More on V Australia
This morning I was dissapointed to hear that V Australia is stopping its flights between Melbourne and Sydney from February 2011. V Australia started flying the route in January this year, and the breaking of the SAA-Qantas duopoly resulted in the price of return tickets dropping by a couple of thousand Rand. We can expect a similar rise in prices when V Australia exits the route…so you better plan your Aussie holiday soon.
Australia is a distant land that beckons with its promise of a unique combination of wide open spaces, unearthly natural beauty and all the conveniences expected by the seasoned traveller. There are quite a few airlines that make regular journeys to Australia from destinations all over the globe.
Australia has its own airline, namely Quantas Airlines, but there are many different airlines that travel to and from Australia on a regular basis. The Star Alliance Group provides regular flights to Australia via SAA and Singapore Airlines from many different countries around the world. There is also Virgin Blue, which offers regular flights from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane amongst others.
Sydney airport is the international gateway to this far-flung land, but each territory has a host of airports to make reaching your destination easier. There are airports as far a-field as Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Broome, Canberra, Hobart, Newcastle, Brisbane, Townsville, Hoxton, Coolangatta, Camden, Cairns, Bankstown, Avalon and Alice Springs.
Australia is a diverse and beautiful country with many interesting species of native fauna and flora and a unique climate that lends itself to the intriguing biodiversity of this country. Of the man-made wonders, the Sydney Opera House is probably the most famous Australian landmark and a visit is most definitely in order.
This amazing structure with its unique architecture was first opened to the public in October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II. It is the busiest venue on the planet, hosting over three thousand shows each year to cater to an audience in excess of two million people. The guided tours alone bring over two hundred thousand people to its doors every year.
The Sydney harbour bridge is another major attraction. Its locally references as ‘the coathanger’ and Sydney can boast that it is the largest steel arch bridge anywhere in the world, reaching to 134 meters above sea level. It has been operational since 1934 and visitors can partake in a daily bridge climb which embarks either at dawn, twilight or after dark to allow visitors spectacular views of the harbour and surrounding city.
Uluru, or Ayer’s Rock, beckons from the far reaches of the northern territory and is the world’s largest sandstone monolith, or single piece of rock. It reaches to 348 metres above the surrounding desert scrub and has an elliptical circumference of 9.4 kilometres. The local people attach spiritual importance to this location and it has a mystical quality as it changes colour depending on the quality of the light.
The Great Barrier Reef, found off the coast of Queensland, is without a doubt the largest coral reef on the planet. It covers an area of over 300,000 square kilometres and is so vast that it is visible from outer space! It is home to untold species of marine life and is visited annually by more than two million people.
If you are visiting Australia a place that definitely deserves a visit is the Royal Botanic Gardens which are located in Sydney. They were first established by Governor Bligh in 1816 and cover an astonishing 30 hectares they are home to 7500 species of plant life. Not only a place of extreme natural beauty, they offer wonderful views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House and present art instruction and various guided tours during the year.
Another must see destination is Port Arthur in Tasmania. In 1830 it was founded as a penal settlement and was used as a lumber station which was eventually abandoned during the 1870’s. The original buildings still stand and are a popular tourist attraction.
Coober Pedy is easily the opal capital of the world. The opal mine was established way back in 1915 and is unique in the fact that many of its residents live underground all year around due to the oppressive heat experienced in the region. Before the days of air-conditioning the only way to escape the heat was to build residences underground, where it was cooler. Tourists are able to visit the mines and take a tour through a variety of underground buildings, including a church, before spending the night in an underground motel.
The nature reserve of Kangaroo Island in South Australia is home to the oldest European settlement called Reeves Point and offers the visitor a unique and beautiful natural setting. Many different species of animal reside in the region and there are interesting caves and curious rock formations that are worth a visit. The Bungle Bungles located in the Purnululu National Park in Western Australia are a natural part of the landscape.
Made from naturally occurring sandstone, they are oddly beehive shaped structures that were only discovered by the outside world in the 1980’s due to their remote location. They are situated 250 kilometres from Kununurra along roads that are only passable by 4×4 vehicle, so this is a fun adventure for those with a bit of an adventurous spirit. The surrounding landscape offers the Echidna Chasm, the Cathedral and the Piccaninny Gorge for the hiking enthusiast.
Castle Hill in Townsville, Queensland is another destination in Australia that is well worth a visit. Similar to Uluru, Castle Hill is a huge boulder of pink granite rock that presents a wonderful vantage point for those who want to enjoy spectacular views of the coastline and the town below. Easily accessible via paved road, it was used as a military base in World War II. There is a bunker built into the hill and battlements were placed here during the years of the war.
The country is really a larger than life experience, with every natural element to it being larger and more impressive than anywhere else in the world. The native people of Australia have many legends woven into the fabric of the land and the Australian people are warm and welcoming. The climate is one of interesting extremes, divided into what is known as the dry and the wet.
Australia is home to some of the most unique species of plant and animal life in the world and is a vast landmass covering 7686849 square kilometres of some of the most untamed country in the world.
Many fellow South Africans have emigrated to Australia, and the country is well worth a visit. ?
Karen Baker runs South Africa Travel Online, helping travelers with flights, car rentals accommodation, cruises, overland trips & hot air ballooning.
Karen has written: 3 posts.
