 Australasia
- Australia/New Zealand/Fiji Australia is the earth's largest island and its smallest continent. The mainland comprises 5 states and 2 territories. The sixth state, Tasmania, is 200 kilometres south of Victoria and separated from the mainland by Bass Strait. Eighty-five percent of Australians live in cities and towns, mostly along the fertile east coast. Every year visitors flock to the Sunshine and Gold Coasts near Brisbane and to the Great Barrier Reef. Australia has one of the world’s highest living standards, and natural resources are plentiful. Australians call their land the “lucky country.” Australia
- Port City - Adelaide Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and the state capital of Queensland. Not so long ago, the rest of Australia considered it little more than an overgrown country town, but it has shirked off this unwelcome reputation to become one of the country's most progressive centres. Brisbane has plenty of backpackers' hostels and there are also quite a few well-priced hotels, motels and self-contained apartments within a few blocks of the city centre. Most of the action, however, happens in the inner suburbs. Brisbane's restaurant and cafe scene has blossomed in recent years and you'll find there's no shortage of good eateries. Australia - Port City - Cairns When you arrive in Cairns you’ll be enthralled by this colorful paradise with its radiant blue skies, long white beaches, and exuberant green vegetation. Explore the Great Barrier Reef, teeming with colorful tropical fish and exotic marine life. Great Barrier Reef - One of Australia's greatest assets is the magnificent reef which runs along virtually the entire coast of Queensland. Considered one of the world's natural wonders, it is the most extensive reef system and the biggest structure made by living organisms on earth. In the north, the reef is virtually continuous and is located only 50km (30mi) from the shore. In the south, individual reefs are more common, and in some places up to 300km (190mi) offshore. Hundreds of islands dot the reef area. The Coach House Restaurant Palm Cove Tropical North Queensland, Australia. International Cuisine complimented by Native Australian Ingredients presented with a new twist. Nestled away at the beautiful beachside of Palm Cove, is The Coach House, a quaint restaurant which offers a combination of unique European service in a lively tropical atmosphere. Australia - Port City - Canberra Many Australians knock Canberra for being a city without soul, but anyone who's bothered to spend a bit of time here is bound to have a soft spot for the place. Carefully planned, Canberra's suburbs are separated by swathes of native bushland, while its main tourist attractions - the National Gallery, Parliament House and other inhabitants of the Parliamentary Triangle - are set around a pleasant artificial lake encircled by bike tracks. Australia - Port City - Darwin With its tropical climate and rich ethnic mix, this exotic city offers a relaxed, cosmopolitan lifestyle with wonderful sunsets and colorful masses of flowering vegetation. To watch wallabies when they come out to feed, don’t miss a late afternoon visit to East Point. Afterwards, enjoy the beautiful display of the setting sun across the bay. Darwin has plenty of beaches but you'd be wise to keep out of the water during the wet season because of the deadly box jellyfish. Popular beaches include Mindil and Vestey's. In north Darwin there's a stinger net protecting part of Nightcliff Beach. A stretch of the 7km (4mi) Casuarina Beach further east is officially designated for nudies. Australia - Port City - Hobart Hobart
is Australia's southernmost capital city. The fact that
it is also the smallest (population 127,000) is a key
to its particular charm. A riverside city with a busy
harbour, its mountain backdrop offers fine views over
the compact suburbs below. Its beautiful Georgian buildings
(even the harbourside warehouses are picturesque), relaxed
atmosphere, numerous parks and attractive homes make
Hobart one of the most enjoyable and engaging of Australia's
cities. Australia - Port City - Melbourne Australia's
second city is a place of contradictions and hidden
charms. A leafy, bayside community on the `upside-down',
brown Yarra River, it is cosmopolitan, suburban, cultivated,
football crazy, conservative and a haven for the avant-garde.
Visitors come for its shopping, restaurants, nightlife
and sporting calendar, encouraging many Melburnians
to believe that they live in one of the most civilised
cities in the world. Australia - Port City - Perth For
the best views of this modern city make sure to visit
Kings Park. At the nearby historic port city of Fremantle,
you can relax at one of the outdoor cafés or shop at
the bustling markets. Or enjoy the peaceful beaches
of Rottnest Island, where crystal clear waters wash
up on white sandy beaches. Museum of Western Australia-
The museum, in Northbridge, has an excellent gallery
of Aboriginal culture, a marine gallery with the skeleton
of a 25m (82ft) blue whale, vintage cars, a gallery
of dinosaurs and a good collection of meteorites, including
the 11 ton Mundrabilla specimen. In the courtyard, set
in its own preservative bath, is Megamouth, one of the
largest species of shark. Only about five of these benign
creatures have ever been captured. Australia - Port City - Sydney Walkabout Sydney and enjoy the city sights. You’ll see elegant Victorian-era buildings contrasting with modern architecture. Admire the dramatic design of the opera house, one of the architectural wonders of the world, emulating billowing sails with the harbor as a backdrop. Visit the historical area of The Rocks, with its quaint pubs and stores, and the charming Chinatown. Landmarks also help make Sydney unique. Several sites will probably figure prominently in the background of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, such as the Sydney Opera House. Since its opening in 1973, it's been the site of performances of opera, ballet and theater in four distinct theaters of varying sizes. The adventurous wanting to get a real look at the city might want to ascend to the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - all 1,439 steps of it. Spanning 1,149 meters (3,770 feet) and towering over Sydney's sparkling harbor, the bridge (nicknamed "the coathanger") has been open to climbers for two years through Bridgeclimb, an organized group. The climb, which does not require Olympic-caliber fitness, takes three hours to complete. Many
hard-working Sydney residents hit the beach, especially
Bondi Beach, a favorite spot for surfers and swimmers.
Lifeguards are at Bondi Beach every day of the year.
The Berowra Waters Inn is one
of Australia's most famous restaurant with an international
reputation for fine food, excellent wines and its unique
location overlooking the river bushland. --- Fly with
Sydney Harbour Seaplanes to Berowra and experience a
spectacular flight over Ku-Ring-Gai National Park and
into the Hawkesbury River Valley to set down on the
tranquill waters of Berowra Creek. Red's Australian Restaurant -- A truly Australian dining experience in Sydney 's historic Rocks. The menu promises Australia 's finest juiciest steaks, sumptuous, fresh seafood as well as delicious vegetarian dishes. The best available food and service at reasonable prices. 12 Argyle Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Nestled into a small sub-tropical cove and bordering the white sunburnt sand of Shelly beach, Le Kiosk, is the ideal spot to lounge away a carefree lunch, or to dine watching a lazy red sunset over the nearby pines and boardwalk of Manly Beach just across the bay from Shelly Beach. Dine in the casual quiet atmosphere of our circa 1928 tearoom or closer to the action of the beach in our canopied patio. Le Kiosk Restaurant - 1 Marine Parade, Shelly Beach, Manly, Sydney Australia Award winning KABLE'S restaurant offers one of Sydney's finest dining experiences. at The Regent Sydney 199 George Street, Sydney. 2000 Tel: (02) 9255-0226, Fax: (02) 9251-2851 Roberts at Pepper Tree. The menu, constantly changing to take advantage of fresh local offerings, is complimented by Roberts extensive wine listing, showcasing the best of the Hunter Valley wines, and of course wines from the Pepper Tree Winery. Roberts Restaurant - Halls Road, Pokolbin, N.S.W. Tel: (02) 4998-7330 With access from both the Quay and Macquarie Street, Aqua Luna is located one floor above their Bar with stunning views of the lively & glittering waters of Circular Quay across to the Harbour Bridge. Fiji
- Port City - Suva Picture
yourself paddling in pastel aqua blue waters with miles
of palm fringed beaches extending as far as the eye
can see, colorful tropical fish darting underneath your
kayak as you glide past a "bombie" (coral head) and
brilliantly colored Kula birds darting from swaying
palm to swaying palm. You are
now in the beautiful and friendly isles of Fiji on the
remote and untouched island of Kadavu. This is Fiji's
fourth largest island yet it has maintained its culture
and peace. It is here that you will fall in love with
Fiji's amazing beauty and people.
New Zealand - Port City - Auckland The largest city in New Zealand, Auckland is almost enclosed by water and covered in volcanic hills. Like Sydney, Auckland has a spectacular harbour and bridge (and a fanatical number of yachting enthusiasts) which has earned it the sobriquet `City of Sails'. The Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park offers 1500 square miles of some of the finest cruising in the world, with 76 islands to explore, over 200 sheltered anchorages and miles of beautiful coastline. The Bay of Islands has attracted sailors from around the world for over a century, with its sheltered anchorages and temperate climate. The quaint township of Opua, is just half an hour from the nearest airport, or a scenic three hour drive from Auckland. Opua is close to the maritime facilities and the famous Ferryman's Restaurant. From here, the cruising, snorkelling and fishing are excellent, as is the local cuisine. A diversity of landscape provides an inviting playground for the adventure seeker. Some of the world's finest and freshest cuisine, including an array of seafood delicacies and award-winning wines, are found in the city and environs. Christchurch is a convenient base from which to explore the surrounding rural countryside and the natural attractions and activities of the region. After spending a day in the countryside visitors are able to enjoy international nightlife back in the city. New Zealand - Port City - Christchurch There
is plenty to do when you arrive in Christchurch. Take
in the spectacular view from the gondola situated high
in the Port Hills. Adventurous travelers can try their
hand at paragliding or free-fall parachute jumping.
Explore the International Antarctic Center, home base
for the Antarctic programs from New Zealand, the United
States and Italy. Or visit the quaint port town of Lyttleton.
Known internationally for its
award winning gardens, Christchurch is also a place
for events and festivals. Whatever the season, you'll
find a non-stop programme of entertainment with events
like the Festival of Romance, the International Buskers
Festival, winter carnival, and Showtime Canterbury in
November. New Zealand - Port City - Great Barrier Island This island at the mouth of the Hauraki Gulf has acres of long, white sandy beaches on its eastern shore, deep-water sheltered inlets on its western shore, and a rugged spine of steep ridges running down the centre. The 80,000 hectare reserve has a number of walking tracks that combine old logging trails and tramways. Natural hot springs, towering kauri forests and a serene aura make it a perfect escape. Flights and ferries operate from Auckland, 88km south. New Zealand - Port City - Dunedin This city, with its distinctly Scottish accent, will charm you. Visit its historic homes and the Larnach Castle. Take a leisurely stroll in one of the lovely gardens. Enjoy a train ride through spectacular Taieri Gorge. A natural attraction on the Otago Peninsula is the abundant wildlife, only a 15-20 minute drive from the central business district. Nature and wildlife tour companies run daily excursions to view fur seals, endangered yellow-eyed penguin, cormorants and albatross. New Zealand - Port City - Wellington The capital city of New Zealand, Wellington is situated on a splendid harbour at the southern tip of the North Island. Often maligned by its northern counterparts for its ill-tempered weather - the winds are often of gale-force calibre in winter - Wellington is a lively city of culture and arts (with festivals almost every month), and great ethnic restaurants and cafes. It is also home to the country's government and national treasures. With
around 400 cafes and restaurants, Wellington's inner
city has the highest concentration of eating establishments
in New Zealand, earning it the tag 'café capital of
New Zealand'. Just 45 minutes
by car or rail from Wellington, Kapiti Coast is the
recreational playground for the lower North Island,
with both beaches and mountains readily accessible.
Choose from white water rafting, safe swimming, boating,
hunting and hiking, golfing, horse trekking and bush
walks.
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Welcome
to Vatulele Island Resort in Fiji. The development of
a perfect tropical escape was the vision of Emmy-award
winning Australian television producer Henry Crawford,
and his creative partner, Martin Livingston, a fifth
generation European Fijian. The
result is Vatulele (pronounced ‘Vah-too-lay-lay’),
on one of the southern islands of the Fijian group.
It took two years to find the ideal South Seas location,
and three more to enhance the natural beauty of the
site with man-made luxury where stressed-out guests
could escape the pressures of Western society. In keeping
with the Resort philosophy, there are no TV's, newspapers,
telephones, money transactions or shoes. Vatulele is
generally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding
'bare-foot' resorts in the world . Vatulele Worldwide
Reservation Office 1 Greville Street Clovelly NSW 2031
Australia Sydney telephone 61 (0)2 9665 8700 Fax 61
(0)2 9665 7833 (reservations) 
