Jindabyne - On the Way to the Snowy Mountains Ski Slopes
Yes, it's nearly winter — and ski time — in Australia.If you're heading to the Snowy Mountains, about three hours' drive from Canberra is Jindabyne, the New South Wales town closest to the ski resorts of Thredbo and Perisher Valley.
Jindabyne sits on the shore of a scenic man-made lake. From Jindabyne it's just about half an hour to the state's major ski slopes.
Photo: Bird's-eye view of Jindabyne © Tourism New South Wales
Is Winter the Best Time to Visit Sydney?
If you prefer the cold to heat, especially if seeking to escape the northern summer, the best time to visit Sydney could be in the Australian winter from June 1 to August 31.The Sydney winter isn't really harsh and the weather's generally pleasant so long as you're dressed right for when it gets quite chilly. It's great for touring the city on foot and for bushwalking. And the ski slopes are not too far away.
Photo: Skiing in the Snowy Mountains © Australian Tourist Commission
Cable Beach: Tropical Playground
With long stretches of a white sand beach, seas of such clear blue purity, palm-fringed coast, sunset camel treks, parasailing and water sports, sundrenched resorts, and the air of an exotic and distant tropical eden, Cable Beach does conjure in one's mind a certainly desirable holiday destination. Particularly with the southern winter nearly upon us, it's time to travel to warmer tropical regions. And discover Broome as well. It's really one pearl of a town.Photo: Cable Beach © Tourism Western Australia
Canberra in the Winter
Well, yes, it's almost winter in Australia and can get really cold in some parts of the country. Canberra in the winter, for instance, does get rather cold, relatively speaking, with a mean temperature range in July, the coldest month, from -0.2°C (32.4°F) to 11.2°C (52.2°F). While one is tempted to simply snuggle up before a roaring, warming fire and pass the time that way, there are always a few things to do despite the winter chill.Suitable indoor winter activities in Australia's national capital include catching the latest exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia or the National Museum of Australia, while outdoor activities could take in walking or cycling around Lake Burley Griffin, or visiting the region's wineries for a wine-tasting tour.
Those heading for the ski slopes in the Snowy Mountains find Canberra a suitable stopover for at least a day or two. Photo: National Museum of Australia, by John Gollings, courtesy National Museum of Australia
Sydney's Going Vivid
Sydney is going Vivid with the opening of this year's Vivid Sydney Festival on May 24. Vivid Sydney continues until June 10.
Vivid Sydney, one of Australia's premier festivals and events is a celebration of light, music and ideas that includes large-scale light installations and projections through to music performances, ideas, creative summits.
Outdoors, visitors and Sydneysiders alike should enjoy the festive colors and and images projected on the walls of Sydney's iconic buildings, from Sydney Opera House to other Sydney city structures. This year, an added focus is Darling Harbour with the exterior of buildings such as that of the Australian National Maritime Museum lighted up and a kaleidoscope of light and color on the water.
There are as well a variety of indoor festival events.
Vivid Sydney events take place at various venues which include Macquarie St, Sydney Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and The Rocks.
Visit the Vivid Sydney website for information on festival events.
Photo: Brian Eno artwork projected onto the Opera House for Vivid Sydney Festival 2009 © Hamilton Lund / Tourism New South Wales
Parramatta's Heritage Buildings Provide Insights into History
Parramatta, 30 minutes west of Sydney centre by train, was established in 1788, the same year as the British settlement at Sydney Cove.
Today, vestiges of Parramatta's colonial past remain in its several heritage buildings that include Old Government House and the Governor's Dairy Cottage in Parramatta Park, and the cottages and farms, such as Hambledon Cottage, Elizabeth Farm and Experiment Farm Cottage nearby.
These heritage buildings provide insights into the life and times of colonial Australia and particularly in Parramatta.
Photo: Old Government House, Parramatta Park, photograph by Yewenyi, GNU Free Documentation License
Melbourne Landmark Honors Those Who Served in the Wars
In an expanse of parkland along Melbourne's St Kilda Rd, the Shrine of Remembrance is a sacred site honoring those who fought and served in the wars in which Australia was involved, as well as those who supported them at home.
The Shrine was built shortly after the end of World War I but pays tribute to all those Victorians who served in the Great War, as World War I was called, and all the later wars and conflicts.
It is a place of appreciation and symbolism and provides insights into what Victorians did in periods of war.
Photo: Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance, photograph by Mark Chew, courtesy Tourism Victoria
Cook up a Festive Time in 1770
Yes, it's festival time in 1770 this month.
In that uniquely named seaside Queensland town with numerals for a name, the Captain Cook 1770 Festival is being held on the weekend of May 25 and 26. And yes, it's in 1770.
The 1770 festival commemorates the first landing on Queensland soil by British explorer Captain James Cook in his bark, the Endeavour, on May 24, 1770.
The Endeavour dropped anchor in the bay, on whose shore the town of 1770 has grown.
Photo: Captain Cook 1770 Festival, courtesy Captain Cook 1770 Festival.
Do You Need 10 Reasons to Visit Melbourne?
Actually, you only need one good reason to visit Melbourne but here are 10 reasons anyway.
Because of Sydney's iconic images — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour — most visitors from overseas think of Sydney first when planning a trip to Australia.
Interestingly, some figures show more Australians visit Melbourne. So when in Australia, why not do as the Aussies do and fly to Melbourne?
With free city travel on the City Circle tram or the City Tourist Shuttle, it doesn't cost a cent to get to many of Melbourne's top attractions.
Photo: Federation Square by the Yarra River © Tourism Victoria