Australia is unlike anywhere else on earth, comprising an otherworldly mix of backdrops. I go down under regularly, and I had to grin on my last visit, I thought fourteen and a half hours of flying was long but it was quicker than when I went to Rome, Italy a couple of months ago. I am sending more and more clients down under with a stopover, such as one or two nights in Hawaii, Fiji, or the Cook Islands, to break up the journey. If you have the time, this is a good thing to do and you save money on air costs.
Australia is the size of America, but only has nineteen million people. It was mostly of British background, but when they lost 25% of their men in World War II, they begged emigration from many parts of the world. In 1950, you could emigrate from England, going by sea for only $20, and they gave you free land as well. It is a well-organized country, happy people, and very casual, although I think you have to be especially tough and adventurous to live in some of the very remote regions. The States are New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania (an island), Northern Territory, and Western Australia. Canberra is the capital.
I just had a new client fly in to meet with me in his 12 passenger jet, and after my power point presentation, he said – send me for three weeks to wherever you think I should go.
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I give clients a questionnaire to fill out so I know what their interests are. I can then recommend places to go visit. It is a place of extremes, where adventures abound on land, by air and at sea, each offering its own unique yet quintessentially Australia, perspective. Whether you prefer soaring in a seaplane over Tasmania’s World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain National Park, floating in a hot air balloon over Victoria’s Yarra Valley Wine Region, diving into crystal blue waters to swim with the ocean’s largest fish at Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef which I prefer to the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, or exploring the waters around Kangaroo Island, you should have an Aussie expert plan the trip, which highlights Australia’s finest attributes from your preferred point of view.
Not many tourists visit the island of Tasmania. There is lots of convict history and unusual animals like the Tasmanian devil, which roams around each night in Cradle Mountain National Park. The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Brighton provides a safe home for a wide array of rescued Tasmanian wildlife from eastern quolls and echidnas to Tasmanian bettongs and pademelons.
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Seeing the island from the air is a great experience. You can also take a six day bush walk on the Overland Track. One National Park which I like is the Walls of Jerusalem. Here, you can enjoy great hiking in the wilderness in a small group, which is a ton of fun.
Western Australia is one third the size of the entire country. Five regions, all different. Large growers of grapes/wine, wheat, visit a million acre cattle station, and mining is a big industry, including the Argyll diamond mine, which produces pink gems. The 8,000 miles Kimberley coast stands as one of the last untouched corners of the planet. National Geographic has an explorer cruise, which goes from Darwin to Broome . The coral coast region is known for its annual – April to June, migration of massive whale sharks. You can sail the Ningaloo reef for three to nine day sailing adventure on board the ten passenger luxury catamaran.
The three icons are Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, and the Outback, in the Northern Territory. You should not go to the Outback during the Wet Season, since it is extremely hot, sticky and torrential rain. I recommend a train trip, the Ghan, which goes from Adelaide to Alice Springs, 24 hours, and on to Darwin with another 24 hours, or the Indian Pacific, which goes right across Australia to Perth, and takes 72 hours.
Only place in Australia I recommend you rent a car is in Tasmania. The distances are too great and dirt roads in many other places for someone to rent a car. You are better going on a 4-wheel drive camping safari with people who know the wilderness. 500,000 camels wander around the outback, and that’s a danger to drivers.
A unique country to visit.
Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.
