Australia Vacation
Take a Trip Down Under
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Australia vacation. Take a trip down under with or without the kids!
Australia is an awesome
romantic or
family vacation. There are so many different ways to experience Australia,
but regardless if you are travelling there from almost anywhere else in the
world, it will take some planning.
I lived in Melbourne, Australia in 1995, while I completed a semester of
University. While there I travelled to the Outback, Sydney, Queensland and the
Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania.
Warren and I met right after I returned and he had always wanted to visit
Australia. So in the summer of 2008 we planned and took an AMAZING
Australian vacation as a family! We visited Sydney, Melbourne, Port Douglas (the
rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef) and Brisbane.
Australia has something for everyone! Imagine beautiful beaches, incredible
restaurants, a variety of accommodation, vibrant cities, scenery that is out of this world and of
course wildlife and landscape that you can't find anywhere else on the planet.
It is a place where you can find adventure, or just relax or do both!
It may seem far away, and not possible, but with a little
planning and research
(you are in the right place!) you will be amazed at how easy or adventurous the
trip can be!
So sit back, relax, grab a coffee or tea, and check out some of the options for
your Australian vacation! Every option can be romantic vacation ideas or
family vacation ideas!
Sydney,
New South Wales
Sydney is where
most people fly into first when planning their Australian
vacation. It is a great start to your adventure.
Sydney is a vibrant city,
we compared it to Manhattan, with a beautiful harbour front, incredible
landmarks, amazing history and some great day trips.
Make sure you spend at least 3 days in Sydney. One to tour the main part
of the city, one to check out the beaches (Bondi or Manly beach) and
maybe a suburb, and one to do a day trip to the Blue Mountains or the Wine
Region.
Sydney is a city, and is not to be missed, however it is more like a western
city than what you might picture Australia to be. So make sure you take in
more of Australia than just Sydney on your Australia vacation.
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Melbourne, Along The Yarra River
Melbourne is one of my favorite cities in the world and must be a part of
your Australia vacation! The people are friendly,
the food is amazing, the neighborhoods are awesome, and there are great
areas all around Melbourne to see and experience.
Melbourne is a multicultural city with a vibrant CBD (Central Business
District). It has been named in the top 5 list of the world's most
"livable" cities for many years. It is considered Australia's "Sporting
and Cultural Capital".
Again at least 3 days are required here. Many people skip Melbourne on
their Australia vacation,
however I would highly recommend that you don't. Make the trip. Spend at least
one day touring the city, one day (or at least 1/2 a day) at the Queen
Victoria Market, one day trip out to see the penguins at Phillip Island.
If you can tack on a couple of days and tour Great Ocean Road. The
landscape is breathtaking!
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Mossman Gorge,
Daintree National Park, QLD
Beaches to Rainforest and a whole lot of adventure in between, the Sunshine
State has
it all for your Australia vacation!
Queensland is a playground for just about every interest. The
beaches are spectacular, the rainforest is pristine, and the Great
Barrier Reef is the largest living organism on earth.
There are so many beautiful outer and inner islands with resorts and
activities like no where else. Your Australian vacation could include a
sailing trip along the Whitsunday Islands, a dive trip out the Great Barrier Reef, a Trek through the Rainforest in Camp Tribulation,
Jungle Surfing, sand tobogganing on one of the worlds largest sand islands, or a
visit to Steve Irwin's (the Crocodile Hunter) Zoo.
Imagine your Australia vacation - whale watching in Brisbane, beaching combing in Port Douglas,
taking the Sky Ride to Karunda, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef
or
camping in the Outback.
It is all waiting for you to discover!
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Uluru in The Outback
G'Day Mate! Your Australia vacation could include a trip to the Outback -
where the original Crocodile Dundee came from!
The Outback is pretty much anywhere away from the coast. and covers most
of the center of the continent of Australia. It extends from Darwin in the
Northern Territory in the North, to Western Australia, to Broken Hill in New
South Wales to Coober Pedy in South Australia.
Go hiking in Kakadu National Park and visit Jim Jim Falls, or visit Uluru
(Ayers Rock). Search out Aboriginal rock paintings or take a cruise along the
Katherine River. Take a camel tour or work on a sheep ranch, there
are so many different options in the Outback.
Whether you are looking for adventure or luxury, you can find it all in the
Outback. To truly have an Australian vacation, you must take a visit to the
Outback!
A great guide to the outback is
Rita's Outback Guide - First-hand experience makes the difference! The Outback Guide offers a
wealth of information on various topics related to the Australian Outback.
Included are track descriptions, safety and driving tips, information about accommodation,
Australian animals and more.
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Perth,
Western Australia
If your Australian vacation includes a visit to Perth, Western
Australia, you are in for a treat! Although it is one of the most isolated
cities in the world, it still has lots to see and do!
Located on the Indian Ocean, the Sunset Coast is a great place for
swimming. It is also a starting point to visit the Outback of Western Australia.
Rent a campervan and make the trek across the outback!
You could take a day trip to Rottnest Island to check out the
subtropical island. Beach comb or sunbathe on the secluded beaches
and sandy bays. Look for the land locked lakes and find a Quokka (a
marsupial only located in the Southwest of Australia)
Take a stroll through Freemantle and enjoy the cafes and coffee
shops or take a dolphin cruise out of Mandurah.
Whatever you choose, Perth is a great place to visit during your Australia
vacation!
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Hobart, Tasmania
Tasmania is a "do not miss" when planning your Australia vacation,
especially if you are traveling in the summer (Dec - March). It is the
furthest south I have ever been and one of the most beautiful places on
earth.
Hobart is the capital city and is known for its historic building that
have been converted to cafes, restaurants and studios. It has a
beautiful harbor and the great market at Salamanca Place. It even made it onto
Tripadvisor's Top 25 Destination South Pacific list.
Take a visit to Port Arthur Historic Site and see the best preserved
convict settlement site in Australia. Make sure you take the Ghost
Tour! I still swear I felt "someone" tap my shoulder - even thought there
was no one there when I turned around!
Go golfing at Barnbougle Dunes, or take a ride on the West Coast
Wilderness Railway. Visit a Tasmanian Devil at the Bonorong Park
Wildlife Centre or drive up the summit at Mount Wellington to check
out the view of the city.
Go swimming in the Hasting Thermal Springs, or hike through
Freycinet National Park or Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National
Park. How about rock climbing and abseiling in Cataract
Gorge in Launceston.
Just remember that the climate is close to that of England's and is
very cool and wet. The best time to plan your Tasmania Australia vacation is from February
to April.
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