Archive for » March, 2010 «

A View of Sydney from Circular Quay
Monday, March 29th, 2010 /

Circular Quay1In a small Australian inlet known as Sydney Cove lies the central point of Sydney Harbour: Circular Quay. This is the founding site of Australia. When you visit Sydney, just about every attraction that you will want to see can be reached from Circular Quay, and it is a fun and exciting place for you and your family to visit.

Contrary to its name, Circular Quay is actually in the shape of a horseshoe, and it is a terrific place for first-time visitors to begin their Sydney vacation.
Sydney Ferry

Ferries for such popular destinations as Taronga Park Zoo leave Circular Quay every few minutes, and from here, you will have an amazing view of the Harbour Bridge. There is a walkway on the southern side of Circular Quay which leads to a number of popular attractions, including the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Sydney Opera House, where you can enjoy an evening of live theatre, ballet or concerts. Or take a walk along the northern side to the Harbour Bridge as well as The Rocks, which is one of the oldest and most popular Sydney attractions.

Watching the Ships Roll In
If you just want to spend a relaxing day with your significant other, strolling around Circular Quay and taking in all of the sights, you will want to take some time out to just sit and watch the many ships, boats and ferries coming in and out during the day. You may even get to see a tall ship or two docked in the harbour. Or you can hop on a bus for a visit to the suburbs, or visit the railway station, a part of the underground City Circle. Circular Quay is a major bus, train and ferry terminal, and you can get to just about every location in Sydney from here.

Circular Quay is a Great Place for Literature Lovers
When you visit Circular Quay, don’t forget to take a stroll along the Sydney Writer’s Walk. Metal plaques emblazoned with the names of such famous authors as Robert Lewis Stevenson and Mark Twain are embedded into the Circular Quay walkway. These plaques can be found near the Overseas Passenger Terminal marking the entire way to the Sydney Opera House, and you will find passages from the works of the writers whose names appear here.

Something for Everyone in Circular Quay
Whether you are interested in transportation, the arts, entertainment, shopping, fine dining or taking walking tours, Circular Quay is the ideal spot to begin your Sydney vacation. Circular Quay is a great place to spend a relaxing day while enjoying lunch at one of the many cafes, shopping and being entertained by the talented buskers that are drawn to the area, and you will never be lost for something to do.

Sydney Resources
Sydney Accommodation
Sydney Trains
Sydney Ferries
Taronga Park Zoo
Sydney Islands
Bondi Beach

Category: New South Wales  Tags: , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Beechworth offers something more
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 /

Beechworth-smallWhile most vacation spots offer scenic destinations and stunning landscapes, Beechworth offers something more.  Sure, laying on the beach all day and soaking up rays is very relaxing, but in some ways it is not as fulfilling as, let’s say, reliving the old legends, the old tales that helped transform Australia into what it is today.  Nowhere else in that great country is it possible to walk down corridors of the past and experience history as it is in Beechworth. In fact, the National Trust considers 32 edifices, including many Beechworth accommodation options, to be historically and culturally significant.

Originally named Mayday Hills – a small grazing community – the area was soon renamed Beechworth once the gold rush commenced in 1852.  Within 14 years, the town saw not only the full force of the rush, easily seen with the four million ounces of extracted gold from its mines, but also saw a good amount of unique characters walk down its streets, characters whose stories would become legends.

Such tales include the life of Ned Kelly, notorious Bush Ranger, who spent a good amount of his life in Beechworth, in and out of prison.  On more than one occasion, Kelly, along with his outlaw gang (and mother at one point), stood trial at the town’s historic courthouse for a wide variety of crimes including attempted murder. The town commemorates the life of the recognized bandit with the Ned Kelly festival, held annually over a weekend around August.

Another well-known fable is the 1855 legend of the Golden Horseshoes, where Daniel Cameron rode a horse equipped with golden shoes during the first election campaign in Beechworth.  According to folklore, the golden horseshoes weighed one ounce less once removed, even though the animal wore them for only a one-mile stretch.  Similar to the tradition of Ned Kelly, Beechworth holds an annual Golden Horseshoes Festival every Easter Weekend.

Although many mining towns during the gold rush went bankrupt and were abandoned by its residents, Beechworth managed to invest many of the gold rush revenue into hospitals and other public services to fortify the economy.  Because of this, Beechworth was able to maintain their presence on the map as well as preserve the rich history that made the town what it is today.  So, for the more fulfilling adventure into the heart of Australia, there is really no better place than Beechworth.

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Summer holidays in Adelaide
Thursday, March 04th, 2010 /

Are you thinking of taking a holiday of late and confused about where to go? Well, why don’t you consider looking into a short and sweet Adelaide holiday trip? This city of diverse landscapes is actually the capital of South Australia. Arts and rich culture; fascinating food and festivals; great shopping and sports experience – the amalgamation of all these form Adelaide, the Australian city where something or the other is always going on. No matter if you want to party or just relax on your next holiday, Adelaide offers it all. The vibrant inner-city districts and spacious boulevards, the lush gardens and sophisticated architectures, Adelaide is the most perfect venue for all kinds of summer holiday activities.

Climate

The city is very close to the sea shore. The climate of Adelaide is Mediterranean. It has notably hot, dry summers with cool and mild winters. The average temperature in winter is around 15C and the average summer temperature is 29C. A trip to Adelaide in Australian summer may turn out to be an experience of your lifetime.

Accommodation

Adelaide is a popular tourist destination in Australia and you have plenty of accommodation options to choose from. Finding a place to stay in Adelaide is a breeze. If you haven’t booked a hotel in advance, just roam around the city and pick the best accommodation facility that suits both your need and budget. Hostels are plentiful, so are the apartments, motels, hotels and several bed and breakfasts.

Places to Go

An organized tour of Adelaide is a great way to explore the city. Generally, these popular tours include an Adelaide guided city tour, a river cruise and a visit to Kangaroo Island or the local wildlife parks. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture of Adelaide’s North Terrace take a trip to the museums and city cafes. Shopping at Rundle Mall or a visit to the famed Adelaide Central Market, sipping award-winning wines at the National Wine Centre may be an equally wonderful idea.

Kangaroo Island: This is Australia’s third largest island and home to colonies of fairy penguins, sea lions, pelicans, marine life and, of course, kangaroos. The place provides so much to do and discover that you should stay here for at least two days.

Hahndorf: Hahndorf is the most popular tourist destination in the Adelaide Hills region. It is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. The place makes a perfect base to explore the other delights of the Adelaide Hills like the Mt Lofty area, Norton Summit, the Torrens Valley and Onkaparinga Valley.

Flinders Ranges: The Flinders Ranges is one of the few elevated landmasses in South Australia and the gateway to the State’s outback. The place offers rugged yet spectacular scenic beauty best enjoyed at daybreak or sunset when the colors come alive.

A summer holiday trip to Adelaide will remain incomplete if you fail to experience the magnificent Adelaide Festival of the Arts. It’s one of the premier cultural events in Australia as well as in the world with its epicenter at the Universal Playground venue. This bi-annual event amalgamates more than one and a half thousand artists in all categories, from Australia and many other countries around the world.

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