This photo was taken during our January 2010 family holiday along the Great Ocean Road. We were fortunate to have glorious, summer days during our time exploring the coast. This photo depicts clear blue skies and calm seas, which most definitely is not the case most of the time along this wild Southern Ocean coastline.

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park is located on the most southerly tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It’s an extremely remote travel destination on the shores of the Red Sea. Access is generally either by vehicle or boat from Sharm el Sheikh.

I was fortunate to meet a German/Egyptian family who were holidaying for the diving in and around Sharm el Sheikh and they offered to take me to this remote destination in their vehicle. Access was probably even more difficult back in the 1980s as the towns on the Red Sea were yet to be discovered and developed into the tourist destinations we know today. The only access to Ras Mohammed was with someone who had a vehicle.

The small 4WD drive was loaded up with 6 passengers, scuba diving and snorkeling gear, and south we headed.

Diary extract – 18 July, 1988

Reef Fish on Local Postcard

“…We were stopped at a number of military checkpoints where Passports were required. Unfortunately, my passport was left as a security deposit with the Aqua Marine where the snorkelling gear was hired. Our host, who was of Egyptian origin, managed to confuse them at each checkpoint and we were not asked to show them. Whilst it was a mere 15km drive, it took an hour to get there! The last 5km was very much cross country and a 4WD was a necessity.

Desert Camels

We headed straight for the reef with our gear and I’ve never seen such an incredible number of fish of all colours and sizes. It can best be compared with swimming in a large, tropical fish tank found in your neighbourhood pet shop. We made it to the edge of the reef and the colours were simply breathtaking, as it plunged away beneath us. There were clams to be seen on the reef cliff and coral in many colours, shape and form. I’d not been out there for any length of time, when the others surfaced to say they saw a Hammerhead shark – I decided not to hang around and headed back to the safety of the reef…”

The Red Sea Dive Guide

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One Great Reason to Visit Ras Mohammed

One great reason to visit this remote travel destination is to experience the diving and/or snorkelling over the reef, through an abundance of fish, to the spectacular reef edge.

Ras Mohammed from Sharm El Sheikh

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Twelves Apostles

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most popular travel destinations luring both national and international visitors to the south-western coast of the state of Victoria. I decided to spend my recent summer holiday exploring the region with my family. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive after my husband booked the holiday because I’d been to the area on three previous occasions and experienced miserable weather with horizontal rain! Not the best conditions for sightseeing.

A couple of days after Christmas we had the car and trailer packed with all our camping gear and set off early for the seven hour drive from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road which is signified by a memorial arch just before you arrive in Lorne. The arch commemorates the returned service men that commenced building the road during 1918, and on to our destination, Warrnambool.

The Arch

During our 10 day holiday (my 10 day ‘digital-detox’) we enjoyed the beach at Warrnambool, a day trip to the ‘Shipwreck’ coast taking in the 12 Apostles, The Arch, London Bridge, Bay of Martyrs, Bay of Islands and Port Campbell. Helicopter flights over the coast seemed very popular with as many helicopters as flies!

A lovely day trip was also taken to the nearby historic township of Port Fairy where the children enjoyed a camel ride and I drooled over the historic cottages by the old inland port. From Port Fairy we visited ‘Tower Hill State Game Reserve‘ which is based around an extinct volcanic crater, so makes for some interesting landscapes and plenty of wildlife can be seen including emus, kangaroos and koalas. We were very impressed with the Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre. Its design blended beautifully with the landscape and is very well hidden within the crater.

Kirsty enjoying her digital-detox!

One of the highlights of our stay at Warrnambool was the ‘Shipwreck Sound and Light Show‘ at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The spectacular laser show depicts the voyage of the ill-fated Loch Ard ship bound for Melbourne from England during 1878 and was wrecked on the reefs near Port Campbell. There were only two survivors which is miraculous in itself when you see the size of the cliffs they would have been confronted with. The Loch Ard Cemetery is located near Loch Ard Gorge and named after the wreck.

Our holiday ended with a superb meal at Simons Waterfront Restaurant. The restaurant is situated right on the foreshore of Lady Bay with a lovely view over the water to sit back and enjoy the sunset. We all enjoyed our summer, family holiday but for me, the digital-detox was very necessary and a chance to enjoy the 3D world!

Australia’s Great Ocean Road: Walks, Beaches, Heritage, Towns, Ecology and Sustainable Tourism: The Complete Guide to Southwest Victoria

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One Great Reason to Visit the Great Ocean Road

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the spectacular coast line that can be viewed via the scenic drive through coastal towns, national parks and open, salt-bush, cliff tops.

Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

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View from Mt Oberon

Wilsons Promontory or more fondly known as ‘The Prom’ is the most southerly tip of mainland Australia. It has been one of my favourite camping spots for many years, offering bushwalking, wildlife viewing, swimming in the clear waters and general relaxation in the protected National Park.

Wilsons Promontory National Park was one of the first national parks declared in Victoria, more than 100 years ago, and is an icon of the park system and draws visitors from all over to this travel destination.

Development within the park has been minimal and it was only recently that a major objection was fought to keep development and commercial tourism out of ‘The Prom’. The only facilities for camping are located at Tidal River camping ground. The park information centre, small supply shop and petrol station are also found here.

During the summer peak season camping is so popular that you not only have to book a site but enter a ballot system due to the demand. Unfortunately, there are times when you will miss out!

The special attractions include Tidal River, a hike to Squeaky Beach, Whisky Bay, a 20km return hike to Sealers Cove (the only access is by foot) and Lilly Pilly Gully. It is a bushwalker’s delight.

The National Park offers the perfect opportunity for taking photographs of beautiful landscapes and wildlife you will encounter. You might like to take a look at Tony Page, professional photographer and writer and what he has on offer.

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One Great Reason to Visit

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to experience the sunset from the top of Mt Oberon looking over Tidal River and Norman Bay.

Gippsland, Victoria including Wilsons Promontory

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Easter Island

Known as ‘Rapa Nui’ by the indigenous community and otherwise known as ‘Easter Island’, is situated some 3,700km west of the mainland of South America in the Pacific Ocean. This isolated position makes it quite a trek for most visitors. Those that do make the effort to visit the 117sq km island, are greeted with a host of wonders making it an exceptional travel destination.

Easter Island was first discovered by Europeans back in 1722 on Easter Sunday, hence the name of the island. However, inhabitants date back to an estimated 300 CE. This is when it was thought the large statues known as “moai”, were carved and erected by the Polynesian community. Scattered around Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater, are 397 moai in various stages of completion. The Rapa Nui National Park gained inscription as a World Heritage site with UNESCO during 1995.

Lonely Planet Travel Guide – Chile & Easter Island

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One Great Reason to Visit Easter Island

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to view this unique, isolated landscape and monolithic statues.

David Attenborough Explains Easter Island

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Yellow Mountain

The spectacular Yellow Mountain, also known as Mount Huangshan, is found nestled in the Anhui Province of eastern China. Yellow Mountain received inscription as a UNESCO heritage site during 1990 for its magnificent landscape and significant contribution to Chinese art and culture.

Yellow Mountain is made up of 72 granite peaks, projecting gnarled pine trees from crevices, clear mountain springs and misty-clouds that shroud the tall peaks. The highest peak ‘Lianhua Feng’ has sitting upon the top of it, a lone rock, called ‘Monkey Rock’. It was so named after a legendary monkey that fell in love with a village-girl. Today, ‘Yellow Mountain’ joins a number of other splendid travel destinations China has to offer the visitor such as Yellow River, Yangtze River, Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China.

The area with its natural beauty, mystical and spiritual atmosphere has inspired many artists over the centuries. Poets, writers, Chinese ink painters have all converged on Yellow Mountain.

Yellow Mountain is included in this beautiful book ‘China’s Sacred Sites’

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One Great Reason to Visit Yellow Mountain

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the sheer majestic peaks; shrouded in mist.

The Mystic World of Shanshui / Mount Huangshan

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Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park is situated on the Freycinet Peninsula on the eastern coast of Tasmania. The bush surrounds, pink granite mountains known as the ‘Hazards’, coastal dunes and the pristine beach of Wineglass Bay make the area a mecca for bushwalking, fishing, boating, sea kayaking and rock climbing. Wineglass Bay, as you can see from the photo to the right, is a picture postcard travel destination.

The nearby town of Coles Bay is the gateway to Freycinet National Park and is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Hobart and Launceston. On the road into Coles Bay a stop at Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve to see the breeding ground for black swans and wild ducks is a must.

The Rough Guide to Tasmania

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One Great Reason to Visit Freycinet National Park

One great reason to visit Freycinet National Park is for the bushwalking through the Australian bush to the pristine beach of Wineglass Bay.

Freycinet – Tasmania

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Tikal National Park

The remnants of the fascinating Mayan civilisation can be marvelled at Tikal National Park, a UNESCO listed site since 1979. Tikal, meaning ‘place of voices’ is now a National Park and located in the northern region of Guatemala and not too far from the border with Belize.

Tikal was the capital of the ancient Mayan civilisation. It is believe that it would not have been its original name but infact the name given shortly after its modern day discovery during the 1840s. Population estimates place the demographic size of the site between 100,000 and 200,000.

The National Park is not only home to archaeological wonders of temples and ruins but also the home to monkeys, parrots, deer, toucans, macaws, ocelots and the rare jaguar.

A highly recommended book by Dr Peter D. Harrison – The Lords of Tikal: Rulers of an Ancient Maya City

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One Great Reason to Visit Tikal

One great reason to visit Tikal is for the spectacular Mayan ruins; remnants of a grand civilisation.

Tikal, Guatemala – The Mayas One of The Most Spectacular Civilizations

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Gelada Baboons on the Amhara Plateau

The Amhara Plateau incorporates the ‘Simien National Park’ which is a World Heritage Site and was inscribed by UNESCO during 1978 – one of the first localities to receive inscription.

It is located in northern Ethiopia, 120 km north-east of Gondar. Erosion over the years of the Great Rift Valley, has created an amazing landscape of majestic peaks and deep valleys. Ras Dashen, at a height of 4620m, is the fourth highest peak in Africa.

The Gelada Baboons, Simien fox, Ethiopian wolf and the Walia Ibex (a goat) are found nowhere else in the world. Sadly, these species are diminishing. Consequently, during 1996 the park was added to the UNESCO register as a ‘World Heritage Site in Danger’.

The 5th Edition ‘Ethiopia Bradt Travel Guide Book’ comes highly recommended

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One Great Reason to Visit Amhara Plateau

One great reason to visit the Amhara Plateau and Simien National Park is to watch the fascinating Gelada Baboons negotiate the steep cliff-sides and manage it successfully!

Simien National Park

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Wildlife seen at Sabi Sabi Game Reserve

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is found some 500km north-east of Johannesburg in a small area of the Kruger National Park. Sabi Sabi was established during 1979 and offers luxurious accommodation and safaris to view the park and hopefully see the Big 5 animals of Africa – the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo and elephant. There will be plenty of opportunity to see many smaller species of wildlife and some quite close to the accommodation surrounds.

Sabi Sabi Game Reserve’s luxurious accommodation includes the Selati Camp, Little Bush Camp, Bush Lodge and Earth Lodge. Each of the sites include a number of suites and each with a presidential suite (with a private pool) other than the Little Bush Camp. Relax on the verandah and enjoy the views. Dine under the African night skies. Absorb Africa.

Fodor’s ‘The Complete African Safari Planner’: South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia & Tanzania

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One Great Reason to Visit Sabi Sabi Game Reserve

One great reason to visit Sabi Sabi Game Reserve is without a doubt for the wildlife. Sabi Sabi can boast one of the highest concentrations of the big 5 African animals, so there’s a very good chance you will see them all!

Sabi Sabi Game Reserve

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