No matter your level of surfing expertise, Australia is the destination to enjoy all of the most excellent fun, sun and water imaginable. Australia is a premier global surfing location; primarily due to the more than 37,000 kilometers of gorgeous coastline. The coastline is filled with challenging reef as well as point breaks in abundance for the experienced surfers; and more than enough soft swells where beginners can feel safe while having fun. Join people from around the world who enjoy the finest beautiful, sun drenched coastlines in Australia.

Crescent Head, New South Wales

The coastline of Crescent Head in New South Wales starts north of Port Macquarie for 25 kilometers. Along the coastal road are a wide range of spots for surfers of all levels. New board riders as well as long board riders can enjoy one of four right hand point breaks that generate 200 meter rides. Crescent Head’s point break is adored by boarders worldwide. It is the location of the filming of “Hanging Ten”. Another brilliant spot in the area is Delicate Nobby, which is a rock formation located halfway between Crescent Heat and Point Plomer. The wedge shape of the formation, which starts near the beach and juts into the ocean, creates fantastic beach breaks on either side for endless surfing pleasure.

Photo url: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5149/5657055691_608f5a3953.jpg
Photo by: andy_tyler

Snapper Rocks, Queensland

This point break, located in the state of Queensland, is a globally popular Gold Coast surfing location. It is situated at Rainbow Bay, also known as “Super Bank”; the consistently longest hollow on the planet. The swell at Snapper Rocks commonly reaches from 6 to 8 feet. Surfers constantly enjoy the thrill of riding a clean wave to a near two kilometer distance; from Snapper Rocks to Kirra. This popular location is the host for some of the world’s most elite surfing events including Rip Curl Masters, MP Classic and Quicksilver. Local world surfing champions including Stephanie Gilmore, Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning stop by their hometown surfing spot whenever they are in the area.

Photo url: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4099/4910001028_6b2a58de19.jpg
Photo by: thinboyfatter

Lennox Head , New South Wales

One of Australia’s largest and longest surf breaks in warm water is found in Lennox Head, located in the northern region of New South Wales. Surfers find that the point is best with a southwest wind and south-southeast swell. Board riders cannot say enough about the long right hand peeling break that has been known to exceed four meters. Lennox is now a national surfing reserve. The management of the reserve is done by a Board of Management which represents the surfing community in the area. This Board gives a voice to the community as relates to custodial responsibility of the reserve, maintenance of historical records and sustaining the cultural significance of the area surrounding the reserve.

Photo url: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2184/2073310542_7a3ddd0602.jpg
Photo by: jsrobinson132

Secret Harbour, Western Australia

Secret Harbour rests on the West Australian coast between the cities of Mandurah and Rockingham. The secluded village feel of the area attracts people from around the world. The area provides fun challenges for experienced surfers and excellent opportunities for beginning surfers to master the sport. It is the home to the Big Wage Surfing School, a Surfing Australia accredited school, which has provided lessons for board riders of all ages and experience at Secret Harbor and other Perth areas for many years. In addition to superb surfing, Secret Harbour offers unbelievable bush land, lakes and other natural beauty for visitors to enjoy.

Photo url: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6128/5979287124_fb6aeab41e.jpg
Photo by: Thomas Depenbusch und Marina Depenbusch-Zharova

North Narrabeen, New South Wales

North Narrabeen in Sydney offers a unique surfing experience because of its distinctive configuration. Narrabeen Lake creates a run-off which forms a sandbank. Classic sets are formed by the sandbank, which break with the help of the deeper water offshore. The deep channel that is created by the lake flowing into the sea is instrumental in the creation of this surfer’s paradise. The quality of the powerful breaks at North Narrabeen has led to its reputation among the greatest surfing destinations in the world. While there are other popular beaches along Sydney’s north coast, North Narrabeen stands out as a board rider favorite because of these more powerful breaks.

Photo url: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6187/6107189861_5449a7008b.jpg
Photo by: StephEvaPhoto

Boomerang Beach, New South Wales

Boomerang Beach in Pacific Palms is a top pick for surfing and swimming. It is situated along the lovely pristine Forster-Tuncurry coast. Knowledgeable, experienced surfers swear that the swells at Boomerang Beach make it one the absolute best surfing spots in the NSW area. The barrels formed for beach breaks, with consistent quality waves, draw surfers from everywhere to enjoy the challenge and exhilaration of the sport. As an added treat, swimmers and surfers have the opportunity to visit with local dolphins in the ocean at the northern headland of Boomerang Beach.

Photo url: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5048/5362901409_3f9f2e9aef.jpg
Photo by: joe.lipson

Torquay, Victoria

The town of Torquay is the home of Bells Beach, an internationally renowned surfing destination. Bells Beach is located approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. The surf rises to more than 5 meters with the help of steep Southern Ocean swells over shallow reefs; taking surfing to the next level of amazement. Bells Beach is the historic home of the Rip Curl Pro, the most prestigious and oldest professional skilled surfing event. To this day, proud winners of the event are presented with the clanging bell trophy, which is the traditional award for the well known surfing event.

Photo url: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2771/4485862679_6f6dd97f2c.jpg
Photo by: surfglassy

Kristy is a road tripping adventure seeker and freelance travel writer for Drive My Car Rentals Australia. When she is not on the road she is helping people find incredible deals on car rentals in Bondi and beyond.

But we believe the best journeys are sometimes those which are slightly more off the beaten track. Here are three driving route suggestions for those of us who want to see Australia in a completely new way.

Freemantle to Newman

1,200km, 13 hours

Checklist:

• Visit the RAAF Base Pearce in Bullsbrook, constructed in 1935.
• Visit the Bullsbrook Nature reserve
• Stop off at Lake Chittering and Lake Needonga
• Overnight in the small town of Dalwallinu
• See what’s left of salt water Lake Austin and Lake Anneen
• If you’re brave, visit the old abandoned ghost town Nannine
• Visit Collier Range National Park

Once you get to Newman, be sure to stop for a swim at the Ophthalmia Dam. The closest thing you’ll find to an oasis in the middle of the desert, it’s a popular swimming and recreation spot amongst the locals.

Esperance, WA to Alice Springs, NT

3,136 km, 1 day 10 hours

The true journey through the red centre of Australia, this trek will take you from Esperance through every kind of landscape Australia has to offer – coast, bush and desert. Stay overnight in Ceduna and Port Augusta West to break up the trip in to thirds, as it is a whopping 25 hour drive from start to finish. There are plenty of huge nature parks and reserves along this trip, including Nullarbor National Park, Wahgunyah Conservation Reserve, Yumburra Conservation Park, Yellabinna Regional Reserve, Pureba Conservation Park, Koolgera Conservation Reserve, Pinkawillinie Conservation Park and Lake Gilles Conservation Park.

Checklist:

• See the Australian Arid Land Botanic Garden in Port Augusta West
• Visit Monalena Lagoon and Lake Hart
• Stop over at Coober Pedy, the famous Opal Capital of the world

Broome, WA to Darwin, NT

1,945km, 1 day 1 hour

If you prefer to drive between two locations you’ve more than likely heard of. Perfect for those who love big, long stretches of road, this drive from Broome to Darwin will take you all the way through the north end of Australia. Overnight in Fitzroy Crossing and Katherine to break up the trip, and tick of our checklist of suggestions along the way.

Checklist:

• Bungle Bungle National Park at Halls Creek (Australia’s version of the rocky landscapes of Arizona)
• Keep River National Park
• Manton Dam Recreation Area
• Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

Remember, when you’re travelling such long distances, it’s important to have the right vehicle. Your tiny little car that you use to zip around the city just won’t survive on the wide open road and rugged terrain of the Australian outback. Consider browsing used car websites to find dealers or private sellers where you can pick up an affordable and reliable 4WD or van for your trip.

]]> http://traveltipsplus.com/take-a-road-trip-off-the-beaten-track/feed/ 0 http://traveltipsplus.com/freycinet-photo-of-the-week/ http://traveltipsplus.com/freycinet-photo-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:30:56 +0000 kirsty_wilson http://traveltipsplus.com/?p=4147 Travel Photo of the Week: Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia

This week’s photo of the week is the spectacular view from the Freycinet Eco Retreat at Mt Paul near Coles Bay out over Freycinet National Park. As dusk approaches, the view also included many of the local wallabies.

Photo courtesy of @monstermashrna

New Zealand is the home of commercial bungy jumping, a craze that was invented by a group of Oxford University students in 1979, but popularised by the Kiwi A. J. Hackett, kicked off the craze with a jump off the Eiffel Tower in 1987, which he used to demonstrate his newly developed bungy (sometimes spelled bungee) cord. Many arriving on flights to New Zealand still take their maiden jump at the first bungy site Hackett set up, which is located at the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown. There are now also additional bungy sites throughout New Zealand, including at Auckland Bridge. Bungee jumpers from the Kawarau Bridge often experience a dip in the water when the cord is at full extension, and for those with a fear of heights that are nonetheless thrill seekers, many of the rivers carving deep through gorges in New Zealand present ideal conditions for white water canoeing and rafting. Indeed, New Zealand is widely recognised as being home to some of the finest white water rapids in the world. Both the Perth and Whataroa Rivers feature class IV and V rapids, which require the skills of an experienced canoeists if taking to the water in a kayak, but are ideal for the more stable and less dangerous activity of group white water rafting.

New Zealand is home to a number of large glaciers. As well as historically being responsible for the formation of much of the spectacular mountain country in New Zealand, the modern day glaciers now offer experienced hikers, skiers, and snowboarders the chance for some breathtaking walks and descents, thanks to the access afforded to the summits by heli-hiking and heliskiing. The most popular glaciers for these pastimes are on the South Island, and include the Franz Joseph, Fox, Hooker, Tasman and Volta Glaciers.

There are also many National Parks on both the North and South islands that offer less challenging but equally beautiful terrain in which to stretch your legs. Known locally as ‘tramping’, the less experienced walker is nonetheless advised to seek out guided walks to keep things safe when exploring the bush, which is after all basically a wilderness area.

A fellow Twitter connection from the Netherlands who is also interested in #dream #travel destinations had a recent family vacation to Boa Vista. He kindly shared his favourite photo of nearby beach ‘Praia de Salinas’ to where they were staying at Riu hotel Karamboa. It was his favourite because of the empty beach. Warm sea. Nice clouds. Sun. Peak of Estância (little molar on the left of horizon) in the background.

Photo courtesy of @JeanD99 and you can read more about his trip to Cape Verde – Harvesting Clouds. No kidding

Port Vila is the capital of Vanautu. A cluster of 83 islands located in the South Pacific. Port Vila is situated on the west coast of the island of Efate within the sheltered Vila Bay. There has been a lull in blog posts here and that’s due to a recent 10 day family holiday to Vanuatu. I was determined to take a digital-detox and so no blogging was done whilst away! Only lots of time in the 3D world – sightseeing, swimming, snorkelling and relaxing with the sun on my face!

In and around Port Vila there’s plenty to see and do. We stayed at the mid-range priced boutique resort ‘Poppys on the Lagoon‘ which is an easy and pleasant walk to the town centre. This allows for walking the streets and passing the locals which you are greeted with cheesy grins and a great big “hello”. The people of Vanuatu are known for their happy, friendly ways and we had that confirmed!

Places of significance to visit include the Port Vila markets (I had a ball here), Erakor Island, Iriki Island, Hideaway Island, Mele Cascade Waterfalls, Tanna Coffee Factory and the many eating places offering fresh seafood and French cuisine. I don’t doubt I will be visiting Vanuatu again in the future especially considering it has 83 islands to explore! We were very impressed and highly recommend it as it’s certainly an easy trip from the east coast of Australia.

Lonely Planet Vanuatu & New Caledonia

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Port Vila

One Great Reason to Visit Port Vila

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the laid back lifestyle and perfect climate. You can’t but relax here!

Vanuatu: Central Markets

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Like there are horses for courses, the perfect ski resort does rather depend on the activities you’re planning, but here are some pointers:

Best for snowboarders

For minimum crowds and maximum white stuff La Grave is my choice. But this is a resort where no amount of bravado is a substitute for experience. It takes 30 minutes for the cable car to take you up over 3,000 metres. Once you’re there you have 20 kilometres of snowy free-boarding stretching out in front of you, but you can quickly find yourself alone on the glacier and the weather is unpredictable. If you want a serious challenge with a bit more support then consider Chamonix.

Best for beginners

For beginners, skiers or boarders, head somewhere where there’s plenty of short, graded runs closer to the resort. Le Arcs is a bit of a mega-resort but the ski tuition for beginners is great. The Ecole du Ski Français teaches parallel turns right from the start, so no more unwieldy snow-ploughs!

Best for off-piste skiing

Really, there are no challengers to La Grave and Chamonix, although they are both very different types of resort. If you are in a mixed group then choose Chamonix to give the others options. But otherwise, La Grave cannot be beaten for off-piste excitement.

Best to stay a season

Val d’Isere is my choice for après ski. Sure, there are smaller, resorts with more picturesque charm, but Val d’Isere, has all the infrastructure and diversity to please anyone from 5* poseurs to grungy kids.


Best of the rest

• Courchevel for families.
• Serre Chevalier for Gallic character.
• Tignes for all-round appeal and a long season.
• St Martin-de-Belleville for the quiet life, and
• Méribel if you insist on your English breakfasts and pubs.

All popular French ski resorts are cosmopolitan places where it is possible to find people who speak English as a lingua franca. But you will definitely get more out of your time in France if you can speak some of the language. If you learnt a bit of French at school, then consider taking a French language course to brush up before you leave. But if there’s no time for that then of all the countries offering international students high standards in language courses France is one of the best, so you can always take a short course once you’ve arrived, maybe scheduling your lessons for a rest day away from the slopes.

Patagonia is most well-known for its wilderness taking up parts of Chile and Argentina and stretching from the most southern part of the Andes to the Pacific Ocean and across to the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the most popular travel destinations for its dramatic scenery and a good representation of Patagonia is Alerces National Park found in Argentina. It covers an area of 263,000ha and here you can see prairies, mountains, lakes and spry creeks. However, its biggest drawcard is the Alerce tree, a species that has survived for more than 4,000 years.

Patagonia was originally a remote backpacking destination, however it is now attracting increased numbers of cashed-up visitors, cruise passengers sailing by Cape Horn or visiting Antarctica, and activity holiday-makers. Patagonia offers terrific hiking opportunities, kayaking, horseback riding and vast photographic opportunities.

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Patagonia

One Great Reason to Visit Patogonia

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to appreciate the wilderness landscapes.

Patagonia – Argentina

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Lake Mountain is 90 km east of Melbourne but closer for us! So we decided last weekend to take a day trip and show Master 10 snow for the very first time.

The drive itself is pleasant as you head up the Yarra Valley past numerous wineries. We in fact have our GPS set to ‘dong’ if there happens to be a nearby winery and consequently it was ‘donging’ every few meters which was a bit funny. A pity we couldn’t stop!

As you head through Healesville, which has become quite a bustling little town and many were out enjoying breakfast at the cafes or the famous Beechworth Bakery, you start the incline into the mountain area known as the Black Spur. The Australian wattle was just starting to burst into colour and everything was extremely lush and green from all the winter rain. Much of this area was devastated by bush fire back on 8 February 2009, known as ‘Black Saturday’ but the regeneration is coming along and there is now much undergrowth.

We arrived in Marysville. My first visit there in many years and certainly since it was wiped from the map from the bush fires which resulted in loss of life, homes and businesses. Marysville’s landscape is very different to how I remember it. The tree lined street is very open and you can see for some distance in either direction, obviously where there were once homes, buildings, trees and gardens which obstructed the view. There is still much rebuilding to be done.

From Marysville we headed on up to Lake Mountain where there was still a sprinkling of snow to be found. Well, enough for the children to toboggan and build a snowman!

Cross-Country Skiing: Building Skills for Fun and Fitness

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Lake Mountain

One Great Reason to Visit Lake Mountain

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the proximity to Melbourne for an easy day trip to the snow for some snowman building and tobogganing for the children and cross-country skiing for the bigger kids!

Lake Mountain Snow Report July 2011

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Arctic Foxes

Arctic foxes have stunning coats which tend either to be white or a beautiful blue-grey. As well as being attractive, these coats act as very effective winter camouflage and are the warmest fur of any mammal – even warmer than that of the polar bear. The foxes also have furry soles, short ears and a short muzzle, all of which are important in helping them survive the chilly climate. They are amazing creatures to observe, as the basic social unit is a breeding pair who will remain together in the same territory and den for up to five years.

Polar Bears

The main highlight of an Arctic cruise is often spotting the iconic polar bear. Only in the Arctic can you see this amazing creature in its natural habitat and view their full personality. You’ll be impressed by their amazing adaptations to life in the harsh Arctic environment and dependence on sea ice. However, while they look cute and friendly they’re actually incredibly strong and ferocious, measuring up to 3.1 metres long and weighing up to 1,200 pounds. Sadly, these giant beasts are becoming highly vulnerable, threatened with the increasing effects of global warming, which is melting their habitat.

Svalbard Reindeer

Svalbard has a unique subspecies of reindeer, the Svalbard reindeer which is the smallest species within the deer family. The deer have characteristically short legs but still carry impressive antlers. They spend their days concentrating on eating as much as possible creating large fat reserves to survive the long Arctic winter. These reindeer are not shy and can be more commonly spotted than the polar bear.

Ice Seals

The Arctic is home to several unique and extraordinary, beautiful seal species, such as: ribbon seals, bearded seals, ringed seals, spotted seals, harp seals, and hooded seals. These seals are often called ice seals because they spend the bulk of their lives either on or near sea ice. They can be spotted along with walrus on ice floes or off-shore islands and so make perfect photographic subjects.

Whales

Whilst some whales may migrate over the severe winters, the bowhead, beluga and narwhal can be seen in the Arctic all year round. The bowhead feeds by swimming with its huge mouth open, taking in enormous amounts of water and trapping copepods and other drifting crustaceans. This is because it is a baleen whale and so instead of teeth, it has several hundred fringed plates, called baleen, that hang down from its upper jaw and filter small prey from the water.

The beluga is a very beautiful creature which is also known as the white whale due to its distinctive white colouring. Belugas are a sociable bunch, often gathering in large numbers so once you spot one, look out for others nearby. You may only need to listen out for them as belugas are quite loud and can often be heard whistling, clicking, and grunting.

What distinguishes the narwhal from the beluga is its magnificent spearing tusk which can extend up to half of the whale’s body weight. Nicknamed ‘unicorn of the sea’, the tusk is actually a long, twisted tooth that is projected up to three metres in front of the whale.

Arctic Birds

There is also a variety of birds which can be seen in the Arctic. If you cruise during the summer months you may spot the Arctic tern which is famous for its migration, flying from its breeding grounds in the Arctic 44,000-miles to the opposite pole the Antarctic. Here it will spend September to May before flying back again for summer in the Arctic. This is by far the furthest migration by any known animal and ensures that this bird sees two summers per year and more daylight than any other creature on the planet.

Other birds you may spot are puffins, eider ducks, skuas, sandpipers and auks. The birds in the Arctic are also feeling the effects of climate change; from difficulties in flying in foggy weather to avalanches and new threats such as mosquitoes.

Unspoiled Wilderness

In addition to unique wildlife, an Arctic cruise enables you to sail round some one of the world’s last great wildernesses. The dramatic scenery ranges from ice covered seas, fjords with breathtaking mountain scenery, rarely visited bays and inlets and glaciers flowing into the sea around you.