Australia has just so much to offer the holiday maker all year round. Its climate and diverse yet stunning landscapes make it a particularly attractive destination.

With its barren deserts, tropical rainforests, rugged mountains and some amazing beaches and islands to discover, it’s no wonder that so many people visit this vast country.

Not surprisingly, there is no shortage of good quality holiday accommodation to rent to suit everyone’s taste – from studio
apartments to luxury villas.

There is just so much to see and do in Australia. But many people forget the sheer enormity of this country. Ideally, you will need to spend a month or two here, but if your time is tight, then you will certainly need to make the most of it.

Some areas worth visiting are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

In New South Wales there’s Sydney, the country’s largest city. During your stay, be sure to visit the famous Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Royal Botanic Gardens, Taronga Park Zoo and Bondi Beach – just to name a few.

You can even view Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo and more sights from the air by taking a Seaplane Tour. The sea plane pilot will give a commentary during the flight, too. It’s worth doing if you haven’t got the time to
catch sight of the city’s attractions on foot. You could also join one of the tours on offer. If you’re feeling energetic, there’s the opportunity to tour the city on two wheels, with the Sydney Cycling Tour. Also, make sure that you check out the many shops and restaurants while you’re there.

Australia is rich in history. In particular, there’s the famous Aborigines, who were Australia’s first inhabitants. They were there for tens of thousands of years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century.

The Aboriginal culture is one of the world’s longest surviving cultures, and you can see the aboriginal history for yourself if you visit Australia’s Northern Territory. For a truly cultural experience be sure to go to Uluru/Ayers Rock, which is a huge sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory. It is located south-west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Victoria, meanwhile, is Australia’s smallest mainland state and boasts some interesting and amazing landscapes. It’s here that you’ll find Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city. It’s a good place to visit if fashion, food and culture is your scene. Amazingly, this city has more than 3,000 restaurants, cafés and bars to try, so there’s no chance of going hungry or thirsty here!

Queensland is often called the Sunshine State and is home to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It’s the world’s largest coral reef and stretches about 2,000km long. It’s a particularly popular location with scuba divers and underwater explorers. But if diving’s not your scene, you can still witness the beauty of this amazing reef by joining one of the cruises which operate from major towns and cities on the north Queensland coast.

South Australia is another great area to explore. Here you’ll be able to get close to nature and discover some beautiful landscapes, including national parks, forests, botanic gardens, and meet the area’s wildlife face to face. Here you can swim with dolphins and sea-lions and also see koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and whales in their natural habitats. Kangaroo Island is one destination definitely worth visiting if you’re into wildlife. There are lots of cute Little Penguins and rare Australian Sea-lions to gaze at. South Australia also has the amazing Outback to explore. However, if you do decide to venture into the Outback, make sure that you take particular care, as it’s such a huge area and it’s often a long way between towns, fuel outlets and other facilities. Before you set off, check that you’re well equipped for your journey and that you take plenty of food and water, for example.

If it’s city life that you’re looking for, then head to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and the island’s fifth largest city. This city has plenty to offer – culture, sports, shopping, food and a lot more besides. For chocoholics a must see is Haigh’s Chocolates Visitor’s Centre. Haigh’s is Australia’s oldest chocolate manufacturer and offers visitors a chance to see chocolates being made.

Western Australia is another great holiday destination. Perth is the capital of Western Australia and is a great location for culture and the arts, entertainment and nightlife too. Western Australia also boasts The Golden Outback, which is perfect for those looking for an adventurous holiday.

Tasmania, meanwhile, is Australia’s only island state and has many natural, unspoilt areas to discover. It’s a good place to go hiking both inland and on the coast areas. Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and is the hometown of the Crown Princess of Denmark. Hobart was also the first Australian city to have a legal casino, which opened in Sandy Bay in 1973.

Clearly, Australia has something for everyone. Why not check out it out – and, of course, its amazing selection of property rental accommodation.

About the Author: For an amazing selection of property rental accommodation in Australia visit http://www.selfpropertyrental.com/propertyrental/australia-holiday-property-rentals-170308

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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The Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road.

It has been called one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the world, curving around rugged coastline and dense forest, through picturesque seaside towns and green, fertile farmland. The Great Ocean Road offers some of the most varied landscapes in Australia along its 300km’s.

A little bit of history

Originally built by returning soldiers from the First World War as a memorial to their departed comrades, the road took 14 years to complete by blasting through cliff faces. It was officially opened on 19 September 1932 by the then Lieutenant Governor Sir William Irvine. The road soon took on a commercial purpose, linking the townships of Warrnambool, Lorne and Barwon Heads.

Soon new settlements sprang up with some settlers coming to hunt whales and seals off the coast and others to log the huge trees in the Otways forests. Today, logging trucks can still be seen carrying their wares to timber factories to be processed.

But the main industry now is tourism, with nearly one and a half million international visitors coming to drive the road each year. Add to that the number of locals who trek down the highway to get away from it all, and the Great Ocean Road has become big business.

Natural wonders

The south western coastline of Victoria offers some of the most stunning natural attractions you could hope to see. The most famous of these is undoubtedly the 12 Apostles. Huge stacks of rock rising out of the sea and standing defiantly against the crashing surf, the Apostles are located within the Port Campbell National Park, and can be seen from specially built viewing platforms, or at sea level by walking down a set of stairs to the beach.

The ocean has encroached on the land, eroding away the cliffs over the millenniums.

The Apostles have been formed over the years by the waves slowly eroding the soft limestone of the cliff faces forming great caves, which eventually became bridges, and when the bridges fell away, stood like islands as they do today. The many moods of the Apostles can be seen as different times of day, at different times of the year. Golden and warm in a summer sunset, or dark and unforgiving during winter dusk, they are always spectacular.

The surrounding coastline contains various other unique carvings, such as Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, the Bay of Islands and London Bridge (recently renamed London Arch following the collapse of the actual bridge section of rock). These too are wondrous sculptures of nature, created over thousands of years by an angry, inhospitable Southern Ocean.

Head further inland and the landscape changes dramatically from sand and rock to lush, green and dense forest. These are the Otway Ranges. Spectacular national parkland filled with towering trees, and many species of plants that can exist only in this part of the world. The Otways contain numerous nature walks, waterfalls and picnic areas. Some of the hikes can be quite difficult but worth the effort as you come across rampaging
water flowing down sheer rock at Hopetoun, Beauchamp or Triplet Falls.

Man made attractions

Looking north over the Twelve Apostles from a viewing platform along the Great Ocean Road.

In addition to all the natural wonders that surround the Great Ocean Road, it is dotted with numerous coastal towns that evoke memories of childhood holidays, spent playing in the sand and swimming in the sea by day and cooking sausages on the barbie by night. The casual atmosphere of townships such as Port Campbell and Apollo Bay can be a welcome relief to city dwellers looking for somewhere to forget the stresses and chaos of life in the city.

Some 700 ships are thought to have been wrecked off Victoria’s south west coast, falling victim to rough seas or human error. The remains of many of these can still be seen today, prompting the nickname “the shipwreck coast”.

Meet the locals

As well as abundant flora, there is also a wide range of fauna on show along the coast and further inland. Koalas, wallabies and possums can often be seen in the forests of the Otways, often not too far from town centers, and along the many walking tracks within the national parks.

Offshore, the Southern Right Whale can be spotted between May and September making their annual pilgrimage from further south to give birth, raise their young and begin the breeding cycle once again. The whales have been increasing in numbers since whaling was outlawed in Australia in 1935, but are still a rare sight and watching these magnificent creatures frolic in the sea is one of life’s truly memorable experiences.

The Great Ocean Road is diverse, enchanting and sometimes challenging. It is rugged and beautiful. Located only an hour drive from Melbourne, it feels like a whole world away from anywhere.

About the Author: Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and writer, and the founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company offering fine art, limited edition prints as well as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=191601&ca=Travel

The lastminute.com.au website has recently introduced a directory section which makes it far easier to drill down and search for heavily discounted last minute accommodation in Australia. Check it out!

Last minute accommodation can be found throughout Australia.

Among the many popular destinations that lastminute.com.au services are:

• Burleigh Heads Hotels
• Coolangatta Hotels
• Manly Hotels
• Byron Bay Hotels

Travel Insurance Direct provide cheep travel insurance at rates depending on the duration of your trip, your destination and the number of travellers in your party.

Travel Insurance Direct provide travel insurance for Australia only travel, Family travel, International Business travel and Annual Multi-trip cover for the frequent traveller.

The breadth of cover can be gauged from the list below which details the categories of travel insurance covered in you policy from Travel Insurance Direct:

• Accidental Death
• Additional Expenses
• Cancellation Costs
• Domestic Pets
• Domestic Services
• Hijacking
• Loss of Income
• Luggage and Personal Effects
• Medical Expenses Incurred Overseas
• Missed Connection - Special Events
• Out of Pocket Expenses
• Personal Liability
• Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess
• Resumption of Trip
• Return Airfare
• Return of Rental Vehicle
• Snow Skiing and/or Golfing Benefits
• Snow Skiing and/or Golfing Equipment Replacement
• Snow Skiing Piste Closure
• Total Permanent Disability
• Travel Delay
• Trip Disruption
• Withdrawal of Services

The Travel Insurance Direct website appears to be easy to navigate and use for online purchase of your travel insurance.

Several testimonials appear on the Travel Insurance Direct website giving confidence to the prospective online purchaser of travel insurance.

The Australian outback puts on a great sunset, most every evening.

Adventure Travel Tours is run by Les Hayes of Bega, my home town. The other day we had a chat about four wheel drive adventure tours and Les told me with enthusiasm about the trips he runs to some of the great destinations of the mainland states.

The Oodnadatta Track. Marree, Ooddnadatta and Marla are along the famous Oodnaatta Track, one of the old droving tracks that opened up the north of Australia to the pastoral industry in the early times of white settlement.

Wilpena Pound. Wilpena Pound could be described as a huge bowl covering about 8,000 hectares. The floor is 200 metres above the surrounding country, outside of Wilpena Pound, and the rugged, mountainous walls are up to 1,100 metres above sea level. Fertile grazing and wheat country, Wilpena Pound was discovered by Edward John Ayer in 1839 as he explored the Flinders Ranges.

Gibb River Road. At 1,100km long, the Gibb River Road joins the isolated cattle stations of the Kimberly with the towns of Derby and Kununurra. Much of the trip along this dirt, bush track is gorge country with a rugged beauty of it’s own. The Gibb River Road traverses King Leopold Range, Philips Range, Barnett Range, Gibb Range, Mosquito Hills, Pentecost Range and Cockburn Range.

The Gibb River Road section of this outback adventure tour takes five days and includes bush camping, swimming, bushwalking and plenty of opportunities for stunning photography.

Les conducts his adventure travel tours using a comfortable, air conditioned, Toyota Land Cruiser troupe carrier. A well equipped trailer, as well as carrying the camping and other gear, has a full on camp kitchen, built in.

This is just a small sample of what Adventure Travel Tours - Oz Outback Tour Specialists offer in the tours section of their website.

So get a group of friends and family together and contact Adventure Travel Tours to discuss the trip of your lifetime.

Les can be contacted by phone: International +61 2 6492 2767 or within Australia 1800 673 643. Alternatively you can e-mail Les through the Adventure Travel Tours website.

The Apogia Hotel in Nice.

As well as offering bookings for hotels in France, they deal in budget and luxury accommodation, worldwide.

Planning on shopping in Nice?

A bit more down-market from shops in the Rue de France area, Vieille Ville (Old Town) has “artisan” crafts, gift shops, clothing shops and regional items.

Every Monday you’ll find the Flea Market in the heart of the Ville Ville.

The Relais Du Silence Le Petit Palais Hotel in Nice.

Or perhaps you’d like to go hiking around Nice?

At Magellen, Rue d’Italy (just off Ave Jean Medecin, beside Eglise Notre-Dame), you’ll find a fairly full array of hiking maps and hiking and travel books.

Or maybe you plan on going cycling?

Speaking both English and Italian, Nicea Location Rent, 12 Rue de Belgique (near the SNCF train station) hire bicycles and small motor scooters.

So with that information you’ll be right for shopping in town and getting around the Nice country side.

So tipping a fair helping into a breakfast bowl I added salt for savoring.

Ah, what next? On top of the kitchen cupboard was a jar of cashews. A good helping of cashews, a stir with a teaspoon and there was my snack.

Tasted pretty good, filled a gap and healthy, too. A recipe to be remembered!

It’s two days drive from Roxby Downs in the Northern Pastoral District of South Australia, to Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. We were not all that far from Lake Eyre.

So Quickly planning the trip, we decided on Murry Bridge in South Australia, not far from the Victorian Border, as our overnight stop. It was a last minute booking.

So from my own travel accommodation site, Australia Travel, suitable budget accommodation was booked and the deposit paid by credit card.

The motel room was just as described on the website, right down to the rural setting, a few kilometres out of Murray Bridge.

The hosts at Murray Bridge Motor Inn are Penny and Sam Mugridge who made us welcome and comfortable.

A good night’s sleep, a shower and we were on the road again, just as the new day dawned.

Of course, you’ll be wanting to check out the Madrid hotels.

One of the great downtown Madrid hotels is the Best Western Trafalgar Hotel Madrid.

Best Western Trafalgar Hotel Madrid, a great three star hotel

The right venue for an incredible vacation, the Best Western Trafalgar Hotel Madrid boasts tranquil ambience having 48 finely furnished accommodation units.

You can check out the hotel news, worldwide at the hotel updates blog.

There are many sites for you to check out while in Madrid including:

• The Royal Palace of Madrid Previous residence of the monarchs of Spain, now used for state functions and as a tourist attraction.
• Real Madrid Spanish sports club most famous for its three-time world champion football team.
• Corral de la Moreria - Watch flamenco while indulging in an authentic Spanish meal.

Accommodation may be booked online for business travel and holiday/vacation destinations in all Australian states and territories.

Australia Travel uses online booking facilities provided by Roamfree and so you can access competitive prices, viewing accommodation descriptions and photos.