While Cairns is the northern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Coast and Bundaberg are considered to be the southern gateway, and are worthy of a visit in their own right. This pristine, nature-filled area is a wonderful getaway and a great way to explore the natural wonders of reef life, including the large numbers of turtles who arrive at Mon Repos every year to nest and hatch their eggs.
Australia luxury travel is what awaits visitors to Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay island in the Great Barrier Reef. The island is home to many species of wildlife, including a large Manta Ray population. Because of the fragile nature of the ecosystem, the only accommodation is a world-class eco-resort that offers visitors several beaches, restaurants, and activities include reef walking, tours of the reef, diving, and stargazing.
For a more affordable Australian vacation that includes intimately experiencing the Great Barrier Reef, try visiting Lady Musgrove Island. Visitors can take boat cruises in order to explore the island for the day, or spend a few nights camping on the beach. Only fifty campers are allowed at a time, and campers must bring all equipment, including fresh water, with them. Since the island is a very sensitive ecosystem, all precautions must be taken to ensure a light footprint. However, this can be an affordable way to truly explore the wonders of the reef on your own terms.
Bundaberg is the main city in the area, and offers visitors a wide range of activities besides cruises out to the Great Barrier Reef. Local attractions include the Alexandra Park and Zoo, the Fairymead House Sugar Museum, and of course, no visit would be complete without a trip to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery and a taste of their world-famous liquor. There are also several local parks and gardens, and only a few miles from town is the Sloping Hummock, a dormant volcano that offers beautiful nighttime views of the area.
If you are looking to relive the old west, but with a twist, a visit to Queensland’s Western Downs should definitely be on your Australian vacation itinerary. Located in southwestern Queensland, about 140 kilometers from Brisbane, the region is dominated by rolling hills of farmland where you can expect to see wide fields of crops such as cotton and wheat, wineries, and ranches raising cows, pigs, or sheep. It is rural Australia at its best, and can offer visitors a very affordable vacation package.
The area is easily explored by following a few of the major highways that run through the region, particularly the Warrego Highway from Brisbane, the Leichhardt Highway and the Great Inland Way. This network of highways will take you through the major towns, national parks, and historic places in the Western Downs. Highlights of the Great Inland Way include Roma, the town where oil and gas was first discovered in Australia, Hebel, where Ned Kelly and his band of bushrangers hid out from the law, and the Nindigully Pub, one of Australia’s oldest pubs. The Warrego Highway takes travelers across the Darling Downs towards Charleville, a bustling Outback town, and is one of the oldest highways in Australia. If learning more about Australia’s first pilgrims interests you, you’ll find the Leichhardt Highway a great option with its many historical villages and country towns. Highlights in the area include the Carnarvon Gorge National Park, the town of Chinchilla, which is the melon capital of Australia, and the Miles Historical Village in the Murilla Shire. St. George is home to the Nindigully Pub, and is also a place to view uniquely carved emu eggs.
Visitors will find that accommodations are varied throughout the region and include motels, farm stays, and even country pubs! Roma is considered the service centre of the region, and makes a great place to stay while exploring the Western Downs.
Since Australia’s predominant language is English, you might think it unnecessary to brush up on any languages before heading off on your Australian vacation. However, you might want to have a handle on some common Australian slang. We’ve all heard “put the meat on the barbie” however there are many words and expressions that will go right over visitors’ heads and might even come across as downright scary!
The general term “tucker” refers to all food, and “bush tucker” refers to eating foods that are native to Australia, including plants, herbs, birds, and animals. If your waiter asks if you’d like some bugs don’t fear, he’s just offering you some tasty shellfish. Likewise, don’t be alarmed if someone refers to your tomato sauce as dead horse. Damper is traditional Australian bread. A snag refers to sausage, chook to chicken while smoko is the morning or afternoon tea.
If you’re having a session then you are drinking at the local pub, and restaurants that are BYO usually mean that you can bring your own alcohol, or grog. A slab is a carton of beer while a stubby is an individual bottle, and beware if someone wants you to shout because you’ll be buying the house a round of drinks!
If someone suggests you are having a whinge then you are whining too much, however someone who is dinkum is considered honest and sincere. Calling someone a ratbag is just a friendly swipe, however calling someone a yobbo means they are loud and obnoxious. A galah is an Australian parrot, and anyone compared to this bird is considered to be an idiot. If you are “mad as a cut snake” then you’re very angry.
Australians refer to their flip-flops, not their underwear, as thongs. Mexicans are those who live below the Queensland border, and banana benders are Queenslanders. A cocky is a farmer, a digger a soldier or war veteran, and an ankle-biter is a small child.
