Set in the heart of New Zealand’s southern Alpine region, Queenstown has reputation as the adventure capital of the world. Surrounded by stunning mountains, lakes and rivers, Queenstown is New Zealand’s premier alpine resort. Only 3 hours direct from Melbourne or Sydney, it is the country’s major tourist destination. The city provides perfect venues for all kinds of adventure sports and offers some of the world’s best skiing and snowboarding conditions.

Offering visitors the chance to indulge in almost every adrenalin activity, Queenstown will feed your imagination. Majestic Queenstown offers an incredible range of things to do no matter what the season. Queenstown will satisfy even the most ravenous appetite for the adventure alike. From skydiving, bungee jumping, rafting, and jet boating, breathtaking helicopter flights, paragliding in summer months to winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

Constructed in 1853, the wooden structure was originally used for loading timber, building materials and firewood. In September 2003 the structure was destroyed in an arson attack but the kiosk re-opened in March 2006. The pier is a popular destination for strolling, cycling, roller-skating and fishing. Whatever your preference, St Kilda Pier provides an unforgettable experience right in the heart of Melbourne.

The St Kilda Kiosk has become a symbol of St Kilda, a place of seaside fun, relaxation and romance. At the end of St Kilda’s famous Pier is located “Little blue restaurant”. Fantastic food and local wines it provides undoubtedly one of the best panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline.

The Twelve Apostles are giant rock formations lies along the majestic coastline of Port Campbell National Park, app.230km from Melbourne, Australia. It is Victoria’s second largest marine national park and covers 7,500 hectares including some of the most spectacular underwater scenery – incredible underwater arches, canyons and caves.

Millions of years of constant sea erosion and blasting winds have battered the soft limestone cliffs, creating grottoes and gorges, arches, caves and sea-sculptures. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 meters high were left isolated from the shore. The Twelve Apostles have been created by erosion that began 10–20 million years ago. The cliff top road gives occasional glimpses of the drama below – the Australia’s most famous rock attractions.

Melbourne is a city of layers with ever changing skies and facades. Today I will represent you the real Melbourne, which is like its inhabitants and is less public and reveals itself unwilling. In the last decade, Melbourne has radically changed the urban and cultural landscape. Architecture have become adventurous within cutting-edge buildings. The contemporary art scene is dynamic and breathtaking festivals fill the atmosphere of the city. In every corner, basement and attic initiative spirits are creating hole-in-the-wall bars, multimedia galleries, design studious and other experiences.

Nowadays in Melbourne opportunities abound. They got great design schools and really everything they have is as good as anywhere in the world. People there live on the coast looking out the horizon and they know what’s behind them. The other feature about Australian creativity and architectural culture is that they are well traveled. And they choose to come back!

Melbourne has many geographical features to explore. The Yarra River is one of them but the city boasts more about its parks and gardens. The Carlton Gardens are home to the World Heritage and behind them is the Melbourne Museum. On the south side of the Yarra is the Tan – a 2.3-mile running track. There you can pass quickly seeing some great buildings.

What I think makes Melbourne unique is the ever-changing light. The city gets four seasons in one day, which can be a bit miserable in winter. Apart from being cold, it often rains and the clouds are low and makes flat light. But in the summer the light is very harsh and direct providing great contrast like lazer.

Tourists have to walk to really see Melbourne. In that way you will get glimpses of notable architecture and some Gothic revival, urban art projects and pull up at cafes, bars and restaurants in the Centre.

This is Klein Bottle House by architects McBride Charles Ryan and is stunning, breathtaking villa. The “Klein Bottle” is a two-dimensionaltopological spacewith no distinction between the “inside” and “outside” surfaces.

This vacation-villa home is situated just in a few minutes outside Melbourne, Australia. This constantly challenging the sense of perception, depth, linear orientation, interior/exterior space and pretty much any notion of what a dwelling should look like, the architects have successfully created a space that is surprisingly inviting and warm.

The villa house is perfect for holidays, parties and celebrations and achieves a harmony with nature palpable to all who stay there. Guests can design custom-tailored day plans, choosing from activities like village temple walks, bike rides through fields, river rafting, mountain climbing and scuba diving.

Klein Bottle is design by McBride Charles Ryan, which is an award winning practice studio-based approach to their projects defies specialisation.

Formed in 1988, MCR’s projects are generously expressive in both form (sculptural character and geometry) and palette (colours and materials).

Qantas – Australian airlane has create Qantas First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, international airports.

Sydney and Melbourne International Terminals Welcomed first class customers now in the airlane’s new Class lounges in both cities. The clients can experience a range of luxuries from chair-side waiter service to complimentary spa treatments in the airline’s lounges.

Qantas Airways Senior Executive President, Wally Mariani, describes them as ‘ simply the best in the world’.

‘The services offered in our new lounges are equal to those found in the world’s best five star hotels and restaurants’, said Wally.

One of the services in lounges can help customers book a restaurant in any city around the world or get tickets to the latest Broadway musical. Also the music has been specially created to complement the atmosphere and function of each area of the lounge.

Both Lounges are wonderful supplements of the Qantas Airways which is a global air carrier with more than 200 aircraft offering service to 142 destinations in 40 countries. Founded in 1920, Qantas Airways in 2004 celebrated 50 years of continuous flying between North America and Australia. Offering more non-stop flights to Australia and New Zealand than any other carrier, Qantas provides convenient connections from its gateways in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu.

If you want a true winter holiday experience come to Falls Creek- a wonderful small snow village located in Australia. Huski is arranged at the centre of the village Falls Creek and offers ski in-ski out access and great views form every appartment.

Falls Creek is largest ski and boarding resort and Australia’s only 100 per cent ski-in, ski old mountain village. As well as the resort is famous for its on mountain restaurants and as an eco-friendly tourism hot spot. Falls Creek is 356 km (4,5 hours drive), north east from Melbourne, 690 km (7,5 hours drive) from Sydney, 985 km (10,5 hours drive) from Adelaide and is a 4,5 hour flight from Brisbane.

A wide range of facilities are on offer at Falls Creek during winter. They are a selection of bars, restaurants and eateries, ski and snowboard rental and retail, snowsports school, cinema, gymnasium, occasional childcare centre, day spa, supermarket, post office, photographic centre, free village shuttle, apres taxi, 24 hour medical centre.

With all these Falls Creek’s facilities in Huski turn presents 14 luxuriously appartments including 4 studio, 2 one bedroom, 2 two bedroom, 4 three bedroom, and 2 brand new four bedroom penthouse. They have very stylish interiors and warm comfort furniture, made you feel rested during your dream holiday.

Melbourne is a city of casual elegance. Cosmopolitan and confident yet graciously relaxed, Melbourne is renowned for its shopping and cafe society. Enjoy sea life and wild life. Relax and let Gray line show you the way around Melbourne and Victoria. Highlights include the Italian Quarter, the Shrine of Remembrance, and the Botanic Gardens where you may enjoy magnificent views of the city. At dusk witness the penguin parade on Philip Island when all the penguins return home from the sea or take a cruise on the Yarra River to get a glimpse of the Melbourne skyline and visit the Blue Dandenong National Park. See the Port of Melbourne and the Docklands area, the 19th century sailing ship – Polly Woodside, the Crown Casino Complex, Westgate Bridge and much more. Book now and discover Melbourne on the Yarra River. The temperate climate of this city is yet another reason to book a South Pacific cruise. The greater Melbourne area is home to literally hundreds of golf courses allowing you to enjoy the weather and play a few rounds. Indoor activities are just as popular, the elaborate Crown Casino houses a variety of activities including nightclubs, restaurants and of course gambling, one of Melbourne’s most popular activities.

According to Australia’s Great Train Journeys (trainways.com.au) The Ghan is an odd name for a train but in Australian history it is a living legend. The legend has soared to new heights with the extension of The Ghan journey to Darwin. When The Ghan first departed Adelaide for Alice Springs, it was always intended that it would one day travel through to Darwin. More than 70 years on, that dream has become reality.
Boarding The Ghan in Adelaide or Darwin, experience one of the most fascinating great train journeys of the world. Connections are available on the Indian Pacific and The Overland for guests travelling to or from Sydney and Melbourne. Enjoy 2 nights aboard this great train in either direction. Marvel at the spectacular Australian landscapes from fertile countryside surrounding Adelaide to the rusty hues of the Red Centre, onto the tropical splendour of the Top End. The Ghan is the ultimate journey through the heart of the continent.

Coober Pedy has evolved in to one of the most unique places in Australia and perhaps the world. It is a cosmopolitan town with a population of 3,500 and over 45 different nationalities. The relaxed and friendly lifestyle of the town has made it a breeding ground for cultural tolerance, diversity and acceptance.

Coober Pedy is probably best known for its unique style of underground living. There is a range of underground accommodation (as well as above ground if you prefer). There are authentic underground homes to explore as well as underground museums, potteries, opal shops, an art gallery and, of course, opal mines.

The harsh summer temperatures and the dominant industry mean that most residents live in caves bored into the hillsides and work underground in mine shafts. A standard three bedroom cave home with lounge, kitchen, and bathroom can be drilled out of the rock in the hillside for a similar price to a house on the surface. It remains at a constant temperature, whereas surface living needs air-conditioning, especially during the summer months, when the temperature often exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The relative humidity rarely gets over 20% on these hot days, and the skies are usually cloud-free. The average maximum temperature is 30-32 degrees Celsius, but it can get quite cool in the winter.

The first tree ever seen in the town was welded together from scrap iron. It still sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. The local golf course – mostly played at night with glowing balls, to avoid daytime temperatures – is completely free of grass and golfers take a small piece of “turf” around to use for teeing off.

Crocodile Harry
The highlights include a visit to the underground house of a man calling himself Crocodile Harry. This wonderful old lecher (his walls are festooned with the addresses of girls who he claims to have seduced) declares himself to be Arvid Von Blumentals, a Latvian Baron who was forced to leave his country after World War II. He claims to have worked as a crocodile hunter in Northern Australia before coming to Coober Pedy to fossick for opals in about 1975. Although his story seems implausible – a good piece of bush mythology – it is interesting to note that Roger Jose, the Hermit of Borroloola, who lived in a damaged 1000 gallon tank at Borroloola on the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory until his death in 1963, reportedly sold his unusual accommodation to a crocodile hunter named Harry Blumental. Are these two one and the same person? And are all of Harry’s larger than life stories true?

Crocodile Harry’s underground house featured in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and before they left the crew created a singing sculpture out of metallic trash which they called ‘The Orchestra’. It rattles in the breeze.

Coober Pedy Underground Catacomb Anglican Church
At the eastern end of Coober Pedy is the town’s famous Underground Catacomb Anglican Church which is a unique expression of the materials and activities of the local area. The altar is made like a winch and both the crucifix and the lectern are made out of mulga wood. Behind the altar are two air vents.

The Big Winch and the Oldtimers Mine
Nearby are the town’s two overt tourist attractions. The Big Winch (a good quality gift shop) and the Oldtimers Mine which shows underground mining and some of the old equipment which was used. It also has an opal reef on display. When the door was being cut they came across a seam of opals in the wall.

The Underground Pottery
The Underground Pottery is another popular tourist shop. It has some superb photographs of the area for sale. But don’t be fooled. The pottery may be locally made but the clay comes from Melbourne.

Coober Pedy Golf Course
No visit to Coober Pedy would be complete without seeing the local Golf Course where there is not a blade of grass on the fairways and the greens are oiled sand.

There is an excellent book on the town by Kerry E Medway titled Coober Pedy: Opal Wonderland of Australia which covers both the modern town and the history of the place from the first discovery of opal.

View in Google Earth – Coober Pedy is truly the Opal Capitol of the World

Uluru

CLIMATE
Summer 21-36 (celsius)
Autumn 13-28
Winter 4-20
Spring 15-31

AIR
Fly from any capital city and land at either Alice Springs or Ayers Rock.
Flight from Alice Springs to Uluru takes approximately 40 mins.

RAIL
Catch a train from Sydney, Melbourne or Perth and connect with “The Ghan” from Adelaide, to Alice Springs.
From Queensland, catch “The Inlander” from Townsville to Mt Isa, then coach or fly.

ROAD
Three main highways, fully sealed roads, the Stuart from Adelaide to Darwin; The Barkly from Townsville through to Mt Isa; from Perth join the Victoria Highway at Kununurra.

DISTANCE AND TRAVELLING TIME

Sydney 2954 km
Melbourne 2278 km
Brisbane 3509 km
Perth 3628 km
Adelaide 1544 km