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