| | It's spring-time down-under: Australia's spring started on September 1st and summer is coming up on the first of December, which makes this a great time of year to make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to this fascinating continent. (Though visitors will soon discover that one trip is not nearly enough...) | | Australia's Gold Coast Australia is a vast country and though the distances between major tourist destinations are huge, most international visitors -- having winged so far to get to the continent-- do try to visit several different places. There's much to be said for starting in the middle of Australia's eastern edge, in the Gold Coast and Brisbane area. Here families can put together a trip of varied experiences. On the famous Gold Coast (a prime vacation spot for Australians) they can enjoy the beach, take surf lessons, visit theme parks, go jet-boating.... | Side Trip to the Great Barrier Reef Families can also take a side trip -- even just a day trip-- to the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island is a superb destination, reached by a two-hour trip in a small plane, and definitely more than a day trip is recommended when visiting this eco-resort. The island is surrounded by coral reef, and offers a great opportunity to snorkel right offshore. | Side Trip to the Rainforest Meanwhile, just a short drive from the Gold Coast is the hinterland, where a great spot for families is O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, located right in Lamington National Park. Explore the Tree Top Walk, take a Glow Worm tour, see the bowerbird's nest... | Brisbane, Whales, Koalas, Kangaroos... The Gold Coast is also a short drive from Brisbane, a bustling modern city with open-air restaurants, heritage buildings, riverside walkways and parks... Also, families can go whale-watching or get up close and personal with koalas and kangaroos... | | | | Family Vacations Ads | | | | Featured Articles | | | | More from About.com | | | | | | 2011's Cutest Winter Boots Snuggly snow boots are essential for women who live in cold climates, but still want to put their best foot forward. More>
| | | | 10 Budget Work Essentials Figuring out how to pay for a fabulous work wardrobe can be a challenge. These 10 mix-and-max essentials are all under $50. More>
| | | | Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics | | | | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Family Vacations newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com | | | | Must Reads | | Advertisement | |
No comments:
Post a Comment