Gillian's blog

Truly A Magnificent Place

Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia. The city itself was named after William Wellington Cairns (the then Governor of Queensland). It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas. It later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold, metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and the Atherton Tableland region. The city is rapidly expanding, with a population of 122,731 at the 2006 census. Tourism is the largest income producer for the region, followed closely by the sugar industry. An intercensal estimate for the resident population the LGAas of June 2008 was 158,700. Cairns is located about 1,700 km (1,056 mi) from Brisbane, and about 2,420 km (1,504 mi) from Sydney by road. It is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its tropical climate and proximity to many attractions. The Great Barrier Reef can be reached in less than an hour by boat. Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation, about 130 km (81 mi) north of Cairns, are popular areas for experiencing a tropical rainforest. It is also a starting point for people wanting to explore Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula, and the Atherton Tableland. The city has used its natural surroundings to its advantage, with the construction of several small theme parks for tourists. Among them are Rainforestation Nature Park, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, and Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which extends for 7.5 km (4.7 mi) over World Heritage rainforest.That's why Cairns is one of the beautiful and most visited place in Australia. Cairns Hotels are available within your reach if tourist needs a place to stay as they tour around the place. A notable feature of the Cairns esplanade is a swimming lagoon with adjoining barbecue areas. In May 2003, the then Cairns Mayor Kevin Byrne declared that topless sunbathing is permitted here, as the area is a gathering point for people from around the world who may wish to do so. A boardwalk allows pedestrians and cyclists to move along the foreshore from the lagoon in a sustainable manner. Cairns experiences a warm tropical climate, specifically a Tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Köppen climate classification. A wet season with tropical monsoons runs from December to April, with a relatively dry season from May to November, though showers are frequent for most of this period. Mean rainfall of Cairns is 1,992.8 millimetres (78.5 in). The township of Babinda at the southern end of the city is one of Australia's wettest towns, recording an annual rainfall of over 4,200 millimetres (165.4 in). It has hot, humid summers and milder temperatures in winter. Mean temperatures vary from 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) in July to 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in January. Monsoonal activity during the wet season occasionally causes major flooding of the Barron and Mulgrave Rivers, cutting off road and rail access to the city. So what are you waiting for? Do you want to experience the stunning beauty of the place then start booking a Cairns Hotels now.

Spending a Great Vacation at Perth

Perth’s city center has many beautiful high-rise office buildings, shopping centers, fantastic restaurants and places to splurge a fun filled evening. For a great night out make your way to Northbridge where you’ll find a host of trendy restaurants, bars and clubs.

Because of all the sun-filled days that are ever so common here, going to the beach on a great day is almost a sure bet. The beaches run from one to the other giving you plenty of room to select which one suits you the best. Located on part of Mt Eliza sits Kings Park. Larger than New York’s Central Park, you’ll be able to travel around vast botanical gardens, natural bush land and a great display of wildflowers.

Perth City, Australia is a well admired tourist destination in Western Australia. The city experienced significant growth in the late 1990s and early 2000s and sees over 100,000 daily visitors throughout the year. Popular activities in the city include the nightlife, live music and entertainment and the local arts. The Vines Resort, Glen Iris Country Club, and Joondalup Country Club are golf courses in the environs of Perth City.

If you're setting up a holiday to Scotland or are looking for a nice weekend away or a location for your Sunday drive, one of the places you should seriously consider is Perth, the main town in Perthshire to the north of Edinburgh and west of Dundee.  Perth has a long and chequered history which has seen battles, coronations, and English occupation.  It is also ideally located in a central area on routes to the north (to Aberdeen and Inverness) to the west (to Stirling and Glasgow), to the east (to Dundee) and to the south (to Edinburgh).  Far from being a city of pollution, crime and hustle-bustle, Perth is tranquil and picturesque and has a history which makes it a fascinating location for a week's holiday.

Booking for your stay in Perth Hotels is never a problem, as they are conveniently located in the city’s Central Business District. Here you can enjoy a diverse range of experiences all year round. Most attractions are open daily and offer interactive experiences and guided tours to enrich your visit. State-of-the-art entertainment venues present a diverse range of theatre, dance, music, comedy and film showcasing the State’s rich creative spirit. Restaurants and cafes serving the freshest produce at reasonable prices, with dining experiences are scattered throughout the city to suit your palate and wallet.

 For the budget conscious tourist, a visit to one of Perth’s many food halls or a restaurant serving dimsum lunch is a wise choice. The food halls are within walking distance of sensibly reasonable price, and they offer a mixture of cuisines suited for taste of all family members. For those who want  to dine in world class restaurants, many are located within Perth Hotels with the great view of the city and the river. Even coffee lovers will be pleased with several cafe’s serving coffee and a great venue for people watching too.  

The Perfect Beach

Port Douglas beach boasts over 200 kilometers of coastline with every kind of beach imaginable. Whether you desire to lie around amongst the bathing beauties or nuzzled with your honey in a bare cove, you are likely to find the perfect beach. But of course, you can’t start to the eastern Australian coast without exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Novice snorkelers and divers will be overwhelmed by the underwater scenery, and experienced divers will find new challenges deep within the reef.

Armed with nothing more than a good pair of walking shoes and a swimsuit, you will be able to take pleasure in all that area has to offer. Couples will enjoy the romantic atmosphere of the sea while the kids will wonder at the living rainforest. Just be sure to remember your camera, as it is surely to be the trip of a lifetime.

Port Douglas is also identified to be the pole position for the Total Solar Eclipse happening in 2012. Only a small sliver of land will witness the intergalactic event and Port Douglas is right in its path. Thousands are expected to converge at this unique destination to see the event.The Solar Eclipse Marathon, the first ever Full International Marathon running festival is being organized in Port Douglas to coincide with the Total Solar Eclipse in November 2012.

This full adventure 42.195 km Marathon expecting over 2,000 competitors will start on the morning of November 14th as the first rays of the sun re-emerge from behind the moon thus creating the first ever intergalactic starting gun! Port Douglas Hotels can surely accommodate everyone as the town is already preparing for the event. Another cheaper way to experience Port Douglas without paying high accommodation costs of luxurious Port Douglas Hotels is by staying in the nearby small rural towns that offers cheaper accommodations. Whichever way and where you choose to stay, you simply have to visit Port Douglas, simply stunning! 
 

Old-Fashioned and Urbane Melbourne

Melbourne,Australia’s second largest city is regarded as the cultural, fashion and sports capital. Visit the city and you will experience a warm and friendly response. The city is a multicultural city as more than one quarter of its inhabitants are born overseas. The place is a lively with excellent coffee houses, restaurants that serve all kinds of cuisine from Lebanese to Vietnamese. If one is looking for a European environment, you might want to visit Melbourne, which is old-fashioned and urbane and has an elegance that appeals to most visitors.

There are plenty of cheap Melbourne Hotels within reach, most of which offer good quality, modern accommodation. Public transport is cheap and efficient in this city, which makes it quick and easy to get around so it doesn’t matter too much if you choose one of the cheaper hotels just outside of the city centre. Melbourne is a lively and avid city, and has a strong European feel with all of its many excellent coffee houses, outdoor cafes, fine dining restaurants and fashion shops. The Yarra river cuts through the city, and the South Bank area is very attractive and provides many high quality eateries including the world renowned restaurants Nobu, Giuseppe and Bistro Guillaume. If you are interested in foods then you will find all kinds of cuisines in Melbourne from Lebanese to Vietnamese, and the many food markets around the city are a delight for shoppers.

Urbane and polished, jittery and bumpy, Melbourne’s physical and cultural scenery is shaped by a dynamic population, ever-ravenous for a bite of global culture. The result is Australia’s most reachable multiculturalism. Complex Victorian-era structural design and leafy, established boulevards reveal the city’s history, and cutting-edge developments such as Federation Sq demonstrate its inscrutable contemporary style. But, Melbournian’s still keep their urban frenzy to a deliciously serene pace.

If you love culture in all its forms, whether it’s art, music, great food, fashion, architecture, or anything else, Melbourne is the best destination for you in Australia. Melbourne’s combination of old-world charm and new-world cool will prove pleasurable to even the most seasoned traveler, as there’s something for everyone to see. Its five best luxury  Melbourne Hotels are no less varied – each one has its distinctive appeal and aesthetic, yet all share a dedication to perfect service, attentiveness to detail, and commitment to your best possible experience of Melbourne.

The Multi-Cultural City of Sydney

The gorgeous city of Sydney, Australia is a favorite of most of travelers worldwide. Who congregate there by the thousand to acquire in the sights and sounds like the famed Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. There’s no dearth of options when it comes to Sydney Hotels. From five-star hotels to hostels, Sydney Hotels meets every budget and flavor.

Sydney is the major city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million (2008 estimate). It is the state capital of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British colony in Australia. It was established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, admiral of the First Fleet from Britain. A local of the city is referred to as a Sydneysider. Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, which reflects its role as a major purpose for immigrants to Australia. According to the Mercer cost of living survey, Sydney is Australia’s most pricey city, and the 15th most posh in the world. Sydney also ranks among the top 10 most liveable cities in the world according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting and The Economist. Sydney hosts many different festivals and some of Australia's largest social and cultural event.

There is lots of accommodation deals offered, if you’re looking to travel on a budget, but want some decent accommodation. You can get great discounts over the Internet – with some deals, you can get a great deal most especially if you stay on the hotel on up to 4 months! If you want to reside in the lap of lavishness, there are some great Sydney Hotels, including the Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth , Blue Sydney Taj Hotel and so much more to choose from.