Living in the Great Southern Land automatically gives us bragging rights to world’s best holiday destinations. Ask anyone, anywhere in the world; where their ideal holiday will be, and you’ll always find Australia right up there on the must-go list. Let’s face it, we’ve got the lot, and we really don’t need to go anywhere else for a satisfying, fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable holiday; without the flight and foreign exchange hassles.
If it’s an action packed break in a world-class city-that-never-sleeps tugging at your heart strings, slip your party shoes into Sydney, Melbourne or Bris-Vegas. Cosmopolitan, sophisticated but relatively understated, our big cities pulse with a lifebeat that’s uniquely our own. Our restaurants, bars, casinos and coffee culture are the envy of the globe; world-class theatres, concert halls, galleries and museums; mainstream and off-beat, we’ve got the lot covered.
Compared to many other offshore destinations, our beaches rock and it’s estimated there are more than 7,000 on our coastline. From the postcard perfection of Whitehaven in the Whitsundays to the rolling surf of Bells and state icons like Bondi, Cottesloe, Glenelg and St Kilda, there’s an individuality and culture pervading all our coastal resorts. From the six star decadence of a Hayman spa resort to an on-site van on the Portsea back beach, the waves, sand and sunshine lure us with the memories of innocent youth.
Head inland and hit the country’s heartland; the range of holiday destinations and options is as wide as our brown land. Adventure trekking in the Kimberley or the Tarkine trails, walking up Sydney Harbour Bridge or clambering up Mount Arapiles, skiing on the Hawkesbury, or across the Bogong High Plains, rafting the white waters of the Mitta Mitta or the theme parks of the Gold Coast, whatever holiday you desire, it’s here and waiting in our own back yard.
What we love about Australia
It might be our back yard, but this sunburnt country is our home, and every square kilometre harbours something special to explore.
Our youthful, friendly, outgoing nature and multicultural community give us a vibrant melting-pot feel that is uniquely and distinctly ‘Aussie’.
We all speak the same language, have the same currency and drive on the sensible side of the road; how cool is that?
Cairns at Christmas
Sunday 20th December 2009
Travel Counsellor: Rosemary Metcalf
Cairns in summer is the least likely place for Australians to go for a holiday. We took the challenge to spend Christmas with family and to take on the so called ‘wet season’ of the north. The direct services are the only way to go, with flights from Melbourne taking around 3.5 hours.
When we first arrived the humidity was a bit of a shock, but we soon settled into our social routine. The wet season was thankfully delayed, as it seems to be getting later each year. So we enjoyed near perfect conditions, without too many other tourists.
Cairns is the gateway to Far North Queensland with a destination to suit most travellers. One of my favourites (on which everyone agrees) is the picturesque beach setting of Palm Cove. This small seaside village boasts some great little eateries and a variety of accommodation.
A spectacular one hour drive north of Cairns is another favorite spot, Port Douglas. This is a great place to browse in the boutiques, or to enjoy lunch with the locals in... view full story
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