Top Tips for a Successful Australian Road Trip

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Australia is quite possibly the best place on the planet for a road trip. The country is vast, beautiful and often surprising, with long stretches of open road and plenty of interesting attractions along the way, after all.

If you’re planning an Australian road trip anytime soon, and you want to enjoy all of the good things about Australia (Ayer’s Rock, the people, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House) without any of the drawbacks of a poorly planned trip, here are some tips for Australian road trip success:

Hire a Quality Car

Most importantly of all, is getting the right car. There’s nothing wrong with cheap car rental places, and in fact,m using them will ensure you have more money left for the important stuff, but you should alway thoroughly check over your rental car before accepting it, and ensure that it’s appropriate for the kind of journey you’re doing. If you try to drive a family saloon over rough terrain, for example, it’s not going to be long before you get yourself into trouble!

The Best Countries For A Road Trip

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Nothing quite beats that freedom of hitting the highway and journeying into the unknown. When looking for a roadtrip abroad, there are countless options. For those yearning those long open roads with no traffic and lots of sights along the way, here are some of the best countries to satisfy your roadtrip fantasies.

USA

It should be no surprise that America is on this list. Most of us have heard of Route 66. In terms of openness, nothing beats it, however if you’re looking for sights along the way and a bit more variation, California has many options. You can take a non-direct route from Los Angeles to San Francisco and see Yosemite National Park, Vegas and even the Grand Canyon.

Australia

Australia has some huge open roads. Start from Perth and you’ll find some great affordable car hire places. You can then go all the way up to Coral Bay, or head on even further to Darwin. Much of Australia is barren which makes it perfect for those wanting to live life a little ruggedly. The climate is warm enough all year around to go camping – you could drive in the day and then pitch up a tent somewhere when you want to stop.

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Ireland

If open roads don’t do it for you and you prefer winding and more challenging routes, why not try Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way? It’s the longest coastal route in the world and offers some incredible clifftop views, beaches and olde-worlde settlements along the way. Start at Malin Head just west of Northern Ireland and make your way down to the most southerly tip at Mizen Head.

South Africa

South Africa’s Garden Route may sound like a leisurely drive but it packs everything from scenic coastlines, safari wildlife and countless places to eat and stay along the way. You can take a detour into the Cango Caves and stop in a restaurant for a spot of wine and fine dining.

Japan

There are lots of driving adventures to be found in Japan. For seeing the major sites and cities, the Golden route is recommended. This takes you from Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka. You can stop by Mount Fiji on the way and visit Hammamatsu. For those looking for something a little more rural and with less chance of heavy traffic, Northern Hokkaido has some excellent drives on offer.

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Mongolia

For true rugged driving, Mongolia is a hidden gem. The roads are barely roads, but this gives it an extra thrill. Mongolia is also the finishing place of the world famous Mongol Rally. In this charity event that anyone can join, members must drive from London to Ulanbataar in Mongolia using whichever route they can. Some treat it as a race, but you can take as long as you want – taking in some of the sights and experiences along the way. Most people take 3 to 8 weeks to complete this around the world rally. Let loose the true adventurer within you and sign up! 

Getting The Most Out Of Your Sydney Trip

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Planning a vacation to Sydney? There’s so much to do in Australia’s top travel destination. For those wanting to see and do all they can whilst spending as little as possible, here are tips to make your Sydney escape special.

Time your trip wisely

It’s generally agreed the best times to visit Australia are out of season from September to November or from March to May. The temperature is manageable and the crowds aren’t so wild. The price of flights also drops during these seasons, as does accommodation rates. A December trip is not recommended, largely because airline costs are so high. If you need to be there over Christmas, you may be better off flying out in November and coming back in January.

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Make the most of public transport

Sydney is far too big to get around by foot. The public transport service is fast and efficient. You can buy a MyMulti Pass to make travel cheaper – this allows you to use all trains, boats and buses in the city centre. You can even use this pass to head over to the Blue Mountains. Travelling by river has to be done – to the locals it’s just another public transport method, but as a tourist it can actually be quite exciting and a good opportunity to take snaps of the sights. Try to avoid taxis if you can – as with all cities these cost an arm and a leg.

Save money on food and drink

Fine dining in Sydney is expensive and the tax on alcohol is outrageous. That said there are places off the beaten path where you can save some money. You’re certain to find an affordable and good quality Thai restaurant in Sydney Olympic Park. You can also grab fish and chips for cheap at Bondai Beach. There are then countless street food options on top of this. As for alcohol, you may be able to save a few dollars by visiting a backpacker bar.

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Take advantage of freebies

There are a lot of free activities in Sydney. Most of the museums and galleries are free to enter. You then have a number of free walking tours in the city centre and in The Rocks where you can learn more about the local history and culture. The beaches of course are free as is a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge (not the actual climb though – that costs money). There are some attractions worth paying for such as Taronga Zoo and the Sydney Tower Eye. Look out for vouchers online and in guide books – you may be able to get a discount.

Divide up your accommodation

Because Sydney is so large, it can often be beneficial to divide up your trip and stay in different places to avoid spending too much time and money on travel. On top of the city centre, you have areas such as Manly, Botany Bay and various nearby national parks. If you’re staying in hotels, it could be worth spending one week somewhere and another week somewhere else. Alternatively, if you’re backpacking, you can try jumping from hostel to hostel.

If you have other recommendation on how to make the most of your Sydney trip, please share by sending in through the comments section below.  

Enjoy and have a safe trip!

Travel Australia in Style with These Hints

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Australia is known for being a popular country for backpackers. People travel the country on a shoestring budget, managing to do it even with the high cost of living. Many people stay for a year or more on a working holiday visa. However, for some people, that's not the way they want to see such a magnificent country. If you prefer to travel in comfort, you're probably

looking for something with a little more luxury. Australia isn't just a country for backpackers, and you can enjoy a luxury trip there too. Pack your bags and check out how you can do it.

Look for Luxury Accommodation

The backpacker's choice of accommodation is usually a hostel, where they can stay for extended periods on a small budget . It's a great thing to do if you want to meet fellow travelers. However, if you have more money to spend, you might want something more sophisticated. You'll find excellent options for a luxurious stay across the country. The first option you could consider is a hotel. You can find luxury brands such as Four Seasons or boutique offerings for independent hotels. If you want more privacy, you should look into

renting an apartment or house.

Photo source: Pexels

Travel in Style

Australia is a vast country and if you want to see a lot of it, you need to choose a way to travel.  You could hire a car for a roadtrip, but there are more comfortable options. Of course, you could fly for a short journey. However, if you want to see some scenery along the way, you should consider some other choices. For example, a cruise around the coast is an excellent way to see some of the major cities. You could also take the train and pay for a cabin, which can give you magnificent views of the outback.

Take a Private Tour

When you arrive in the country, you could wander around with a guide book. However, the way to really get to know somewhere new is to have a local person show you around. You'll find companies like Kimberley Tours that can offer you a private tour. A local guide can not only show you all the best places but share their knowledge about the area too. Your tour could be on foot, in a 4x4, or even by bike. There are all kinds of tours you might enjoy,
depending on what sort of traveller you are. If you love the outdoors, you can get out into nature. If you're more of a city dweller, you could take a tour based on food, architecture, art, and more.

Photo source : Pixabay

Find a Luxury Hideaway

If you want to avoid backpackers and tourists, it's a good idea to stay away from the cities.  Instead, you can find yourself a luxury hideaway. Australia has some great islands and remote retreats where you can get away from it all. Take a boat to Tasmania's Satellite Island or go deep into the bush to spend your time at a spa.

Australia offers plenty for the luxury traveler. You don't have to travel like a backpacker or even be anywhere near them.

Things to do in Sydney

If you are planning a visit to the city down under particularly to Sydney, Australia and has no idea yet on where to go and what to do, check out this list of recommendations by Viator.com the expert in travel and tours.  

• Hop-on hop-off tour of Sydney and Bondi

• Sydney harbour sunset dinner cruise

• Blue mountains de luxe

• Shark diving

• Skywalk at Sydney tower

• Sydney harbour scenic helicopter flight

• Hunter valley wine and wilderness tour

Watch this short video about places to go in Australia from real experiences of travellers.

Find and book Sydney tours and activities on Viator.com. Book ahead to save time and money!

Review: City Edge Apartment Hotels in Melbourne

Melbourne (from Photobucket)

                It’s my first time to encounter a booking site where you can customize your stay when booking with them.  City Edge Apartment Hotels in Melbourne, Australia offers this kind of extras you can add up on top of a regular booking like these optional extras to ease your stay with them, so more time for travelers to explore the laid back city atmosphere of Melbourne.  These optional extras are breakfast, apartment servicing per day, late checkout, early check-in and cot.