| Welcome to Australia TravelWelcome to Australia | | | | sure you chose a low gear or you will burn out your |
| Travel, a site devote to anyone planning on being a | | | | brakes.Gold CoastThe center of the Gold Coast is |
| tourist to Australia. This site gives travel advice and | | | | Surfers Paradise. A very long strip of yellow sand |
| some great links that are are going to save you | | | | beach, however the name is not entirely correct The |
| money on your visit to Australia. | | | | better surfing on the coast is found off the kirra point |
| The top tourist spots in Australia tend to be Sydney, | | | | breaks and Coolangatta has the whitest sand and |
| the Gold Coast and Cairns, they are certainly the most | | | | bluest water. Surfers Paradise may be more |
| visited.I've lived in all these places so can give you | | | | appropriately named for its after hours activities. |
| some great advice. (For advice of Melboure, Perth, | | | | Orchid Ave and the surrounding streets are a hot bed |
| Adeliade, Tasmania and other aussie places see | | | | of night life with numerous nightclubs and other going |
| upcoming blogs)There are numerous other great | | | | ons. In the summer time is it just one event after |
| places to visit as well and I'll give tips where I | | | | another with the Indy car series, then schoolies, then |
| can.SydneySydney is a huge diverse metropolis with | | | | Christmas and the New Year Fireworks - Standing |
| numerous cultures and ethnicities living within the city. | | | | room only as Surfers is packed out at this time. |
| The central city is where you will want to spend most | | | | Generally safe though except for the odd drunk idiot |
| of your time as the surburbs hold little in the way for | | | | looking for a fight.Theme Parks - the Gold Coast has |
| tourists. Some surburbs are no go zones being ethnic | | | | numerous theme parks including Seaworld, |
| gettos with drug problems and the like. However the | | | | Dreamworld, Movie World, Wet n Wild, and Currumbin |
| central city and the eastern beaches are safe and | | | | Bird Sanctuary. For more on these see the link on the |
| great places to visit.The Beaches - you are spoilt for | | | | side for (Gold Coast theme Parks or Seaworld Nara |
| choice here. Beautiful yellow sand, rolling waves and | | | | Resort).The Gold Coast's Hinderland also has much to |
| patrolled. Follow the advice of the surf life savers with | | | | offer. Early morning balloon rides, walking tracks and |
| their traditional yellow and red hats. Bondi of course is | | | | O'Reilly's. O'Reilly's is a bit of a drive but its worth the |
| the most famous with numerous bars, cafes and | | | | trip just to hand feed the brightly coloured parrots. Also |
| shops. But Maroubra is probably better for surfing and | | | | there is a tree top walk with a walkway high up in the |
| swimming. Catch the Manly ferry and walk across to | | | | trees - not for those afraid of heights. There is also a |
| the ocean beach and there is a lovely walk to the | | | | guest house for those who would like an overnight |
| heads passing numerous restaurants. Cronulla beach is | | | | stay.CairnsCairns is the main gateway to the Great |
| nice to the south with some nice walks as | | | | Barrier reef. Viewed from the air the reef shows its |
| well.Shopping:- There is plenty of shopping to be done | | | | true form a series of small reefs and Islands. Beautiful |
| in Sydney. If your from the UK or the USA then the | | | | seen from the air as emerald coloured jewels they are |
| exchange rate makes it even better for you. In the | | | | even better close up. A Boat trip out to the reef takes |
| Central CBD are plenty of shops, one of my | | | | over an hour depending on where on the reef they |
| favourites is the Victoria building. Great design with | | | | stop. The best view is obviously for the scuba divers. |
| traditional features. If you're there on the hour go to the | | | | Be warned though the waters are dangerous with |
| very top where there is a large clock. On the hour it | | | | numerous creatures that can kill so follow the local |
| shows scenes of British royality with a bit of a | | | | advice. Sharks, Jellyfish, Snakes, Stone Fish, Deadly |
| fanfare.Hop on the monorail and go to Darling habour | | | | blue ring octopus and yes stingrays (although Steve |
| (see picture left as seen from the top of Sydney | | | | Irwin was only the third person in Australia to die from |
| tower). Plenty of places to buy t-shirts and other | | | | a stingray so don't get too carried away). Of course it |
| souvenirs. Also on the ground floor is the best tasting | | | | your sensible there is much beauty that will stay with |
| fudge shop I've been to. I recommend the apricot | | | | you for the rest of you life. Colourful tropical fish and |
| favoured fudge. If your travelling around in the inner city | | | | multi-coloured coral. In closer to shore are Crocodiles, |
| buy a rail circle hopper ticket which allows you to get | | | | and yes they can even be found out to sea. Mine you |
| on and off the train as many times a day as you wish | | | | my whole time in Cairns (over two years) the only |
| and includes Redfern station which is right next to | | | | Croc.s I saw were in a local crocodile farm and on a |
| paddy's markets. Another place to check out is China | | | | river boat trip on the Daintree. However further up |
| town just to the south of the CBD.Attractions:- No visit | | | | Cape York they get alot more numerous so follow the |
| to Sydney would be complete without the mandatory | | | | local signs and be careful.Cairns is a Tropical |
| visit to the Sydney Opera house - an icon of Australia. | | | | environment and as such is VERY HOT year round (In |
| From there walk to the ferry terminal which attracts | | | | the wet season expect late afternoon rain - see |
| numerous entertainers and gives a good view of the | | | | picture left). The Esplanade has been reworked and |
| habour. Continue around towards the Sydney habour | | | | numerous tourist now sunbake on it. The central city is |
| bridge and you will run into "the Rocks" and see what | | | | a backpackers heaven and numerous night clubs, bars, |
| old Sydney looked like. Lots of bars and places to eat | | | | restaurants cafes carter for almost every taste but |
| with more shopping. Hyde park is another place to visit. | | | | obviously seafood is a specialty.A visit to the Daintree |
| At night it is lit up with lights in the trees. Bring an apple | | | | (where rainforest meets the reef) can be relaxing. |
| and feed the possums up in the trees. Kings Cross | | | | Though I recommend you take in a boat ride and see |
| and Oxford street are center of "night life".Greater | | | | Crocodiles in their natural environment. We saw four |
| Sydney:- If you head out to the blue mountains via train | | | | on our trip with a tiny year old one and a large one |
| or car Katoomba has great views of the Blue | | | | capable of making you lunch.Kurranda is about an |
| Mountains as well as walking tracks. Take the cable | | | | hours drive uphill, or you can take the scenic cable |
| car across the gorge and look a thousand feet straight | | | | skyway or the kurranda train. Views of the Barron |
| down or take the 'railway' and go down to the bottom. | | | | Falls and Tropical rainforest abound. Kurranda has a |
| I recommend sitting right at the front if possible. Take in | | | | little market village feel about it. In the picture left you |
| a view of the three sisters. One of my favourite place | | | | see it in full flow but sometimes it can almost be none |
| to visit in the Blue Mountains is the Jenolan Caves. | | | | existant as water is diverted for the Stanmore hydro |
| Numerous caves to chose from and beautiful to see. | | | | power station and due to the impact of the dry. |
| Just a tip going down the road to the caves make | | | | |