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| If there is anything you want to know about Australia-related travel and stuff just ask me. This goes direct to my email |
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| Small person splashing ‘Between the Flags’ |
The iconic yellow and red of the Australian lifesavers on patrolled beaches can’t be missed. And being a big fan of all things Australian I couldn’t resist these super cute little lifesaver swimsuits.
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| Splashing in the HUGE pool at the Sea Temple in Palm Cove |
We stayed in some amazing accommodation while visiting Tropical North Queensland last month. Obviously I do a fair bit (OK tons!) of research before we go, but I also got a lot of help from the fabulous team at Bridge and Wickers. I like booking my holidays to Australia with Bridge and Wickers as it’s pretty much a no-brainer as they have high standards like me 
As you can imagine I am a reasonably (alright, very!) demanding client so anyone with the patience to deal with me must be good.
Actually I do have to add that Bridge & Wickers have in fact just won the ultimate ‘Ozcar‘ from Tourism Australia as the best travel company so you don’t just have to take my word for it!
So here’s where we stayed and a mini review of each place:
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| Lovely beachfront pool at Castaways |
Am currently residing in Mission Beach, Queensland and loving it. Am a HUGE fan of Mission beach and this is our third visit here on our many travels Down Under. Mission Beach is actually a number of beaches all in a row (making up around 14kms of the sandy stuff) about 2 hours drive south of Cairns. We are in ‘North Mission’ (as opposed to Wongaling or South Mission).
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| Small person at helm of Sailaway – Low Isles cruise, Great Barrier Reef |
Answer: Port Douglas
An old joke the Douglas (dug-less) one, and probably more funny if you’ve had a nice glass of wine (which I’d had when I wrote that).
I want to do a ‘while I am here’ post about lovely Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland.
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| My ideal diet: prawns & bubbles! |
I got asked a question this week (thanks Frank!) that I actually get asked all the time… why am I not living in Australia? (given that I am clearly quite taken with the place!). Well the answer is…
… actually there are a few parts to this answer, and in explaining it I’ll showcase exactly why I love Australia.
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| Heart Reef in the Whitsundays |
As my one concession to it being Valentines Day thought I would have a romantic 5 minutes and share places in Australia that I love, are special and hey – one of them is even heart-shaped!
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| The Harbour Bridge and Opera House in Sydney |
Read a really good guide to Sydney over the weekend in the Sunday Times.
Clearly written by a local ‘Sydneysider’ it had some great tips for:
Well worth a read if you’re heading to the lovely harbour city any time soon…
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| One of my favourite photos of one of my favourite places in Oz – pelicans on Belongil Beach, Byron Bay, NSW |
I am a huge fan of Kirstie and Phil and their location/relocation on-screen shenanigans, so am doubly excited that this week sees the lovely Phil hot footing around Australia helping people to buy a house Down Under. Phil Spencer Down Under is on this Friday (22nd January) Channel 4 at 8pm.
There was an article in the Sunday Times at the weekend written by Phil where he listed some his ‘ideal’ places to live in Australia.
So where does Phil like (and do I agree?):
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| Sydney’s bridge climb is open on Christmas Day |
I had a great question sent to me about what there is (and isn’t) ‘to do’ over the Christmas holidays in Australia.
Got me thinking (and googling) what you can and can’t do over Christmas if you’re visiting Australia. The question I was asked specifically related to Sydney, so here’s what I found out for there first…
Just a quick note to let you know: if you’re thinking of heading to Australia this summer, you can for only £469 return!
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| Look out Ben… |
Lucky Ben Southall was today announced as the new Caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef, but he’s going to want to keep an eye out for these hairy chaps who have taken up residence in one unlucky Queensland town…
One of my questions this week (you can ask me anything you like about flights and holidays to Australia here, by the way) was ideas of places to stay in New South Wales with 4—5 hours drive North of Sydney.
Saw this ad at the weekend from Trailfinders showing availability on JAL (Japan Airlines) flights to Australia for Christmas for £999. Not a bad price for this time of year, and is quite possibly the last chance to book a ticket to ensure you get a cliche-laden ‘Bondi Beach BBQ’
Just got back from Mauritius…
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| The sun sets on Turtle Beach at the Maritim Hotel, Mauritius (while I enjoy a piña colada!) |
Wish I was still there… although another day longer, and the effect of the all-inclusive delicious food and yummy piña coladas would have meant no doing my jeans up for a while As it is, they are pretty tight!
So while we ‘only’ went to Mauritius on this trip, I know that you can easily incorporate it with a trip to Australia as Air Mauritius have connections through to Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. There are some prices here with Austravel from £875 return with the option to stop in Mauritius in both directions.
While I like to think I take a good snap myself, I thought you might enjoy these lovely photos of Byron Bay that Conde Nast Traveller have just published on their web site.
Byron is one of my favourite places in Australia, as it has great (and I mean really great) beaches, a laid-back appeal, some beautiful surrounding hinterland and, of course (this is me, afterall!), some really good places to eat.
There is a great article in this month’s Sunday Times Travel Magazine that suggests it’s entirely possible to take a holiday to Australia (and enjoy it!) in just a week.
The plan is that you fly to Perth, and from there take a few days in the city, then explore the Margaret River region (south of Perth, about 3 hours drive), and/or fly up to Exmouth area to explore the Ningaloo Reef.
Am thinking not so secret now that I, and quite a few other people, have read about it in the Sunday Times over the weekend!
Nonetheless, given that it can only be reached by kayak, I reckon it will still be pretty tranquil when you get there — read about Store Beach here.
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| Our little slice of Melbourne – WestBeach restaurant |
“WestBeach is a simple, bright, airy room that looks as if it has been dropped in from Melbourne” AA Gill recently reported in the Sunday Times (read the review here).
As the sun was shining yet again yesterday, we decided to have lunch on the seafront, at our very own little slice of Melbourne here on the South Coast. I am guessing Mr Gill was thinking of somewhere like the Stokehouse in St.Kilda when he wrote this (although give me the Stokehouse any day!), but it’s about as antipodean as it gets round here, and a damn fine place for a spot of lunch, nonetheless www.west-beach.co.uk.
As it’s Halloween, I thought I would cover a ‘scary’ topic: Sharks!
I am sure like anyone else who watched Jaws when they were little (or big!), you might have a certain amount of trepidation when swimming in the sea when you can’t see your feet…? Not helped of course by the fact that Australia is well known for its resident shark population. However, what you need to remember is that a shark attack is VERY unlikely…
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