MaiTravelSite » Australia & New Zealand

A Quick Guide to Perth, Australia

maitravelsite — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:41:08 +0000

The capital of western Australia, Perth has made a name for itself as a land of beautiful stretches of beach, year-round sunshine and an astonishingly diverse culture. Polynesian, Asian and European influences abound, making this one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the region. Despite recent modernizations, it retains its old town, community charm, mixing old buildings with newer developments, splitting the skyline between traditional and contemporary styles. Even the name of the river upon which it sits – Swan River- has an undeniable fairy tale allure. Yet somehow, Perth has until a recent tourist marketing push been overlooked in favor of its more urban, exciting counterparts: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra. With cheap flights to Perth now available, it’s time to bring this laid back city to the fore, and show that this old gold rush capital still has a shine, and that now’s a better time than ever to visit.

Perth, along with the whole of western Australia, has a long history with strong Aboriginal ties. Archaeological evidence shows that the area was inhabited by the Noongar tribe for 40,000 years before European settlement. A trip to the Western Australian Museum gives a comprehensive history of the area through the ages, from prehistoric times to contemporary cosmopolitan living, via Aboriginal settlements (the Katta Djinoong exhibition is a highlight) as well as featuring interesting mammal, bird and butterfly galleries. It’s a great introduction to the city, and is suitable for single travelers and families alike. For history buffs, the trip is well supplemented with a visit to the Art Gallery of Western Australia, which continues the focus on Aboriginal art with a stunning collection of works by Indigenous artists.

In Perth, a holiday should be about more than just sightseeing. After all, its founder Captain James Stirling famously declared it to be “as beautiful as anything of this kind I have ever experienced”. So, by all means, take in the sights, hop on the tour bus and visit the hotly tipped spots on the top ten lists in the guide book. But don’t forget to wander down the backs streets, explore the various districts and their distinct cultures, and wander a little off the beaten track to experience the warmth and hospitality of local living. This city doesn’t rush, so take the time to experience its beautiful atmosphere and scenery. It’s what the Australians do best; they take their time. For a little down time to relax and unwind, look no further than Cottesloe Beach. Lined with pines and boasting sandy and grassy shores, this is the perfect spot for swimming, surfing and soaking up the glorious Perth sunshine. Or, get yourself to Fremantle just outside of Perth- well worth a visit in itself – and from there hop on a boat to Rottnest Island for a few blissful hours amongst the dolphins, the small sandy beaches and the sound of the waves crashing gently against the shore.

A trip to Northbridge will drive home just how cosmopolitan a city Perth is. A hotpot of cultures, this is a great place to grab a bite to eat, with the streets teeming with restaurants serving up gastronomical delights from all of Perth’s cultural influences, from Chinese fare to locally farmed lamb, fresh seafood taken straight from the balmy waters around the coast (try some barramundi or snapper fish), and perfectly sweetened fruit from the market stalls. This is also a great place to go in the evening as there are plenty of bars offering open-air drinks as part of a pavement cafe culture (head to Leederville near the city center for all the trendy bars) that makes the city pleasant well into the night.

Have you visited Perth? There is much to see in Australia’s western coast, but distances are long. Where did you make it to? What highlights would you recommend? Share your tips with us in the comments section below, and this post too if you think it can help other travelerss!

Touring New Zealand Wineries

maitravelsite — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:53:23 +0000

We were finally in New Zealand for a trip I had been looking forward to for years. We spent a few days couchsurfing in Auckland and find just the right camper van. We spent a fantastic 5 days in Auckland enjoying all the great sights and hospitality of the city but then it was time to really indulge my passion. We were not only attracted to New Zealand for the scenery and the interesting cities but also because of the wine. It’s been a long time now since the New Zealand and Australia wine were referred to as “New World” so subsumed into the psyche of wine lovers as being amongst the world’s great wines they have become.

New Zealand’s North Island is full of wine growing regions producing terrific wines. We chose to start in the Northland and take the coastal route past Auckland down through Waikato (Bay of Plenty) to Gisborne, onto Hawkes Bay and ending up in Wellington. There was no timescale to this plan. We’d take as long as we wanted to enjoy all the sights and sounds, park near some fabulous beaches maybe treat ourselves to a few nights away from the old camper in a delightful little guest house or two and get stuck into those delicious wines. Here are the details of our New Zealand North Island wine adventures.

The Northland

We’d heard the Northland is one of the new kids on the block of gourmet destinations so not only were the wines ready for our delectation but there was a big expectation of some brilliant food to accompany them. Choosing wineries right on the coast for stunning restaurant views is definitely the name of the game. We started right up in Karikari Peninsula and made our way down through Kerikeri, Paihia and finished this particular leg in Mangawhai

The Northland also brings a new meaning to Farmer’s Markets. The ones back home are a pale imitation of those found at Paparoa and Dargaville. If ever the Greek Gods were to define ambrosia and nectar in earthly terms they’d be looking down here on stalls pile high with the freshest produce which are so brightly coloured you just know Mother Nature has painted them herself. Ok, so I couldn’t resist the bacon butties on offer but the smoked mussels and oysters we took back to the camper van were wolfed down in minutes one evening together with lashings of an award winning chardonnay. We also visited the Saturday market at Kerikeri and found some terrific if a little rough organic reds and some very welcome artisan coffees. A big shout out has to go the Only Seafood restaurant on the bay in Paihia – the best seafood platter ever – and I’ve enjoyed a few.

The Auckland Area

Henderson Valley is probably somewhere familiar to wine lovers but the Matakana Coast is equally worthy. There’s a fabulous little village called Leigh where the fish and chips are sublime. Good job too because for some reason the stove in the camper van just wasn’t behaving (It actually broke down next day and we had to replace the gasket). At the Ascension Wine Estate we tried a very satisfying selection and for me I’d pick the Steep Bit, The Passion and the Benediction. There was also a very palatable sparkling rosé, The Flamenco.

Matakana is also another great destination for a Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday you can have your senses titillated by homemade preserves, chutneys and pickles to accompany artisan breads and meats. As well as the wines, the locally produced honey is exceptional.

Waikato (The Bay of Plenty)

Let’s get the waxing lyrical about the food out of the way first. If you love fish and chips, there’s only one place to go – Tauranga’s Fresh Fish Market – it’s a local legend and deservedly so. Leave the sea behind to try a whole different food experience at Kiwifruit 360, in Te Puke. Here you can taste wines, liqueurs and all manner of concoctions made from fresh kiwi fruit. I found another of my weaknesses at Comvita Visitor Centre – Jess had to pull me away from the scrumptious native honeys on offer.

Gisborne

Gisborne is definitely a place to visit the beach even if it is to just view the sunrise and know you’re waking up with the world. The waterfront is a very picturesque place with some very tasty restaurants. For drink of a different kind, check out New Zealand’s largest cider producer- Bulmers, down on the wharf.

Hawkes Bay

Due to the close proximity of over 40 vineyards in the Hawkes Bay area we decided to park the camper van up for a few days to head off on a scripted cycling tour. If you want to take a leisurely vacation viewing the wine growing regions on the North Island cycling is a special way to do it. Just remember you’ve got to get back on your bike after those tasting sessions to get to your next stop or back to your accommodation – talking from experience!

The food element of the trail lived up to its gourmet billing: uber fresh produce prepared with attention and care; restaurants that prompt wines into their best food matching performances; restaurant’s representing the best of local and fusion food and Farmer’s Markets to bewilder in their array and invitation to treat (especially the one in Napier).

Martinborough

Before we head into Wellington proper, I just have to indulge in a special tribute to what turned out to be my most favourite of all the areas we visited – Martinborough. Handily located right on the route from Auckland to Wellington, if you’re pushed for time on the North Island it’s easy to pull off for a short sojourn here.

Making a welcome return to the trusty van after all that biking I was as excited about Martinborough as Jess had been about the Chardonnay capital (Gisborne) because the speciality grape of this region is the pinot noir. The dry river beds around the town provide ideal viticulture conditions and I was already familiar with production from the Schubert winery and very much looked forward to sampling more. Ata Rangi’s Célèbre certainly didn’t disappoint neither did the Blue Rock Vineyard’s McIntyre and I have to give a great big thumbs up to Pencarrow’s Great Dogs.

Martinborough is also a gorgeous town. There are plenty of places to stay with some very unique exclusive-use holiday homes in the mix. There’s a golf course if you fancy a round or two while your adrenaline levels can be pushed sky high at Pole to Pole with a chasm walkway, rope walks and the gentler horse trekking. Plus, there’s the whole of the Wairarapa region to discover too.

Wellington

According to Lonely Planet, Wellington is the “coolest little capital in the world” but as we were going to be spending a few days in the city we thought we’d see some of the immediate area first and after all there are no vineyards in the city. The closest vineyards to Wellington are in the Wairarapa region, including my favourite place, Martinborough. I’ve already made mention of some of my wine selections from this region so I will just add in that this area is not only home to delicious wines but is also extremely scenic. The backdrop of many of the vineyards is soaring mountains and this is a very pretty part of North Island. If you want to be on the doorstep of Wellington but stay in a rural locale, Wairarapa is plethoric in rusticity; tons of farms for bed and breakfast, charming boutique hotels and a whole mass of excellent restaurants. Do you really need anything more?

Author Bio

This article was written by Anthony Walsh who traveld with his partner Jess accross New Zealand not only to indulge in wine tasting but sample local food and experience camper van trip of a lifetime.

Some of these links could be making us some money, however we wouldn’t include them if we didn’t think they can benefit the reader

Photo of the Week: Te Anau, New Zealand

maitravelsite — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:04:10 +0000

Today’s photo of the week was sent by Diego Marqueta Zaluendo, taken during his recent trip to New Zealand. Te Anau is a small town bordering the lake with the same name and is a gateway to Fiordland where excelllent trekking and tramping can be enjoyed while contemplating magnificent views.

Click on photo to view in full size!

Photo of the Week: Sydney Opera House

maitravelsite — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:12:04 +0000

This is world famous Sydney‘s Opera House as seen from Harbour Bridge on a clear day. It takes about 30-45 minutes to walk at a leisurely pace from the Opera House to the spot where this picture was taken, but without a doubt the view is well worth it- the photo does not convey how windy it was though! (Click on the photo to view in full size and with a dark background for a better user experience)

Like the shot? Then “Like” and share this post, thanks!

Photo of The Week: Lifeguard Tower

maitravelsite — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:40:17 +0000

After a relaxing day at world famous surf break Snapper Rocks I took ths picture of the sun setting behind a lifeguard tower in Coolangatta, Australia. About 15 minutes before we had enjoyed a show put on by a couple of humpback whales (you can see a picture from a distance here) that were jumping and splashing near the beach) and shortly after were preparing a BBQ in one of those superb free electric grills you can find all over Australia. One great way of finishing the day don’t you think?

Planning a Road Trip in Australia

maitravelsite — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:01:33 +0000

Road trips in Australia are in a league of their own because most people do not realize that Australia is actually a large country. Almost as big as the continental United States, Australia features a variety of different climates and landscapes. One great way to explore the coasts and Outback of Australia is to take a road trip. Whether you’re planning on taking an extended road trip involving long distances through the desert regions in the center of the country or just want a short jaunt lasting only a couple of hours, planning ahead is critical. No matter what kind of road trip you plan, you will definitely visit some beautiful places.

The first thing you need to do is decide on what places you would like to visit in Australia and how much time you have to spend on your road trip. With 16,000 miles of coastline and five million square miles of land, there are plenty of choices. You can choose to explore deserts, tropical rain forests, beaches, or even alpine regions.

You also need to decide on the time of year you want to plan your road trip. Weather conditions can make or break your condition. For example, Northern Australia is a tropical region, and when the wet season begins, rivers have been known to flood and roads have been washed away. If you’re traveling across the Outback, in the summer season temperatures have been known to hit over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be a real killer if your air conditioning fails in the middle of the trip.

If you don’t want to create a road trip route from scratch, there are several popular options to choose from. One popular road trip route is the Great Ocean Road. This 150 mile long road in the state of Victoria extends all the way from Torquay to Warrnambool. The road not only provides access to many landmarks in the area but is itself a landmark – built by soldiers in 1919 and 1932 to memorialize the casualties of World War I, it is the world’s largest war memorial. As the name implies, the Great Ocean Road follows the coastline, providing breathtaking views of the ocean and beaches- make sure you don’t miss the Twelve Apostoles.

Another road trip option is crossing the Nullarbor Plain. Nullarbor means ‘no tree,’ which describes this area very well – it is a flat, almost treeless piece of land in southern Australia. The most interesting thing about the Nullarbor is that it is largest single piece of limestone in the world, measuring in at 77,000 square miles.

Perhaps the most popular of all road trips in Austrlia is the drive along Highway 1 (Pacific Highway) in Australia’s East coast. There are many things to see and do along the way including superb camping, trekking, sun worshipping, city visiting and partying too (read Brisbane to Sydney and Sydney to Melbourne for tips and ideas).

What other things should you consider? A map of Australia, travel inssurance if you don’t have it, packing appropriate clothes depending on the season you’ll be traveling in, food, water and a first aid kit if you’re heading into the outback, and making sure you campervan or car is well maintained for your trip ahead. So get your checklist, poise your camera, and hit the road because Australia road trips are some of the most exciting in the world!

This post was contributed by Ryan Embly. He writes for the van rental website CRX, which features information about van and car rentals around the world.
[photo credits from Flickr: Outback (Casadequeso) , rest (lind_rOm)]

Have you done any road trips in Australia? Where to? How did you plan it? Please share this post if you liked!