Australians you have too many choices when it comes to travel. Whether exploring this amazing Island continent, nearby Asia or the forbidden jungles of Africa, there is a deal that is just perfect for you.
Close to Australia is our own Norfolk. Norfolk Island has events right through the year. Everything from Rock Concerts to Golf Tournaments. Pistol shooting to Bowls championships. You can surf, swim, dive, trek around the Island without having to show a passport, visa, or vaccination certificate.
It has fantastic organic food, fish, and livestock. The National Parks are dreamy forests of Pines, Bloodwoods, and thousands of birds. A natural wonderland.
Close to the National Park and its many scenic walking trails is the lovely grounds of Selwyn Cottage. This famous cottage is set in a sub-tropical garden overlooking the peaceful valley of Norfolk pines and greenery. This private one-bedroom luxury cottage has all the appointments you need and is in a position that is just perfect for our outdoor walking travellers. www.selwyncottage.com
The Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are one of our closest Neighbours. The peace and tranquillity of these Islands are amazing. Nowhere on earth could you find more pristine Islands full of history, especially regarding the Second World War, Honiara, the capital of the Solomon’s, where every visitor arrives and spends some time before visiting the paradises in the provinces, for business or for pleasure, the Solomon’s is a great place to see.
Most visiting businessmen, or overnight visitors heading to the islands & officials stay at The Heritage Park Hotel. A prestige hotel in a waterfront location, The Heritage Park is a prime spot to unwind by the pool after exploring the historical sites of Honiara.
All rooms are luxuriously appointed & large suites are available for the longer stay or business visit. The spa swimming pool & cocktail bar are a perfect spot for looking over the water at point Cruz.
People meet, do deals over lunch, have meetings, hold conferences all in beautifully appointed surroundings. The Terrace Restaurant is well deserving of its reputation for superb food. Try the Sollie’s style marinated Snapper in Coconut milk or a mouth-watering fish curry.
With 47 outstanding rooms & 28 apartments, nothing is left out whatever your needs may be. Relax & enjoy your secure & comfortable stay at the Heritage Park Hotel, go to www.heritageparkhotel.com.sb for bookings.
An alternative to staying in Honiara itself is Raiders Hotel & Dive in the Florida Islands, just 1 ½ hours off Honiara by boat. A handy distance to the main city of the Solomon’s, yet a paradise in itself Raiders offers visitors the chance to stay close. You can dive the wrecks of WWII, snorkel the passenger ship World Discoverer, go on Village Tours, snorkel seaplanes, war ships or unforgettable reefs.
Raiders is named after the US Marine Force that fought to liberate the island Tulagi from the Japanese. This boutique hotel with 8 rooms & 14 beds offers a stay relaxing to the max, or adventure by the day with fantastic day trips and excursions, yet is just offshore to the main island of Guadalcanal go to www.raidershotel.com for bookings & details.
Australia itself is of course over run with Regions to explore. So many it would take a lifetime to do so. One of these is the popular Central Coast just North of Sydney the start of the golden Northern Route popular with baby boomers.
Cruise
Everyone stops in on their way north at Brisbane Waters at Woy Woy to get aboard a fantastic cruise on this fabulous waterway.
Cruises are a booming part of the travel industry. Australians love a cruise & we are most partial to a nice day cruise. Blessed as we are with bays, rivers, harbours & ports, there is always somewhere to cruise. People of all ages are regulars on the popular Starship Cruises socialising on-board while taking the magnificent scenery around the Brisbane Waters & 4 Islands, just north of Sydney. These easy to get to cruises will surprise, excite & delight you.
The popular MV Lady Kendal, cruises the Brisbane Waters, leaving Gosford Public Wharf at 10.15am or Woy Woy at 10.40am every Saturday to Wednesday. This relaxing trip is a favourite amongst our loyal readers, many returning for this popular luncheon cruise. Starship Cruises run this & their 4 Island Cruise which takes in Broken Bay, Lion Island, Barrenjoey Head Land & sails through Pittwater to the Lower Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn & Dangar Island; a 6.5 hour journey of Scenic Wonderlands with morning teas, buffet lunches & is fully licensed www.starshipcruises.com.au
Mid North Coast
The Mid North Coast is a pleasure of a drive. Breaking up the trip even more so, nothing beats freshly shucked Oysters from this region. Don’t forget to grab a bottle of wine and pick up some freshly shucked oysters from the pristine Wallis Lake at Graham Barclay Oysters in Forster, a great stop in the migration of nomads where our readers enjoy fishing, swimming, and the beach.
Further up the Mid North Coast lies the historical town of South West Rocks with its Jail and heritage by the sea, it is one of the most picturesque beach settings on the whole east coast and a favourite spot to stop.
The Horseshoe Bay Markets are a special attraction here with lots of original stalls selling fresh local produce, all sorts of local art, home décor, sweets, smoothies, original and vintage clothing, music and craft, scented candles and much more in the relaxed atmosphere of Horseshoe Bay in the park, every second Saturday.
Macksville is a central location from which to explore the hinterland, the surf at Scotts Head, the forests and small villages and the mighty Nambucca River on which the town sits. It’s the halfway mark from Sydney to Brisbane and is a peaceful country town with friendly locals.
Beautiful parks to picnic in or walk around, historic country pubs with cold beer and great food, shops with local art and handicrafts all can be found here.
The river offers travellers sailing, water-skiing, fishing, rowing, and jet skiing. A hub of the region, Macksville is the perfect place for a stopover.
Just a short drive away is Nambucca Heads, a popular spot for retirees with everything on hand. This thriving centre on the mind north coast has plenty of pretty beaches for swimming or walking, great shopping, and places to relax by the surf or the river, an art and food community producing great local products and top spots for a drink. A great meeting place for all our nomadic travellers for a meal with a fantastic view is the Nambucca RSL Club where fun people mingle, have a drink, and watch all the latest sport and racing-go to www.nambuccarsl.com.au
To stay in Nambucca, you won’t find a better deal than at the Destiny Motor Inn an award winning NRMA AAA rated motel in a landscaped garden setting. They have a 6-day, 5 night package including all admissions & lunches, chef prepared meals, clean & spacious rooms with FoxTV, DVD player, all located on the ground floor + first class coach with meals included as well! On 5 acres of tropical paradise in Nambucca Heads, go to http://destinymotorinn.com.au/
A clean, green area brimming with stories of the forest, the Tramway, cottage & Timber Mill. Make Coopernook Forest Headquarters your friendly forest oasis of calm on your journey up or down the coast. Take the Forest Road exit [via Jericho Rd.] off the Pacific Highway. Only 1½ hour drive to the coast, Crowdy Head & Harrington. Do not miss COOPERNOOK FOREST HEADQUARTERS, go to http://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/ here & other NSW State Forests.
World
Aldinga tours are the Special Interest Experts. Their group tours are diverse, unusual, and extensive.
From a 14 Day Borneo Nature Tour to a 9 Day Norfolk Island all inclusive. Their destinations are wide and include the Blue Mountains, Vietnam and Cambodia, the Australian outback and Floriade in Canberra go to www.aldingatours.com.au
If you have your own dream destination or a combination of fantasy ideas for your ideal holidays. Just bring them along with a date you would like to get going and ACTIVE TRAVEL will do the rest for you go to www.activetravel.com.au
Music Cruise
Our readers love C.H. Cruises and Travel, the wide variety of interests served suits them well. Their new variety of cruises aboard the brilliant “Radiance of the Seas” should excite them even more because these cruises are “Music Cruises”. Choose from “Cruisin Country” on 9th October for our Country and Western Fans. “Rock the Boat” with the Romantics, Russell Morriss and the fabulous Ross Wilson from Mondo Rock and Daddy Cool or on 6th November – Devotion for all Elvis fans Elvis is in the Room!! a. Or “BRAVO” an 8 night cruise with The Celtic Tenors, Todd McKenney and more go to, www.chcruises.com.au
If sailing the Islands of the Mediterranean is more your style, then Paramount Tours are your team. Visit Malta, Sicily and Sardinia, Cinque Terre and Corsica – the sites and history will astound you go to, www.paramounttours.com.au
Deepest Darkest Africa has always held an alluring aura. Safaris into Africa can take you there with safari experts on this hand picked journey with a Wildlife Specialist photographer. These luxury safaris start at $ 4925.00 go to www.safarisinafrica.com.
To celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of China Travel Services Australia, CTS are offering some great deals. 12-day Shandong Culture & Wine Tour with flights and accommodation for only $1299 or The Red Experience Tour includes 13 days touring Beijing, Moscow, St Petersburg $3399 includes airfares, accommodation and most meals. For this and plenty of other great deals head to www.chinatravel.com.au And if you mention Go55’s you will receive $50 discount off tours.
In Australia, Silver City Tours are the Broken Hill specialist with a range of fascinating tours of Australia’s First Heritage City. Don’t worry about anything, every detail is taken care of in their wide range of itineraries and years of experience and friendly service go to www.silvercitytours.com.au
Tallangatta Motor Inn can take you through the North East of Victoria like nobody else. Experts in the region they have a North East Blitz tour of 5 days & 4 nights for only $475, The Lakes & Valleys for $645 & Best of the Region for $695 for 7 days & 6 nights. They do tours to Canberra, the Great Ocean Road, Lake Entrance & Melbourne. All tours include breakfast, lunch & dinners, morning & afternoon teas, free pickups from Albury Station & accommodation. Email them at tallangattamotorinn@gmail.com
For a completely different travel experience White Cliffs Underground Motel is just the place. Located in the outback opal mining town of “White Cliffs” in New South Wales, this motel has 30 rooms dugout into a hill. Try underground living at its finest with a pool, BBQ area, restaurant, and bar. This is the real underground scene got to www.undergroundmotel.com.au
Alice Springs is the centre of outback tourism in Australia with the Olgas and Uluru luring travellers from home and abroad. Why not stay in an award winning Big 4 Holiday Park that has accommodation ranging from Budget to Deluxe Villas, and Cabins, Ensuite Powered sites even unpowered sites. There is a gym and adult lounge, Free Sunday pancake breakfast, Heated Pools and Free WIFI go to www.macrange.com for more information.
Eurobodalla South Coast
The Eurobodalla Shire is home to the growing city of Batemans Bay with its sea and sheltered bays and beaches, coves, and river. Moruya and its unspoilt scenic hills and secret spots and Narooma the busting agricultural home of picturesque towns, shops and ancient landscape. Eurobodalla a place where you can run, climb, fish, bike, surf, paddle and walk until you stop, relax, eat, and sleep. Let the good times roll in unspoilt Eurobodalla go to www.esc.nsw.gov.au
The Snowy Mountains is within reach. Try a Mountains to Sea Tour, An Anzac Memorial and Snowy Mountains Tour or a Floriade spectacular with High Country Mountains and Tour – go to www.highcountrymoteltours.com.au
Travelling to New Zealand is referred to by Australians as ‘going for a trip next door’ or traversing the Tasman Sea as ‘across the ditch’ so familiar have they become to one of Oz’s most popular destinations. Queenstown is visited by many whether it be during winter for the snow or summer for the hiking. Blue Peaks Apartments are located here, ideal for families equipped with Sky TV, these fully furnished 2 & 3 bed apartments are everything you desire. Great views with ensuite bathrooms, don’t miss out book at www.bluepeaksapartments.co.nz
From outback to Africa, Canada to the Mediterranean there is something for every Australian to try that they have never tried before.
Main picture Chongsheng Monastery, China
