Filled with 2 million people, Brisbane is the 3rd populous city of Australia which became the venue for several events like 1982 Commonwealth games and 2001Goodwill games. Searching for a destination to discover some fun, entertainment and adventure? Then fly off to Brisbane and surrender yourself to the warm and spectacular atmosphere of Brisbane. Brisbane rocks!!! This energetic city of Australia offers a lot. Whether it is enjoying food, entertainment or shopping, everything is vivacious at Brisbane. Let’s take a glance at some happening destinations which are truly worth visiting at Brisbane.

1) Alma Park Zoo

Situated 30 minutes from north of the city centre, Alma Park Zoo is the most popular and entertaining zoo where you can explore a wide range of wild species ranging from Koala, marmoset, snakes to Kangaroos as well as deers. Especially for kids, Alma Park zoo is truly a rejuvenating destination which gives them the opportunity to discover the undiscovered wild life species.

2) Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is home to over 130 koalas and is one of the world’s largest sanctuaries. This destination will definitely help your kids to get informed about the Koalas and an opportunity to play with them. If you want to connect with these rare species, then there is no better place than Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

3) New Farm Park

A best spot for picnics, New Farm is surrounded by jacaranda trees and gives you an opportunity to explore 100 different types of roses.

Especially for shopaholics, Brisbane is more blissful than paradise.  Brisbane is truly a large city for shopping activities where shopaholics can buy a wide range of items during their holiday stay. Let’s take a glance at the list of some happening shopping destinations which are worth visiting at Brisbane.

1) The Myer centre

This is a best destination at Brisbane where you can buy everything right from fashionable jeans to sharp edged knives.

2) Queens Plaza

This brand new fashion destination of Brisbane is a best place to explore and buy branded goods.

3) Broadway on the Mall

If you are planning to buy formal wears and evening wear, then do visit this place to buy a wide range of branded formal wears.

If you are planning for an extended holiday stay at Brisbane, then you should also visit Albert Street, Adelaide Street, Westfield Garden City, Westfield Chermside and James Street.

Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Roma Street Parklands, Queensland Cultural Centre and Museum of Brisbane are some of the happening places which are truly worth visiting. Whether you want to shop, explore or enjoy, Brisbane is your gateway to connect with gaiety, fun and leisure. Come, discover happiness at Brisbane.

Enjoy the panoramic views of sea, islands in the rooms of this premium hotel which are aesthetically crafted to meet your convenience and come well furnished with wide array of facilities. These luxurious suites are the best abode to explore the captivating mountains as you start off your day by sipping some refreshing tea and enjoy the conveniences which comprise Wi-Fi, flat screen television, minibar etc. If the accommodation facilities at Saffire Freycinet are world class, then the dining conveniences are truly blissful. Whether you want to savor on the local Australian food, scrumptious meats or the exotic beverages, the four delightful dining destinations at Saffire Freycinet give you the convenience to discover the real joy of dining during your holiday.

Situated in the proximity of mountains and lush landscapes, Saffire Freycinet is no less than a haven. If you are keen to relax your mind, body and soul, then Saffire Spa at Saffire Freycinet gives you the privilege to uplift yourself from all the nerve wrecking stresses. Once you have relaxed your body at Saffire Spa, then the state of the gym at Saffire Freycinet gives you the opportunity to shape up your physique with the help of fitness equipments. There are lots of activities to enjoy during your holiday stay at Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania. This rejuvenating hotel of Tasmania will give you the opportunity to visit the oyster farms and enjoy several activities like Pelican Bay Canoeing, Bird watching, kite flying, kayaking and fishing.

Once you stay at Saffire Freycinet Hotel, you will love to stay at this rejuvenating destination forever.

Other than interacting with the koalas, you can also spend time with kangaroos, meet the wombats or chat with cockatoos during your day out at the Koala Park Sanctuary. The Koala Park Sanctuary will allow you to do a lot more like visiting flying foxes, emus, kookaburras, echidnas, dingoes etc. The sanctuary also plays the host to two sheep shearing events every day at 10.30am and 2.30pm. Visiting one of these shows will allow you to know the basics of shearing. The entire area is planned keeping in mind the interest of the people visiting this place. There is enough area dedicated for parking cars of the visitors. There’s an area meant for koala shows during the monsoon.

The Koala Park first opened in the 1930; the founder of this interesting place was Noel Burnet. The primary aim of the park was preserving the koalas. Since its start, the Koala Park Sanctuary has hosted a number of captive breeding and research programs involving the koalas. Majority of these programs have helped to meet the actual goal behind the inception of the sanctuary i.e. preserving koalas.

You will hardly get a better place for learning ways of surfing than the Bondi Beach. This beach hosts the first Surf Life Saving Club of the world. You will also come across several surf schools where you can learn tricks of catching the waves. The experience of surfing in the Bondi Beach will surely be something you would love to treasure.

You can also spend few hours in Bondi markets. Bondi markets are opened every Sunday on the ground of the Public School. If you love to bargain while shopping, this Sunday market will offer you hundreds of bargaining opportunities. You will get to buy creation of upcoming designers, wonderful works of art for enhancing the appearance of the interiors of your home etc.

The length of the coastal area of this beach is close to 3.5 Km. A stroll across the coastal area of Bondi beach is a wonderful way of spending some time. While walking along Bondi Beach, you will pass another famous Australian beach known as the Tamarama beach.

If you want to spend your leisure drinking a cup of coffee, Bondi beach will offer you a number of options. This beach houses several cafes, where you can get everything starting from latte, mocha to a healthy cup of herbal tea.  Some of the most remarkable cafes locate in this area are: Hall St., Pavilion etc. If you want to have a ice cold glass of beer, get into any of the beachside hotels or the bars offering tasty and innovative cocktail recipes.

This Australian wilderness is the home to a plethora of diverse cultural, ecological, and biological aspects. Adorning the Alligators River landscape with the rich ecosystems, the park engulfs the flow of four main rivers, six major landforms, the famous Ranger Uranium mine, and flora as well as fauna.

Flora and fauna in the park

To explore flora specifically, it is best to know the landforms that are: estuaries and tidal flats, valleys, southern hills and basins, the stone country with the Arnhem Land plateau as well as escarpment complex, floodplains, and the outliers. In the Stone Country, you will spot the resurrected grasses apt for surviving in high heat and dry spells along with the gprge’s monsoon forests. The southern hills and basins holds the Kakadu plants seen here only (Eucalyptus koolpinensis near Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)), while the Lowlands supports the Eucalypt-dominated forests along with the sedges and wildflowers.

The Floodplains houses many sedges, pandanus, paper bark trees, freshwater mangroves (itchy tree), and colorful water lilies in white, blue, and yellow. At the Estuaries and Tidal Flats, you can spot the species of mangroves on which the fish breeds, strong succulents, sedges, isolated monsoon forests with the banyan fig, the kapok tree, and big red flowers.

The list of mammals, insects, reptiles, and birds seen in the Kakadu National Park is too big to tell you all. I will share with you what I spotted on my trip here: kangaroos and wallabies in waters, black wallaroos, dingos, short-eared rock wallabys, brush-tailed phascogales, snakes, black-footed tree-rats, freshwater crocodile, frogs in swamps, grasshoppers, termites with their big mounds in south, dragonflies, non-biting midges, cane toad, water buffalo, and a rare wild pig.

Aboriginal rock art locations

Start your journey with the Anbangbang gallery situated in the park’s Nourlangie area perched on a rocky promontory. This is where the rock paintings of Mimi can be seen. Other paintings are seen in the remote, but still crowded areas of Ubirr and Nanguluwur both perched on the rocky projections (You know whey they are crowded!). At these sites, you will come across the paintings that show hunting depicted by incremented colorful animals, specific religious ceremonies, tales of ancestors who made this world, and magical shows that indicate about the entertainment.

Among the three, Ubirr is the most famous site where a plethora of rocks project on the Nadab floodplain’s rim. It is assumed that the aboriginals must have lived here because of its nearness to the East Alligator River. This is the main reason why the paintings here show a lot of food items along with the several animals: catfish, wallaby, barramundi, goanna, millet, pig-nosed turtle, snake-necked turtle, and thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). And yes, among the highlights are also the Rainbow Serpent scenes seen everywhere here as well as the playful Mimi spirits that tell the tale of the Namarrgarn Sisters.

Nourlangie is situated at the Arnhem Land Escarpment where several shelters as well as connected stairs and routes can be explored. Here, you will surely love the paintings of ancestors who are assumed to create this world and the tales that are not famous among the today’s aborigines. And yes, also explore the Anbangbang Billabong where diverse wildlife is the main attraction.

Just close this is Nanguluwur where you can see the paintings of hand stencils, mythical characters including Alkajko as womanly portrayal of four arms, Namandi spirits, and energetic figures with spears and boomerangs.

Gorges and waterfalls

Explore the Maguk, Koolpin and Gunlom gorges and marvel at the Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls that is the largest one. It will be best to explore all these via a four wheeler.

Accommodations

You can camp with basic amenities for nominal fees at the close by areas of Cooinda, Jabiru, and South Alligator. Hotels are present in the town of Jabiru.

Best time to visit

June to August as these months makes the park cooler.

September for wildlife.

Park tours

Most go for an organized Kakadu tour whose options are really in hundreds ranging from a day trip to week trips via 4W and big coaches along the unsealed roads as well as Arnhem and the Kakadu Hwy.

Towering from the pier of the Woolloomooloo Bay, the Blue Hotel Sydney that is today a modern boutique retreat was once the cargo warehouse whose historical charm can still be felt despite the fact that this structure has undergone a big transformation to accommodate more than 90 rooms, heated indoor pool of 18 metres, spa, fitness center, and a chic living/library room.

Rooms

At Blue Hotel Sydney, 100 non-smoking rooms tend to accommodate the tourists who enjoy the vistas of the bay, pier, Woolloomooloo suburbs, Domain parkland, harbor, naval base, as well as of the Potts Point. Out of these rooms, there are 36 Loft rooms rising up to two storeys. No matter which you choose, all are adorned with the historical prints reflecting a lot of the original building.

Among the amenities in each of them, you can expect fax machines, DVD, duvets, VCR, CD player, high-speed Internet access, climate control, pay movies, AC, cable/satellite channels, fine-woven cotton sheets, curtains, complimentary newspaper, coffee/tea maker, mini bar, voice mail, Internet access (surcharge), hair dryer, clock radio, desk, wake-up calls, turndown service, refrigerator, designer toiletries, daily housekeeping, sewing kit, bathroom scale, bathrobes, bathroom phone, in-room massage, childcare (surcharge), safe, cribs, extra towels/bedding, down pillows, rollaway beds, iron/ironing board, down pillows, dining tables/chairs, and electronic/magnetic keys.

Amenities

• Security guard • Shoe Shine • Event catering • Currency exchange • Lift • ATM/Banking • Parking for a surcharge • Lounge • Technology helpdesk • Concierge desk • Complimentary newspapers in lobby • Internet access in public areas • Room service (24 hours) • Internet access – wireless • Cell phone rental • Valet parking • Internet access in public areas – complimentary • Banquet facilities • Parking (secure) • Audio-visual equipment • Doorman • Porter • Limo or Town Car service • Business services • Multiple small meeting rooms • Express check-in and check-out • Secretarial services • 24-hour front desk • Computer rental • Tour assistance • Multiple conference/meeting rooms • Dry cleaning/laundry • Medical assisance

Recreation

• Deck with laid-back chairs • Marina • Patio • Video library • Bicycle rentals nearby • Indoor swimming pool • Health club • Horse riding/rental nearby • Full-service health spa • Spa tub • Beauty services • Massage – spa treatment room(s) • Fitness facilities • Pilates/Yoga classes/instruction nearby • Playground nearby • Tennis nearby • Golfing nearby • Running track nearby • Aerobics nearby • Hiking/biking trails nearby

For the spa treatments, you need to access the Spa Chakra that is situated on the city side of the pier. Here, you are offered an eclectic mix of beauty as well as massage treatments in the dedicated rooms, relaxation lounge, a hydrotherapy room, Vichy Shower, Guerlain therapies, two rooms for changing, and custom approach as per the guests’ physical as well as mental build up.

Restaurants

The only one, but admired choice at the hotel is its central-atrium-nestled Blue Cafe that is an expert in offering Australian fare, a la carte brunch and breakfast, coffees, juices, and special breakfasts. Opened only until late morning every day, you also can delight in its scenic architectural vistas and can also use its wireless Internet for free.

Address

6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011.

Rates

From $234 per night.

Blue Hotel Sydney is the award-winning Taj property in Australia.

So, you can expect several natural vents, steam eruption sites, and hot pools in and around the city along with private geothermal bores for water heating and bathing. Geologically, the city is situated in the mid of the active Taupo Volcanic Zone – the largest volcano. So, you also get a chance to see four major volcanic calderas that have today become the home of the lakes.

Start your day from the Tourist Information Centre on the Fenton Street to know about the risky places and most visited sights. Then, explore one of the must see Rotorua attractions – Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland for some fee (changing) as a one-day excursion. This is a thrilling park where a myriad of geothermal landscapes reside along with active volcano activities. Here, the main attraction is the big Lady Knox Geyser that daily erupts to the heights of 10 to 20 m. One more similar attraction is Te Puia featuring the geothermal Whakarewarewa Valley, geysers, and bubbling mud pools. With the entry of $40, you can easily take a free guided tour of the park to explore these geothermal sites, the Kiwi house, and the marae. For some more fees, you can even explore the Maori cultural dances and enjoy its traditional meals.

Rainbow Springs Nature Park is worth a watch due to its wonderfully landscaped terrain, sculptured ponds of cuy fish, Kiwi birds, more New Zealand animals, and cool gardens. The admission fee here is $29 per person including $2 for the Kiwi tour. On the same lines is the Agrodome on the State Highway as an agricultural park. This is where you can spot the farm animals, exhibitions, and shows reflecting the country’s rural life from past to present. Outstanding are the farm tour and sheep shows here. And yes, also challenge your adventurous skills via its Freefall Experience simulator that is the highest bungee jump in the north, the Zorb where you get trapped in a hot-air ball pushed down a steep hill, and a jet boat ride.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley, just born in 1886 due to the giant eruption of Mt Tarawera, is really striking to explore as the novel geothermal eco-system in the world. This is the most exciting family destination – self guided walks, boat cruises from 45 minutes to 4 hours, challenging hikes, tranquil New Zealand bush, unique ecology, striking geothermal features, and rare botany. This is one of the dramatic Rotorua attractions and is easily accessible from the city in 20 minutes.

At some 20 km from the city, do not miss to explore the Okere Falls as well as Lake Rotoiti that holds the waters of the 14 lakes and ends at the Bay of Plenty that is nestled 1000 feet down. That is why, it is the home of the most dramatic white water challenges – what sledging, dual kayaks, and rafting. Also, marvel at the Tuteas Fall – the highest rafted fall on the planet with 7m plunge on every fourth boat flips. Do not want to get wet? Well, still you can have fun via its lovely 6 km walk via the forest along which you can watch the activities closely. And yes, do spot a few tiny caves of glow worms. Lastly, do not miss the fun of Skyline Skyrides on the Fairy Springs Road just outside the town. This ride of gondola takes you above the Mt. Ngongotaha from where you can enjoy a panoramic vista of the city as well as the flanking mountains. Here, you can also have a buffet to save the gondola ride cost. The cost is NZ $40 per adult.

While here, do not miss the traditional Maori cooking, the Hangi. Restaurants can be found at the lower end of Tutanakei Street. But reach here early as the menu becomes over soon.

Accommodations

• Kiwi paka Backpackers Rotorua hostel
• All Seasons Holiday Park

Best Time to Visit

December to April – summer.

The water of the lake engulfs two hues of blue as well as green: light at the shore and dark as one goes further from the coast. Okay, before that, what is even more striking is its pure white silica sand that not only shimmers to soothe the eyes, but is also too soft to comfort the legs as you stroll along the Lake Mckenzie beach here. Surprised? Yes, there is a beach here. And above all, it is this sand that filters the water to ensure its purity. After all, it is the endlessly appealing blues and greens that make up for a well fascinating trip at the sight that is worth a look in the soft light of sunrise. Although this is the lake in the middle of the island, the scene is of a genuine Caribbean coast in Australia!

Lake McKenzie over 150 hectares and depth of 5 meters at 100 metres above sea level is just apt for swimming and reclining. Most of the tourists say that the fine sand not only exfoliates the skin, but also your jewelry to sparkle as if it is newly purchased. Many of them claim to be the most spectacular spot for swimming in the country amidst its white sand, dingoes at the edge, and aquamarine fresh water. The additional bonus is that even if it is winter, the water is generally warm here for swimming as winter usually does not full the Australian territory heavily with snow. However, do not expect surfing here. If you are looking for a spotless beach with soft silicon dunes as well as freshwater lake, Lake McKenzie is just for you. It is like visiting the most stunning of the 40 freshwater lakes on the largest sand island of the planet. How exciting this can be!

When you are on the Fraser Island, a 4WD camping tour is a must on the well-trodden backpacker trail on the east coast. And doing so, will take you to this lake. If at all you are scheduling for your own 4WD excursion, swim only in these lakes, as the east coast is famous as a tiger-shark breeding ground. Alternatively, you can trek the beautiful, 90 km long track known as the Fraser Island Great Walk – start from the Kingfisher Bay where the ferry can drop you to reach the lake. So, if you are adventurous, hire a self-drive vehicle to take a tour of the lake and greet those indigenous dingoes. However, if you are not so adventurous, be a part of one of the plenty of organized tours of the island.

In the surroundings of the lake, great camping facilities are always available where each site is equipped with its own wood as well as camp fire. And yes, cold showers as well as toilets are nearby. This is among the must-to-experience Fraser island tours!

Facilities at the lake

• Car park
• Public toilet
• BBQ facilities
• Camping
• Swimming
• Shaded area
• Sheltered area

The Whitehaven Beach is the crown of the Whitsunday Island, which is adorned with many jewels in form of tourist attractions/activities. It is purely these highlights due to which the tourists love to come here again and again. So, it goes without saying that this one is among the most thronged beaches in Australia! But what makes it so catchy?

Well, it is the soothing cool atmosphere, shimmering sand dunes, and crystal blue waters that all together make up for the best relaxing destination whose charm is constantly well preserved by banning dogs as well as cigarette smokers. Among the above surrounding features, the unique one is the clean stretch of silica sand that occupies more than 7 km on the shore due to which the Whitehaven Beach has become the largest beach on the island. What all I am describing here might not reveal to you the exactness of its beauty. Therefore, I recommend visiting this beach whenever you plan to come to Queensland and see as well as feel for yourself as to why this is the most photographed Australian beach. This directly reveals that the landscape here is so spectacular such that the beach was also awarded as the ‘Most Wonderful Queensland Beach’ and ‘Friendliest Queensland Beach’ in 2009.

From the point of view of the mesmerizing sceneries, the most ideal is offered by the Hill Inlet perched at the northern tip. At this stunning bay, you will see the unusual shifting of water as well as dunes via the tides, which provides an impressive jumble of colors. This location is best for photography. Alternatively, you can also stroll until the island’s vantage point that offers you an exceptional opportunity for rejoicing the best views of the Hill Inlet along with the beach.

One of the most rejuvenating activities at the Whitehaven Beach is to stroll on the silica sand dunes – the home of over 95% pure silica that is responsible for the pure white color. Wow! This was very exciting for me. Okay, want to try out some thrilling sports? If yes, get ready for that adventurous joy via sea kayaking, jet boat ride, and ocean rafting. All these are on land or on water activities. However, I enjoyed the most stunning aerial ride for having a superb vista of this beach from up by sitting in a helicopter or a seaplane. As you are up in the air to blend both adventure and joy, you can not only see the colorful Hill Inlet, but rather the full Whitsunday Island.

However, there are many different ways to take a tour of this beach. The Whitehaven Beach is the abode of the cutting-edge cruising yachts, seaplanes, ferries, and helicopters. There are several operators that schedule for day and overnight charters departing from the Shute Harbor as well as from the Airlie Beach. From the latter as well as from the island resorts, luxurious cruising yachts and ferries are scheduled for a day trips to the beach. Alternatively, one of the different multi-day charters by several sailing companies can also be opted, which will also take you to the outer Great Barrier Reef.

Coming back to the beach, its calm waters are really the best for effortless swimming. Although it is not a heaven for surfing, you can still enjoy kite surfing and wind surfing here. Diving is also good here because of the reef and colorful marine life. However, the beach is the best for those who want to just sun bathe or revive while lounging on the silica sands amidst the great nature flanking them. Nevertheless, you can also catch your private zone on the beach for picnicking.

Tip:

Come here in November to attend or participate in the open swimming competition – Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim.

A great level of fitness as well as sturdy shoes are required to walk on this track as its takes four days on an average, but can range from 1 to 5 days as per your desire and capability. However, you have a benefit of taking a water taxi if at all you do not want to walk. Besides walking, you can go for biking that is one of the most popular activities here. Many parts of the trail are broad enough, benched, and bridged over primary streams. Although you can start from any of the two directions, it is recommended to begin from Ship Cove.

Ship Cove to Resolution Bay of 4.5 km – maximum 2 hours

Come here via a boat and spend time in knowing the legendary site via its surrounding interpretation panels. No camping is allowed, but toilet facilities are there. The Queen Charlotte Track moves far from the beach and takes you via a forest where the soaring trees and diverse shrubs reside to give you shelter. Once 50 minutes are over, you come across a vantage point for enjoying vistas of the Queen Charlotte Sound after which the trail descends into Resolution Bay where you can see many accommodations including campsites.

Resolution Bay to Endeavour Inlet of 10.5 km – 3 hours max

This is a good grade and ancient bridle route passing above a ridge. Twisting downward, it goes along the coast until the inlet head where the signs refer to the antimony mining period. On the way, motels and hostels are available.

Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay of 11.5 km – maximum 4 hours

Continuing close to the coast, the track now meanders via a forest packed with small birds.

Camp Bay to Torea Saddle of 24.5 km – maximum 8 hours

This is the area of the private land and ensure that you carry your Q.C.L.T.C. Pass. The track now is hard to walk and is also the longest. You will see many bikers pushing their bike in this area. However, this tough section rewards one with the panoramic vistas of the Sounds from atop the ridge. Ascend Camp Bay to Kenepuru Saddle after which you need to walk the ridge that disconnects Keneperu and Queen Charlotte Sound. Over the Kumutoto Bay and Bay of Many Coves, there are campsites well equipped with water, cooking zone, and toilets. After this, you walk down to the saddle nestled in the mid of Portage and Torea Bay.

Torea Saddle to Mistletoe Bay of 7.5 km – Maximum 4 hours

This is the area of the private land and ensure that you carry your Q.C.L.T.C. Pass. Following a ridge line, this section holds profuse gorse and manuka, shrubs, and trees. Take up a side walk that brings you to a viewpoint after which a descent starts up to Te Mahia Saddle.

Mistletoe Bay to Anakiwa of 12.5 km – maximum 4 hours

This is that part of the track that is along the ancient bridle paths over the water. After a round, the track goes down at Umungata’s campsite. You then spend your last hour on a trouble-free route via the mature beech forest from where you reach Anakiwa. This is where you will find toilets, car parking, phone, and a public jetty. If you have time, ride in a boat to explore Picton.

There are many more small walks on this Queen Charlotte Track that are explorable in less than a day’s time. From the Ship Cove, walk the Waterfall Track that is of half an hour leading you to a small waterfall. At Endeavour Inlet, choose to walk the Antimony Track taking one at a saddle and bring one back via extensively mined area in 2 hours. At Mistletoe Bay, try to explore the James Vogel Nature Track passing via the jungle for 45 minutes.