, a 1940s style auto garage which is now a Vintage Car Museum. While in town railways buffs should visit the End of the Line display in the Glenmorgan Railway Station. Gardeners and naturalists will also enjoy a visit to the nearby Myall Park Botanic Garden, one of Australia’s oldest collections of arid and semi-arid native plants and the birthplace of the Grevillia plant “Robyn Gordon”.

Goondiwindi, locally known as Gundy, is the start of the Gore Highway which runs for 210km from the Western to the Darling Downs through a rich patchwork of farming landscape. The area around Goondiwindi was settled in the 1840s by pastoralists and by the middle of that century had become an important administrative and commercial centre. The town is still most famous as the home of champion racehorse, Gunsynd, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Goondiwindi Grey’.

So all in all a wonderful journey along this famous highway to history and you would have to admit one of the best holidays in Australia.

There are few regions in Australia which combine ancient landscapes with aboriginal history like the Flinders Ranges, which are found just over 200km inland from Adelaide. If you are looking for the adventure of a lifetime, then look no further than this remote, diverse and breathtaking destination. There are plenty of sealed roads for the car hire traveller, and there is always a fantastic spot to set up and enjoy the scenery.

Port Augusta is known as the gateway to the Flinders Ranges. What is unusual about this city is that the main highways which enter South Australia from Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales all meet here, so it really is a central hub for more reasons than one. It is a perfect base to enjoy all that the city and surrounds has to offer. A great attraction for the family is the Wadlata Outback Centre, offering interactive displays and a thorough history of the area, perfect for your pre Flinders experience. Before you leave, visit the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, an ideal place to understand more about the vegetation and animals in this region. It is great for a relaxing stroll with guided tours available.

North from Port Augusta is Quorn. It is the typical outback town and it is from here that you can visit Warren Gorge and the Dutchmans Stern Conservation park. The Pichi Richi Railway has been protected and is now open to tourists, a favourite with children. The incredible historical buildings are quite a contrast to the surrounding outback landscape, with art galleries and museums adding to the culture of this town. The Kanyaka Ruins are also worth a visit just out of town.

There are some walking trails to the south of Quorn which will take you on a number of walks to Devils Peak. There are panoramic views of the entire area from here, and you can often see the Waukarie Falls. Come prepared though, as you can choose from an eight hour or six hour bush walk to the peak and back.

One ‘must see’ town is Hawker, known as the most beautiful of the Flinders Ranges. You can access the Flinders Ranges National Park from north from here, so it is ideal as a base if you would prefer to be close to the shops and conveniences. Once you have entered the park, you will discover Wilpena Pound. This is a tourist destination in itself, with plentiful wildlife including emus and kangaroos, and an extensive visitor centre which is worth a visit to learn more.

Often indescribable, the Flinders Ranges National Park is simply breathtaking, with incredible mountainous scenery, vegetation and all types of animal species that will keep you captivated. There are walks for all fitness levels, including a walk to Rawnsley Bluff, and another to Wilpena Lookout. The bush walk to Ferntree Falls is just as beautiful as the destination, and if you are quiet enough you will come across some local wildlife or hear a chorus of birdlife in the trees.

Although longer and more challenging, Wilcolo Creek bush walk, which take five hours, includes amazing scenery and take you on a circuit that will bring you to face to face with wildlife, panoramic views, winding creeks and undiscovered terrain.

For the more adventurous, the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail has been mapped out to trace the geological history of the region. These maps can be picked up at the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre. The Bunyeroo Gorge is a mild and enjoyable walk for the family and takes about two hours. If you take the creek through the Heysen Range you end up at waterholes and cliff faces that will take your breath away, and is also a great spot for a relaxing picnic.

This area is also the end of Australia’s longest bushwalking trail, which covers the beauty of the South Australian landscape close up. The Heyson Trail begins at Cape Jervis and ends at Parachilna Gorge, and visitors come from all over the world to experience amazing bushwalking in the Flinders Ranges.

At the end of a rutted dirt road, our guide unlocked the gates to the old Edwards’ estate, and we drove onto the property. We were on Kangaroo Island and now that it was dusk, the light was incandescent and, all around us, animals were beginning to stir.

We walked across a huge paddock covered with tall grass and there, set against the sky, were dozens of kangaroos, some nearly six feet tall, other joeys hugging the sides of their mothers, and not one of them afraid of us.

A 30-minute flight from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island is full of animal life, koalas, echidnas on the roadside and wallabies everywhere.

On the island there is a tour company run by Craig Wickham that certainly lives up to its name – the Exceptional Kangaroo Island. You get to walk right onto the beach at Seal Bay and receive lots of other access that make seeing Kangaroo Island with them well worth your while.

For lunch, it was King George whiting on the Bar B Q. Another day we went to Andermel Marron Farm where we tasted marron, the world’s largest farmed crayfish, and drank wine from one of Kangaroo Island’s 28 vineyards. We were introduced to honey made by the world’s only pure strain of Ligurian bees, originally brought from Italy to the island in the 1880s.

In between sightings and tastings, as we criss-crossed the island from top to bottom, Craig regaled us with tales of growing up on a 2,500-acre sheep station on the island’s north shore that his parents ran for Sir James Holden, owner of Holden cars.

Now, two generations later, on the 100 acres of the station that remain, Sir James’ grandchildren, Rachel and Nick Hannaford, run Lifetime Private Retreats. Part luxury hotel, part haute fantasy, Lifetime consists of three architecturally amazing villas, overlooking Snellings Beach, a perfect white beach which creates an outstanding contrast to the turquoise sea.

When you arrive at Lifetime, you step into another world. Nick, a celebrated event planner, and Rachel, a yoga teacher and chef who has cooked for superstars like Mick Jagger and the Dalai Lama, have pulled out all stops in creating this magical place. Dinner could be a Middle Eastern feast, served beneath the bowers of a gigantic fig tree or paella in a shack on the beach with a fire blazing.

If five-star hippie chic isn’t your style, Kangaroo Island also offers simpler accommodations. The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Resort, at the entrance to a national park, has a terrific restaurant, wine list and al fresco dining among the wallabies. The rooms are spotless and spacious.

Kangaroo Island is just far enough off the beaten track to provide some wonderful surprises and a very unique travel experience.

If you love walking and enjoy the fresh air and scenery these Ramblers Holidays are just made for you!

On an inimitable Gourmet Guided Walking holiday across the Victorian Alps you leave the car behind and follow in the footsteps of some of the early visitors to this area(the explorers, the gold diggers and the first European settlers) as you experience a magnificent continuous guided walk across the legendary High Country of Victoria.

There is a unique 10-day itinerary which takes you, on foot, from Falls Creek to Mount Buffalo. In the past, travellers stayed in huts but on this itinerary you will stay in fabulous hotels and mountain lodges, dine on delicious cuisine and sample the wonderful wines this area has to offer. There is also a 6-day Ramblers Holiday’s itinerary which has been designed for those with less time to spare.

Escape the summer heat and breathe the mountain air of the Alpine and Mount Buffalo National Parks.

What is included in these Ramblers Holidays?

• Services of experienced and knowledgeable guides who will look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life.
• All meals including wine.
• Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route.
• Dinner in a variety of superb restaurants.
• Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as little or as much of the trail as you please.
• Transport to/from Albury in air-conditioned minibus.
• Comprehensive pre-trip information.
• Luggage transported for you so all you need to carry is a small backpack with water etc.

8 days of walking on the longer trip, including 3 optional days. 4 days walking on the summer break. Some mountainous terrain. Significant ascents/descents. Small paths and woodland tracks, unsealed roads, quiet tarmac roads. Optional easy boulder-hopping on Mount Buffalo.

The tougher days are balanced with easier days and rest days. The walking is fairly rugged in sections so sturdy walking boots, with good ankle support, are recommended. Walking poles would be an advantage, especially on steeper sections.

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Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef have been shortlisted for inclusion in the new seven natural wonders.

Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef are two of the 28 finalists shortlisted for consideration to become one of the new seven natural wonders of the world, in a new global vote. A selection process organised by the New7Wonders committee, in partnership with the United Nations, has narrowed down the top 28 finalists from 441 nominations to make up a new seven natural wonders list.

Uluru in the Northern Territory and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, have been shortlisted amongst other natural wonders including Milford Sound in New Zealand, the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the Grand Canyon in the United States, and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. “A place among the ultimate New7Wonders of Nature would be a stunning achievement for our nation’s iconic natural wonders,” said Rick Allert, Tourism Australia’s Executive Chairman. “We thank everyone who has played a part in ensuring Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef have made it through to this third and final stage… in the running for the ultimate accolade.”

The selection process had previously cut the list from the initial submission of 441 sites in 222 countries to 77, which has now been reduced to just the shortlist of 28. Now that a shortlist has been revealed, the organisers are calling for individuals to vote online for their list of seven through webportal new7wonders.com. Voting is expected to continue throughout 2010 and into 2011. “It’s been a stunning process to watch so many of the world’s iconic natural wonders in the public spotlight and we are delighted to see both Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef are through to the third and final stage,” Tia Viering, New7Wonders Foundation Spokesperson. “They’re up against the world’s best – it’s certainly going to be an exciting two years as we see which sites the public choose as the official New7Wonders of Nature.”

All votes are monitored and each individual is allotted one vote.

The natives are very friendly

On this Antarctic cruise the wildlife encountered along the way will astound you. The Sub-Antarctic islands are home to penguin breeding colonies numbering in the millions, to Elephant Seals and Hooker Sea Lions, and the endangered Wandering Albatross.

Cruising to the extreme sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions is based on many years of collective experience. Prevailing weather and ice conditions in this area of the world are unpredictable, and mother nature is the one who dictates the course.

These are not cruises they are true expedition cruising at its best, to what can be the most inhospitable region on earth so what you must take with you is a spirit of adventure and flexibility.

Have you already been cruising Antarctica on an expedition cruise? Is this travel experience on your bucket list? I would love to hear from you so please leave your comments below!

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Murray river cruises

There’s no better way to see the Murry River and a slice of the hauntingly beautiful and dramatic Australian outback, it’s unique flora and fauna, and the rich legacy of old riverside ports and indigenous culture close up than to drift unhurried and quietly under the power of the paddle-wheeler PS Murray Princess.

The Murray River is to Australia what the Nile River is to Egypt: a great and ancient river system that has shaped the past and the present and will continue into the future as a national icon. The Murray River and Captain Cook Cruises offers a unique historic and nature-based adventure, through some of the driest parts of the driest continent, past mallee scrub and ancient red gum forests, through towering gorges and ochre-coloured limestone cliffs.

Along the way visit historic ports and lush vineyards as we navigate the Murray’s locks and big river bends. You can hike around a boardwalk trail or take a guided nature walk. Take a small boat safari of the pristine wetlands, visit a riverside village, or take a nocturnal eco-tour before a riverside barbeque. Sample some of the local produce at the cellar door, or take a camera and catch some memorable scenes of the abundant birdlife.

You can also choose to extend your cruise with an optional full day tour of Australia’s richest and best known wine making region – the Barossa Valley and if the cruise wets your appetite then come back and have a ‘self drive’ experience on the Murray river houseboats.

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