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Australia

Best Destinations for Fun and Sun

No matter what time of the year it is, there’s always time for a getaway to a sunny, fun destination. From the azure waters of the Caribbean to the sun-soaked beaches of Australia, there’s certainly no shortage of places to visit for some fun in the sun. With their abundant sunshine, gorgeous beaches and wealth of attractions and activities, these destinations are among the best in the world for those looking to soak up the sun and relax.

Aruba is renowned for its stunning beaches, seaside views and vibrant culture. The country is home to the Caribbean’s finest shops, restaurants and cultural sites as well. Top activities in Aruba include swimming, sunbathing, fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, sailing and walking along the magnificent coastline. The top beaches in Aruba include Eagle Beach, Baby Beach and Druif Beach.

Miami is another great sunny spot to escape to. With plentiful sunshine year round and a colorful atmosphere, there’s no bad time of year to visit. Top attractions in Miami include the Frost Art Museum, the Lowe Art Museum, Villa Vizcaya and Zoo Miami. Miami Beach, with its miles of golden sand and turquoise waters, is recognized as one of the top beaches in the world. Activities in Maimi and the South Florida region include swimming, surfing, sunbathing and a wide variety of water sports.

San Diego is renowned for its mild, sunny climate and countless activities and attractions. Balboa Park is home to the San Diego Zoo, the Museum of San Diego History, the San Diego Museum of Art and one of the top botanical gardens in the country. Old Town is filled with historic sites while Seaport Village and the picturesque Gaslamp Quarter are some of the top spots in the city to visit and hang out. San Diego is well-known for its phenomenal beaches, including Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Point Loma and Ocean Beach.

Sydney, Australia enjoys abundant sunshine and warm weather year round. It boasts some of the world’s most marvelous beaches and a wealth of outdoor activities like swimming, scuba diving, sunbathing, surfing, sailing and kayaking. Top attractions in this city are the iconic Sydney Opera House, The Rocks and Circular Quay.

Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is yet another sunny, festive city. It is home to the world famous Carnival festival every year and a vibrant, colorful atmosphere. In addition to its bevy of beaches like Ipanema Copacabana and wide array of shops and world-class restaurants, Rio de Janeiro boasts major attractions and landmarks to visit like Cristo Redentor, Sugarloaf Mountain, Corcovado and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Maroochydore Tourist Attractions

Maroochydore, the center of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, is a well-liked holiday setting. The Maroochy district is fortunate to have miles of sandy beaches and ocean for surfing. Additionally, the area has acres of city parks and national preserves. It is a starting place to view tourist attractions in Queensland. Maroochydore has unique site to entertain visitors.

Cruise Hervey Bay to observe the glorious Humpback Whales playing in the sea. During the journey, the day sailors will navigate through Hervey Bay and explore Hervey Bay and Maryborough townships. The Tasman Venture’s is specifically planned for whale watching with decks set up for 360 degree views of the water plus viewing rooms under water. Throughout the cruise, watch the whales from the platform that slowly lets down to the water level. Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea as part of the cost.

Board the Valley Rattler Steam Train for a ride through Queensland’s picturesque small towns. Start north to Gympie and wander through the towns of Amamoor and Dungan with a break at Kandanga.

After shopping at the local market, continue to Imbel and board the mini-bus to Kenilworth for lunch. Later, pause for a walk through tropical forests to wonder at the massive Morton Bay Fig trees.

Glide through the air at the 4,500 feet Gliding Adventure at Maroochydore. After boarding the glider, journey past the wrecks of Tangalooma and Moreton Bay. Enhance the venture, by gliding during the whale watching season. For the best views, the voyage will go across the side on the Pacific Ocean and pass up to Cape Moreton. Then the glider will ascend to 4,500 feet and sail across the Spitfire Channel to Glasshouse Mountain and then return to Maroochydore.

Visit the Top Shots Fun Park with the family to spend the day at the amusement park. Play a round of miniature golf at one of the parks 18-hole miniature golf courses. Ride the blaster boats, climb the rock climbing wall, and slide down the Inflatable water slide. Take a chance at the video games arcade and get a quick bite to eat at the fast food restaurant.

The Gold Coast Hotels provide a great variety of accommodations for discovering all that the Gold Coast provides- from the sun and beaches to the tropical forests, amusement parks, shops, water sports, fishing, and nightlife.

Gold Coast Hotel in Surfers Paradise is ideal for those keen on beach life and fun. Surfers Paradise family accommodations include Emerald Surfers, Surfers Paradise Beach Units, Australis Sovereign Hotel and Q1 Resort and Spa. Apartments include Paradise Resort Apartments.

Coolangatta abounds with beaches and has a relaxed atmosphere for families. Of the many hotels that cater to families are Grand Mercure Apartments and Oaks Calypso Plaza Resort.

The Gold Coast is a golfer’s heaven with over 20 gold courses. Hope Island is close to the courses. Two of its hotels are Hyatts Regency Sanctuary Cove and Gold Coast Holiday Park.

The Gold Coast Hotels are the ultimate opening to discover the attractions- theme parks, national parks, beaches, shops, and water sports.

5 Australian Foods You Must Try

Australia is a popular travel destination for many reasons. Travellers go to Australia to take a ride in the outback, relax on the sandy beaches or take photographs of Sydney’s famous opera house. There are always cheap international flights to Australia year round so it’s no excuse not to go. Besides several must-see sights, Australia also has several must-try dishes. Although some of the favourite foods of Australians actually originated in other countries, there are many popular native dishes.

From condiments to desserts, no holiday in Australia is complete without sampling the five following foods.

Vegemite

Vegemite is the quintessential Australian food. This dark spread is put on just about anything including crackers, toast, sandwiches, English muffins and slices of fruit. It is a bit salty with a bitter, yeast flavour that is similar to Marmite. It is best to only spread a small amount if you have never eaten it. However, Australians eat it regularly.

Kangaroo and crocodile meat

No outback experience is complete without sampling kangaroo or crocodile. Although meat pies are more popular in Australia, they actually are not a native food. Kangaroo and crocodile are widely available in Australia and laws are in place to make sure the population of kangaroo is not depleted due to agriculture. Kangaroo resembles veal or pork in taste. It is often either barbecued or prepared in stew. Crocodile meat is very lean and does not have an overpowering flavor. Crocodile can be found as steak or jerky. Even though it is easy to find crocodile steak, Australian families do not actually eat it on a regular basis.

Seafood

Because Australia is an island, fresh seafood is abundant. Prawns (especially cooked on the barbie) are a perennial favourite and easily available. However, barramundi (found mainly in Northern Australia), red emperor and coral trout are also favourite native seafood worth sampling.

Pavlova

Pavlova is often called Australia’s national dessert, though some claim it originated in New Zealand. Either way, it was created in the 1920′s to honor the visit of Anna Pavlova, a famous ballerina. The “standard” recipe has a meringue base, followed by whipped cream and topped with fresh, local fruit. It might be topped with strawberries, kiwi, passionfruit or other types of berries. There are a variety of ways to prepare Pavlova, however, and all of them are equally sweet.

Lamingtons (or Lemmingtons)

Lamingtons are so treasured in Australia, particularly Queensland, that they have their own holiday. National Lamington Day is on July 21st. They were named for Lord Lamington, who was the governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. However, he actually did not care for Lamingtons. The traditional Lamington is a small sponge cake that is covered in chocolate and rolled in coconut. Lamingtons might also have fruit in the centre, though some fancier ones are filled with cream.

They are available in most bakeries in Australia.

So whether in the mood for dinner, dessert or a quick Vegemite sandwich, Australian cuisine provides a variety of new and delicious options for travellers.

What Should Cruise Holiday Packages in Australia Include

Keep in mind these vital things when choosing from cruise holiday packages in Australia.

Most of the booking for cruise line holidays is done through holiday packages in Australia. This is because you can see and explore so much more when you choose to opt for a holiday package as against choosing one destination where you will go and stay for the rest of your holiday. While there are various options of cruise holiday packages that you to choose from, make sure that they include the following.

- Medical help – When you are cruising peacefully on a ship, the last thing that you want is to have a sea sick person in the group spoil the fun. In addition to that medical emergencies do not give a warning before they descend on you. All good quality and reliable cruise liners should have a medical facility that can take care of medical situations. In addition to that, when you have someone who needs to be taken to land in an emergency, the holiday package organisers should have the means to do so.
- On ship entertainment – While gazing at the sea is a great feeling you cannot do it for hours on end for days. And since you are likely to be out at sea for some time, it is essential that the cruise holiday package that you choose includes some good on ship entertainment like night life, games, movies and more.
- Important docks – Some of the must see places in Australia when you take a holiday package in Australia include the Sydney harbour, Sunshine Coast in Queensland and the Barrier Reef.

Tips for Australian Holidays

Australian holidays can be great fun if you only know how to conduct yourself and manage various aspects and formalities like customs, accommodation, language and religion, tipping culture and electrical. Without this knowledge there can sometimes be incidents that can spoil the entire holiday. Here are some tips that will help you get around and ensure that your Australian holidays are perfect.

- Customs – Your passport should be valid for the time of the intended stay and you should have a valid Australian visa. Only New Zealand residents are not required to have a visa to visit Australia. However, everyone must go through an immigration process where even New Zealanders are allowed entry on arrival.
- Accommodation – There are various options that you have for accommodation in Australia. The one that is best for you will depend on the specific objectives of your holiday along with the budget that you have put aside for the same.
- Language and religion – Australia does not have an official religion. However, most of the people in the country are Christians. Catholic churches can be found all over the country along with some Methodist, Presbyterian and Uniting Churches.
- Tips – Most of the people who work in the tourism, hospitality and transport industries are paid a minimum salary and therefore tipping 10 percent of the charges are an acceptable norm.
- Currency – The Australian currency has denominations of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $2 in coins and $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 in notes.
- Electric appliances – the Australian electric supply is 240 volts. If you plan to use electric equipment that works on a different voltage make sure to carry an adapter with you.