Australia

Having us plan your trip will allow you to avail yourself of local knowledge...we provide access to personal recommendations of quality Accommodations and Services.

Please understand that this is a Planning Service and does not necessarily make recommendations on price alone.

We carefully select Accommodations of exceptional character and charm, and also outings taken in the company of small groups of like minded travelers.

This will provide you with a unique and memorable experience, one that is not available to the run of the mill tourist.

Australia, with its unique personality and inviting attitude has become one of America’s most popular overseas

vacation destinations. The "Land Down Under" is a vast country with a huge variety of places to see, unique wildlife, beautiful beaches, vibrant cities, wonderful food, culture, and a fascinating history. Australia has more to see and experience than you could possibly dream of. Best of all, it's a fun place with an extremely friendly population. For travelers with disabilities you will be very pleasantly surprised to learn that Australia is quite accessible. The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of six states and two territories so it can be challenging to pick the best places to visit.

Australia is not as far away as you think! Only half a day away from Los Angeles, Atlanta International Travels schedules your flight to leave around 10:30 pm from LAX which means you will arrive in Melbourne at about 7:30 am. They use Qantas Airlines, one of the best in the world. No need to worry about access aboard the plane, there are aisle-chairs and accessible lavatories on board so you can travel in comfort.

The Aussie Explorer tour could be started in Melbourne, the culture capital of Australia, well known for fashion, food, entertainment and sport as well as superb gardens and parks. Melbourne differs from the rest of Australian cities in that it has a decidedly European flair. The surrounding areas offer spectacular wine producing regions, wildlife sanctuaries, and incredible natural wonders. This all combines for a wonderful start to your Adventure. You could go for a tour around the city, a visit to St. Kilda Sunday seaside market and have a chance to explore the Victoria Museum. The next tour should include a trip to Dandenongs which is a huge prehistoric forest followed by a visit to Summerland Beach where you will witness a spectacular sunset and see the fabulous Penguin Parade. You can also visit Healesville Sanctuary, home to some of Australia’s unique wildlife followed by an afternoon at one of Victoria’s famous wineries.

Sydney, renowned as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its picturesque harbour and bridge, stunning skyline, and man-made marvel: the Opera House, make this one of the world's most enchanting cities in Australia, not to mention the largest. Darling Harbour, features the Maritime Museum , the Sydney Aquarium , the world's largest movie screen, the Electric Powerhouse Museum , as well as wonderful shops and restaurants.

Cairns, the beautiful tropical city of northern Queensland. Cairns is nestled between the Atherton Tablelands and the Great Barrier Reef. The city is surrounded by a sub-tropical rain forest, which boasts an extremely laid back atmosphere, and is the perfect spot to end your adventure. Some free time in the village will allow you to explore the markets or visit the world’s largest Butterfly Sanctuary. You will take the Skyrail down off the mountain in a completely accessible gondola, perfect for taking in the breathtaking scenery. Other attractions include a trip to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Park for storytelling, boomerang throwing and the opportunity to purchase fabulous Aboriginal souvenirs. You can spend an entire day visiting the Great Barrier Reef aboard the Quicksilver Boat Cruise. This is a very fun part of the Australian adventure, after traveling out into the ocean you will dock a huge (and accessible) pontoon where you can snorkel and see the world’s largest Reef up close. In Cairns you can visit Green Island which has accessible paths through the rainforest as well as a crocodile farm and glass-bottom boats.

Kangaroo Island is still unspoiled and famous for fresh air, pristine beaches, dramatic scenery and thriving wildlife. Here you'll find undisturbed flora and fauna, including yawning seals and adorable penguins.

The pearly sails of the Sydney Opera House, jutting out to jewel-blue water and over-reached by the intricate Sydney Harbour Bridge has made Sydney Harbour one of the world's most recognisable images.

Step into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a land where imposing russet monoliths loom over flat sand plains, and you step into a world of mystery and legend. This is the home of two of the most breathtaking unique wonders in Australia. Uluru (Ayers Rock), one great monolith rising 348 metres from the earth, and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), 36 red landforms clustered together just 32 kilometres away. This land is more than a magnificent sight, it is home to the Anangu Aboriginal people.

Hyden is located 212 miles (339 KM) East of Perth in wheat and sheep farming country. Wave Rock, adjacent to the Caravan Park, is probably unique in the world for it's unusual form. The area is noted for its wide range of wild orchids. Hyden is well situated for an overnight or longer stop en route to the Esperance area.

Esperance is located 450 miles (721 KM) south-east of Perth on the shore of the Bay of Isles. Over 100 islands make up the Esperance Archipelago,home to a huge variety of wildlife including dolphins, sea lions, seals and sea eagles. From about July to November each year Southern Right Whales visit the area to calve.

Esperance is the major centre of the South East Region, and offers a comprehensive range of services including shopping, restaurants, entertainment and accommodation. Accommodation available includes hotels, motels, chalets, units and 6 caravan parks.

I found Esperance to be the most "tourist friendly" place I have ever come across in Australia. The locals are all very friendly and helpful and made our visit there that little bit special. The local Rotary and Lions Clubs and the Chamber of Commerce have all contributed to making Esperance and the surrounding area a Top Tourist Destination. I don't normally rate the places I visit, but if I did Esperance would definitely earn the 5 Star Award, and it did earn my "Golden Boomerang Award".

The beaches near Esperance are sheltered by the islands surrounding the bay, and are ideal for swimming, fishing and boating. A regular visitor to the town jetty is a friendly sea lion, probably attracted by the offal from the fish cleaning table half way along the jetty.

Diving and fishing charters are available from the town wharf, as well as daily cruises to visit the surrounding islands. The cruise operators are very knowledgeable about the local aquatic and bird life and make special effort to provide good photographic opportunities.

The Rotary Lookout near the town gives an impressive view of the surrounding area.

The South East Region is best known for it's national parks, which offer magnificent coastal and inland scenery, unique wildlife, and the greatest variety of wildflowers found anywhere in the world.

Cape Le Grand National Park is located about 30 miles (50 KM) east of Esperance, and is probably one of the best known and most spectacular national parks in Western Australia. This area offers beautiful beaches and great fishing.

The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) operates caravan and camping areas at Lucky Bay and Cape Le Grand Beach, with septic toilets, tank water, solar heated showers and barbecues. No power is available, but the sites are well laid out and offer a real opportunity to "get away from it all". Site fees are quite reasonable.

At the eastern edge of the park, 55 miles(88 KM) from Esperance, Orleans Bay Caravan Park offers the normal facilities of a caravan park, as well as chalets and park cabins. This is an excellent base for those wanting to visit the national parks without having to totally rough it.

Cape Arid National Park lies a further 20 miles (32 KM) east, and CALM also operates two camping areas here, at Seal Beach and Thomas River, but with limited facilities - pit toilets and barbecues only, no water or power, but no camping fees either. Peak Charles National Park lies inland about 60 miles (100 KM) north-west of Esperance and offers sweeping views of salt lakes and dry sandplains.

Stokes National Park is situated 50 miles (80 KM) west of Esperance on Stokes Inlet. Two camping areas with limited facilities are located near the inlet. We had completed a reconnaissance of the area and had planned to stay here for a few days, but heavy rain the day before our planned arrival would have made towing the caravans difficult so we chose to move on to Hopetoun.

Hopetoun is located 364 miles (582 KM) south-east of Perth at the eastern edge of the Fitzgerald River National Park. Once a major harbour serving the gold and copper mines in the area, it is now a peaceful coastal community and popular holiday destination. Accommodation available includes a hotel, motel, chalets, cottages and a 100 site caravan park set among the peppermint trees near the beach.

Main activities around Hopetoun are fishing, sightseeing and relaxing. Offshore fishing for tuna, snapper, nannygai and other varieties is popular, as well as beach fishing.

The most fished spot around must be Pichie Richie, at the headwaters of the Phillip River. Despite constant fishing over a period of two months during the summer holidays, we were able to catch a bag limit of good size black bream only two weeks later. The river is only about 50 feet wide and a couple of feet deep at the best spots, but is absolutely teeming with fish. The fierce competition for food makes these bream react totally different to their more wary brethren in estuarine waters, as they positively pounce on any bait presented, but on light tackle they still provide a good fight.

A good catch of Black Bream from Pichie Richie, caught by Michael and Keith Lewis and Jack Penglase (a local, and uncle to Michael's wife)

Fitzgerald River National Park extends from Hopetoun through to Bremer Bay and has an area of over three quarters of a million acres (almost 330,000 hectares). Nearly 20% of the state's plant species are found within the park, as are over 140 species of birds.

Much of the park is only accessible by 4 wheel drive or on foot, but those areas accessible by normal vehicle are quite spectacular. A sightseeing guide prepared by the local community, in particular Elsie Penglase, a noted wildflower photographer (Aunty Elsie to my sister-in-law Lorraine), gives precise instructions for visiting some truly unique sights.

There are five camping areas with toilet facilities within the park for those who enjoy roughing it.

Bremer Bay is situated 322 miles (515 KM) south-east of Perth at the mouth of the Bremer River and the western edge of the Fitzgerald River National Park. It is a very popular holiday spot for the keen fisherman, and also offers spectacular views of rugged coastline for those equipped with 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Much of the rugged interior and coastline is only accessible by 4 wheel drive

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a true wonder of the world and is an amazing place to visit. You really can't imagine its beauty until you actually see it for yourself. There are plenty of places from where you can explore the Great Barrier Reef, and whether you travel to the outer reef or visit some of the other reefs and Islands nearer the coast you are sure to be satisfied.

Although the reef is called the Great Barrier Reef, it is actually made up of around 2600 different reefs. The Great Barrier Reef is 2000km long, and starts off of the Queensland coast just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. It then stretches right upto Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait. Due to the reefs amazing and spectacular natural beauty the Great Barrier Reef was declared as a World Heritage Area in 1981.

The reef is called the 'Barrier' Reef because it is an outer reef, situated along the Australian continental shelf with the channel between the coastline and the reef reaching a depth of about 60m. The other type of reef is a 'Fringe' reef, which is situated along the coastline of land and islands.

The coral on the reef dates back to around 18 million years old, and is thought to be about 500 metres in some places. Coral is made by Polyps which are marine animals from the Cindaria family. When the Polyps die, their skeletons turn white (which is how you know if coral is alive or dead) and then more Polyps grow on top of them.

There are a few conditions that are required for healthy growth of coral. The water must be salty, clear and not lower in temperature than 17.5 degrees and lower in depth than 30 metres. An amazing sight is seeing the spawning of the coral, which happens in late spring/early summer and is often called an 'underwater snowstorm'.

There are nearly 400 types of coral in the reef and plenty of other species of fish, clams and other sea creatures. The islands are also popular with sea birds and turtles. The colours of all of the coral and sealife is wonderful, from pinks and greens to deep blues and silvers.

There are few dangerous creatures on the reef, although you may see reef sharks there are no noted attacks on visitors. The most dangerous things in the Barrier Reef is the coral itself (if you touch them you can cut yourself as well as damage the coral), Jellyfish and Scorpion Fish.

There are also a number of islands throughout the Great Barrier Reef. They all offer something special to the visitor and are made up of a variety of plantlife. To the south of the reef are a selection of continental islands including Dunk Island, Great Keppel Island, Hinchinbrook Island and several of the Whitsundays.

Further north are around 300 Cays, which are created when the reef lies above sea level causing the waves to ground the coral into sand. Cays include Green Island, Heron Island and the Low Isles. You can stay on several of the islands which are all truly beautiful. Accommodation ranges from exclusive resorts to camping.

Wherever you decide to go in the Great Barrier Reef, make sure you go somewhere. Once you get there, although many tours offer glass bottom boats and semi-submersible boats, the best way to see the reef is by snorkeling or diving. Even for those who don't feel brave enough, try. It is definitely worth it.

Australia Travel Planning

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Hyden

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Great Barrier Reef

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Last modified: 09/28/07