Highlights of my Australian trips - part 2
Queensland – or, as I like to call it, the state with dual personalities = the brashy and flashy fast paced Gold Coast to the chilled-out tropical Far North Queensland, where it sometimes feels like time is standing still. Queensland is great to visit for everyone, but especially families, with no shortage of kid friendly activities to keep the little ones entertained. Theme parks abound on the Gold Coast covering every child’s fantasy from riding ridiculously scary roller coasters at Dream World to high fiving a dolphin at Sea World. The adventures to be had up north may be slower, but no less fun. Ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway up through the heritage listed rain forest from Cairns, before climbing into the Skyway cable car to glide over the treetops on your way back down. No visit to FNQ is complete without a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. Trips can last from a few hours to multi-days, but you will always be guaranteed an amazing view of the reef and the tropical fish and other animals that call the reef home.
Tasmania – a slice of English countryside down under. Once the sometimes forgotten about southernmost state, Tasmania is rightly now high on every visitor’s must-see list. Hobart is a thriving arts centre, being home to the MONA and countless other smaller boutique galleries and museums, with the state coming together each Saturday morning to show off their local arts and crafts at the Salamanca dock-side markets. This is also the place to come to sample Tassies best produce, from their famed apples and other fruit and veg to award winning cheeses and all sorts of truffle flavoured concoctions. Outside of Hobart you will find yourself transported to a magical world of natural wonders, from tree top walking through the gigantic Huon pines to the stunning national Parks of the Gordon and Franklin rivers in the southwest. The real jewel in the crown is Cradle Mountain, which offers visitors a chance to see wombats, platypus and Tasmanian devils in the wild amidst the stunning scenery. Finally, no visit to Tasmania will be complete without stopping in at some of the state’s best known wine producers to sample some of the best wines you will find in Australia.
Northern Territory – Looking for the quintessential, authentic Australia? You will find it in the NT. From the Tropical capital city, Darwin, and the world-renowned Kakadu and Litchfield national parks to Alice Springs in the red centre of the country surrounded by stunning outback scenery, the Northern Territory offers something for everyone. Darwin gives you the multi-culturalism of the atmospheric Mindil Beach sunset markets on each Sunday afternoon from 4pm in the dry season, Crocosaurus Cove where you can get up close and personal with these primal hunting machines or visit the newly developed Darwin foreshore with its many cafes and bars to relax and watch the world go past. You can discover all about Darwin’s fascinating WW2 history in the Military museum then perhaps finish the day with a sunset dinner and cocktail cruise around the harbour. Alice Springs is a good place to base yourself to explore the Red Centre, but it is worth taking some extra days to go out and properly visit Uluru, Kata Juta and King Canyon. Nothing will prepare you for the scale of the landscapes or the feeling of connection to the country while you immerse yourself into the Aboriginal culture that is a part of the NT experience. Whatever you choose to do while you are there, make sure to allow time to just stop still and feel the history of the ancient panoramas around you.