Destinations Archives - Page 4 of 6 -

Hamburg – the new Berlin

Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany, has traditionally lived in Berlin’s shadow – but not anymore.

The northern metropolis has become a media and industrial hub in modern times, with Hamburg now one of the most affluent and best places to live anywhere in Europe.

And tourists can’t get enough of Hamburg’s charms. From art to history and music to marathons, the city now attracts over four million visitors each year. Read on to find out about some of the interesting and innovative places to visit when staying in a Hamburg hotel this year.

St Michaelis Church
A truly iconic landmark of Hamburg, visitors are drawn from across both across Germany and further afield to gaze upon and worship at St Michaelis Church. The glorious Baroque building was originally constructed in 1786 and is dedicated to the archangel Michael. One of the main attractions of the building is the glorious bronze sculpture of Michael vanquishing the Devil, which welcomes tourists as they enter through the main entrance.

Today, visitors can climb St Michaelis’ 132 metre-high spire, where they will be able to soak up fantastic views of Hamburg’s skyline and harbour district.

Tierpark Hagenbeck
Hamburg Zoo was originally opened in 1907 and is the rival of any in Europe. The zoo was the first to pioneer cageless exhibits, and it still uses moats to this day to improve visitor experiences by providing them with panoramic and lifelike enclosures.

The zoo has 210 different species of animals, with tourists able to feed the hugely popular elephants, lions and polar bears during their trip to this highly-respected conservation centre.

Hamburger Dom
The Dom is the largest fair in Germany and can more than match anything Berlin has to offer in terms of excitement. Held for 30 days in spring, summer and winter, it is located at the heart of Hamburg in front of St Mary’s Cathedral. Tourists can not only enjoy its Ferris wheel and other fairground attractions but buy local delicacies and products from the Dom’s market stalls.

Long Night of Museums
This renowned event sees many of Hamburg’s excellent museums and cultural institutions throw open their doors for an all-night extravaganza. The idea might have originated in Berlin but Hamburg has perfected it. Around 40 top attractions, including the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the Deichtorhallen, stay open into the night, allowing visitors to enjoy their collections in the unique moonlit conditions.

Hamburg State Opera
The city’s opera company is the envy of art lovers across the world, with Hamburg one of the leading lights in staging productions. Opera dates back to 1678 in the city and is now housed in the innovative Staatsoper building. The company has received international acclaim for its pioneering programme and tourists are as likely to be able to enjoy a world premiere of new and exciting shows as an operatic classic.

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An Adventure Of A Lifetime At Lake District

Lake District is seen as a mountain region that is primarily located in North West England. It is a popular family adventure destination. It is mostly famous for its lakes, mountains and forests. The region is also associated with the early nineteenth century writings and poetry of William Wordsworth.

There are various family adventure holidays offered by various tour companies. Some of these include:

Go Ape in Grizedale Park

Go ape is seen as a “high wire adventure” that is considered to be a perfect addition to the family adventure holiday at Lake District. The adventure is usually a giant obstacle course that primarily uses walkways, ladders, bridges and tunnels made of ropes, wood, wire strip and zip lines. This is something that will surely engage and entertain the whole family. For more information on the Go Ape at Grizedale Park you can contact Grizedale visitor center by calling +44 (0)845 6439215.

Horse Riding

Horse riding is seen as one of the primary family adventures carried out at Lake District. One can take time with the family to take horse rides through the villages and shores of Lake District. Horse riding is most definitely an enjoyable way of viewing the beauty of the area and experiencing the freedom of Lake District.

Rock Climbing

Lake District has spectacular mountains that make a family adventure memorable. Climbing the mountains is seen as a very popular activity that will put your family in to perfect shape and leave them enjoying every moment of their walk. There are normally different routes used for walking which varies from highly experienced climbers to beginners.

Lakes Leisure Windermere

Lake Leisure is an adventure center that specializes in kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing and sailing. The center provides the various equipments needed for all these activities. There are also expert instructors that help your family when need be. For more information you can contact Lakes Leisure, Rayrigg Road LA231BP.

Biking

There are usually a number of bike hire companies that have cycling tracks at the Lake District. These companies give you a perfect alternative way to have fun during your family adventure holiday at Lake District. Lake District has some of the highest mountains and longest lakes. There is no better to enjoy the scenery other than taking a bicycle ride in the outdoors.

Homescales

The homescales activity center is a place that offers your family exhilarating outdoor activities which include paintballing, archery, quad biking and ruffle shooting. You can contact the center by calling +44(0)1539772147.
Lake District has links to some of the major writers and artist in history. These include Celia Fiennes, Daniel Defoe, William Wordsworth and Father Thomas West. This has made theatre to be one of the popular attractions at Lake District. The tradition of theatre has been carried from generation to generation through venues like; Theatre by the Lake located in Keswick. The theatre is known for Easter and Christmas productions, various literatures, mountaineering, film, jazz and various creative art festivals.

The above activities at Lake District brings out adventurous experience to the visitors. Visitors out of U.K can use passport service and visa services or travel agency services to plan there vacation.

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Faliraki beach – ideal beaches for tourists action lovers and the calm sun bathers

The Faliraki beach is situated along the east coast of the Rhodes island in the northern part. This beach is about 5 km wide and is considered to be the best beaches on the island nation, also very highly organized in order to be one of the major attraction beaches for the tourists visiting the island. One important reason is that this seems to be one of the closer beaches, located just about 14 kms from the city of Rhodes and approximately 10 kms from the airport. This makes the beach more popular among the locals, easy travelling options gets a huge chunk of the visitors to visit this beach as one of the first visits on the island. Faliraki, also has a lot of options for getting those picturesque photographs that will be a part of memory for the years to go by.

Being one of the better organized beaches, the beach is about 4 kms long and has a very long stretch of umbrellas and sunbeds, which are placed in an orderly fashion along the sea coast. If it is walk that you enjoy, or just the bit of tan by a sun bath, either of these is possible along the Faliraki coast. This beach has also been known for its safety for swimmers, the beach slowly culminates into the beautiful Aegean sea and therefore is a lot safer than most other beaches on the island.

Being a beach with a lot of tourists, there are a lot of activities which can be done along the Faliraki beach. These activities involve a lot of water sporting action like Banana Safari, Jet skiing, wind surfing, etc. For the ones with a higher need for adrenaline, there are a few other extreme sports like bungee jumping or even the sky surfer. The sports come at a cost but with a skill for bargaining, you can end up with a good deal for the vacation. After a whole morning of action, there are lots of restaurants, that can serve most world renowned delicacies, there are also the tavernas which can serve authentic Greek food.

The Faliraki is one of the ideal beaches for tourists who are a combination of action lovers and the calm sun bathers that look for vacation spots on bright sunny islands.

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Stegna Beach – Piece of beautiful sand in the middle of mountains

Being an island nation, Rhodes has some of the best beaches, with a lot of scenic beauty. These are exemplified with a lot of beautiful beaches on either sides of the coastal region of the island. One such gorgeous beach is the Stegna Beach which is situated along the east coast. This beach is considered and is by far one of the more quiet beaches on the island. The road of Archangelos, runs along this beach for about 500 meters and this makes the beach an ideal place for bathing. The bathers are used mostly by the local villagers, however, it is also an unusual experience for the visitors staying at the beach or in the vicinity.

Besides being a beauty of a beach, the approach road to this place is also worth a journey. The beach is like a piece of beautiful sand in the middle of mountains, which has roads that go winding through sheep grazing pastures and lots of almond & lemon groves. Once at the beach, there are plenty of tavernas that offer the most variety of choice both in terms of taste and budget options. For the high spirited, there are a few local bars which is not more than a 10 minute walk from the smallish harbor on the beach.

The Rhodes island is known for its rich cultural and historical ties, the stegna beach has the most untouched of Greek Village look & feel. The reason is owing to tourism being concentrated in the city areas, however, there are a lot of things that tourists can enjoy on this beach as well. A few tavernas and the beach resorts, host local parties, which has an open invitation and tourists are free to join.

The stegna beach is at a distance, of about 30 k.m, from the Rhodes Town and is not very difficult to access. From a tourist perspective, a vacation of calmness and quiet can be found at this beach with an exquisite view of the Greek waters.

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About Rhodes Island Greece

Rhodes is an island located in the eastern Aegean Sea in Greece. In terms of land area and population it is termed as one of the largest Dodecanese islands. The Rhodes island has been famous worldwide historically since its Colossus of Rhodes was listed as one of the seven wonders of the world. Today, it is considered as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

The island of Rhodes is shaped like a spearhead and it has a coastline of approximately 220kms.

The island of Rhodes has very rich resources of flora and fauna. The island has mountainous regions in its interiors and is covered with forests of pines and cypress. The shores are very rocky but some crops like wine grapes, olives, citrus fruit, vegetables etc. are grown in certain land strips on the island.

Rhodes Island has a history of earthquakes and one of which even destroyed the Colossus of Rhodes and caused minor damage to some old buildings here.

Rhodes also has a very rich historical background and the predominant religion here is the greek orthodox. There is a noteworthy Roman Catholic minority on the island, many of whom are progenies of Italians who endured after the end of the Italian livelihood. Rhodes has a Muslim minority, a remnant from Ottoman Turkish periods. The Jewish community of Rhodes dates back to the 1st century AD.

Along with the popularity of being a famous tourist destination it is also one of the favourite spots for scuba divers. The underwater world of Rhodes is considered a paradise with numerous varieties of marine habitat. The marine life is in plenty here and the ships wrecks on the sea bed prove a haven for the divers which help them see the history with their own eyes. These ship wrecks also house some varied species of fishes and marine life.

The Rhodes island houses many golf courses, churches, castles, resorts etc. You can get in to this island via a place or ferry service and also by bus. Some must do activities when you reach this island are sunbathing, snorkelling, diving, surfing and climbing Mt Attavyros.

The Rhodes island is considered safe to stay and the water and food here is also of good quality. Some things to buy from Rhodes are sponges, ceramic watches, olive oil, bottle of wine, religious icons etc. Jewellery stores are very common here and colourful sea shells are a popular souvenir item.

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Top Tips and Ideas for Backpacking Across Australia

Australia is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet, so its status as an attractive tourist destination is more than understandable. People head Down Under in ever-increasing numbers year after year. Whether this is to head to a particular city or landmark, or take in a range of places, tourists simply cannot get enough of Australia.

Despite the vast size of the country, Australia is popular with backpackers. Due to the size of Australia, planning a trip across the country is necessary, prior to heading there. What are the main things you need to consider, and why?

What do You Want?

In a country with so much to see and do, if you don’t have at least an idea of the places you would most like to visit, you are going to find yourself in a constant state of flux. Once you know the places that you most want to see, you can start to work out whether it is feasible.

Look at booking hostels, car hire special offers, and even looking at where you might be able to get a short-term job for a week or two – farms and bars in remote towns are great for this sort of thing – in order to earn some extra finances for your trip.

Once you have organized all of that, you are ready to go.

While you will undoubtedly have your own ideas for backpacking around Australia, we have a few suggestions of our own that you might not have thought of. These aren’t unknown tourist gems, but they are likely to be less busy than other great places around the country.

Kakadu National Park

To get an idea of the scale of this area, get this: it is half the size of Switzerland.

In the Northern Territory a few hours’ drive from Darwin, this is Australia’s biggest National Park, and a must if you are in the area. The number of people who pass this by leaving Darwin to head right for Uluru is staggering; ensure you don’t miss out.

If you managed to hire a cheap campervan or have a high-quality tent, look to spend a few days exploring this amazing place.

Margaret River

Many places within reach of Perth have a great reputation with travellers. Broome, to the north, is usually the pick of most travellers, but for us Margaret River has a certain essence and charm about it that makes it irresistible.

The whole surrounding region is filled with vineyards, while the town itself is filled with great places to stay, shops, parks, and anything you could ask for, to fit any mood or feeling at a given time.

Blue Mountains

Sydney is Australia’s most popular city, and people who travel there often wonder what the huge mountains visible in the distance are. The foothills of the Blue Mountains actually start at the edge of Sydney, yet many people travel right through the city without ever going there.

If you’re in Sydney, it is simple; you have to hire an Aboriginal guide to show you around the Blue Mountains, and introduce you to the unique landscape and history connected to the whole range.

Ensure you make the most of your backpacking trip Down Under. Whether you take in most of Australia or just a small part of it, there are lifetime memories waiting at every turn.

This article is written by Transfercar, a car hire Australia service, providing travellers free transport for major cities in Australia.

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For a different kind of winter vacation try Belize

Belize on the Yucatan Peninsula is a country of contrasts. From the Central American rainforests to the barrier reef in the Caribbean you will find many different experiences. There are beautiful places and fascinating historical sites to explore both inland and around the many beaches and islands.

When to go
The climate of Belize is hot and humid all year round, varying by only about 4 degrees throughout the year, but the rainfall varies markedly from North to South. The wet season is considered to be from the middle of May to November in the south and from June to November in the north. The period between November and February is transitional and the dry season runs from February to April. The peak periods are between mid December and mid January and the Easter period. Many visitors to Belize like to visit in May or June when prices are slightly lower and the country is less crowded.

About Belize
Belize was formerly known as British Honduras and the official language is still English, although Spanish is also widely spoken. The country has more than ten different cultures including Creole, East Indian, Maya and German Mennonites. Tourism has grown considerably in Belize, with cruise ship arrivals contributing to the increase in visitors.

The many attractions include the massive rainforests, Maya ruins some of which have not yet been excavated, the famous Belize barrier reef and various activities centred around the coastal areas where boat hire is available and travellers can enjoy world class SCUBA diving.

Things to do
Experience the history of the Maya civilisation by touring the sites left from the Classic period. Around 40 percent of Belize is under protection and there are many temples to visit, sites that have been restored and unexcavated ruins to explore. Many of the ruins have been overgrown by the jungles and are difficult to find.

The wildlife of Belize attracts many visitors. There are hundreds of species of birds, exotic animals and colourful fish to see. Bird watching is particularly popular and many species can be seen from the resorts close to the jungle and the nearby roads. A prized sighting is that of the keel billed toucan, Belize’s national bird. As you would expect in a region where there are dense rain forests on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, the country is also home to many exotic tropical plants.

Belize has the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere and was once described by Jacques Cousteau as “one of the four must-dive locations on this blue planet”. There are some stunning scuba diving and snorkelling sites in Belize with something for novices and experts alike. Other water based activities include kayaking in and around the reef and islands, all kinds of fishing, sailing and boating. Boats were used by the ancient Maya people for transport between islands, upriver and along the coast and boat hire is still available to explore these areas. Whatever your individual interests, you will find plenty of interesting activities to fill your vacation in Belize.

AUTHOR BIO
Adriana Frederick writes regularly on world travel for many websites and blogs. She is based on the south coast of England and has written articles on boat hire for various publications.

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Perusing the Peruvian Paradise

The humble neighbour to the west of Brazil is often underrated in discussions of vacations and exotic tourism. Peru, however, has some of the most fascinating archaeological and cultural treasures in all of South America. From the Amazon River, through the Inca Trail, all the way to Machu Picchu one can experience a variety of wildlife, ancient ruins, and mountainous scenery that truly captures humble tranquillity of Peru.

The Amazon

The most prestigious jungle in the world allows tourists a deep look inside at all its wonders with expert naturalists as their guides. The Peruvian Amazon contains only 5% of the Peruvian population making it a natural oasis that allows you to experience a part of the world hardly even touched by mankind.

The tours are not limited to the outer skirt of the jungle, but take you into the rivers that vein themselves deep into the jungle. Motorized canoes are an included part of many Peruvian Amazon tours which carry you to intimate riverside lodges as you observe even more of the Amazon wildlife throughout the boated tour. The wildlife in the Amazon consists of some of the rarest species in the world. This habitat, along with the hospitality and lodging throughout these amazing adventures, make for a once in a lifetime experience.

Inca Trail

This trek is an unreal blend of archaeological and mountainous wonder as you hike alongside some of the most glorious and beautiful landmarks in the world. The Inca Trail is actually comprised of three overlapping trails: the Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. Each trail offers its own flavour of majestic scenery and cultural experience.

The Mollepata is the longest out of the three and takes you through the landscapes of the high Andes Mountains. This hike is no easy task but is well worth the venture to see some of the Inca ruins and tunnels as well as majestic views of the local mountains.

The Classic trail is a lot less strenuous and offers a bit more in cultural site seeing. Along this trek you can see the ancient ruins of Patallacta, a site used for religious and ceremonial functions and at one time for the housing of soldiers from Willkaraquay, a nearby hill-top site that was one of the first Inca settlements in this region of Peru around 500 B.C. The historical and cultural experience of this trail makes it a quite a moving experience for tourists, especially history enthusiasts.

The third and final trail is known as One Day. This trail is a two-day walk for the average tourist but is known as the “One Day” trail for the Incas who take great pride in their navigation through the Inca trail and would use its land as a place of rest and recovery. This trail allows you to explore the Intipata, a large set of agricultural terraces that follow the convex of the terrain. This is all right before you come upon the Winay Wayna (forever young) which features a peaceful harmonic flight of fountains used as ritual baths. The 19 springs utilized to make these fountains make it a rare piece of the natural world that is truly a site to see.

Machu Picchu

At the end of the Inca trail stands the great mountain sanctuary, Machu Picchu. Near the peak of the mountain is a city-like settlement that is believed by many archaeologists to have been the estate of the great Inca Emperor Pachacuti during the fifteenth century. Frequently referred to as the “City of Incas”, it is one of the most famous icons of the Inca civilization. Naturally polished dry-stone walls make up the city as it sits high in the heart of the Peruvian paradise surrounding it.

Charlie Bennett is an aspiring travel writer who has recently been sharing his tales of South American travel for the Peru travel specialists GAdenvtures.com

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Great places to visit in Malaysia

Malaysia can make an amazing holiday, located in the south-east part of Asia. Malaysia has a tagline too “Malaysia truly Asia” which means Malaysia is the only world’s largest continent which is both diverse but amazingly homogeneous Malaysia is rising economically and spiritually day by day and this continent has the greatest growth. Malaysia has some beautiful landscapes, plenty of traditional food and exceptionally nice people. You will love this place for its commendable ethnicities and culture. Once you book your tickets for Malaysia then you can have fun with your partner as well as kids too. A tour to Malaysia will not at all disappoint you and it will not let you forget its memories easily. Although, there are so many restaurants, beaches, and places to hang around but you must once visit places like Kuala Lumpur or Cameron Highlands.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and its one of the most favourite place for youngsters and Parents. You must take a visit to the beautiful and ancient Batu Caves to start up your journey. Kuala Lumpur is like a crown of Malaysia. The famous landmarks of this place are the tall Kuala Lumpur tower, Petronas Towers which is considered as tallest buildings of the 20th century and do check huge shopping malls. An amazing zoo is also situated in this city and you can also try the large variety of ethnic galleries and museums. Kuala Lumpur is clean city and easy to get around. Central Market offers you the opportunity to indulge in some cheap price shopping.

Cameron Highlands: This beautiful place is enclosed by eight small towns and villages. Cameron highlands are famous for its beautiful scenery and its lush green tea plantations. If you are fond of exploring nature’s beauty then don’t miss to see are the butterfly farms, strawberry farms and other walking trails.

Melaka (Malacca): Malacca is known as a historic town where you can plan a short vacation when you are in Malaysia. You can glance at old churches and forts which were made by Portuguese people. These churches are so much beautiful and once you step in to them, you can find the perfect peace of mind. Melaka is also very famous for one of its streets which is also known Jonker Street. Here you can do your favourite shopping as it has lots of antique galleries, some little shops selling tiny Chinese shoes for women and if you are tired of shopping than you can enjoy a coffee in the street’s coffee shop.

Penang: Penang is famous for its Kek Lok Si Temple and Bukit Maung War museum. One thing more that makes it amazing is that whenever you get hungry, you can enjoy the mind blowing roadside snacks or coffee. Moreover, take out some time to explore the tropical spice garden with more than 500 species of flora and Fauna. So, book your tickets for Malaysia now and enjoy the fun.

About The Author: Santosh Gautam is an experience writer and has been writing on different topics like hotel, travel and more. Currently writes for http://www.hotellasuite.com/

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A Sneak Peak into The Wonders of Italy

Italy is one of the most beautiful places and is a member country of European Union. This place is officially known as the Italian republic. This place has been very much successful in attracting huge number of tourists every year due to its beauty.

Culture:

Italy greatly contributes to the historical and cultural European heritage. This place is the home to highest number of heritage sites. Italy has enriched collections of art, literature and culture. The place has collected these from different time periods. The place has large number of art galleries, museums, statues, fountains, etc. all these attractions have made the country popular.
The Italian culture is the main reason for attracting tourists to visit this place. People are very much amused by the beautiful culture of the country.

Tourists are attracted by many places and activities in Italy.

The top most source of attraction:

Venice that is also known as City of Water is a very famous water city. Canals of Venice are the dream destination of many and a large number of people visit this place daily. The reason behind the popularity of this city is the Italian architecture and romantic gondolas. About 150 canals are stitched together. This place is considered one of the top most romantic places. One of the reasons behind the popularity of Italy is Canals of Venice.

Other attractions in Italy:

There are numerous attractions in Italy. The Colosseum is the most famous amphitheatre in the Roman world. This is because this is the biggest amphitheatre. The Colosseum is situated in Rome. The construction was initiated by Vespasian, an emperor. The completion of the amphitheater was done by his Titus. This large amphitheatre was capable of holding about 50,000 spectators. There are about 80 entrances. A protection from heat and rain is provided to the spectators by sails that are called the Velarium. This was attached to the attic in the top.

Santa Maria del Fiore is another famous attraction in Italy. It is a beautiful cathedral which has become the city’s symbol. The cathedral’s is beautifully faced using marble panels. The marble panels are faced in different shades of pink and green and bordered with white marbles. This is one of the largest churches in Italy. The dome of the cathedral was the biggest in world until the new era. However, this remains the dome with biggest brick that was ever constructed.

Piazza Del Campo is another famous destination in Italy that is one of the biggest medieval squares. This is one of the major public places belonging to Siena’s historic centre. This place is known for its architectural integrity and beauty. The palazzo Pubblico and also it is a very famous tower, which belongs to wealthiest Siena families. There are also horse races held called Palio di Siena is held twice a year.

There are still a lot of attractions in Italy. People visit this place and get amused by the architecture and beauty of the different monuments and other places. Most of these attractions belong to the olden Roman culture and has its own charm.

Author Bio :

Dealsbell.com is amongst the top discount codes offering websites and have 6500+ Online Stores. Online Shoppers can find all the latest coupon codes and discount codes to avail heavy discounts. For more detailed information on various Coupon Code and Discount Codes please visit dealsbell.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and also on Google+ to get updated on best deals of Dealsbell.

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A Guide To Explore Barossa Valley With Family

Barossa Valley is the perfect destination for a wonderful vacation with family. If you’re not familiar with this area, there’s so much more to see and do, other than exploring vineyards! If you’re taking your family along, make sure you have at least a week or two to explore all the delights of this green paradise on earth.

Take a Professional Barossa Wine Tour

Take a professional Wine Tour for a personalized, private wine-tasting experience. These tours are conducted in classic 1962 Daimler cars, or 4WD, depending on your tour operator. You will be taken to only those cellar doors that you want to visit, based on your individual wine tastes. The tour includes both the large, iconic wineries and also family-owned small boutique cellar doors. You will be accompanied by your personal wine guide who will have a deep and rich experience in the Barossa Valley wine history. These tours are single day and multi day with accommodation, depending on what you choose.

Take A Barossa Valley Sightseeing Tour

Adelaide: This tour starts from Adelaide and takes you through the rolling Adelaide Hills and the beautiful vineyards. The Adelaide Hills has charming villages, many green pastures and the perfect rural ambience. The tour follows the beautiful Torrens River in Adelaide, goes through the magnificent Torrens Gorge, skirts Kangaroo Creek and Millbrooke Reservoir, and meanders through the beautiful stone buildings of Williamstown. Taste some of Barossa’s most famous wines at the Wolf Blass, take pictures from the Menglers Hill lookout, and eat a great lunch at the Kaesler Winery Restaurant. Explore old and quaint craft shops, tea rooms and cottages in Stirling, Aldgate and Crafers villages.

Hahndorf: Enjoy the attractive Barossa Valley villages with their European buildings, classic vineyards and famous landmarks. Listen to the tour guide as he or she describes the fascinating blend of Europe and Australia in the valley. You will also be able to explore the quiet European agricultural village of Hahndorf, and its German influences, reminiscent of the tastes and smells of Bavaria.

Whispering Wall in Williamstown

The Whispering Wall was built between 1899 and 1903 as Barossa Reservoir’s retaining wall. This dam is considered a marvelous and revolutionary engineering achievement for its time. It’s even mentioned in the Scientific American journal. However, what your kids will enjoy best is the wonderful and unique acoustic effects of Whispering Wall. Place one kid at one end of the wall, and the other at the other end, over 100 meters away. Your kids will be able to listen to each other’s whispers clearly, as though they were whispering right next to each other! The adults in your party can enjoy learning about the construction of this dam, and enjoy a bushwalk in the colorful surroundings.

Balloon Over Barossa Valley

The best way to see the whole of Barossa Valley is to view it from a balloon. Take an early morning flight to observe the dew-drenched vineyards, buildings, national parks, quaint streets, cottages, villages and old cellar doors of Barossa Valley. Most Barossa Valley hot air ballooning tours include a buffet breakfast with a local wine, and some of them offer a commemorative flight certificate as well.

Explore the Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park in Tanunda

There are two main walking trails which take you through scrub, open grasslands, creeks, rocky outcrops and low forest areas. Enjoy the panoramic views over the Barossa Valley ranges. Take a local guide along to describe points of interest, native plants and spot the diverse wildlife in its natural setting. Go birdwatching in the early mornings and evenings; watch for kangaroos during the day in the open plans. Take a moonlight walk to spot Echidnas and possums which forage for their food at dusk.

Nelly works for Adrenaline and contributes well-written articles to various blogs on adventure travel in Australia.

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Aboriginal discovery in Australia

One of the parts of Australia’s heritage that makes the country so unique is its history with the Aboriginal people who were there long before the Europeans found the continent down under in the 18^th century. After migrating over 50,000 years ago from Africa, indigenous Australians have become a compelling and fascinating part of the country’s heritage. Although currently there are just over half a million Aboriginal people in Australia, or 2.5% of the total population, their influence on Australia is undeniable.

Many people are familiar with the history of Australia’s Aboriginal people, more specially, the impact that this distinct cultural group has had on Australian history and culture. The various indigenous groups in the country were there for at least 40,000-50,000 years before the Dutch found the country in the 1600s and the British colonised it in 1770s. Over 200 languages were spoken by the individual groups, and the settlements were primarily in the same locations as the current cities and towns of Australia.

Whether you’re Australian or a tourist,an effort should be made to visit some of the incredibly preserved Aboriginal art and heritage. The following routes take tyou through some of the most beautiful parts of Australia, showcasing the history, heritage and art of the Aboriginal people along the way.

The Savannah Way

Linking the North Eastern state of Queensland to Western Australia through the Northern Territory, the Savannah Way goes through 15 of the country’s national parks and five World Heritage areas. The train runs through the famous Kimberley region, and visitors will pass through Darwin, on to Katherine, Timber Creek, Kununurra, Halls Creek and finish in Broome. This trip takes about six days to complete, but driving through the beautiful Kimberley region will ensure that you see not only the coastline, but desert and tropics as well.

Explorers Highway

If you’re interested in a longer journey, the Explorers Highway is an 11 day drive from the north of Australia to the south, down the centre of the continent. Passing through the some beautiful wine regions, you’ll also be able to take a drive through the famous town of Alice Springs, see Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) and the Kings Canyon with an Aboriginal guide. You’ll also see some amazing Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu National Park, which is a World Heritage Site.

South Australian Loop

For a one to two week drive through Australia, the South Australian Loop offers you not only a passage through the south east of the country, but you’ll drive through areas offering you unique opportunities to see kangaroos, penguins, sea lions and more. Between Arkaroola and Parachilna, you’ll see rock art, visit sacred sites, and be treated to some bush tucker.

Nature’s Way

This journey is a five day trip through the Adelaide and Mary River wetlands to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, and back to Darwin. You’ll see the amazing crevices that the Dreamtime ancestors created in the Nourlangie Rock, and witness some amazingly preserved examples of X-ray art in the park itself. You’ll also be able to spend time exploring with an Aboriginal guide.

Sacred Sites

If you’d like to learn more about Aboriginal heritage in Australia, the sacred sites of Baiame Cave, Ban Ban Springs, and Murujuga should be top of your list of what to see. Baiame was the Creator God and Sky Father in several Indigenous groups, and a cave in the New South Wales area of Milbrodale houses numerous Wiradjuri Aboriginal paintings, one of which might depict Baiame himself.

Ban Ban Springs is the first area of Queensland to be registered formally as an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage location. It is a Dreaming place, and holds a lot of significance of the Wakka Wakka people.

Murujuga, which is also known as the Burrup Peninsula is a unique ecological and archaeological area. It contains the world’s largest and most important collection of ancient Aboriginal rock carvings, some of which might date back to 10,000 BC. Some of the most unique depict the now extinct ‘Tasmanian Tiger’.

Hopefully you’re now inspired so why not book some last minute flights, and start exploring.

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