About Australia / New Zealand Travel

An Easy Three Steps to Sydney Sightseeing

2009-11-23T00:00:26Z

I tend to get questions about sightseeing in Sydney like: "After the Opera House, what?"

If it's going to be your first time in Sydney — like when it's my first time in many cities in Europe — a good first approach is to take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour to, well, discover the lay of the land and see what attractions are there.

When you find attractions that intrigue or interest you, then you can plan to spend more time there.

In any case, these should give you a running start on Sydney sightseeing. Enjoy your visit, mate.

Photo: Sydney Opera House photographed from The Rocks © Larry Rivera, licensed to About.com, Inc

An Easy Three Steps to Sydney Sightseeing originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 00:00:26.

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Melbourne Landmarks Are a Fascinating Blend of Old and New

2009-11-21T00:00:00Z

If you start your Melbourne sightseeing at Flinders St Station, you'll find close by the imposing Anglican cathedral, St Paul's, whose foundation stone was laid in 1835.

The cathedral's architecture is described as a revival of the style known as Gothic transitional, partly early English Gothic and partly Decorated Gothic.

Melbourne, Australia's second largest city and the capital of the state of Victoria, is a fascinating blend of old and new. There is much of Australia's past in the Victorian and Gothic architecture in many Melbourne buildings even as they sit alongside more modern steel and glass structures in a city that is, as well, a mixture of styles.

St Paul's Cathedral is one of Melbourne's most distinctive landmarks.

Photo: St Paul's Cathedral © Tourism Victoria

Melbourne Landmarks Are a Fascinating Blend of Old and New originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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Discover North Queensland's Coastal and Island Attractions

2009-11-19T00:00:00Z

Drive north from Brisbane and all along the north Queensland coast, you'll find jump-off points to many coastal and island attractions.

From the Capricornia Coast, for instance, you can head across the water to Heron Island, one of the coral sand islands at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

North of Capricornia lies the Whitsunday Coast where you find Mackay, gateway to Eungella National Park, Hatton Finch Gorge and, across the water, Brampton Island, another of those popular Queensland island resorts.

Drive further north and you reach Airlie Beach and Bowen. From Airlie Beach you can take a ferry to Hamilton Island. The town of Bowen is noted for being a film location for the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Then there's Townsville, Queensland fourth largest city. And not too far north is Cairns, Australia's most popular jump-off point to the Great Barrier Reef.

Photo: Finch Hatton Gorge near Mackay © Tourism Queensland

Discover North Queensland's Coastal and Island Attractions originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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Here's How to Get to Cradle Mountain

2009-11-17T00:00:00Z

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is accessible through Tasmania's network of roads from major towns and cities on the island.

If coming from outside Tasmania, you could take the ferry from Melbourne, sail in your own boat to Tasmania, or fly.

Photo: Cradle Mountain © Australian Tourist Commission

Here's How to Get to Cradle Mountain originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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Take Time to Visit Katherine Gorge

2009-11-15T00:00:00Z

In the tropical Australian north, fly or drive down from Darwin to visit one of the Northern Territory's visually stunning national parks, Katherine Gorge, also known as Nitmiluk.

Or take the Ghan from Adelaide (or down from Darwin). Katherine Gorge is a stop on the Adelaide-Darwin rail line.

Swim, canoe, cruise, fish, walk, go on a scenic flight — there are a number of activities to tempt you at the Gorge.

Photo: Katherine Gorge © Australian Tourist Commission

Take Time to Visit Katherine Gorge originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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Ned Kelly Death Remembered

2009-11-11T00:00:13Z

A century and twenty-nine years ago, Australia's most famous bushranger, Ned Kelly, was hanged in Melbourne. He had been caught in a shootout in the Victorian town of Glenrowan and went to trial in Beechworth, east of Wangaratta. He was then brought to Melbourne where he was hanged on November 11, 1880, inside what is now the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Photo: Giant Ned Kelly statue in Glenrowan, Victoria © Tourism Victoria

Ned Kelly Death Remembered originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 00:00:13.

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Go on a Photo Tour of Christchurch

2009-11-09T00:00:00Z

The neogothic Christchurch Cathedral at Cathedral Square is the imposing midtown landmark in New Zealand's largest South Island city, Christchurch.

You can climb up Christchurch Cathedral to viewing platforms 30 metres up the 63m-high spire for a bird's-eye view of Christchurch city. While there, examine the Christchurch Cathedral bells at close hand.

Earthquakes have rocked Christchurch and damaged the cathedral spire on a few occasions, toppling it down once to Cathedral Square.

Take time to discover the charms of this most English of New Zealand cities with a photo tour. Click on each picture to view the next image, from Cathedral Square to the malls and the gardens and the old gothic-style buildings, and then head off to Mt Cook, Queenstown and Milford Sound.

Photo: Christchurch Cathedral © Larry Rivera licensed to About, Inc

Go on a Photo Tour of Christchurch originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month

2009-11-07T00:00:00Z

November 11 is Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day. It is, of course, the anniversary of the end of World War I 91 years ago, and it is a day for remembering those who died in the wars.

In November 1997, then Australian Governor-General Sir William Deane formally proclaimed November 11 Remembrance Day and urged all Australians to observe one minute's silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

While Remembrance Day is thus observed in Australia, the better-known "remembrance" day in Australia (and New Zealand) is actually Anzac Day on April 25 each year.

Ceremonies take place on November 11 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and in many other cities and towns. Across the country Australians observing the day pause for a minute's silence at 11am in remembrance of the fallen.

Photo: Australian War Memorial in Canberra, courtesy Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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Festival Time in Fremantle

2009-11-05T00:00:00Z

It's Fremantle Festival time from November 7 to 15, a whole week of celebrations and fun bookended by two weekends.

The 2009 Fremantle Festival is a celebration of the unique, stimulating and colorful culture that enriches Fremantle and invites participation of all cultural, ethnic, arts and community groups.

The festival traditionally includes a number of free events, and this year these include the Fremantle Proms festival opening event, Norfolk Lane Youth Festival, Wardarnji Aboriginal Cultural Celebration, and Carnival Day.

The Fremantle Fringe Festival takes place during the entire Fremantle Festival period.

Festival Time in Fremantle originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 00:00:00.

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Shocking Wins the Melbourne Cup

2009-11-03T00:07:52Z

Shocking has won the 2009 Melbourne Cup, with Crime Scene second, and Mourilyan third.

Pre-race favorites Alcopop, Viewed and Roman Emperor were unplaced.

Shocking Win

Shocking Wins the Melbourne Cup originally appeared on About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 00:07:52.

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