Australian Travel | Holidays in Australia

Information on Holidays in Australia

Australian Travel | Holidays in Australia header image 1

Family holidays in Western Australia

June 30th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Ningaloo Reef SnorkellingIt’s every parent’s nightmare isn’t it?  Picking a holiday destination that is going to appeal to all parties.  Dad is a sport mad cricket fan, mum just wants to be somewhere warm and the kids need to be entertained.

There are options available that can appeal to all of the above.  With the hotly contested Ashes series Down Under  this year, what better time to combine the cricket with time on sun-kissed beaches or spotting Australia’s famous wildlife.

Whilst you may think you know Australia, there is actually a diamond waiting on the west coast to delight all members of your brood. Western Australia is a veritable feast of stunning landscape and whatever your budget you are sure to find something to suit your holiday style. Whether it is swimming with the world’s biggest fish, the whale shark, at Ningaloo Reef, sampling some of the fine food and wine in Margaret River, camping in the Kimberley outback, one of the world’s last wildernesses or watching the Ashes at Perth’s famous cricket ground, the WACA, you’ll wonder why you never went there before.

Log on to this live webTV show with David Gower and adventure travel journalist Richard Madden to find out why a visit to Western Australia this year will set your family’s pulse racing both on and off the playing field.

For more information visit www.westernaustralia.com

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags:   · No Comments.

UK Students without University places heading to Australia

March 7th, 2010 by admin
Respond

The possibility of tens of thousands of young people missing out on a university place in the autumn combined with grim employment statistics could see a dramatic increase in the number of young Brits heading Down Under on an Australian Working Holiday Visa.

According to new figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, more than 200,000 would-be students in the UK are expected to be unable to obtain a university place this year, and new graduates face a challenging jobs market.

Last year, similar circumstances in the Republic of Ireland saw a 33 per cent increase in young Irish taking a Australian working holiday, 22,788 for the year ending June 30, 2009 from 17,120 the previous year.

The UK is the largest country of origin for Australian Working Holiday visas, and last year a record-breaking 40,182 young people from the UK were granted this visa – a 15 per cent increase on the previous year.

Australian Visa Bureau Director Guy Bradley said: “Anecdotally we have seen an increase in Britons seeking to improve their employability and life skills through work experience overseas, specifically through the Australian Working Holiday programme.  We believe this will continue and that the year ending 2010 will be another record breaking year.”

The Australian Working Holiday Visa allows young people aged 18 to 30 the opportunity to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months, as well as the ability to study for up to four months. There is also the potential for UK young people to further extend their visa by another 12 months, making the trip up to 24 months long.

The basic requirements for an Australian Working Holiday visa is that applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old, hold a valid passport with at least one year until renewal, and enough funds to support themselves for an initial period when they arrive in Australia. There is also a health and character requirement, as applicants must not have any substantial criminal convictions or medical issues.

Young people can take a free online assessment to determine their eligibility for the Australian Working Holiday Visa by visiting http://www.visabureau.com/australia/assessment/workingholida… or the Australian Visa Bureau website.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags:   · No Comments.

Future Music Festival 2010 in Sydney

February 5th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse will be hosting the Future Music Festival on Saturday March 6th.

Described as “a ten-hour sonic boom that travels Australia at the speed of sound”, the festival also stops off in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide during late February and early March.  The Sydney date is one of the most eagerly anticipated, having picked up a best festival award in last year’s Sony inthemix poll.

Confirmed artists for this year’s bill include rave legends The Prodigy, Scottish indie giants Franz Ferdinand and Australia’s very own Empire of the Sun.  The Future Music Festival also has a reputation for attracting big-name DJs from around the globe, with Sven Vath, John Digweed, Erick Morillo and David Guetta also scheduled to appear this time round.

Although standard tickets for the event have now sold out, a limited number of VIP and first-class options are still available.

VIP tickets are priced at AU$195.85 (£107), while first-class packages cost $295.85.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags:   · No Comments.

Maui Motorhomes luxurious six berth Maui Platinum 6 Motorhome launched

January 27th, 2010 by admin
Respond

If you are thinking of a visit downunder, why not consider a luxury motor home to tour Australia?

Maui Motorhomes are considered to be the top motorhome provider in Australia and they have now launched a new luxurious six berth motorhome,   the Maui  Platinum 6.   Spacious with a stylish, modern edge, the Maui Platinum 6 brings together the very best of design, comfort and safety to offer travellers the definitive relaxed camping and motorhome travel experience.

UK Sales Manager, Stephen Hart, commented the “The Maui Platinum 6 goes above and beyond traditional campervans to provide our customers with a first class experience.  Importantly, it delivers all the vital ingredients important to our customers – safety, reliability, quality, comfort and smart design.”

The Maui Platinum 6 can accommodate six people, and is furnished in stylish leather upholstery and comprises three comfortable double beds; a large bathroom complete with a separate toilet and shower with a massage head to unwind at the end of a long drive; and fully equipped apartment-style kitchen with everything from a coffee plunger to ‘proper’ wine glasses; comfortable lounge layout with a TV screen with DVD player and an electric wind out awning meaning that setting up a shady outdoors area is almost instant.

There is also ample user-friendly storage and an area suitable for storing golf clubs.   It is powered by a turbo charged four-cylinder diesel engine, the vehicle has an automatic transmission and reverse safety cameras to help with ease of driving and getting the vehicle perfectly positioned to enjoy that stunning view.

The Maui Platinum 6 is available through Maui Motorhomes for collection and drop off in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane, and it will also be available in New Zealand from 1 October 2010.   The Maui Platinum starts from A$204/day (£115/day*).

To book or find out more information, contact your local travel agent or Maui Motorhomes, tel: 00 800 200 80 801 (worldwide 24hr/day), www.maui.com.au

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags:   · · No Comments.

Good Vibrations Festival 2010 in Melbourne

January 18th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Music fans from Melbourne and the surrounding area are counting down the days to February 21st, when the Good Vibrations festival arrives in the city.

Taking place in The Nursery at Flemington Racecourse, the event promises to be a popular attraction among people staying in Melbourne hotels next month.

This year’s festival is headlined by American indie giants The Killers and will also feature performances from international acts such as Basement Jaxx, Armand Van Helden, Busta Rhymes and Gym Class Heroes.

Other confirmed performers include US rap star Kid Cudi and the London drum and bass production duo Chase & Status.

Good Vibrations is a festival that aims to make the most of Australia’s natural amphitheatres and the Melbourne event represents the final stop on the tour, with previous legs taking place in Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast.

Running from 12pm to 10pm local time, the festival is sure to bring music lovers from all over the globe to Melbourne, with tickets priced at AU$139 (£79) plus booking fee and a VIP option available for AU$199.

Flemington Racecourse is famous in Australia as the venue for the Melbourne Cup, which is the country’s richest horse racing event.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags:   · No Comments.

Australia Day at Darling Harbour – January 26th 2010

January 11th, 2010 by admin
Respond

The Australia Day Spectacular centres around Darling Harbour where a wide range of events and activities are organised to entertain locals and tourists alike.  On January 26th a selection of live bands will take to the stage to keep the crowds entertained, while a harbour vessels parade takes to the waters around the city. It is free to attend and the action starts from 11.30 local time.

However, the main event is the Australia Day Spectacular, which starts at 19:00 and lasts for two hours.  It includes a stunning pyrotechnic display featuring lights, music and culminating with a massive fireworks and visual show over Cockle Bay.  The event usually attracts more than 200,000 people so it is advisable to get there early and find a good spot to enjoy the festivities.

Australia Day is also coinciding with the final week of the Sydney Festival, so anyone seeking additional entertainment during their trip will have plenty to choose from. Anyone who enjoys new music may want to take a trip to Late at the Garden, which showcases some of the area’s best independent bands at The Famous Spiegeltent.   Performances take place every weekend in January, with the final shows on offer on January 27th to 30th.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags:   · No Comments.