Sydney - Ever wished you had a legitimate reason to throw the phrase “G’day, mate!
How about we throw another shrimp on the barbie?” into conversation? Well, there’s no better time than now to plan a trip Down Under and rock that Aussie lingo.
Why plan a trip Down Under?
Australia has so much to offer the avid traveller. Whether its wildlife, rainforests, sun, sea and surf, or music festivals that tickle your fancy – Australia’s got you covered and caters for all travel preferences all year round. It’s also famous for its long summer months. From November through to April, both the sun and the Australians come out to play. Even during the mild winter months, a number of outdoor activities are available, such as skiing, snowboarding, theme parks and more.
Australia – a quick breakdown
Australia is a big, big island continent, it is the world’s sixth largest country by total area, but don’t let its size put you off, as it’s also one of the most diverse and multicultural destinations you can hope to visit. So we figured we break it down for you - Australia is divided into eight territories and states, each one holding something unique for the traveller. Here is a summary of each one:
Queensland
Taking up the northeast curve of the Australian continent, Queensland is home to a dazzling array of landscapes, buzzing cities and around 300 days of sunshine a year. Fifteen regions make up this state, including Brisbane and The Gold Coast. Queensland’s coast has the famous Coral Sea and the world famous Great Barrier Reef. Rainforests, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and even championship golf courses are part of this area.
New South Wales
As Australia’s oldest state, it overflows with history. Home to Australia’s most famous city, Sydney, and the equally famous Bondi Beach, New South Wales has a lot more to explore than just these two sparkling gems. There’s action and adventure to be had whether it’s surfing the shoreline or hitting the slopes in the Snowy Mountains, not forgetting canyoning, bushwalking, cycling, whale watching and more.
Tasmania
Tasmania has turned remoteness into a strength with its distinctive wilderness tourism programs, hip art scene, haunting convict past and growing foodie playground. Roughly 20 percent of the island is World Heritage listed. There’s a world of madness and magic to explore in Tasmania. From ancient traditions and feasts to music festivals and exhibitions inspired by uncharted lands.
South Australia
South Australia might claim to be the country’s wine capital, however there is more to this area than just grapes and wine. This state will serve all of your nature-viewing desires. Dolphins play in the ocean just minutes from the city of Adelaide. Visit the heart of the Outback, just a few hours north of Adelaide, or fly south to Kangaroo Island to get up close and personal with sea lions, koalas, and kangaroos.
Victoria
Victoria is home to world-class wineries of the Yarra Valley. Melbourne is a city of diversity, secret pockets and hidden laneways. It’s easy to explore away the hours uncovering hidden restaurant gems, or laneways filled with shops that stock the kind of unique, sophisticated, one-of-a- kind wares you will only find in this southern city. A two-hour drive from the city of Melbourne will take you to the natural habitat of seals and penguins located on Phillip Island.
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is often referred to as the bush capital because pockets of bushland reserve extend almost to the centre of this city. Over half of the Australian Capital Territory is classified as national park or nature reserve.
Some of the attractions in this region include the Parliament House, Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Museum of Australia.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory’s wonders include the World Heritage-listed Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park which holds the massive sandstone monolith known as Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Vine forests, lotus lilies, crocodiles, wallabies, and brolga can be spotted here. A ride in the desert on a camel or a visit to the infamous Outback town of Alice Springs, are a few of the marvels of this region.
Western Australia
The vibrant city of Perth offers the beautiful Swan River and Kings Park, one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner city parks. For a frontier adventure, the North West holds rugged ancient landforms, rain forests, deep red gorges, vast cattle stations and pioneering personalities, as well as an ancient Aboriginal culture.
Getting around
There’s no mistaking the sheer size of Australia. That said, you’ll never be stranded and will have many options to get around. Hopping onto a bus or venturing out on a train journey are two ideal ways to explore the sights and all that the continent has to offer. If you aren’t the DIY type, taking advantage of one of the many really cool Australia tours Contiki provide, will be the perfect option for you. A few options are: the Rock and Red tour which covers the Northern Territory; the City to Surf tour which covers Queensland and New South Wales; or Island and Rainforest where you’ll get to explore Australia’s East Coast and all the beauty it has to offer.
Getting there
With international airports in each major city, Australia is well connected with the rest of the world.
Sydney is the most popular destination to fly into, although Melbourne and Brisbane also have large airports welcoming tourists from all over the world. Qantas has regular flights out of South Africa covering the following destinations in Australia: Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Adelaide and Cairns.
Adapted from a press release for IOL