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?
Brampton Island summer honeymoon
Tuesday 2nd January 2007
Travel Counsellor: Karen Farley
Early January 2007, my husband and I travelled to Brampton Island for 5 nights with two dear friends to celebrate their recent wedding - yes we went on their honeymoon with them! Our friends came from Canada so the thought of holidaying by themselves while they were in Australia for their wedding was not an option!!
We flew direct from Brisbane to Mackay, which is the coastal gateway town for Brampton Island. We chose to take the coach and ferry across to the island, but you can take a small aircraft direct from Mackay airport. The flight option is a much quicker option but my dear friend isn't a fan of planes at the best of times so there was no way she was getting on a little one!
The trip across to the island takes just over an hour and it could be quite rocky if the weather was bad but we were lucky, the sun was shining and it was a nice balmy boat trip over to Brampton. I was so needing a island holiday after working hard all year!
Upon arrival we were checked in quickly... view full story
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