AUS 7-9 19/1/10 14:51 Page 50
knowledge australasia
ttglive.com
Beach is a good option and there are boat
trips out to the islands from the adjacent
pier. Try the zippy Ocean Rafting for
snorkelling and lunch on the dazzling
Whitehaven Beach, or the relaxing pace of
the 100-year-old sailing ship, Solway Lass.
The dry season for most of the region starts
in May and the airfares are at their cheapest
in May and June… say no more.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
Mike Tattersall, owner/manager,
Epsom Worldchoice
Western Australia is the largest, driest,
sunniest state in Australia. It has numerous
o
urism
interesting and fascinating places to visit,
but the distances between them must not be ealand T
underestimated, and itineraries need to be New Z
planned carefully. At Franz Josef, experienced glacier guides can introduce visitors to the delicate art of ice climbing
For the first-time visitor, the lovely city of
Perth is an obvious choice, with the pictur- NEW ZEALAND. Crossing the Southern Alps to the west
esque Swan river meandering by. A day in Ken Garrity, director, Carlton Travel coast, make a visit to the Franz Josef Glacier.
the beautiful 1,000-acre Kings Park is an Starting your tour in Christchurch in South Picton is the main link between South
absolute must, with two-thirds left in its Island, the central Crowne Plaza Hotel is a and North Islands. The ferry crossing to
natural bushland state. The park has lots of good place to stay. Christchurch is a walking Wellington takes just over three hours.
wildlife and amazing botanical gardens. city on the river Avon, so you don’t need to Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city,
A good day out would be to join Captain pick up a car until you’re ready to leave. and Te Papa museum is a must-do here.
Cook Cruises on a trip down the Swan river An easy 45-mile drive from Christchurch Take the wine route to Napier via Martin-
to the charming old colonial port of Free- is Akaroa. This is the only place the French borough. Napier was rocked by an earthquake
mantle and return by coach or train. landed in New Zealand so the road signs are in the 1930s and rebuilt in an art deco style.
First-timers should take a circular tour for in French. Near Christchurch airport is the Next stop is geothermal hotspot Rotorua.
a few days, either by car, or with Pinnacle Antarctic Centre, a jumping-off point for One of its biggest attractions is its geother-
Tours, to Albany, in the south-west, taking explorations to the Antarctic. mal pools and the geysers. The Agrodome
in the Margaret river for wine-tasting, the Drive across the Canterbury Plain to has daily sheep shows.
famous Wave Rock and the eerie Valley of Mount Cook. Stay at the Hermitage Hotel Driving to Auckland via Waitomo, visitors
the Giants Treetop Walk. and take a helicopter flight over the peak, can visit the glow worm caves.
Another good few days out would be to the highest point on South Island. It has to From Auckland, cruise around the beauti-
travel north to feed the dolphins at Monkey be done! ful Bay of Islands and relax on the beaches
Mia visiting the renowned moon-like Queenstown is where much of The Lord of Coromandel Peninsula, often referred to
landscape of Pinnacles Desert on the way. of the Rings was filmed and great for soft as the Cornwall of New Zealand.
For second-timers, suggest a trip further adventure including bungee jumps and jet Finish up with a couple of nights in
north to Exmouth to swim with the whale boat rides on the Shotover river. Auckland. Stay in the Sebel Suites near the
sharks at Ningaloo Reef, and stay at the I definitely recommend a day trip to harbour and test your nerve one last time
Sal Salis Safari Camp, or the Aboriginal- Milford Sound, the scenery is superb. Alter- with Sky Jump. This is a controlled fall from
managed Karijini national park. Both feature natively why not take a four-day guided the southern hemisphere’s tallest structure,
luxury eco-tent accommodation. walk from Te Anau to Milford Sound. the Auckland Sky Tower.
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