A holiday in Australia is an impressive experience and there is an
unbounded amount of ways you can consume your time. From beaches,
wineries, cities, rain forests and tropical hide aways you are
confident to discover your ideal adventure. You probably have an idea
of what you would like to see and do but often education of the little
things about a country can make the difference between a holiday that
is enjoyable and one that is frustrating.
You will probably land in an Australian capital city like Cairns or
Sydney. All airports have car hire booths and taxi stands. Most will
have a shuttle bus to the city or your hotel. Public transport options
at airports can vary. Sydney International Airport is exceptional
with regular trains to the city.
All cities have a range of accommodation to suit every budget. All
major towns and capital cities have residential suburbs in the
outlying areas and a Central Business Center (CBD) in the heart of the
city. The majority of vacant accommodation will be in the CBD. You
will also discover restaurants, shopping precincts, nightlife and
cultural centers close to the CBD.
Other currency is rarely accepted as the Australian Dollar is the
standard currency. Money can be exchanged at money exchange centers
and banks. All purchases in Australia include a Goods and Services
Tax(GST) and this is by law incorporated in the advertised price.
Tipping for service is not expected.
Most public transport will branch out from the city into the outer
suburbs. If you dont want to spend much time travelling on public
transport then you should stay close to the CBD and avoid expensive
taxi and bus rides. All capital cities have buses and trains with
Sydney and Perth providing limited ferry services. Melbourne also
provides trams. Public transport runs a lot more frequently during
weekdays then weekends so keep this in mind when planning trips.
Australia is viewed as a land of beaches and sunshine but the weather
can vary depending on location and season. Having lived in Australia
all my life I would have to say the best time to holiday in Australia
is April/May and September/October. At these times of the year it is
fairly mild throughout most of the country. Temperatures are still
warm enough to swim and it is mostly sunny weather without the high
temperatures of summer. The wet season is over in the north of the
country and the heat and humidity are more bearable. The southern most
states of Tasmania and Victoria may be a little cool but overall it is
the best time to experience the widest range of activities.
Armed with the above intelligence I hope you find your holiday in
Australia to be an amazing experience that surpasses your
expectations.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
A Holiday in Australia - Crossing the Nullabor Plain
For a more adventurous holiday in Australia try The Nullabor Plain. The Nullabor Plain stretches from Norseman in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia, a distance of 1200 kilometers. Nullabor is basic Latin meaning no trees because it is a treeless plain. There are no towns, only roadhouses several hundred kilometers apart but the road is sealed and in good condition.
Unless you are very familiar with roads and driving in the Australian Outback you need to do all your driving during the day. Kangaroos are especially hard to see and have a habit of being attracted to the headlights of moving cars and running for them causing accidents. They generally come out at dawn and dusk and at night and rest in the shade during the day.
If your holiday in Australia is to include the Nullabor then you should carry plenty of your own water and basic food supplies in case you break down. You are able to buy petrol and limited supplies from roadhouses but everything is about three times as expensive on the Nullabor so make sure you have budgeted for this. Most roadhouses have a restaurant where you can have a cooked meal or get something to take away. We found the ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches found at every roadhouse to be the perfect breakfast food when temperatures are low.
The Nullabor has ensured that many pests are unable to move across the country and quarantine laws are strictly enforced. Traveling east you will need to surrender all fruit and vegetables at Ceduna and traveling West at Border Village.
Accommodation can be found at all roadhouses. Most have camping sites and basic motel style units. There are no five star resorts and most would be considered quite dingy but after a day driving it is wonderful to sleep in a bed and have a shower.
For a holiday in Australia on the Nullabor the wildlife and scenery are spectacular. We saw emus, kangaroos, wild camels and lizards but our favorites were the wedge tail eagles soaring above us and landing on the road just outside of Madura. Nothing compares to the Great Australian Bight which you can view from lookouts near Eucla on or near the border between South Australia and Western Australia. Other attractions include meteorite deposits at Mundrabilla and caves at Cocklebiddy.
Crossing the Nullabor Plain usually takes two to three days and is a holiday in Australia you will never forget.
Unless you are very familiar with roads and driving in the Australian Outback you need to do all your driving during the day. Kangaroos are especially hard to see and have a habit of being attracted to the headlights of moving cars and running for them causing accidents. They generally come out at dawn and dusk and at night and rest in the shade during the day.
If your holiday in Australia is to include the Nullabor then you should carry plenty of your own water and basic food supplies in case you break down. You are able to buy petrol and limited supplies from roadhouses but everything is about three times as expensive on the Nullabor so make sure you have budgeted for this. Most roadhouses have a restaurant where you can have a cooked meal or get something to take away. We found the ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches found at every roadhouse to be the perfect breakfast food when temperatures are low.
The Nullabor has ensured that many pests are unable to move across the country and quarantine laws are strictly enforced. Traveling east you will need to surrender all fruit and vegetables at Ceduna and traveling West at Border Village.
Accommodation can be found at all roadhouses. Most have camping sites and basic motel style units. There are no five star resorts and most would be considered quite dingy but after a day driving it is wonderful to sleep in a bed and have a shower.
For a holiday in Australia on the Nullabor the wildlife and scenery are spectacular. We saw emus, kangaroos, wild camels and lizards but our favorites were the wedge tail eagles soaring above us and landing on the road just outside of Madura. Nothing compares to the Great Australian Bight which you can view from lookouts near Eucla on or near the border between South Australia and Western Australia. Other attractions include meteorite deposits at Mundrabilla and caves at Cocklebiddy.
Crossing the Nullabor Plain usually takes two to three days and is a holiday in Australia you will never forget.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)