SydneyHow the Great Barrier Reef Formed
The history of the Great Barrier Reef goes back more than a million years to the end of the last Ice Age.
When the polar caps started to melt, the world’s sea levels began to fluctuate dramatically. At that time, the sea level around Australia was about 120 metres lower than it is today and our continental shelf, which was then a dry coastal plain, began to flood and then drain again, as the sea level rose and fell.
Coral that was living on the edges of the shelf, began to grow higher to keep pace with the rising water level. Coral can increase in diameter by up to two centimetres a year and grow vertically as much as 15 centimetres a year; so very slowly, over thousands of years, an incredible transformation began to take place.
Best Places to View the Great Barrier Reef
There are a lot of great ways to see and explore Australia’s stunning Great Barrier Reef.
From the sky, you can take in all its glory aboard a scenic charter flight or grab a tow and parasail high above it. If you have a spare million or two, you could even admire it from the upper atmosphere, as it’s the only living thing that can be seen from outer space.
Closer to the surface, you can glide across its brilliant corals in a glass-bottomed boat, cruise its many channels and islands in an authentic sailing ship, or paddle amongst its brightly coloured fish in flippers, mask and snorkel.
From below, you can marvel through the windows of a semi-submersible, or if you’re a little more adventurous, strap on a tank and become one with the marine life on a scuba diving charter.
Trips and Activities For Families in Australia
Finding things to do with your family can be quite a stressful experience, though whether you are going on holidays or just looking for a fun way to fill in the day, you and your family are well and truly covered in Australia. No matter which part of the country you are in, you will have no problem finding great accommodation, great food and fun ways to make sure that your whole family has an awesome time, the hardest part will be deciding which option to take. The following are some great ideas for trips and activities that your entire family is guaranteed to love.
Experiencing the Australian Outdoors in Style
If you like getting out into the outdoors and being active, Australia is the best place in the world for you to be. This incredible island nation has it all; snow covered mountains, huge deserts, all kinds of forests and incredible beaches, and quite a bit more. Each part of this amazing country has a different outdoorsy treat for you, so all you have to do is check out your options and decide what you want to do. The following are some great ways to experience Australia’s great outdoors.
Unique Australian Experiences
Australia really is a place like no other, with an endless list of must see places and must do activities. If you want to make the most of your trip down under, the best thing to do is to make sure you have at least one truly unique Australian experience. Don’t waste time doing things you can do anywhere, instead take advantage of this unique country and treat yourself to some holiday highlights. The following unique Australian experiences are truly special and unique to Australia.
Wine Tours
Australia has become quite famous for its wines over the years, so while you are down here, it is almost mandatory that you check out some of the amazing wine regions like the Hunter Valley. Wine tours are a great way to check out the area and ensure you see and taste as much as possible; don’t be surprised if you end up bringing home more than a bottle or two of incredible wine.
Top 5 Tours To Do In NSW
New South Wales is a special place, blessed with beaches, mountains, wilderness, wildlife and vineyards. It’s also quite large so the only way you are going to be able to see all the highlights is by going on some tours. The tour options are endless, though you can save yourself some hassles and be guaranteed to have a great time by checking out the following five tours.
These are probably the best value for money tours in all of Australia, and will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of the country. You will visit all of the finest vineyards, taste some of the world’s best wines and go home with a far greater appreciation for the effort that goes into making a good bottle of wine. You will want to taste them all, so make it a safe day out, leave the driving to someone else and treat yourself to a great day in the vineyards.
Harbour Tours
Food and Wine in Australia
Australia is more than just a place with a dodgy past and amazing beaches, it has also become one of the top spots in the world for quality food and wine. By sheer luck, Australia just happens to have amazing conditions for growing fruit, vegetables and of course grapes for wine, as well as having a huge amount of land for raising animals. So it’s no surprise that the Aussies have become world leaders in both quality food and wines. The following places are where you will find some of the best of both on offer.
Festivals
One of the best ways to get a good look at all the latest and greatest in food and wine is to get to one of the dozens of festivals held around the country. Two of the best food and wine festivals in Australia are held in Tasmania; the world famous Taste of Tasmania in Hobart and the up and coming Festivale in Launceston. Both are highly respected and totally supported by their local communities, so for a tasty and relaxing way to indulge in the some of the finest delicacies in the country, be sure you’ve got your tickets.
Vineyards
Best Value Things To Do As A Tourist In Sydney
Sydney is an amazing world-class city with highlights everywhere you turn, though it’s also not a cheap place to be, so unless you have endless amounts of money you are going to want to find all the best deals. The trick to having a great time in Sydney is being smart with when and where you spend your money and keeping an ear out for the great deals. The following are some of the best value things to do as a tourist in Sydney.
Sydney would be nothing without its amazing harbour so if you only spend money on one main activity while you are here, splurge on a harbour cruise. It’s only when you get out on the water that you really get a sense of the enormity and beauty of the harbour and you will have photo opportunities that you can’t get from anywhere else. There are a number of different cruises on offer, though whichever one you do, it will absolutely be worth every cent.
Australia’s Most Unforgettable Tours
Australia is an incredibly diverse and beautiful country with every single part offering amazing highlights. Some of the best touring opportunities in the world are right here in Australia, though if you don’t have an endless amount of time to travel, there are a few tours that you should be sure to make time for. The following tours are guaranteed to be the stand out and unforgettable highlights of your trip.
The best way to see this magical part of Australia is to get on a local tour. You will be taken around some of Australia’s oldest and most famous vineyards and learn everything there is to know about them, from their history to how they make their award winning wines. You will be able to indulge in tasting some of the world’s finest wines and if you are looking for a romantic trip to do with your partner, a Hunter Valley wine tour is a sure way to impress.
5 Times You Definitely Don’t Want To Forget Your Camera
If you are on holidays and travelling around Australia, you are bound to see some amazing sights. Often you will see the most incredible things when you least expect to, though there are times when you really should be sure to bring your camera as you know you are going to see something great. The following are some of the times when you definitely don’t want to forget to have your camera with you.
On The Harbour
If you have the opportunity to get out on Sydney harbour you absolutely should! Whether you get lucky and are offered a spot on a private boat or get your crew together and head out on one of the Sydney harbour cruises, when you get out there you will probably want to take more photos than ever before. Not only are there dozens of unique photo opportunities but you are also a good chance at seeing some awesome marine life as well. A harbour cruise could be the highlight of your trip, so don’t forget your camera!
