Asian News on Travel and Hotels

Woodford Folk Festival – New Years Week This New Years, pack your deodorant and plenty of water, jump in the rental car and prepare yourself to “go feral” at the Woodford Folk Festival. Pick up a rental car in Brisbane and head north for about an hour to the quaint Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Woodford. What started as a handful of hippies getting down and muddy to folk music is now a five day long camping extravaganza, featuring over two thousand of the world’s most creative (and popular) musicians and artists. Eco and Indigenous respect, good karma and creativity set it apart from the seemingly endless stream of ho-hum festivals that grace Aussie shores each summer. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Australia |

Kayaking in Sydney Harbour

Kayak around one of the most beautiful harbours in Australia and see the world from a different perspective. Discover the hidden beaches of Middle Harbour, explore its wilderness foreshore and experience our majestic harbour like very few visitors ever will – on board a sea kayak! Sea kayaks, specialist kayaking gear and safety equipment are all provided. This experience runs from 8:30am – 12:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Participants should be able to comfortably swim fifty metres, life jackets are supplied and worn. Participants should also bring a water bottle, sun-cream, waterproof camera (optional) prices start from $99.

Hot Air Ballooning

Escape to a world of unexpected surprises as you drift with the morning mist over the vines and farms on a Hunter Valley balloon flight. Or go no further than the north west fringes of Sydney, the Hills /Hawkesbury region is spectacular to fly over in a hot air balloon, one of Sydney’s best kept secrets. From $290 for an hours flight a printed photo and a glass of champagne.

Jet Boating

Come jet boating through the magnificent Sydney Harbour and travel at speeds of up to 75km/h, fuelled by the full power of the jet boat engine. This jet boat ride is the ultimate sightseeing adventure. Brace yourself for amazing jet boating manoeuvres, such as 270-degree spins and power break stops! Bucket seats (the first of its kind in a jet boat) and safety handrails have been fitted to maximise the comfort and safety of all passengers. Get set for 35 heart-stopping minutes, available everyday throughout the day. Through cooler months/ non-school holidays (27 Apr – 13 Jul and 24 Jul to 5 Oct) the boat runs Thursday to Sunday. Prices start from $50.

Surfing

Come and join in a surfing lesson with Sydney’s largest and most talked about surf school led by surfing legend Matt Grainger. Experience the fun and exhilaration of catching your first wave whilst soaking up the sun and atmosphere of beautiful Manly Beach. Two hour lesson, on the weekends from 9 to 11am, 11.30 to 1.30 pm, 2 to 4 pm. On weekdays times are 11am to 1pm or 1 to 3 pm. Participants must be able to swim 50m. Prices start from $60.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

The Bridge Climb is a 3 ½ hour guided journey to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It takes you along the outer arch of the Bridge on catwalks and ladders all the way to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour. Groups of up to 14 people, you’ll be led by one of BridgeClimb’s professional Climb Leaders on an adventure of the world’s most recognisable Bridge. The steady incline to the summit leaves you free to focus your attention on your Sydney experience, with opportunities to witness 360 degree views of Sydney, including east to the Sydney Opera House, west to the Blue Mountains and the Harbour city surrounds. When you reach the top you will have a sense of achievement that you will remember forever – you’ve conquered an Australian icon recognised the world over! Prices start from $198 with Bridge Climb Sydney.

Don’t forget to take out your adventure travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. So that you can really enjoy your Ozzie adventure, It is important that you remember to check that your activity travel insurance policy offers you the level of cover that you need for your trip before you buy it.

Posted in Australia |

Australia has a lot to offer tourists of all ages. In addition to a trip to the Sydney Opera House or any of the country’s eclectic beaches, visitors enjoy exploring all aspects of Australian culture. To some, this means jumping from amusement park to amusement park in an effort to determine which ones are the most fun.

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Posted in Australia |

If you fancy yourself a diving enthusiast, buy an underwater camera. Sure, taking photographs of awesome marine life will distract you from enjoying the moment, but you can  always enjoy those moments while flipping the album at the comfort and safety of your own home, without having to fiddle with your dive mask or scan warily for aggressive aquatic creatures. Or maybe, the next time you revisit any of these terrific dive spots, you can finally focus on enjoying yourself amidst the wonders of the deep ocean.

Koh Tao (Turtle Island) – a resort island off the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand, encircled with beautiful coral reefs and crystal-clear waters. The shallow depths make it ideal for beginners. The highlight of Koh Tao is the whale shark, which visits these waters at different times of the year. Visitors can take a domestic flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, then board a high-speed catamaran to Koh Tao, or take a bus to Chumphon, then ride a ferry to the island.

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Posted in Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Things to do |

Suppose you find yourself in the lucky country of Oz with all that slippery slang. If you don’t want to be treated like a Seppo who’s a chop short of a barbie, no worries mate! I’ll give you the drum so you could chew the fat with the blokes and sheilas like fair dinkum Aussie.

Australian slang (strine) is easy to understand – it is either a shortening of words like chokkie for chocolate, a rhyme (noah’s ark is shark), or a reversal (a bluey is a redhead). They could also be a reference to places, people, and things (Buckley’s chance – reference to the store Buckleys & Nunn – which rhymes with ‘none’). Or they could be invented just for the fun of it (woop woop – an imaginary remote place that’s never been heard before). Read on and enjoy!

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Posted in Australia, Language |

The first opportunity that you get to spend some time in Australia is going to be a magnificent experience. You are probably already dreaming about the pictures of wildlife and plant life that you’re going to be able to bring home. Indeed, the Australian Outback and the Great Barrier Reef are two of the most stunning areas of Australia (and throughout the rest of the world) for those types of experiences. Additionally, each of the major cities in Australia has wonderful parks and gardens that bring nature to its urban areas and provide the traveler with a pleasant retreat from city life. Make sure that you pack a good camera because there’s going to be a lot that you see in this country that you just can’t see anywhere else!

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Posted in Australia |

In less than two days, people all over the world from different cities will be celebrating an event that will fuel awareness on climate change and prove what human beings are capable of to take care of the Earth and make a difference in the fight against global warming.

On March 29, 2008, from 8 to 9 in the evening, lights will be turned off for the whole 60 minutes, thereby, the Earth Hour. Each individual can do a lot to contribute. Aside from doing a ‘lights-out’, invite family, friends and the whole community to do the same.

The first ever Earth Hour was initiated by the city of Sydney in Australia last March 31, 2007. By turning off its lights for one hour, Sydney has made a powerful statement leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. Their stand against global warming has been noticed all over the world so now in 2008, more than 24 global cities will be participating too.

Are you ready to do your share?

Posted in Asia, Australia, Events |

All over Australia, people are celebrating Australia Day this 3-day long weekend (and some even long before and after that!). Australia Day is celebrated every 26th of August, with the following Monday a nationwide holiday.

But to the winners of this year’s Australian of the Year Award last August 25 at a ceremony in front of Parliament House in Canberra, the celebration is doubled. Congratulations to the following winners of the Australian of the Year 2008.

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Posted in Australia, Events |

Noosa represents the best of Australia – sand, sea and sun plus a whole lot more. It is hardly surprising that this is an immensely popular holiday destination found at the mouth of the Noosa River

Just 1.5 hours drive north of Brisbane on the aptly named Sunshine Coast, Noosa captures a wonderful mix of macho activity-based entertainment with rather more sedate creative outpourings from the local artistic community. The end result is a fashionable perhaps even exclusive all year round destination with a long list of ‘to-dos’ that will keep even the most demanding holiday maker occupied. Throw in an outstanding eclectic mix of restaurants and bars and it’s hard not to enjoy Noosa. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Australia |

The sprawling metropolis known as Sydney is a beautiful city full of life and lights and activity. With a thriving nightlife and all the offerings of the big city, great times can always be had. But where does the romantic couple go for a little time away from the bright lights to take in breathtaking views and each the company of each other? Sydney is an ocean city with many marvelous vistas and different perspectives of the harbor and sea. There are so many places to pick from; I’ve just outlined a few in this article. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Australia |