This is an especially good location for people who are interested in tasting wine.

Even if you are not interested in this there are plenty of other activities that are sure to fascinate you in . . . → Read More: Wine tasting in the Barossa Valley]]> If you are looking for a great destination for a weekend holiday then you should consider heading to the Barossa Valley in Adelaide.

This is an especially good location for people who are interested in tasting wine.

Even if you are not interested in this there are plenty of other activities that are sure to fascinate you in this stunning area in South Australia.

As well as numerous wineries there are dozens of antique shops, cafes and galleries for you to enjoy. The area is also known for its excellent restaurants and there are plenty of accommodation options to suit all visitors.

The Barossa Valley is very near to Adelaide which makes it very easy to get to. You can book accommodation in the Barossa Valley even before you leave home or while you are in Adelaide.

There are plenty of tourist information centres in the city which will have plenty of information about the different accommodation options nearby. There is something to suit all budgets and accommodation ranges from self-contained cottages to Bed & Breakfasts.

As we already mentioned, there are great opportunities for tasting wines in the region and many of the most prominent Australian labels can be found here.

There are also many tours organised detailing the process of winemaking and it is even possible to have a go at blending your own wine. This will leave you with a wonderful memento to take home from your trip to the Barossa Valley.

Food is another amazing aspect of this part of Australia and there are a huge range of different restaurants and cafes. There are also many shops where you can pick up some food to take back to your accommodation and enjoy later.

If you are looking for the opportunity to walk off some of the food and drink that you have had then there are some stunning national parks nearby which house some of Australia’s most beautiful forests. There are several well marked paths throughout these forests so you can enjoy a stress-free stroll.

For those who are interested in art there are numerous woodcarvers, creative potters and quilters in the area. One of the most interesting things to watch here is the creation of wooden barrels which are used for storing wine. There are also numerous museums, shops and art galleries in the region which are well worth spending some time in.

Those who are looking for a wonderful place to come and relax at the weekend then there couldn’t be a better location than the Barrosa Valley. It is the perfect place to enjoy some time away with a partner, friend or your family. It is not a busy place and is a perfect location to come and unwind.

The local people are incredibly friendly and will welcome you into their community. The prices in this part of Australia are also very favourable compared to the big cities and you will find yourself being able to have a luxurious weekend without spending a huge amount of money.

Although most people know it is the location of Ayers Rock, the city has plenty more to offer visitors, such as Anzac Hill that allows climbers to ascend to the top to see the . . . → Read More: There’s more to Alice Springs than Ayers Rock]]> With more than 30,000 people calling it home, Alice Springs is an oasis in the desert that strings out along Todd River.

Although most people know it is the location of Ayers Rock, the city has plenty more to offer visitors, such as Anzac Hill that allows climbers to ascend to the top to see the area and city from a vantage point that is unlike any other. It also sports a desert park where you can see a collection of the best fauna and flora that are native to the Central Australia region.

Outside of the natural aspects of the town, Alice Springs is also the home of many festivals, including the Beanie Festival and the Regatta Festival, which is a bit out of sorts given the fact that the town is located about a few thousand kilometers from water.

Another great attraction is the Arltunga Historic Reserve that is on the site of a former gold mining evacuation. What makes the site so interesting today is that it is more of a ghost town with eerie buildings that seem to exist in the middle of nowhere, and abandonment makes it even creepier.

There is no doubt that most of the appeal of Alice Springs however comes from its natural attractions, and one of the best is the West MacDonnel National Park that contains dozens of attractions such as the Ormiston Gorge, Simpsons Gap, and the Ellery Creek Big Hole. The town itself is also surrounded by the MacDonall Ranges, which pretty much means open space for as far as the eye can see. However, the open spaces are a bit more intriguing than others given the fact that the ranges are deep orange and dotted by oasis, pieces of landscape, and waterholes placed here and there.

The Barossa area of Australia, made up of the Eden and Barossa valleys, is one of that country’s top wine producing areas, with dozens of vineyards that tourists can visit. . . . → Read More: Visit the home of Australian ‘New World’ wines]]> The so-called “New World” wines, from regions such as the Americas and Australia, are starting to rival established European names in terms of popularity and quality.

The Barossa area of Australia, made up of the Eden and Barossa valleys, is one of that country’s top wine producing areas, with dozens of vineyards that tourists can visit.

If you are planning on taking a self-drive tour of the wineries in Barossa you should face no problems, apart from a few unsealed roads and deciding who is to be the designated driver. Solve the latter problem by taking one of the official tours that takes in three or four vineyards in a day or splash out and hire your own driver for the day.

The highlight of any winery tour in the Barossa area is the Orlando vineyard. Over 150 years old and one of the largest wine producers in the whole country, Orlando is famous the world over thanks to its popular Jacob’s Creek brand as well as other top quality names such as Wyndham Estate, Richmond Grove and Poet’s Corner.

Grant Burge runs his winery with wife Helen, and it boasts one of the best tasting rooms on the Barossa tour. The couple bought the dilapidated vineyard in the 1980s and spent years lovingly restoring the buildings and the land to its former glory.

The vineyard run by Peter Lehmann is another with lots of local character. Peter also won the prestigious Winemaker of the Year title in 2004. History lovers should head to the nearby Rockford winery which uses the original 19^th century equipment to produce their hand-made wines; if you visit in the Australian summer you can even see the wine making process in action.

Two other 19^th century vineyards are Seppelt and Penfolds. Seppelt specialises in German wines and is worth visiting for the grandiose approach to the main building alone. Penfolds, producer of the famous Grange wines, is a great place to buy some souvenirs and gifts as they have one of the more extensive wine shops of all the vineyards in the Barossa area.

Finally, a visit to the Henschke winery would not be complete without a walk through the vineyards themselves. Some of the plants are over 100 years old and have been producing the grapes that make Henschke wine ever since the winery opened 

Although the Lodge is only a short distance from Makatana Village, visitors will find everything they need for idyllic break within the resort’s walls. . . . → Read More: Makatana region New Zealand accommodation]]> Tourists looking for a little bit of luxury on their New Zealand holiday-of-a-lifetime should head to the Takatu Lodge in the Makatana region, an area famous for its wines and stunning natural scenery.

Although the Lodge is only a short distance from Makatana Village, visitors will find everything they need for idyllic break within the resort’s walls. A real effort has been made by the Takatu Lodge’s owners to fit in with their natural surroundings, using as much local stone, marble and natural wood as possible.

Taking advantage of the spectacular views across the Makatana vineyards, the Lodge incorporates several huge windows, stretching from floor to ceiling; so even while indoors you can still enjoy the view. The natural theme is extended into each of the private suites which come with complimentary cotton bathrobes, yoga mats and organic juices as well as a king-size bed, bathroom and even heated floors as standard.

Organic and local produce dominates the menus at Takatu Lodge, from a breakfast of fresh fruit to evening meals accompanied, of course, by Makatana wines. Guests are even given a gift from the Lodge each day they stay at the resort; everything from a complimentary bottle of the award –winning Kawau Bay 2006 to tickets for a bush trek on the famous Brick Bay Sculpture Trail.

Stay a third night and you will be rewarded with a free wine tasting session, allowing visitors the chance to sample a several of the Takatu Estate’s own excellent wines as well as the best of the rest from Europe and the New World.Heather and John Forsman, the owners of the Takatu Lodge, are always happy to give guests a tour of their vineyard and to explain the wine-making process while there are several other vineyards within driving distance if you want to sample something different.

Once you have got over your hangover, there are plenty of other activities in the Makatana region to keep visitors entertained during the day. Relax with a fishing rod hired from the Lodge or play the 18-hole championship golf course. Shoppers, meanwhile, can head to the local market in Makatana Village where fresh produce is sold alongside cosy galleries showcasing local artists and their work.

Tourists who prefer to be more active while on holiday should head to the beautiful Tawharanui and Pakiri beaches where you can try sea kayaking and canoeing, take surfing lessons or enjoy a more leisurely boat cruise, taking in the stunning coastal scenery.

There is no better Australian city thanSydneyto visit during the southern hemisphere’s summer . . . → Read More: Sydney, Australias most iconic city]]> No trip toAustraliais complete without a visit toSydney, the country’s most iconic city. Whether you’re interested in visiting the cultural and historical sites or just interested in spending some time on the infamous Bondi Beach, Sydney has more than enough to keep holidaymakers entertained.

There is no better Australian city thanSydneyto visit during the southern hemisphere’s summer months, as the area is home to so many beaches all within a short distance of the centre. Bondi may be the most famous, and something of a tourist attraction in its own right, but there are others that are more popular with the locals and which are bustling and lively on weekends and holidays.

Other must-see sights inSydneyinclude the famous Opera House and theSydneyHarbourBridge, both of which offer great views of the harbour. However, the best view in town is from the top of theCentrepointBuilding, the tallest inSydney, which has a rotating 360 degree viewing platform at the top as well as a restaurant for those who want to enjoy the most unforgettable meal of their lives.

Eating out inSydneyis all about exploring the many different cultures that have made the city their home over the generations. Whatever cuisine you enjoy eating, you will find a restaurant that serves it in this city; though if you want to avoid the expensive tourist traps, stay away from the harbour and the waterfront.

Sydneyis often just one of the stops on a tour ofAustralia, and holidaymakers who arrive in the city from Melbourne or Brisbane may notice that prices here are a little more expensive than elsewhere.Sydneymay not be the capital ofAustralia, but many businesses are based here and the city is much more affluent than many of its neighbours.

As befits a place with so many stylish professionals, shopping inSydneyis dominated by home-grown designer labels such as Collette Dinnigan and  Akira Isogawa.George Streetis the place for fashion junkies to get their fix, while The Rocks shopping centre is also home to a number of one-off boutiques.

Driving inSydneyis not for the faint-hearted and parking can be difficult, especially near the major beaches when the sun is shining. Luckily, the city has a range of inexpensive and well-run public transport options to help you get around and see all the attractions.

The trains, buses and even ferries that serve this city are all covered by one ticket system, which means you can buy a day pass and travel on any mode of transport you need to for whatever activities you have planned that day.Sydney’s train and bus network is clean and safe and goes out as far as the suburbs, while the ferries allow you to get to your destination while sitting back and enjoying the view.

One of the most popular ferry routes with tourists is the boat to Manly, a thirty minute trip from Circular Quay which offers a different perspective on the Opera House and theHarbourBridge. It is worth stopping off and exploring Manly itself, home to some of the best beaches and seafood restaurants inSydney.

They reach heights as they occur . . . → Read More: Southern Alps of New Zealand]]> The Southern Alps are a mountain range that runs through the South Island of New Zealand lengthwise. The central core are has altitudes over 1,500 meters, 360km length and an average width of about 50 kilometers. The highest mountain, Mount Cook is 3,754m high.  The Southern Alps are like the European Alps.

They reach heights as they occur in the eastern Alps and are partly glaciated.  Also prominent peaks lie in the cool temperate climate zone and are covered under the low population density in New Zealand with forests. The geomorphology is similar, although the slopes fall suddenly on the northwest coast.

They were formed earlier than the European Alps, approximately 100 – 150 million years ago.  Even today, there are 17 peaks over 3,000 meters high.  Because of their location along the plate boundary between the Pacific and Australian plate, the Southern Alps are still in the so-called uplift phase.  As part of the Pacific fire ring, they include volcanoes and earthquakes on the surface image of the mountain range.  Hot springs supply in some areas, electricity and heat.

The Mountain forms a distinctive climate divide between the humid north and the west coast.  The prevailing westerly winds cause weather phenomenon, known as the N’west arch (Northwest sheet).  The moist air that flows over the mountains form an arc of clouds in the blue sky.

This weather pattern is often visible in the summer of Canterbury and North Otago.  Southern Fiordland in the south to the Spenser Mountains in the north, are glaciated in the Southern Alps.  The research project World Glacier Inventory (WGI), which catalogs all the glaciers from a 1 ha area, is one of the South Island glaciers around that carry an official name.

Its surface is added to a total of 1,159km² with an estimated ice volume of 53.3km³.  In addition to many smaller individual glaciers, four major areas exist in the environment of Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring, Mount Whitcombe and Mount Tutoko.
The best-known glaciers of the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers are on the west coast.  Because of the high flow speed, their glacier tongues extend right down to an altitude of 300 meters.  Another special feature is that these glaciers are surrounded in the lower part of the temperate rainforest zone.

The Franz Josef Glacier was named by Julius von Haast, a German geologist, after the Austrian emperor.  It is 12km long and 800m wide
The Fox Glacier is just 25 kilometers from the Franz Josef Glacier and has a length of 13.5km or even longer.  It was named after the Prime Minister Sir William Fox.  The longest glacier in the Southern Alps is the Tasman Glacier near Mount Cook, with a current length of 27 kilometers.  It however, has now been increasingly shortened, so that already left much of the lower part is only a debris field.

The region is considered as very natural, since the tourism is limited. However, the Southern Alps are the main attraction for winter sports in New Zealand.  The largest ski resort in the country is in the Ruapehu District in the North Island.  In the Southern Alps, there are numerous national parks, including the Westland National Park,Mount Aspiring National Park and Mount Cook National Park.