If you visit Australia you won’t struggle to find place to relax and sit on the beach. Indeed, you can go to the Whitsundays to visit the world’s best beaches, or head to Sydney to sit on the famous Bondi Beach.

But if you want the whole package you should check out Byron Bay, one of the best places in the world for some seaside relaxation. It is worth taking a flight to Australia just to visit this amazing spot!

Byron Bay is a town located a few hours north of Sydney, and a bit below Surfer’s Paradise on the Gold Coast. The weather is great all year round so this is a nice place to visit no matter the season.

There is a wonderful golden beach that stretches for kilometres and you can have an amazing time surfing, swimming, playing on the beach and sitting on patios that overlook the seaside.

Yet it isn’t just the beach that makes Byron Bay appealing – the town is absolutely amazing and it is chock full of lovely cafes, fun bars and interesting stores.

This community has long been popular with thoroughly alternative folks who have covered their hometown with great things to see and do – so you can spend pleasant hours away from the beach browsing galleries and stopping to drink expresso coffee and thoroughly complicated sandwiches.

Byron Bay manages to combine beach side living with a thoroughly charming town – this is quite the accomplishment, especially when you consider places like Surfer’s Paradise. So if you want some perfect, seaside relaxation in Australia look no further than Byron Bay.

The Plaque nearby has this information for visitors to read.

‘Kadimakara’ was constructed by a world reknown Japanese sculptor,  Mr Mitsuaki Tanabe to draw attention to the the need to conserv the last remaining areas of wild rice in the world.

It is situated in the Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland  Reserve, one of the  only small number of areas in the world which supports pure wild rice, which predates and is uncontaminated by commercial rice.

The sculpture has been kindly donated by the artist to Ausralia and its people.

The sculpture is made of stainless steel, is approximately19 metres long, 11.36 metres wide and over 2 metres high at the head.  It weighs in eccess of 10 tonne.

Mr Tanabe was supported in this project by the Rotary Club of Shizuoka in Japan in District 2620. The five sections of the sculpture were transported from Japan in two large comtainers and the Rotary Club of Mareeba of District 9550, under the guidance of Mt Tanabe, reassembled the lizard in its new home at the Mareeba Wetlands Reserve. It was officially unveiled on Saturday 17th June 2006 by its creator and by the Hon. Warren Entsch, Federal member for Leichhardt.

The Rotaty Club of Mereeba is proud to be involved in placing this sculpture in our district highlighting the vital importance of biodiversity and the conservation of genetic diversity.

Photos and Infomation supplied by a reader – Thanks

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders in the world, was a dream come through for me. This magnificent attraction, along the Queensland coastline in Australia, was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO as a unique place for protecting some endangered species of wildlife.

My adventure to the Great Barrier Reef included learning about this one-of-a-kind tourist attraction. As the largest reef system worldwide, the Marine Park extends over 1,800 miles and it can be seen from outer space. It comprises of over 3,000 individual reefs and coral cays and more than 1,500 species of fish and a wide range of marine animals and wildlife.

No vacation to Australia is complete without a visit to the famous Great Barrier Reef. For my trip from the USA to Australia I left nothing to chance, therefore, I got travel insurance cover for the non-refundable portion. My journey included traveling from Sydney to the northeastern beach town of Cairns, which is about miles 45 kilometers from the Outer Reef.

The day tour was from 9:00 am to 5 pm and I spent 5 hours at the Marine World on the Outer Reef. The 90-minute trip on the fast, stable, spacious and air conditioned motor catamaran was comfortable. The tour package offered many options for swimmers and non-swimmers to experience and learn about the Great Barrier Reef at an affordable price. It included snorkeling equipment, presentation by On Board Marine Biologist, glass bottom boat and semi-submersible tours and refreshments and lunch.

As a newbie to water sports, one of the best ways to see the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef was by snorkeling. After getting some useful tips on how to use the snorkeling equipment, I was fitted with a mask, fins and snorkel. I was then ready to begin the guided tour and experience the amazing underwater life at the Outer Reef. By using the stairs provided, it was extremely easy getting into the water from the snorkel platform at the sheltered coral lagoon. The water clarity was of the highest quality, which made for excellent visibility and I was able to look at the bottom of the lagoon to see the breathtaking view. It included different colours, shapes, textures and movements of the array of corals and marine life.

One of the highlights of the snorkeling trip was swimming alongside Wally the Giant Maori Wrasse and taking pictures with my underwater camera. It was also good to have floating rest stations that were strategically placed at points so that I could take a break from my snorkeling activities.

On the 30 minute semi-submersible tour, while sitting about 1 meter underwater, I was able to see the colorful coral gardens as well as schools of fish, including reef fish, red bass, angel fish and Jump Headed Parrot fish. I even saw Minke whales and friendly reef sharks. Another way I was able to experience the colors and beauty of marine life in the Outer Reef was by taking the 30 minute glass bottom boat tour.

My adventurous trip to the Great Barrier Reef was an amazing one filled with fun, excitement, information and wonderful close-up views of a diverse range of coral reefs and marine wildlife. Overall, I would recommend this once-in-a life-time experience to everyone.

About the author: Dominic Godwinson, global finance and travel insurance expert and travel enthusiast. Dominic writes about various topics related to finances.

Australia has so many sights and attractions that are beautiful to view from the open road.  Cruising down the road, taking in the majesty that Australia has to offer can be a real thrill and camping with the family can bring you even closer to nature. Here are our top five most spectacular road trips not to miss across the wonderful and diverse land of Australia.

1. South – Southern Flinders Ranges – The ranges are a short drive due north of Adelaide near Crystal Brook.  This range makrs the beginning of the Outback, and stretches from the Spencer Gulf towards the Great Plains.  Hiking is a great pastime here thanks to the excellent rails and the clear markings.  But this place is not reserved just for the adventures by foot.  Bike trails are also spread throughout the area, adding another entertaining way to enjoy the area.
2. North – Nature’s Way –Starting at Darwin in the Northern Territory is a road called nature’s Way.  The drive moves beside the wetlands of Mary River and ends at the National Park in Cacadu.  All along the way you will see signs of the Aborigine roots that are scattered throughout this untamed area.  Once you reach the park you can witness crocodiles from the saltwater basking in the sun and moving about their native area. Lots of waterfalls and lookouts along the East Alligator River add more scenic pleasures throughout the park.
3. Simpson Desert – A real outback adventure awaits you on your travels through Simpson Desert.  When you prepare to leave, pack lots of food and water and top off your fuel tank.  The views will include awe inspiring sand dunes and colorful vegetation as far as the eye can see.
4.  West – Coastal and Esperance Trail – People who long for the beauty of the ocean and sandy beaches will feel like they are in heaven on this trail.  The route can take two days to cover in its entirety, but it is worth it.  Travelers can see the beautiful Southern Ocean as well as take in the sights of a small group of islands and terrific beaches.
5.  Victoria – Great Ocean Road – This route has a little something for everybody.  Due to the breathtaking views, this road is compared to some of the most luxurious areas in the world. The trip begins at Anglesea and goes all the way to Warnambool, including a pass by the Twelve Apostles.  Travelers will be amazed at the hillsides covered in eucalyptus and have their breath taken by the high cliffs.

Kristy writes for DriveMyCarRentals.com.au which can make enjoying one of these incredible road trips both cheap and memorable offering long term car rentals with everything from Holden’s to BMWs for hire. DriveMyCarRentals.com.au is a new peer to peer car rental community which provides access to more makes and models than any car rental company in the world from economy to luxury, from sports cars to classic cars, even caravans and with savings of up to 60% on traditional rental costs.

IMB TO OFFER CARAVAN INSURANCE

Caravanning is a growing trend in Australia. There are more than 300,000 caravans currently registered and more than 70,000 of those are touring around the country at any given time. Australia’s ‘Grey Nomads’ tend to travel on average three times per year, for 14.5 weeks at a time.

IMB, one of Australia’s largest building societies, with more than 180,000 members, is now offering specialised caravan insurance to its members.

The IMB insurance policy, offered in partnership with CIL, division of Vero Insurance, covers caravans against accidental damage, theft and attempted theft, storm, hail and flood damage, malicious damage, fire and explosion and electrical motor burnout. Considering most caravans cost between $70,000 and $600,000, the IMB caravan insurance policy is a sensible investment for owners.

IMB’s caravan insurance policy provides:
•Alternative accommodation expenses up to $100 per day if the caravan is not fit to live in following an accident or loss
•A new replacement caravan if it is a total loss in the first year of registration of the caravan
•Automatic contents cover up to $1000
•Authorised emergency repairs if the caravan cannot be towed after an accident
•Reasonable costs to collect and deliver the caravan back to the owner following repairs
•Reasonable costs to remove and store the caravan after an accident if it cannot be towed
•Up to $20m for legal liability claims.

The policy is valid anywhere in Australia. IMB can also insure caravans permanently on site.

Robert Ryan, IMB’s Chief Executive Officer says that IMB, as a member-focused institution, is committed to making financial and personal security matters easy by offering a comprehensive range of products and protection for all members. The introduction of Caravan insurance demonstrates IMB’s dedication to providing relevant, superior and valued products to its members.

IMB’s caravan insurance partner, CIL Insurance, provides comprehensive caravan insurance anywhere in Australia. As a division of Vero Insurance, CIL has been supporting the RV industry for more than 45 years and currently insures more caravans than any other insurer.

For more information on IMB’s products visit www.imb.com.au  call 133 462.

There is no reason why you can’t have a great holiday when working with a limited budget. You may wish to stay in a 5-star hotel but in reality you will probably be staying in a tent, cabin, motel, backpackers, homestead, which my family has done plenty of times and we had many wonderful holidays.

Plan your holiday within your budget so it can be relaxing and you are not stressing about what you are spending. You can still get out and see all the sights, enjoy being with family and friends and meet new people. There are many free activities that you can enjoy. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos or videos so you can create memories to look back on in the years ahead.

Depending on your budget, it may be possible to treat yourselves to something special that you have always wanted to do. This could be hot air ballooning, abseiling, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, playing golf, visiting gardens or art galleries, seeing the whales, going on a flight, seeing Uluru (Ayers Rock), or experiencing one of thousands of other things you can do.

Remember that the little extras can quickly add up. Consider taxi fares, restaurant meals, takeaway food, drinks, fuel for your vehicle or car rental, tips, entry prices for attractions, souvenirs and any medications you may need. Allow for all these things in your budget. Plan ahead, budget and you will have a great holiday.

If you are planning your holiday months or even a year ahead, be smart and start saving now. Put away as much as you can into a separate account or somewhere else so you won’t be tempted to spend it.

Even if you are on a budget you can have a great time and holiday, there are many activities you can do for free.

Look out for them, sometimes they can be the highlight of your holiday. Happy Travelling!

Online campervan and car hire company DriveNow™ introduces their up-to-the-minute campervan and motorhome rental website to all travellers across Australia and New Zealand, comparing the lowest prices and guaranteeing the best option at the highest quality.

DriveNow.com.au partners with reputable campervan brands including Apollo, Backpacker Rentals, Britz, KEA Campers and Maui to provide road-trippers with all the best models under one roof. This means that those planning a trip away can choose from a great range of self-drive campervan rental vehicles at substantially discounted drive-away prices, on one easy to use website.

Vehicle pick-up is available from all major Australian cities and airports including Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Hobart, Darwin and Sydney. With a great choice of vehicles, from luxury motorhomes to budget and 4WD campervans, DriveNow prices start from only $25 a day depending on the chosen vehicle and size of your family or group. 

Managing Director of DriveNow™, Russell Matters says that with different campervans and motorhomes available in the market, the selection of vehicles provided ensures that all travellers’ needs and budgets can be met.

“Motorhomes offer state of the art facilities to make your holiday a safe and comfortable one within a real ‘live-in’ environment, whereas campervans still offer comfort, but are smaller and have more basic  facilities,” explains Matters.

“Depending on your budget and requirements, you can book and pick up at any location, a 2 Berth campervan, complete with linen and cutlery, for as little as $35 a day. Alternatively, a high quality six berth motorhome that accommodates six people and comes fitted with double beds, a gas cooker, air conditioning, a shower and TV and DVD players can be hired for $90 a day.” he says

Offering convenience and comfort, DriveNow prides itself on the quality of its campervans so travellers can rest assured that they are cruising in the most reliable fleets available. There is no better way to see the Australian landscape than on the road in a trustworthy campervan and being in control of your own itinerary.

What better way to spend time with the family, than to hire a campervan and take the kids on a road trip. Hire a 4 Berth Campervan, for two adults and two kids for just under $750 for a whole week, or for a larger family, a 6 Berth Campervan for as little as $769 for a seven day period.  There’s no need to pack bedding or cooking utensils as these are all provided.  Other family benefits include baby booster seats for as little as $5.50 per day.

DriveNow.com.au donates $5 from each baby and child restraint booked through the site to Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia (CHFA), helping to make a real difference to sick and injured children nationally. These funds will be used for research, services and equipment within the main Children’s hospital in each state. DriveNow also offer their customers the option to make an additional contribution upon payment.

DriveNow also offers a “Double the Difference” lowest Price Guarantee. They will match any genuine price for an Australian and New Zealand based business and website. Not only that, you will get a bonus discount equal to DOUBLE the difference between the prices you have been quoted.

Making a booking at DriveNow.com.au is quick and easy online with instant confirmation. Alternatively, call 1300 547 214 to get helpful advice to secure your next Campervan Holiday.

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Start planning your road trip adventure.

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Sydney NSW Capital city of New South Wales

Great Barrier Reef QLD 2000 kilometres of coast from Bundaberg to Port Douglas

Tasmania Capital city is Hobart, well known for its wilderness areas

Melbourne VIC Capital city of Victoria

Uluru NT Also known as Ayers Rock in the heart of Central Australia

Red Centre NT Alice Springs and the surrounding areas

Great Ocean Road VIC A very scenic coastal drive

Kakadu National Park NT In the Top End of Northern Territory

Gold Coast QLD Stunning beaches, a surfing paradise and exciting theme parks

Fraser Island QLD The largest sand island in the world

The Kimberley WA Absolutely stunning unique landscapes in every direction

The Daintree Rainforest QLD Is the largest tropical rain forest in Australia

Whitsunday islands QLD Is in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef

Barossa Valley SA Well known for it’s wineries, cuisine and country views and walks

Ningaloo Reef WA Is one of the largest reefs in the world making an undersea paradise

Perth WA Capital city of Western Australia

Brisbane QLD Capital City of Queensland

Blue Mountains NSW Marvel at the majestic landscapes

Darwin NT Capital city of Northern Territory

High Country VIC The Victorian Alps is part of the Great Dividing Range

Adelaide SA Capital city of South Australia

Snowy Mountains NSW Are the highest ski fields in Australia

Broome WA Well known for pearls and the beautiful Cable Beach

Kangaroo Island SA Stunning beaches, forests, desert dunes and farmland

Phillip Island VIC Well known for its penguins, seals and the Grand Prix

Capricorn Coast QLD Includes 13 beaches from Yeppoon to Emu Park

Limestone Coast SA Perfectly sculpted beaches, towns include Robe & Beachport

Goldfields VIC Visit towns where gold was found & visit beautiful old buildings

Byron Bay NSW A very popular beach & holiday location

Yorke Peninsula SA Renowned for cruisy atmosphere and laidback lifestyle

That top 30 list showcases some of australia’s beautiful and interesting places, there so many others. What places would you recommend other travellers visit.

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Plan your own exciting Aussie holiday

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Lake Mckenzie on Fraser Island is a very popular and special place to visit, beautiful white sand and clear blue water.

This photo is a great example of the outback, bright blue sky, a bit of green vegetation and red dirt road. Our 3 cars are on the way to the Kimberley and an incredible adventure.

This photo was taken on a joy flight over the Bucaneer Archipelago near Derby. We were staying at Cape Leveque north of Broome and saw some great scenery including the Horizontal Falls.

We had a holiday on a houseboat several years ago and we cruised on the Murray River and had a great relaxing time. This beautiful phot was taken at sunrise making the gum trees glow and create a great reflection.

We have camped many times on the banks of the Murray River, as you can see these kids (Pigs in mud! and 3 of them are mine!) had a great time.

We were camping on the banks of Lake Kununurra and this sea plane was getting ready for take off and i raced for the camera and was lucky enough to get one shot.

This is the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley, which is only suitable for 4WDriving. I like the soft colouring in this image mainly due to dust being blown around by the vehicle in front.

Old Mornington Station is in the Kimberley we camped at the base of this amazing cliff complete with boab trees and a very bright blue sky.

This is Arnos Wall in Winton behind the North Gregory Hotel which we stayed in. Arnos wall is very unique and was created by a local, anything and everything has been added to the wall like motorbikes, microwaves, wheels, car parts and much more!

Birdsville is a great town in Central Australia, we visted here when we toured Eastern Central Australia. Birsville was out favourite town and this is the famous Birdsville Hotel.

Next time you go on a holiday remember to take your camera and take some stunning Aussie holiday photos and upload them to your computer to show everyone how stunning Australia is.

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Start planning your road trip adventure.

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You can choose to travel alone or with friends or family, one thing is for sure you will meet plenty of interesting people from Australia or overseas. Your accommodation, meals, attractions are arranged for you and most will be paid for already.

The range of tours is amazing, they can be for a day, several days, weeks or months. The size of the group can vary from 10 or 20 up to 50 or more using mini buses or the larger coaches.

You can arrange a tour from most reasonable size towns, Visitor Centres and accommodation places every where in Australia.

You may like to book with one company for a long tour as your complete holiday or you can include several short tours within your holiday. For example you maybe going to Central Australia and your vehicle is not a 4WD so to be able to see the more remote places you can take a day adventure tour.

There are many types of organised tours to go on, like adventure, nature, travelling through several states or within a region of Australia. Going on any tour is a easy and great way to explore and holiday in Australia.

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Plan your own exciting holiday

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