AUSTRALIA TRAVELOGUE      

Australia, though seemly small to many, is nearly the same size as the contagious United State, minus 250 km.  It is the hottest continent on earth with a population of 21 million. Australia is modern in every way, in some ways, more advanced than the States. Its officially, my most favorite destination of all. Its truly a 'once in a lifetime' destination.

The most difficult aspect about this country is the time it take to travel from the U.S to Australia and what, exactly to pack for. The nonstop flight is apprx 14 hrs from either Los Angeles or San Francisco.  Australia varies in temperature, depending on where in the country,  you plan to be and at what time of year. You can experience snow-skiing, tropical beach sun,  desert  and cyclones, all in the same two week vacation.  I’ll discuss all aspect of Australia as well as the various destinations that most tourists come to see. A great website which will give you each months predicted temperature is found here

NEW SOUTH WALES

SYDNEY
Since this city is so vast and a blue mtns day tour is suggested, so therefore I recommend at minimum of  3-nights stay in Sydney.  The airport, Kingsway, is apprx 20min. from bustling downtown Sydney. Upon my arrival from New Zealand, our plane circled the famous harbor before landing at the airport.  It was a spectacular view indeed!

The transportation system in Sydney is one of the most expansive and efficient in the whole of Australia, only 2^nd to Melbourne. There are several ways to arrive at your downtown hotel: by car, airport shuttle or train. The train, accessible from both domestic and international terminals, leaves at regular intervals. The trips take apprx  20min. to Circular Quay, the area just outside of the Sydney Opera House.

I stayed at the 'All Season’s Premier Menzies,' which was located directly outside of the Wyngard train station. It was a short walk across the street from the depot door to my hotel door. Very convenient.  A short walk from the hotel dumps you off onto George Street, the premier shopping street in Sydney.

There are two distinct areas in Sydney, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour,  If you want from one to the another, you will see almost all of Sydney's main tourist sights. The walk is apprx  45 min. There is both a rail and bus system in Sydney, however I recommend walking for more comprehensive view of the city.

There are several, popular beaches located in the outskirts of the downtown Sydney. one of those is  Bondi Beach, being the most famous, is east of the city. To get from downtown Sydney to Bondi, one has to take 10-min. train ride  and a 15-min. bus ride from the main depot. The bus drops  you off  on the beach.  Alert, items such as water, food, etc are more expensive on the Bondi Beach strip, then elsewhere in Sydney so take that with you if you are on a budget.

Another alternate beach to discover is Manly beach. This beach is accessible by taking a scenic ferry across Sydney  harbor, then a short bus ride to the north side of Manly. This is a destination in and of itself, as it has several hotels, a good choice of restaurants and an good size beach. For those who desire a relaxing, balmy atmosphere, I recommend staying a night or two here.

Major Sydney area attractions:

Circular Quay is the main train/bus depot. It’s located on a street south of the Sydney Opera house/bridge area. Circular Quay is also the boarding point for all the ferries, including the Manly ferry and Sydney harbor cruises. It  provides access to both the Sydney harbor bridge and Opera house.

Darling harbor. A good selection of shops/restaurants in an eclectic environment. This is where you can find the Aquarium,  Chinese gardens and across from Darling Harbor, there are two new wharfs that offer a terrific range of  top restaurants and an energetic, evening setting. If you want to mingle with the locals or enjoy a lagoon view cocktails, Kings  Wharf should be your evening destination.

Hunter Valley, wine region. Two hours beyond Sydney, is one of Australia's three famous  wine  growing regions, Hunter Valley. The drive is scenic and straightforward, that is after you escape the city .. There are no major cities in this region, it is, however, divided into distinctive regions. Some activities to partake of are horseback riding, wine tasting, hiking, & carriage rides, just to name a few. There is a good choice of quaint B&B's spread throughout, to choose from.

Blue Mountain and Wildlife Park. One hours drive from Sydney, we find ourselves in a lush, eucalyptus rich forest. The Blue Mtn ranges get their hues from the fragrance of the eucalyptus, giving the forest a slight, blue haze. The most famous site is the 3 Sisters  rock formation and a gondola ride high above the forest. Most  tours leave from downtown Sydney, close to the harbour bridge or you may have one that will pick you up from your hotel. Many tours to the Blue Mtns stop at the famous Featherdale wildlife park, which allows you to pet a koala and feed/pet a kangaroo.  

QUEENSLAND

CAIRNS
The flight from Sydney to Cairns is apprx 3 hours, nonstop. Traveling to Cairns, the northern Queensland region, is a world away from the very progressive Sydney. 

The city has a backpacker feel to it in places and is littered with shopping stores, interesting cafes, & restaurants as well as a Casino. This is, in essence, the gateway to the tropical north and all it has to offer including the Great Barrier Reef.  The city lacks distinctive charm, as it seems to be made of up of  one long, strip mall, but it does offer a lot in the way of  social venues, such as casinos, night markets, loads of souvenirs restaurants. NOTE; Cairns doesn’t have a beach, as it was built on mud flats, but it does offer one of the largest public pools in Australia, built into the lagoon.

PORT DOUGLAS
Port Douglas is apprx 1 hrs drive from Cairns. The drive  is scenic and takes you through the back woods of Northern Queensland, with part of it being a coastal ride. The two lane road is well paved, maintained and uncrowded.

Port Douglas itself is a quaint, upscale village which encompasses about 5 blocks long. It is located between two waterways.. Just right of the village, is the area’s beach, which also contains the city’s only jellyfish protective net, placed during jelly fish season (apprx. Nov thru March). There is a super market, along with many upscale stores and a variety of restaurants. Although this village doesn’t offer the non--stop action that Cairns has, it has just enough activity, for those seeking to relax and enjoy a pleasant, moderate paced environment. There are several hotels located directed in the village, with the Outrigger being one of them. There is a bus system that travels down the main road to the village of Port Douglas.

I stayed at a spa resort called the Hibiscus Hotel, located a short 5 min. walk to the main village street. The hotel offers a variety of room types, each with a fully stocked kitchen, CD player/radio and a unique tub setting, which allows you to move the wall the bathtub is adjacent to, so that you are able to see into the living room. There are balconies on all second floor rooms.  It’s a unique blend of resort, privacy, and comfortable accommodations.

The resorts, located further away from Port Douglas are large, full-service resort,  and are not walking distance to one another or the village. This is where the local bus system is utilized which stops at all the various resorts locations on the main street into town called, none other than ‘Port Douglas Rd’ The fare depends on the distance you plan to travel. The shuttle bus, however, will pick you up either directly in the front driveway of your resort or very close by at a bus stop. Renting a car is you are in the area, is a good option if there is 2 or more travels as it gives you flexibility and you can drive into Cairns at any time you choose. Although driving is on the left side of the road, the two lane road is very easy to navigate.

CAPE TRIBULATION AND A DAINTREE RIVER
There are many Cape Tribulation day tours, which usually pick you up at your hotel in either Cairns/Palm Cove or Port Douglas. These tours last from  800am to 4 or 6pm.  A lovely meals served among the rainforest is included.  I recommend taking a small sized tour and experiencing it thru the eyes of an aussie! They will become invaluable to you.

The drive to the  Daintree River crossing, which leads  to the Cape Tribulation area, is only 2hrs. from Port Douglas and  about 2.5 hrs from Cairns. A ferry crossing will be included in this transfers. Most tours will take you by 4x4 vehicle. When traveling during peak season, you will have to be patient as there will be several tour groups and only one ferry to take them.. With the pavement of the Cape Tribulation’s main road, traffic has increased considerably. Where there’s progress there’s congestion.

If you enjoy rainforest landscapes and don’t mind staying in a remote area, than I highly recommend you consider staying in Cape Tribulation. There is a good choice of accommodations, with several B&B’s, and a few high-end resorts, built right in the canopy of the rainforest. The Cape area is the only place in the world where the rainforest meets the Reef. The beach is expansive and a offers spectacular photo opportunities. The advantage of spending a night or two here is that many of the rainforests native animals are nocturnal and so spending a day plus night here will allow an opportunity to see this areas many nocturnal animals.

The river cruise part of the Cape Tribulation tours  is an exciting aspect as  you may be able to spot a real, live crocodile. The cruise portion is apprx 1 hour long. Although there are farms one can tour to see crocodiles, spotting one in its nature habitat is a real treat.

When selecting a tour, I recommend choosing a company that offers small group tours (15 or less people) and cruises a river besides the Daintree. The problem with the Daintree is that this is the river almost all tour operators use thus it can get congested during peak times.

PALM COVE VILLAGE
30 min. north of Cairns, you will find a delightful, sophisticated village called Palm Cove. Its a lovely seaside village where the beaches are clean, white and lined with palm trees. This village has a distinct personality that screams high society without the expense.  All resorts adhere to a strict ordnance that requires each resort to be stand no higher than a palm tree, which turns out to be  4 stores high.

The main road to Palm Cove, takes you all the way to Port Douglas. All the major tours, such as the Great Barrier Reef cruises, Cape tribulation/Daintree, Kuranda skyrail, etc provide have pick-up service from your Palm Cove hotel.. The downtown area has a decent variety of restaurants and in the quaint mid-town village. When taking a public shuttle (rather than a private limo) be mindful that you will have to stop at the various resorts that are located before you get to your destination. This is done to let off your fellow travelers.

This village is small enough to walk through. If you don’t have a car, no need to worry, there are shuttle services that stop at most hotels and travel to Cairns.. Tours operating outside of the Palm cove area area also available, with pick-ups at your hotel’s front lobby. 

Most hotels are located along a small road which divides the hotel zone from the beach. Fortunately this is a low traffic road and crossing over this narrow road to the beach is easy. Since the main street is short,  its only a 2 - 30 min. walk from one end of the strip to the other.

ROMANTIC DUNK ISLAND
This is one of the most popular islands off Australia’s coast. This island only has one resort, aptly named, Dunk Island Resort. This island is an attraction for couples and families, so I would think twice before venturing off to stay there as a single person, such as I did.

There are two ways to get to Dunk Island, fly or boat launch.  For those not comfortable being transported in a twin-engine otter place which holds 24 passengers and offers an exposed view of the cockpit and its pilots. There is an option of flying one way and taking the launch on the return or visa-versa.  The flight takes 35 min. and allows for a spectacular view of the great barrier reef and island. This is not only a way of transportation to/from the island but its also a sightseeing tour as well.

Luggage. When flying o to the island from the Cairns airport,  you are only allowed 16kg of luggage. Since there are no lockers to be found anywhere at airport these days, you'll have to stow your extra luggage  There are exceptions to the luggage limit, but make sure they will allow your extra luggage to return with you as well.

Upon arrive, you will register at the reception area which can be found just right of the runway. Its a very casual environment so no need to bring formal wear. After signing in, you will be personally escorted to your

VICTORIA

Melbourne
This is my favorite city, in Australia. The diversity and attractions of this city and its surroundings are in a class of its own. Its also where you'll find the best shopping, cultural performances and dinning experiences. Its culturally diverse cosmopolitan center, whose appeal is only increased by its vast acres of green space, beachfront towns and characteristic trolley cars is 2nd to all of Australia's cities..As an Australia Specialist, I always try to direct my travelers to  visit Melbourne as well. (Sydney seems to be the tourist favorite here thought) . . Many of my clients return from vacation telling me how very much they enjoyed Melbourne and wished they had spent more time here.

The city is an apprx 30 min. drive to the city center, barring any traffic. The city is well connected by trams, a quaint way to travel. Ornate Victorian-era architecture and leafy, established boulevards reflect the city’s history, and cutting-edge developments such as Federation Sq exemplify its enigmatic contemporary style. Character-filled neighborhoods, such as Fitzroy, St Kilda and Carlton, hum with life and the city produces some of the best art, music, cuisine, fashion, performance and designs around. It has a vibrant downtown as well as a  river  that cuts through the city. A trendy area along the river is the Southbank district, a lively area any time of the day. Melbourne also has a very active Casino located along the Yarra River.

Popular Melbourne Attractions:

Philip Island: Phillip Island Nature Parks is renowned as Australia’s most popular natural wildlife attraction. 
Only 90 minutes from Melbourne, the Nature Parks is an island adventure featuring spectacular coastal scenery,  charming heritage and an abundance of wildlife. Each night at the Penguin Parade, fairy penguins waddle their way out of the ocean and scurry to their burrows, located on the beach. This is a 'must see' experience.

Queen Victoria Market: The market is said to be the southern hemisphere’s largest open-air market offering a variety of fresh farm produce and, on Sundays, a wider range of merchant items which turn the market into a modern Arabian Nights bazaar. The Queen Victoria Market is sited on seven hectares located in two city blocks, the Lower Market bounded by Elizabeth, Victoria, Queen and Therry Sts, and the Upper Market by Queen, Victoria, Peel and Franklin Sts

Yarra Valley Wine Region: The Yarra Valley  is apprx 40 min. drive from Melbourne and is host to a thriving wine growing industry with 35 wineries. The area's relatively cool climate makes it particularly suited to the production of high-quality chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wine.Being so close to the city it's an excellent place for a day trip, though you can easily spend more time here, tasting, snacking, bushwalking (hiking), or just lazing away.

Colonial Tramcar Restaurant: Enjoying a meal on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is guaranteed to be a highlight of your visit to Melbourne. You'll glide through the city streets and  your privacy assured with one-way windows. Melbourne's tramcar restaurant-on-wheels is painted a distinctive glossy burgundy and is especially fitted out in velvet and brass like the luxurious Pullman-style European trains of the past. Lunch and 2 dinner meals are served daily with the last meal starting at 835pm being the more expensive of the three.  Three to five course meals offers;

Great Ocean Road;  Experience the spectacular Great Ocean Road on a full-day tour from Melbourne. The Great Ocean Road tour continues to the Otway Ranges for strolls at Maits Rest panoramic rainforest walk. World-famous Port Campbell National Park is the next stop on your Great Ocean Road. The road is comparable to Hwy 1 in California thought with its own unique topography