The Best Ways to Experience the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a mind blowing natural wonder. It’s truly one of the best places to visit in Australia. It spans over 1,200 miles and harbors one of the richest ecosystems on the planet with over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands scattered along its expanse. If you’re traveling all the way to Australia, you’ll want to visit the Great Barrier Reef in all its glory. This amazing video produced by David Attenborough gives you an idea of what it’s like to explore the reef, but nothing can really do it justice. It’s one of those things you have to see for yourself.

There are a multitude of ways you can launch your reef adventure. Take the traditional route and dive or snorkel the reef, or stay dry on a glass bottom boat, scenic flight or adventurous sail. Maybe even find a more unique way to explore the reef on your own terms. Read more for your guide on exploring the Great Barrier Reef.

Snorkeling and diving

Don your mask and fins and get up close to the dazzling kaleidoscope of corals, sea turtles, rays, sharks and tropical fish of every color. Snorkeling is the cheapest and most popular way to have an aquatic adventure you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

A Day Trip on a Reef Cruise

One of the best ways to dive or snorkel the reef is to hop aboard a boat excursion. These are great because they take you out to 2 or 3 exclusive dive sites along the outer reef. All boats offer snorkeling, most offer diving for certified divers and a few even offer introductory dives for those who want to try out diving for the first time on the reef. Our favorite operators depart from Cairns and Port Douglas. If you want to make it out to famous dive sites like the Ribbon Reefs on a day-trip, you have to depart from Port Douglas. It’s a great town to stay in, but only a short transfer if you’re staying Cairns. These full day excursions tend to include lunch, snacks, snorkel gear, lycra suits and a guided snorkel tour with a dive master. Scuba diving and gear brings additional costs. Different boats offer different experiences. Some take you out to a single location with hundreds of other people, some offer a more exclusive experience and others go farther out into more remote locations to cater to the more experienced. Talk to an About Australia Destination Specialist to select the right one for you.

Liveaboard

The best diving sites are located further from the mainland. Famous dive sites like The Ribbon Reefs with Cod Hole are best encountered on a 3 day Liveaboard. If you want to dive both the Ribbon Reefs and the remote and amazing North Horn at Osprey Reef, you’ll need to take a Liveaboard for at least a week. For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, embark on a 14-Day expedition. During these trips, you can swim with Minke whales (June-July), see Humpbacks (August – October), dive during a shark feed (totally safe, we swear!) and visit some of the most immaculate coral reefs in the world.

Liveaboards generally only offer diving to certified divers, but snorkelers are often welcomed at a discounted rate. Snorkelers on Liveabaords are normally accompanying their diving partners. We wouldn’t recommend it otherwise. There are usually only a few dive sites that will work well for a snorkeler on a 3-7 day liveaboard trip.

Island-based Diving

For astonishing diving or snorkeling, consider staying on a Great Barrier Reef island. Our favorites are Heron Island, Lizard Island, Elliot Island, Fraser Island, Hamilton Island, and Orpheus Island. Famous diver and documentarian, David Attenborough, has named Heron Island and Elliot Island as a few of his favorite dive sites. So, you’ll be in good company! A stay at most of these islands offer the added bonus of enjoying an all-inclusive resort. Most offer free use of snorkeling gear and motorized dinghies. From these islands, a diver easily take a short boat ride with a small group to a number of amazing dive sites. Snorkelers can see the reef right off the beach or venture further on their own reef bound boat. Your About Australia Destination Specialist can find you the best deal possible.

Luxury Snorkeling Experiences

If you really want to treat yourself, try out a day-cruise or luxury catamaran tour in the Whitsundays. These small group tours offer exclusivity and comfort all while sailing around some of the most beautiful islands in the world. The ship will drop anchor and you’ll jump into the turquoise water to snorkel among the big sea turtles, anemone and schools of colorful fish. Most excursions around the Whitsunday Islands include a visit to the famous Whitehaven Beach. This long white-sanded beach stretches over four miles along the coast of Whitsunday Island. Unlike most beaches, Whitehaven is made up of 98% pure silica which gives it a bright snow-like complexion. The sand is a fine grain with a soft velvety feel. It also doesn’t retain heat very well, so you won’t burn your bare feet on bright sunny days. It’s the most photographed beach in Australia. You can clearly see why.

See the Reef without Getting Wet

If swimming isn’t your thing, you can still see the Great Barrier Reef without submerging into the depths of the South Pacific.

Glass Bottom Boats

Glass bottom boat tours are a great way to admire the underwater beauty of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Most boats are designed to accommodate as many people as possible while still allowing everyone a clear view of the tropical life thriving below them. Some boats come with tour guides who provide detailed descriptions of the different type of coral and marine life. If you have the opportunity, take a night tour to see the coral really come to life after dark. There are great glass bottom boat tours operating out of Airlie Beach, Cairns and Port Douglas. Some also offer scuba diving and snorkeling excursions which makes them a perfect option for mixed company.

Reef HQ Aquarium

Reef HQ houses the largest living coral reef aquarium. The building itself is quite small when compared to other aquariums, but the live ecosystem sets it apart from other aquariums you’ve seen. It’s a great introduction to the reef as friendly guides explain about the reef in an educational and entertaining manner. Be sure to stop by the turtle hospital.

Fly Over the Reef

Behold the sheer magnitude of the Great Barrier Reef by taking to the sky and seeing the reef from above. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to fly over the reef while on your Australia vacation. From the Whitsunday Islands, you can take a flight out to Hardy Reef to snorkel, hang out in a semi-submersible, check out the underwater observatory or chill on the deck and get a massage. After, take the scenic view and fly over Heart Reef. Or skip Hardy Reef and soar over the heart of the Great Barrier Reef from any one of the Whitsunday Island resorts. Helicopter rides and scenic flights are also available from Cairns and Port Douglas. Stay at a resort like Lizard Island or Orpheus Island and a low-level flight over the reef is par for the course. You’ll be awed by the stunning beauty of the maze of reefs weaved together to form this natural wonder.

Reef Fishing

If you fancy yourself an angler, fishing on the reef is a must. Cairns and the Ribbon Reefs are probably best known for trophy black marlin fishing. About 30-50 miles off the coast lies a very special stretch of ocean called “Marlin Mecca” where more “granders” (100lbs or more) are taken than all the other combined fishing water in the world. Billfishing aficionados can try their hand at catching the big one every year late September through December. Lizard Island is the only land-based operation that offers access to “Marlin Mecca”.

There is also great light tackle fishing on select areas of the reef. Take a charter from Cairns or stay on a Great Barrier Reef Island for access to nearly every species of Pacific game inhabiting the ocean just adjacent to the reef and the continental shelf. It’s a great experience for fishing enthusiasts, offering some of the fastest game-fishing in the world.

Unique Reef Experiences

Looking for something a little more “out-of-the-box”? Maybe you aren’t a very good swimmer but you really want to explore the reef. Try one of these awesome tours.

Seawalking/ Helmet Diving

A helmet dive is a perfect way for non-swimmers to explore the reef like pro divers. It’s quick and easy too. You start with a quick briefing. Then, you’ll don a large space-suit type helmet and you’re ready to go. A guide will take down about 6 people at a time. Jump into the water and hold on to metal tubing as your guide takes you around the ocean floor. You’ll be completely surrounded by colorful fish and coral and you won’t even get your hair wet. Children as young as 12 can participate, so it’s great for families. You can embark on this unique diving experience from Cairns or Port Douglas.

Submarines

Another great option for people who don’t want to scuba dive the reef is a tiny 3-person submarine. Two people, guided by an experienced pilot can explore the underwater world of the beautiful coral and exotic marine creatures without traditional scuba gear or training. Tours depart from Fitzroy Island, just a 45 minute boat ride from Cairns. There is always a safety diver trailing the sub while your experienced diver and submarine pilot doubles as a tour guide, providing vivid descriptions of the surrounding sea life and corals. This is a really fun and super safe way to see the Great Barrier Reef!

Are you ready to start planning your visit to the Great Barrier Reef? Check out some of our Great Barrier Reef Deals below, request a custom vacation quote or phone us toll free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

 

You may also like: 16 Photos That Will Make You Want To Go To Australia Right Now | 11 Best Underwater Experiences in Australia | Great Barrier Reef, Best Australian Beaches & Dives | Vacation Deals

For the sixth consecutive year, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia has been named the world’s number one most livable city. This is according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), who each year compile a list of the most liveable cities. Not only that, Melbourne has taken a spot in at least the top 3 since the list began in 2002. So what makes a city “most livable” and what has given Melbourne an edge above in its six-year reign at the top of the list? It turns out that the answer may also make Melbourne the best city to visit in Australia.

No coincidence or luck of the draw, Melbourne’s spot at the top is based on real numbers and data. The EIU combine together metrics like culture and environment, education, infrastructure, stability, and healthcare to get a specific picture  of what life is like for the average Melbourne citizen. Despite Melbourne’s perfect scores in things like education and healthcare effecting locals more directly, there is an overall benefit to the city in terms of tourism as well, making it one of the most visited cities in Australia.

Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria and is the second most populated city in the country. Though it may not have the immediate name recognition of Aussie staples like Sydney, with its eponymous Opera House, Melbourne has consistently been recognized as a true global city. With a unique, rich cultural environment and renowned infrastructure and parks, Melbourne is not only a great place to live for locals, but the best city to visit in Australia for your next travel destination.

Culture – Sights and Sounds

Melbourne received a perfect 100 in the EIU’s “culture and environment” score, securing its place as a culturally rich destination. Melbourne is also recognized as the “cultural and sporting capital” of Australia – and for several years was named as the “World’s Ultimate Sports City”. Lending to this distinction is a diverse array of cultural institutions and a large number of museums, sporting facilities, festivals, street art and music venues. In fact, with a larger number of music venues per capita, Melbourne has actually surpassed Austin, TX, current reigning “live music capital of the world”. Nearly 500 venues dot the landscape of Melbourne, making live music a more than $1 billion industry.

The value of such a large focus on the music industry encompasses more than just the huge number of jobs and money injected in to the city. It also means that Melbourne is committed to making itself a destination city for arts and entertainment. Local hotels, bars, cafes, and restaurants are all trying to cater to Melbourne tourists. In Melbourne, so much activity happening means you don’t have to wait until the weekend for a night on the town. Even on a Monday, you can catch dinner and a show.

Whether it’s an intimate 50 person affair at The Old Bar in Fitzroy or a 5,000 person packed concert at the Festival Hall, Melbourne’s music scene is a must-see cultural institution. With such a large variety of venues, even a short stay in Melbourne can be enough to intimate yourself with the locals. A live concert allows you to view first-hand the type of cultural experience that makes Melbourne not only the best place to live in the world, but also the best city to visit in Australia.

Foodie Heaven

A sort of unsung hero in the foodie world, Melbourne is home to more than 5,000 cafes and restaurants. In fact, it has one of the highest numbers of restaurants and cafes per capita of any city in the world, more than even New York City. A large multi-cultural population, with residents from more than 140 nations, Melbourne’s food scene represents an eclectic and diverse smorgasbord of cuisine. Melbourne has hosted its own annual Food and Wine Festival since 1993. Each year, a growing number of attendees and chef-celebrities make their way to the city, solidifying its place as the food and wine capital of Australia.

First time visitors to Melbourne may in fact be overwhelmed by the array of options at their disposable. Full on foodies and the food-curious alike will find Melbourne to be the best city to visit in Australia, with no shortage of unique culinary experiences. Famed chefs and up and comers in the fine dining scene alike have found a place in Melbourne among a food landscape brimming with talent and options.

For those seeking a slightly more casual approach to dining in Melbourne, Melbourne’s café and coffee culture is also renowned the world over. Australia’s current coffee culture originated in the early 1950’s with an influx of European immigrants from places like Italy, France, and Turkey. Even though coffee has been available since the early 1800’s, it wasn’t until then that Australia and Melbourne in particular found its focus in high quality espresso drinks that were previously largely unavailable. A focus on unique, independent cafes and coffee shops over chains and franchises give each Melbourne café a unique impression of its surrounding neighborhood, giving visitors a proper feel of the local culture of the city.

The Garden City in the Garden State

Melbourne is known as “the garden city” within Victoria, which itself is “the garden state” of Australia. More than 1300 acres of green space are located in the city of Melbourne, nearly 15% of its total land area according to a study done by 202020 Vision. Public parks and gardens, some dating all the way back to 1862, account for a large percentage of green space in the city.  Attention to green spaces is a quality of life metric that tends to be an important indicator of satisfaction to residents of cities around the world and Melbourne excels at providing them.

 

The internationally renowned Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is a nearly 100 acre group of gardens on the bank to the south of the Yarra River that runs through center Melbourne. Attracting more than 1,000,000 local and non-local visitors every year, the Botanic Gardens contain over 10,000 species of plant, both native and non-native. Outdoor sculpture gardens that mix green space with art also dot the landscape of Melbourne both within and outside of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Infrastructure

Melbourne has a dense city center, along with an extensive network of public transportation, making its infrastructure some of the best in the world, with a perfect 100 EIU score. Progressive infrastructure and ongoing infrastructure improvements are a big reason Melbourne tops the list year after year. Visitors and locals alike largely prioritize a dense, connected public transit system. Featuring the largest tram network in the world, and an extensive network of regional and metro rail, Melbourne is the best city to visit in Australia especially for car-free touring.

The EIU also takes in to account more than 700 km of bike lanes and routes that were added in the past few years, with hopes to increase safety for those riding downtown or commuting by bike. While many of Melbourne’s outer suburbs are still car dependent, the city center is easily navigated and commuted by bicycle due to the lane upgrades implemented by the city. On top of the car-side bicycle lanes, there are a large number of cycling trails that go through many of the city’s parks, edging past laneways and hidden cafes.

These bike lane improvements make getting around the city easy for first time visitors, or those who return to Melbourne time and time again. One of the best ways to get around any city is by bicycle, and Melbourne is no exception. With the autonomy of a self-driven stay, the ease of not having to park and drive in an unfamiliar city, and the hop-on, hop-off convenience of a bus tour, both visitors and locals alike can enjoy this positive livability benefit. Melbourne may also just be the best city to visit in Australia by bike.

Best City to Live, Best City to Visit in Australia

It’s clear that Melbourne’s distinction as “most livable city” doesn’t just benefit people who live there already. The city’s diverse culture, progressive infrastructure, and focus on nature and green spaces prove to be important indicators of satisfaction to tourists as well. The best city to visit in Australia is one that combines cultural experiences with progressive transportation convenient for those traveling, and Melbourne has proven consistent at providing it all and more.

Make Melbourne a must-visit destination when you’re planning your next trip. It takes some of the best aspects of other Aussie cities and packages them in to a sort of condensed, greatest hits of Australia. Chances are you don’t have infinite time to spend on your next vacation and Melbourne is a great way to make the most use of the time you do have.

Start creating your memories of Melbourne now by letting us plan a trip for you.

Let’s Plan a Trip

Call us Toll Free at 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

The movie Lion was filmed in many locations. Much of Lion was filmed in India, but a large was filmed in pristine Tasmania. The Oscar nominated film, Lion is based on Saroo Brierley’s bestselling memoir, A Long Way Home, a story of survival and determination. The movie highlights his journey as a lost child in India finding a new home and family in Tasmania, Australia and then searching for his biological family as an adult.

As you watch the film, you can’t help but be amazed at the rugged splendor provided by Tasmania’s landscape, especially in the opening credits.  If you’re like us, this film makes you want to visit Tasmania and get to know her a little better. Even the cast and crew of Lion was taken in by Tasmania’s charm. Producer Angie Fielder told The Mercury: “Our cast absolutely love it. Rooney Mara, in fact has been saying repeatedly how beautiful it is. She can’t believe it.

“We’ve all been really enjoying the night life in the evenings – the restaurants, the delicious food, the fantastic wine. Everyone is ordering lots of oysters.

“Nicole (Kidman) has been here before, but she really thinks it’s great,

“Dev Patel [Slumdog Millionaire and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel] and Rooney Mara [The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo] are here for the first time and they’re blown away.”

Here are a few of Tasmania’s notable Lion scenes and how you can include them in your next vacation:

Lion Filming Locations

Kunanyi/Mt Wellington

In the movie, Dev Patel & Rooney Mara take a jog up a mountain and sit atop a mighty peak, overlooking Hobart city. This scene was filmed at Mt Wellington. It’s a favorite among locals and tourists alike.  Only 25 minutes from the city center, it’s a great place to watch the sun set, hike, and take a picnic. But you don’t have to jog up there. Many tours stop at the lookout. One of our favorites includes stops at Mt Field, Russell Falls and the Bonorong Wildlife Park.

The Candlestick & Cape Hauy

When watching the film, you can’t miss this shot with the towering spire and accompanying cape. This amazing coastal scenery is part of the Tasman Peninsula, just 90 minutes from Hobart.  The scenes where young Saroo, Nicole Kidman and David Wenham are sailing and playing cricket also take place on the Tasman Peninsula. There are a few ways you can take in this jaw-dropping view while you search for your own private beach. Cruise around the peninsula looking for fur seals, dolphins and sperm whales in a custom boat with an award winning tour company. You can experience the Tasman Sea intimately on a sea kayaking tour or take a four-day trek along the Three Capes Track.

 The Bruny Island Neck

Another great shot in Lion is of a narrow strip of land with turquoise sea on each side. This isthmus is known as the Bruny Island Neck and it joins open and airy North Bruny to the rainforested South Bruny. There’s a reason why this shot is showcased right before the family meets for a nice meal out. Bruny Island has some AMAZING food and dining experiences! Only a ferry away, the island is easily visited on a day trip from Hobart.

Foodies will love a full day tasting journey across the island as they nibble on local cheese, slurp fresh oysters and indulge in other gourmet vittles. This tour includes a climb up the 200+ steps for an unforgettable 360 view of the isthmus.  Those who love seafood would enjoy the Tasmanian Seafood Seduction where you’ll cruise around Bruny Island catching fresh seafood for a fabulous gourmet lunch. For those more interested in the wildlife around the island, there is an award-winning half-day Eco cruise where they can meet the Bruny Island seals, dolphins, whales, albatross, eagles, gannet, shearwater and petrel who live in this delicate ecosystem. You could also treat yourselves to something special with a scenic flight over the Neck to get this exact view.

Of course, Tasmania has much more to offer.  In recent years, Tasmania has been named by Travel + Leisure as the one of the world’s top ten islands and Lonely Planet recently ranked Tasmania as one of the top ten honeymoon islands.  Tasmania has some of the world’s best whisky, food & wine and the cleanest air on the planet.  You’ll love exploring Tasmania’s lovely terrain and learning about the island’s sorted past.

 

Are you ready to start planning your trip to Australia? Talk to one of our Destination Specialists today. We’ll make sure you have an ‘no worries, mate’ vacation!

Help Me Plan My Trip >>

Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

 

 

 

Kakadu National Park, located in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory, isn’t for everyone.

But if you have adventure in your heart, love nature and enjoy learning about ancient cultures, it’s one of the best places in the world! 

It’s one of those unique Australian destinations that is genuinely described as a very spiritual travel experience. With nearly 8,000 square miles of diverse wildness, this park holds a scared place with the Bininj/Mungguy people. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore this diverse natural wonderland and Aboriginal culture on your visit to Kakadu.

Here are a few things you might like to add to your bucket list and some tips for travel along the way!

Swimming Holes & Waterfalls!

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Kakadu is a tropical area with two distinct seasons, Wet & Hot (October – April) and Dry & Cool (May – September). But even in the middle of the dry season swimming holes can be found. While you may be tempted to take a dip in any old pool, it’s best to stick to the popular and monitored swimming holes. Kakadu, after all is known for its crocodiles! Always observe the warning signs.

Gunlom – A Pool with a View

Hidden at the top of a waterfall that can only be found after a steep hike, is an amazing little swimming hole with a view that can’t be beat!

Wangi Falls!

 

I’ve been in Darwin for 3 days now, and I’m all like “yeah, nah I’ll get burnt I’ll need to apply sunscreen at least 4 times per day”. Yet I’ve only applied once today and haven’t got burnt and haven’t tanned either. Wouldn’t call this a win, but also wouldn’t call it a lose. So here is a picture of me singing TLC, because, standard.

A post shared by Shauna McCrohan (@itsshaauna) on May 7, 2018 at 3:03am PDT

One of the most popular tourism attractions in the Top End, monitored by rangers, Wangi Falls is a great swimming hole with a charming waterfall and beautiful surrounds.  This guided tour takes you to Wangi Falls and other popular attractions in Kakadu within the Litchfield National Park.

Jim Jim Falls

A highlight for most travelers to the region, Jim Jim Falls (and Twin Falls) is not to be missed! It’s a bumpy ride and a pretty rocky walk to get to the falls, but most people find the sight to be worth the effort!  This is especially true right at the beginning of the dry season when the roads are open and the falls are still flowing heavily. They can pull back to a trickle pretty quickly after the rains stop.

Jim Jim Falls in the Wet Season – Epic!

 

Spectacular views like these are what rewards you when you take on a scenic flight with #KakaduAir. Soar over @Australia’s largest national park, follow the snaking rivers and look down on the ancient stone escarpments and waterfalls. A scenic flight is a truly unforgettable way to experience #Kakadu, wouldn’t you agree, @tassiegrammer? Cheers for tagging #NTaustralia. #TourismTopEnd #SeeAustralia #SeeKakadu A photo posted by Northern Territory – Australia (@ausoutbacknt) on Nov 9, 2016 at 6:25pm PST

Jim Jim Falls in the Dry Season – Still pretty great!

 

Taking in what Kakadu has to offer . . . . #kakadunationalpark #jimjimfalls #waterfall #nationalpark #kakadu #northernterritory #topend #topendtourism #tourismnt #pilot #bushpilot #aviation #scenic #picturesque #vsco #nikon

A photo posted by Michael (@sir_krunch) on Nov 11, 2016 at 5:16pm PST

Ubirr!

^{Image by: Michael Whitehead}

Ubirr is one of Kakadu’s unforgettable rocks. Located in the east region of the park, this ancient outcropping of rocks is known for its rock art and panoramic views. Inside several natural shelters you’ll find a collection of Aboriginal rock paintings, dated as far back as thousands of years!  Check out this Australian Outback itinerary which includes a guided tour of the area.

Ubirr sunsets are amazing!

 

Experience this spectacular and unforgettable top end sunset from #Ubirr. One of the three main rock art sites to visit within #Kakadu. Photo: @qantasholidays via #NTaustralia A photo posted by Northern Territory – Australia (@ausoutbacknt) on Feb 4, 2016 at 1:02am PST

Ubirr Rock Art – also amazing!

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Yellow Water Wetlands!

Part of South Alligator River floodplain, the Yellow Water provides the ultimate wildlife experience. Cruise the Yellow Water in a canopied boat to see crocodiles, jabirus, sea eagles, whistling kites and more!  This Outback wilderness itinerary includes a spectacular cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong.

Yellow Water Sunset

^{Image by: Muireann Ní Cheallacháin}

Yellow Water Calm

^{Image by: Alberto Otero García}

Forrest Kingfisher

 

Forrest kingfisher #australia #northernterritory #kakadunationalpark #mamukalawetlands #beautifulplace #ebs_fullframe #naturelovers #bird_brilliance #bird_lovers #bird #bird_photography #nikon_photography #jabiru #yellowwatercruise #photoshop #photographyislife #art

A photo posted by Sören Linde (@sorenlindephoto) on Nov 24, 2016 at 1:14am PST

Bird Watching – White Bellied Sea Eagle

 

A White Bellied Sea Eagle keeps watch over his domain in Kakadu National Park. #NTAustralia #SeeAustralia

A photo posted by Sam Loxton (@sloxton) on Nov 30, 2016 at 1:22pm PST

Epic Ariel Shots!

^{Image by: Alberto Otero García}

The remote beauty and diversity of Kakadu demands heli rides! If you’re going to take a scenic flight once in your life, Kakadu is a great place to do it. Just look at these amazing shots!

Twin Falls

 

#kakadu #darwin #australia #obsessedwithwaterfalls #latergram A photo posted by heathermcm1 (@heathermcm1) on Nov 18, 2016 at 6:18pm PST

Sandstone Cliffs

Wetlands

Alligator River

 

It was crazy flying over Kakadu, Australia’s largest terrestrial park. We saw massive sandstone cliffs, the East Alligator River & vast wetlands from above. It seemed to stretch on forever, and I loved seeing the park from a completely new perspective. What national parks have you flown over?! ✨ A photo posted by Jordan • Travel Blogger (@wheres_jordan) on Sep 30, 2016 at 10:01pm PDT

Termite mounds!

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Maybe seeing termite mounds doesn’t sounds like a great time to you. Well, you haven’t seen these termite mounds. You’ll surely be impressed and amazed at the architectural feats created by these tiny little bugs.

 

You’ll be dwarfed in comparison to the massive termite mounds of #Kakadu. Photo: @dgctravel via #NTaustralia A photo posted by Northern Territory – Australia (@ausoutbacknt) on May 10, 2016 at 11:05pm PDT

The Stars!

Consider an overnight stay in Kakadu to witness the amazing site of the night sky over Kakadu’s rough edges. Hotels and ‘glamping’ are both available!  Try this epic Australia Adventure with 2 nights in Kakadu.

 

A photo posted by Jetstar Asia (@jetstarasia) on Jul 8, 2016 at 3:06am PDT

 

A photo posted by KAKADU TOURISM (@kakadutourism) on Jan 25, 2016 at 1:47pm PST

 

Fogg Dam Starbow. Darwin Rural NT. #darwin #seeaustralia #tropical #stars #milkyway #outback #topendtweets #trees #australianlandscapes #outbackaustralia #northernterritory #topend #ruralaustralia #crocodiles #humptydoo A photo posted by Jacci Ingham (@jacciingham) on Jan 5, 2016 at 9:46pm PST

Crocodiles!

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Kakadu is not for the faint of heart. ‘Salties’ (Saltwater Crocs) as well as their more docile cousins, freshwater crocodiles, are found in the waters of Kakadu in extraordinary numbers. Saltwater Crocodiles are the world’s largest living reptiles. On average the crocs in Kakadu are about 16 feet, but they can grow to 20 feet and weight over a ton! You can see the salties jump on this Jumping Croc & Nature Adventure tour out of Darwin. Stay safe in Kakadu while you enjoy the awe inspiriting site of salties in the wild!

Bathing Crocodile

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Saltie Spotting

 

Croc spotting in Kakadu with @wildlandsnt #kakadu #kakadunationalpark #crocodile #explore #discover #travel #seeaustralia #northernterritory #thetopend A photo posted by nat22 (@natta_221) on Sep 25, 2016 at 1:54am PDT

Are you ready to start planning your trip to Australia? Talk to one of our Destination Specialists today. We’ll make sure you have an ‘no worries, mate’ vacation!

Help Me Plan My Trip >>

Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

Bonus!

Can’t get enough jumping crocs?  Push play to see salties jump out of the water in slow-motion!

A journey to Tasmania isn’t complete without a tour of the dramatic rugged coast, aquatic wildlife & the historic Port Arthur. This cruise manages to pack it all in and they do it very well! Not only is this tour listed as the #1 tour in Hobart on TripAdvisor, but the tour’s operator is listed in Tourism Australia’s Hall of fame! Here’s one you’ll remember for a lifetime!

Australia Open promises to be an amazing time for tennis-lovers, their families and those in search of fun

^{Image By: JoJo on flickr.com}

In Melbourne, the Australian Open isn’t only about tennis. Although, that’s a huge part of it. The Australian Open is really about fun and entertainment. This year, Melbourne’s biggest party just got bigger with amazing news for tennis enthusiasts as well as those just looking for a good time!  Experiencing the Australia Open is just one of many reasons to travel to Australia.

 

Tennis elites confirmed for the 2017 Australian Open tournament

According to the Herald Sun, “Grand slam record-holders Roger Federer and Serena Williams and defending champions Angelique Kerber and Novak Djokovic will lead a glittering parade [of tennis elites] from January 16-29.”

^{Image via TrollTennis on Facebook.com}

Free AO Festival at Birrarung Mar

^{Image via Australian Open on Facebook.com}
The Australian Open will return with a free two day opening festival, providing entertainment and tennis viewing for the whole family on the upper and lower levels of Birrarung Mar – including access to some of Melbourne’s best food trucks.   Those with ground passes to the Australian Open will also enjoy some of Australia’s biggest bands at “The Open Sessions” on the middle terrace.

Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said, “We’ve seen that fans flock to the Australian Open not just for the world class tennis but also the fantastic party atmosphere as seen at the AO Festival in 2016. We’re excited by our new look to the site and know that the fans are going to love the carnival atmosphere that goes with it.”

For the first time, the AO Festival will be hosted at Birrarung Mar, a brilliant and well planned outdoor venue on the banks of the Yarra River with 3 levels.   The venue also has many interesting pieces of public art, some celebrating the diversity of Victoria’s Indigenous culture.

A Great Time for the Whole Family – Kids Tickets are Just $5

^{Image via Australian Open on Facebook.com}
This year, children are invited to attend the Australian Open for just $5 (apart for Jan 21 & 22). The $5 ground pass, for children 3 – 14 years of age, not only offers access to the sporting event but also provides entry into a mini theme park called “The Ballpark”. For the first time, the Australian Open will offer all-day entertainment to young tennis fans. Kids can look forward to things like:

• LEGO World
• NERF Battlezone
• ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Fan Zone
• Adventure Park
• $5 Food Options
• Free fruit from Woolworths
• And More!

Kid’s Tennis Day will also return with free entry for children under 15 and access to the Kid’s Tennis Day Rod Laver Arena Spectacular featuring some of the world’s best tennis players.

“We want kids to be able to see their idols in action and inspire them to get involved in tennis. The new kids’ zone, the Ballpark, will have heaps of fun activities, kid-friendly food options, along with the opportunity to actually play tennis, as well as a few surprises. We can’t wait to welcome more kids to Australian Open 2017 and will continue to offer world class entertainment at family-friendly prices,” said Craig Tiley

The Australian Open will be in Melbourne from January 16th – January 29th 2017 with the AO Festival taking place on January 14th & 15th.

Would you like to travel to Australia to experience the Australia Open?   We can help you plan your trip and book your Australian Open tickets.

Help Me Plan My Trip

Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

You may also like: The Australia Open on Melbourne.com

How to see the best of Australia on a short vacation to Cairns

We’re continuing our blog series, Things to Do in Australia, where we outline how you can see all the major Australian Highlights on a short vacation while staying in just one or two cities. So far we’ve talked about how you can see Beaches & Aquatic Life, Wildlife, Rainforest, Outback, Food & Wine, Modern City Culture & Art and Indigenous Culture in the cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

Today we look at one of the most famous gateways to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns (pronounced “cans”). Cairns is a stylish city in Tropical North Queensland. It’s a relaxed city with great food and an laid back atmosphere. Just outside of Cairns you’ll find the only place in the world where two World Heritage Sites meet. You can dive the depths of the Great Barrier Reef or soar above the world’s oldest tropical rainforest.

Here are things you can do in Cairns to hit all the major Australian highlights.

Beaches & Aquatic Life

No visit to Cairns is complete without a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many ways you can experience the Great Barrier Reef.

Go snorkeling, or go diving.

Our Instructor Raoul having a lot of fun today @greatbarrierreefqld #thisisqueensland in #australia #deepseadiversden

A photo posted by Divers Den (@deepseadiversden) on Feb 29, 2016 at 12:30am PST

My dive buddy is bigger than yours! They don’t call it great for nothin! What a magical place @tropicalnorthqueensland is. #wally #exploretnq #exploreGBR #seeaustralia #deepseadiversden A photo posted by Divers Den (@deepseadiversden) on Feb 26, 2016 at 10:22pm PST

G’Day everyone !! #deepseadiversden #greatbarrierreef #thisisqueensland

A photo posted by Fabio Bispo (@fabiozerocal) on Apr 26, 2015 at 2:39am PDT

Fly over the Great Barrier Reef in a helicopter.

Austrália – Grande Recife de Corais A photo posted by Mochileiras de Batom (@mochileiras_de_batom) on Jan 2, 2016 at 12:38am PST

Stay dry in a glass bottom boat.

Glass bottom boating over the Great Barrier Reef by Green Island! #greenisland #greatbarrierreef #coral #reef #glassbottomboat #bigcatgreenisland #whereistand #myview #beautiful #amazing #cairns #qld #queensland #eastcoast #australia A photo posted by Emma (@iamemma_) on Nov 12, 2015 at 5:10pm PST

Fly through the water on a seabob

So have you try the coolest underwater jet snorkeling adventure yet? Only available on #reefmagic and #fitzroyisland in #cairns ! Lot of fun guaranteed !!! #seabobaustralia #seabob #sea #padi #snorkel #snorkeling #freediving #followme #underwaterpic #underwaterjet #exploreqld #tropicalnorthqueensland #thisisqueensland #queensland #greatbarrierreef #corals #downunder #nemo #findingnemo #explore #exploretnq #australia #happiness #adventure #travel #bestactivity

A photo posted by SEABOB Australia (@seabobaustralia) on Nov 2, 2015 at 1:59pm PST

Go Fishing . Some of the biggest marlins in the world are caught off the coast of Cairns.

ALL TIME || Photo taken by @kelldallfall aboard PELAGIC Pro Team Captain Luke Fallon’s KEKOA during the annual giant black marlin migration off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. #PELAGICWORLDWIDE #Australia #GreatBarrierReef #BlackMarlin A photo posted by Pelagic Gear (@pelagicgear) on Aug 9, 2016 at 9:32am PDT

Find Nemo.

made by @deepseadiversden – We found Nemo, actually a lot of them !! They don’t call it GREAT for nothing. #exploretnq #australia #deepseadiversden #thisisqueensland #greatbarrierreef #seeaustralia #yulialaymina #underwater_world_

A photo posted by Yulia Laymina(@underwater_world_) on Aug 12, 2016 at 3:11am PDT

Meet turtles.

Heres the original of the black and white i recently posted. I often saw this very same turtle at breaking patches, GBR, and i could tell this due to a few small white patches at the bottom of his carapace. He would see me (as he has just done in this photo) and literally change directions and swim right up to me. I felt a genuine connection with this wild animal as id see him every couple of days. Such beautiful creatures. A photo posted by uri hancock (@above_and_below_photography) on Aug 12, 2016 at 3:15am PDT

the friendliest sea turtle

A photo posted by Leah Molofsky (@lmo64) on Jul 7, 2014 at 8:44am PDT

Swim with dolphins.

Flipper saying hello from the Great Barrier Reef! My first encounter with a wild Dolphin today, diving at Thetford Reef with @tusadive. What an amazing and unexpected experience!************************************************ Canon 5D Mk2, 35mm, ISO 250, 1/160 sec @ f8 in an Aquatica u/w housing. ************************************************ #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #australiagram #ig_australia #hellobluey #exploreaustralia #exploringaustralia #aussiephotos #greatbarrierreef #dolphin #padi #thebest_capture #natureglobepix #ig_naturelovers #ig_captures #ig_today #allnatureshots #openmyworld #animals_in_world #amazing_pictures #worldbestgram #special_shots #cool_capture_ #ig_great_pics #earth_deluxe #nature_wizards #animalsaddict #animalpanet_fan #exploretnq #andrewwatsonphotography A photo posted by Andrew Watson (@andrewwatsonphoto) on Jan 10, 2016 at 1:06am PST

Go whale watching.

More whales today #greatbarrierreef #thisisqueensland @orpheusisland

A photo posted by Ross Penegar (@rosspenegar) on Aug 12, 2016 at 2:33am PDT

Head to the beach. Well, there are no real beaches in the city of Cairns. There is a man-made lagoon by the shore- Cairns Esplanade.

Beautiful day at the Lagoon A photo posted by Dylan van Dijk (@dylanvandijk) on Aug 1, 2015 at 6:56pm PDT

If you’re craving some time on the beach, head just outside Cairns to get your toes in the sand.

Two hours south of Cairns you’ll find Mission Beach .

With over 14km of pristine sandy beaches, you’ll be able to find a spot that you don’t have to share with anyone except the palm trees at Mission Beach in @tropicalnorthqueensland Find your way down the Cassowary Coast by driving just two hours south of #Cairns. the picture of paradise by @theyogiandthechef #exploretnq #thisisqueensland

A photo posted by #thisisqueensland (@queensland) on Aug 11, 2016 at 7:26pm PDT

Head north towards Port Douglas to visit the famous Four Mile Beach

Great view #portdouglas #beach #4milebeach #northqueensland #northofcairns #beautiful #paradise #palmtrees #blueskies #tropical #humid #nicememories #spentwithfriends #mountains #somuchgreenery #awesome #backpacking #australia #2016 A photo posted by Dale Laing (@djlaing24) on Aug 4, 2016 at 7:03am PDT

Closer to Cairns you’ll find Palm Cove.

Who wants to be laying in this hammock .?

A photo posted by Lisa Hill Photography (@lisahill555) on Aug 11, 2016 at 11:57am PDT

For an island getaway, take a sail boat out to Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef.

A trip to #LowIsles is in order this wknd Photo by @vaccas #exploreTNQ A photo posted by #exploreTNQ (@tropicalnorthqueensland) on Jul 28, 2016 at 7:20pm PDT

Wildlife

Cairns and the surrounding areas provide many opportunities to see and learn about the tropical wildlife of the region.

Get up close and personal some of Australia’s most precious and beautiful birds in their rainforest habitat at Birdworld Kuranda.

Birds!!! #tenorpårejse #australia #Kuranda #fugleneelskermig #eventyr

A photo posted by Mathias Hedegaard (@danishtenor) on Jul 1, 2016 at 10:07pm PDT

Clawdia was very excited about her new fascinator which she intended to wear at the Birdsville Races. A photo posted by @meerkatharry on Jul 10, 2016 at 2:40pm PDT

Meet Kanagroos and cuddle a Koala at the Kuranda Koala Gardens

Yes we Kan! #tbt #australia #kangaroo A photo posted by Daniel Cat (@danicatbh) on Aug 11, 2016 at 3:30pm PDT

Closer to the city, visit the Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome. Located in a glass dome on top of the Reef Hotel Casino, the Cairns Wildlife Dome lets you get close to cute rainforest animals as they roam freely through their enclosures.

A photo posted by 조 영령 (@1996cm92kg) on Jun 10, 2016 at 1:33am PDT

A post shared by Akira Hirayama (@9rama) on Oct 30, 2017 at 12:53am PDT

Zip line through the trees.

Zip-line #zoom #cairns #qld #seeaustralia #holiday A photo posted by Laura Fazekas (@lozza261990) on Apr 19, 2014 at 9:27pm PDT

Meet a crocodile.

Just a SNAPPY visit to see my mate Goliath the croc at the Cairns Casino today. Our catch up went SWIMMINGLY thanks for asking! #punisher #zoo #cairnslife @jordanademos

A photo posted by ᗷEᑎᒍᗩᗰIᑎ ᗪᗩY (@ben_acaibrothers) on Feb 22, 2016 at 10:58pm PST

Or trick your friends into thinking you were almost eaten by a crocodile.

Today I almost got eaten by a crocodile! #closecall A photo posted by Ashley (@aheisner) on Feb 19, 2014 at 2:17am PST

Just north of Cairns, visit Hartley’s Creek for a huge, multifaceted wildlife experience at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, Hartley’s Night Adventures and Zootastic Wildlife Encounters. Here you can… See a famous crocodile feeding show…

One more pre-ride and then time to channel my inner crocodile at the first World Cup this Sunday. #mtbworldcup #apexpredator

A photo posted by Georgia Gould (@georgenka) on Apr 22, 2016 at 3:37am PDT

Take a selfie with a Kangaroo…

I didnt know that kangourou selfie was a thing . . . #enjoyeachday

A photo posted by Catherine Fleury (@catherinefleury) on Apr 25, 2016 at 12:35am PDT

Touch a baby crocodile…

Pat the croc #tattoo #tattoos #tats #tattoocollector #tattoomachine #tattooflash #flashart #ink #inked #graffiti #graff #ironlak #talnts #talnt #muscle #muscleshit #witnessthefitness #macros #moree #melburn #Melbourne #moreemadness A photo posted by Daniel (@bigdan1989) on Jun 30, 2016 at 1:22pm PDT

Cuddle a Koala…

Can we take him home dad? My little angels getting up and close with one of the more friendly residents at Hartleys Crocodile Farm #stroudsonholiday #hartleyscrocodileadventures

A photo posted by Stephen Stroud (@stephenjstroud) on Jun 19, 2016 at 1:50am PDT

Hold a snake…

I can’t believe these kids. #nofear #didntevenhesitate #snakesalive #blackheadedpython A photo posted by Joanna Stevens Kramer (@jstevenskramer) on Jun 18, 2016 at 4:35pm PDT

And hug a Wombat.

The wombats are real friendly up here! Tonka the wombat getting some midday pats.

A photo posted by Jackie Schapel (@jacschaps) on May 2, 2016 at 10:27pm PDT

Rainforest

Cairns is, hands-down, the best place in Australia to see the rainforest. Just north of Cairns you’ll find Kuranda, a beautiful village hidden in the tropical rainforest. Here you can experience the rainforest and it’s culture. The best part is the journey to the village. You get to ride on the Skyrail through the rainforest!

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child, with excitement and endless imagination! Do you remember how you felt seeing the #rainforest for the very first time? Photo by @donnaboerema #skyrail cairns #exploretnq #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #qldparks #kuranda A photo posted by Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (@skyrailcairns) on May 30, 2016 at 8:45pm PDT

On the way, stop at 2 rainforest stations…

Red Peak…

#cairns #kuranda #redpeak #redpeakstation #boardwalk #nature #rainforest #jungle #queensland #whereelsebutqueensland #australia #visitaustralia #tourist #travel #travelinstagram #backtonature #trees #nature #naturalbeauty

A post shared by Maria Diana (@randomdede) on May 30, 2016 at 3:59am PDT

And Barron Falls.

Today in the #rainforest it rained and the #barronfalls look magical! View by #skyrail #cairns staff member Rob Kitto #exploretnq #thisisqueensland #qldparks #kuranda #seeaustralia A photo posted by Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (@skyrailcairns) on Dec 23, 2015 at 6:55pm PST

In Kuranda, check out the Village Centre, markets, Butterfly Sanctuary and more.

#kuranda #village #beautiful #vacay #love #fun

A photo posted by Rachelle ™ ♔ (@rach_elle89xo) on Aug 6, 2016 at 6:03pm PDT

Then, head back to Cairns on a scenic railway ride.

not an ordinary train ride A photo posted by Anne Hartung (@anne_lieschen) on Aug 7, 2016 at 5:59am PDT

Further north, past Port Douglas, you’ll find the oldest rainforest in the world, Daintree. There are many ways you can explore Daintree.

Take a guided walk through the jungle.

Chippy with the rope assist climbing Mt Sorrow in the Upper Daintree.

A photo posted by (@lewis.mcpherson) on Aug 7, 2016 at 10:31pm PDT

Stand in the only spot in the world where two World Heritage Sites meet at Cape Tribulation

& A photo posted by natalie rull (@natalierull) on Jul 26, 2016 at 11:16pm PDT

Go Jungle Surfing.

Seb- hanging around jungle surfing, last week at the Daintree – such an awesome adventure, no fear for a 4 year old!!! #Daintree #junglesurfing #letourdeoz #tawk #fun #adventure #upsidedown #queensland

A photo posted by Grammare Family (@le_tour_de_oz) on Jul 26, 2016 at 9:03pm PDT

Cruise through the forest on the river.

Another beautiful evening at the one and only Daintree River Cruise Centre. #crocs #daintreerainforest #cruise #river #birds #fish #winter #schoolbreak #havefun #beautiful A photo posted by Daintree River Cruise Centre (@daintreerivercruisecentre) on Jul 1, 2016 at 12:52am PDT

Ride a horse.

Just a normal day riding in the world’s oldest rainforest #lifebetweentheears #trailriding #horses #horsebackriding #daintreerainforest #capetribulation #tropicalnorthqueensland #queensland #australia

A photo posted by Tiina M. (@tiina_erika) on Jul 25, 2016 at 1:12am PDT

Just explore the beauty!

Never stop exploring getting lost in a rainforest, climbing up some trees, crossing rivers, never knowing what’s up next – seems like the perfect day to me #daintree #daintreerainforest #daintreeriver #cairns #qld #australia #neverstopexploring #explore #natureaddict #naturelovers #outdoorlover #outdoors #rainforest #trees #travellerlife #travel #adventure I’d love to share with you #wimm #4weeks+x

A photo posted by Nicole Biolik (@kleinesnue) on Aug 12, 2016 at 6:04am PDT

Inside a strangular fig tree, #rainforestmagic by @arianacottam A photo posted by Destination Daintree (@destinationdaintree) on Aug 12, 2016 at 4:22am PDT

Revisiting the site of one of my favourite pees. #mossmangorge #queensland #daintree #cairns #river #rocks #travelgram #australia

A photo posted by Dan McConnell (@iamdanmac) on Aug 12, 2016 at 3:48am PDT

Outback

Visit the green jungle one day and head out to the red Outback the next on a day trip to Chillagoe- Mungana Caves Park.

Sunday Drives Took us WestDancing Down the Road to the Sound of the Birds Singing @khyorchard #ExploreTNQ #ThisIsQueensland #SeeAustralia @TropicalNorthQueensland A photo posted by LAUREN BULLEN (@gypsea_lust) on May 17, 2015 at 1:47pm PDT

Amazing how deep and rich the colours of an outback sunset really are.. #outbackaustralia #thisisqueensland #australia #abandoned #miningtown #sunset #lastlight #hemamaps #explorefnq #wow #keepqueenslandbeautiful #thisisliving #explore #stunning #canon_photos #canon #rich #landscape #itsamazingoutthere #sociallifeaustralia #ig_australia #instagood #cruisingaustralia #australia_shotz

A photo posted by Ben Cashell Imagery (@ben_cashell_imagery) on Aug 5, 2016 at 10:33pm PDT

Admiring the #aboriginal #rockart on the overhang above as we enjoy the view towards #chillagoe The Ramparts. #exploringaustralia #thisisqueensland #QldParks #seeaustralia #ausfeels A photo posted by Jodi Noden (@happycoconut_) on Oct 7, 2015 at 6:02am PDT

En na een dagje rondrijden in de hitte is een bezoekje aan wat grotten een leuke afkoeling.

A photo posted by Pjoter (@pfvermeulen) on Sep 21, 2015 at 11:16pm PDT

Food & Wine

Cairns has a fix for every foodie and lover of wine. They also have an established coffee shop scene that not only serves up amazing coffee, but also yummy small plates. Head to Grafton Street and Spence Street for a variety of trendy spots.

Quick breakfast before opening the gates to graffiti alley…. It may be raining but there is plenty of room so come down dry off and chill out with the crew @caffiend_cairns See you soon A photo posted by Caffiend in Cairns (@caffiend_cairns) on Aug 6, 2016 at 2:59pm PDT

For a memorable evening meal, head to The Esplanade. You’ll find a fine selection of eateries along the waterfront. The seafood is especially delicious.

A photo posted by ASG (@alex_chayce) on Jan 13, 2016 at 7:21pm PST

For an amazing steak, head to Waterbar & Grill.

DAY NINETEEN AND TWENTY- 14/03-15/03 Renegade Diet. “If a meal has no meat on it, it’s a snack” FOOD- 0430 black coffee 0630 black coffee 1100 Nuzest shake 1400 4 eggs, shaved ham, 15 cashews, 1 cup kale 1600 3 eggs, shaved ham, 1 cup kale 1900 1 x bowl of nacho mince, sour cream, guacamole 2000 1 x Paleo brownie and coconut yoghurt TRAINING- CrossFit Open Workout 14.3 NOTE- Pre Renegade diet I had a full medical with a doctor. Long story short, regardless of my extremely high fat diet I.e all the fat on my meat, lots of ghee, oils, nuts etc both LDL and HDL cholesterol readings were extremely low (doctor says, you must have a really low fat diet?) FML! However my Urea percentage was pinging high (Urea= meat intake) may have something to do with the Ribs addiction #waterbar #bbq #ribs #meat #urea #ldl #hdl #fat #coconut #oil #renegadediet #crossfitopen #14.3 #food #protein A photo posted by JamieMilneTraining (@jamiemilnetraining) on Mar 15, 2014 at 5:16am PDT

For great seafood and a lovely view, head to Salt House.

Sun downers

A photo posted by Mark Griffiths (@markgriffiths2016) on Jul 25, 2016 at 1:04am PDT

Modern City Culture & Art

Cairns is a laidback city with a lively nightlife. It has a large creative scene and several festivals that celebrate the culture of the city. See Cairn’s contemporary art at KickArts. The museum also host workshops where you can make your own art.

Benjamin Werner’s drawing workshop with the Boston Consulting Group is underway in Gallery Two! #kickarts #kickin #benjaminwerner #lightrain #drawingworkshop #bostonconsultinggroup #gallerytwo @bcg @benjaminwerner_ A photo posted by KickArts Contemporary Arts (@kickartscairns) on Aug 9, 2016 at 10:26pm PDT

At the Cairns Regional Gallery see the works of art by National and International artists, with a strong focus on local and indigenous works.

Claudia Moodoonuthi’s experimental furniture pieces received plenty of attention from huge #ciaf audiences over the weekend. These forms pay homage to her Kaiadilt aunties who raised her when she was young and map the landscape of their Bentinck Island homelands. #bentinckisland #claudiamoodoonuthi #cairnsregionalgallery #alcastongallery #contemporaryfurniture #kaiadiltpeople ・・・ Thanks @hamishsawyer #repost. Painted sculptural furniture by Claudia Moodoonuthi @cairnsregionalgallery

A photo posted by Cairns Regional Gallery (@cairnsregionalgallery) on Jul 18, 2016 at 10:14pm PDT

Visit The Esplanade for public art.

Public art with presence:- #cairns #northqueensland #cairnswaterfront #philippogson A photo posted by Philip Pogson (@philippogson) on May 10, 2016 at 12:38am PDT

Indigenous Culture

Cairns is a wonderful place to learn about Australia’s Indigenous Culture. The local Aboriginal people have lived on the land continuously for over 40,000 years. The area is steeped in storytelling, art and eye-opening cultural experiences.

Take an Indigenous tour of Daintree. Take a walkabout learn about bush foods and the uses for native plants. Catch your own mud crab for lunch!

That time I went spear fishing with Brandon Walker, one of the traditional custodians of the Mossman and Cooya lands. I joined his cultural habitat tour and we spent the afternoon spearfishing, mud crab hunting and feasting together at his house afterwards. It was an incredible tour. I loved the experience so much. It’s just north of Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland. I was completely useless and was star struck with how effortlessly Brandon could see and spear a fish. He’d speared it before I could even see the fish move. His daughter was just as good. -Caz #ThisisQueensland #SeeAustralia #Queensland #Australia

A photo posted by Caz & Craig yTravelBlog (@ytravelblog) on Jul 26, 2016 at 6:12pm PDT

Head to Tjapukai to get a deeper understanding of Australia’s diverse Aboriginal heritage. Visit by Day.

Apparently I’m a natural when it comes to spear throwing. Not so great with the #boomerang though. Guess I’ll be the one bringing home the bacon in this tribe. Hah! #maddyjasonarnoldinqueensland #becausewecairns #thisisqueensland A photo posted by Maddy Barber, Kiss92 FM (@maddybarber) on Jun 4, 2015 at 6:20pm PDT

Spent a bit of time with this fella today. He’s cool as A photo posted by Ieuan (@welshboy69) on May 6, 2016 at 3:19am PDT

Or by Night.

Yes I did help create this fire #imaworimiwoman #tjapukaibynight

A photo posted by tanikaleepearce (@tanikaleepearce) on Jun 4, 2016 at 3:46am PDT

We were totally wowed by the total legends at @tjapukai_australia’s Night Fire who shared with us their ancient Indigenous legends. #awesome

A photo posted by Aleney de Winter (@boyeatsworld) on Feb 27, 2016 at 4:41am PST

A trip to Cairns and Tropical North Queensland should defiantly be on your bucket list. Are you ready for your Australian Adventure? Let us help you plane a trip of a lifetime!

Get-A-Trip-Quote or Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

Also See:

Things to do in Australia | A Sydney Vacation with All the Australian Highlights

Things to do in Australia | A Melbourne Vacation with All the Australian Highlights

Things to do in Australia | An Adelaide Vacation with All The Australian Highlights

Coming Soon:

Things to do in Australia | A Brisbane Vacation with All the Australian Highlights

Things to do in Australia | A Perth Vacation with All the Australian Highlights.

How to see the best of Australia on a short vacation to Adelaide.

Today we continue our Things to Do in Australia blog series. In this series we outline how you can see all the major Australia Highlights in a short vacation, staying in just one or two Australian cities. We’ve shown how you can see Beaches & Aquatic Life, Wildlife, Rainforest, Outback, Food & Wine, Modern City Culture & Art and Indigenous Culture in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Today we take a look a the little capital city with a big heart in South Australia, Adelaide.

Adelaide is a safe, clean, compact and well planned city with a vibrant food and art scene. Outside of Adelaide, you’ll find the best Australian wine region and a most amazing wildlife sanctuary – Kangaroo Island.

Here are things you can do in Adelaide to see all the major Australian highlights.

Beaches & Aquatic Life

Situated on Gulf St. Vincent, Adelaide provides access to a number of excellent swimming beaches.

Glenelg is a short (free) tram ride from the city’s center.

Dat coastline. #straya #latergram #adelaide #sa #southaustralia #australia #seeaustralia #coast

A photo posted by Melissa (@pulloutmyinsidesagain) on Dec 30, 2015 at 8:43pm PST

Still close to the city, but often a bit quieter is Brighton Beach with its old fashioned jetty, cafes and restaurants. Get away from it all for a few hours.

#Australia A photo posted by Arie Partouche (@arie1partouche) on Apr 18, 2016 at 7:12am PDT

Henley is another option, close to Adelaide and child friendly.

#henleybeach #adelaide #southaustralia #southaustralianbeaches #seeaustralia @southaustralia #aussiephotos

A photo posted by @capturedbyalicia on Jun 29, 2016 at 5:35am PDT

For a little surfing and/or adventure head to Southport Beach.

SA is alright ☀️ A photo posted by Eden Harper (@edenharper) on Oct 6, 2015 at 3:22am PDT

Beach visits offer opportunities to see a variety of aquatic life.

How fantastic to get so close up to this lovely creature off Semaphore jetty. Fab by @cazavi14

A photo posted by Play & Go for Families in SA (@playandgoadelaide) on Jun 22, 2016 at 3:56am PDT

Head to Kangaroo Island to see even more! Like this little sea lion pup.

When you’re this cute, you can sleep wherever you like! This gorgeous sea lion pup normally lives on the beach at Seal Bay on @authentickangarooisland, but ventured a little off the beaten track to find itself a comfier spot. You can walk among the Australian sea lions colony on a guided tour and see more of these beautiful creatures up close and in their natural environment. It’s an experience that makes Kangaroo Island a bucket-list destination. Pic: @kangarooislandodysseys [Location: 35 minute flight (or 2.5hrs drive/ferry) from #Adelaide in #SouthAustralia ] A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Jun 22, 2016 at 4:58am PDT

Or these guys…

“Mwah, love you mum!” Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there. This beautiful pic of a tender moment between an Australian sea lion pup and its mum is thanks to tour guide and wildlife photographer @nikkiki73. Working with @kangarooislandodysseys, Nikki’s job is the envy of many – with @Authentickangarooisland as her “office”, she sees unspoilt landscapes and all sorts of wildlife as part of her daily job! “We certainly get to see the best nature”, Nikki says, considering herself “very lucky”. Visit Kangaroo Island and you’ll see why it’s regarded as a zoo without fences. [ Location: 35 minutes flight from #Adelaide, #SouthAustralia to Kingscote. Or 2.5hrs drive/ferry ] ​

A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on May 7, 2016 at 2:49pm PDT

Or even dolphins!

This photo makes us feel happy, how about you? Just imagine how happy you’d be if you saw up to 100 of these beautiful dolphins, jumping, splashing and frolicking around in the clear waters off the northern coast of @authentickangarooisland. Join a dolphin cruise with @kimarineadventures and you’re almost guaranteed to see a pod of dolphins. Channel your inner mermaid (or merman) and join them for a swim. Pic: @kangarooislandodysseys [Location: 35 minute flight (or 2.5hrs drive/ferry) from #Adelaide in #SouthAustralia ] ​ A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Apr 5, 2016 at 3:04am PDT

Visit Port Noarlunga reef aquatic reserve, just 45 minutes from Adelaide.

We love this photo by @dhdarts who spotted this dolphin duo cruising the Christies Beach reef, just off coast of one of Adelaide’s most popular southern beaches. Part of the Port Noarlunga reef aquatic reserve – just a 45 minute drive from the Adelaide CBD – the reef is also home to more than 60 species of fish and is an amazing place to snorkel or scuba dive – especially when you have these beautiful creatures joining you. Closer to the city at Glenelg beach, join a cruise with @temptationsailing and you’ll see even more pods of dolphins just off shore from the popular swimming beach. [Location: Port Noarlunga is a 45 minute drive from #Adelaide in #SouthAustralia. Glenelg is just 25 minutes drive from the CBD ]​

A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Jun 4, 2016 at 2:47pm PDT

Just keep swimming … towards Port Noarlunga jetty at one of Adelaide’s most popular southern beaches. Under the surface of the water, and not far from shore, this is what you might see…a natural reef which is home to more than 60 fish species, including these little beauties. Grab your snorkel, flippers or scuba-diving gear and go for a swim – you won’t be disappointed. Pic: @freediveraustralia [Location: 35 minutes drive from #Adelaide in #SouthAustralia ] A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Apr 27, 2016 at 7:51pm PDT

Wildlife

Adelaide wins the wildlife category in this series. Adelaide is your gateway to Kangaroo Island, one the world’s great nature-based destinations with sea lions basking on unsoiled white beaches, koalas dozing in lofty trees, pelicans gliding across shimmering lagoons and kangaroos wandering on rolling hill. It’s a zoo without fences that any nature lover will enjoy. Stay on the island or take a day trip.

“Just so you know, I’m not moving.” When you live on @authentickangarooisland, you’re bound to have some animal visitors drop by every now and then – and that’s exactly what happened to Andrew Neighbour of @kimarineadventures. He came home from work, where a normal day involves watching pods of dolphins swim around in the clear waters off the northern coast of the island, only to find this very special guest on his roof! It’s no wonder Kangaroo Island is regarded as a zoo without fences. [Location: 35 minute flight (or 2.5hrs drive/ferry) from #Adelaide in #SouthAustralia ]​​

A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Jun 6, 2016 at 4:24am PDT

That’s what we call bright eyed and bushy tailed! . Image courtesy: @rudidownunder . #StokesBay #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #authenticKI A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on May 19, 2016 at 2:31pm PDT

The facial markings on this ‘Kangaroo Island’ kangaroo are almost tribal! . Stunning capture by @doug_gimesy . #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia

A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Mar 29, 2016 at 11:32pm PDT

Echidnas are quite active on the island at the moment – so keep your eyes peeled when you take a stroll . This cheeky one is named Snorkel and you can visit him at the @kiwildlifepark . #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Mar 29, 2016 at 11:16pm PDT

Win a bottle of ‪#‎authenticKI‬ wine this Valentine’s Day to share with your beloved. . All you need to do is head over to our Facebook page and enter the competition (the link is in our bio ) . You have until midnight on Friday 19th February 2106 to enter. Good luck! . Image courtesy: @nikkiki73 of @kangarooislandodyssesys . ‪ #‎SealBay‬ ‪#‎KangarooIsland‬ ‪#‎SouthAustralia‬ ‪#‎Australia‬ @SouthAustralia @Australia @BrandSouthAustralia @GlamAdelaide

A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Feb 13, 2016 at 7:16am PST

Morning already? Maybe just hit the snooze button for an extra five minutes sleep. . . Image courtesy: @nikkiki73 of @kangarooislandodysseys . #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #seeAustralia #insideSouthAustralia #authenticKI A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Jan 26, 2016 at 12:17pm PST

Another stunning day on the North Coast of Kangaroo Island! . This photo shows just how close you can get to wild dolphins on your marine tour. Our jet boat has no propellors and the #dolphins #love to come close to get a spa bath! . Image courtesy: Pete Dobre @awesomeskies via @kimarineadventures . #‎KangarooIsland‬ ‪#‎SouthAustralia‬ ‪#‎Australia‬ ‪#‎seeAustralia‬‪ #‎insideSouthAustralia‬ ‪#‎authenticKI‬

A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Jan 16, 2016 at 3:44pm PST

The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park is one of the best places on the island to get up close and personal with a wide range of native Australian fauna, reptiles and birdlife. Cuddle a koala, feed a kangaroo or hold a snake! . Located in the heartland of Kangaroo Island near Parndana . Open 9am to 5pm every day of the year (including Christmas Day) . Image courtesy: @kiwildlifepark . ‪ #‎Parndana‬ ‪#‎KangarooIsland‬ ‪#‎SouthAustralia‬ ‪#‎Australia‬ ‪#‎seeAustralia‬ ‪#‎insideSouthAustralia‬ #authenticKI A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Dec 28, 2015 at 2:18pm PST

There are fewer than 1,500 beautiful Southern Cassowaries left in the #wild! . Image courtesy: @kiwildlifepark . ‪ #‎Parndana‬ ‪#‎KangarooIsland‬ ‪#‎SouthAustralia‬ ‪#‎Australia‬ ‪#‎seeAustralia‬ ‪#‎insideSouthAustralia‬ #authenticKI

A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Dec 28, 2015 at 2:11pm PST

“Yay, Mum. It’s warm enough to play outside!” . In late Spring and early Summer – see our gorgeous joeys getting out into the big wide spaces for the first time under the tentative, careful watch of Mum. So cute! . Image courtesy: @nikkiki73 of @kangarooislandodysseys . #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #seeAustralia #insideAustralia #authenticKI A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Nov 27, 2015 at 12:03pm PST

Meeting the locals at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. This happy little guy’s name is ‘Gumnut’. Wombats are champion diggers, with tough rumps, teeth like rodents and they waddle as they walk! Image courtesy: @mket82 …………………………. #Parndana KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #seeAustralia #parksa #authenticKI #travel #holiday #vacation #adventure #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #igtravel #tour #wildlife #wildlifetour #wildlifepark #wildlifephotography #wombat #WorldWombatDay #fauna #travelphotography #nature #nature #naturelover #naturephotography #glamadelaide #aussiephotos #exploreAustralia

A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Nov 1, 2015 at 2:26pm PST

“Yeah. They don’t call it Kangaroo Island for nothing… When we rolled up at Stokes Bay yesterday, a few of the (furry) locals were on hand to tell us all about the epic beach below. I’m not sure what was more gob-smacking… The ridiculously perfect white sand and blue water over the rise, or the sheer volume of of our welcoming committee. Man… what a location!” Image courtesy: @swannysa …………………………. #StokesBay #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #seeAustralia #authenticKI #travel #holiday #vacation #adventure #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #igtravel #travelphotography #nature #naturelover #naturephotography #beach #lifesabeach #whereidratherbe #kangaroos #skippy A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Nov 1, 2015 at 5:05am PST

Pelicans ready for their supper at Kingscote wharf. Image courtesy: @cynthiaabma …………………………. #Kingscote #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #seeAustralia #authenticKI #travel #holiday #vacation #adventure #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #igtravel #travelphotography #nature #birdsofAustralia #birdingAustralia #pelicans #naturephotography #glamadelaide #aussiephotos

A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Oct 22, 2015 at 4:40am PDT

Vibrant colours captured at Cape Willoughby by talented local photographer, Quentin Chester . Image courtesy: @quentinchester . …………………………. . #CapeWilloughby #KangarooIsland #SouthAustralia #Australia #seeAustralia #authenticKI #travel #holiday #vacation #adventure #getaway #instatravel #travelgram #wanderlust #igtravel #tour #travelphotography #nature #naturelover #naturephotography #naturetour #wildlife #wilderness #coastline #birdingAustralia #birds #birdsofinstagram #glamadelaide #aussiephotos A photo posted by Authentic Kangaroo Island (@authentickangarooisland) on Oct 7, 2015 at 7:43am PDT

 

Rainforest

South Australia is one of the few Australian states without natural rainforest. If you are really keen on exploring the rainforest, be sure to couple a South Australian vacation with a visit to Tropical North Queensland or Tasmania. For an amazing and educational rainforest experience, visit the Rainforest Conservatory in Adelaide Botanic Garden. It’s FREE!

Bicentennial Conservatory. #rainforest #glasshouse #botanical #garden #architecture A photo posted by Richard Lee (@richyfancy) on Jun 26, 2016 at 4:02am PDT

Rainforest exhibit #mist A photo posted by Michelle Craig (@roxyvinnie) on Feb 19, 2016 at 5:40pm PST

If you’re walking south towards #Adelaide Botanic Garden’s Eremophila Garden and National Wine Centre, keep an eye out for the big and vibrant umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla) currently in flower. Native to tropical rainforests in Australia, New Guinea and Java, the #flowers – bursting with nectar – attract birds that spread the seeds, while the fruits are eaten by a host of birds and animals in the wild including spectacled flying foexes and Bennett’s tree-kangaroos. A photo posted by Botanic Gardens of SA (@botanicgardenssa) on Apr 25, 2016 at 9:40pm PDT

Outback

The Outback of South Australia, just outside of Adelaide is amazing! Drive out to Flinders Ranges for a glorious outback experience. . Kangaroos, emus and wedge-tail eagles and more abound in this unexpected landscape. Aboriginal Dreamings tell the story of serpents and giants that shaped the lands. You’ll be left in awe as you explore the largest mountain range in South Australia.

#flindersranges #outback #wildflowers #holidays A photo posted by Dianne Golding (@diannemae1955) on Dec 3, 2015 at 3:37am PST

Let’s go. A photo posted by L✖️K | H✖️H (@krispradw) on Jun 25, 2016 at 7:47am PDT

Now this is what you call lunch with a view! Well it’s actually dinner as this pic by @sydneyfieldtripper was taken while the sun was setting over our magnificent Flinders Ranges – but we’ll take this delicious looking spread and the equally delicious views at any time of the day! This ancient landscape has to be seen to be believed and will stay with you forever. Follow the Explorer’s Way road trip for a real taste of the outback, which guides you through the heart of South Australia into the Northern Territory. Location: [4.5 hours drive from #Adelaide in #SouthAustralia ] A photo posted by South Australia (@southaustralia) on Mar 24, 2016 at 6:15pm PDT

The Gawler Ranges

Great way to spend Easter Hiking at the Gawler Ranges enjoying this amazing SA landscape #TheAdelaideSet #SAYouth #SAOutback #SALocal #SAGreat credit @joelypro A photo posted by The Adelaide Set (@the_adelaide_set) on Mar 26, 2016 at 7:10pm PDT

The Gawler Ranges on Eyre Peninsula in outback South Australia. This gourge is known as The Organ Pipes. Formed 1.5 billion years ago #gawlerrangesnationalpark #southaustralia #eyrepeninsula #outback #organpipes #outsidemybackdoor #worththetrip #worthalook #gorge #australia #getoutthereanddoit #doitnowtimeisticking A photo posted by doitnow_timeisticking (@doitnow_timeisticking) on May 18, 2015 at 4:52am PDT

Coober Pedy This amazing outback town is the world’s opal capital. When you visit you will descend through the earth into a maze of underground houses, churches and restaurants. You’ll even stay underground if you choose to spend the night.

While in Coober Pedy, a visit to Crocodile Harry’s is on the to-do list. This unique dugout home is not from the pages of Better Homes and Gardens but it gives you an insight to one of the quirky characters who once lived in this outback town. #roadtrip #justgoshoot #amazingaustralia #wonderful_places #myworldoftravel #australiafolk #instralia #southaustralia #australiagram #straya #seesustralia #cooberpedy #beautifulworld A photo posted by @margcenter on Jun 23, 2016 at 7:53pm PDT

After 7 days and 489 km on dirt roads through the outback, we’re finally in “civilization” again! Having not died of thirst, starvation, or snakebite, I’m going to go ahead and call that portion of this journey a resounding success. #straya #Oz #cycletouring #cycletour A photo posted by Brian Naiman (@brianpnaiman) on May 30, 2016 at 11:33pm PDT

Take a scenic drive through the outback to Parachilna and enjoy real bush tucker at the Prairie Hotel.

C’est l’automne en Australie du Sud (mais ça lui va bien) (et en tout petit sur la piste, c’est le génial @vutheara) #southaustralia #explorersway #seeaustralia #ontheroad #teamexplorers A photo posted by Juliette (@juliette_jnspc) on May 7, 2016 at 1:48am PDT

Food & Wine

Foodies and Wine Lovers rejoice in South Australia. Just take a look at any list of Australia’s best restaurants and you’ll notice that many are in Adelaide, a city deeply passionate about all things culinary. Just outside of Adelaide you’ll fine 18 distinct wine regions. South Australia is home to some of the world’s most famous wine labels. In Adelaide find wonderful restaurants, food trucks and wine bars.

What a lunch spread – grab yourself the #MeatLocker and the #BeetrootSalad for starters when sampling the Bar Menu at 2KW. This menu is best eaten shared outside in a kabana & the restaurant menu is much better individually ordered. We shared the NDUJA and Salami pizza, the tartar, haloumi fried (#HaloumiForLife), the Italian meatball subs & oh so delicious French fries. Not a huge fan of French fries over chips but these were perfectly unhealthy, oil soaked & extra salty – delicious! #haloumi #feast #corporate #corporatelunch #work #werk #werkwerkwerk #2KW #adelaide #radelaide #rooftop #yummy #delicious #hangry #adlfb #BuonApetitto #crazyweather #vino #dranks #instagood #igdaily #instafood #food #city #views A photo posted by Adelaide Food Bloggers (@adelaidefoodbloggers) on Mar 2, 2016 at 2:11pm PST

Visit the Adelaide Central Market to get a little taste of everything! Since 1869, the Central Market has been the jewel in the crown of South Australian experiences, a haven of premium food and wine products, and 2nd home to chefs and food lovers. Take a tour to get the most well-rounded experience.

@gourmettogoadelaide has been trading at the Central Market for over 24 years; with a range of quality breads, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free products, pastries, pies and pasties. We recommend trying their home made soup during Winter! Visit Irene and Paul at Stall 42! #adelaidefood #adelaidecentralmarket #southaustralia #market A photo posted by Adelaide Central Market (@adelcentralmarket) on Jun 15, 2016 at 12:23am PDT

Due to popular demand, The Smelly Cheese Shop have released another date for their Cheese after Dark master class, which will be held on 21 June 2016! A spectacular night of Cheese and Wine hosted by Valerie Henbest from @smellycheeseshop this exclusive masterclass event will showcase 5 unique cheeses with matched wines. VIP shopping experience is also available in-store on the night. Promo price of $60 per person or 2 people for $100. Tickets are limited so we recommend securing your place now! Visit smellycheese.com.au, phone 8410 7328 or visit Stall 44, Adelaide Central Market. #adelaidefood #adelaidecentralmarket #southaustralia #cheese #Market A photo posted by Adelaide Central Market (@adelcentralmarket) on Jun 6, 2016 at 3:49am PDT

Take a tour or drive yourself out to the many surrounding wine regions.

Barossa Valley

Nice day out in the Barossa Valley #redredwine #scrumptious #nottooshabby A photo posted by C A R L A (@carla.gow) on Dec 27, 2015 at 9:43pm PST

Hahndorf

Winter wandering. There are some beautiful views in and around the village. Hard to believe we are so close to the wonderful city of Adelaide! @flossie_create.talk #Hahndorf #AdelaideHills A photo posted by Hahndorf (@hahndorf_southaustralia) on Jun 28, 2016 at 1:34pm PDT

Penfolds in Barossa

Winemaking is about longevity #sg #sgdaily #sgdaily #ig #igdaily #igsg #potd #lots #melbourneggs #barossavalley #Penfolds A photo posted by Rach (@rachchew) on Apr 16, 2016 at 8:10pm PDT

The food, wine and animal lover might like a trip out to the Fleurieu Peninsula and McLaren Vale.

Green and lush at @fox_creek_wines – winter time beauty in #mclarenvale #repost from @jobrougham A photo posted by McLaren Vale (@mclaren_vale) on Jun 20, 2016 at 10:13pm PDT

Somewhere over the rainbow at @hugowines #mclarenvale #fleurieupeninsula #rainbow #wineregion A photo posted by McLaren Vale (@mclaren_vale) on May 19, 2016 at 10:58pm PDT

Spend your Australia Day somewhere on the Fleurieu! #southaustralia #fleurieupeninsula #australiaday #SeeAustralia A photo posted by Fleurieu Peninsula (@officialfleurieupeninsula) on Jan 24, 2016 at 1:40am PST

Adelaide Hills

Come and play in our big backyard. We’re the kind of place that has tyre swings. And creeks. #adelaidehills Image credit: @ahillsdweller #adelaide #southaustralia A photo posted by Visit Adelaide Hills (@visitadelaidehills) on Jun 27, 2016 at 10:44pm PDT

Exploring the beautiful Adelaide Hills. Pretty as a picture @artserieshotelgroup #AdelaideHills #SouthAustralia A photo posted by Rachel Bale (@departmentofwandering) on May 17, 2016 at 10:46pm PDT

#autumn #vines A photo posted by Shelley (@goodenoughs) on Apr 17, 2016 at 2:23am PDT

 

Modern City Culture & Art

Adelaide is a small city, rich in culture. You’ll find historic buildings, amazing churches, small bars catering to just about every type of urban subculture, museums, street art and tons of festivals and events.

Adelaide Festival of Arts (Feb-March)

#AdlFest + #AdlWW: 17 days and nights 889 artists and writers from over 20 countries 150 performances of 42 events 22 Australian premieres 26 exclusive to Adelaide Seven specially commissioned by #AdlFest Four co-commissioned with #AdlFest THANK YOU FOR COMING! Image: Submergence, Squidsoup (UK/NZ) taken by Tony Lewis A photo posted by Adelaide Festival of Arts (@adelaidefestival) on Mar 16, 2015 at 11:40pm PDT

Adelaide Fringe (March)

Regram from @missemma_jane – Illumunations shine till 1am each night. Swing past and have a look after your show. A photo posted by Adelaide Fringe (@adlfringe) on Feb 24, 2016 at 4:52am PST

Street Art

#love #streetart #tophammall #adelaide #southaustralia #hiddengemsadl #instagramadl @adelaidewestend @ladyburrabrew A photo posted by Hidden Gems Adelaide (@hiddengemsadelaide) on Nov 5, 2015 at 6:32pm PST

Waymouth Street

Waymouth Street Party has kicked off! Perfect balmy weather for an after work bite to eat, drink and some fabulous live entertainment @adelaidewestend @cityofadelaide #splashadelaide #adelaide #waymouthstreetparty #adlfringe A photo posted by Splash Adelaide (@splashadelaide) on Mar 3, 2016 at 9:51pm PST

The State Library of South Australia – Just beautiful!

Found the Harry Potter room! A photo posted by Jovin Chan (@jovin26) on Sep 7, 2015 at 4:21am PDT

Adelaide is also known as the City of Churches for the many beautiful churches throughout the city.

The beautiful St Peter’s Cathedral in North Adelaide Photo by @heyitsbillyjay

A photo posted by Glam Adelaide (@glamadelaide) on Jan 22, 2016 at 2:48am PST

St Francis Xavier Cathedral

#adelaide #australia #church #victoriasq #cathedral #stfrancisxavier A photo posted by Oliver Cotta (@oliver.cotta) on Mar 5, 2015 at 5:39am PST

 

Indigenous Culture

South Australia is home to a number of Aboriginal groups such as the Kaurna (Adelaide Plains), Adnyamathanha (Flinders Ranges) and Ngarrindjeri (Lower Lakes of the Murray River) people. You can find quite a few ways to experience aboriginal culture in and just outside of Adelaide.

The South Australian Museum (free) is home to the world’s finest collections of indigenous artifacts.

Shields: Power and protection in Aboriginal Australia exhibition starts March 24. #samuseum #AboriginalShields #aboriginalculture #exhibition #shields #artefact @jack_buckskin

A photo posted by South Australian Museum (@southaustralianmuseum) on Mar 16, 2016 at 11:01pm PDT

Tandanya National Cultural Aboriginal Institute is an art, performance and meeting space in Adelaide. Meet Aboriginal people, enjoy cultural performances of the didjeridu and shop for authentic art and craft.

A photo posted by SAChapter (@adlarchigram) on Mar 30, 2016 at 8:41pm PDT

Are you ready for your Australian Adventure? Let us help you plan a trip of your lifetime!

Get-A-Trip-Quote or Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

Also See:
Things to do in Australia | A Sydney Vacation with All the Australian Highlights
Things to do in Australia | A Melbourne Vacation with All the Australian Highlights

Coming Soon:
Things to do in Australia | A Brisbane Vacation with All the Australian Highlights
Things to do in Australia | A Cairns Vacation with All The Australian Highlights
Things to do in Australia | A Perth Vacation with All the Australian Highlights.

How to see the best of Australia on a short vacation to Melbourne.

We are working on our Things to Do in Australia blog series where we outline how you can see all the major Australia Highlights in a short vacation, staying in just one or two Australian cities.

We’ve shown how you can see Beaches & Aquatic Life, Wildlife, Rainforest, Outback, Food & Wine, Modern City Culture & Art and Indigenous Culture in the city of Sydney. Today we look towards the world’s most livable city, Melbourne.

Here are things you can do in Melbourne to see major Australia highlights.

Beaches & Aquatic Life

Hang out on the coast of Port Phillip Bay with the peninsula’s iconic rainbow-colored bathing boxes providing a colorful backdrop.

Up in the air we fly, zoom, zoom, a zoom a zoom zoom. The Brighton Beach boxes add so much personality and colour to Brighton Beach (just a 20 minute drive from Melbourne city centre). Built well over a century ago in response to very Victorian ideas of morality and seaside bathing, the bathing boxes remain almost unchanged. All retain classic Victorian architectural features with timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs, though they also bear the hallmarks of individual licencees’ artistic and colourful embellishments. Captured by @leswillphoto #visitvictoria #visitmelbourne #seeaustralia

A photo posted by Melbourne (@visitmelbourne) on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:47am PDT

A short tram ride from the heart of Melbourne, you’ll find St. Kilda Beach. It’s not only a great place for a swim, but a wonderful seaside community where you’ll find great bars, restaurants, shops and even some little penguins in the rocks.

Wondering where everyone is? #stkildabeach on a hot day! @captainbaxtersk @republicaplace @encorestkilda #stkildavenues A photo posted by St Kilda Venues (@stkildavenues) on Jan 1, 2015 at 9:00pm PST

Take a day trip out to Ninety Mile Beach, one of the most natural and unspoiled beaches in the world. It is ideal for a variety of activities, from beach fishing and swimming to walking, whale and dolphin-spotting or just relaxing in the sun…

A photo posted by Nitaya Nicholson(@tayas_travels) on Nov 24, 2015 at 5:28pm PST

…maybe you’ll even spot one of these little guys.

Found this little fella on Ninety Mile Beach last week. #seal #sea #beach #sealife #paradisebeach #ninetymilebeach #victoria #victorianwildlife #australianwildlife #icu_aussies #inspiredbygippsland A photo posted by S w a n s t o n S t (@gord_19) on Jan 20, 2015 at 12:58am PST

Head to Phillip Island for a variety of beaches, from family friendly bay beaches at Cowes and Ventnor Beach to break beaches for surfing at Cape Woolamai.

Flying high in the sky with @phillipislandhelicopters – such a great way to see the Island #phillipisland #wandervictoria #seeaustralia #fromabove

A photo posted by Phillip Island (@phillipisland) on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:03am PDT

While on Phillip Island don’t miss your chance to see cute little Penguins waddle home to their burrows.

Hands up who’s excited about World Penguin Weekend this weekend! @phillipislandnp and the @penguinfdn are celebrating #worldpenguinday this year with a whole weekend of fun and educational activities on the Island. Nature Parks researchers and education rangers will be joined by an Antarctic Adventurer to lead the activities which have been designed with #familyfun in mind. Download the weekend activity schedule at www.penguins.org.au #phillipislandnature #worldpenguinweekend #phillipisland #WanderVictoria #seeaustralia #penguin #cute #nature #longweekend A photo posted by Phillip Island (@phillipisland) on Apr 21, 2016 at 12:51am PDT

Victoria is also known for its sheer cliffs and rocky shores. You don’t want to miss these beautiful rugged shores. Philip Island,…

Our rugged Island coastline. Isn’t it something!? Thanks for the pic @_katjanephoto #visitmelbourne #phillipisland #wandervictoria #weekendaway #roadtrip #sunday #seeaustralia #beach #coast #ocean #autumn #visitmelbourne A photo posted by Phillip Island (@phillipisland) on May 1, 2016 at 1:25am PDT

…The Twelve Apostles,…

  The sun sets on another stunning weekend in Victoria. Gazing at this dreamy view of the 12 Apostles along the @visitgreatoceanroad makes the Sunday night blues a little more tolerable. Photo by @dutchieslife #visitvictoria #visitmelbourne #visitgreatoceanroad #wandervictoria   A photo posted by Melbourne (@visitmelbourne) on May 15, 2016 at 1:05am PDT

…and London Bridge

The ocean, the beach, scenic lookouts and amazing rock formations – sound like a perfect wander! Victoria’s own London Bridge can be found at the most northern beach in the @officialmorningtonpeninsula National Park. Composed of sandstone, the London Bridge has been formed through weathering action of thousands of years of wind, rain and waves. Experienced and captured by @mattbradfieldphotography #wandervictoria #visitvictoria #morningtonpeninsula #visitmelbourne A photo posted by Melbourne (@visitmelbourne) on Apr 10, 2016 at 9:21pm PDT

Wildlife

Head to Healesville Sanctuary, a world-renowned spot to see Australian wildlife in their natural habitat. Located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, Healesville centers on local conservation and indigenous culture.

  #mate #kangaroo #healesvillesanctuary #holdinghands #nature #australia #melbourne #finally #downunder #travel #greatday #awesome   A photo posted by Maurits Leeflang (@m.w.leeflang) on Jan 17, 2016 at 10:07pm PST

Just 45 minutes outside of Melbourne, see the wildlife in the wild. The national parks near Melbourne have a surprising diversity of wildlife: Kangaroos, Koalas, Emus, Swamp Wallabies, Cockatoos, Parrots, Galahs and more!

Minki #ballaratwildlifepark #koala #photooftheweek A photo posted by Ballarat Wildlife Park (@ballaratwp) on Jul 8, 2013 at 12:52am PDT

Rainforest

While Victoria isn’t the #1 destination for rainforest tourism, you can find rainforest just an hour outside Melbourne in the Yarra State Forest. Walk through myrtle beech rainforest to the Ada Tree, a giant mountain ash that is one of Victoria’s largest trees and also one of the largest known flowering trees in the world on the Ada Tree Rainforest Walk.

  Boardwalk pleasures #bush #sundaystroll #ferns #boardwalk   A photo posted by Ben Barter (@bsa_goldie) on Feb 14, 2016 at 2:41am PST

Outback

For a little outback adventure near Melbourne, head to the You Yangs, distinctive granite peaks that rise from the flat volcanic plains between Melbourne and Geelong.

Hiking in the Young Yangs to Flinders Peak A photo posted by Phil (@ptravill) on Nov 21, 2015 at 2:07pm PST

Food & Wine

With a stay in Melbourne, you’ve hit the jackpot in amazing food & wine! Melbourne’s eclectic dining scene offers a wide array of the world’s great cuisines. Enjoy a wonderful dinner on the water with the Spirit of Melbourne.

  Jogging along the banks of the Yarra and came across this “The spirit of Melbourne” (a river cruising restaurant boat) docked by the Yarra. #cityofmelbourne #yarrariver #eurikatower #southbank #strolling #spiritofmelbourne   A photo posted by Rཔи ϋ Qμιякч Ćłενєг (@katakhaeosmic) on May 24, 2015 at 11:29pm PDT

Head to Coda for sleek Asian/French cuisine.

Hot from the wok – sizzling Pixian prawns with king brown mushroom and lotus root @adamdsylvachef A photo posted by Coda (@codamelbourne) on May 8, 2015 at 12:04am PDT

Dine high in the sky at Vue de Monde.

It begins #goodbeerweek #brewvscru A photo posted by Injera Rufus (@injera) on May 13, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT

Grab a bite and some of that famous Melbourne brew at a local café.

Brunch spread . P: @yx_yxyxyx . #operator25 #itbrewmymind #melbourne #melbournecafe #zomatoaus #breakfastinmelbourne #brunchinmelbourne #melbournebrunch #cafeinmelbourne #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #photooftheday #sweet #lunch #breakfast #fresh #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat A photo posted by Operator25 (@operator25cafe) on Jan 18, 2016 at 3:44pm PST

Find a hidden gem in Melbourne’s Laneways. This tour is sure to unveil some local favorites.

Checking out the social media opportunities in Sydney and Melbourne this weekend. Can’t help but get distracted here! #melbournefood #lanewaysofmelbourne #socialmediamanager A photo posted by Enhance Social Media (@enhancesocialmedia) on Feb 27, 2016 at 10:19pm PST

Head to Yarra Valley on this amazing tour for Australian wine tasting.

The view from @jamcohelicopters on Saturday in the #yarravalley. Ballooning, helicopters … vintage aeroplanes … we can keep your feet off the ground out here whatever pace you prefer! @globalballooningaustralia #valleyviews #yarravalleywinery #yarravalleylife #tourism #tourismvictoria #flight A photo posted by Yarra Valley (@yarra_valley) on Oct 11, 2015 at 5:34pm PDT

Modern City Culture & Art

Melbourne is well known for its public art. All you have to do is walk through the city streets, laneways and squares to get a good dose of art. From guerrilla street art…

On my travels to that same appointment #hadtostopandtakeapic #onmytravels #Ilovemelbourne #steetart A photo posted by Eve Alexiadis (@missevea) on Feb 11, 2015 at 2:19am PST

…to public installations.

#melbourne #australia #art #architecture #publicart #sculpture #lips #modern #riverfront #city A photo posted by stevetatham (@stevetatham) on Dec 3, 2015 at 12:27am PST

Melbourne’s thriving art scene supports over 100 art galleries – both large and small. Head to Flinders Lane to see private galleries and public street art.

#art A photo posted by (@exceedinglyaverage) on May 15, 2015 at 3:21am PDT

Speaking of Federation Square… this famous spot hosts over 2000 events each year! It buzzes with cultural festivals, exhibitions, event launches, performances, forums, films, concerts and fashion shows. There’s sure to be something hopping at Fed Square whenever you visit.

Couple of icons, here… Flinders Street Station, Eureka Skydeck, Federation Square, the @CityOfMelbourne Visitor Centre – it’s all pretty easy! Photos, captions and overall thoughts from @regularsteven this week for the #FedSquareTakeover. It’s been alright :) Thanks @FederationSquare for the opportunity! #visitMelbourne #seeAustralia #Melbourne A photo posted by Federation Square (@federationsquare) on Apr 23, 2016 at 2:06am PDT

Wander around Swanston Street & St Kilda Road to find much of Melbourne’s notable architectural sites.

The photographer in me is drawn to this building every time I visit Melbourne. Architecture built to last! #tram #visitmelbourne #australia #architecture A photo posted by Rob Alexander (@rdalexander_14) on May 24, 2016 at 12:40am PDT

Indigenous Culture

You can find some very interesting Indigenous experiences right in the heart of Melbourne. Visit the Koorie Heritage Trust.

Today was the first of our monthly Friday weaving workshops with Donna Blackall. What a great afternoon of learning, chatting & making! The March workshop is full but there are still places in the April session. Book via: http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=178336 #weaving #koorieheritagetrust A photo posted by Koorie Heritage Trust Inc (@koorie_heritage_trust_inc) on Feb 4, 2016 at 10:42pm PST

Stop by the multi-award-winning Bunjilaka at the Melbourne Museum.

Turtle Country, 1000 Turtles by the Gallery Kaiela artists in Nitet Yapeneyepuk Gather Together A photo posted by @leulieshraghi on Jul 9, 2015 at 8:48am PDT

For a real treat, take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Flowering Friday this week is a hybrid Waratah, Telopea speciosissima x T. oreades. One of the parent species, T. speciosissima (New South Wales Waratah), is endemic to New South Wales and is also their floral emblem. The common name of ‘Waratah’ is derived from the Aboriginal language of the Eora people, the original inhabitants of the Sydney basin. Most populations of this plant are small due to often being located near urban developments. It is now largely protected within National Parks and conservation reserves in the Sydney region. The other parent species, T. oreades (Gippsland Waratah) is native to the shady wet forests of far eastern Victoria and southern NSW. This hybrid was created to combine the spectacular flowers of the NSW species with the superior shade tolerance of the Gippsland species. The flower heads generally develop over winter and then swell in spring before opening to reveal the inflorescence so this one currently growing at Melbourne Gardens is a rare treat. Try to find it along Oak Lawn! #royalbotanicgardensvic #FloweringFriday #melbourne A photo posted by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (@royalbotanicgardensvic) on Apr 14, 2016 at 7:21pm PDT

Are you ready to start planning your trip to Australia? Whether you are traveling for 1 week or 3 months, we can help you make your trip worthwhile.

Get-A-Trip-Quote or Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

Also See:
Things to do in Australia | A Sydney Vacation with All the Australian Highlights

Coming Soon:
Things to do in Australia | A Brisbane Vacation with All the Australian Highlights
Things to do in Australia | A Adelaide Vacation with All the Australian Highlights
Things to do in Australia | A Cairns Vacation with All The Australian Highlights
Things to do in Australia | A Perth Vacation with All the Australian Highlights.

Our favorite ways to see all of the Australia Highlights on a short vacation

Last week we talked about how you can get the most out of a short vacation to Sydney.  This got us thinking…What if you only had time to visit one or two Australian cities? What can you do and see in order to create the perfect been-there-done-that Australian vacation? So we’re putting together a blog series that takes all the main reasons people visit Australia and compresses them into an epic vacation comprising of just 1 or 2 destinations.

Here at About Australia, we work with hundreds of clients every week.   Most Americans are aware that Australia is an amazing country with a vast diversity of beautiful sights, experiences and wildlife. They want to see the beaches, explore the Great Barrier Reef, experience Australian City life, see kangaroos and koalas, learn about the rich Aboriginal culture, check out the local food and wine and explore the Outback. Australia is on almost every traveler’s bucketlist.

What many people don’t realize is that Australia is a huge country – about the size of the United States to be exact. Once they wrap their heads around that fact, their next question is, “Do I have to travel all over Australia to see all the iconic sights?”

The answer to that question is both yes and no. It all depends on which iconic sights you want to see.

Sydney Harbour and access to the Great Barrier Reef are at least 1,000 miles apart. That’s a 2 -3 hour plane ride or over 20 hours by car.  Then, if you have your heart dead-set on seeing Uluru (Ayers Rock), you’ll have to fly over 1,700 miles to the center of the country for a spiritual outback adventure.  A similar trip in the US would take you from Orlando to NCY to Denver.  So yes, if you want to see the Sydney Opera House, the reef and the Red Centre, you will have to do quite a bit of Australian Domestic Travel. And honestly, that’s ok!  As they say in Australia, “No worries, mate!”

This type of trip is amazing! All of the once-in-a-life time experiences and amazing sights more than make up for the additional travel. But this type of trip takes time, a larger budget and quite a bit of patience, especially if you are traveling with young children.

But, you say, “I don’t have a lot of vacation time. Can I still travel to Australia and see the highlights without spending a ton of time and money?”  Yes!  With a smaller travel budget and just 5-7 days downunder, you can still get a great overview of Australia’s highlights just by visiting one or two select cities.

Or maybe you’re thinking, “I want to take my kids on an Australian adventure. But after that long plane ride to the other side of the world, I don’t want the stress of packing up the kids every few days and flying across the country just so they can get the full Australian experience.”  You don’t have to!

Plan your trip to just one or two strategic locations and your kids will have an experience that is both educational and fun – one they will remember long after returning home to the rigmarole of everyday life.  It’s one thing to spend your family vacation on the beach with playgrounds, kids programs and free child care. It’s quite another to live in an Australian city for a week visiting beaches, learning about ancient culture and cuddling kolas. I’d argue that the latter is much more engaging and educational.

The 7 major highlights of Australia are Beaches & Aquatic Life, Modern Culture & Art, Wildlife, the Outback, the Rainforest, Food & Wine and Indigenous Culture. A piece of these can be found in all major metro areas. You just have to know where to look…

…And thus the blog series has begun!  Every week we’ll show you how you can see all 7 highlights in one city (or the surrounds).  Browse through the series to help you pick a few cities which are best for you and your short vacation to Australia.

A word of advice:

Make sure you carefully plan every aspect of your trip. Know exactly what will be on your itinerary each day and book in advance.  A lot of people believe they can book the flights and hotels then figure out the rest on the fly. This is a bad idea. The logistics alone can be quite daunting and after investing a lot of time and money into something, you want it to go well.  We, of course, are proponents of you contacting us so we can use our expertise to help you plan the perfect trip.   Sure, may be able to do it yourself, but you can avoid a lot of stress and worry if you let us do it for you!
Get-A-Trip-Quote or Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-359-2877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

Things to do in Australia | A Sydney Vacation with All the Australia Highlights

Things to do in Australia | A Melbourne Vacation with All the Australia Highlights

Things to do in Australia | A Brisbane Vacation with All the Australia Highlights

Things to do in Australia | An Adelaide Vacation with All the Australia Highlights

Things to do in Australia | A Cairns Vacation with All the Australia Highlights

Things to do in Australia | A Perth Vacation with All the Australia Highlights.