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.

Last time we were there we met up with friends who live in Sydney and whom we met at Ayers Rock Resort about 10 years ago. They took us on several drives along the coast and inland mainly in southern Sydney. We also drove through the Royal National Park which is the first recognised National Park in the world.

Things To Do In Sydney

There are many things to do in Sydney, everyone that visits should see the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are also plenty more things to do in Sydney like the walking around the ‘Rocks’, go on a harbour cruise, visit Taronga Zoo and Luna Park.

Sydney Tower Skywalk

If you want the best view of Sydney try the Skywalk on top of Sydney Tower only 260 metres above ground level. Of course you will be wearing Skysuits and harnesses for your own safety. What A View!!

Star City Casino Sydney

The Star City Entertainment Centre has everything you need, accommodation, dining, beautiful views, casino, nightlife, special events and theatre shows.

Star City is on one of the world’s most beautiful harbours, great for a night out with friends or a date. Also you can enjoy the high stakes action, Star City’s gaming rooms are as spectacular as their location. If you want to play casino poker online visit  pokersites.com the best online casino poker review www.pokersites.com/country/australia

 Sightseeing and Adventuring in Sydney

Sydney Sightseeing and AdventuresIf you are visiting Sydney and looking for more adventure how about an amazing full throttle jet boat ride in the harbour. See the unique harbour views while going flat out sliding and aplashing in all directions. Many cruises on the harbour can be enjoyed as well as sea plane flights over the sydney Australia beaches and other locations, aerobatic flights, sky diving, rock climbing in the Blue Mountains, drive a racing car around Eastern Creek race track, Harley rides, hot air ballooning and so much more. Enjoy your Sydney experience, make your trip to Sydney one to remember.

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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!

 Join thousands of other happy campers around Australia as BIG4 Holiday Parks prepares for its biggest night of the year, opening up their Holiday Parks for one night only of FREE camping under the stars. 

The unique national campaign, Come Camp with BIG4, will be held at a wide range of BIG4 Holiday Parks nationally in 2010. The event was a huge success last year, hosting approximately 10,000 outdoor enthusiasts.

The 5^th of November is sure to impress experienced campers, families and even welcome newbie’s to the world of adventure and fun that the BIG4 Holiday experience provides.

This year, Come Camp with BIG4 will again support their charity partner, The Humour Foundation’s Clown Doctors^TM. Participating parks will be holding fundraising activities and all parks will donate a percentage of money raised from the sale of BIG4 memberships sold over the entire weekend to the charity.

The renowned BIG4 park facilities range from resort style pools to giant jumping pillows so the activities on offer are sure to delight guests of all ages. Activities will vary between parks from pancake breakfasts, to face painting and even mysterious treasure hunts – these are just a few of the exciting activities guests can enjoy.

James Shearer, acting CEO of BIG4 Holiday Parks, says Come Camp with BIG4 allows families and friends to enjoy a night together, and is a nice introduction for people that wouldn’t normally camp.

“Come Camp with BIG4 gives couples, friends and families the opportunity to enjoy a free night of camping. It’s the perfect excuse for a night away.

“Everyone is welcome – we want to encourage people to come along that would normally shy away from camping. Come Camp with BIG4 will no doubt be an event marked in all Australian’s diaries, as it was last year,” added Mr Shearer.

Keep Friday 5 November FREE and reserve your FREE powered or unpowered camping site at

big4.com.au/comecamp

Come Camp with BIG4

Where: BIG4 Holiday Parks across Australia

Date:     Friday 5 November 2010

Cost:     FREE

              Booking: big4.com.au/comecamp

For further information, images or to arrange an interview please contact:

Lauren Burl

P: 03 8416 6771

M: 0419 325 447

E: lauren.burl@che.com.au

Fleur Williamson

P: 03 8416 6728

M: 0416 659 162

E: fleur.williamson@che.com.au

About BIG4 Holiday Parks

BIG4 Holiday Parks is a Franchise Group comprising more than 180 holiday parks across Australia, including recent National Tourism Award winner BIG4 Beacon Resort and State Award Winners BIG4 Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park, BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park, BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park, BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park and BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park. The group provides a range of high-quality accommodation options from powered ensuite sites for caravan and motorhomes to luxury cabins. With a consistently high standard across all its parks, BIG4 has also set the standard within local holiday park experiences and is the recognised industry leader. BIG4 Holiday Parks’ BIG4 Club has over 170,000 members who enjoy significant discounts on accommodation bookings as well as ongoing benefits and discounts with BIG4’s partner organisations. Being a BIG4 Member means you’ll not only get savings on BIG4 accommodation, but also access a whole host of other holiday benefits thanks to BIG4’s Local Member Benefits program. BIG4 Holiday Parks recently signed a master licensing agreement with North America’s Kampgrounds of America (the leading campground operator in Nth America and Canada) for the Australian, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and East Timor markets. BIG4 is a proud supporter of The Humour Foundation’s Clown Doctors™, a philanthropic organisation committed to bringing a little cheer to children and their families’ undergoing treatment in Australian hospitals. For more information on BIG4 Holiday Parks visit big4.com.au

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Plan your own exciting holiday

www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/travel-in-australia.html

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.

www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/road-trip-planner.html

For anyone deciding to travel to Australia, I think it must be compulsory to be given one of those maps that shows Europe fitting inside the country with room to spare.  I think the size of Australia is one of the most shocking aspects to tourists that come here with only a few weeks to explore as they quickly realize that it’s not all fun and games when trying to see as many of those iconic sights scattered about.    It takes planning to make the most of your time down under, which is why size matters immensely in Australia.

The Dilemma:  Flying versus Driving

I met a traveler the other day that had literally 5.5 days to spare, and he for some reason thought he was about to do the driving trip from Sydney to Cairns in that amount of time.  After being smacked back into reality, he then decided to take a cheap flight to Brisbane and start from there.  It was a much more reasonable plan that would allow him to actually see some sights along the way.

In some cases, such as this, catching a flight within Australia is necessary, but the problem is that – in my mind – the journey is one of the best parts.  There’s nothing like driving to the Outback and seeing the towns get smaller and  more spread out, and what about the curvy and jungle-encased roads of tropical north Queensland?  It’s the scenery that you really get to see when driving in Australia.

 It’s not only the scenery you miss when flying over driving; it’s the little fun bits in between.  Take, for instance, Granite Gorge.  Granite Gorge is a nature park near Mareeba (about an hour’s drive from Cairns) that tempts tourists to visit with the promise of seeing and feeding rock wallabies.  Adorable? Yes, and definitely worth it in my opinion.  However, chances are you will not make it to fun little places like this from the main cities unless you are self-driving.

It’s About Being Realistic

As in the driving example above, it’s about being realistic about your options.  If you are dead-set on driving through Australia and are on limited time, you will definitely be better off trying to narrow your focus by choosing one region or one state.  By doing so, you’ll get to really know that area as opposed to grazing over the surface.

On the other hand, flying from major city to major city and hitting all the big named places can be just as amazing.  I guess it all comes down to your personal travel preferences.  Here are some ideas to keep in mind:

• Your trip length.
• Your willingness to drive in a foreign country.
• The likelihood you’ll return to Australia.
• Your budget.
• Your love, or hate, of flying.

 All of these points should be considered when planning a trip down under, but I often feel that distance from one location to the next isn’t stressed enough.  Let’s face it, Australia is pretty gigantic.  And, I think it’s safe to say that this is one place where size really does matter.

About:  Brooke Schoenman is the expert author for WhyGo Australia, an online travel guide with life. 

She currently resides in Sydney, Australia and tweets about her Aussie life daily.

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Plan your own exciting holiday

www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/travel-in-australia.html

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.

www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/road-trip-planner.html

We have used several different map books, this one by far is most impressive. The cover is a hardback so it can’t get bent or creased like every other map book we have. With the spiral binding the maps will actually sit campletely flat on the table. The maps are very clear, detailed and easy to follow.

The authors of the book actually check as many sites as possible themselves and have travelled 90,000 kilometres in the past 2 years. So they really do know what they are talking about as they have experienced travelling Australia and know what campers and travellers really appreciate.

This book features over 3500 listings of rest areas, free camps, station stays, national parks, state forest and parks and low cost caravan parks.

Also included are dump points, pet friendly sites. the latest free camping sites, author recommended sites and includes the latest Hema Road Atlas.

Camps Australia Wide also sell a Caravan Park Listing Book with over 2300 caravan parks listed. Other camping books also available.

This map book is far superior to any other map book we have owned, we have bought several over the past 2 decades as it’s best to use an updated maps when you are travelling anywhere in Australia. Another great thing about Camps Australia Wide map books updates are available online. No need to buy a new book to get updated information.

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Plan your own exciting holiday

www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/travel-in-australia.html

Flights

http://www.webjet.com.au

http://wotflight.com

http://www.harveyworld.com.au

Travel Insurance

http://www.comparetravelinsurance.com.au

http://www.travelinsurancequotes.com.au

http://www.zippy.com.au

Car and Camper Hire

http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au

http://www.webcarhire.com

General Online Stores – Camping Equipment

www,myshopping.com.au

www,getprice.com.au

These travel compare websites will help you get the best price and deal so you can enjoy your next holiday and get a better value holiday for your money.

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Everyone appreciates saving money especially when planning a budget holiday in Australia.

http://www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/budget-travel-tips.html