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?
Cruising Cairns
Thursday 12th January 2006

Travel Counsellor: Skye Bennett
You cannot, I believe have a better holiday than cruising around on a cruise ship, no matter where you go.
I was lucky enough to do a 7 night Captain Cook Cruise on the "Reef Endeavour" departing Cairns and cruising around surrounding islands, it was an amazing experience and extremely relaxing. On the cruise you could do as little or as much as you wanted.
As we cruised “The Great Barrier Reef” one of Australia’s most natural and precious gifts, I was mesmerised at the actual beauty of it all especially when I snorkelled the outer Ribbon and Hedley Reefs. I saw the most amazing "creatures of the Sea” and colourful corals... we even found Nemo.....
We cruised through the Hinchinbrook Channels where we saw the Dugongs and Dolphins play, completely surreal. We saw the Giant Clam Gardens of Lizard Island and visited Dunk and Fitzroy Island where I relaxed, snorkelled and enjoyed a cocktail by the poolside bar.
The cruise itself was amazing, the accommodation faultless, with three... view full story
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