What to see Down Under - the wonderful land of OZ

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Australia as a country, and indeed as a continent, has a lot to offer a tourist. The sheer diversity of the country makes it one of the best places to visit, as there will be something which suits everyone. As Australia is so large, it lies in various different climate zones, which makes it a fantastic destination weather-wise. If it is rain season in the north, the chances are that the weather will be beautiful further south. All you need to do is to decide on the time of year to visit, pick an area or town and start exploring one of the world’s greatest countries. If you are looking for adventure, history, nature and sheer experience, these 5 places are not to be missed:

1. Uluru / Ayers rock: go on an amazing road trip through to Australia’s red centre and visit the Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. This World Heritage site is a sacred place to the local Aboriginal people. Uluru, or Ayers rock as it is sometimes referred as, is the most famous of all the sights at this national park. It is a large sandstone rock formation, which appears to change colour as different light strikes during different times of the day. The Uluru is particularly beautiful at sunset and many tourists sit on their cars and watch the extraordinary transformation when day becomes night. There are plenty of small, informative walks to take and you will learn about the Aborigines and their dreamtime. Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas as they are often called, is another rock formation, 25 km west of Ularu. Not as famous but nevertheless a place to visit. The nearest town, Alice Springs 450 km north-east of Ularu, is a desert town not to be missed.

2. Tasmania: an often forgotten destination, but one of the most beautiful and serene places in the world. Take a ferry or a quick flight over to this island and prepare for a treat. Join in the fun in Port Arthur with the nightly ghost tours, go hiking around amazing Wineglass Bay or visit Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This is a place to enjoy the nature and all that it has to offer. Head up to the north-eastern corner to watch penguins come out of the water for the night, look for platypuses or take a boat trip to the remote national parks. Perhaps you will be the one to see the Tassie devil.

3. Sydney: although not the capital of Australia, the city is the most popular destination of the country and the heart of Australia. There is plenty to do and see here and fantastic places are only a day-trip away. Stroll around the harbor and soak up the atmosphere or perhaps take a ferry cruise. If you feel adventurous, you can climb the beautiful Sydney Harbour Bridge. The famous Opera house is a major tourist attraction as is the Taronga Zoo. If the sun is shining, head out to popular Bondi Beach or take a day-trip to the Blue Mountains. In Sydney you will not be short of things to do.

4. Perth: Western Australia is very different to the rest of the country and the same can be said for Perth, as this little gem is nothing like the towns on the east coast. Perth has developed its own charm and it is very pleasant to stroll around this peaceful and laid-back main town on the west coast. Once you are in this part of the country, go down to Freemantle or take a day-trip out to Rottnest island. A little further afield, but well worth a stop-over, is famous Monkey Mia where you get up close and personal to a few dolphins. There are plenty of places where you can go whale watching, snorkeling or swimming with the manta rays. Perth makes for the ideal base and if you are planning on heading back over to the east coast, why not take the train? It is a real adventure where you go through the desert and stop over at one of the deserted towns along the way.

5. Kakadu National Park: the most talked about national park is Australia apart from Uluru, and one of the most interesting places to visit. To make the most of the park, go on a guided 3 or 4 day trip. Start by visiting the informative Bowali Visitor Centre and then stroll the Nourlangie Rock Art Site Walk. Here you will see ancient aboriginal rock paintings in its original environment. One of the things Kakadu is famous for is the alligators and crocodiles that live there, and you can go on alligator river cruises if you want to see them up close. Depending on the season, you also want to head over to see the Twin falls and the Jim Jim fall. These famous waterfalls only open after extensive crocodile searches are access depend on the level of rain during the rainy season.

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The most beautiful cities in the world

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It is often said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and this is true for many things. Each city have its own charm and uniqueness, giving the city its identity. To me, the below 5 cities are the most beautiful in the world, both in individuality, charm, atmosphere and beauty.

1. Sydney: the Australian metropolis has plenty of charm and character. Neatly situated in the south-eastern corner of the country in New South Wales, the Harbour City oozes atmosphere. With over 4 million residents, the city is thriving. When you arrive in Sydney, you will be greeted by one of the world’s most amazing skylines. The famous Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge will stand out from the skyscrapers, and the contrast between all the buildings is something else. Sydney is a lovely place to walk around in, make the most of it. Stroll around the harbour district and go exploring in the smaller cobbled-stoned streets in the area.

2. Prague: not many people go to the Czech Republic’s capital and come back disappointed. It is a stunning city, situated by the river Vltava. Often called the city of a hundred spires, its extensive historic centre is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. There is no lack of atmosphere in the city centre, and all the sites are close enough to enjoy on foot. The most popular attraction in Prague is its castle. The Prague Castle stands above the historic town on a hill, and just so happens to be the largest ancient castle in the world. In the courtyard stands St. Vitus Cathedral, the most amazing building with a fantastic painted glass window. Back down in the historic district, you will find the Old Town. In the Old Town square, the Church of Our Lady of Týn and the Town Hall are not to be missed. The Jewish quarters will give you a fascinating account of the history of the Jews in Prague and you will be able to visit numerous stunning synagogues.

3. Paris: the City of Lights, or love as many romantics prefer to call the capital of France, is an amazing place. Situated by the river Seine, Paris has an endless list of attractions for every visitor. The picture perfect white fairytale-like Sacre Coeur Basilica dominates the area of Montmartre, and from here you will get breathtaking views of the city. The iconic Eiffel tour gives the skyline an edge, and the pretty cathedral of Notre Dame will impress even the harshest critic. Take a walk along the Champs-Élysées or stroll along the river Seine. Paris also makes for an ideal place to have a picnic. There are plenty of green areas, gardens and parks to sit down and soak up the French ambiance.

4. San Francisco: although not at strikingly pretty as the European cities, San Francisco has its own charm. The historic trams that crosses the city gives San Francisco uniqueness and are a popular past-time for tourists. The Bay area is beautiful, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge really glimmers and glistens in the sun. The skyline of San Francisco is one of the most beautiful in the world, and a great way to get a good look is to take a river cruise or go out to Alcatraz on an evening tour. There are impressive buildings in the city but none as stunning as the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square. Well worth a trip, even if it is just for a photo.

5. Helsingborg: the Swedish costal town, often referred to as “the Pearl of the Sound”, is a vibrant city in the very south of the country. It is seen as the gateway to the continent, and frequent ferry services runs between Helsingborg and Denmark. The two countries, although divided by the Sound, are close enough to be seen from one country to another. Helsingborg has a lot to offer with great beaches, lovely small cafés and restaurants along the seafront, interesting museums and parks. Towering over the city centre is the impressive Kärnan, a medieval 13^th century tower built by the Danes to protect the entrance to the Baltic Sea when they controlled this part of Sweden. From here you will get a lovely view of both Helsingborg and Denmark.

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Stuck in Stansted Airport - what to do?

Are you going to be stuck in Stansted Airport for most of the day? Is the connection times extremely bad? Well, don’t panic. There are plenty of things to do around Stansted airport. The fact that the airport itself lack most things that you expect from a major hub in a big city should not deter you from making the trip. If you don’t mind paying a few quid for the adventure of leaving the airport, the following are good options.

Tip 1: if you only have a few hours and don’t dare to venture out too far, walk to the SAS Radisson hotel and enjoy their buffet breakfast. The hotel itself is adjacent to the airport but you will still feel like you left the place. At least for an hour or two.

Tip 2 : if you have between 4-7 hours and really feel like you want to get away from the airport nonstop, then take a trip to Stansted Mountfichet. It is a small village only 2 miles from the airport. You can take either the train or the buss, do check for times before leaving as both runs no more than once per hour. It won’t take long before you reach the village and you are away from the airport. Stansted Mountfichet has an excellent museum, in fact it is like 3 museums in one. There is the House on the Hill Toy museum, which is the largest privately-owned toy museum in Europe. Let the toys take you back to your childhood and if you have children, they will love it. Before you enter the toy museum, there is a dinosaur encounter with a few famous dinosaurs . Then there is the Norman village and castle. All built up to show a what a Norman village would look like and with very informative talks and displays at each house or building. There are chickens, hens, deer and goats walking around the place which makes a nice little zoo for children. They have an excellent shop with fabulous goodies to eat for lunch.

Tip 3: if you have more or less the full day, why not make it into London? Stansted Airport are serviced by express trains that leaves every 15 minutes for London, and the journey takes about 45 minutes. If you aren’t in a rush and want to save some money, there is also the option of going by bus. The journey would take a minimum of 90 minutes, and depend on traffic. Once in London, you will probably have enough time to see a sight or two.

Tip 4: if an expensive journey in to London isn’t to you taste, why not go north to Cambridge instead? It is a picturesque university town, with a lot of sights. It is a smaller place, and so you will probably feel that you got more out of your day. Trains leaves for Cambridge frequently and takes less than 1 hour.

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