Travel Tips and Info

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Australia is the only country that has a whole continent to itself. World famous for its natural wonders and wide open spaces (beaches, deserts and "the bush" or "the Outback"), Australia is ironically one of the world's most highly urbanized countries and is well known for the cosmopolitan attractions of its globally significant cities, such as Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and the Australian capital city Canberra.  Australia is also a major tourist destination, and is one of the world's wealthiest countries.  The country is renowned worldwide for its vast, untouched landscape and its unique culture . . .

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia.  Its population is slightly over 1 million, which makes it by far the largest city in the otherwise sparsely populated state.  Adelaide is centrally located among the wine regions of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley, all of which are within day-trip distance.

A great daytrip from Sydney, the Blue Mountains offer some of the most spectacular scenery on the Australian continent.  Its 1 million hectares contain rainforest, canyons, forests, and waterfalls, as well as a wide array of animals and birds.  Named the Blue Mountains for the mist created by eucalyptus tree oil which hangs in the air, the Blue Mountains are a must-see on any trip to Australia . . .

Established as a park in 1975, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest marine protected area in the world at almost 348,700 square kilometers.  Found off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is home to over 1,500 species of fish, 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusks, and 500 species of seaweed, as well as several species of birds, sea snakes and sea turtles.

Kings Canyon is part of the Watarrka National Park in Northern Territory, Australia.  Sitting at the western end of the George Gill Range, it is 323 km southwest of Alice Springs and 1316 km south of Darwin.  The walls of Kings Canyon are over 100 meters high, with Kings Creek at the bottom.  Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site and visitors are discouraged from walking off the walking tracks.

Kuranda is a small town in Far North Queensland in the Daintree National Park. As it is located very close to Cairns and the journey is scenic, it is an extremely popular day trip.  It is famous for its markets, which run everyday, and have a wide range of crafts or flea markets.  Hop on the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a (very) leisurely two-hour trip 300 meters up and 34 kilometers out from Cairns.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a park in the southern portion of the Northern Territory of Australia, part of the so-called 'Red Centre' of the continent.  The National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage area.  It is best know for Uluru (formerly known as "Ayers Rock"), a single massive rock formation, and also for Kata Tjuta (formerly known as "The Ulgas"), a range of rock domes . . .

The Australian Wine Industry is the fourth largest exporter in the world, exporting over 400,000,000 liters a year to a large international export market that includes "old world" wine-producing countries such as France, Italy and Spain.  There is also a significant domestic market for Australian wines, with Australians consuming over 400,000,000 liters of wine per year.

Maravu means "calm and tranquil," and that's exactly what you will experience when you stay at the Maravu Plantation and Beach Resort on Taveuni Island.  Recently awarded Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice for the Best Luxury Hotel in the South Pacific, vacations at Maravu Resort are lavish and memorable, and with a maximum occupancy of only 30 guests - but a staff of 40 - you know you will be pampered.

Escape to beautiful Sonaisali Island Resort Fiji, where you have the best of both worlds: the privacy of a small South Pacific island, only minutes away from the mainland.  Spend your vacation relaxing on the beach, enjoy some of the resorts' many complimentary activities (including Fiji cultural demonstrations), or take some time to explore the mainland or neighboring Mamanuca Islands . . .

The Yasawa Islands are a group of islands in north-western Fiji.  Approximately 30 resorts are spread through the 12 major islands in the group.  Most resorts provide basic accommodation and meals with access to natural and cultural sites.

Hawaii (pronounced ha-VAI-ee by locals) is the 50th state of the United States of America.  Situated nearly at the center of the north Pacific Ocean, Hawaii marks the northeast corner of Polynesia. While it was once a major hub for the whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, it is now economically dependent on tourism and the U.S. military. The natural beauty of the islands continues to be one of Hawaii's greatest assets.

Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the capital and largest city of the state of Hawaii.  It is the government, transportation, and commercial center for the state, and home to its best known tourist destination, Waikiki Beach.  The last thing you'd expect to find in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a thriving world-class city, with a beach that rivals any in the world.  But Honolulu, the capital and commercial center of the Hawaiian Islands, is all of this and more.

New Zealand is a temperate to sub-tropical island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.  A former British colony, the majority of the population is of European descent, with a sizeable indigenous Maori minority and smaller minorities of various Polynesian and other groups.  A modern, but sparsely populated, country, it boasts natural beauty and a wide range of outdoor and adventure activities . . .

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand with a 2006 population of over 350,000.  It is located on the edge of the Canterbury Plains and is a major stepping off point for touring the South Island.

Fiordland National Park, covering over 1.2 million hectares, is New Zealand's largest National Park and one of the largest in the world.  Milford Sound is probably one of New Zealand' most well-known scenic attractions.  Milford Sound is actually a fiord, having been carved by a glacier.  Like the rest of Fijordland, Milford Sound receives a lot of rain.  Indeed, some tour operators argue that the Sound is best seen on a rainy day as all the waterfalls can be seen in their full glory.

Heliskiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a helicopter, not a ski lift.  It generally takes place in remote mountain wilderness regions where unspoiled and seldom visited terrain exists.  The mountain terrain that heliskiing takes place in is exceptionally diverse.  Runs vary from high alpine glaciers, to alpine bowls, to steep chutes, to gladed trees.

Lake Taupo is the large lake, situated in the very center of New Zealand's North Island.  Its gorgeous scenery is a result of the surrounding Taupo Volcanic Zone - 26,500 years ago, a violent eruption caused the surrounding land to collapse, creating the Lake Taupo basin.  Journey to the Lake Taupo region, and you'll be encircled by stunning views of the lake, nearby mountains (including Mt. Ngauruhoe, which played the role of "Mt. Doom" in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy), and. of course, the volcanoes . . .

Rotorua is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand.  Its hot springs and geysers have attracted tourists for over a hundred years.  Rotorua sits on the shores of Lake Rotorua.  There are several other lakes nearby.  Along with the geothermal wonders, there are also the more usual water activities such as fishing and boating.

Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia.  French Polynesia is an archipelago of islands that is an overseas dependent territory of France in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia.  It includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean . . .

Bora Bora is a volcanic island in the Society Islands archipelago of French Polynesia.  It is perfectly possible to spoil oneself in one of the incredibly luxurious high-class resorts and spend the savings of a lifetime in a few days.  Nonetheless, a bit of planning ahead can allow you to enjoy the majestic scenery with a tighter budget.

After major renovations, the Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort re-opened in June 2006, complete with 111 newly constructed garden, beach, and overwater bungalows.  The resort is located on Moorea's most beautiful beach, featuring a view of Tahiti, and is near Moorea's new 18-hole golf course.  Additionally, the resort includes a spa, a new Polynesian restaurant, and a seaside infinity pool.  Spend your vacation here, relaxing on the sandy beach or adventuring on the island or in the water . . .