Noosa Sanctuary Hotel  is located two minutes from iconic Hastings Street, on a waterfront site overlooking Noosa Sound and a protected conservation sanctuary. It is 25 kilometres from the Maroochydore Airport. Some of the attractions in its vicinity are Underwater World, Australia Zoo, The Big Pineapple, Fraser Island.  A popular Queensland holiday spot, Noosa’s Botanic Gardens and National Park make it a popular haunt for eco-tourists.

 This magnificent resort offers luxurious accommodation in Noosa with the choice of 78, studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully appointed apartments. The ultra-modern, spacious apartments come with full kitchen and laundry facilities, air conditioning and flat-screen satellite TV.

 Services: Room Service – Meeting/Banquet Facilities – Airport Shuttle – Business Centre – Babysitting/Child Services – Laundry – Dry Cleaning – Breakfast in the Room – Tour Desk – Fax/Photocopying.

 Facilities: Lagoon swimming pools and kids pool, Day Spa, Gymnasium, Tennis centre, Retail boutique, Car parking.

 Quay West Resort is also the perfect venue for all occasions including conference meetings, incentive groups, special events and celebrations.

The Old Leura Dairy is a mixture of beautifully-restored buildings that has been located into one of Australia’s most eclectic retreats. The structures were once a working dairy farm, however today have the scent of new lease of life. What was once a modest 1920s weatherboard building is now the Workers Cottage, a three-bedroom home with peculiar Australian styles, such as walls made from fence palings and furniture fashioned from old lining boards. A recent addition is the eco-friendly, solar-powered Straw Bale House, with its thick walls packed with straw to provide insulation throughout winter months. Photo by: antomic

Paddock grass has been transformed into an extensive native green, and drought-resistant shrubs have been planted throughout to stabilize the soil and attract native birds. The houses are perfect for short vacations. The surrounding nature offers a wide range of activities such as walks, picnics, and biking. Location: Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Photo by: jessmcpeake

For owners Irena and Jeremy Hutchings, the vision to bring sustainable safari-style camping to Australia started in Africa. On their return, they happened upon pristine Jervis Bay and set up camp in a protected bush wetland. The rest, as they say, is history.

With twelve tents floating on timber platforms underneath a canopy of spotted gums and peeling paperbark trees, Paperbark Camp is the perfect foil for those who like roughing it, without actually roughing it. Wafts of eucalyptus and pine tickle your senses at every turn, and eco-tourism is taken very seriously.

Paperbark is near one of the world’s best beaches (Hyams), and you can rent a canoe for paddling along Currambene Creek, or a bicycle for forays into the eucalyptus forest, woodland, or nearby town of Jervis Bay. Locals come from miles around for gourmet treetop dining at the Gunyah Restaurant. Aboriginal for ”meeting place”, the Gunyah doubles as the camp’s nerve center – a place to chill with a book by day and chat by the fire at night.

The eclectic menu might include kangaroo kebabs with lemon and myrtle yogurt, salmon baked in paperbark, and kaffir lime and ginger sorbet with lychees and rum. Pesky possums have been known to poke their noses into unzipped tents and, come morning, you will wale to a dawn chorus that is second to none. Location: Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Photos by: great outdoors direct

Cradle Mountain Lodge offers an alpine spa retreat with luxurious green life. It is certainly no effort to be on the Australian island state of Tasmania, circled by misty, mirror lakes and craggy peaks. Some of the cozy cabins have a hot tub out on the deck and wood-burning fire in the lounge to keep evening mountain chills at bay. If you can to pull yourself away from the views, there is even more scenery on offer from the Waldheim spa. Treatments room have floor-to-ceiling windows to let the outside in, and an open hot-tube area with panoramic views of the forest. Photo by: jeaneeem

The gourmet menu features best green credentials of local produce, and helpful staff offer their help. A delight for food and wine lovers is the annual three-day gourmet which is a showcase for boutique winemakers, growers and handmade cheese makers. The site also attracts hikers. Take a picnic and follow self-guided walking trails to find a peaceful spot to enjoy the solitude of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. Go canoeing on the lake or rent mountain bikes to get off the beaten track. Local guides offer tours to get a closer look at native animals such as wallabies, possums, and may be even a Tasmanian Devil. Or look out over the forest to spot them while enjoying a relaxing massage in the spa. Photo by: gga

Photo by: ChrisOos

Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, an oasis of 30 hectares in the heart of the city. The Botanic Gardens are situated overlooking Farm Cove, directly east of the Sydney Opera House , Circular Quay and Macquarie Street. It is home to an outstanding collection of plants from Australia and overseas. Do not miss a romantic stroll in the gardens!

The 30 hectares of gardens are home to over a million specimens, some of which were planted by the newly arrived European colonists almost 200 years ago. It is also the most spectacularly sited, occupying more than 27 hectares (66 acres) along the shores of Sydney Harbour. The garden has about 5,000 kinds of plants under cultivation. This is a great place to see beautiful gardens and some wildlife such as birds and bats. The flowers, plants, fountains, and lake were beautiful also. There are various areas including several speciality gardens (such as rose, herb, rare plant and succulent gardens), The Herbarium, Fernery and Tropical Centre.

The Royal Botanical Gardens were established in 1816 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, but the land’s history dates back to 1788.  The gardens were expanded in 1830 with the construction of a sea wall and in 1831 they were opened to the public.It is one of the world’s finest collections of palm trees, with more than 140 different species, including the cabbage tree palm.

Koala Park Sanctuary is located in West Pennant Hills, which is about 30 minutes drive from Sydney central business district. The park has several varieties of Australian wildlife, and visitors are allowed to pet koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats. In all, around 55 koalas roam within the park’s leafy boundaries (it’s set in 4 hectares/10 acres of rainforest).

This park was opened in October 1930 by the founder Noel Burnet and is still run by his family.

The reality is that they pee on themselves, their fur is wiry like a scouring pad, and they are almost always doped up on eucalyptus leaves. While it used to be known as a Koala Bear , the Koala is not a bear at all.And yes, it does look like a fat gray teddy-bear.

The kangaroos are hopping freely too and anyone can feed them. Picnic areas available, kiosk, souvenirs shop. Open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

The Blue Mountains in Australia are almost beg to be visited. The blue haze that is visible as you look out over the valley is created by the ninety-one species of eucalyptus that thrive in this UNESCO World Heritage site. The area covers more than 10,000 sq km and includes seven national parks. They are so vast and it is very easy for urbanites to escape into nature. Photo by: Nelson~Blue

The diversity of the region, taking in as it does ancient rain forest, heath land, dramatic canyons, and tall forests, make it a natural paradise. Adrenalin enthusiasts will be thrilled to go exploring in the huge cave system, rock climbing, rapelling, mountain biking and more. Those who prefer more sedate experience can choose from one of the 140 km of scenic walking treks. The less intrepid may prefer to view one of the Australia’s most impressive waterfalls at Kanangra Falls. Photo by: Tr1xx

The Wollemi Pine, the world’s oldest tree and a true living fossil, flourished here undetected until it was discovered in 1994. As well as being rich in flora, the area is also home to hundreds of species of endangered animals, including long-nosed pototoos and of course koalas. The Blue Mountains offer visitors an escape into nature that is also easily accessible. Photo by: bodean2024

Photo by: jo-jo-jo

The World Heritage Purnululu National Park is situated between the Western Australian towns of Kununurra and Halls Creek. The park comprises a 593,000 acre of beehive-shaped karst mountains that rear up to 300 m. The flat land that is home to these eroded sandstone is located at another 300 m above the sea level. The rugged territory become a national park in 1987. Photo by: Bas Schonenberg

Basic accommodation is provided by two camp site in this park. These are Kurrajong Campground, 4 miles north of the visitor center, and Walardi Campground 7 miles to its south. The park has a number of astonishing formations including the Echidna Chasm, Piccaninny, Frog Hole, and Cathedral Gorges. The park is still a large unknown destination in Australia, ensuring perfect break from the busy lifestyle each of us has. Photo by: oneillci

Location: Western Australia. Getting there: With four wheel drive vehicle or a flight in by helicopter or small plane. Travel to Kununurra, approximately 3,200 kilometer drive north of Perth (or a 4.5 hours flight). Access to the park by road is via Spring Creek Track, from the Great Northern Highway approximately 250 kilometres south of Kununurra, to the track’s end at the Purnululu National Park Visitor Centre. Photo by: Calidris!

In this project for a new house in Hawthorn, Australia, a sphere has been buried and eroded at either end and internally. This allowed all spaces to be dispersed or arched over and around the main ground floor living space, which was detailed as a negative or subtracted form, external as if also part of the garden. This space, like the exterior, is rendered in rich and expressive materials.

This is a home designed to accommodate at the various stages of its life. The design concept is to take a perfect shape, the copper sphere, and to remove parts. By selectively removing parts of the sphere, there is the sense internally of being in and surrounded by garden. The spherical shell also provides beautiful internal spaces on the first floor.

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.

The Barron Falls are located in the Barron Gorge National Park in Queensland, Australia. The Falls are some 900 feet wide and 825 feet high. Before getting to Kuranda the train stops so you can get off and view the Barron Falls. The once mighty flow is today diverted for hydroelectricity, so now the full Falls are only seen in flow during the extreme wet season.

The Barron’s headwaters start in the Crater National Park near Mt Hypipamee at an altitude of 1200m. Flowing north 65 km across the Atherton Tablelands, after passing under the Kuranda Range highway’s bridge down the 260 metre high Barron Falls and reaches the Cairns floodplains. The walk is well maintained, accessible to all, and is a wonderful way to view these huge falls.

The actual height of the falls is now ascertained to be about 600 feet, or four hundred and thirty-six feet higher than Niagara. From the edge of the precipice, the river falls 900 feet in half a mile. In order to see the falls in full spate (which is a very impressive sight), one would have to go during wet season.

Although many animals are nocturnal, in the morning bird activity is intense, Musky Rat Kangaroos and Cassowary stalk the forest paths. And gorgeous blue-winged butterflies emerged from the crevices of the rocks. You can take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which also has a stop at the falls.

‘Macca‘ rests at the ends of the earth. The remote wilderness is tucked away in the southeast corner of the Pacific, halfway between Australia and Antractida. A tiny fragment of land, it is of huge significance on a world scale, yet was only discovered by accident by Frederick Hasselbrorough in 1810 while he was looking around for new sealing grounds. Photo by: ailsa45

Under Tasmania’s wing, the only human inhabitants on this extraordinary wildlife sanctuary are from the Australian Antarctic Division, based on the north of the island. Over the centuries scientist have been endlessly drawn to this unsung wonder of the natural world. Each spring, around 3.5 million seabirds, mostly penguins, and 80,000 elephant seals pull themselves up on to the rocky shoreline to breed. There are pinguins galore – rockhoppers, kings, royals and gentooes. Rabbits are a less welcome sight and are literally eating away at this World Heritage Site. Photo by: cmg099

You have to work extremely hard to get to this island, but the rewards for true lovers of wildlife and wilderness are unparalleled. It’s cold inhospitable place at the best of times, but you don’t go there for the weather. Photo by: ailsa45

When to go: In the breeding season – over the summer months and early autumn. Even then the weather can be challenging. Population: Uninhabited ( expect 20 – 40 members of the Australian Antarctic Division who are based here every year). How to get there: Very unlimited access. Most visitors spending up to two days on the island and tourist boats. Photo by: esjohnson

Just one kilometre long and 500 metres wide, Daydream is always popular with its easy access from Hamilton Island. The resort is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The low rise resort buildings, pools, restaurants and sporting facilities blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the island’s waterfalls, secluded beaches, lagoons, rainforest and  gardens.

Of its three beaches one is fringed by outcrops of coral and colorful fishlife.

It has a unique outdoor aquarium, with exotic sea life from the barrier reef. The aquarium has about 80 different types of sea life.

You’ll be able to snorkel directly off the beach to the fringing reef or go sea kayaking, water skiing or even windsurfing. Budding golfer’s can practise their putting skills on the 19-hole themed mini golf course.

You can fly direct to nearby Hamilton Island from most Australian cities and transfer to Daydream by launch. Or, fly to Proserpine on the coast, travel by coach to Shute Harbour, and then by launch. Helijet or seaplane also available.

Just a few minutes walk from Ebor are the Ebor falls. Situated in the Guy Fawkes River National Park some 40km east of Dorrigo. 45 minutes east of Armidale on the Waterfall Way and 1.5 hours west from the coast high on the New England, Australia.

Ebor Falls is where the Guy Fawkes River takes a spectacular plunge over basalt rock.

The Ebor falls are falling 115 metres over columned basalt rock in two falls, the upper and lower Ebor falls, into a steep forested gorge below.

Although not very high, the two part fall presents the visitor with some great views and some interesting walks. Walking tracks lead through Antartic Beech forests below the escarpment of this ancient, extinct volcano.

The largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Located on Whitsunday Island is the magnificent Whitehaven Beach – 7 kilometres of dazzling, pure white silica sand. 99% pure silica sand, You can melt it down and get pure glass.

At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet, a stunning inlet where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a beautiful fusion of colours. Access is only by boat with most vessels choosing to anchor in Tongue bay and enjoying the pretty bush walk up the northern face of Whitsunday Island.

Cruise Whitsundays have created several different cruises, all featuring Whitehaven, island visits and the corals and fish life of the ‘inner reef.

Part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the reefs contain an outstanding variety of corals. If you are lucky you may spot turtles, baby sharks, sea eagles and spotted stingrays..

Enjoy swimming, snorkelling, beautiful beaches and bays.