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How to make the most of being in Sydney

March 18th, 2010

There are amazing buildings and breathtaking views in the vibrant city of Sydney, Australia. Both new and old cultures are blended in Sydney. Getting here is possible from anywhere at the Sydney International Airport. From there any destination is easily reached either by hiring a car or using a private car service.

If you do hire a car to get you around, make sure you read the rental agreement properly so that you know exactly what you will be liable for if you should have an accident. Most specialist insurance products such as car gap insurance and breakdown insurance will generally be taken care of by the hire car company so you do not need to worry about these things. Always ask for details of who to call if you are unlucky enough to break down, and ensure the cover you are getting is for 24-hour call-outs!

With a properly insured car you can relax and explore this lively and extraordinary city. What follows indicates some of Sydney's main attractions.

Sydney Opera House - The Sydney Opera House is actually more than just an opera house. It have five different performance spaces which include dramatic arts, the opera theatre and concert hall. In addition, the courtyard area is the site for concerts and festivals.

Global recognition for this building is guaranteed almost everywhere. The roof of this modern landmark has over 1 million tiles that are two colours. You can take a guided tour of the Opera house or you can follow the path that winds around the magnificent building.

Bondi Beach - Bondi Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in the country. It is crescent shaped and more than a half mile long. Here the 2000 Olympic Beach Volleyball was held. A cliff-top walk starting from here will take you from the awesome Bondi to Coogee. Enjoy the fascinating Sunday markets and taste the delights of the many restaurants and cafes.

Museum of Contemporary Art - The Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in a stunning Art Deco building. The collection is extensive with over 7,000 pieces and there are four floors of temporary exhibits and one floor that houses the permanent exhibits.

This is the place to see sculptures, post modern art and contemporary Aboriginal art.The permanent collection includes works from Hockney, Warhol and Christo. Each day offers free tours; a cafe is also available.

Sydney Harbour Bridge - The Sydney Harbour Bridge, known to the locals as the Coat Hanger, was the longest single span bridge in the world at the time it was constructed in 1932. The 1,605 foot span carries two train tracks and eight traffic lanes. The story of how the bridge was constructed is revealed in a film showing at the Pylon Lookout Museum. Both pedestrians and cyclists can cross the bridge for free.

Bridgeclimb - The Bridgeclimb is for the adventurous who want to see a panoramic view of Sydney. You get to climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge which is a city landmark. To see the matchless view from the top you will first have to haul yourself up all of 1,337 steps.

In addition you will receive a free group photo of the climb. To do the complete tour and climb you should allow yourself at least three and a half hours. There is an express climb that takes about two hours if you are in a hurry. Either the evening or the day is suitable for the climb. Only people older than ten are permitted to start the climb.

Manly Beach - Manly Beach was Australia's first resort area and offers a carefree relaxed environment. Fine restaurants and a buzzing nightlife make this the place to visit for some fun. There is no shortage of interesting pubs and art galleries here.

The beach is on a peninsula surrounded by the ocean, Sydney Harbour National Park and the Harbour. If you visit Sydney in the first week of June, you can enjoy the Food and Wine Festivals; in October the Manly Jazz Festival is held.

Taronga Zoo - The Taronga Zoo has been open since 1916. This superb zoological garden boasts over 4,000 animals.. From this position the view of Sydney Harbour is breathtaking. Whilst you are here you can have your picture taken with a koala. The delights of the Bird Show and the Seal Show are evidenced by the large crowds they always attract. You can see tropical birds from Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia in the rainforest aviary.

Sydney Tower Centrepoint - The Sydney Tower Centrepoint is the highest observation deck in the southern hemisphere. At 1,000 feet it is the tallest structure in Sydney. The great sweeping view from the Blue Mountains to Wollongong will become visible. It has a 35,000 gallon water tank to fortify the tower from high winds. You also get to see the OzTrek which is a virtual tour of Australia.

There are two revolving restaurants where you can enjoy fine food and a great ever changing view. Each year athletes race against each other to be the first to get to the tower's top.

Sydney will captivate you with its vibrancy, places to visit and nightlife. No-one visiting Australia should miss this.

This short city guide was provided by the UK's leading gap insurance and car warranty specialists – the Click4Group.

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These are the Top 6 Australian states! Hang on a minute…

March 18th, 2010

There is something not quite right with this title, can you spot it. When you look closely at the map, you will see, there are only six states. Looking over all of these states is the best way to decide where you want to go.

  • The first State we can visit is Western Australia, this is by far the largest in size across the whole of Australia. This is one of the fastest growing cities in the whole of Australia, Perth. This is the place for those that like to be educated, and learn something new at it's many museums.
  • To the “Bottom Right” is Victoria. This is by far the most densely populated area across Australia. Melbourne is clearly the main attraction here, and pulls in thousands of tourists each year. This state has some of the most stunning environmental features, namely the Twelve apostles and the national park.
  • Tasmania, a massive island south of Australia. The Tasmanian devil is the creature most famous on this island, and is also the most famous. This is also a great region for environmental aspects with some truly stunning scenery.
  • Well you can all probably guess where abouts in Australia South Australia is. This is also the only state that borders with all of the mainland territories. South Australia has become famous for it’s fine wines and festivals.
  • Next on the list is Queensland, in the north east corner of Australia. This is where colonials brought convicts to work on building towns and getting agriculture started, and aborigines got here over 45,000 years before them. The land here is very dry and not very suitable for anything involving plants. Of course Brisbane the capital has now become a thriving city and has lovely whether all year round. Some people say that this is the prettiest city in the whole of Australia.
  • Finishing up on this list in New South wales. This is at the far east of Australia and is home to the largest and most famous of all the Australian cities, Sydney. There are more than four million people that live in this city, tourism is massive for Sydney!

So now you know all of the Australian States and what is different about each one, all you need to decide is do you want to embark on Australian holidays, Sydney holidays or maybe for you it could be generally New South Wales holidays.

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Amazing Plymouth Vacations

March 18th, 2010

Vacations in Great Britain appear to be incredibly popular this year, due to the current economic climate and the low value of the pound Sterling. England has many top class vacation destinations including London (the English capital) and other interesting cities plus a collection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Weston-super-Mare, Bognor Regis and Torquay. One city often overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.

At first glance Plymouth appears rather plain and fairly modern, but searching a bit deeper and you will soon discover that the city of Plymouth has a fascinating history and a long association with the sea. As long ago as the sixteenth century there has been a port in Plymouth. In fifteen eighty eight Sir Francis Drake embarked from the port at Plymouth to successfully defend the English from the Spanish Armada. Another moment in history occurred in sixteen twenty when the Pilgrim Fathers embarked from the port.

It is possible to have cheap short breaks in Plymouth by making a reservation in bed and breakfast in Plymouth rather than booking a posh hotel. A quick look online will show that it is possible to book a room for a little as twenty nine pounds a night and some places have dinners at a very reasonable cost, commonly equivalent to, or less expensive than local restaurants.

Things To See And Do In Plymouth

There are a great many interesting places worth visiting in Plymouth. Popular tourist attractions include; Merchant's House Museum, the National Marine Aquarium, the Barbican district and the Elizabethan House. A trip on a boat around the naval base is a superb way to spend some time but if you discover that you have more time to spare why not take a day trip to places close by Plymouth, such as; Buckland Abbey, Mount Edgcumbe or Saltram House.

Saltram House is a fine Tudor Mansion which is located 2m from the town, Mount Edgcumbe is another fine example of a Tudor house with parklands, coastal paths and landscaped gardens, and Buckland Abbey, around six miles away from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was once owned by Sir Francis Drake and was later renovated as a family home.

If you and your family are currently thinking about spending a few days in the city of Plymouth it is incredibly important that you book your lodgings at the earliest opportunity because, sadly hotel accommodation in Plymouth tend to be alarmingly busy and are frequently fully booked months in advance. If you have a large family you might find that serviced apartments in Plymouth are a reasonable option to bed and breakfast accommodation in Plymouth. If you are visiting England from abroad then why not consider making a reservation for a room in London hotels to take in the attractions of the capital city of England also.

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