Australia Travel and Vacation Guide

Travel & Vacations in Australia

A Free Guide for Vacationing in Australia

Welcome to our site for vacations and travel in Australia! Our team of vacation experts have been working for many months to offer you exclusive advice to ensure your vacation in Australia will be fun and smooth.

We encourage you to spend some quality time looking through this site to locate some tips on how to successfully plan and enjoy your travel and vacation in Australia. Our travel team members are continuously adding new smart travel recommendations and uncovering hot deals on travel products and gear.

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Savvy Travellers Get Tickets for Their Flights Online

The beginning step in planning a trip to Australia is being sure that you can book the best flights. Before you can determine other elements of your trip (e.g., events and lodging) you may first want to investigate flight availability, flight departure times, flight arrival times and prices. Since your flights are the most important component, it is a good idea to start your travel adventure by getting the right flights booked.

Surely, the optimum way to arrange flights today to Australia is via the World Wide Web. Anyway, if you can’t get to your target destination when needed, then your travel plans may fall through. So, start with savvy flight reservations. With the advent of the Internet, finding flight availability and fares no longer requires a travel agent.

The Top Choices for Booking Flights for Australia (and Saving $$$)

Based on method you choose to travel, we reckon that any of these Internet vacation reservation services will accomplish the job.

Travelocity.com is an all-in-one company that has set the standard for total travel reservation sites. They are the site that we always select if we are looking to book an entire vacation in a single location and want the assurance of superb service and attractive prices on a vacations to Australia.

Priceline.com is decidedly the best site to find attractive deals on travel bookings. We have saved significant amounts of cash over the years using Priceline. Make sure you wait until just before your vacation before booking your reservations.

Leaving at the Last Minute?

LastMinute.com is great, but the downside is that you may not be able to find a good deal on the specific holiday you have been planning, requiring you to pay higher retail prices.

We are sure that you will get the lowest prices and excellent service with any of these recommended sites. Select the one that suits your travel goals and enjoy your trip to Australia!

Australian Gold Coast Beaches

The Gold Coast… Australia’s sixth largest city and undeniably Australia’s most popular beach holiday location . It’s incredible 42 km string of pristine beaches extend from Biggera Waters and the Southport Broadwater in the north to the New South Wales border in the south . The beaches are the jewel in the Gold Coast crown and are the major reason why this part of Australia has been attracting holiday makers for generations. With an average of over 300 days of sunlight per year it’s no wonder millions of people are attracted from all over the world.

Inland from the coast lies the “Green behind The Gold”, an elevated hinterland of National Parks, panoramic views, rainforests, walking trails and wildlife . This is one of the Gold Coast’s most popular day trip destinations.

Popular Gold Coast Locations

Southport & Main Beach – The location of the Sea World theme park and nearby Marina Mirage complex . The Southport Broadwater is the favored spot for water sports devotees with its broad expanse of calm water. Most of the holiday accommodation for this area is at Main Beach which is rapidly becoming a major tourist destination for the northern end of the Gold Coast.

Surfers Paradise – often mistakenly described as being the Gold Coast, Surfers remains the focal point of the Gold Coast. Surfers has more restaurants per square kilometer than anywhere else in Australia. Surfers has several major shopping centers and provides the bulk of Gold Coast holiday accommodation .

Broadbeach – One of the most popular destinations for holiday makers on the Gold Coast and just a few kilometres south from Surfers Paradise. Much of the newest, contemporary resorts and apartment blocks have been built here in recent years . There are excellent patrolled beaches that regularly host some of Australia’s major surf life saving carnivals. There is an excellent variety of restaurants and shopping options.

Burleigh Heads - This one of the Gold Coast’s most popular surfing locations and it’s quiet, laid back village atmosphere make it one of the more popular holiday locations for families. There is a short 3 km walking track with excellent coastal views . Fleays Fauna Centre is located just a few kilometers west of the town.

Currumbin - Synonymous with the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the feeding of the rainbow lorrikeets, this is another Gold Coast location with great beaches that is popular with families wanting to bypass the noise and bustle of the more developed areas such as Surfers Paradise .

Coolangatta - This is considered to be the southern end of the Gold Coast where it meets the border with New South Wales . Coolangatta and the neighbouring Tweed Heads have grown into a single urban area but retain their twin towns status. The beaches at Coolangatta and the adjacent areas of Greenmount and Rainbow Bay are some of the best on the Gold Coast.

Australian Gold Coast

Tips For Gold Coast Visitors

The Gold Coast extends over 50 km in length and to fully appreciate it all, visitors should seriously consider a Gold Coast rental car if they do not have their own vehicle. When you take into account the costs of airport transfers, getting to and from theme parks, day trip costs etc, then a vehicle rental becomes a very viable option.

The Gold Coast is home to an incredible collection of holiday accommodation in apartments and resorts that meets the needs of the flood of tourists and holiday makers . The accommodation choices range from economy backpacker to 5 star luxury and everything in between . Advance bookings are essential for all resorts and apartments on the Gold Coast especially in the high season peak demand period from mid December to mid January.

Visitors who only need accommodation for one or two nights will find several excellent Gold Coast hotels. There are not all that many hotels as the majority of accommodation targets self catering holiday guests. Gold Coast hotels are nearly all located in the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach areas.

Gold Coast Attractions

The ever popular Gold Coast theme parks are not on the Gold Coast at all , and are a 25-30 minute drive from Surfers Paradise along the highway towards Brisbane. Dreamworld and White Water World are adjoining and located 56 km south of Brisbane at Coomera .

Just a few kms to the south at Oxenford is the home of Warner Bros Movie World which is a working movie studio plus entertainment park that also provides cartoon and movies characters as well as stunt shows . Wet ‘n Wild is an adjacent park with twisters, wave pools and toboggans as well as facilities that are suited for small children .

Seaworld is the largest aquatic park in Australia and is located on The Spit at Southport. This makes it a lot easier to get to for visitors staying on the Gold Coast. The attractions include performances by dolphins, whales and seals plus waterskiing and aquaballet displays. The park also has a series of roller-coaster rides.

The Hinterland has always been a favourite day trip destination for Gold Coast holiday makers. It’s a region of scenic lookouts and lodges set amongst rugged countryside with winding roads that command the driver’s attention . For a self drive outing, take the circular route starting from Coolangatta then south to Murwillumbah before swinging north through Crystal Creek, Chillingham, Numinbah, Natural Bridge, Nerang, Mudgeeraba and finally back to the coast.

Another hinterland tour route is to detour from Nerang and head west through Tamborine National Parks to enjoy Wilson’s Lookout, Thunderbird Park and Cedar Creek Falls before rejoining the highway at Beenleigh.

So when it’s time plan your next Australian holiday, make sure the Gold Coast is on the . You won’t be sorry!

Smart Travelers Will Look Into Getting Vacation Insurance

Are you looking into schedule a trip to Australia, but are concerned that you could need to cancel your plans without a refund? Do you suspect that weather could be troublesome, particularly if you will be headed towards an area subject to seasonal weather issues? Could you be called away to issues of importance at the last minute? Do you or your relatives have health issues that might necessitate that you postpone your travels to Australia?

If any of these scenarios could take place for you then you might want to consider getting vacation insurance so that you don’t end up paying for a trip that you don’t take, or worse yet one that ends up being cut short because you or a family member must leave from Australia due to injury or illness.

Fortunately, vacation insurance is cost effective and could save you big bucks if an unforeseen circumstance occurs. As more people travel far and wide, the airlines are becoming more congested. This increases the potential for flight delays and cancellations.

If you reserve your Australia vacation as a travel package, most travel companies will offer insurance inclusive with the purchase process. However, if this isn’t the case and you still want to insure against unexpected events, we advise you consider Travel Guard Insurance. They can underwrite travel and vacation insurance for airport closures, medical incidents and evacuation and they provide round the clock travel assistance while you are in Australia.

Before turning down travel insurance, consider if the premium is worth the mental ease you will get knowing that if your travel plans are forcibly altered…you won’t be stressed out and stuck with paying extra money to account for problems with your trip. We think vacation insurance is worth the cost in most situations where there could be unplanned events.

Your Lodging Choices are Very Important

Your selection of accommodations can contribute to the success of your vacation to Australia. In some cases, it can even be the high spot of the vacation.

Do not ignore the fact that choosing the right hotel can make your trip memorable, while staying in the wrong hotel can ruin your vacation to Australia!

Fortunately the Web today supplies a huge selection of resources, reviews and details about the best hotels in Australia, in addition to the best deals that can be had.

We always start our hotel research with a reliable booking and information site, such as Hotels.com. Not only does this prevent wasting a lot of time, but it allows us to see an extensive view of what accommodations are available in Australia and can very easily see which ones are good candidates filtered on prior visitor reviews.

How to Select the Right Kind of Hotel

In advance of taking a holiday, we encourage you to ask yourself a few key questions that will help you select the right lodging at a desirable price.

• Is it important to you to spend minimal time getting to and from sites and events?
• Are you willing to spend more time on public transportation and taxis in order to save on lodging? If this is the case you can normally get a better price on a hotel room on the periphery.
• Are you seeking a place steeped in local culture? Smaller independent hotels are often some of the most historic and lovely ways to enjoy the local culture.

These are important questions to ask before selecting your accommodations. We would suggest that you think about how you might use your accommodations to receive the most out of your Australia vacation experience before making your decision on where to stay.

When seeking accommodations it is also important to determine the type of accommodations and conveniences that accommodate your preferences and requirements. If you won’t be spending much time in your room, and hence you likely care less about the creature comforts than you do about the location, then we encourage looking for a hotel in proximity to the sites in Australia that you would like to visit.

Our favorite accommodations reservation site is Hotels.com, which offers more than 70,000 properties around the globe, supplies detailed lodging reviews, pictures and provides a price match guarantee. There are many other sites, but we have not seen one that is as comprehensive and simple to navigate.

Stay at a B&B for a Quaint Lodging Experience

If you revel in the company of strangers and a traditional meal then consider staying at a Bed & Breakfast in Australia. These accommodations offer an experience very much like staying with a friend’s relatives and frequently the owners have a wealth of knowledge and tips on the local sites, customs, and dining options. And likely the breakfast provided will be gourmet style.

When we are looking to reserve a B&B, we favor using BedAndBreakfast.com. Its search engine spans a worldwide network of bed and breakfasts, country inns, farm stays and guest houses.

Understand that these properties are usually located in more rural places and may not be near to public transportation. If you will be getting around by car then this is a lovely choice.

How About a Home Exchange Program?

If you saw the movie “The Holiday” then you probably have an idea of how attractive swapping homes can be.

If you plan to remain in Australia for a length of time and you yourself live in a desirable vacation location (or you own a second home in a enviable location) then you might give some thought to swapping your home with someone in Australia who is interested in visiting your location.

Staying in someone’s home in Australia allows you to live like a local (not a tourist) and can often times cost you nothing. You will commonly have full use of kitchen and laundry facilities and enjoy the comforts of staying in a cozy home and neighborhood. This alternative is also considered environmentally wise because it does not require additional local resources to provide for foreign visitors. And an often disregarded benefit is that while you’re in someone else’s home that someone else is in your home–potentially watering your plants, picking up your mail, and generally dissuading thieves which prey on vacant homes.

Check out HomeExchange.com for access to their international network of homes for exchange. A 1-year membership is required but they guarantee that if you do not find an exchange within your 1st year they will extend your membership for another year. If you are interested in learning more about the particulars of choosing and communicating with potential home exchange candidates Home Exchange Academy supplies a special reference guide.

When you are already paying dearly for flights exchanging your home with another traveler can be a great way to limit the total cost of your trip. If you are thinking you just can’t afford that trip to Australia you may want to reconsider!

Lodging for the Super Tight Budget

If you are on a tight budget (perhaps you are a student) and needing to get the most economical accommodation (given that it comes with a bed and bathroom) then you should consider what are known as hostels. Hostels are quite common in many countries and often offer separate quarters for senior citizens and/or couples. There are several hostels available in Australia to choose from. These may be reserved via HostelWorld.com.