What can the visitors coming to the Adelaide expect to see? Currently, this South Australian zoo is home to around 300 exotic and native species and houses more than 1,800 animals in its premises.  The most recently built enclosure of the Adelaide zoo houses the 2nd phase of South-East Asian exhibit. This exciting exhibit of the zoo is named as ‘Immersion’. Visitors opting for experiencing ‘Immersion’ will get the opportunity of walking across the jungle and having glimpses of exotic animals like Orangutans and Sumatran Tigers.

This zoo was opened for the first time on the 23d of May, 1883. During its inception it used to cover an area of 16 acres or 6.5 hectares; now, the area of the Adelaide zoo has increased to 20 acres or 8 Hectares. The original land of the zoo was granted by Australian Government of that time. At the time of inauguration, Re Minchin was the director of Adelaide Zoo. He continued to serve till 1893, after which his son adorned the post, subsequently followed by his grandson. During the mid 20th century, Adelaide Zoo became famous for exporting live birds. It is said that during that time almost 99% of the live native avian species exported by Australia belonged to this zoo.  The most commonly exported bird species were parrots and finches. However, such activities have now been stopped for conserving the native birds of Australia.

Let us come back to the inmates of this zoo. The zoo is home to almost all animal type. Here, you will get to see amphibians like poison arrow frogs, spotted grass frogs and tree frogs. Among reptiles, the Adelaide Zoo exciting species like Murray River turtles, blood python, American alligator, Aldabra tortoise, Hosmer’s skink, green anaconda and blue-tongue lizards. The bird species flying showcased at the Adelaide Zoo include: Australian Pelican, Chilean Flamingo, Australorp Chicken, Hooded Plover, Doubled-wattled Cassowaries, Greater Flamingo, Mandarin Duck, Long-billed Corellas, Palm Cockatoo, Superb Lyrebird etc. The mammal species living in the Adelaide Zoo include: sea lion, red panda, guinea pig, cow, kangaroo, giant panda, hippopotamus, ferret, fennec fox, koala, African lion etc. The water bodies of the zoo houses fish varieties like seahorse, dessert goby and goldfishes or comets.

The entry cost for a family having two adults and two or three children would be $85. Individuals above the age of 15 years will need to pay a sum of $31 for entering the zoo. Children aged between 4 and 14 years will need to pay $18 as entry fee of Adelaide Zoo. Besides that, the zoo authority also offers passes. Adelaide Zoo stays open all through the year (also on Christmas) from 9.30am to 5pm.

Here, you will get to view a historic collection of plants, which include trees belonging to the 19th century. This botanical garden is also home to several conserved native plant species of Tasmania. The most famous of these Tasmanian plant species is King’s Lomatia. The King’s Lomatia is the part of the Subantarctic Plant House, the one of its kind currently present on earth. At the Subantarctic Plant House, you will get to see plants native to the subantarctic islands of southern latitudes preserved amid controlled climatic conditions.  Chilly fogs are created artificially to make the environment similar to that of the subantarctic islands. Majority of these plants are collected by the staffs of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and the scientists during field trips in the Macquarie Island.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens has a visitor center. This part of the garden houses a gallery, souvenir shop and a restaurant. At the gallery, works of local artists get showcased; the art works displayed in this in-house gallery of the garden keep on changing at regular intervals. The gallery also has a exhibition zone.

Besides the preserved and historical plant species, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens also boast gardens specializing in collections of plant species belonging to different parts of the globe. There are areas in the Gardens that can be hired for organizing private functions. You can consult the official website of Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens for knowing more about the terms and conditions of organizing an event in this Tasmanian attraction.

The hike was grueling only in very few parts, and a reasonably healthy adult can handle a section quite easily, provided you do some training prior to setting out. I am forty seven myself, but being in the fitness industry has kept me pretty nimble. I had to do some training regardless, which in itself was a whole lot of fun. I prepared for the trip by taking long hikes around the country side, with a backpack containing twenty kilos, plus some leg weights I added on for luck. I did it for about six odd months, both before and after work, till I felt confident enough to take the big walk. Hiking is a ton of fun, and training for it is almost as much.

It was actually a couple of friends that suggested hiking a section of the famous Bibbulmun Track in the holidays. I was instantly interested, as I had heard a lot about how the trail had a good deal of sights that were connected to the Aborigines, and how they used to walk for huge distances for religious ceremonies. I asked to join them, and they agreed, provided I keep myself in training. Of course, it is a male thing, may be it was the thought of not being fit enough to make it, or having to end it midway, it kept me pretty enthused and charged up.

The trail goes through a good bit of diverse terrains, such as tree top bridges, coastal tracks and swamps. There are three sided huts that are at regularly placed intervals, and you can stop here for the night, make plans for how much distance you will cover the next day. The facilities are of course almost rustic.

It is possible to take the entire thousand odd miles of the Bibbulmun track at one time, which will take you several weeks. You can also take one section at a time, like I did, and return later for more. Once you are done with the whole track, you can proudly call yourself an “end to ender”.

I am certainly going back next year, are you?

The Ghan railway line began its illustrious phase as the Northern Railway in the year eighteen seventy eight. The time was witness to a boom in the railways nationally, and it was hoped that the introduction of the railway line would mean that the mining and rural possibilities of the interiors of Australia. The railway line was referred to fondly as the Ghan, and it was in the year eighteen ninety one that the line extended from Port Augusta to Oodnadata, an out back town in northern South Australia. The end of the line remained in Oodnadata for close to 40 years hereafter.

Efforts continued to extend the line further, and advance on construction. In eighteen ninety five, a statement was made about the interior of the country, that it was all not all desert, and there were a good number of plots that were fertile and fit for a number of tropical plantations. The line was thus given extensions to Alice Springs in Central Australia, and this remained the last point in the Ghan till two thousand three, when it was extended all through Darwin, the capital of the Northern territory, according to the major project.

The Ghan of today, is a world class luxury track, and is the best and most authentic way to tour Australia in comfort. The three thousand kilo meter trip from Adelaide till Darwin takes about 2 days, and passes through just 2 substantially sized towns, Katherine in the Northern territory, the Tennant Creek and the Port Augusta in South Australia. There is no dearth to key facilities here, and the ride is now unsurpassed in comfort.

Jindabyne is a region that is rich in history. A number of the major ski resorts in the region can be accessed from the town of Jindabyne. There is a good number of Jindabyne accommodation available. Jindabyne, the town that was originally named as such, was drowned in the floods of the Lake Jindabyne that happened in the nineteen sixties and the town’s inhabitants were relocated when this happened. There are remains of the town lying under the town even now, and you can see the ruins when the tide here is low.

Jindabyne of today is a destination that is popular for holidayers all around the world almost all through the year. The setting it self is incomparable – lake side, which makes it a popular destination for fishing aficionados. Jindabyne is famous for trout fishing. The lake here also has a good number of water sports on offer, such as canoeing. There are a whole number of other attractions as well on offer, such as the the Jindabyne Dam Wall, as well as certain other vantage points, from where some fascinating views are on offer.

Jindabyne accommodation mainly caters to the travelers who come either for ski holidays or fishing holidays.

The Kosciuszko national Park, which is located at the heart of the Snowy Mountains region is another famous attraction at Jindabyne. There are a good range of other sights. The art galleries here are always worth a visit, as they house some interesting works of art. There are also a number of craft shops that make for excellent visits. The Kosciuszko national Park has some excellent natural beauty, and some great restaurants. There are a number of heavenly walking trails here as well that are perfect for a walk. Jindabyne accommodation is inclusive of hotels, resorts, chalets, ski lodges and others, including log cabins and the like.

There are seventy four islands part of the Whitsunday group of islands, and only eight of these are under inhabitation. These are under a great state of development and have some excellent facilities and accommodation on offer. There are a whole range of accommodations that range from the boutique resorts, to budget hotels, backpacker hostels and campsites as well. These attract a lot of tourists taking Whitsunday tours.

These islands are extremely versatile destinations; there is a whole number of rewarding purposes you could visit the islands for, from honeymoons, to family getaways, to girlfriend getaways to a whole lot of other reasons to take Whitsunday tours. There are a whole range of activities on offer that cater to a whole lot of tastes and interests, and these are inclusive of a plethora of water sports, golf, extreme sports, and other entertainment options.

There have been a good number of quality island resorts and hotels, top notch accommodations that have sprung up with the advent of increased influx of tourists. The luxury resorts here are among the best in the world, and these offer a whole lot of facilities, entertainment and dining options as well as sports and activities, and no compromise at all will be made of creature comforts. The famous hotels that are popular with travelers to the Whitsunday islands are inclusive of South Molle island resort, Long Island Resort, Daydream Island resort, Qualia Resort, Hayman island Resort, Hamilton island resort and numerous other quality accommodations.

Numerous holiday packages are offered by the resorts, and these should be considered as most of the time, these come in profitable to the holidayer, There are a whole range of packages that are tailor made according to various target markets, these are inclusive of wedding packages, family packages, honeymoon packages, activity packages such as diving packages, sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and other activities including deep sea fishing.

The Sydney Aquarium is a huge aquarium in Sydney, and is among New South Wales’ premier attractions, albeit not as well known as the more popular ones. The Aquarium is set in the northern side of Pyrmont Bridge to the east of Darling Harbor. The Sydney Aquarium houses an immense variety of marine wealth on display, and these comprise a good part of Australia’s marine wealth. There are close to six hundred and fifty species of marine creatures in total, and these make up more than six thousand different types of fish. There are also other marine animals from Australia’s waters. The Aquarium is an extremely rewarding visit, and the highlight is the passage of see through glass acrylic tunnels that run underwater having sharks swimming over the visitors in the tunnels. There is also a recreation of Great Barrier Reef Coral environment.

Construction

It was at the time of the bicentennial celebrations in 1988 that the Sydney Aquarium opened its doors. The Aquarium is among the biggest in size among its kind in the world,. and many people consider this among the top most attractions in Sydney. Close to fifty five per cent of the annual influx of tourists from abroad visit the Aquarium, while the rest (  about half the number ) misses out. The Aquarium has had numerous additions in the past, such as a crocodile exhibition, which was added in the year 2008.

Sections

The Sydney Aquarium Australia is divided into sections, so as to maximize the convenience, for easy maintenance and prevent crowding. The sections are as follows

Platypus and Murray-Darling river habitats – Southern Rivers

Barramundi and Salt water Crocodiles – Northern Rivers

Dugong exhibit – Mermaid Lagoon

Open Oceanarium habitat and Little Penguins –  Sydney Harbor Southern Ocean

Great Barrier Reef Oceanarium– Northern Ocean

Newcastle Jazz Festival can be traced back to 1968. It was an integral part of the celebration program held bi-centennially. The festival has come a long way. The fans of jazz music are never let down. In fact, they hold their heads up high. Hence, it is no wonder that music lovers from Perth, Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and New Zealand turn up for the festival in large numbers. The ambiance during the festival is an experience that every traveler should explore.

Newcastle Festival of Jazz has been traditionally organized by Southern Cross Ten. The festival is held in August every year. Newcastle Jazz Festival is a must-visit for those touring Australia in the month of August. Jazz lovers seem to get a kick out of the festival. The festival gives music lovers a chance to encounter the famous jazz family in Australia. This and many more are the umpteen reasons to put a smile across the music lover’s face.

Newcastle Jazz Festival leans more on the traditional aspect, when it comes to a jazz festival. Music lovers would do well to spend a calm and relaxing weekend in Newcastle during the festival. The festival is home to state-of-the-art sound systems and highly advanced sound instruments. The music performers are highly professional. The crème de la crème of Jazz musicians perform at the festival. Jazz is, after all, a specialized genre of music. Listen to the popular bands from Sydney. Let your hair loose as you listen to the famous jazz performers. Make the weekend a night to remember by listening to the diverse rhythms of jazz at the Newcastle Jazz Festival.

The huge response from Jazz lovers across Australia and different parts of the globe has made the Newcastle Festival of Jazz return to the City Hall, the place where it has always been performed. Besides the predominant concert hall, there are three additional rooms that feature jazz sessions. Jazz lovers will just keep begging for more.

Newcastle Festival of Jazz is sure to brighten your day if jazz music gets you into the groove. The Newcastle Jazz Festival recently celebrated its twenty-fourth anniversary. It is one of the best festivals in all of Australia.

The globe hotel is a popular destination if you want some historic locations, as there is a good build up of these. There is a cornucopia of sights here, as well as some breath taking views. The scenic vistas of this location are what make it so popular. There is no dearth at all to key sights in Yongala town. There are a number of beautiful spots here that are perfect to have a great time just hanging out, or enjoy the natural surroundings.

There are a number of extremely well maintained park lands here that are extremely suitable to lounge in. The war memorial here is famous for its size as well as the historical significance of it. There are a good number of travelers that are attracted by these sights. There are a good number of attractions here. Taking a walk around the town is a pleasure and the best way to enjoy the sights. Dive Yongala wreck, which is an adventurous activity par excellence.

There is an excellent shopping center at the hotel as well. There are a number of opportunities to check out the historical structures here.  The S S Yongala is a sunked ship that lies about 12 nau mils from the dive site at Alva Beach. The wreck dive is an incredibly rewarding one, and is considered suitable for divers who require a special challenge. The ship was scuttled in the year 1911. Many lives were lost with the ship.

The Dive site is some of the best, as the ship has provided a ready made habitat of sorts to a whole number of sea creatures. Diving here is made such a rewarding experience with the plays of colors made by the myriad marine creatures. The experience is nothing less than Psychedelic. Dive Yongala wreck, and you will return satisfied.

Exploring the Australian Bush is certainly one of the most exciting and rewarding activities. The feeling of being one with nature is certainly there. However, it is advised that while exploring the outback, one takes utmost care, as the Outback is not without its hazards. There are certain points you should bear in mind before undertaking a trip to the outback. There are a number of important things that you should know that will help make planning for a trip to the Bush easier, and also safer.

Suggestions . . .

The weather in the northern portions of Australia is much pleasant in the period between April and October, and these months are the perfect time to visit these regions. The heat in the summers is extremely over powering, especially because it takes some time to adapt to the temperatures after leaving the winter season behind at the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern States though, are suitable to visit in the warmer months, November to March, which is the ideal time to head to the beaches of Australia.

Spotlighting, although in vogue at many locations, is not the most humane ways of entertainment, and should not be joined in. The sport involves hunting kangaroos, and using powerful spotlights to find them. The adverse effects of spotlighting are exactly why it has been declared illegal in many places.

The Australian sun can get pretty harsh sometimes, and sun protection is of the essence when you venture out. A hat having a broad rim is a definite advantage. Sun glasses and sun screen is also useful.

Dehydration is one of the most common hazards that take place in the Outback during the summer months, and water is an extremely important item to be carried, and in ample quantities. A lot of water helps, especially if you are on long drives.

Insect repellent is another extremely important item that has to be carried while venturing into the bush, Mosquitoes and bush flies reign in these areas, and many outback travelers are forced to wear a mosquito net above their hats.

The Australian Bush should be visited in a responsible way. Never leave your evidence of your stay anywhere in the bush, and it is essential that you do not leave litter or anything of that sort anywhere in the woods.