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Four Winter Wonderland Getaways in New Zealand

Posted by admin on January 28th, 2012

The arrival of winter and its decreased sunshine, cold winds and periodic snowfall is enough to sap the energy of just about anyone. But the coldest season of the year doesn’t have to be all gloom for the average Kiwi, as New Zealand boasts many fantastic wintertime retreats, from the fun and whimsical to the breathtaking and beautiful! Skiing isn’t the only thing you can do in New Zealand’s snow, but it is definitely a huge draw. The Ski seasons in New Zealand usually starts sometime in June, so make sure that you’re gonna be at the mountains when there is, in fact, snow!

Mt. Cook

If you’ve never visited Mt. Cook National Park, you are in for a treat of snow topped mountain peaks, including that of the highest mountain, Aoraki-Mount Cook. Start by checking in at the accommodations of your choice, but try to find good reviews within your price range before you leave. There are going to be self-contained motels, budget lodging, chalets and luxury hotels while you’re staying in Mt Cook. If you’re just in town for the wonderland feature, get a chalet and kick it by the fire whilst drinking cocoa. However, if you’re here to ski and/or snowboard, there are a few options available in the neighbourhood. If you’re here with the family, Mt Dobson or the Ohau Range are perfect choises. However, if your kids are better than you or they simply don’t exist, please, make use of some of the best Heli Skiing opportunities in the world. They will fly you basically anywhere that other people have skied before, provided you’re willing to prove your level of skill. There are literally thousands of square kilometers of relatively unskied terrain that open up when you have a helicopter.

Hanmer Springs

Hanmer Springs offers a great skiing venue during winter season. If you’re planning on being in town for at least a week, you might consider a home-away-from-home experience and rent a vacation rental. Unpack your clothes and pretend it’s yours as you look through the window at the views of St. James Lake or the Leslie Hills. Be sure to make time for a dip in the world famous Hanmer Springs thermal pools. Combined with the cold weather, the heat of the pools is the raddest thing. You will quickly immerse yourself in the small village life and take it in; pretend you live there and relax while you’re there.

Treble Cone

If you are looking for the ultimate ski experience for the winter escape, look no further than Treble Cone on the South Island. The family will enjoy skiing, snowboarding and back country cross-country skiing. The uncrowded, long slopes make this New Zealand location the people’s choice for snow sports. Enjoy the challenge of the long and steep terrain. Arrange accommodations in near by Wanaka. Depending on what you like, there are a number of fantastic hotels, but I really like to stay in a B+B when I visit. I just like the feeling of being invited to hang out in somebody’s house and then having them make you breaky. That and you’re supporting good, personable small business.

Cardrona

Cardrona is well known for its gold rush days of the 1860s. There are still a few buildings of the era to explore including the famous Cadrona hotel. You’ll want to reserve a room if you wish to stay at the vintage gold rush style Cardrona Hotel, on the opposite side of the Cardrona River. For ski buffs, stay right in the middle of the action at the Cardrona Alpine Resort. If you are a newbie you are welcome to sign up at the ski and snowboarding school for a lesson or two before hitting the mountain so as to avoid any embarrassing collisions. Cardrona was the internationally famous location of the Race to the Sky hill climb. Unfortunately the last race was completed in 2007 so you don’t really need to watch out for very high revving cars speeding up the mountain. Still, if you’re driving up, make sure that your vehicle is up to par long before you leave for your trip. Other spots in Cardrona that you might want to check out include the Cardrona Hall and Church and the famous Cardrona Pub if you can ditch the kids.

Escaping to the Mountains for a snowy getaway will be a treat for the whole family. If you are traveling from outside of New Zealand, make sure that you’ve got your bases covered and can handle any medical problems, should they arise. That way you’ll truly be able to leave your cares behind you and actually relax.

Discovering Gold Coast Australia

Posted by admin on January 25th, 2012

One of the most biologically diverse regions in Australia, the Gold Coast is blessed with sub-tropical temperatures and 300 days of sunshine. A popular holiday playground since 1885, today this coastal city attracts 11 million visitors annually for romantic retreats, recreational watersports, student breaks and family holidays.

With 70 kilometers of coastline, stretching from South Stradbroke Island down to Rainbow Bay, the Gold Coast is a surfing and fishing paradise. Situated along the Pacific Ocean in southern Queensland, the water is the heart of the Gold Coast culture. Of the 21 patrolled beaches, Surfers Paradise and Kirra Beach offer the best surfing swells. Other popular water activities include scuba diving, whale watching and deep sea fishing, a tradition that dates back to the Australian aborigines more than 42,000 years ago.

The Gold Coast also has a robust sporting culture with five national teams in basketball, ice hockey, rugby and football as well as a leg of the ASP World Tour of surfing. Most recreational activities take place in the lush mountain rainforests, marshy coastal wetlands and glistening turquoise beaches. The region teems with nearly 55 golf courses, seven major theme parks and the Gold Coast 600, an October racing car event that zips through the streets of Main Beach and Surfers Paradise. In July, the multievent Gold Coast Marathon attracts 24,000 international participants. The Gold Coast will also host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Scattered among the city’s 500 restaurants is some of the most sensational shopping in the world. More than 20 diverse weekly markets offer handmade crafts, organic produce and fresh seafood. The Gold Coast also serves as a major film production center. From Warner Bros. to Bollywood films, the industry generates more than $150 million annually with big-name productions such as “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Terra Nova.”

Although there is rarely a bad time to visit the Gold Coast, the summer months of December through February attract the most tourists. Thousands of students clutter the beaches in late November for two weeks to celebrate the city-sponsored Schoolies. The city’s high-rise skyline provides the perfect backdrop for an active nightlife scene with several dance clubs that continue spinning until 5 a.m.

Because a trip to Australia may be a once in a lifetime adventure, travel insurance can prevent unforeseen circumstances from derailing a trip. Visitors can fly into the city from the Gold Coast Airport or from nearby Brisbane Airport an hour away, or they can take the light rail or direct train service. Accommodations range from five-star beachfront hotels to backpacker hostels to private rental apartments.

From the sun-drenched beaches to the adrenalin-inducing water adventures, the Australian Gold Coast offers countless wonders just waiting to be discovered.

Author’s bio: Ian Butler is a travel lover and an insurance agent who specialises in travel insurance. In his free time he loves to write about his journeys that way sharing his amazing experiences with many people.

Travel trends in 2012

Posted by admin on January 23rd, 2012

Travel trends are obviously greatly influenced by costs and price differentials. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and economic variations have a huge impact on where we choose to travel. Domestic factors, particularly economic and climactic ones, also play a significant role. Other factors such as global events, particularly of a sporting, cultural or religious nature, influence where we travel and ‘pull’ factors such as new flight routes and new tour destinations will attract us to new and previously less touristy areas.

All these factors play a role in shaping travel trends in 2012. But there are other more social factors that influence our holiday choices too. Here are two new travel trends for 2012.

Life-changing destinations

Although money is a restricting factor on where we travel, we all want to go to those far-flung destinations that are described as ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ locations. Programmes such as the BBC’s Frozen Planet are opening our eyes to new, extreme destinations, and our sense of adventure is being ignited once again. Aside from trips into the Arctic Circle in Canada and Scandinavia and cruises into the Southern Ocean and to the white world of the Antarctic, Australia and New Zealand and the paradisiacal islands of the South Pacific are going to be hot property. Flights to Australia are within your grasp and don’t have to cost an arm and a leg if you think carefully about when you should travel. DialAFlight for example has flights to Australia throughout the year, so you can travel in low season and avoid the biggest price hikes. Furthermore, when you search for flights to Australia, you don’t have to centre your search of Sydney. You can often find more affordable flights to Perth on the west coast and Darwin on the north.

travel trends

Gadget-free holidays

These days we can do anything at the touch of a button. We are always ‘connected’ to the wider world through the World Wide Web via our mobile phones, tablet devices or laptops. There seems to be no escaping work or study. Heading to the sand beaches of the Caribbean or Maldives, leaving all technology at home, is one way to tune out and switch off. According to the Daily Mail, gadget-free holidays are going to be big business in 2012. However, these kinds of holidays are possible closer to home if you have the will power. A real holiday is one where work takes a hike, so you can just as easily holiday in the UK or Europe and feel as rested as if you’d spent a week on a tropical island, so long as you leave your gadgetry at home.

The Best Visitors Guide to Sydney

Posted by admin on January 18th, 2012

Sydney, Australia is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and if you have never had the chance to visit the land down under, there are some excellent discount travel packages available for holiday accommodation.

For 16 days the city played host to competitors competing for gold from 199 nations during the 2000 summer Olympics, also called the Millennium Games. Sydney sold out of tickets for every event and had all of the venues completed before the Olympics began. These days Stadium Australia is still used for the Grand Final Rugby League championship, sporting events and concerts. The games boosted the Australian economy and did much for the city of Sydney. In the year 2010, 2.7 million tourists visited from overseas and an astounding 7 million headed to Sydney from other parts of Australia.

Due to Australia being in the southern hemisphere the summer starts in December and ends in February. During this time you can expect warm summers with a temperate climate. The average for the three months of summer ranges between 18-25 degrees Celsius (65-79 degrees Fahrenheit). Spring and fall are fairly moderate as well, while the winter months are considered quite mild compared to cities like Melbourne which can get quite chilly during June, July, August and September. Although Australia is considered to be warm and sunny all year round, you can actually participate in snow sports like skiing and snowboarding during the winter in the Snowy Mountains which are located in Victoria just south of New South Wales.

Sydney is beautiful all year round, but one of the best times to visit is May through September which is the southern hemisphere’s fall and winter. During this time most of the airlines have excellent deals on flight tickets and holiday accommodation is quite reasonable, especially large holiday homes.

Sydney is known for its beautiful beaches, and if you love to surf, swim or just work on your tan you will not be disappointed. Bondi Beach is in the eastern suburbs and is one of the most well-known Australian beaches in the world. There is an open top bus tour that will take you from the city through Bondi and back. You can hop-on and hop-off as you wish allowing you to spend as much time as you like at any one particular location. Take the Ferry from Circular Quay, travel through the heads and you will end up in Manly. Have a bite to eat at one of the local seafood restaurants or watch the surfers hang ten. Some of the most well-known boarding competitions take place at Manly Beach.

Bondi Beach

The image above shows Bondi Beach when viewed from the north.

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmyharris/ Image Source: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/45/114537355_760300a159_m.jpg

Of course you cannot travel to Sydney without visiting the oldest part of the city. The Rocks is the birthplace of the capital of New South Wales and today is a thriving rocky peninsula that sits beneath the harbour bridge. Take a walking tour down cobbled stone streets and have a pint at the local pub or take a ghost tour if you dare. Learn more about the history by visiting one of the museums in the area.

Other must see Sydney activities include a tour of the Opera House and a climb to the top of the harbour bridge. Taronga Zoo has got to be on your to do list and if you have the time, take a day trip to the Blue Mountains. It is rare that you will see a koala; kangaroo or wombat in the city, but you may get lucky and spot a native marsupial while you are exploring the caves or taking pictures of The Three Sisters.

Sydney Opera House

A classic image of the Sydney Opera House is shown above.

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevgibbo/ Image Source: http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1050/706232002_542d632788_m.jpg

What are you waiting for? Book your tickets today and start enjoying Sydney tomorrow.

5 Amazing Cycling Tours in Victoria

Posted by admin on January 12th, 2012

Cycling on two wheels in Ballarat is an activity not to miss for foodies, for families, for lovers, for those on a budget or for those after the scenic and leisurely ride- believe us, this is a must do activity!!

We have selected five amazing cycling tours for you to try and thank us for later. Keep in mind the temperature when selecting these tours, always wear sunscreen, comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes to maximize your enjoyment on the journeys. The ideal time to enjoy some sunny rays in Ballarat is in the summer months of Melbourne between December through to March.

For biking enthusiast, come down to the Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships which will be taking place on the 5^th January until the 10^th of January 2012. The event will comprise of three championships, the event further incorporates three categories of racing which include Women’s Elite, Men’s under 23 and Men’s Elite.

Don’t forget to check out accommodation in and around Ballarat. Why not spend a few nights in a restored 19^th century building or a grand guesthouse, a bed and breakfast, hotels, motels, restored cottages? The choices are endless and you are bound to find something that ticks all the right boxes in Ballarat

Now the moment you’ve been waiting for, here’s the top 5 list!

Cycling for Foodies

Pack your overnight backpack with suitable clothing for all weather conditions – you’re in Regional Melbourne after all! This two day trip will take you along the Ballarat to Buninyong Loop where you will get to experience The Bean Barn, The Ballarat Fresh Produce Market, Buninyong Farmers market, Wendouree lakeside lunch, Sweet Decadence and Sinclair of Scotsburn Winery… Bring your appetite with you, this is sure to impress all food lovers.

Cycling for Families

What better way to bond and share new experiences with your loved ones, this two day bike tour will take you through the ins and outs of Ballarat’s city centre. Some highlights you will see on this mini adventure is Sovereign Hill, Blood on the Southern Cross, Ballarat’s Wildlife Park, the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Funbugs Playhouse and Surt Street’s much loved Cold Rock Ice Creamery.

Cycling for Romance

For lovers, this ride is just the perfect thing to reconnect and let those sparks fly! In this romantic overnight stay in and around Ballarat, you will experience a Picnic lunch at Lake Wendouree, you will ride around the trail that circles the lake, indulge at the Yummy Cakes and Patisserie, unwind at the Elysium Day Spa and finally enjoy Ballarat’s leading restaurant, the Europa Café.

Budget Cycling Trips

For those wanting to experience Ballarat on bike but don’t want to spend a fortune, we’ve taken care of that. This two day bike ride is full of free and affordable attractions and food outlets. Prepare to ride on the Ballarat Heritage Track, eat at Harry’s Limes restaurant, experience the Botanical Gardens and ride through the Yarrowee River Trail. Don’t forget your backpack!!

Scenic Bike Rides

Apart from the routes available on this list, we also have several scenic bike rides for those wanting something a little different.

Available rides include:

Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail:
This is a scenic ride and one of the longer off road ones available at Ballarat, be prepared to be blown away while you ride through the magnificent countryside of regional Victoria.
Ballarat Heritage Ride:
This 9km ride will take you through the city’s stand out historical sites and landmarks.
Ballarat Parklands Ride:
This ride will take you through Victoria Park and Lake Wendouree.
Yarrowee River Trail:
The Trail runs alongside the Yarrowee River between the Gong Gong Reservoir Park and the Hamlet of Magpie.
Ballarat to Buninyong Loop:
This off-road loop will see you through scenic roads between Ballarat and Buninyong.
Ballarat to Creswick Loop:
Ride through rural and forested areas passing through points of interest in and around Ballarat.

Have a pleasant stay and ride in Ballarat, enjoy soaking up the heritage, culture and raw beauty that is Ballarat!

This article was provided by Visit Ballarat as part of their regional tourism promotions. Ballarat city is located in the Victorian Goldfields region just outside of Melbourne, Australia.